September 2, 2009
Audio Plus Announces Several Exciting New Products Intros At CEDIA



By Gary Reber


Audio Plus Services, a leading North American importer/distributor of premium products for the audio, video and home theater markets, offered a sneak preview of new models to be launched at the upcoming CEDIA Expo, September 10-13 at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Cambridge Audio is a leading high-performance brand of home entertainment products that takes an “audio first” approach. At CEDIA, the company will debut its Azur 650R ($1799 MSRP) 7.1 AV Receiver along with the Azur 650BD ($779 MSRP) Universal Blu-ray player. Boasting a true 7 X 100 watts of power on an acoustically dampened chassis, the Azur 650R supports all HD and HDMI formats, with analog to digital video transcoding as well as pure analog stereo direct mode.

AThe Azur 650BD is a universal Blu-ray player with a dedicated DAC for both two channel and multi-channel outputs. Also built on an acoustically dampened chassis, the 650BD features BD2 Live, whisper quiet operation and lightning-fast disc loading. The unit’s “Pure audio mode” will shut down all video processing for best signal processing and performance. The Azur 650R and 650BD will be shipping in October, 2009.


/> Developed in the UK since 1968, Cambridge Audio continues to set new standards in the research, development and manufacture of high performance, value intensive hi-fi and home cinema entertainment systems.

Focal, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading loudspeaker brands, will be launching numerous models from its next generation Electra Be II Series. Designating Be for Beryllium tweeter, the 1008 Be ($4995 pr MSRP) is a second generation high-performance bookshelf model and will be accompanied by the 1028 Be and 1038 Be three-way floorstanders. All three benefit from a redesigned Beryllium tweeter for greater power handling, allowing the crossover point to be shifted downwards to 2Khz for dramatically improved imaging performance.

Below is the new Focal 1028 Be floorstander (l) and IW1002 Be (r) In-Wall/On-wall

Rounding out the Focal Electra Be intros is the IW1002 Be, a state-of-the-art in-wall/on-wall model in a sealed MDF enclosure. Also featuring a Beryllium tweeter, the IW1002 Be utilizes Focal’s patented Sandwich W™ mid-range bass driver and hand-selected crossover components, and adds wall boost compensation for full range performance. 

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The 1008 Be, 1028 Be and 1038 Be are shipping now, while the IW1002 Be is slated for October delivery.

With 100 percent of their products designed and manufactured in France, today’s Micromega HD Audio lineup consists of models for both two-channel audio (CD players, preamplifier, amplifiers and tuner) as well as home cinema. Slim aluminum chassis with elegant styling and aerospace precision house state-of-the-art innovations such as ACT power supply filtering, name-able inputs and amplifiers with easy to read displays. Yet despite the company’s uncompromising standard of sonic performance and style, Micromega’s products are surprisingly affordable and represent exceptional value.

At CEDIA, Audio Plus and Micromega will be announcing the AP180 ($2495) three-channel  integrated amplifier with full HDMI audio decoding designed to allow audiophiles to preserve both their high-resolution stereo experience as well as add precision multi-channel performance for their movie enjoyment.  The AP180 boasts 180 watts for each of its three channels along with Green Friendly high efficiency low-loss power consumption. The AP180 is available now for immediate delivery from
Audio Plus.

From Mordaunt-Short, one of the most enduring British brands in audio history, comes Aviano, a complete range of curved front baffle loudspeakers for both music and movies. The Aviano range consists of two bookshelf and two floorstanding models along with a center channel and two subwoofers. Positioned as a mid-market leader series offering proprietary driver design within a high value ISO9001 manufacturing model, Aviano offers extreme value and unmistakable musicality.  Aviano is shipping now.

Also from Mordaunt-Short will be the introduction of the Performance 2 high performance bookshelf model. Priced at $4500, the Performance 2 model is designed as a no-compromise loudspeaker for those who seek sonic perfection.

From YBA Design, the heralded French maker of superb stereo, home theater components, for the discerning audiophile, comes the WD202 DAC. The company’s first entry in this category features 24 bit 192 khz upsampling with jitter reducing precision re-clocking, USB - Coax

Toslink - AES/EBU inputs and RCA - XLR – Coax outputs. Executed within a fully symmetrical topography, the WD202 is a true plug-and-play design for seamless integration with either a PC or Mac. There is even a headphone jack with volume control outputs.

Audio Plus Services will be exhibiting in #109 on the main floor of the Georgia World Congress Center at CEDIA September 10-13, 2009.  Personnel from Audio Plus, as well as many of their prestigious brands, will be on hand to conduct presentations and answer any questions.

About Audio Plus Services                                                               

Established in 1979, Audio Plus Services is a leading North American importer and distributor of premium consumer electronics brands. Based in Montreal with U.S facilities in Champlain, NY, Audio Plus has sales personnel located throughout the United States to professionally service their active roster of more than 300 specialty A/V dealers.

Audio Plus specializes in products and services for the audio, home theater and custom integration (CI) market – both residential and commercial – for North America. Their prestigious lineup of exclusive brands includes: Cambridge Audio, DreamVision, Focal Home, Focal Professional, Incognito, Kanto, Micromega, Mordaunt-Short, Pathos, Perfect Vu, Solid Tech, YBA, and YBA Design.

 



Tags: - equipment - - Audio Plus Services - - Azur 650R 7.1 AV Receiver - - Azur 650BD universal Blu-ray Disc player - - Focal Electra Be II Series loudspeakers - - 1008 Be - - 1038 Be floor-standing loudspeaker - - 1028 Be - - IW1002 Be in-wall loudspeaker - - Micromega AP180 dthr -