Integra Debuts Fall Lineup

ATLANTA (9/20/10) -- Integra, the leading brand of audio-video components specifically engineered for custom installation, has introduced a range of new home theater receivers and separate AV components at the 2010 CEDIA Expo which opens here Thursday. The highlights of this introduction include full-line 3D-Ready HDMI 1.4a interfaces with lossless Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio sound. They also offer improved audio and video processing, expanded networking and Internet Radio capabilities, ISF video calibration, and more. All of the new receivers, processors, and a Blu-ray player are THX certified.

The new lineup consists of four AV receivers, two AV controllers, and two Blu-ray disc players, all of which are now shipping to its dealer base of custom installers and systems integrators. Integra's products are not sold through national chains or online retailers.

"Our commitment to Integra's dealer base is strong," said Keith Haas, Director of Sales. "We promised them that our products would always lead the state of the art, and today's new lineup is the clearest demonstration that we have kept that promise. We have kept Integra exclusive to the custom installer and systems integration marketplace, making it available only from our authorized 'brick and mortar' dealers--not on the Internet--not through distributors--and we intend to keep it that way."

Headlining these introductions are the DHC-80.2 AV preamp controller and DTR-80.2 and DTR-70.2 high-end AV receivers. All three are 9.2-channel channel systems, THX Ultra2 Plus Certified, and network capable products that also include Audyssey's new MultEQ XT32 premium room correction technology and Audyssey Sub EQ HT that properly integrates the sound of dual subwoofers.

Integra is also introducing the DHC-40.2, a mid-priced AV preamp controller, and the DTR 40.2 and DTR-50.2 AV receivers. These are 7.2 channel systems with THX Select 2 Plus certification, network capabilities, and Audyssey MultEQ.

Also debuting at CEDIA are the DBS-50.2 and DBS 30.2 Blu-ray Players. The former is a premium THX Certified player with 1080p upscaling using a new Marvell Qdeo HD Video processor. Both offer an extensive range of features including video on demand.

All these products are now available from Integra's dealer base of custom installers.

Integra designs and manufactures premium Home Theater receivers, processors, amplifiers, and DVD players that are specifically designed to meet the needs of custom audio/video systems installers. Systems integration and convergence technology protocols include RS-232, IR and on-board Ethernet for network connectivity and TCP/IP control. Integra has access to vast technical resources, and bears a proud heritage of 60 years of audio engineering excellence. For more information about Integra and its many fine products, visit www.integrahometheater.com or call 800 225-1946.

DIGITAL FOCI INTRODUCES PHOTO STORAGE & DIGITAL ALBUMS TO EUROPEAN MARKET AT PHOTOKINA

Expands into Europe with Top Selling

Picture Porter 35, Photo Safe II, & Photo Book



September 16, 2010, Los Angeles, CA – Digital Foci www.digitalfoci.com, an award-winning leading provider of digital photography accessories for consumers and professional photographers, announced today that it will be expanding its top-selling line of portable digital photo storage and digital photo albums into the European market at Photokina, held September 21-26 in Cologne , Germany , with European introductions of Picture Porter 35, Photo Safe II and Photo Book. Digital Foci products are currently available in the U.S. , Canada , Australia , and New Zealand .



Picture Porter 35 - Full-Featured High-Capacity Photo Storage



Picture Porter 35 is a full-featured, high-capacity 250-500GB portable photo manager for professional photographers and consumers to take while traveling, on vacation, or on photo shoots. Picture Porter 35 lets you instantly and securely store and view digital photos, music and video on its hard drive wherever you go. It features a 3.5-inch color LCD screen for easy viewing; built-in hard drive with 250GB and 500GB capacities; fast copy speeds of 1GB of data under 90 seconds; RAW image support with zoom capability and EXIF/histogram viewing, and a multi-format memory card reader for CF, MMC, SD/HC Card, miniSD, Memory Stick, MS PRO, MS Duo, and xD-Picture card. The incremental backup feature allows you to save new photos to an existing folder in the Backup Directory. The USB-Host function lets you connect an external hard drives connected to Picture Porter 35 and provides a convenient and inexpensive method for making a secondary backup of critical photos. Picture Porter 35 (model PPR-350) is available immediately priced at U.S. $399 MSRP for 250GB and U.S. $499 for 500GB. Info at: http://www.digitalfoci.com/downloads/product_literature/PPR-350_Brochure.pdf



Photo Safe II - Low-Cost Photo Companion



Photo Safe II is the ultimate low-cost photo companion for travelers. Photo Safe II provides portable on-the-go digital photo storage with 250GB and 500GB hard drives and built-in memory card readers, so you can quickly save your digital photos on the road without worrying about losing important photos or running out of memory card space. Photo Safe II (PST-251) is priced at U.S. $159 MSRP for 250GB and U.S. $219 for 500GB. Info at: http://www.digitalfoci.com/downloads/product_literature/PST-251_Brochure.pdf


Photo Book – Hottest Seller 2009 Holiday Season



Photo Book is an elegant portable digital photo album with an 8-inch 800x600 color digital LCD screen and 4GB of internal memory. Available as a “Wedding” version in Pearl White and “Professional” version in Black, Photo Book has been consistently awarded PMA Retailer’s “Hot Pick” at PMA 2009 in Las Vegas , PMA Canada 2009 and PMA Australia 2009. As predicted by the PMA panel of retail buyers with expertise and knowledge of the photo industry, Photo Book was one of the hottest sellers of the 2009 holiday season in the U.S. Photo Book in Pearl White is the perfect digital wedding album and the Black “Professional” version is great for photo portfolios or keepsakes. Both have a sleek design encased in a soft leather-like case for a beautiful photo album that makes an attractive first impression. Ideal for passing around while sitting on the sofa and at family gatherings, Photo Book can run for over 2.5 hours on its internal battery, giving you the convenience to share your photos in any setting. Photo Book Pearl White “Wedding” version and Black “Professional” version are priced at U.S. $189 MSRP. Info at: http://www.digitalfoci.com/downloads/product_literature/PBK-080_Brochure.pdf.



Availability



All Digital Foci products are available immediately through Digital Foci at www.digitalfoci.com and major retailers, such as www.Saks.com, www.amazon.com, www.bhphotovideo.com, and www.adorama.com. European availability and pricing will be announced 2011. For more information, see www.digitalfoci.com.



About Digital Foci



Digital Foci www.digitalfoci.com helps consumers manage and enjoy their digital content collection easily. The company enhances people’s lives by allowing them to seamlessly move digital photos, video, and music from one place to another. Digital Foci products include digital picture frames, photo d is plays, storage devices, and card readers for transfer, storage, and management optimized for any setting where you choose to enjoy your digital content.



Digital Foci (pronounced “foe-sigh”) is the plural form of the word “focus” and symbolizes the many d is tinct points where light and sound converge and diverge. It is at these digital focus points (or foci) where you view and share your digital pictures, watch your digital video, l is ten to your digital music, and access your digital files.

XSTREAMHD’S REVOLUTIONARY DIRECT-TO-HOME SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE MARKETED BY THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT DEALER NETWORK IN THE UNITED STATES

XStreamHD and Nationwide Marketing Group to Distribute the Ultimate in Cinema-Class Entertainment Through a Network of 3,000+ Consumer Electronics Dealers



McLean, VA and Winston-Salem, NC – September 16, 2010 – XStreamHD, an emerging leader in the delivery and distribution of Full High Definition (HD) entertainment directly to the home, and Nationwide Marketing Group, the largest U.S. buying and marketing organization providing services to independent consumer electronics dealers, today announced the formation of a partnership that will enable Nationwide dealers to market and install XStreamHD’s revolutionary cinema-class entertainment solution. XStreamHD selected Nationwide for the outstanding customer service reputation of its national dealer network and its reach within the consumer satellite entertainment market.



“XStreamHD provides consumers with unmatched HD entertainment quality and convenience that fits perfectly with the product mix offered by our highly-skilled consumer electronics dealer network,” said Mike Decker, senior vice president of Electronic Marketing for Nationwide Marketing Group. “Based upon our expertise in the consumer satellite entertainment service market, we expect XStreamHD to penetrate more than 100,000 households from this relationship within a 12-month rolling sales period.” More than 60% of Nationwide’s consumer electronics dealer network sales are attributable to satellite consumer services.



