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  1. Aspen Amplifier Presentation 7:30pm Wednesday 21st February Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our February presentation will be delivered by Hugh Dean of Aspen Amplifiers, a member of MAC for 25 years and an audio designer for almost thirty years. He founded Aspen Amplifiers in 1994, and produced his first amplifier, the Glass Harmony, in 1997. This was a tube hybrid, with 28W output, in single-ended Class A. In 2000 he marketed the AKSA 55, and in variations this amplifier sold as a kit in the hundreds around the world. In later years, he released the Lifeforce, then the Soraya, the NAKSA, the SAKSA, and recently, the Titan which he auditioned to our club in August 2022. This list of products reveals consistent, improving electrical design and production engineering, leading to very high sound quality from moderate cost. In 2015 Hugh released the Maya, the flagship amplifier we will hear tonight. This is a 200W Class AB MOSFET amplifier, sold in either modules or as a plug n play version. Since that time he has sold more than 35 pairs of this amplifier. After eight years, the Maya is now in version 4, incorporating many subtleties Hugh has uncovered over long design experience. The Maya is second harmonic dominant, less than 0.05% at full power with tube grace and solid state muscle. The new Maya costs $3200 plus GST in modules (including the substantial heatsinks), and $6800 fully built and warranted. Aspen offers complete warranty support and email through the build and installation process for buyers of the modules. Our source for the presentation will be a SMSL D6S DAC, which uses an ESS Sabre 32bit chip with up to sampling rate of 768KHz. A very good guitar track of 24bit 384KHz sampling will be played for those who want to hear what High Definition really can deliver. The system will be run from a ten year HP laptop, all the music files on a memory stick, and JRiver software. If members would like to hear their best/ difficult music on this system, bring it in a memory stick, preferably in FLAC and you can try it out at the end of the presentation. Tonight we will use a pair of very large Adelaide Speakers, the Summoner 1293SQTL. This speaker has been through a metamorphosis under the expert care of Ron Newbound. The 1293 now feature Satori midranges and tweeters from SB Acoustics, featuring Egyptian Papyrus cones and the original Peerless 12" bass driver. The crossover has been re-developed, using two third order filters and a single order for the bass driver. This speaker was original purchased for $1600 and after Rons changes owes Hugh only $3000. Although an inexpensive product, this speaker is now outstanding, with huge scale, breathtaking dynamics, very high resolution and astonishing depth of image. You will agree at the end of the presentation that this sound system compares with brand name gems costing up to five times. The source for the evening music is handled by an HP Laptop using JRiver music software and a DAC from SMSL. The music is mostly 24/96 high resolution, and selected over a number of genres to show up the qualities of the sound system. Hugh will introduce each selection describing his choices, and what to listen for so that you can appreciate the musical and technical qualities of the design, manufacture, critical listening and musical appreciation. The evening will be fascinating to anyone who is attracted to the finer issues of audio technology and musical appreciation. Hugh Dean Aspen Amplifiers Thanks to Hugh for providing with his overview of his equipment and what we should expect for the February 2024 GM. As always, please feel free to bring along anyone who would be interested in Hughs deep knowledge of amplifiers and music. Dave Polanske Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc.
  2. Melbourne Audio Club {MAC} has been granted a booth at the upcoming StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show, located at the entrance of the record fair. This is a great opportunity to introduce ourselves to show visitors and will hopefully encourage some of you to join the MAC. We will have members at our booth, who can tell visitors all about the club, it’s activities and why we think its something special. You can ask us about our Home Meetings that cover many music genres as well as Home Theatre and DIY. The monthly General Meetings {which are listed within this forum} are presented by a diverse range of guests including audio retailers, distributors and music related organisations. Last months meeting was from the Australian Jazz Museum who even brought a trio of Jazz musicians to play for us. If you like what you see you are most welcome to join the club during the show or we can give you one of our application forms. We look forward to meeting you. Laurie Nicholson President Melbourne Audio Club
  3. Australian Jazz Museum 7:45pm Wednesday 20th September Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 It is my pleasure to announce that Dan Kellett from Australian Jazz Museum (AJM) will be presenting at the September 2023 general meeting. The AJM is located in Wantirna on Mountain Highway, just off Burwood Highway and Eastlink. It was founded in 1996 and collects and preserves all things Australian Jazz and has a large range of memorabilia from many of Australian's jazz legends. The AJM also digitise music collections and sells CDs to the public through it's website of various Australian jazz artists. The Australian Jazz Museum preserve all manner of articles, from instruments, records and tapes to ephemera such as quilts, posters and a handkerchief signed by Louis Armstrong and his band! The collection at AJM also includes interviews, images and printed material, such as posters, tickets and newspaper clippings. The website is very comprehensive and has a great deal of information to start your Australian jazz experience. Dan will also be bringing along some CDs for purchase and some membership forms if you are interested in joining the AJM. He will play some samples of the CDs of Australia's most brilliant jazz artists. Also there is a possibly that Dan will be accompanied by a four-piece jazz band, however that was still to be confirmed at the time of writing. Stay tuned! Please let your friends now about this meeting, especially those who have a yearning for jazz! It will be entertaining and also a great way to learn about the history of jazz in Australia. See you there! Dave Polanske Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc.
