Denon recently announced its new AH-C551 in-ear headphones. This new model features a 0.5m cord + a 0.8m extension cord attachment with gold plated connectors, and uses a more compact design than the previous model, the AH-C700 released back in November last year. The body is still made of aluminium for reducing the weight of the earphones and is available in black or grey. The package also includes 3 different sized earpads.

Specifications:
► Frequency response: 15Hz ~ 24kHz
► Nominal impedance: 16Ω
► Sensitivity: 104dB/mW
► Power handling: 250mW

The Denon AH-C551 will be available in Japan from October.

The S4600 floorstanding speaker from JBL is loading the latest and most powerful unit which condenses up-to-date technology for perfect sound reproduction.

The tweeter (138Nd) loads a small 1.9cm titanium compression speaker, the mid-range (175Nd-3) also adopts a 5cm titanium compression driver and the woofer (LE14H-4) is a 35cm cone type speaker. All these things are mounted in a 25mm thickness MDF vented cabinet, it measures 420mm(W)x1,033mm(H)x324(D)mm and weighs 53Kg each.

Specifications:
► Frequency response: 35Hz ~ 40kHz (- 6dB)
► Nominal impedance: 8Ω
► Sensitivity: 91dB spl (2.83V, 1m)
► Recommended power: 300W RMS

JBL announced its speakers to hit the shelves this month at $4,000/pair.

Another new stereo system announced from Kenwood today, the R-K711 is an high-end CD receiver supporting the playback of CD-R/RW disks (MP3, WMA and AAC formats) but no support of DRM, and it gets a built-in AM/FM radio tuner.

The Pre-amp section is fully digital, based on the D.P.A.C. (Digital Pulse Axis Control) circuit for a loss-less processing. The amplifier features high quality components and delivers 2x 30W (6Ω). Also a microphone includes in the package adjusts automatically the “AUTO ROOM EQ” equalizer setting to the environment in 5 types "NORMAL", "WIDE", "NIGHT", "LIVE" and "VOCAL".

The Kenwood Kseries R-K711 will be available in 2 flavors, grey (R-K711-N) or black (R-K711-B) and it has been announced for $250.00 for October.

The japanese company Kenwood has announced its latest CR-A7USB, this compact stereo system is able to read MP3 files from an SD card (max. capacity: 2GB) or from an external USB memory.

This player is ideal in a kitchen or in a living room with its modern and compact design 378x101x158mm for a light weight of 2.1Kg. It supports MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV formats, gets a CD-R/RW player, an AM/FM radio tuner and a liquid crystal display with the support of ID3 Tags. Also the amplifier delivers 2x 2.5W to the 2 full range drivers.

Kenwood CR-A7USB will be available in two colors, blue (CR-A7USB-L) or red (CR-A7USB-S) in the Mid-October.

If you don't have a cassette tape deck anymore and you still own some good old tapes that you want to listen on your computer don't trash your tapes this thing is for you.

The PlusDeckEX from the Korean of BTO is an external audio tape converter which will convert your music using a software (include) via an USB connection to your personal computer.

Moreover you can also record music directly from the built-in FM/AM tuner, from a turntable via the Phono input (you may have to use a RIAA software filter), from 2 RCA inputs or from a 2.5mm jack for mobile phone.

The PlusDeckEX gets a LCD contol panel which doubles as a digital clock and the converter also includes a remote control and offers the 7.1 support through it's built-in sound card.

Teac UK has announced a new micro component system, complete with iPod dock, for just £230 or about $500. The CR-H227i is based on the CR-H-257i, but it loses the DAB reception, making it an affordable choice for those who can't receive, or don't want to have the digital radio.

The new system combines a 2x25W amplifier, a CD player also supporting CD-R/RW and MP3 discs, and a 30-preset FM/AM RDS radio tuner. There are also clock, alarm and sleep functions, three line inputs on rear-panel RCA sockets, and one on a 3.5mm socket on the front. There are outputs for headphones, a subwoofer and a digital audio recorder, and two sets of analogue tape feeds but unfortunately there is no speaker includes.

The iPod dock allows control of the digital player via the system's remote, and also has video outputs to connect to your TV. The system comes in black or silver, and will be in the shops soon.

This 5.1-channel home theater system from Sony wouldn't take so much place in your house with these tiny satellite speakers measuring about 43mm x 43mm. Also note that you can get optional speaker stands (WS-FV11) for a retail price of $155/pair.

The A/V receiver includes an on-board DVD player compatible DivX, JPEG, MP3 and a built-in AM/FM tuner is present. You can stream music via the Digital Media Port directly from Bluetooth or WiFi using optional Docks. The high-efficiency amplifier "S-Master Digital Amplifier" delivers a power of 5x45W + 1x100W to the 6 speakers.

The system is "BRAVIA TheatreSync" certified and the D.C.A.C (Digital Cinema Auto Calibration) will set the optimum surround parameters in just 30 seconds.

Sony Japan has announced the DAV-IS10 on October 20th and the price is still unknown at the moment.

Sony Japan has announced a new 5.1-channel home theater package on November 11th for an unknown price.

The HT-SF2000 system gets an AM/FM radio tuner but no DVD player in this model, you have to buy the DAV-IS10 or DAV-DZ220 package to get the player. The fully digital amplifier "S-Master" incorporates 3x HDMI inputs and 1x analog output, 3x analog inputs and 2x optical digital inputs.

The speakers are supplied by a maximum power of 980W (Front: 143W+143W, Center: 143W, Surround: 143W+143W, Sub woofer 265W). Also the "D.C.A.C" (Digital Cinema Auto Calibration) function will help you out to setup your speakers in your room by an automated process.

After the new Bravia screens series X7000/X5050/X5000/W5000/V5000/V3000/J5000/J3000, Sony plans to launch for them 2 new add-ons, the BRX-A250 and the BRX-NT1.
The BRX-A250 (on the left) is a Digital recorder with a 250GB HDD able to record up to 70 hours of High-Definition television and gets an additional digital tuner (Digital Hi-Vision Tuner) with an HDMI output for a fully digital transmission.

The BRX-NT1 (on the right) is a Network TV Box with the ability to connect itself to VoD Services (Video on Demand) via the LAN terminal and the system adopts Sony's XMB interface for an easier navigation. The box gets 1x HDMI output, 1x optical output, 1x LAN connector and 1x USB port.

The Sony BRX-A250 and the BRX-NT1 will start shipping in Mid-November in Japan but at the moment we don't know is Sony will release these add-ons outside the Japan.

Panasonic is going to introduce on September 21th in Japan a new Hi-Fi system with Bluetooth connection for about $600.

This compact audio system is MP3/WMA/AAC compatible, with a CD player and a Radio Tuner (FM/AM) and also gets a 80GB HDD for storing your music files or recording the radio or else. This new model receives an iPOD connector (optional dock, Part No: SH-PD9), a memory card reader and it will be available in silver or black finish. The SC-SX950 can also stream music from your cell Phone via the Bluetooth connection (v2.0).

The amplifier part delivers 2x18W @ 6Ω to the loudpeakers built on a 2-way vented system with a 10cm cone type mid/woofer and a 6cm tweeter.