XStreamHD’s innovative whole-home HD entertainment system delivers Full 1080p HD video and up to 7.1 channels of lossless DTS-HD Master Audio™ via satellite, enabling consumers to enjoy the very latest in uncompromised Full HD entertainment. Additionally, every XStreamHD customer has exclusive multi-room access to Pre-Fetched Entertainment (PFE), which provides unparalleled convenience by automatically delivering just-released HD entertainment directly to each user’s personal library based upon individual preferences and advance title selections.



“This partnership will enable us to distribute our superior entertainment solution through Nationwide’s network of expert consumer electronics dealers,” said George Gonzalez, founder and CEO of XStreamHD. “Our customers will enjoy unparalleled digital quality, access and convenience to HD entertainment integrated with electronic devices and technology available through Nationwide’s team of satellite services professionals.”



Consumers can currently pre-order XStreamHD’s FAST Start or PRO Start packages to receive priority shipment of the first release systems at www.XStreamHD.com. Each starter package includes one HD Media Server with 1TB storage, one HD or PRO Media Receiver - depending on the package selected, a RF One Remote Control, and all required accessories. The FAST Start package is priced at only $399, while the PRO Start package is offered for $499. 2TB and 4TB storage upgrades are optional with both starter packages. The XStreamHD Fast Start was honored with a 2010 CES Innovations Award for excellence in engineering design and consumer innovation.



About XStreamHD

XStreamHD is leading the HD revolution, setting a new standard for the delivery and distribution of Full HD entertainment throughout the home. XStreamHD provides the first-ever transport network to offer Full HD(1080p) video and up to 7.1 channels of lossless audio of movies and music delivered directly to the home via satellite. With XStreamHD, consumers can build a customized, unique, and unparalleled in-home entertainment network and enjoy the content they want most - including movies, music, electronic games, broadcast HDTV, and more - when it’s most convenient, anywhere in the home, and at the quality today’s home theaters were designed to support. XStreamHD is based in McLean , Virginia . For more information, visit www.XStreamHD.com.



About Nationwide Marketing Group

Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) is America ’s largest buying and marketing organization providing services to appliance, electronics and furniture independent dealers. With over 3,000 members operating some 8,000 store fronts and $12 billion in combined annual sales. NMG offers group negotiated pricing and a host of specialized programs that help their member dealers cut costs and thrive in today's marketplace. NMG also hosts PrimeTime! a bi-annual buying show and conference that puts members face to face with top executives from name brand suppliers and gives them access to leading experts who teach, train and present on the latest trends in the industry. For more information, visit www.NationwideGroup.org

ASUS Unveils a Lineup of Innovative Products at Pepcom Holiday Spectacular!

-- ASUS displays the latest PC technologies featuring uniquely styled Notebooksand Netbooks, LCDs and the WiCast EW2000 1080P Video Streamer--

Fremont, CA (September 15, 2010) - ASUS, a market leader in personal computer products, is displaying several of its latest offerings at the Pepcom Holiday Spectacular! in New York City. ASUS is known for elevating innovation into an art form and this is especially true of its latest mobile computing products. Highlights of the show include the following products:
ASUS NX90Jq Atelier craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology seamlessly meld together in the luxurious ASUS NX90Jq notebook. Designed by award-winning designer David Lewis of David Lewis Designers, the NX90Jq is a study in sublime contrasts, featuring a polished aluminum exterior and palm rest that match beautifully to the matte-black keyboard and dual touchpads. Two speakers featuring Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® technology flank an 18.4" display reminiscent of high-end consumer flat screen televisions. Exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology helps ensure that all audio is reproduced as flawlessly as possible. The NX90Jq also offers a unique way to interact with the system, in the form of dual touch pads. These work in concert with the Rotation Desktop software to provide users with an intuitive DJ-like control. Featuring the latest in Intel® Core™ i7 and NVIDIA GeForce® technologies plus up to 1.28TB* of storage space and 8GB* of DDR3 memory, this work of modern art also has the power to replace your desktop. ASUS U33JcThe U33Jc is a 13.3" notebook featuring one of the most elegant designs ever developed by employing natural bamboo on the cover and keypad area for a sophisticated look and touch. By employing this natural material in a unique way, ASUS has perfectly combined traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. The U33 Bamboo notebook boasts the industry's most innovative technologies, such as Intel's® Core i3-370M processor and NVIDIA's® G310M discrete graphics chipset. In addition, the U33 Bamboo notebook is equipped with USB 3.0 connectivity for high speed transfers along with Intel's WiDi wireless display technology that enables users to transfer high-definition images and audio to external displays. Energy savings are provided by Intel Turbo Boost technology, NVIDIA Optimus auto-switch technology and ASUS' exclusive Super Hybrid Engine technology.
ASUS N53JfThe ASUS N53Jf represents a new definition in style, portability, and entertainment performance. Featuring next generation NVIDIA® GeForce GT425M graphics along with an Intel® Core i5 processor and ASUS Sonic Master audio technology the N53Jf is your best choice for a portable entertainment platform. The exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology is a new audio standard focused on providing professional surround sound. Co-developed with acclaimed Bang & Olufsen ICEpower and based on the efforts of ASUS’ Golden Ear team, SonicMaster completely reinvents the way audio is treated and reproduced on notebooks. Users further benefit from the implementation of several additional technologies on the new N Series notebooks, including USB 3.0, NVIDIA Optimus auto-switching technology and Intel Turbo Boost for additional processing power when needed.
ASUS Eee PC 1015PEMn The 10.1" 1015PEM is the perfect PC due to its travel friendly size and stylish design. It features the new Intel Atom N550 dual-core processor for improved performance and prolonged battery life. Besides its elegantly seashell-inspired design the Eee PC 1015PEM is feature laden with Bluetooth 3.0* and 802.11n wireless for the fastest connectivity speeds available in a netbook. User comfort is a priority at ASUS and the 1015PEM does not disappoint with an ergonomically designed Chiclet keyboard and a large touchpad perfect for working on a spreadsheet or conversing with friends and family on your favorite social networking site.ASUS WiCast EW2000 1080P Video StreamerASUS’s newest product, the WiCast EW2000 offers wireless streaming of 1080P media with almost no latency (<1ms)>

PowerBass Releases New Atom Amp ATM-330.2

PowerBass Releases New Atom Amp ATM-330.2

New for 2010 is the PowerBass Atom line up of amplifiers. Built on a compact footprint these amplifiers are up to 45% smaller when compared to a conventional amplifier with the same power output. An ultra-efficient design, heavy duty double sided PC board and surface mount components result in a compact, low profile chassis with uncompromised sound.

The ATM-330.2 (shown) delivers 75-watts into 2-channels at 4-ohm (150 watts/channel at 2-ohm) in a chassis that measures only 6.5” by 7.7” while standing just over 2” tall. Somehow PowerBass managed to squeeze in a fully variable electronic crossover and a Bass EQ circuit that allows the user to give their bottom end an additional 6 or 12dB boost at 45Hz.

To see all the new models that make up the PowerBass Atom amp line-up simply visit the company website at http://www.powerbassusa.com/

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NuVision INTRODUCES THE FX10 LS Series of LED/LCD TV's

Three new super slim edge lit 3D-ready models deliver true 240Hz processing

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, September 15th, 2010–NuVision© U.S. Inc. (www.nuvision.com), the leading manufacturer of ultimate-performance 1080p Deep Black LCD HDTV's has announced the introduction of the Lucidium FX10 LS series of super slim LED/LCD HDTV sets. The initial product range will include 46” and 55” sizes to be available October, 2010 with a 40” version due out 1st quarter, 2011 and all three models represent NuVision’s most advanced series to date. NuVision’s 3D platform is capable of working with Blu-ray and broadcast sources, while providing the visual performance and exceptional build quality that has become synonymous with the NuVision brand. The Lucidium FX10 LS series is also available with U Color - a service which allows you to décor-match the TV’s handcrafted aluminum bezel to any color. Additionally, a fully reflective mirror finish is available on the 55FX10 LS. All FX10 LS sets come with two pairs of 3D glasses included. The FX10 LS series is a complete line of high performance HDTV’s that will appeal to consumers looking for the finest in technology and style.

