Essential Install July 2017 | Page 73

Essential Install | Products Lode Audio Integrates Deezer Music Service Into Its Platform Deezer is now available across the Lode Audio range The new Director Series, from Origin Acoustics, offers improved output sensitivity by an average of 3dB Lode Audio has announced that the Deezer music streaming service is now available across its platform. Users of Lode products, which include the single-zone LA1 and four-zone LA4 audio matrices, will be able to access any of the 40 million tracks within Deezer’s Premium+ catalogue. After a simple fi rmware update, Deezer subscribers can simply add their accounts to gain access to the catalogue and their playlists. With integration across all the major automation platforms, including Crestron, AMX, RTI, Control 4 and Command Fusion, Lode users with Deezer subscriptions can easily browse the catalogue, create playlists, view album art and generally navigate the streaming service. Proprietary iOS and Android apps are also available, offering full wireless control as well as full browse control. Ed Stark, Lode Audio’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce the integration of Deezer to the Lode platform. By fully integrating Deezer with our players, subscribers can easily browse their libraries and playlists with minimal latency, allowing them to enjoy the excellent performance the service offers across up to 64 zones.” More information: Lode Audio, [phone], www.lodeaudio.com Origin Acoustics Debuts New Director Series and LCR Collections Origin Acoustics has launched its newest generation of its most popular Director Series and LCR Collections of loudspeakers. After only two years into its lifecycle, Origin has made what it claims is an unprecedented move and investment by releasing its second-generation series with a stream of advances. The most visible advancement are the Director three-way models which are now a much smaller size in depth, saving as much as two inches off the depth of their previous counterparts making them ideal for ceiling spaces. The new series offers improved output sensitivity by an average of 3dB, which decreases power requirements in large multiroom systems. This, the company said, makes Director more effi cient and economical. Nick Berry, executive vice president of Origin Acoustics, said the Director Series is the industry’s largest matched- timbre in-ceiling line, from its smallest threein to largest 10in model, with uniformity and matched materials on all fi ve models. Nick said: “The new second-generation Directors Series and LCR Collection is the result of our continued obsession to innovate and improve by advancing every aspect of each system. “No matter how colossal the advancement, the products acoustic performance and installation ease for the installer is our top interest.” More information: Invision UK [phone], www.invisionUK.com McIntosh Launches Its Biggest-Ever Integrated Amplifi er McIntosh’s biggest- ever integrated amp, the MA9000 McIntosh has launched the MA9000 integrated amplifi er, its biggest-ever integrated in both size and power. The amp offers a number of inputs, including fi ve digital connections for media devices, plus phono inputs for turntables. The MA9000 has a built-in DAC, DA1 Digital Audio Module, featuring USB, two coax, two optical and one MCT input. The DA1 can be easily replaced by future modules to keep the MA9000 up-to-date as new digital audio formats and technologies are developed. Its 10 analogue connections comprise two balanced and six unbalanced inputs, plus moving coil and moving magnet phono inputs, both of which feature adjustable loading for fi ne tuning vinyl playback. All unbalanced analogue connectors are made from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal-handling and grounding. The DA1 utilises an eight-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) used in Quad Balanced mode. High-resolution DSD256 and DXD 384kHz fi les are supported via the USB input, while the coax and optical inputs will decode music up to 24-bit/192kHz. All inputs can be given custom names for user- friendly system control and confi guration. At 300W per channel, McIntosh said the MA9000 has enough power to properly drive virtually all loudspeakers and that its Autoformer technology guarantees speakers will always receive that full 300W regardless of impedance. More information: McIntosh www.mcintoshlabs.com ULTIMATE POWER ABSOLUTE CONTROL Meridian Audio’s Hi-Res, 1U tall 218 Zone Controller and 258 Eight Channel Power Amplifier. Tailored for custom install, competitively priced and with a five year warranty included; it’s not just the performance that’s outstanding. [email protected] [phone] meridian-audio.com 190x40.indd 1 12/07/2017 11:30 July 2017 | 71