Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics Inc. and a market leader in digital audio, today announced the latest member of its acclaimed Expressionist™ PC speaker family, the Expressionist PLUS (FX3021). This boldly imagined, compact system brings large-as-life sound to any desktop for only $99.95 MSRP.

“The Expressionist PLUS (FX3021) subwoofer packs tremendous punch for its tiny size,“ says Don Milks, Altec Lansing’s Senior Manager, Product Management for PC Audio. “By doing away with the enclosure and making the satellites angle-adjustable, we’ve made it easy for the listener to enjoy a remarkably deep, precise soundstage, no matter what distance or angle they listen from. We think this is the best performing $99 PC speaker on the market.“

The new Expressionist PLUS is a 2.1 channel subwoofer-satellite system featuring a dramatic cone-shaped, bottom loaded subwoofer that at its base is about the size of a small Frisbee disc. This sleek, modern looking sub utilizes a 5.25-inch, long-throw driver for authoritative bass that extends down to 50 Hz, even when placed on a desktop. The bass output is conveniently controlled within fingertip reach, letting the user tailor the optimum balance between sub and satellites. The entire system is driven by an impressive 24 watts of power.

The dual 2-inch full range satellites of the Expressionist PLUS complete the system, and are remarkable achievements of design and simplicity. Their innovative form utilizes Altec Lansing’s Audio Alignment™ craftsmanship that precisely aligns the drivers, enclosure and electronics for natural-sounding audio performance, the way the artist intended. The satellites can be aimed in any direction to focus the soundstage for the ideal listening position, distance and height. The end result is a deep and realistic stereo image that’s exactly proportioned to the listening area.

The diminutive size of the Expressionist PLUS makes it a perfect accompaniment for desktop and laptop computers and other 3.5mm-connected entertainment such as an iPod®. Power and volume controls are conveniently located for easy access.

Altec Lansing’s Expressionist PLUS FX3021 PC Speaker System will be available in June of 2009 at consumer electronics retailers and at www.alteclansing.com.

MAINGEAR Computers, award-winning builders of high performance custom computers for PC gamers and enthusiasts, is proud to announce the Axess HD Gamer, a luxury gaming PC that brings high end gaming to the living room. Built into a sleek, low profile, aluminum HTPC form factor with an acrylic trim, the Axess HD was designed to integrate seamlessly into any home theater set up with existing A/V components.

The impressive list of hardware for the Axess HD includes a powerful Core i7 processor combined with dual 9800 GT video cards in SLI to deliver a stunningly visual1080p experience. MAINGEAR also teamed up with NVIDIA to integrate GeForce 3D Vision so that gamers with Mitsubishi DLP’s or Samsung desktop LCDs can experience an unparalleled 3D gaming experience. MAINGEAR further enhances the luxurious home theater gaming experience by being the first company to offer the Phantom Lapboard, a unique keyboard that liberates users from desktop settings through an innovative 360-degree rotating design. The Axess HD Gamer also offers cutting edge media center capabilities including 7 channel pre amplified audio, Blu Ray and DVD Movies, Music, Home Videos, HD TV, Internet TV, based on Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium which also provides access to Netflix’s online streaming through the Media Center interface.

”The Axess HD Gamer was conceived to deliver unsurpassed gaming performance fused with advanced media center capabilities all contained within a low profile case, making it the perfect cornerstone for any home theater environment” said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. “A lot of the media centers currently on the market don’t specifically address the PC Gamer and we want to give our customers a solution to game from the comfort of the living room without sacrificing quality or performance.”

“We’re thrilled that MAINGEAR is providing a Games for Windows solution that complements the wide range of media functionality that Windows Vista Media Center already provides,” said Megan Both, Snr. Director of OEM Sales at Microsoft. “This high performance 3D gaming system combined with the advanced functionality of Windows Media Center make the Axess HD Gamer a phenomenal option for the home theater enthusiast as well as the avid gamer.”