FX10 Technology - NuVision’s FX10 products employ proprietary software embedded within the video processor that eliminates the need for the 3:2 pulldown algorithm by performing a true 5:5 pulldown and frame doubling, generating true 240Hz performance (24 frames per second x 5 x 2 =240 frames per second), delivering an absolutely stunning motion picture experience. NuVision’s video processor also handles the FFM (Frame Forward Motion), which compares two consecutive frames and uses proprietary frame doubling interpolation algorithms to generate new frames for blur free, breathtakingly clear, fast sports motion and action sequences.

Tru Dimming - Because Edge lit LED backlit LCD panels are lit from the top and bottom and the backlight is diffused to fill the entire viewing area, NuVision engineered their Tru Dimming algorithm to achieve the highest degree of lighting uniformity. Tru Dimming improves color depth, contrast, and both black and white levels to deliver the most balanced and detailed picture possible.

Custom Installer Friendly - Every NuVision television offers bi-directional RS232 control for seamless integration into home automation systems. They also offer IR pass-through to control other devices and an IR input to control the set, eliminating the need for separate IR emitters.

Environmentally Friendly - NuVision is environmentally conscious and all TVs are mercury free and require 40% less power to operate than comparably-sized CCFL sets. The TV frame is made of recyclable aluminium and each dealer is expected to take responsibility for proper recycling procedures at the end of the TV’s lifecycle.

Premium Customer Service - NuVision's customer service is simply second to none. All NuVision TVs come with NuCare, a two-year warranty as well as a 30-day defective exchange policy. In the unlikely event that the TV should ever need service, NuVision will see to the repair within two business days in the customer’s home.

Pricing - The 40FX10LS will have an MSRP of $4,499, the 46FX10LS will have an MSRP of $5,499, and the 55FX10LS will have an MSRP of $6,999. The 55FX10LS Mirror will have an MSRP of $8499, and the U Color premium adds $1500 to any of the FX10LS series.
About NuVision: Founded in 2005, NuVision, Inc. is a manufacturer of ultimate performance video components. Known for their premium build quality and elegant appearance, NuVision products are engineered to be the finest home cinema solutions available. To ensure that customers receive the best support, service and set-up, NuVision products are only sold through an exclusive, pre-qualified dealer network. NuVision garnered 7 first place awards in the prestigious Inside Track 2010 Supplier Loyalty Test. For more information visit: www.NuVision.com

BDP-1 Digital Music Player and SP3 Processor Highlight Bryston Booth 2418 at CEDIA 2010

Both units will be powered up for feature demonstrations

Peterborough, Ontario Sept 15th, 2010— Bryston LTD (www.bryston.com), builders of the world’s finest audio electronics have announced that the BDP-1 digital music player and much anticipated SP3 surround processor (audio only version) will be on operational display at CEDIA 2010 in booth 2418. Additionally, both units are expected to ship to authorized Bryston dealers Q4, 2010.

BDP-1: Bryston will have a small audio system up and running at CEDIA 2010 to show off the BDP-1’s functionality. The BDP-1’s sole function is to give music aficionados the ability to enjoy their library of high-resolution digital music files (resolutions of up to 24-bit/192kHz are supported) residing on a USB storage device, which in turn is directly connected via standard USB cable or thumb drive to the BDP-1 digital music player. “The BDP-1’s feature set is unique and we have found that it is most easily defined by clarifying what it does not do,” stated Bryston’s James Tanner. “The Bryston BDP-1 does not contain an internal DAC, a hard-drive, a streamer, a CD player/ripper, noisy fans or switching power supplies. The BDP-1 connects to an external DAC for playback through AES-EBU or BNC digital outputs. Quite simply, the BDP-1 is an ultra high-performance digital music player when connected to an external drive and DAC,” said Tanner. BDP-1 MSRP is $2150.

BDP-1 Tech Talk:
· Out-of-the-box playability when connected to an external USB drive—no network required
· Supports 16 and 24 bit files with sample rates of: 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz, 176.4 KHz & 192 KHz.
· Linux operating system optimized to provide the highest quality audio performance
· Industrial quality motherboard uses only a small fraction of its computing power to optimize sonic performance
· Utilizes Bryston-modified top quality soundcard
· AES-EBU Balanced and BNC (spdif) output section for the highest possible performance
· Electronic isolation of audio components from computer components
· Galvanic isolation employed to prevent charge-carrying particles from migrating section to section
· Warranty on the BDP-1 is five years parts and labor

SP3: The SP3 surround processor has been engineered to deliver ultimate performance surround sound playback. Slated to be available in two versions, the SP3 at CEDIA 2010 will feature audio processing (with all of the latest DTS and Dolby® high definition formats); however a modular video processing board will become available next year for those consumers who wish to add video processing capabilities. The SP3 will feature ultimate performance Class A discrete analog circuits and isolated dual power supplies, one each for the digital and analog sections of the device. Analog inputs will include both balanced and single-ended, and the numerous digital inputs will include 8 for HDMI. 7.1 analog outputs are provided in both balanced and singled-ended formats, and digital outputs include two HDMI. The SP3 is expected to have an MSRP between $9,000 and $10,000 and will carry a five year warranty.

SP3 Tech Talk:
ANALOG INPUTS:
· Two pairs of Stereo Balanced XLR
· Single Ended Analog bypass (7.1)
· Six pairs Single ended Analog
· One Microphone
DIGITAL INPUTS:
· Eight HDMI
· Two AES-EBU
· Three Optical
· Four SPDIF Coax
· One USB



ANALOG OUTPUTS:
· Set of 7.1 Balanced XLR
· Set of 7.1 Single Ended (RCA)
· One Zone (stereo)
· One set VCR and Tape loop
· One Stereo Headphone Jack
DIGITAL OUTPUTS:
· One Optical SPDIF
· Two HDMI
· CONTROL INPUTS:
· One RS-232
· One Ethernet
· One IR

Please visit Bryston at Booth 2418 at CEDIA 2010

About Bryston: Bryston (www.bryston.com) first opened for business in 1962 as a manufacturer of blood analysis equipment, and was named (as an acronym) for its three founders, Tony Bauer, Stan Rybb, and John Stonborough. In 1968, NASA engineer John Russell, Sr. relocated himself and his family to Canada from the US and bought the company, where his son Chris set to work designing the first Bryston amplifier. The Pro 3 made its debut in 1973, and since that time, Bryston components have become legendary for their hand-assembled build quality, performance and reliability in both the pro audio and consumer audio market segments. Bryston amplifiers are utilized in some of the world’s most renowned recording studios and owned by many discerning music industry professionals. Bryston applies manufacturing techniques and materials in the everyday assembly of their electronic equipment that are more typically utilized by the military and aerospace industries. Bryston is now based in Peterborough, Ontario Canada, just northeast of Toronto, and sold through over 150 dealers in North America and 60 countries worldwide.

THIEL Loudspeakers Unveils the SCS4T

Time and phase coherent two-way tower speaker added to J.E.T collection

September 15th, 2010 (Lexington, KY) — U.S. loudspeaker company THIEL Audio (www.thielaudio.com), has announced the introduction of the SCS4T, a new floor-standing model as part of the J.E.T. collection. Based upon THIEL’s award-winning Power Driver technology, the SCS4T features advanced engineering and elegant aesthetics that bring both visual appeal and truly superb audio reproduction to any music or home theater system. The two-way SCS4T design exists as a direct response to consumer demand for a Power Driver-based floor-standing loudspeaker.

