NAD News from CEDIA!

Sorry, I've been busy! But here is the scoop from CEDIA for NAD and the news is big! For starters, all of NAD's modular chassis receivers and T175 preamps get new video and audio processing boards. Of course, these new 'HD' versions are a bit more expensive, but have all new capabilities. The T765, currently lacking in HDMI audio and video conversion now gets de-interlacing and upconversion to HDMI for all analog inputs and 7.1 PCM audio, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio over HDMI for $500 more than the original. The T775, T785 and T175, which have Audyssey and PCM audio now get Audyssey Dyanmic Volume/EQ and TrueHD/Master Audio. For $500 more, the T775 gets an updated video de-interlacing card. And the T785/T175 gets the new Sigma/Gennum VXP video processing circuitry that processes and upgrades all incoming video signals to as high as 1080p and improves the picture of almost any source or TV. This adds $1000 to the MSRP. All upgrades can be retrofit to existing models, proving the validity of the modular chassis.

The NAD Masters M15HD now gets the benefit of a modular chassis and all of the features of the T175, but with different boards and layout. And of course it has the sexy Masters cabinetry and improved power supplies. The M15HD also has the benefit of Audyssey MultiEQ Pro with double the resolution and measurement points. All this for a relatively modest (for high-end) $4500.

But this isn't all. Much of the NAD Classic Series has been overhauled with the all new top end models getting their technology directly from the Masters Series! The $799 C165 preamp uses very high-end parts with a transformer large enough to power most 100W/ch amplifiers and the gain-stage modules from the Masters M3. One look inside the C165 and you'd be far more likely to guess $5000 than $800. The $1200 C275 amp and $1300 C375 integrated now are based on the M3 amplifier section, but with a single transformer rather than the dual transformers in the M3. The C375 simply adds a basic preamplifier section for a mere $100, though a phono card is available for $200 more. The $799 C565 CD player also benefits from the Masters design with high-end Burr-Brown op-amps, Wolfson 192kHz DACs and upsampling technology. But perhaps the best feature is the USB and digital inputs so all of your digital sources can benefit from the performance of the C575's digital and analog section.

Getting a few more subtle upgrades are the $499 C545 CD player and the $500 C326 integrated. The $199 PP3 phono preamp with USB output also debuted, complete with computer recording software. And in the Viso series, NAD showed off a cosmetically matched sub/sat system based on PSB's Alpha series.

Technophilia vs musical enjoyment

One of the nicest things that happens is when people tell me how much more they enjoy their music with Sonos.   After years playing in the audiophile realm, it's nice to have people talking about music instead of cables, artists instead of amplifiers.    When we go to a house with Sonos, music is always playing and generally house wide.  Go to a house without Sonos and it's eerily quiet.   Why?   It's just too much work to run to change CDs or select CDs or find CDs.  With Sonos, you press a few buttons wherever you are in your home and the music starts and never stops until you tell it to stop.    It gets out of the way and lets the music do its job without hassle.  I never get tired of people telling me how much they're now enjoying their previously shelved music collection or exploring new music from the internet.    Got a Sonos story you want to share?  

New Sonos Wireless System!

Sonos announced today the availability of updated versions of their award-winning wireless music system.   The new units are smaller and have new wireless N technology for up to double the range.  This is especially important for punching through.......concrete block construction.   Sonos is the ultimate music system for Baja living - no need to run wires from room to room AND it extends all of your computer networking throughout the house.    And no matter how many rooms/modules you have, the Sonos works as a single system and allows you to control any room from anywhere in or around the house.    And no need to drag your music back and forth, simply tie into the internet and/or put your music on hard drive.    No more CDs!  

New "Baja Living" Forum

We've now got this up and running, but it's just a newborn, so everyone is invited to jump in and get it going!   We've seen a lot of blogs or websites about Baja, but few, if any, forums for people to meet, greet, share interests and information.   I segmented it by the obvious interests, but can always add more by request.   You'll have to forgive my bias that audio/video is at the top ;-)    In any case, please feel free to join, it might just take a few days before it gets seen by search engines, but I'm sure it will and that should  bring more people in.   It's in English but the intent is for it to be as multi-lingual as people would like.    Also, if you're on an Apple, the forum opens up BEHIND the main page for some reason.  I'm trying to figure that out, but it's just kind of a mystery at the moment.  

We're having a girl.....

I guess it's hard to have a news story more important than expecting our first baby, now determined to be a girl, soon to be named Natalie Luz Ashman (Soto).   This is one biggest reasons for making the upcoming move to La Paz, so she and her mom can be with more of her family and bring joy as the first grandchild of the family.    

Motorcycles and audio......

I traded a good friend a new home theater system for his Ducati Monster that arrived today (to add to my two HawkGTs) and it reminds me of why I can be a little cheap when it comes to audio at times.   This is because I know how to make good sound for a reasonable amount of money and because there are so many things besides sound that can create enjoyment.  We all need to have balance and find many different ways of enjoyment, not just one.    Whether it's music or surfing or biking or motorcycling or hiking or family or anything else, it's just good to have fun and enjoy life in a variety of ways.   What brings you enjoyment?