Gamers can purchase the Axess HD Gamer at MAINGEAR’s Web site www.maingear.com or order by phone at (888-MAINGEAR). The base price is $1,799. Axess HD Gamer comes with MAINGEAR’s standard 14 month warranty and is backed by the best in-house support team in the country.

At Prolight & Sound 2009, JBL Professional is introducing the new LSR2300 Series Studio Monitor System, delivering professional performance at price points within reach of any studio. Now shipping, the LSR2300 Series addresses the demand for cost-effective, high-performance monitoring systems, driven by the proliferation of affordable, computer-based production systems.

The LSR2300 Series includes: the LSR2328P Bi-Amplified 203 mm (8-inch) Studio Monitor with 165 Watts of amplification; the LSR2325P Bi-Amplified 133 mm (5-inch) Studio Monitor with 90 Watts of amplification; and the LSR2310SP Powered 254 mm (10-inch) Studio Subwoofer with an integrated 180 Watt power amplifier.

In developing the LSR2300 Series, JBL applied the same stringent Linear Spatial Reference criteria used in the design of the acclaimed LSR6300 and LSR4300 Series. While most manufacturers take only a single on-axis measurement of the speaker’s performance, JBL’s Linear Spatial Reference criteria requires 70 measurements, yielding more than 1,200 times more data. The data enables JBL to engineer a system that produces greater accuracy at the mix position. A trademark of LSR2300 design is the large waveguide and the elliptical tweeter aperture that work in conjunction with a 1” silk-substrate high-frequency transducer to deliver superior imaging and smoother frequency response.

Today’s music styles, film production and the demand for high-quality audio for HDTV require a monitor system capable of extended low frequency performance and high dynamic range. To address this, JBL engineered new long-excursion low-frequency transducers with high-flux motors and a custom tuned port that work in concert to produce deep accurate low frequency response, previously unavailable at this price point. The LSR2328P 8” model provides low frequency extension to 37Hz; the LSR2325P 5” model to 43Hz, and the LSR2310SP subwoofer provides deep low frequency performance below 28Hz. Each studio monitor in the LSR2300 line produces exceptional sound pressure level (SPL) achieved through the use of high-sensitivity transducers and careful attention paid to the thermal properties of the system.
Featured to integrate into professional systems, all models include balanced and unbalanced inputs that allow connection to a wide range of playback sources including computer audio workstations, professional mixing consoles, as well as consumer playback systems. The LSR2310SP Subwoofer includes a 2-channel bass management system with selectable crossover settings and balanced outputs for integration of the sub into any system. LSR2325P and LSR2328P enclosures include mounting points and are reinforced for safe wall mounting. Transducers in all models are self-shielded to allow use in close proximity to magnetically-sensitive equipment.

“Our objective was to introduce a line that provides an unprecedented level of accuracy and performance at affordable price points, an achievement that is confirmed by the tremendous response from the market,” said Peter Chaikin, Director of Recording and Broadcast Marketing, JBL Professional. “With the LSR2300 Series, it is now possible for any studio to have the professional quality and performance that have made our LSR6300 and LSR4300 models the choice of top engineers, artists and facilities worldwide.”

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, has introduced the C 565BEE CD Player, the flagship of NAD’s Classic Series components. The C 565BEE applies the latest in semiconductor design, refined cosmetics and quality construction to achieve breakthrough performance close to NAD’s top-of-the-line Masters Series M5 CD Player at a cost approximately half as much.

The C 565BEE boasts sample rate conversion up to 192kHz, Wolfson DACs in a dual differential configuration, Burr-Brown OP Amps, a heavy steel chassis, USB 2.0 and optical inputs, and a 12-volt trigger and RS232 port. It decodes MP3 and WMA-format music files via CD-R and draws less than 1 Watt in standby mode.

Chief among its features is a Sample Rate Conversion circuit that bumps the usual, and relatively low, 44.1kHz sampling frequency up to 96kHz and even 192kHz. The higher sampling rate allows NAD to take advantage of the latest state-of-the-art digital to analog converter (DAC) from Wolfson Microelectronics, which offers 24-bit resolution and a sampling rate up to 192kHz.

