Onkyo P-3000R and M-5000R

Returning to the market after an almost 20 years absence and when everyone thought they�re only to be seen on collectors homes, Onkyo is back in business.  The company�s flagship hi-fi�s are the M-5000R power amp and the P-3000R preamp.

The M-5000R is the more conventional of the two units. It achieves 80 watts into eight ohms using a Class A/B layout even though in many recent stereo amps Onkyo uses Class D. This return back to conventional technology suggests that Onkyo feels that classic is not yet dead.

The M-5000R can only be used in stereo mode with unbalanced RCA inputs, but a single XLR input is fitted allowing use as a monoblock. The VU meters can be used at two different sensitivity or can be switched off.

The P-3000R preamp is rather unusual in comparison to the competition. It has six digital inputs, as well as three line inputs , a tape loop and a MM phone stage.

Details :

Product: Onkyo P-3000R preamp &

                M-5000R power amp

Origin: Japan/ Malaysia

Type: Analogue and digital preamp, 2channel class A/B power amp

Weight: P-3000R 11kg/ M-5000R 23,5 kg

Dimensions: 435x99x333.1 mm/ 235x87.5x432.5 mm

Features:

• �         Preamp with moving magnet phono stage, 3line inputs and digital board
• �         2x preouts
• �         DIDRIC Distortion reduction circuitry
• �         6 digit inputs : 1xAES, 1xUSB, 2x coaxial and 2x optical
• �         Front panel display
• �         80 w stereo power amp with symmetrical internal layout

Olive 4HD

The 4HD is a hard disk server and streaming media player which promises to put the fledgling manufacturer Olive on the map. The company started producing in 2005, but of all hard-disk players on sale today, few can provide a user interface as simple, well designed, slick as the Olive 4HD.

As in each other similar devices, the software, along with the sound, is the most important element in separating the product from the competitors and the 4HD�s Maestro software is a real piece of art.

You can create playlists, add or change the album and edit.

In the end, it is neither overly complicated nor too minimalist. It has a excellent, comfortable balance and provides all that the user needs

Details :

Product : Olive 4HD

Origin: USA

Type: Streaming music server

Weight : 6kg

Dimensions: 435x850x290 mm

Features :

• � Digital formats: 16 and 24 bit �up to 200kHz
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• � Formats: WAV, FLAC, MP3, AAC
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• � HDMI connection for GUI through TV
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• � Choice of analogue (RCA)or digital output
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• � Storage : 2 TB

Brennan JB7

What�s the point in owning dozens of CDs which worth a lot of money if you never listen to them? The problem with CDs is time. Try timing how long it takes to pick a CD, load it in the CD player, play a snippet from a track or two, eject it and put it back where it came from. Then there is the problem of finding music. What if the track is on a compilation CD? What if you forgot where you place the CD? You need to keep your CDs near the player or you won�t play them. So you are forced to share your house with literally hundreds of cheap, dust collecting, plastic boxes.

Key features

• Browse albums by spinning the volume knob - push to play
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• Display track names as they play
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• Delete tracks you don�t like
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• Seven rainbow colour coded playlists
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• Segue function blends one track into the next
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• One touch record from vinyl, cassette or radio
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• One button plays the entire music collection at random
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• Plays MP3 downloads - future proof
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• Clock with alarm
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• 60 Watt, 4.8 x 16 x 22 cm steel and aluminium construction
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• Backup music to external USB hard disk for safe keeping
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• You can use it with your existing hi-fi or on its own