Magico Q1

US-based Magico is a relatively new comer in high end speaker scene but gained its reputation quite rapidly with several well known reviewers (especially TAS's) calling the Q5 "quite possibly the best loudspeaker in the world".  They are expanding the all-aluminum Q-range with a smaller Q3, and the stand mount Q1.

The Magico Q1 (US$24,950) is a 2-way stand-mounted monitor housed in a fully-braced, fully-damped, aluminum and copper, hard-anodized enclosure. The Q1 features a complete new set of agicodesigned drivers including a new 7” Nano-Tec® woofer that has been developed to deliver improved system efficiency and greater power handling. This allows the Q1 to be satisfactorily powered by high quality amplifiers with as few as 50 Watts

The Q1 is to replace the speaker that put Magico in the spotlight.  The iconic US$32,000 Mini II which stands as a classic, its influence rising far above the resulting industry disquiet. For Magico, it marks the starting point of an even greater pursuit. 

The Q1 is representative of this pursuit in both the demands it meets from a performance stand point and the technology it employs to achieve that. Tireless driver development has yielded two new drive units allowing for better power handling and an additional 7Hz of bass extension than the venerable Mini II. Continued research into the damping mechanism used in the Q platform has also resulted in addressing the common problem of resonance in the stand mount. Instead of attempting to add mass to the stand and decoupling the speaker, the Q1 is directly coupled and the stand itself is a damping mechanism.

As in most products, addressing problems with more precision allows us to carefully consider a broader range of demands. In the Q1, compromises of form factor, bass, power requirements, and versatility were not necessary due to eliminating inefficiencies in common problem solving design principles. The outcome is a compact, convertible stand-mounted/bookshelf loudspeaker with explosive, true full-range performance. It is the 2-way monitor that has never before been built, by our company or any other.

Driver Complement:

1 x 1” MBe 1 Tweeter
1 x 7” Nano-Tec Bass

Sensitivity: 86dB
Impedance: 5 Ohms
Frequency Response: 32 Hz – 50 KHz
Minimum Power: 50 Watts
Dimensions Including Stand: 44” H x 15.2” D x 10” W (112cm x 37cm x
25cm)
Weight:120 lbs. (54 kg)

We will getting a loaner unit of its bigger brother Q3 soon, although not a subject of this blog, but we want to have the best equipment to review all the digital gears.  Stay tuned!

Focal The Bird 2.1

French loudspeaker specialist Focal's new The Bird 2.1 is compact system composed of mini two-way satellites connected to the “Power Bird,” which serves as a amplifier, 24-bit/192kHz upsampling DAC, and subwoofer in a single box. Supplied with a wireless dongle, Bird 2.1 interfaces with the Apple iPhone, iTouch, and iPad, providing uncompressed wireless audio. An optional USB dongle ($99.95) expands wireless connectivity to include any computer with a USB output. The user-friendly system includes a unified remote control and will accept a variety of analog and digital connections, both hardwired and wireless. The units can be positioned horizontally, vertically, or even mounted on a wall

• High performance - utilizes Focal's world-class design and engineering leadership
• Cutting edge -- uncompressed wireless audio, 24-bit /192kHz upsampling DAC, in a stylish subwoofer/electronics housing
• Flexible - accepts wide array of analog and digital connections hard-wired and wireless. Can be positioned horizontally, vertically or even mounted on a wall.
• User-Friendly - compact lifestyle design is stylish, simple to install and easy to operate
• US$995

Nuforce Podio active speakers

Nuforce's Podio PS-106 is a powered mono speaker featuring one-piece aluminum body, immaculately machined and anodized. The PS-106 is a stylish companion to your iPod/iPad/iPhone or any MP3 player. 

Ultilizing high quality Foster HiFi speaker driver, the PS-106 produces quality sound much bigger than their $59 price tag.  It is a mono speaker but with stereo mixer output and internal long-life rechargeable Li-ion battery.

B&W The Dome

I'm speechless, still deciding whether its beautiful or hideous.

Logitech Wireless Speaker Adapter

Apple's Airport Express had been the only low-cost wireless streaming solution until now, but it works only with iTunes. PC users who's been lurking on the sideline, especially with the recent Airplay technology that Apple has been pushing.  Logitech has come to the rescue and announced the new Wireless Speaker Adaptor that can turn any active stereo speakers into a wireless sound system, caveat is that you have to own an Intel Wireless Display PC. 

Similar to Apple's Airply, Intel's Wi-Di devices can wirelessly share laptop content to external displays, and the adaptor enables the laptop to connect to existing stereo speakers using your Wi-Fi network.


The Logitech adaptor plugs into active speakers (or amplifier) using an RCA or 3.5mm jack, at which point the Wi-Di enabled laptop should pair with the speakers automatically.  Wi-Di technology is already built-in to about 50 PC models and is expected to branch into the Netbook market soon.  The device will also be available in a version that works with all Bluetooth-enabled devices, designed with smartphones and tablets in mind, which might be able to reach a larger number of consumers. Both adapters will be available in May for a suggested price of only $29.99.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air

Bowers & Wilkins' new Zeppelin Air ($600) is the company's ultimate AirPlay wireless audio system with completely updated drive units and advanced Digital Signal Processing plus fully integrated AirPlay technology so users can easily stream music wirelessly from iTunes, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The improved sonic performance is complemented by a collection of new features, foremost among which is the inclusion of new AirPlay technology.

