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Paragon Sight & Sound NEWSLETTER
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Volume 13, Issue 11
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November 2013
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On This Day in Music History...
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November 1, 1984:
The Billboard magazine publishes their first issue.
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The first issue of The Billboard magazine was eight pages long and carried a cover price of 10 cents. The Billboard magazine was founded as a monthly industry publication for the bill-posting business.
With initial coverage of circuses, carnivals, fairs, and amusement parks , the magazine's content progressively became more focused on entertainment . Two decades after its birth, in 1913, The Billboard magazine's first coverage of the music genre was with vaudeville theatre advertisements.
It was not until the advent of sound motion pictures and jukeboxes in the 1930s, that The Billboard magazine started publishing top music charts. These charts initially only featured three genres: Pop, Rhythm & Blues, and Country & Western.
Finally, in the early 1960s, The Billboard magazine was re-branded Billboard Music Week, and became as it is now, a company entirely devoted to the music industry made famous by their top charts.
To view the latest & greatest on Billboard's website, Click Here.
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Our Fall Music Series is in full-swing. Our next event is Thursday, November 7th - only one week away! Don't miss this great opportunity to beat the winter chill with some wine and warm tube gear! Representatives from Audio Research, McIntosh, Sonus faber, and Wadia, will be exhibiting their newest products and will be available all night to answer your questions. You can find the all the details of this event in the featured section below.
The products featured in this month's newsletter are all from the Fine Sounds Group. Almost all of these will be featured products in our Night of Fine Sounds event - so this is your chance to read-up and come prepared with questions for our presenters.
We look forward to seeing you next Thursday!
Sincerely, The Paragon Sight & Sound Team
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Thursday, November 7th:
A Night of Fine Sounds
Paragon's Fall Music Series
The Paragon team invites you to join us for our second event in this year's Fall Music Series, A Night of Fine Sounds!
Thursday, November 7th
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Featuring:
- Audio Research Company
- McIntosh Laboratories
- Sonus faber
- Wadia Digital
Paragon is honored to host Dave Gordon of Audio Research, introducing the SP 20 Preamplifier and the Reference 10 Phono Preamplifier; Allan Haggar of Sumiko Audio, showing the Sonus faber Olympica Speaker line; Chris Smith & Mike Pecar of McIntosh Labs, presenting the new MCD 550 CD Player, the MA8000 Integrated Amplifier, and MT-5 Precision Turntable; and John Schaffer of Wadia, demonstrating the all-new Wadia Intuition 01 Integrated Amplifier.
Refreshments and Hors d'ouvres will be provided.
Space will be limited.
Please RSVP:
by phone at 734.662.3595
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Available now for audition:
McIntosh
MCD-550 CD Player
The new MCD550 CD Player will make you want to rediscover your valuable CD collection.
This high performance SACD/CD player features three digital inputs: a coaxial, an optical and an asynchronous high speed USB 2.0 input that allows for direct streaming of computer-stored music at up to 24 bits and 192kHz.
The MCD550 player itself utilizes an 8 channel, 32 bit, 192kHz PCM/DSD digital to analog converter (DAC) with wide dynamic range and extremely low distortion. The 8 channel DAC is used in Quad Balanced mode, which utilizes 4 DAC channels per audio channel, allowing music at all levels to be reproduced with extreme precision and elegance. It can decode PCM signals from CDs and the digital inputs, and DSD signals from SACDs.
Variable balanced and unbalanced audio outputs are present, which allow for extreme flexibility in connecting the MCD550 to your system. The variable outputs offer a direct connection to an amplifier eliminating the need for a separate preamplfier.
The new High Drive headphone amplifier feature has increased gain and output power, and is optimized for virtually all headphone types for the ultimate personal listening experience. On the back of the unit are gold plated connectors that help maintain a clean audio signal and also resist corrosion. The classic McIntosh black glass faceplate is wrapped in a beautiful stainless steel chassis.
For more information and technical specifications, click HERE.
Now available for audition at Paragon.
For more information:
call us at (734)-662-3595
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Now available for audition:
Sonus faber
Olympica Speaker Line
The new Olympica line of speakers pays tribute to the classic Sonus faber aesthetic with its "lyre-shaped" cabinet. It also asserts its modernism by pairing fashionable finishes with contemporary driver materials and the most-current sound technology.
Key technical specifications:
Aesthetics... Keeping with the classic Sonus faber standards, the Olympica series seamlessly blends natural wood and textural leather finishes into a stylish final product. Unique to the new Olympica line is the unusual location and geometry of the side reflex port - which has been vertically designed and embellished with a perforated metal sheet placed in the vicinity of the long outlet.
Tweeter ... The new tweeter is a Sonus faber "Arrow Point" Damped Apex Dome design (a synthesis of the classic dome and ring transducer). It is a direct result of the technology developed in the iconic Aida. For example, the ultra dynamic linearity of the tweeter is due to the new Neodymium motor system.