The C 565BEE also uses ultra-clean multiple regulated power supplies to feed its varied circuits and mechanical parts. Careful circuit layouts, short signal paths, and rigorous attention to detail further maximize performance. Because the Sample Rate Converter pushes the sampling frequency very high, NAD uses a better sounding digital filter that has a user-selectable roll off slope to allow fine tuning by ear.

NAD also uses the best quality FET audio OpAmps, selected for their wide bandwidth and low noise. They’re able to deliver ample current with a very low source impedance, making the C 565BEE less sensitive to cable capacitance.

A USB port on the front panel allows MP3 and WMA music files from a USB flash drive to be played back using the superior performance capability of the C 565BEE. Source inputs are easily selectable from either the front panel or the supplied IR remote. CD Text and Metadata from MP3 files are displayed on a two-line display on the front panel along with time, track, and other program data. A rotary knob on the front panel makes it faster and easier to browse large collections of music files. The C 565BEE is so intuitive to operate, users soon wonder how they lived without it.

The C 565BEE CD Player is available now for a suggested price of $799 (U.S. MSRP).

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, introduces the PP-3 Digital Phono Preamplifier, a sophisticated USB-friendly accessory that integrates turntables into today’s stereo systems and allows LPs and other audio sources to be copied directly to a PC, a Mac, or an iPod or other MP3 player.

Compact and cost-effective, the PP-3 Phono Preamp offers superb audiophile performance in a clean, simple package only 5.3 inches long by 1.38 inches high by 2.75 inches deep. It combines the design of its predecessor, NAD’s award-winning PP-2 MM/MC Phono Preamp, with a high-quality analog-to-digital converter, a USB interface, and CD-R VinylStudio(TM) Lite software. The program, supplied on a disc, lets users copy LPs directly to a PC in Wav or Mp3 file formats. Once in a PC, the digitized music can be burned onto discs, transferred to portable music players or otherwise manipulated.

Today’s digital components often overlook the needs of analog music fans, as expressed in LP records, an immense source of superb audio performances. Many A/V receivers, amplifiers, and preamp/processors simply omit phonograph inputs and phono-preamp circuitry. In many others, the phono section is an afterthought designed for the most basic functionality. In NAD’s view, this state of affairs creates a clear opportunity. The PP-3 has been designed to serve as serve as a high-quality upgrade or addition to existing line-level system.

An additional Line Input allows other analog sources — such as FM radio, audiotape, even a CD player’s analog output — to be converted to the digital USB format. It also adds back the input on an amplifier or receiver used by the PP-3.

The PP-3 Digital Phono Preamplifier is available now from authorized NAD dealers at a suggested price of $199.

With much anticipation, Apple took off the covers of its latest version of the iPhone OS today from its Cupertino headquarters. As believed, Cut and Paste, MMS, and tethering support was announced. Actually, tethering was brought up during the Q&A and was confirmed by Scott Forstall, Senior Vice President of iPhone Software at Apple, telling the audience, “We’re supporting tethering in the client side, we’re building that support in. We’re working with our carriers around the world.” Dozens of other features, mostly for developers, where announce as well such as support for Google Maps so applications will no longer have to send a user to the Google Maps application but rather integrate it directly into its application. This also means turn-by-turn directions will be supported though it will be “bring your own maps” for licensing reasons. TomTom has a chance!

Forstall early on admitted blowing it on a feature that should have been out last year saying, “Next, Push. You know, we’re late on this one.” Working with developers and listening to their suggestions lead to a re-tooling of Push and now Apple believes the version that is in 3.0 is much better than what it once had. Examples of push, such as IM, were shown to work very nicely much like SMS or reminders in the current version of the iPhone.

Subscriptions will also now be available for software making way to purchase multiple levels of a game or more months for a sports service, for example. Peer to Peer connectivity is also added allowing for easier connection between two or more iPhones for multi-player games or for address card exchange, though the latter was not mentioned.

