Nuts and Volts - August 2015

10 August 2015

Low(er) Priced Network Audio Player

Since the 1970s, the Marantz name has been attached to high quality equipment prized by audiophiles, and although Saul Marantz shut down the Kew Gardens, NY production facility long ago, the brand still produces some top-shelf receivers, Blu-ray players, and other Hi-Fi components in Japan. As physical media are being replaced by networked audio files, one would correctly expect the company to offer some high-end network players such as the NA-11S1, which is priced at a hefty $3,499 and is beyond most budgets. However, the good news is the new NA6005, will run you "only" $649. It features both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology, as well as proprietary Marantz audio technologies to offer advanced connectivity and sound performance.

Through built-in Wi-Fi or an Ethernet port, the NA6005 connects to a home network to access Internet radio stations and streaming services like Spotify Connect®. It's also equipped with Apple's Airplay® so users can stream their i Tunes® music (from a Mac or PC), as well as directly from an iPhone®, iPad®, or iPod Touch®.

Users can also access local file libraries on a network attached storage (NAS) device or a computer media server, and play audio file types including WAV, WMA, MP3, and AAC. Moreover, the NA6005 can play back high resolution audio files including DSD 2. 8 MHz/5.6 MHz, FLAC

192/24, WAV 192/24, AIFF, and ALAC. Of course, you'll also need to pick up a PM6005 integrated amplifier ($699) and a CD6005 CD player ($499) to complete the system. ▲

■ The Marantz NA6005 network audio player.

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Let There Be Light

The lighting industry has brought forth many changes in recent years, including the widely despised CFLs, various arrangements of LEDs, and (perhaps soon) graphene bulbs. One of the latest introductions is the Hue Go lamp from Royal Philips ( www.usa.philips.com). At first glance, a portable lamp seems pretty mundane, but it won an iF International Forum Design award and features five new patented light effects that "enrich special moments." It also offers interaction with more than 200 third-party apps. According to Philips' Sridhar Kumaraswamy, "We envisage all lights to be connected. Put simply, lighting is now central to the Internet of Things, and we see Philips Hue as the go-to lighting brand for the home."

Among its attributes is portability, and the Hue Go can be used throughout the home; when unplugged from the power supply, it becomes a portable centerpiece that operates for up to three hours in battery mode. The bowl-shaped device can be positioned in different ways, so you can use it for an intimate dinner, to light up a wall, or whatever.

More interesting is that you can choose from seven different lighting effects ranging from warm white to bright daylight, or one of the five effects called cozy candle, Sunday coffee, meditation, enchanted forest, and night adventure. With the Hue app, you can choose from more than 16 million colors. Finally, the Hue Go can provide "light notifications" if you receive a new email or a weather alert, or something else of interest occurs.

One might wonder: Is this glowing bowl a bona fide contribution to the modern lifestyle or just an overhyped reincarnation of the lava lamp? For $99.95 (US pricing yet to be announced), you can judge for yourself. ▲