MIdrange... is a Sonus faber - pioneered 150 mm ultra dynamic linearity midwoofer. CCAW wire is used on a composite former "eddy current free" voice coil. The dynamically linear magnetic field motor incorporates triple Kellog/Goeller rings. A special custom diaphragm is made with a real time air-dried non-pressed blend of traditional cellulose pulp, kapok, kenaf and other natural fibers. To further inhibit any residual cone coloration Sonus faber has used a transparent viscous surface damping coating.
The Olympica I Bookshelf Speakers, the Olympica II Loudspeakers, and The Olympica III Loudspeakers are all now available for audition at Paragon.
The Olympica line is available in two finishes: walnut and graphite.
For more information and technical specifications, click HERE.
Now available for audition at Paragon.
For more information:
call us at (734)-662-3595
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Available now for audition:
ProJect
HL Signature Turntable
The HL Signature turntable is Pro-Ject's all-out assault on high-end analog sources.
This no-compromise approach to vinyl playback design commemorates Pro-Ject's twenty years as an esteemed manufacturer of turntables and electronics.
Each table takes 3 months to build and is entirely constructed and assembled by a team of two highly skilled craftsman - truly an artisan product!
The HL Signature employs a highly sophisticated approach by combining the themes of mass loading and magnetic decoupling. The main plinth supports two smaller plinths and two motors with a belt-driven flywheel system that works to magnetically decouple the platter's bearing.
The main plinth also houses the touch-screen display that allows control of all operational parameters and variable speed adjustment.
The second plinth is made of aluminum; it sits beneath the platter and is responsible for supporting the magnetic suspension.
"Sorbothane Pillows" isolate the entire assembly and further reduce unwanted disturbances and vibration.
The flywheel belt-drive system employs two motors and ensures vibration and noise-free mechanical operation for all moving parts.
The advanced single-pivot 12" tonearm can accommodate virtually any cartridge due to its wide range of adjustment possibilities and selection of different counterweights. It is even possible to adjust the VTA while the record is playing!
Upgrade this turntable with the SuperPack bundle! The SuperPack includes a Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation cartridge and a better tonearm cable at a significantly reduced price.
The HL Signature Turntable is available in three finishes: piano black gloss, mahogany, and olive wood.
For more information and technical specifications, click HERE.
Now available for audition at Paragon.
For more information:
call us at (734)-662-3595
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Available now for audition:
Audio Research
SP 20 Vacuum-Tube Full-Function Preamplifier
The appeal and success of the SP17 has led Audio Research to craft a new full-function preamplifier that surpasses its capabilities, to be the new capstone of the SP-series. The SP20 is a fully balanced, pure Class-A vacuum-tube preamplifier that offers an astounding level of performance.
There are seven levels of voltage regulation, a large power supply, and a very low-noise R-core power transformer. Both the line and phono stages feature low-noise JFET inputs and 6H30 (2 per section) outputs. The latest high performance coupling and bypass capacitors are used in both stages. Bandwidth is extraordinary: Line -3dB 0.8Hz-220kHz, Phono +/- 0.4dB 5Hz-80Hz. Gain of the line section is 13.8dB (BAL), and gain of the phono section is 58dB, so the SP20 can be used with a wide variety of phono cartridges, including moderately low output moving coils.
For the first time ever, there is a �" headphone jack located on the front right corner of the preamplifier, for a personal listening experience. Typical of Audio Research technology, is the high-performance vacuum-tube headphone amplifier providing dedicated power and dynamics. Dominating the front of the unit are two large knobs aside the display screen, the left knob functions for selecting the Input, while the right controls volume. But the most exciting navigation feature by far, is the four-inch LCD touchscreen display.
The touchscreen display allows for a new level of customizable user-interface. Aside from the typical controls (mute/mono/balance), the user can personalize the input names, adjust the gain offset for each input, and set volume presents. Other compelling features include the ablility to adjust the brightness of the display (or turn it completely off), and check Tube Hours (or reset) - best yet, the settings icon will turn red when the tubes reach 4,000 hours to notify the owner to change the tubes.
In addition to the Phono input, there are four other single-ended inputs, two balanced inputs, separate Monitor-in and Record-out, and two pairs of balanced outputs. There is also an RS-232 port, IR-input, 12V trigger, and a 15A IEC connector. The SE4 input can be configured as a home theater pass-though.
Unit available in natural silver and black finishes.
Now available for audition at Paragon.
For more information:
call us at (734)-662-3595
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Like what you see? Click HERE to 'like' our Facebook page and be the first to know about all of our upcoming events and announcements.
Interested in our pre-owned specials?
Click HERE to view our entire list of used and demo products - updated daily. 3780 Jackson Rd. Suite H
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
734.662.3595
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Here at Paragon Sight & Sound, we won't ask you to drink the Kool-Aid�, but we will offer you a great cup of coffee! We represent the best products - with a wide array of performance characteristics, aesthetics, and price points - and a showroom and staff to support these products.
It is our belief that passion is paramount, and at Paragon, we channel our passion towards helping our clients realize their dream system. We hope that you will stop by and see what Paragon can do for you!
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