Hardware vendors will also have use of the iPhone via the dock connector, finally. Examples shown were the iPhone docked in a speaker system in which you could control the tone with an onscreen EQ. SvenOnTech is aware of Altec Lansing showing off alpha hardware to Apple in January and suspects that this very hardware was shown in the slide show, today. Other items shown were a blood pressure cuff and a blood tester for diabetes. With this access, it’s quite conceivable third-party vendors can finally tap into the phone and possibly tie it into car stereos or home dock systems. The ultimate speaker phone.

Copy and Paste looks fantastic. When asked what the hold up was all about the answer given was “security” without any further explanation. I find this a very interesting response since nearly every device on the market has this feature and these manufactures, such as Microsoft and RIM, seem to have not been worried about “security”. It’s hard to say if it was a cover-up excuse or something deeper RIM and MS haven’t considered.

Other goodies include landscape support for SMS, Mail, and Notes. Speaking of Notes, you’ll finally be able to sync those scribbles in your iPhone with 3.0. Voice notes was also shown off which looks to be quite nice. Steaming video was demonstrated by ESPN which looked incredible. YouTube will now allow you to enter your account information keeping favorites and subscriptions synced between phone and desktop. Multiple pictures can now be sent in Mail as well as direct access to the mail application for other apps. Safari users will also be happy to know Auto-fill has made its to the upcoming summer release of 3.0 as well.

So, what about that MMS and A2DP (stereo Bluetooth support) caveat? You know, how Apple just kinda breezed over the fact that you’ll need to have a 3G iPhone to get that working? Mmm, kinda fishy, we think. While it’s solely possible that the lack of support for stereo Bluetooth may be so on the older hardware, we’re at a loss why MMS cannot be supported. Let’s see, you can take a picture in the Facebook app and send it to your profile, today. Same with Twittelator Pro to post pics and embed the link in your Twitter posts, but Apple can’t open the camera in SMS and grab a shot to send because of hardware? Doesn’t make sense to us. Other 2G devices do MMS just fine, so why not Apple’s? We believe it’s a way for Apple to force users to purchase new hardware though we could be wrong on this. Still, can’t see how hardware other applications use without issue for photos can’t be used by Apple.

All-in-all a great announcement for developers at the iPhone OS 3.0 preview announcement. If they use the tools given to them today, this free update for all iPhone users, $9.99 for iPod touch, could be a mean and exciting update for sure. Guess that puts egg on our face for last nights post, huh?

I’m a sucker for anything with tubes in it as the sound is just amazingly better than systems without. Now Koetsu, world-renowned maker of cartridges, teams up with Italy’s Goldenote for some hand crafted goodness. The unit includes a drawer-type transport “designed for excellent rotation stability, a dual-tube output stage, an internal digital-to-analog converter, and Goldenote’s latest digital technologies, including its acclaimed Zero-Clock™ filter and Electro-Power™ power supply system.” Add this all up and you get vivid and natural sound that brings music alive. The Zero-Clock technology eliminates jitter and clock errors while the Electro Power is the first self-adjusting voltage supply to fancy itself in a consumer product. With 50 checks a minute, power is kept smooth enhancing the sound in doing so.

The Koala Tube has a Burr Brown internal D/A converter with 20-bit resolution. On the back you’ll find XLR outputs, balanced analog outputs ” made with two Electro Harmonix 6922 mini-vacuum tubes for state-of-the-art performance.” A digital S/PDIF and IEC power socket are also found on the back.

The Koala Tube CD player is available now for $2,296 from authorized dealers and does not play Super Audio CDs.

Dude, looking for a sweet deal on some groovy headphones? You know, bad economy but you gots to have your head covered with something for them ears? Cash low but tunes need to be high? Ya, we gottcha back, homie.

We just put the review for the iFrogz Custom Fallouts up. Good, round, sounding headphones for your iPhone, iPod, or computer. Heck, plug ‘em into your Denon and enjoy.

Okay, no more playing, go read the review and see if you want to nuke your old pair of headphones and enjoy some Fallouts today.