The Paganini is DCS’ latest four box digital player that consists of a CD/SACD transport, Master Clock, Upsampler and DAC. Yeah, it’s expensive, but it’s awesome. The good news is that you can build the system module by module, and if you are using computer based playback, you might not even want the transport.

But I’ll give you a hint, even with a tricked out dedicated computer for music, with all the latest greatest goodies, running Amarra, the spinning disc is still superior.

I’m off to the DCS factory on Monday to meet the brains behind the technology and it should be exciting.

Why you ask? With the proliferation of eBook readers, and most importantly, the Apple iPad, we’re formatting TONEAudio so that it’s an easier read for our mobile audience. Those of you reading TONEAudio on your laptop will now be able to have the issue fill the whole screen when you read it in two-page mode.

When the Issue #27 is released, it will be in our standard resolution and high resolution formats, with a third version in ePub format to follow shortly after. As soon as we can transfer them, we will also make our back issues available in ePub format, albeit still in their original square formats.

We hope you enjoy the new format and for those of you becoming early adopters of the iPad, will download it to your newest toy.

Naim announced their new UnitiQute (pronounced “Unity-Q”) in Vegas for the world to see and it is a brilliant product. Fashioned after the outstanding Uniti that won our product of the year award in 2009, it takes a slightly smaller power amplifier than the Uniti (30 wpc vs. 50) and eliminates the CD drive.

The remaining tiny box still provides a full function integrated amplifier, 24/96 DAC, FM tuner and internet radio access as well as being able to stream digital music from your Naim HDX or network server. All in a package about the size of a Nait 2.

And, the price is small too! $1,995 will put one of these little jewels in your living room or wherever you’d like to put it. I have no doubt that this will be one of the hottest selling products of 2010. Watch for a full review asap.

The other small but mighty surprise was in the Nagra room, where they were showing off their newest power amplifier with a pair of 300B output tubes, driving a pair of Verity Leonore speakers.

I saw these first being built on my trip to Nagra this summer and while according to US importer John Quick, they are still a year from production, if you are a fan of the 300B, this amplifier is worth the wait. Nagra has done a fantastic job here! Stay tuned….

Shop owner Ken Ball said the store had been packed all day and by the time I arrived on the scene at 8p.m. the party was still hopping. In addition to the helpful store staff they had drinks, munchies and had enlisted the help of local DJ Lady Adie who was spinning analog and digital tunes.

In addition to the festive atmosphere, thanks to their vendors, quite a few prizes were given away. Headphones from Monster and Ultrasone, along with a wireless iPod dock from Ultimate Audio had the fans jumping when I was there. One person in the crowd said, “These are some pretty impressive prizes, not like most places that give away drink holders!”

But in the end the winning formula is customer service and a wide product range. Ball said, “Buying headphones is such a personal thing, you really need to hear them before you purchase. We’ve got a wider selection than anyone and the atmosphere here is very chill. We want people to have fun when they come here.”

I think that says it all. When you are in Portland, stop down and see the crew at 32 Ohm Audio, you’ll be glad you did.

www.32ohmaudio.com

Vodden recently passed away at 46 after a lifelong battle with lupus and Beatle fans may remember her as the woman who was the subject of a drawing that inspired his father John Lennon to write “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.”

We’ll be chatting with Lennon on Thursday to get some more information and will have a review of the EP in the Dec 23 issue of TONEAudio in the music section.

Based on the same SLA battery technology he uses in all of his other products, this is now available as an external power supply that can be used with just about anything that relies on an external, switching mode power supply. Wall warts are very dirty and give off a lot of RFI as well as dumping noise back into the power line for your gear to pick up and ultimately cloud the presentation of your system.

We’ve got a full review in the works, but the short version is buy one of these. I’m using the review sample with my Nagra VPS phono stage and the result is stunning. The RWA supply redefines “black backgrounds.”

I’ll keep you posted, but this one’s a winner.

I saw their new 833 based monoblocks at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and almost didn’t go in the room fearing that they were $300 thousand a pair, like WAVAC.

The good news is that they are $75 thousand a pair, and while that’s not exactly grocery money, it puts these 130 watt per channel SET monoblocks in the reach of the most demanding listeners.

I’ve spent the day at Win Analog listening today, and came away highly impressed. These beautiful amplfiers deliver the goods!

For more information, go to their website:

www.winanalog.com

http://www.atochadesign.com/sale.html

www.tunehifi.com

I expected him to be in the back room sequestered away, but they had him front and center, with a gigantic work bench set up in the middle of the showroom! Pat had a soldering station set up, a distortion analyzer ready to go and a number of tool boxes as well as piles of capacitors everywhere.

The store has had a great turnout, with a number of people coming by to see the new Naim DAC, and all 22 service spots had been taken. By the time I had reached the store at noon, Pat said he “only had about five more units to go…” Not only is this level of customer support excellent, it also redefines what you might consider “being green”. Anytime you can bring something back to spec without throwing it away, that’s always a good thing for the environment as well as the customer!