THIEL’s much heralded short coil/long gap coaxially mounted Power Driver, which lies at the heart of the company’s architectural products and the SCS4 bookshelf speaker, maintains THIEL’s longstanding tradition of time and phase coherent designs featuring first order crossovers. The Power Driver also features a tweeter design based upon the exceptionally high performance tweeter used in the company’s flagship loudspeaker, the acclaimed CS3.7. The SCS4T is meticulously crafted using ultra-rigid cabinet construction and an aluminum baffle to deliver exceptionally high levels of detail, dynamics and impact resulting in a truly lifelike listening experience. The SCS4T also includes brushed aluminum Outriggers fitted with spikes to provide the highest degree of stability and visual appeal. And as with all THIEL loudspeakers, the Natural Cherry, Dark Cherry, and Black Ash finishes have been painstakingly selected and finished to integrate beautifully with any décor. "The primary design goal of the SCS4T was to make the Power Driver technology available to customers looking for a high performance floor-standing loudspeaker—and we are highly pleased with the results,” explained THIEL president Kathy Gornik. “The SCS4T is a perfect complement to our architectural and existing floor-standing models and is equally at home in surround or stereo music systems,” Gornik added.

Features and Benefits

· Coaxially mounted midrange/tweeter and phase correct crossover design ensure perfect time coherence for every listening position, resulting in a very high level of spatial realism and three dimensional imaging
· High output capability for dynamic, demanding playback
· Ultra low-distortion short coil/long gap, copper-stabilized driver motor systems for excellent sonic fidelity and tonal accuracy
· Die-cast aluminum baffle and 1" thick MDF cabinet construction provides a level of strength equal to that found on much more expensive products, resulting in greater clarity from reduced vibrations and resonances
· Black brushed aluminum Outriggers and gunmetal finish spikes provide a superior base for optimized sonic performance
· Available in three of our most popular real wood finishes – Natural Cherry, Dark Cherry, and Black Ash.

The THIEL SCS4T will have an MSRP of $3690 per pair and the expected delivery date to authorized THIEL dealers is November 15th, 2010.

First Look: AMD Phenom II X4 970 BE

I recently got in the new Phenom II X4 970 BE. I have not had that much time to work with it, but I will be giving a first look into its perfomance stock and overclocked. BE stands for Black Edition. And that is AMD's version with an unlocked multiplier. The unlocked multiplier makes it that much easier to overclock. Due to time constraints, I went old school and worked within the BIOS. With just a few clicks to up the multiplier and voltage, I was overclocking. A word of caution with overclocking- I would not recommend it using the stock cooler. I was able to reach 3.818GHz air cooled without any difficulty, but overclocking eats power. And that translates to heat. So if you want to overclock, get a nice cooler. And here are a few early benchmarks that look pretty good. I used 3DMark Vantage. The stock setting of 3.5GHz gave 11,950 CPU marks, and overclocked at 3.818GHz yielded 13,070 CPU marks. Not bad.

JL Audio CS112RG-W3v3 Subwoofer Review

When it comes to subwoofers, there are a lot of choices to pick from. Not only do you have many manufacturers to pick from, but there are also many different sizes and styles. Subwoofer sizes range typically from 8” to 18”. The size of the speaker typically will tell how deep the subwoofer will play. After all, an 8” will typically not play as deep as an 18”, but then again, speaker size is only one part of the equation.

Up for review is the JL Audio CS112RG-W3v3. It is a 12” subwoofer in a sealed box made specifically for the driver. With subwoofers the most popular types of enclosures are sealed and ported. Typically, ported boxes will play louder than sealed. This extra output also will usually come at the expense of not playing quite as deep. The type of box design is solely the preference of what is more important to you – louder or deeper.

The driver in the JL Audio CS112RG-W3v3 is from their W3v3 series, and feature some excellent JL Audio technologies. These technologies include:
1) DMA Optimized Motor System
2) Vented Reinforcement Collar
3) Insert molded suspension/Coil/Terminal Sub-Assembly
4) Elevated Frame Cooling
5) Floating Cone Attach Method
6) Surround Stress Relief

No matter the range of stroke and input power levels, the DMA-optimized motor system delivers constant performance. JL Audio’s patented VRC (Vented Reinforced Collar) increases reliability by reducing failures due to glue breakdown and provides stress relief to the spider material during high excursion. The Insert Molded Suspension/Coil/Terminal Sub-Assembly uses an all new hybrid-weave progressive roll flat spiders onto a composite carrier for the best suspension alignment. Elevated Frame Cooling creates a pathway for air to cool the voice coil. Floating cone attach method improves piston motion through independent cone and surround alignment from the spider/coil assembly. Surround Stress Relief helps maintain the surround performance at all power levels.

All of these technologies are the thanks of JL Audio’s proprietary DMA (Dynamic Motor Analysis) modeling system. The cone itself is a mineral filled polypropylene upper cone body. The driver is designed for small sealed or ported boxes. The power handling capability is rated at 500 watts. The enclosure used for the CS112RG-W3v3 is sealed for rear firing dark grey carpeted enclosure with a black steel mesh grille. The enclosure and driver weigh just over 30 lbs, and the wedge design measured 14.25 x 24 x 11.75 x 6.75 inches.

For the listening test, I turned to Bachbuster – Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Right Around, and Techmaster Bass Computer – Activate. Bachbusters Toccata and Fugue in D Minor proved to be very musical. The W3v3 driver in it’s prebuilt enclosure showed great output and low end extension of the pipe organ. Dead or Alive –You Spin Me Right Round is a great track to test the responsiveness of a subwoofer. A large cone and large motor structure are often not a great combination when it comes to fast bass beats, which can come off sloppy sounding, and muddy. The Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Right Round track not only provided excellent output, it also showed how responsive the cone and motor structure is. Often times a 12” driver is not quite up to the task, and the bass beats come off sluggish. With the JL Audio CS112RG-W3v3-4, it was only a tad sluggish. I then turned to Bass Computer – Activate. It is an old school bass CD, but is a great torture disk for those subwoofers that are not up to the task. The JL Audio W3v3 driver again delivered in spades. The output was accurate, deep, and with lots of authority. The bass was very clean sounding with a lot of impact.

Overall I was very impressed with the sound quality and output from the subwoofer. While low end extension showed it can play down to around 20Hz, useable output is really in the 30Hz range. For a small sealed enclosure I was impressed. Reference gear used was Kenwood Excelon KDC-X991 and Kenwood Excelon X1200M Class D amp. While the output was not quite equal to my high output reference driver, I was not expecting this level of performance from a small sealed enclosure, especially with an MSRP of only $350. The performance has earned it our “Highly Recommended” award. For more information and complete specs, check out their website at jlaudio.com.

XSTREAMHD™ PARTNERS WITH AMX® TO OFFER AMX CUSTOMERS THE ULTIMATE IN CINEMA-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT

XStreamHD’s Revolutionary Direct-to-Home Satellite Technology will be Featured in the AMX Booth at 2010 CEDIA Expo

McLean, VA and Richardson, TX – September 14, 2010 – XStreamHD, an emerging leader in the delivery and distribution of Full High Definition (HD) entertainment directly to the home, and AMX, the leading provider of solutions that simplify the use of technology to create effective home and work environments, today announced a partnership that will enable AMX to bundle XStreamHD’s cinema-class entertainment solution with its distributed audio and video solutions. Additionally, an InConcert® Partner Alliance agreement will enable AMX to develop a module for the XStreamHD system to fully integrate into an AMX solution. The module will be made available to all authorized AMX system integrators in the near future. XStreamHD will showcase its revolutionary HD entertainment solution at the 2010 CEDIA Expo in Atlanta , GA from September 23 – 26 in the AMX booth (#912).

“This partnership will enable us to integrate our superior entertainment solution with AMX’s world-class suite of A/V controls and distributed entertainment systems,” said George Gonzalez, founder and CEO of XStreamHD. “Our customers will enjoy unparalleled digital quality, access and convenience to HD entertainment integrated with some of the most sophisticated electronic devices and technology available through AMX.”

XStreamHD’s innovative whole-home HD entertainment system delivers Full 1080p HD video and up to 7.1 channels of lossless DTS-HD Master Audio™ via satellite, enabling consumers to enjoy the very latest in uncompromised Full HD entertainment. Additionally, every XStreamHD customer has exclusive multi-room access to Pre-Fetched Entertainment (PFE), which provides unparalleled convenience by automatically delivering just-released HD entertainment directly to each user’s personal library based upon individual preferences and advance title selections.

“XStreamHD provides consumers with unmatched HD entertainment quality and convenience that fits perfectly with the vision of AMX,” said Robert Choate, director of AMX InConcert Partnerships. “We look forward to building a long-term partnership with XStreamHD that will enable our customers to elevate their digital standard of living with customized solutions tailored to meet their sophisticated A/V demands.”