  4. Rockian Trading and Osborn Loudspeakers 7:45pm Wednesday 17th November Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 We are looking forward to presenting some new “audiophile tracks” live to members of the Melbourne Audio Club in the Willis Room. Even if the numbers are limited, it will seem like we are returning to something that resembles normal. Once again we thank Greg and Yvonne Osborn for providing the appropriate audio equipment for the occasion. 2021 began with promise, with only a couple of short lockdowns in February, May and June. Then, shortly after our second AZ vaccine shots in mid July, the Covid 19 boom was lowered and pandemic restrictions locked the brakes on our business. We were able to supply a few LP and CD orders early in July. Then, due to restrictions in supply and a drop in demand, our sales fell off a cliff. Covid19 suppressed manufacture and supply. Some pressing plants were closed. It took Reference Recordings more than six months to get their latest LP pressed. The last order shipped from Reference Recordings in San Francisco sat at the San Diego airport for two weeks waiting for an aircraft to become available to move it to Honolulu, where it waited another week for a flight to Sydney. Then it took several days to be trucked to Fedex in Melbourne. A shipment that normally takes three or four days took almost a month to arrive. No international passenger jets meant everything got delayed. No walk in customers in Australian bricks and mortar retailers meant no local walk in record sales. Luckily we had a couple of stores with regular on-line sales that kept us trading. Now, the shops are opening again, we will see how many of our better stores continue selling recordings. Damn! It almost feels like we are starting business all over again. Our programming will be different at this meeting. Instead of playing music in style or label order, I will present what I consider to be outstanding recordings in the order they arrived. My picks of the best music and audio tracks selected from the 2020 and 2021 releases. The selections will be from NMC Records (and NMC affiliates), ATMA Classique, Stockfisch Records, Opus 3 Records, Reference Records (and fresh from RR), and Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.. To begin I will play selected tracks from Stockfisch Recordings, a German label dedicated to producing Audiophile quality recordings. AYA (are you authentic) “Authentic Audio Check 2” [SFR-357 9017 2]. From there we will play selected tracks from most of our labels. As usual Beverley will have a selection of recordings for sale to MAC members at special prices. Some particular bargains will continue to be offered from the Rockian Trading catalogue. Ian and Bev Hooper Rockian Trading Hello to all, Great news! Advanced notice that our November 17 General Meeting will be a live event in the Willis Room with restrictions. Please see the November MAN for presentation details. The maximum number including the presenters is 27, therefore a reminder that you must book with Martin prior to the event. As per Government and Council requirements, attendees must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption authorised by a medical practitioner. If your proof of vaccination or medical exemption is a hard copy (not digital on your phone) you will also require photo ID. You will need to sign in via the Vic Services App (QR code). Masks will be required and the usual social distancing adhered to. A council staff member will be present to assist with the safe entry of all. It is possible that entry to the Willis Room on the night may be via the main entrance along the concourse towards the library, however this will be decided by the Council closer to the date. Regards, Ian Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  5. Lux Audio and Hey Now HiFi 7:45pm Wednesday 19th July Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our guests for the July general meeting will be Dr. Ian KC Fok from Lux Audio and Geoff Haynes from HeyNow HiFi showcasing a Rivera Levante integrated amplifier and Gershman Grand Studio speakers. Our music source for the evening will be my Technics SL-G700M2 Network & SACD Player. Lux Audio as both a distribution and dealer company was set up in 2021 to cater to the discerning audiophile focusing on the sound and the end result. Our focus is on the synergy of your components and how to get them working synergistically to obtain the best result in your space, timeframe and budget. They are specialists in Hi End & End Game audio systems. Lux Audio feature amazing products like Goebel Hi End, Arya Audio, Gershman just to mention a few. We have a fully setup demo room in Prahran, Melbourne that is open by appointment for all your listening needs. Discover with us the makings of a high end system and what it can achieve sound wise. Geoff Haynes has presented previously at MAC and is a favourite with our members. Geoff has over 30 years of experience in the Hi-Fi retail space, he can assist you with new products, upgrades, or downsizing of your system no matter where you are on your Hi-Fi journey. HeyNow Hi-Fi provides advice for people who are just starting to become interested in getting a sound system, through to the most experienced music lovers and audiophiles. With a purpose built, listening space in St. Kilda HeyNow Hi-Fi is able to provide appointment-only private demonstrations of your desired products, in a luxurious home apartment setting. HeyNow Hi-Fi can also install your purchases, and can design home theatres and media rooms, along with multiroom solutions and outdoor landscaped speaker systems for your home. (Sourced from the Hey Now website) The Riviera Levante integrated amplifier (current retail $41,289.60) can operate in either Class A or Class AB. The amplifier is designed to drive any kind of loudspeakers systems. The LEVANTE integrated amplifier has all the elements that distinguish the Riviera amplifiers (Hybrid Circuit and Zero Feedback). It has also an extra feature that makes it unique: the option to choose between pure Class A and Class AB operation. A switch on the front panel allows to select the operating class according to your preferences or needs. In Class A mode it offers 2 x 30W into 8 ohms (2 x 60W into 4 ohms); in Class AB it offers 2 x 120W into 8 ohms (2 x 200W into 4 ohms). Note that, even in AB Class, the first 6 Watts are in Class A. The Gershman Grand Studio speakers (current retail $13,990) are based on the Studio II and are hand constructed from High Density Fibreboard, hand polished and meticulously finished with multiple layers of a piano-black lacquer. The hand-built crossover uses high-quality capacitors and 99% oxygen-free wire Page 4 Melbourne Audio Club Audio News, July 2023 in the point-to-point wiring. The speakers also come with a custom made stainless steel stand which is bolted to the speakers. The sensitivity of the Gershmans is 87dB and a pair (with stands) weigh 180 Kg. No power rating is provided by the manufacturer's or HeyNow's website. The 8 inch woofer features: Extensively vented motor is designed in order to eliminate compression and to allow quiet excursion, extra thick black electroplated aluminium cone, ultra-low distortion, multiple layer voice coil for high power handling. The 1 inch silk dome tweeter features: Ferrofluid cooling, linear response faceplate, braided tinsel leads, double chamber, lower resonance, extends past 30 kHz. After the coffee break we will throw open the music selection to the members. If you have a favourite piece of music that you would like to audition the system to, please feel free to bring it along to the meeting for us to play. Don't forget to invite a friend, work colleague or relative to our meeting. There's always something new and exciting at MAC meetings!! Dave Polanske Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  6. Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) 7:45pm Wednesday 17th May Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our guest for the May general meeting will be Byron Scullin, Artistic Co-Director of the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio. Byron Scullin is a Melbourne-based artist whose work explores the technological representation and amplification of sound, as well as its properties as a physical presence. He creates sonic environments that offer an experience of mass and multiplicity, often representing attempts to hear the unhearable. Byron has contributed sound to feature films, contemporary dance productions, theatre works, and advertising campaigns. He has also produced, engineered, and mastered numerous Australian and international recordings. Byron founded MESS which oversees one of the largest synthesizer collections in the world and makes it available for use by the general public. He has collaborated with video artist Daniel Crooks and Australian composers Anthony Pateras, Marco Fusinato, and Oren Ambarchi, among others. His works, including Bass Bath, Siren Song, and The Rivers Sing, Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) have been shown at festivals and exhibitions worldwide. Byron will be bringing along an EMS Synthi ]AKS, Buchla Music Easel and a Make Noise Shared System. MESS is located in North Melbourne and houses the largest collection of electronic synthesizers in the Southern Hemisphere. It also runs workshops and courses on electronic music instrumentation and has a studio where artists can play and record with the electronic instruments. Hope you can make the meeting and are able to bring along a friend to experience a unique insight into electronic music from a talented and knowledgeable artist. There is always something new and exciting at MAC meetings!! Dave Polanske - Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  7. Why amplifiers sound different 7:45pm Wednesday 19th April Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our April meeting will be showcasing amplifier performance parameters demonstrated by Damian Ware. This performs as Part 3 of his excellent series on amplifier testing published in the last couple of magazines. Dave Polanske - Programme Coordinator This article regarding the presentation by Damian Ware at the April GM, did not make the MAN. Cheers, Martin Our guest for this month will be Damian Ware, from Aurora Audio. Damian’s vision is to design and manufacture audio equipment, which faithfully reproduces the sound of instruments and communicates the emotional and musical intent of the performer. Damian is an award-winning engineer and he studied at Monash University under Professor Ed Cherry. Some here might know of Ed Cherry; he is famous in the audio world for a brilliant design with almost immeasurable low levels of distortion. When Damian is not chasing Aurora Australis or audio nirvana he will be often found repairing rare, exotic vehicles. Damian will be demonstrating his all new Aurora Audio S2 Amplifier. The amplifier is a cost-no-object Class A design created from the highest possible quality components. The S2 produces 70W into 8 ohm load, revealing every detail of the most dynamic high resolution recordings. The S2’s tremendous dynamics and perfect decay are accompanied by a sound stage and tone to die for and this amp throws up a stunning, real live performance. Greg Osborn recently remarked: “The S2 is truly excellent, the best solid state amplifier I have ever auditioned and I have heard a lot of super expensive systems at over 50 HiFi shows world-wide.” The S2 will be paired with Whatmough Performance Trio speakers. These speakers have the incredible inert John Woodhead lead lined cabinets and premium cross overs. This will be a session NOT to be missed...! Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  8. Rockian Trading & Bev's Bazaar 7:45pm Wednesday 16th November Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 For the second year in a row we are looking forward to presenting some new "audiophile tracks" live to members of the Melbourne Audio Club in the Willis Room. The second year encourages us to believe that life has returned to something that resembles normal. Once again we thank Greg and Yvonne Osborn for providing the appropriate audio equipment for the occasion. 2022 has been a tough year for our music distribution business. Thankfully we have had access to some wonderful audiophile LP, CD and SACD pressings. Due to continuing changes in the recorded music broadcast and distribution systems very few retailers are now buying classical music on digital discs. Downloads, online purchasing and streaming have replaced the friendly neighborhood record shops. After all, "Why buy something you may only listen to once or twice when a quality streaming service is available? " Ironically our best classical music retailer is a local chain of quality book stores Readings Books and Music. Once upon a time, "books were the source of all knowledge," now it is Google. (reference - Stan Borysiewicz, lecturer in Electromechanics at Victoria University and fellow band member of The Delmatics.) Production of quality LPs has slowed to a crawl. The reason most commonly given for this is, "The demand on the presses is outstripping production." I believe it's another victim to the shortage of crude oil caused by the Climate Catastrophists war on fossil fuels. On a personal note, I recently received an arterial graft made of Dacron, another byproduct of fossil fuel. Besides exploring some amazing new recordings of contemporary classical music, I would like to ask the members opinions on a couple of recently recorded popular classical pieces. I will explore the initial releases of the most famous backing band in pop history and explore some interesting music network connections. The selections will be from NMC Records, ATMA Classique, Stockfisch Records, Opus 3 Records, Reference Recordings (and fresh from RR), and Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. As usual Beverley will have a selection of recordings for sale to MAC members at special prices. Some particular bargains will continue to be offered from the Rockian Trading catalogue. Regards Ian and Beverley Hooper - Rockian Trading Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  9. Encel "Gelati" Speakers 7:45pm Wednesday 19th October Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Melbourne HiFi will be our guest at the October MAC general meeting to demonstrate the Encel Gelati speakers system. These 2-way rear-ported speakers are at an entry level price of $529 to $628, depending on whether you buy the optional grille. The speakers consist of a 25 mm soft dome tweeter and a 130 mm Kevlar come bass driver. Encel recommend these speakers be used with an amplifier power of 25 to 100 Watts and as they have a sensitivity of 86dB I would suggest an amplifier at the upper end of that range. Frequency response is quoted at 50Hz to 20kHZ +/3dB, with a crossover frequency of 3.0kHz and a nominal impedance of 8Ohmn. The Gelati speakers come in 4 different cabinet finishes and 12 grille colours to suit any decor. They measure 301mm (H), 174 mm (W) and 222 mm (D). which would suit an apartment or smaller listening room. A review of the Gelati speakers can be found at: https://www.stereonet.com/au/reviews/encel-gelati-bookshelf-speakers-review Melbourne HiFi will be also bringing an amplifier and music source to bring the best out in these speakers however at the time of writing the exact equipment has yet to be selected. Alex Encel was a founding member of the Melbourne Audio Club and built his first stereo system in 1958 which began a long career in bringing hi-fidelity sound reproduction equipment to Australia. His son Sam continues that legacy today with the release of the Gelati speakers and a Bluetooth stereo receiver called Harald. Please feel free to invite a friend, spouse, sibling, neighbour, work colleague or offspring to share a great presentation from Melbourne HiFi with you! David Polanske Program Co-ordinator. Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  10. Annual DIY Meeting 7:45pm Wednesday 14th December Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 This month's DIY night will feature two systems, one 'little' and one 'large'. The first system to be demonstrated consists of Alistair's 70W ClassD amplifier, featuring a Texas Instruments TPA3251 chipamp on his own 'done-right' PCB layout. This is an entirely DIY design, designed and constructed from scratch no bought-in modules! The amplifier is partnered with a pair of 2way bookshelf speakers using Seas metal-cone drivers and housed in bamboo ply cabinets. They have external crossovers as all DIY projects are never finished and this allows easy tweaking of components. The second 'big' system includes Alan's 100W valve amplifier featuring a pair of KT150 output valves. Alan has recently reconfigured this amplifier (It was originally shown at last year's DIY night) and it is sure to be sounding better than ever. The speakers are Alistair's 3way monitors, inspired by the classic British Harbeth / ATC look. They include a Raal ribbon tweeter, a 5 inch Audio Technology midrange, and a custom built 12inch AE Speakers bass driver. This is essentially the TD12S model, but fitted with a dustcap rather than a phase plug. These were originally shown at the 2017 DIY night, but were brand-new and the drivers had not broken in yet. They are now finished and sounding considerable smoother and should partner well with the big valve amp. The source for the night will be an Oppo BDP-105 bluray/media player with songs loaded on a hard-drive. There will also be several static displays of club member's DIY projects, so it will be an interesting night! Dave Polanske - Programme Coordinator (with assistance from Alistair Webb) Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  11. Hugh Dean - Aspen 7:45pm Wednesday 17th August Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our guest for the August General Meeting will be Hugh Dean, a man of many talents and experience who will demonstrate his Titan 125W monobloc class AB amplifier. Hugh has taken around 15 months to design and build the Titan, which has come out of many years experience of building and selling amplifiers not only to MAC members but to many countries across the world, beginning with his Glass Harmony hybrid tube/solid state class A amp, demonstrated at a MAC meeting in 1994. He will discuss each stage of the amplifier, its design and influence on the final output to the speakers. Hugh will also detail the rather large pair of Adelaide speakers he will bring along (in the back of a Hilux!) and MAC member Ron Newbound will talk on the crossover refinements he carried out to bring the best sound out of the speakers. Hugh will present his amplifier and speakers using 24/96 high resolution files and demonstrate the differences with standard 16/44 CDs. He is passionate about audio and challenging the theory (and practice) that 0% THD is what makes great audio equipment. Hugh has programmed the night's music to highlight how good the amp and speakers are and has promised some jaw-dropping sound quality! All in all a very interesting night, full of great music, great sounding equipment and thought-provoking debate. More information on Aspen, Hugh's brand, and his other amplifiers, can be found on his forum at AKSA | DIY Audio David Polanske Program Co-ordinator. Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  12. Aris Theocharides 3SB Audio 7:45pm Wednesday 21st September Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Aris Theocharides from 3SB Audio will be our guest at the September MAC general meeting who will be demonstrating. He will be demonstrating their Keystone system, comprised of a pair of Keystone speakers, two Ochto amplifiers and the Cardia DSP. 3SB Audio have on offer two systems, the Keystone, as will be demonstrated, and the Bedrock, which is an additional pair of sub arrays that can be added on to the Keystone system for larger rooms and extended lower frequencies. The Keystone speakers have seven drivers, each driven by its own amplifier and each having a dedicated enclosure to contain their allocated frequencies. The tuned enclosures use felt, wool and acrylic padding dependent on the frequency range of the driver. which provide adequate coverage for most "average" sized listening rooms. The Ochto amplifiers have 8 x 250W Hypex amplifier modules to supply the individual drivers the frequency range as divided digitally by the Cardia DSP. No analogue crossovers are used. The Cardia DSP is the brains behind the system, comprising of the active crossovers, enough for not only the Keystone system but can cater for the 3SB Bedrock system of up to 30 drivers into two channels. Visitors to the recent Melbourne HiFi show would have experienced the 3SB Keystone system and seen the unique cabinets and driver arrangements that certainly caught my eye! For those who didn't get to the HiFi show this month's meeting will be an opportunity to see and hear something quite unique, like nothing I have seen before! I'm sure you will enjoy the 3SB presentation so bring a friend, spouse, sibling or offspring to enjoy the experience with you! David Polanske Program Co-ordinator. Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  13. Dacman presents Denafrips 7:45pm Wednesday 18th May Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Denafrips is part of a growing trend of 'chi- fi gear designed and manufactured by small in house enthusiast companies in China. They are renowned for making DAC's that "sound like analogue". Denafrips turns digital bits into analogue sound using a series of ultra-precise resisters in a R-2R configura- tion, a resister ladder DAC. Stav the Dacman, will be presenting to the club a duo of DAC's from the Denafrips stable. Their entre level model the Ares II at $1349, and their most popular model the Pontus II, retailing at $2649. Both support PCM sample rates up to a whopping 24bit/1536 kHz (!) and native DSD 1024 over USB. They also have the option of selecting Oversampling (OS) and Non Oversampling (NOS). The two differ in physical size as well as in the number of inputs. The Pontus II has several digital inputs, including an I2S via HDMI for the next generation of CD transports. The source for the night will be a Jays Audio CDT-Mk3 Transport ($3399), with an I2S connection to be used exclusively with the DAC's. Stav will also be demonstrating another component from Denafrips the Gaia DDC, a Digital to Digital Converter that reclocks the bits from USB sources and other digital connections. With two DAC's for the night, our listening time will be split between two systems using the same amplifier. The Kinki Studio EX-Mlis a 215w integrated amplifier that Stav will be using to power the different speakers, a pair of floorstanding ATC SCM 40's and a new bookshelf speaker from Hulgich Audio, the Nina. This two way model houses a 6 inch mid- woofer with a 1inch ring dome tweeter. The musical program will be provided by your Program Co-ordinator with a wide selection of interesting music, none of that typical demo stuff from Hi Fi shows. Denafrips may be a funny sounding name for an audiophile electronics company, but they are becoming the most wanted when it comes to all-round best value in High-End DAC's. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator. Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  14. Bring Junk, Buy Treasures 7:45pm Wednesday 15th June Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 THE FISH The opportunity for YOU to participate in club affairs and give back what others have given to you. All committee positions are up for grabs. New blood breeds new life and there’ll always be one of us ‘oldies’ in the background to give you advice. But only when you ask for it ;-). THE BAIT A marvellous opportunity for you to both bring and buy audio treasures. THE LURE Pizza and wine also to be served… not a night to miss Is your old hi fi stuff gathering dust? Has that pile of CD's in the corner of your room, been getting ever so higher it threatens to topple over any minute. Is your equipment rack filled to the brim with another piece of audio? Not another piece of classic Hi-Fi equipment !!! Then it's time for on early spring clean. This month fellow members, you have the opportunity to bring your... : Surplus Audio Gear, DIY Bits & Pieces : CD's and LP Records This Annual General Meeting is a wonderful opportunity for MAC members to sell and haggle over those unwanted goodies, but please, keep the haggling to a respectable level ;-). Melbourne Audio Club members, who wish to sell on the night, will have access to the Willis Room from 6:30pm, with plenty of table space to display their items. Don't forget to label each item with a price, and your name somewhere on the display. Refreshments in the form of Pizzas and Beverages will be provided on the night. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator. Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  15. Gareth Weller - HiFi Collective 7:45pm Wednesday 15th March Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our March meeting will be welcoming Gareth Weller from HiFi Collective, a high-end HiFi distributor based in Melbourne. They distribute brands such as AVM, Fyne Audio, Auralic and FinkTeam. The brands distribute to many retail outlets such as Audio Trends, Tivoli Hi-Fi and Sound Gallery. Gareth will be bringing along an amplifier by AVM and either speakers hot of the boat from Epos or if they do not arrive in time, speakers from Fyne Audio. Gareth will also bring along cables from Vertere and a Balanced mains power conditioner from Plixir. The Epos ES14N speakers are a new model from the German manufacturer that are currently winging their way over to Australia. They are ported 2-way bookshelf type units with a 18 cm mid/bass driver and a 28 mm tweeter. The tweeter has an a ceramic coated aluminium dome and interestingly only contacts the cabinet in four points around the mounting screws, which according the Epos is an idea from NAIM. The bass driver with a polypropylene cone and a 36mm voice coil. The cabinet is a rear-ported double-walled MDF construction with the edges of the front panel chamfered at 45 degrees to reduce diffraction errors. Sensitivity is 87dB, frequency response is 40Hz to 23kHz (-6dB) and average impedance is around 6 ohms. No power handling figure has been claimed on their website. Stands are included in the RRP of $8,795. The alternative to the Epos, should they not arrive in time for our meeting, are the Fyne F1-8 from Scotland. The F1-8 speakers are a 2-way downward firing port in a bookshelf size and come with optional stands. The tweeter is a 25mm magnesium dome compression unit and the mid/bass driver is a 200mm IsoFlare point source driver. These speakers have a recommended amplifier power rating of between 30 to 180 watts RMS and a nominal impendance of 8 ohms. Sensitivity is 91dB and frequency response is 33Hz to 34kHz (-6dB). The rounded cabinet is finished in a walnut veneer. RRP of the speakers is $16,495 and the stands are priced at $2,795. Whatever speakers are delivered on the night the amplification will be from an AVM A8.3 class A/Ab integrated amplifier. This amplifier is rated at 200W per channel at 8 ohms and 330W at 4 ohms. The configuration is dualmono which eliminates, according to AVM, "mutual interference between channels". It has 5 analogue inputs, 1 balanced and 4 via RCA terminals, and 5 digital inputs comprising 2 x RCA Coax, 2 x TOSLINK optical, and 1 x USB. It also can receive Bluetooth, has a separate Class A headphone amplifier and a series of tone controls - bass treble and scalable loudness. It has a RRP of $26,995. The equipment will be connected using Vertere Acoustics Redline cables. These cables are double shielded using seven independent conductors per channel. They are gold plated to three times the standard gold plating thickness. More information on the specific cables used will be available on the night. Finally Gareth will be using a Plixir BAC1500 balanced mains conditioner, supplying up to 1500W of "PureTone" power. IT has a Noratel toroidal transformer to minimise noise, is hand made using a rigid aluminium case and has German Bfly Audio isolation footers to further reduce any outside influences. The RRP on this power conditioner is $4,895. If you have any requests to see a particular brand of equipment then please contact me. It important that members get to see not only a wide range of audio equipment but also experience other facets of audio and music. We will also like you to bring along a CD with your favourite track to be played after the coffee break. This will be a regular feature of our general meetings so members can hear the music they know and love on the various audio systems presented. This will be limited to ONE track per member of a maximum length of 5 minutes. I expect that we will be able to fit in around 8 to 10 tracks in the second part of the meeting so if you don't get your track played on the night we will schedule you in for the following meeting. I will be away for the March meeting however Martin Bray will be your coordinator for the night. Hope you can make the meeting and are able to bring along a friend to experience great Hi-Fi and great music. There's always something new playing at the MAC meetings!! Dave Polanske - Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  16. AudioMagic 7:45pm Wednesday 15th February Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our February 2023 general meeting will now welcome AudioMagic, a hi-end distributor based in Preston. They agreed to come to our meeting with just over a week's notice, which is very generous of them to say the least. AudioMagic distribute audio brands from four corners of the world. We will be listening to a small sample of their lineup; an Ayre Acoustics solid state integrated amplifier, an Aqua Acoustics DAC and Network Player, a Copland tube integrated amplifier and a pair of Harbeth Super HL5+ speakers. Ayre Acoustics was founded in 1993 and is based in Boulder, Colorado where all their products are hand made. They produce integrated amplifiers, preamplifiers, headphone amplifiers, DACs, CD players and a number of accessories, including a "System Enhancement Disc" that enhances the performance of your system. Ayre Acoustics amplifiers range in power output from the EX-8 at 100W/ channel, the AX-5 at 200W/channel and the MX-R Twenty monobloc at 300W. Aqua Acoustics were founded in 2010 and are based in Milan, Italy and are designed and manufactured there. Aqua produce network players, DACs and CD players Copland audio were established in 1984 in Denmark with the release of their first amplifier, the CTA15. This was a tube amplifier and it is to this day that Copland still produce tube amplifiers. They carry a relatively small range of products, 4 integrated amplifiers and a headphone amplifier. Copland did design and build CD players but that product line was discontinued around 2010.Copland's amplifiers range from the CSA70 at 70W/channel to the CSA150 at 150W/channel. Harbeth speakers have been around for about 40 years and grew from the BBC's R&D department. They have a range of five speaker models and are hand made in Lindfield, West Sussex. The Super HL5+ XD are a 3-way vented speaker with a power handling rating of 150W (programme) and have a sensitivity of 86dB. No model specific details on what we will hear on the night for Aqua, Ayre or Copland were available at the time of writing. Our February meeting will be a wonderful night of unique and interesting audio equipment, as well as delightful tunes and informative discussion form AudioMagic. Please feel free to bring along friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues to ensure a successful and fun night!! Dave Polanske - Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  17. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting: Wednesday 17th July, 8PM Involve Audio - Surround Master Presentation 8pm Wednesday 17th July, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 This months general meeting will be a very special and unique presentation. We will be the first group in Australia to experience a new type of Surround Sound Processor developed here in Melbourne by Involve Audio. They have come up with a product that really successfully processes surround sound from two – channel sources. The Surround Master SM-465 makes it possible to achieve a very convincing effect with any stereo source with just four speakers. The unit accurately reproduces the stereo audio you expect to hear, but then adds in what was hidden to produce a surround sound-field The sound cues that have been recorded are brought out and given a distinct “location†in space relative to where they were during the recording. The presenter for the night, Charles Van Dongen is a name familiar to the club as the person who developed the Whise HA 1500 Electrostatic speakers, that were presented back in Sept’ 2008. Now called The Dragons, these self powered Electrostatics are integrated with a sub/bass speaker within the same enclosure. We will have two pairs of these speakers set up in the room, with the rear pair placed up on tables. This should give the members a better experience of the surround effect. Charles will be demonstrating the system with four different pieces of music, switching from stereo to surround sound. The room will be set up with a central seating area with two rows separating the outer seats. After the first demo has cycled through, we change seats. The member’s sitting on the outer seats will get a chance to sit in the central area to hear the same demo. This will give everyone the best opportunity to experience the Surround Master. Such a unique event for the club does not come along that often. With this type of technology enhancing the stereo sound -field, it may change the way you listen to music. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  18. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting: Wednesday 21st August, 8PM Audio Visual Revolution presents Wharfedale, Quad and NuForce 8pm Wednesday 21st August, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 This month’s general meeting, we return to good old fashioned two channel audio, with a presentation from England’s most recognised names in hi- fi, Quad and Wharfedale. The Australian importers AVRevolution, will be demonstrating two systems. The first will comprise of a complete family of Quad electronics and matching speakers. The second, will be Wharfedale’s latest range of floorstanding speakers matched with a new name in hi-fi called Nu Force. The Quad system comprises of a CDP Elite player with the 180w Elite integrated amp powering the Quad 12L bookshelf speakers. These two-ways house a 165mm woofer made from woven Kevlar with a conventional 25mm tweeter. The CDP Elite is more than just a CD Player, it also features a digital pre-amp with a selection of digital coaxial and Toslink optical inputs, fixed and variable to accommodate six extra digital sources. System number two will feature the Wharfedale Jade 5 floorstander, a three way speaker comprising of a 25mm aluminium dome tweeter, a 75mm ‘alu-pulp’ cone midrange driver and two 165mm woofers. The bass drivers are made of ‘Acufiber’, said to marry the responsiveness of glass and carbon fibre materials with a self dampening woven matrix. The speaker box is formed of a composite material that Wharfedale calls Crystalam. ‘Aperiodic’ cabinet loading, is another feature designed into the box. This comprises an internal port that vents into a tuned slot, which is filled with a resistive porous foam. This type of loading reduces the bass overhang common to conventionally ported floorstanders. The NuForce IA-18 amplifier is a recent model that has just landed on the Australian market this month. This unit incorporates components used in NuForces celebrated Reference Series products’, such as the same circuitry used in the P-20 flagship pre-amplifier, and two NuForce V3 power amp modules. An Audiolab 8200 CD player will be the source for this system. The unit is market ed by the manufacturer as a DAC + CD with its multiple digital inputs including a USB connection that can accept 24-bit/96kHz High-resolution audio. As you can see from this selection of Hi-Fi components, we should have an enjoyable night. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  19. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting - The Art of Sound - Richard's Speaker Project. 8pm Wednesday 21st May, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 This month’s meeting will be very much a local affair. The presenter and his product are so local he sits on the MAC committee. The club member is the guy who likes to take your money when subscriptions are due, our club Treasurer. The product is a three way speaker which he has been developing over the last two years. This is not just another box shaped speaker, many audiophiles appreciate aesthetic design with exceptional sound. Richard has tried to display some innovation and use of hand skill with this project. With his 30 year background in fibreglass manufacturing, his finished product is a mix of art and science. The member built speakers to be presented in the May general meeting, uses three distinctive shaped enclosures for each driver. The main bass enclosure has been fabricated with custom curved 23mm thick plywood panels. The front baffle and the acorn shaped midrange enclosure, which sits on top, are made of gelcoated fibreglass finished off in piano black. To complete this theme, the tweeter is housed in its own teardrop shaped enclosure. Ron Newbound is credited with extensive design advice with appropriate selection of drivers and crossover module. Other key design elements include a downward firing port hidden from view. This is practical as it allows for closer positioning to the front wall, and aesthetically does not ruin the look of the enclosure with a large hole. The electronics partnering the speakers on the night, will be an Audio Aero La Fontaine CD/Pre running into a pair of Audio Analogue Mono blocks. If you are trying to visualise from the description, the finished look of the speakers, here’s a clue, 802 Diamond. See you on the night. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  20. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting - Pure Music Group 8pm Wednesday 16th April 2014, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 Every once in a while, the gloomy clouds part and the sky begins to gently glow, flowers bloom, angels weep and audiophiles from Melbourne begin to cry with joy. The sounds of Hi Fidelity audio was playing once more at the Australian Audio & AV show in Melbourne. Audiophiles no longer had to read about THE Hi Fi show and THE esoteric gear, now they could hear and see some of the best sounding Hi Fi from around the world. One of the best sounding systems at the show, was the Pure Music Group from Melbourne. Warwick Freemantle ,a name familiar to a number of MAC members from the 80’s, will be presenting the same audio gear that was shown at the 2013 Hi FI show. The equipment is all sourced from Europe beginning with the Gauder Akustick speakers from Germany. The innovative cabinet structure of the Berlina RC-7 speaker incorporates a horizontal rib construction. No boards are glued together but 38mm thick moulded pieces of wood are aligned, one over the other, then screwed together. In addition there are 3mm thick soft fibre ribs coated with silicone between each rib to eliminate vibrations. The electronics partnering the speakers are from the Netherlands. Mola-Mola is a new name in the hi fi scene. They are renowned for their Class D amplifiers. Bruno Putzeys , the father of the Hypex, and the N-Core Class D amplifier modules, designs and produces the 400w Kaluga mono blocks that will power the speakers. A matching Pre- amp from the same company will feed the source via a phono stage from RCM. A Polish company that is passionate about analogue. Did I mention analogue? The source for this month’s meeting will be a turntable manufactured in Switzerland. Thales TTT-Compact turntable and the Simplicity Tangential Pivoted arm is a match made in musical heaven. The design exudes beauty and refinement. The innovative Tone Arm design consists of two bronze anodized arm tubes, with a removable headshell. Other key design elements include a battery power supply that can run the turntable continuously for 18hrs on a singl
  21. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting: Wednesday 18th September, 8PM Hugh Dean Presents Aspen Amplifiers NAKSA 80 and NAKSA 100 8pm Wednesday 18th September, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 This month we have the pleasure of a local amplifier designer guru Hugh Dean. With over 10 years of worldwide sales, his kit form amplifiers have won many hearts among audio enthusiasts who appreciate a very high standard of sound. Hugh will be demonstrating two of his amplifiers, the NAKSA 100($1420) and his newest baby, NAKSA 80 ($930). This new amp very nearly didn't come to market. Back in 2012 he spent 21 days in hospital, in a coma, during which he suffered a stroke. Finishing a new amplifier module design was Hugh's focus whilst undergoing speech therapy. A year later and strong spirited, he is back in the hi-fi game. The NAKSA 80 has evolved from the very successful NAKSA 70, though with very different topologies. It's a complete re-design. A pair of MOSFETS now runs the output staging of each channel. Topology enhancements include new voltage amplification stage, improved offset control, radical output stage drive and bias control. Maximum power is 80 watts into 8ohms, or 120 watts into 4 ohms. The demonstration unit will have the optional volume attenuator, a Gold Point, Swiss ELMA 24 step switch. The 2011 replacement module for the Lifeforce 100, the NASKA 100's design principal was to create a power amplifier with very high resolution, powerful clear bass, and rich vivid sound. Each channel delivers 100w RMS into 8 ohms and 180w into a 4ohm load. The NAKSA 100 offers power and a tube-like sound. It represents the ideal option for less efficient speakers, and demanding musical tastes. The rest of the equipment for the night will be the OPPO 95, and the TRI-2.5. A European kit speaker with an Australian designed cabinet. You may not be familiar with the name, but you have been introduced to its sound. As Hugh Dean says about his new baby – "This is a very minimalist, very high quality design. I hope it will attract 40+ year-old audiophiles who have been around the block a few times and have a real understanding of high sonic quality." Hmmm, sounds like its designed specifically for the MAC members? Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Digital Audio Reviews by John Darko, Aspen NAKSA 80 amplifier review , Aspen NAKSA 100 power amplifier review and the Aspen Amplifiers web site. Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  22. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting: Wednesday 16th October, 8PM Mark Doehmann from Telos Audio 8pm Wednesday 16th October, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 Just over a dozen years ago, an Australian designed and built turntable was launched onto the world market at the CES in the states. The Continuum Caliburn set a new benchmark when it came to sound quality, even Stereophile Magazine had to give it a new Class rating, A+. The Caliburn turntable was the brainchild of Mark Doehmann. His desire was to produce a new "Super Turntable", one designed from the ground-up and without compromise. The Caliburn is not only one of the most expensive turntables on the market today, but a tour de force, a labour of love for Mark. He has moved on from his involvement with Continuum Labs, and has started a new import company called Telos Audio Distributors. The meeting will have a number of audio products on static display, while Mark will be talking about his time with Continuum. His subject –"What it takes to get a high quality product onto the world market". The presentation will include a video and members from the club will be able to ask questions relating to the topic. On the night, Mark will bring along a couple of Phono amps from Sutherland Audio-USA. A new brand name from Denmark called Alluxity, and an isolation platform from California. This ingenious product does not depend upon either electrical or pneumatic devices to provide isolation. This passive isolation platform is mostly used in the medical, scientific research and electron-microscopy fields. Telos Audio carry an eclectic mix of high-end products from around the world . Brands like Air Tight from Japan. Lansche Audio with its plasma tweeter technology. Ypsilon from Greece, who have gathered universal rave reviews for their Pre and Power amplifiers. All of these products will be at the Melbourne Audio Show which happens to coincide on the same week with the clubs general meeting. We should be grateful for Mark to make time for the club on such a busy week. It’s not every day that the club gets the opportunity to hear and talk to the man who pushed the envelope in high-end audio and challenged the status quo. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  23. (This post might be better in the home builds forum) This phono stage sounds very good but I had to have my preamp up to 10 to play it. Even then it sounded like about volume 2 on the dial. Why should I need the volume so high just to hear this? It's a guided home built batttery-powered phono stage built by a man who used to be a jazz drummer and was a member of the Melbourne Audio Club in the early 1970's. The MAC used to have evenings where members bought kits of parts and everyone assembled them together under the guidance of an experienced technician. Almost a classroom setting and frankly it sounds like fun. He said he made this about 1973. I can't remember if its MM or MC. It was his phono stage for his Luxman turntable for 3 decades. My turntable is a Thorens TD-160B II with a Amber Europa (Grado Labs) cartridge with output 4MV@3.54 CMV (this may be relevant but I don't know what the numbers mean) Path was turntable - phono stage - preamp - power amp, all with RCA interconnects. The batteries are fresh. Thanks for any light shed on this.
