LATEST ADDITIONS

While branded as a valve amplifier, Fosgate’s Signature headphone amplifier is actually a hybrid design that incorporates both valves and solid-state electronics. With a pair of 12AX7 dual-triode valves in a low-distortion series regulated push-pull configuration in the input/driver stage, the Signature features special buffers to provide a pure audio path and drive headphones directly. A patented bass boost equaliser circuit is claimed to improve low-frequency bass impact without adding boom or muddiness and there are three choices of settings, enabling a more tailored sound depending on the headphones used. A surround sound function has been included to add more spaciousness to headphone listening, while a patented Panorama Control circuit applies an out of phase cross blend to move the dimensional soundstage out of the head in the hope of creating a more natural performance.

Highresaudio has announced that customers that use Audirvana Plus (the software player created for the Mac platform) for streaming of their high-resolution music will now be able to take advantage of VirtualVault 2. 0. VirtualVault is designed for users that don’t want to have to download the music that they have already purchased or install any additional peripheral devices such as a NAS drive or home server, and means that they can access their hi-res music collection while away from homeat a friend’s or while on the move (although music from the user’s private collection cannot be accessed). VirtualVault is free for Highresaudio customers and those that own an Audirvana Plus license.

Computer Audio Design has unveiled a refit to its CAD 1543 DAC that now uses proprietary EMI/RFI reduction material, improved circuit boards and refined power supply filtering. The new CAD 1543 MKII retains the key technologies that have made its predecessor popular – namely its use of vintage resistor-ladder DAC chipsets and the removal of the standard digital interpolation filter – and the maker claims that the result is an open and boundless soundstage. The aforementioned resistor-ladder converter chip – the Philips TDA1543/N2 with its 16 selected devices – is now mounted on a revised four-layer circuit board and as well as claiming minimal intrinsic noise, CAD states it allows a native resolution of 192kHz PCM audio. The minimalist design has limited switches and connectors between mains plugs and output sockets.

Originally devised as a project by Kevin Lewandowskiin 2000, Discogs has grown to become an incredible resource for fans of both vinyl and CD. In essence, the site is adatabase of music that has been created by Discogs' dedicated community of users. To date, more than 275,000 people have contributed to help build the site's catalogue of more than 6,900,000 recordings from some 4,300,000 artists. It also provides the ability to catalogue your music collection, wantlist and then share your ratings and reviews.