Consumers can currently pre-order XStreamHD’s FAST Start or PRO Start packages to receive priority shipment of the first release systems at www.XStreamHD.com. Each starter package includes one HD Media Server with 1TB storage, one HD or PRO Media Receiver - depending on the package selected, a RF One Remote Control, and all required accessories. The FAST Start package is priced at only $399, while the PRO Start package is offered for $499. 2TB and 4TB storage upgrades are optional with both starter packages. The XStreamHD Fast Start was honored with a 2010 CES Innovations Award for excellence in engineering design and consumer innovation.

About XStreamHD
XStreamHD is leading the HD revolution, setting a new standard for the delivery and distribution of Full HD entertainment throughout the home. XStreamHD provides the first-ever transport network to offer Full HD(1080p) video and up to 7.1 channels of lossless audio of movies and music delivered directly to the home via satellite. With XStreamHD, consumers can build a customized, unique, and unparalleled in-home entertainment network and enjoy the content they want most - including movies, music, electronic games, broadcast HDTV, and more - when it’s most convenient, anywhere in the home, and at the quality today’s home theaters were designed to support. XStreamHD is based in McLean , Virginia . For more information, visit www.XStreamHD.com.

About AMX
AMX hardware and software solutions simplify the implementation, maintenance, and use of technology to create effective environments. With the increasing number of technologies and operating platforms at work and home, AMX solves the complexity of managing this technology with reliable, consistent and scalable systems. Our award-winning products span control and automation, system-wide switching and audio/video signal distribution, digital signage and technology management. They are implemented worldwide in conference rooms, homes, classrooms, network operation / command centers, hotels, entertainment venues, broadcast facilities, among others.

AMX was founded in 1982 and is a member of the Duchossois Group of Companies. For more information, visit www.amx.com.

ASUS ENGTS450 Graphic Cards Deliver Innovative Design, Value, and Outstanding 3D Performance

-- The ENGTS450 DirectCU series of cards fuse award winning thermal design
and Voltage Tweak technologies --


Fremont, CA (September 13, 2010) - ASUS today announces the latest addition in its Fermi-based high-performance DirectX 11 graphics cards — the ENGTS450 DIRECTCU Series.

ASUS is excited to launch their ENGT450 graphics cards featuring NVIDIA’s latest GeForce 400 GPU design that delivers impressive DX11 graphics plus support for exciting technologies like NVIDIA 3D Vision, PhysX and CUDA and enhanced tessellation. The ASUS ENGTS450 DirectCU TOP lineup goes further than reference solutions with a focus on quality, reliability and performance. These facets are driven through features like DirectCU thermal design, Voltage Tweak overvolting and reliability features like GPU Guard, EMI Shield, Fuse Protection and a Dust Proof Fan Design. These innovative features ensure enhanced cooling, frame rate, reliability and allow for superior overclocking, continuing to show ASUS’ focus at providing the best performance and value for the budget gamer who does not want to sacrifice quality or performance.

Better Cooling with Copper — DirectCU Technology

Continuing to set the bar in graphics cooling designs, ASUS continues its use of its award winning DirectCU thermal heatsink and fan assembly design.

The ENGTS450 DirectCU performs 20% cooler and 35% quieter with DirectCU thermal technology as well as ensuring quiet and cool operation even when overclocked. The use of top quality components ensures that the ENGTS450 DirectCU Series stays stable during overclocking and durable for long-term use.

Pushing Boundaries Further with TOP selected GPUs
ASUS ENGTS450 DirectCU TOP/DI/1GD5 graphics cards continue with the award winning TOP design with sorted GPUs featuring factory overclocks for improved gaming and benchmarking. The ASUS ENGTS450 DirectCU TOP series feature Voltage Tweak technology that allows adjustment of voltages to the GPU for superior overclocking and higher frame rates. Voltage Tweak in unison with the award winning fan controls offered in Smart Doctor graphics utility allow for flexibility and safety when overclocking. These features can boost the core and memory clocks significantly for faster overall performance* in your games, applications, or benchmarks.

Elevating Gaming and Multimedia To A New Level Of Immersion
Dedicated gamers and media enthusiasts need look no further than the power of NVIDIA’s new GTS450 chipset in the ASUS ENGTS450 series of graphics cards. These cards open up new horizons of visual fidelity with native DirectX11 capabilities and resolutions up to 2560 x 1600. Finally, true high definition gaming comes to life in vivid detail with the added advantage of NVIDIA 3D Vision technology allowing for the most immersive gaming and cinema experience.

Product highlights:
The ASUS ENGTS450 DIRECTCU TOP/DI/1GD5 is TOP-selected and overclocked to perform at 925MHz, performing over 15% faster than reference solutions.
ASUS DirectCU thermal technology: Precision mounted twin DirectCU 8mm copper heatpipes are in direct contact with the GPU — creating faster heat dissipation and achieving 20%* cooler performance and 35%* quieter operation at 21dB* (idle mode) — barely audible, even in a quiet room.
ASUS Voltage Tweak technology allows the ENGTS450 DIRECTCU Series to overclock to the GPUs limits, potentially allowing frequencies near 1GHz. More impressive and more covenient, the bundled ASUS Smart Doctor utility alters the GPU voltage without requiring adjusted BIOS settings, or even reboot the PC. Gamers can achieve higher frame rates on-demand and without interrupting the on-screen action.
ASUS ENGTS450 DirectCU levels up overclocking stability with the unique POSCAP (Capacitor) to reduce power noise. In addition ASUS ENGTS450 Series pushes forward in hardware design using a more advanced 4-phase power (compared to reference 3-phase) to provide higher current flow and more stable voltage during tweaking.
The exclusive PCB stiffener and GPU Guard provide extra strong hold to enhance shockproof performance and prevent bending and cracking. Plus, the Fuse Protection and EMI shield deliver risk-free graphics performance.

*Subject to system configuration and usage.
Specifications, graphics card appearance and bundled software subject to change without notice. Please visit usa.asus.com for more details.

Availability
The ASUS ENGTS450 DIRECTCU Series are available immediately from authorized ASUS resellers. With an MSRP starting at $139.99, ASUS’ 400 series extends the spectrum of features, performance, and true Windows 7 optimization to new audiences.
SPECIFICATIONS

ENGTS450 DIRECTCU TOP/DI/1GD5 ENGTS450 DIRECTCU/DI/1GD5
Graphics Engine NVIDIA GeForce GTS450 NVIDIA GeForce GTS450
Bus Standard PCI Express® 2.0 PCI Express® 2.0
Video Memory 1GB GDDR5 1GB GDDR5
Engine Clock 925 MHz 783 MHz
Memory Clock 4000 MHz (1000 MHz GDDR5) 3608 MHz (902 MHz GDDR5)
Memory Interface 128 bit 128 bit
CUDA Core 192 192
DVI Max. Resolution 2560 x 1600 2560 x 1600
D-Sub Max. Resolution 2048 x 1536 2048 x 1536
D-Sub Output X1 X1
DVI Output X1 X1
HDMI Output X1 (Native) X1 (Native)
HDCP Compliant YES YES
Software Bundled ASUS Utilities & Driver
AiWi ASUS Utilities & Driver
AiWi
Dimensions The card size is 8.543” x 4.37” The card size is 8.543” x 4.37”

About ASUS
ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia, wireless solutions, networking devices and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than ten thousand people and a world-class R&D team of 3,000 engineers, the company's revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion.

Big News for World's First Collectible RTS

SAGA goes Free-2-Play while greatly expanding content.



Provo, UT - September 13, 2010 -- UtopiaWire -- Silverlode Interactive today announced that its flagship game SAGA will be offered completely free as of Tuesday September 14th. Players who register at http://www.playsaga.com will receive the same fully enabled account that was formerly sold for $19.95 on such sites as Direct-2-Drive. All former paid features such as the ability to form guilds, trade in the auction house and quest with friends will be activated.



In addition to free registration, all tournaments (which formerly costed tournament tokens to enter) will be free as well. Players will still win tokens for playing in tournaments, allowing for the purchase of rare and powerful items from the tournament store.