  24. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting: Wednesday 20th November, 8PM Rockian Trading with Osborn Speakers 8pm Wednesday 20th November, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 As with all of the November MAC meetings Rockian Trading have attended with the exception of 2012 we are pleased to be sharing this meeting with Greg Osborn, who will supply the amplification and a pair of his speakers. As usual Beverley will have a comprehensive selection of recordings for sale to MAC members at special prices. (Also known as Bev’s Bazaar) Rockian Trading continue to supply a diminishing list of bricks and mortar retail stores and a growing number of on-line retailers. Music stores like Thomas Music, Readings Books and Music and Quality Records Plus buy and sell selected ranges of our labels, as well as some quality Melbourne audio stores including Tivoli Hi Fi, Audiophile and Focus Sound and Vision. We also have a list of interstate stores like Caxton Audio in Brisbane, Challenge Hi Fi in Adelaide and Simply Hi Fi in Perth. The chain of ABC Shops continue to purchase a small selection from us and a number of stores like Dymocks Books and Music have reestablished trade after more than a decade of silence. Most Rockian Trading sales continue to be audiophile products, like limited edition LPs, Hybrid SACDs, Audiophile Gold CDs and a growing number of Pure -audio Blu-ray discs. These Blu-ray discs offer a variety of formats on a single disc. Sono-Luminus, the company that took over Dorian Recordings, continue to release their double disc sets. Besides the standard CD, there is a blu-ray disc that contains the complete program in 7.1 24-bit/96kHz DTS-MA; 5.1 24-bit/192kHz DTS-MA and 2.0 24-bit LPCM formats. All of these formats are capable of producing outstanding audio quality, depending on the attached audio system. A few of these Sono-Luminus releases have been well reviewed in the Super Fidelity review column of Australian Hi Fi magazine. In the past, some new audio formats like DVD Audio have struggled to achieve popular acceptance. The problem with DVD Audio was the absence of motion picture content. A Digital Video Disc without video seemed to be a ridiculous idea. It seems few people grasped the concept that the V in DVD indicated Versatile NOT Video. I believed that a similar fate was likely to overcome the Pure-audio Blu-ray concept. After all, Blu-ray is primarily a high-definition video format. What is required to build the format is a large catalogue of popular record titles to market beside the specially recorded audiophile albums. Perhaps this is beginning. One of the world’s largest labels, Universal Music, is in the process of releasing about 75 titles on Pure-audio Blu-ray titles. The releases include Queen, Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall and a selection of quality jazz and classical titles. These discs are mastered in 24-bit/96kHz from the original master tapes and are available on the Blu-ray discs in PCM, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats. Of the labels we promote throughout Australia, Mobile Fidelity has proven the most successful for us. Their regular supply of excellent new releases in a variety of formats every month has provided us with a regular flow of interesting new material. They have expanded their catalogue of recordings by artists like Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, The Band, Ricky Lee Jones, INXS, Men At Work and numerous other interesting artists. Chesky Records have continued releasing their binaural recordings and labels like ATMA Classique from Canada and Cala Records from the UK have released some wonderful and interesting classical titles. Opus 3 from Sweden has produced some more blues-music gems and a new organ masterpiece. German label, Stockfisch Records, have supplied some more wonderful acoustic singer/ songwriter recordings. Reference Recordings have expanded their Fresh! from RR catalogue and are also pressing an ever growing list of 200gram audiophile LPs. We hope to demonstrate a wide selection of recent releases to the members of the Melbourne Audio Club and offer some special interest items for your consideration. Ian Hooper – Rockian Trading Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
  25. Melbourne Audio Club monthly meeting - Annual DIY night. 8pm Wednesday 18th December, visitors welcome. Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9437 1249 It’s that time of year again when the DIY group get to show off their Hi Fi projects at the December General Meeting. It looks like another busy year for the group as they have managed to put together three different systems for the night. There will be a showcase of DIY components that will be presented, everything from 200w solid state mono blocks, a 3 way speaker system with 12†bass drivers, a couple of chip amps, and a pair of ‘Bamboo’ speakers. Now that sounds very interesting? The program for the night will run the same as last year. All three systems will be played before the coffee break. With each system having an allotted time of no more than 30 minutes. Each presenter will get to explain their gear and play several CD’s. This should see us finish the session by 10:00pm, allowing all the members on the night to hear the three systems. The earlier ending to the nights program, will give us a chance to ask the talented DIY individuals about their gear. We all know how passionate members can be when it comes to building their own equipment. Nick Karayanis Program Co-ordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. http://www.melbourneaudioclub.org.au
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