Introduction Your next preamp, digital-to-analog converter and surround processor are most likely going to be housed in one chassis thanks to the trend set by the Theta Casablanca. For ten years, Theta Digital has been setting high end performance standards by designing digital processors and transports capable of the highest level of performance. The Theta Casablanca is a high end audio-video preamp which can execute all of the most cutting edge music and film playback formats of 1998 while maintaining an open architecture for growth into future technologies. The Theta Casablanca is a PC-inspired high end audio-video preamp. Physically, the Casablanca is quite tall; and you'll need all eight inches of height to accommodate all the cards you'll want to elicit the best from your 5.1 surround formats and future upgrades. Available in either silver or black anodized aluminum, no one will miss the that fact you've invested in a dramatic new addition to your ...

Introduction Tube gear used to scare me. Spooky people are into tube gear. The kind of guys who wear pocket protectors and brag about their mail order engineering degrees. My idea of high end audio is not heating up the soldering iron to mod my preamp or hunting down the latest tube condoms from Uzebkistan. To quote the 1970's disco/soul profits, The O'Jays "I love music... any kind of music." The Sonic Frontiers Line 2 lets you love your music exactly the way you want to. Your listening options include configuring your system for high performance 2 channel stereo playback with remote control, feeding a home theater or multi-room system or listening through headphones. Incidentally, you will never find Sonic Frontiers gurus Chris Johnson and Chris Jensen with tape on their glasses or pens in pocket protectors. The Sonic Frontiers Line 2 ($3295 USD) is a Canadian made preamp that is well suited for music ...

Introduction The DC-1 is the flagship digital controller from Lexicon, a long time leader in digital processing technology. It is a combination preamplifier, A/V switcher, D-to-A converter (24-bit Delta Sigma) and digital processor whose design makes it possible to come in a variety of configurations. A fully loaded DC-1 incorporates Dolby Digital, DTS and THX processes. The DC-1 continues to provide Pro Logic along with other surround processes for videotapes, TV programming and other source materials without DTS or Dolby Digital encoding. Several DSP (digital signal processing) modes are provided for adding ambience to stereo and monaural sources. All signal processing, including filters, EQ and crossovers, are performed in the digital domain. The DC-1 also employs Lexicon's patented Logic 7 technology, which takes as low as a two-channel signal and digitally processes it to produce a discreet, multi-channel, full bandwidth surround signal. Logic 7 is included on many of the DC-1's surround parameters and can be enjoyed by listeners ...

Introduction Magnum, a small British audio component manufacturer, was started several years ago by the one of the founding fathers of the REGA Planar turntable. Today, Magnum is making their line of mosfet integrated, pre and power amplifiers, CD players and loudspeakers available to audiophiles and music lovers throughout the U.S. I was fortunate enough to procure the MP 160 ($750 USD) preamplifier and the MF 160 ($750 USD) power amplifier and have had the two pieces in and out of my audio system over the last few months. The MP 160 preamplifier is a slim-line unit featuring all single ended inputs and outputs and boasts an internal power supply. The front panel features an on/off switch, three buttons each (tape monitor, mute and mono functions), an input selector along side balance and volume controls. Also, to add even more value, the MP 160 comes not only with a phono section but a user selectable ...

Introduction The Millennium DTS Decoder/Preamp is a simple black box, offering an upgrade path for most multi-channel sound systems. Using the Millennium's multi-channel preamp inputs and outputs, you send the signal from your current A/V preamp through the Millennium for decoding and back again. The Millennium offers two digital inputs, coax and optical (Toslink). A digital output is also provided, which I used to feed a Theta 396 D-to-A converter (DAC). In the event you don't have a full five speaker plus subwoofer system, there are dip switches for down converting the DTS bitstream into a configuration that matches your system, be it 5.1, 4, or 2 channel. A set-up CD, with white noise for calibrating each channel, is included in the packaging. While there is nothing difficult about the set-up, the manual-only controls mean you have to continually get up from your listening position to adjust the levels until they are right. Additionally, the Millennium ...