The Tuesday Patch will also bring a lot of new content to the game, as well as removing the old alliance restriction, which means players of both the Brotherhood and Order Factions can quest and chat with each other. Some of the additions include raising the nation level cap to 40 and the unit level cap to 15. New territory quests have also been added, allowing players to expand their kingdoms.



“We are committed to the ongoing development and expansion of SAGA,” says Silverlode President Jason Faller. “We are focused on continuing as the leader in MMO RTS gaming, and are thrilled to offer SAGA free-to-play at last.”



About Silverlode Interactive

Silverlode Interactive is a growing game studio outside Salt Lake City, Utah, founded by movie industry professionals. Silverlode’s flagship title SAGA is the world’s first collectible MMO RTS, which revolutionized RTS gaming.

VOGEL’S ANNOUNCES “MOUNT & COVER SYSTEM® FOR IPAD” PROTECTS & MOUNTS YOUR IPAD ANYWHERE

Mount iPad In-Car to Use as DVD Entertainment System

In Living Room to Watch DVDs, in Kitchen to View Recipes

In Bedroom Listen to Music or as Alarm Clock



September 9, 2010, Berlin, Germany -- Vogel’s www.vogels.com, the leading European market leader in Audio/Video & TV mounting solutions, announced today at IFA 2010 Expo in Berlin, Germany, the Vogel’s “Mount & Cover System® for iPad” www.ipadonthewall.com, a unique mounting solution for protecting and mounting your iPad at home, work and when travelling. Drawing on Vogel’s proven experience in secure mounting systems, Vogel’s Mount & Cover System for iPad safely mounts Apple’s highly successful iPad tablet wherever it’s needed: on walls, tables, desks, or in cars for easy accessibility and usability at all times.



The Vogel’s Mount & Cover System for iPad lets you use the iPad as an in-car entertainment system; in the living room as a sound controller, to watch DVDs, news or weather stations; in the kitchen to view iBook recipes; or in the bedroom to listen to music or as an alarm clock.



The Vogel’s Mount & Cover System for iPad includes the following products:



Vogel’s BaseCover®:

Cover protects the back of the iPad with a soft tactile coating, making it extremely easy to hold.
Reverses to protect the front of your iPad and its buttons, especially useful when you are travelling or when placing the iPad in a bag or purse.
Special patent-pending aluminium connector enables the iPad (with BaseCover attached) to be connected to a range of Vogel’s mounts, including the WallMount, TableMount, and CarMount (more info below).
Adds minimal additional bulk to the iPad.
Additional mounting/cover solutions will be added in the future.


Vogel’s WallMount®:

Small hidden button mount can be screwed onto almost any wall’s surface.
Snaps into the iPad (with BaseCover attached) for easy storage, ready for instant viewing or access.
Once mounted, the iPad can be easily rotated to up to 360 degrees.
Locking system ensures robust and secure stability.


Vogel’s CarMount®:

Mounts iPad for in-car use.
Adapted from Vogel’s successful DVDock.
View movies for an instant in-car iPad-based DVD entertainment system.
No tools needed.
Attaches securely to the headrest, so back-seat travellers can enjoy content on the iPad while in the car.


Vogel’s TableStand®:

Enables the iPad (with BaseCover attached) to be placed on a table, shelf or desk for viewing movies, tv shows, or photos.
Displays in either portrait or landscape mode.


Works with All Current & Future iPads



Vogel’s patent-pending Mount & Cover System for iPad sets the standard for mounting systems for current and future iPads and other tablet PCs. It opens the way for mounting personal screens anywhere, building upon Vogel’s rich experience in stylish design, advanced functionality, high quality and expertise in mounting flat screen TVs.



Vogel’s is offering a licensing program to enable third parties to use or embed the Vogel’s system in their covers or mounts.



Pricing & Availability



Available in Europe October 2010, with U.S. availability early 2011, the Vogel’s Mount & Cover System for iPad starter kit includes 1 BaseCover and 1 WallMount, priced at 79.99 Euro ( U.S. pricing to be determined). The BaseCover is also sold separately, priced at 59.99 Euro and the WallMount is 29.99 Euro. Pricing for the CarMount and TableStand will be announced next month, prior to availability.



For more information, see or www.ipadonthewall.com or www.vogels.com.



About Vogel’s



For over 35 years, award-winning Vogel’s has been internationally producing Audio/Video mounting solutions. The European market leader with a distribution network that spans the globe, Vogel’s is one of the most trusted and well-known experts in the mounting solutions business with many prestigious international awards, including the Red Dot Product Design Award, RetailVision Award 2010, and many more.

Vogel’s designs, develops and sells support and mounting solutions for LCD and plasma screens, audio and video equipment and projectors. In 2010, Vogel’s has begun expanding into new categories, such as gaming with TwistDock for the PlayStation 3, and accessories for the Apple iPad.

Based in The Netherlands, Vogel’s has national sales organizations located in the U.S., U.K., Italy and Spain, and is supported by a local distribution network around the world. Vogel’s stands for innovation, quality and reliability. For more information, see www.vogels.com..

Classé Redefines Amplifier Excellence With New Delta Lineup

Montréal, Québec, Canada—Sept. 7, 2010—With its global reputation for genuinely reference-standard audio designs (including at Abbey Roads Studios, where no fewer than 33 Classé power amps are at work every day), when the Canadian manufacturer debuts a new amplifier design, the high-end world listens. When Classé unveils no fewer than four, that same world begins to buzz.

That will surely be the case this fall as Classé intros a new range of Delta series power amplifiers, upgrading what has been one of the firm’s most successful, and the worlds most universally admired family of mono and multi-channel power amps. “The original Delta series power amps have created a perception among audiophiles, music professionals, and recording pros alike, that Classé amplifiers belong in the world’s most demanding systems,” says the firm’s Executive VP Brand Development Dave Nauber. “These new amplifiers will validate and reinforce that perception for years to come.”

A total of four new Delta series models are to be unveiled. Two monaural models, the CA-M300 and CA-M600 are rated for 300 and 600 watts respectively, while the stereo CA-2300 and multichannel CA-5300 promise 2x300 and 5x300 watts respectively.

The new Delta series models build upon three key refinements. First, a new miniaturized driver-stage circuit, which is almost perfectly free of noise and distortion, delivers the most precise signal control yet devised. Additionally, the entire amplification process occurs on a single new six-layer circuit board, significantly shortening the signal path for superior time-domain performance and even greater transparency. But the most obvious and arguably one of the most important new Delta series innovations is Classé’s ICTunnel™ (“icy tunnel”), an active cooling system inspired by million-dollar medical and laser imaging equipment designs.

Audiophiles have long known empirically that any amplifier achieves its best sonics when warmed to its ideal operating temperature. But just what temperature is that? How quickly will it reach it? And how warm is too warm?

The ICTunnel eliminates these uncertainties by bringing each new Delta series amplifier to temperature within 15 minutes of initial power-on—and holding it there. The Intelligent Cooling Tunnel incorporates advanced sensors and microprocessor controls to maintain the amplifier’s ideal operating temperature throughout the listening session, regardless of how hard the amplifier’s driven.

The all-new Delta series amplifiers bring fresh thinking to the category. In addition to a completely new audio circuit topology, a new power supply design enables the amplifier to sit at idle, consuming only 0.5W in standby. With the ICTunnel helping the amplifier to quickly reach its ideal operating temperature, there is no need to waste energy by leaving the amplifier continuously on, as audiophiles often do.

Consistent with the original Delta series amplifiers, the new designs include a host of sophisticated control and diagnostic features. RS-232, USB, CAN Bus, IR and DC trigger controls provide for automation in virtually any installation scenario. Comprehensive monitoring of AC mains and signal input and output parameters assures a lifetime of safe, reliable operation.


The four new Classé Delta series power amplifiers share their predecessors’ massive, rounded fascia and aluminum-steel construction, executed to the very highest standards. The four new models join the existing CA-2100 (2x100 watts), which continues in the line at an attractive new price.







