The latest in Onkyo’s line of RI (Remote Interactive) Docks for the iPod links with your home entertainment system to get more out of your music, movies, TV shows, music videos, and video podcasts. The DS-A3 is equipped with component video output, to ensure greater quality and reliability for video playback. You also have the benefits found on earlier Docks: recharging capability; onscreen display for navigation and content selection; a dedicated remote control; and integrated operability through Onkyo’s RI system. Combining iPod versatility with Onkyo sound quality is a simple formula for pure enjoyment.

Scientists in Germany have published details of flutes dating back to the time that modern humans began colonising Europe, 35,000 years ago.

The flutes are the oldest musical instruments found to date. The researchers say in the Journal Nature that music was widespread in pre-historic times. Music, they suggest, may have been one of a suite of behaviours displayed by our own species which helped give them an edge over the Neanderthals. The team from Tubingen University have published details of three flutes found in the Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany.

The most well-preserved of the flutes is made from a vulture’s wing bone, measuring 20cm long with five finger holes and two “V”-shaped notches on one end of the instrument into which the researchers assume the player blew.

The find brings the total number of flutes discovered from this era to eight, four made from mammoth ivory and four made from bird bones. According to Professor Nicholas Conard of Tubingen University, this suggests that the playing of music was common as far back as 40,000 years ago when modern humans spread across Europe.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that music was part of day-to-day life,” he said.

Exerts from Pallab Ghosh - Science correspondent, BBC News

The AG-H300mkIII is a classy black stereo receiver delivers 2 x 35 watts of power. Enough power to drive almost any speaker you might choose. Heavy duty speaker binding post type terminals and a headphone jack on the front panel are just two of the features taken from Teac’s full-size components range. The styling of both components is classic black with white markings. The layout and labeling of the controls are absolutely intuitive making it easy for anyone in the house to use.

The PD-H300mkIII CD player is also straight forward to operate. It has both an analogue RCA and a digital output. There are also two remote outputs that can be connected to the AG-H300mkII receiver with the included cable. This allows the receiver to automatically power on and start playback of the CD player.

The PD-H300MmkII and the AG- H300mkII CD and receiver combo will open up your ears like no mini “hi-fi” system from a big box store ever could. Compared to other mini systems, these components provide substantially improved performance and flexibility.

With the debut of the new TX-SR607 receiver, Onkyo also has the distinction of becoming the world’s first manufacturer to launch a 7.2-channel home cinema receiver featuring the all-new Dolby Pro-Logic IIz mode. Designed to take home cinema sound to new heights (literally!) DPL IIz introduces a vertical aspect to the sound field through the addition of left and right-channel front height speakers mounted above the main speakers. Based on the initial positive reactions to demonstrations of this technology to dealers, Onkyo anticipates good demand for expanded height channel capabilities in future models.

The TX-SR607 raises the bar once again in the competitive world of mid-range home theater. With HDMI 1.3a inputs for up to six components, it’s ready to handle all your high-definition video and audio needs. Whether it’s a Blu-ray Disc player, a cable or satellite box, or a gaming console, your video signals will be traveling first class. Lower-resolution analog video signals, meanwhile, can be upscaled to 1080i and fine-tuned by Faroudja DCDi Edge™. HDMI version 1.3a also transports the master-quality HD audio formats, DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby® TrueHD.

Buying Canadian is becoming increasingly difficult in times where the easy answer is to go off shore and have it made for you, as cheaply as possible. As a medium sized loudspeaker manufacturer, we at StudioLAB could just as easily decided to have our loudspeakers manufactured, packaged up and shipped to us from China.

So why haven’t we oriented ourselves to go down the same path as most of the loudspeaker industry? There are many moral reasons, which we feel by now is plainly (and painfully) obvious to anyone who’s lost a job to cheap labour. Products coming out of those factories can sure look pretty, but where corners can be cut to save a few cents, you can be certain they will be. After all, isn’t it the time spent in ensuring that no corners were cut what differentiates a run of the mill audio product from a true to life music reproducer? Our 37 years of experience in producing hundreds of thousands of loudspeakers certainly points to that conclusion.

Although now in the minority, we are certainly not the only ones who continue to produce quality Canadian made products, you just have to look carefully. If you’re looking to support the local economy by purchasing locally made products, may we suggest that you look past the well known North American brand name, and find out just what country the sticker says it’s made in.

Featuring a 4.5 inch Fostex full range driver modified for Unity Audio, this crossover less design produces a beautifully detailed sonic presentation.  The enclosure is a double bass reflex design, which includes spikes.  The ones pictured are finished with an automotive beautiful burgundy paint, other custom  finishes and colours available.  Priced under $1000, true to life sound has never been so affordable!

We’re not alone in thinking that the Aurum Acoustics Integrated System is one of the worlds very best audio systems. Aurum Acoustics has dared to be different by designing a rare and exciting new audiophile product. The Integris Active 300B provides an elusive blend of vacuum tube beauty and solid-state authority in a high resolution active loudspeaker package. The system includes a pair of crossoverless 3 way loudspeakers, a stereo tri-amplifier, and custom loudspeaker cabling. Although a very sophisticated design, it is remarkably simple to set up and operate. The implementation achieves very high technical accuracy and musical satisfaction that is at the leading edge of high-end audio.

Come in today armed with your favourite cd’s (or vinyl) and have a listen to what is surely to be the last audio system you ever buy!

We are pleased to announce our new website is currently under development. The new site will include information on all products we carry, discontinued vintage StudioLAB models, as well as articles on how to get the most out of your hifi & home theatre systems.

As our old site was very much out of date we’ve decided to launch our new site while we add content, so please check back frequently as we will be updating the site each day with new content.