Marantz wants to turn your iPod into a wireless AV goldmind with the IS301 dock. A sleeve piggybacks on the iPod and transmits both the audio and the video to the base station where it will be pumped to the AV system. The wireless system operates on both Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR A2DP and AVRCP (Audio / Video Remote Control Profile) to ensure proper delivery of the iPod tracks, pics and videos to the base station. There isn’t any word if this system will find its way over here to the States, but it look like a solid AV solution for the iPod and even the 26,250 yen ($276) isn’t that bad considering all it can do.
There is something sexy about the Marantz M-CR502 mini audio system. It could be the sleek, executive feel. Or that the amp outputs 25Wx4 channels or 50Wx2 channels with a THD of .10% and a frequency response of 5Hz-20kH. Or it could be that it supports CD playback even though I don’t know the last time I even held a music CD but also sports a USB port for MP3 playback. I’m thinking the sexiness comes from the 450€ ($570 USD) price as I would never spend that much coin on a mini-system but love the thought of doing so.
First and foremost, these new Marantz Blu-ray players are Profile 1.1; sorry, no BD Live on your pricey Marantz players. With that important tidbit out of the way though, these two players are obviously geared for different crowds. The low-end BD7003 has the standard fair of 1080p24 HDMI 1.3a out, scalers for different resolutions, and an admission cost of $799. The big boy Marantz though is something special thanks to the 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta HQV I/P video processor and 7.1 analog outputs. The BD8002 costs a bit more and it could be yours for only $1999.
In the exciting world of headphones, in-ear buds are getting a lot of attention, which kind of bugs me since I find this style very uncomfortable and they have a tinny sound.
Well, the fine folks at Marantz and Maxell would like to try and prove me wrong. Marantz just released aluminum earphones with 9.5mm drivers that produce a frequency response of 20Hz-20,000Hz, and a pressure sensitivity of 98dB. On June 25th Maxell will release their HP-CN40 with 13mm drivers, which provide a frequency response of 10Hz-25000Hz and a sensitivity of 105dB.
I have yet to put any of these in my ears, so I don’t know if they improved the comfort, but it’s nice to know companies are working on making these mid-range earphones sound better.
Marantz, makers of many things expensive, has announced the SA-7S1, a super Super Audio CD player. It sports a built-in anti-vibration technology to provide shake free playback of your SACDs and CDs. This is a totally useful feature, because I’m sure you’re all well aware how much CD players vibrate.
It will be available in Japan this October. The price tag is set at $6200 because, as you can see, it’s made of solid gold–alright really it’s just colored gold, but for that price, it should be made of gold.
Marantz SA-7S1 SACD Player: People Use SACDs? [Gizmodo]