The Delta Series power amplifiers will be available in September, 2010, at the following suggested prices:



CA-M300------------ $5,500

CA-M600------------ $7,000

CA-2300------------- $7,000

CA-5300------------- $9,500

Kingston Technology Ranked No. 6 in Revenue on

Rankings for U.S. Companies Based on Three-Year Comparison



Fountain Valley, CA -- August 31, 2010 -- Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, was ranked No. 6 in total revenue on Inc. magazine’s 2010 listing of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Kingston’s 2009 revenues finished at $4.1 billion (U.S.), the second-highest in company history. Inc.’s top 10 listing by revenue is a subset of the Inc. 5000 listing that ranks the top 5,000 private U.S. companies by three-year revenue growth from 2006 to 2009.

“Kingston is grateful to have made the Inc. 5000 list again. David (Sun) and I are happy that Inc. continues to publish this list as it demonstrates their support of private companies and the strong commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit which is necessary in today’s difficult and competitive environment,” said John Tu, co-founder, Kingston®.

“We are fortunate to have come out strong after the downturn in the memory industry and the general state of the economy of the past few years. For us to continue growing during this weak economy, we will need to keep a very strong focus on process improvement. It is the only way,” said David Sun, co-founder, Kingston.

Kingston was also ranked 20th in gross-revenue growth for the three years from 2006 to 2009. During that period, Kingston’s revenue grew 12 percent as revenues increased from $3.7 billion in 2006 to $4.1 billion in 2009.

“The leaders of the companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression,” said Inc. president Bob LaPointe. “The 2010 Inc. 5000 showcases a particularly hardy group of entrepreneurs.”

In 1992, Kingston was crowned No. 1, as the fastest growing private company by Inc. magazine for previous-year revenue of over $140 million and a workforce of 130 employees. In 2007, Inc. magazine honored Tu and Sun with the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Goldhirsh Award, for leadership, guidance and the embodiment of the American entrepreneurial spirit which were the core values of Inc. founder Bernie Goldhirsh.



The Top 10 Inc. 5000 Companies Ranked by Total Revenue

Top 10 Rank
Overall Inc. 5000 Rank
Company
Location
Industry
2009 Revenue

1
No. 4,512
HCA
Nashville, TN
Health
$30.1 billion

2
No. 4,929
7-Eleven
Dallas, TX
Consumer Products & Services
$15.1 billion

3
No. 4,932
Toys “R” Us
Wayne, NJ
Retail
$13.6 billion

4
No. 4,819
Univar
Redmond, WA
Business Products & Services
$7.2 billion

5
No. 3,247
Booz Allen Hamilton
McLean, VA
Business Products & Services
$5.1 billion

6
No. 4,708
Kingston Technology
Fountain Valley, CA
Computer Hardware
$4.1 billion

7
No. 3,626
Mansfield Oil
Gainesville, GA
Energy
$2.9 billion

8
No. 3,294
LPL Investment Holdings
Boston, MA
Financial Services
$2.7 billion

9
No. 1,018
Vizio
Irvine, CA
Consumer Products & Services
$2.5 billion

10
No. 4288
AMC Entertainment
Kansas City, MO
Media
$2.4 billion


Source: Inc.5000, August 24, 2010



For the complete Inc. 5000 list visit www.inc.com/inc5000/2010/index.html, or visit www.kingston.com for more information.



About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.

Kingston Technology Company, Inc. is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Kingston designs, manufactures and distributes memory products for desktops, laptops, servers, printers, and Flash memory products for PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Through its global network of subsidiaries and affiliates, Kingston has manufacturing facilities in California, Taiwan and China, and sales representatives in the United States, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, China, and Latin America. For more information, please call 800-337-8410 or visit www.kingston.com.

NuVision offers leasing option to retailers VIA Marlin Business Services

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, September 2nd, 2010–NuVision© U.S. Inc. (www.nuvision.com), the leading manufacturer of ultimate-performance 1080p Deep Black LCD HDTV's has unveiled a program for retailers enabling them to better maintain inventory of premium products through a low cost leasing program. For this initiative, NuVision has selected Marlin Business Services Corp., a leader in the equipment financing industry for small businesses throughout the U.S. The program is designed to make it easier for NuVision dealers to display and stock the company's premium LCD TV's and projectors.

"NuVision is constantly seeking new ways to support our independent dealers, particularly through these challenging economic times," stated CEO David Hester. "Our new leasing program through Marlin Business Services Corp. will provide an option for dealers to demonstrate and stock profitable video components that are critical to the success of their businesses and sought after by consumers. This program represents an affordable financing solution that will enable our dealers to flourish and grow while reducing the strain on cash flow," said Hester.

Ed Siciliano, SVP and Chief Sales Officer at Marlin, stated: “We are excited to be working with NuVision in support of their premium performance HDTV products. We are confident that by adding lease finance options to NuVision’s luxury entertainment product line we can strengthen sales from its dealer network. We understand the need of the small business dealer community to preserve capital. By offering Marlin financing alternatives we will hopefully help move business forward by presenting the latest NuVision products to a larger base of consumers."



About NuVision: Founded in 2005, NuVision, Inc. is a manufacturer of ultimate performance video components. Known for their premium build quality and elegant appearance, NuVision products are engineered to be the finest home cinema solutions available. To ensure that customers receive the best support, service and set-up, NuVision products are only sold through an exclusive, pre-qualified dealer network. NuVision garnered 7 first place awards in the prestigious Inside Track 2010 Supplier Loyalty Test. For more information visit: www.NuVision.com



About Marlin Business Services Corp. Marlin Business Services Corp. is a nationwide provider of equipment financing solutions primarily to small businesses. The Company’s principal operating subsidiary, Marlin Leasing Corporation, finances over 100 equipment categories in a segment of the market generally referred to as “small-ticket” leasing (i.e. leasing transactions less than $250,000). The Company was founded in 1997 and completed its initial public offering of common stock on November 12, 2003. For more information, visit www.marlincorp.com or call toll free at (888) 479-9111.

Kingston Technology’s world’s fastest memory breaks dual channel frequency world record 3068 MHz achieved with Kingston HyperX memory at GamesCom

GamesCom, Cologne, Germany –23rd August 2010 -- Kingston Technology Europe Ltd., an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced that two modules from its world’s fastest triple channel memory kit Kingston HyperX KHX2333C9D3T1K3/3GX was clocked at 3068 MHz during a heavy over-clocking session at GamesCom 2010 in Cologne. This is the fastest ever recorded frequency for memory and was achieved by the renowned over-clockers Benjamin Bioux aka ‘Benji Tshi’ and Jean-Baptiste Gerard aka ‘marmott’, using liquid nitrogen as cooling aid. The session was run on a GIGABYTE P55 with an Intel Core i7 870 processor.

‘We are absolutely thrilled by the speed of this module.’, said reigning French over-clocking champion Jean-Baptiste Gerard aka ‘marmott’, ‘we knew this module had a lot of potential, but being able to push it that far and break the record for memory frequency even surprised me. We are eager to see what Kingston has in the pipeline for the future.’

Detailed information about the session is available online:

· Session summary with pictures and screenshots: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=257819

· Record validation: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=1355669

· Video of the session on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuOXwV18VO4

· Photos of the session on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kingstontechnologyemea/with/4917669823/



Kingston Technology had released the fastest Intel-certified triple channel memory in the world in June 2010, running at low latencies of 9-11-9-27-2N timings at 1.65 volts, developed for enthusiasts, gamers, and bench markers looking to scale new memory heights. The new Kingston HyperX 2333 MHz kit was heartily welcomed by enthusiasts and is regarded as one of the number one choices for over-clockers all over the world. It is one of the high performance kits in Kingston’s HyperX T1 line within the HyperX family of memory modules.

As with all Kingston HyperX memory, the 2333MHz kit is created with the highest design-engineering principles and subjected to OEM-quality production and testing standards to gain Intel XMP certification. The memory is tested to great success on several P55-based systems including the GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P motherboard. Kingston HyperX memory is backed by a lifetime warranty and free 24/7 technical support. For detailed information please visit the Kingston Web site at www.kingston.com/europe .



About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.

