Black is the new… err black. Like many consumer electronics manufacturers, hi-fi specialist Astin Trew has noticed a pickup in demand for its products in black rather than silver finishes.So the first to get the new all-black treatment is the AT 3500 CD player, to be followed later this summer by the company’s new AT2000 integrated amplifier and the cheaper AT3000 CD player. The entire product range will be available in silver and black by the end of this year.

“We have become aware over the past year of an increasing demand fro a black fascia option. It seems we’re going back to black as a product style trend,” says Michael Osborn, managing director of Astin Trew.

Source: Astin Trew

Not a uncommon fad anymore, another italian auto maker has unveiled, not a car but, a super bling sound system- PAGANI. Exhibited at the Geneva 2008 show, the entire sound system is built with Carbon fiber and brushed aluminium. Looking good isn’t difficult, but beauty along with unbelievable features and output is what Pagani system can boast of. This time Pagani has gone retro and has included two vinyl players spinning at 33 and 45rpm for that real rich audio pleasure to complement the CD player.

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The S-81DAB system from Denon has now been reduced from £600 to £400.

The stereo style system includes speakers, CD player, DAB Radio, FM and full iPod integration.

iPods can be connected up either using the included lead or using the optional ASD-1R dock for a permanent iPod install.

The system’s Blue FL High-Clarity display shows DAB station information, RadioText and iPod track and music details.

Additional features include the clock radio; and the two-way speakers (which can be used vertically or horizontally).

And apparently the speakers have been “tuned” for “UK ears” – eh?

The Bamboo Speaker is a slick little concept design that uses bamboo as an inspiration for its shape. The unique design apparently uses the “natural acoustics of cylindrical objects” to enhance the sound, which may or may not actually do anything.

In addition, it’s got detachable, wireless speakers and a base station with a subwoofer, a CD player, line-in for hooking up MP3 players, and “remote desktop syncing,” which sounds like a nice touch. Unfortunately for you, it’s just a concept, so it won’t be hitting stores anytime soon, but with a little like you’ll be enjoying your music in cylindrically-enhanced ways before too long.

Source: Yanko Design

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This is the new Marantz SA-11S2, a £2500 stereo SACD/CD player designed to bring much of the performance of the flagship SA-7S1 to a more affordable price-point.

The player draws heavily on the main building-blocks of the SA-7S1, using the same transport, digital to analogue conversion and main circuit layout as the £5000 player.

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