AirPlay also lets users create an easy to set up multi-room system with iTunes on Mac or PC, delivering music to multiple Zeppelin Airs around the house. As the best sounding Zeppelin yet, Zeppelin Air features dramatic changes over previous models. It's a fully active 2.1 design, which means that all five units are individually driven by dedicated audiophile amplifiers, which are specially designed by Bowers & Wilkins. The improved 4 x 25 Watt and 1 x 50 Watt output powers updated drive units, for a truly room-filling performance. 

Zeppelin Air also features Bowers & Wilkins Flowport technology and advanced Digital Signal Processing in the form of Dynamic EQ; these combine with a significantly upgraded port for dramatically improved bass performance. The DACs have also been upgraded, with 24bit/96kHz capability for compatibility with emerging high-quality audio formats. AirPlay requires iTunes 10.1 or later and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.2 or later.

Meridian DSP3200, Audio Core 200 and Sooloos Media Core 200

Meridian Audio introduced two new products, the DSP3200 compact digital active loudspeaker ($6,000) and the Audio Core 200 stereo audio controller ($3,000). 

DSP3200 digital speakers is a wide-range driver speaker system that allows the DSP crossover frequency to be well outside the speech band. The DSP3200 is suited to a wide range of room positions - on or in furniture, on floor stands or on wall brackets and is offered with two high-gloss paint finishes; high-gloss white and high-gloss black. 


The Meridian Audio Core 200 stereo audio controller brings together audio sources with Meridian Resolution Enhancement technologies such as an Apodising filter and upsampling. The Audio Core 200 includes PC digital audio replay via USB. There is a Meridian SpeakerLink input for single-wire connection to a Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System. Fully compatible with Meridian's i80 Dock for iPod, the Audio Core 200 will play iPod/iPhone via Meridian DSP Loudspeakers while it charges. Users can control what they hear via the front panel or remote handset. The Audio Core 200's intelligent front-panel controls feature smart buttons for intuitive operation, and an auto-dimming OLED display for maximum readability.


Meridian Audio's Sooloos division has also announced Meridian Sooloos Media Core 200 digital media system ($4,000). 

This elegant, compact and virtually silent system that requires only the user's choice of controller to perform. It can be operated by any of the network-based control systems available, including the iPad or iPhone App, a computer running the Control PC or Control Mac application, or a Meridian Sooloos controller such as the Control 15 or Control 10. At the heart of the Media Source 200 is a 500GB hard drive, storing around 1000 CD albums in lossless quality for graphical and touch-screen access via the award-winning Sooloos interface. Users may also enjoy streamed audio services including Rhapsody. For those with terabytes of data, you can import a small fraction of your collection to the 500GB give via free Meridian Sooloos software tools. Of course the unit does offer full integration with Meridian and Meridian Sooloos audio systems plus may be networked to any other Meridian Sooloos product to add extra storage or zones.

Altec Lansing inMotion wireless speakers

Altec Lansing unveiled its latest "inMotion Air" wireless speaker solution. The system consists of an adapter on your PC or Mac, and you can stream tunes to the speaker from up to 300 feet away. There's also support for Bluetooth streaming from iDevices, an internal battery that is good for seven hours and also a line-out connector. US retail price set at $199.95.

Unity Audio "The Rock" Active Monitor

Searching for the world best small active monitor, I came across an interesting product from UK's Unity Audio.  The Rock is available in two version, Pro audio and Hi-fi, with the Hi-fi version slightly nicer looking with black gloss finish.  It's a sealed-box design with internal amplifier module designed by E.A.R's Tim De Paravicini. 

Front baffle is Corian bonded to plywood cabinet.  Corian is a very dense, stone like material, this improves the rigidity of the baffle.  Folded ribbon tweeter and 7" pulp fiber woofer are from Germany's ELAC.  The ribbon tweeter's is flat to 50kHz, great for high resolution music.  Internal wires are cryogenically treated.  Internal amplifier is 100 watt discrete bi-polar low feedback with separate transformers for each drive unit with no crossover networks (30 watt to the tweeter and 70 watt to the woofer).  Sealed box meaning placement would not affect bass performance as in other open-box ported designs.

• 2 way active monitor
• Bespoke true class A/B 100 watt E.A.R. discrete amplfier
• Closed cabinet design
• Corian front baffle, highly polished black finish
• Graded and matched components
• 2.5mm OFC VDC cyrogenic speaker hook-up cable
• 50kHz folded ribbon tweeter
• 7''/180mm woofer
• Balanced XLR input, or
• Un-balanced RCA gold plated phono input
• Piano black high gloss finished Baltic birch 9 ply plywood cabinet
• 11.2kg each
• 290mm x 220mm x 325mm 
• Approx $1,000 for EACH speaker (so $2,000 for stereo pair)