Kingston Technology Company, Inc. is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Kingston designs, manufactures and distributes memory products for desktops, laptops, servers, printers, and Flash memory products for PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Through its global network of subsidiaries and affiliates, Kingston has manufacturing facilities in California, Taiwan and China, and sales representatives in the United States, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, China, and Latin America. For more information, please call 800-337-8410 or visit www.kingston.com.

GIGABYTE Announces GO OC 2010 (GIGABYTE Open Overclocking Championship) Worldwide Final

Taipei, Taiwan, August 24, 2010 - GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and computing hardware solutions today proudly announced the 3rd annual GO OC (GIGABYTE Open Overclocking Championship) is soon to get underway. Contestants from over 33 countries have competed in the local and then regional finals which were held in Indonesia, China, Mexico, Spain and USA from June to August. The victors of the regional events will meet on the battlefield in Taipei, Taiwan at the Hua-Shan Creative Park (East 3 Hall) on Saturday, September 25th, 2010.



“We are thrilled to be able to host what is shaping up to be our most exciting GO OC battle to date,” commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit at GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd. “With the challengers all being the most elite overclockers from around the world, and the hardware they will be using for the event by far the most powerful and overclocking-friendly equipment available on the market today, we expect to see some pretty amazing performance heights being reached, and the winner of this event will without a doubt be the world champion overclocker for 2010!”



As top notch hardware is paramount to achieving record-breaking overclocks, GIGABYTE is pleased to have several industry-leading venders including Intel, ATI, ADATA, Seagate and ENVISION providing world-class hardware for the event.

In addition to the GIGABYTE X58 chipset based GA-X58A-UD7 motherboard, competitors gear will include the Intel® Core™ i7-980X processor Extreme Edition (Gulftown), ATI Radeon™ HD5450 powered GIGABYTE GV-R545OC-512I graphics card, ADATA XPG Plus Series DDR3-1866+ v2.0 6GB triple channel kit memory, Seagate Momentus XT Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD), GIGABYTE ODIN Pro 1200W power supply, ENVISION G2461w LCD monitor and GIGABYTE GK-KM6150 Multimedia USB Keyboard Mouse set.



“Intel continues to invest heavily in the overclocking market with our Intel® Extreme Edition Processors and the recently released Unlocked Intel®“K” Processors,” commented Zane Ball, General Manager of the Desktop Platforms Division at Intel. “We are excited to be part of GO OC and look forward to the overclocking contest as our customers push their Intel hardware to the limits.”



“ADATA is a great supporter of the overclocking community and we are looking forward seeing top overclockers from worldwide fighting for their glory at GIGABYTE GO OC 2010 worldwide final.” said IU Kim, President of ADATA Technology. “We are pleased that our XPG Plus Series DDR3-1866+ v2.0 memory is selected for GIGABYTE GO OC 2010 worldwide final, and await top overclockers using the memory to smash world records.”



“Seagate is very pleased to be part of the much anticipated GIGABYTE Open Over-clocking Championship 2010 worldwide final," said Rex Dong, Country Manager Seagate Taiwan. "We look forward to gamers setting new records with Seagate's Momentus® XT drive, the world's fastest 2.5-inch solid state hybrid drive that sets new benchmarks for real world performance for laptops and gaming systems.”



“ENVISION is very excited to be taking part in GIGABYTE Open Overclocking Championship 2010 worldwide final” said Leader Yeh, General Manager of GIGAZONE International Co. Ltd, global distributer of ENVISION. “We’re pleased to support this historic event, and we look forward to seeing the new world records achieved by the contestants.”


The GIGABYTE GO OC official website (http://gooc2010.gigabyte.com/Default.aspx) is now online featuring all the latest GO OC contest information. See profiles of the contestants, photos and videos of the regional events as well as view a live video stream of the final event brought directly by the team at Overclocking-TV (http://www.overclocking-tv.com/). Fans wanting to get in on the GO OC action can also join the guess the winner contest and submit who they think will be the winner of GO OC 2010. 13 lucky guessers will be randomly selected and will win official GO OC sponsorship hardware. There will also be one lucky draw winner selected each week from August 20th to September 24th with a different prize each week.



To get all the latest information about GO OC, please visit: http://gooc2010.gigabyte.com/Default.aspx

Swan D2.1SE Bookshelf Speaker Review

Speakers come in all types of shapes and sizes. When shopping for speakers, there are plenty of choices of size, finish, color, and design. Up for review is a pair of Swan bookshelf speakers, model D2.1-SE. They are a more traditional 2 way bookshelf design.

Swan is a speaker company manufactured by HiVi Electron Co. The company is based in China. I know that it is easy to think of cheap quality with products made in China. Products made in China are often cheap, and cheap prices usually do not translate to high quality. HiVi is bucking this trend with their Swan speakers.

The Swan D2.1-SE is a beautiful, extremely high quality speaker. I could tell that was the case once they arrived on my door step. Once I opened the box I could tell that great care was taken with them. They were packaged very well. The speakers themselves were protected in their own white microfiber bag, individually. Also included in the box was some high gauge speaker wire. Taking out the speakers revealed a gorgeous Rosewood veneer cabinet in a high gloss clear coat finish. I can honestly say that I was not expecting this level of quality and craftsmanship. The cabinet was breathtaking, and appeared to be a single piece construction.

The Swan D2.1SE is a medium sized ported 2-way bookshelf speaker design. The drivers used are their Q1R tweeter, and the D6.8 woofer. On the back are large gold plated very high quality binder posts. Giving it the standard knock test on the side of the cabinets shows a well built and solid cabinet. The Q1R 28mm reference tweeter has a German silk dome material, ferrofluid cooled and CCAW coil and resonator cavity with damping material to absorb noise. The D6.8 Bass-Midrange driver looks like ones used with other manufacturers, such as Dynaudio. The driver uses a shallow mineral filled polypropylene cone with butyl rubber surround. The shielded magnet system uses a Neodymium magnet with a long throw symmetrically driven motor structure that allows for high excursion. Along with a high power handling voice coli, all of this design is built into a high density aluminum die-cast frame.

The speakers have some impressive features and specs for its size as well. The Swan D2.1SE is a 2-way 4th order vented box system. Frequency response is rated at 43Hz to 20kHz, with sensitivity rated at 86dB. Power handling is rated from 10-120W, with the measurements at 8.0 x 11.9 x 15.2 inches. So far it sounds good on paper, but as you may know what appears good on paper does not always translate into great sound. So let’s put it to the test!

For my technical listening, I jumped right into the main course with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. From the introductory clarinet trill, I was given an aural treat. The Swan D2.1SE projected a pleasantly large soundstage. You can hear with distinction the different instrumentation in the symphony. The clarinet had a lot of air to it. The brass was really clean sounding, and the percussion was really crisp in the snare drum. The tympani provided good depth. There was also a good level of dynamics. And the resolution was very good.

I then went on to the main theme of Pirates of the Caribbean. The output of a full orchestra at play was handled very well. The level of resolution was again very good. The strings were smooth sounding. And I was amazed at the low level extension from a bookshelf speaker. Not only did the Swan D2.1SE play low, they did so with a good level of authority. It wasn’t until the crescendo did they sound just a tad edgy.

I thought I would also try something more modern and turned to the soundtrack from Twilight, and listened to track one: Super Massive Black Hole. Instantly the low level extension and output was obvious, however being just a tad muddy. The imaging was great. The vocals were pleasantly smooth. The song just screams play me loud, and the Swan DE2.1SE more than willing to oblige.

I also wanted to see how they would perform against a couple other bookshelf speakers I have on hand. They consist of a pair of NHT Classic Three, and Thiel SCS4. The NHT Classic Three’s being a 3-way design is very dynamic and only slightly bested the Swan D2.1SE. The Swans however had more resolution and a projected a bigger soundstage. And while the Thiel SCS4’s provided more resolution still, the Swan D2.1SE’s did have a bigger soundstage and lower bass extension and output. Overall the Swans performed very well. So much so, that they have earned our Highly Recommended award. If you are in the market for a bookshelf speaker, they are worth taking a listen to. The MSRP is $1,368 a pair, but they are on promotion right now for $685 a pair. Now at that price, they are a steal! Forget about a pair; get a full 5.1 surround system with them. For more information, check out their website at www.swanspeaker.com.