Grain Audio. Solid Walnut Wood Meets Technology For Sound Design.

Two ex-Altec Lansing guys, an architect/furniture designer and a liquor industry operational expert combined their tastes and talents to launch Grain Audio. A company that creates beautifully executed audio products, each with has an integral wooden component to it. Solid, not veneered, the design has a positive impact on sound quality and unique grain structure, turning each piece of equipment into a one-of-a-kind design object.



With four different products in their collection thus far, they have successfully created substantial products that look as good as they sound.

The Packable Wireless System (PWS):


The Packable Wireless System from Grain Audio sets itself apart from the competition in both sound and design. The FSC certified walnut enclosure, combined with Waves MaxxAudio suite ensures studio quality sound out of a super portable speaker. Eight hours of battery life allows you to rock without having to worry about charging.



Technical Specs:
• WxDxH- 7" x 2 3/8" x 3 1/8" (180mm x 60mm x 80mm)
• AAC Support
• BT 3.0+A2DP with APT-X technology
• Grammy Award Winning MAXXAUDIO sound processing
• 2 x 2” proprietary loudspeakers
• Proprietary passive radiator
• Rechargeable LioN battery with 8 hours playtime
• Patent pending thru-bolted, braced panel construction
• 1 5V AC adapter (included)
• 1 36” USB cable (included)
• 1 60” 3.5MM cable (included)
• 1 carry pouch (included)

Price: $249 USD

The Over Ear Headphones:


Each pair of OEHP's feature grain matched, FSC certified solid walnut enclosures that is paired with their proprietary driver which features a Neodymium magnet and a CCAW voice coil. This means no fake bass boost, no weird mid-range, just pure, natural sound.

The OEHP was designed to highlight the natural beauty of its solid wood earcups. The inline mic is streamlined and intuitive to use. There are no unnecessary flourishes or extraneous details.



Technical features:
• Ear cups made of FSC Certified Walnut with hand-applied oil finish
• 2x40mm proprietary loudspeakers featuring Neodymium magnets and a CCAW voice coil
• Inline mic and remote
• TPE jacketed cable
• 3.5mm jack and ¼” adapter

Price: $199 USD

In Ear Headphones:


Each pair of IEHP's feature solid wood, grain matched enclosures that are fitted with their proprietary driver that features a Neodymium magnet and a CCAW voice coil. The silicone strain relief protects the wood housing and is comfortable on the ear and to the touch. The inline mic is simple and intuitive to use. There are no unnecessary flourishes or extraneous details.



Technical Features:
• Housings constructed of FSC Certified Walnut with hand-applied oil finish
• 2x8mm proprietary loudspeakers featuring Neodymium magnets and a CCAW voice coil
• Inline mic and remote
• TPE jacketed cable
• 3.5mm jack

Price: $99 USD

Passive Bookshelf System (PBS):


From the sound board to the speaker, this Bluetooth (TM) wireless speaker leverages the Grammy Winning Waves MaxxAudio® suite found in many famous mixing boards in the PWS to deliver the music as it was intended to sound. No games or artificial enhancements, just the sweet sounds as they were meant to be heard. We also include both Apt-X and AAC to ensure the highest quality audio standards.



Technical Features:
• Set of 2 Speakers included in package
• WxDxH - 12" x 8 1/8" x 7 1/2" (305mm x 205mm x 190 mm)
• 100watts RMS power handling
• 5.25” midbass woofer featuring Neodymium magnets and CCAW voice coils
• Bass reflex enclosure
• Rubber feet for table top mounting
• Mounting holes for wall mount

Price: $649 USD

Video:


They strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible, using recycled and sustainable materials wherever they can while offsetting where they cannot. They will also contribute a percentage of each sale to music and community related charities to help ensure future generations carry on our passion for music.

The folks behind Grain Audio:

Mitch Wenger, Marketing
Mitch has worked for a number of years in the audio industry as well as high-level engagements with major global brands for both digital marketing and ecommerce. More importantly, he spent most of his youth in concert halls and at music festivals around the country and now dances with his wife and kids whenever he can.

David Burke, Acoustics
An Audio Engineer with over 10 years of experience and ears of gold. When not tuning systems and creating audio nirvana, he's brewing something in the shop to keep us on our toes.

Chris Weir, Design
You name it, Chris has designed it. Trained in architecture and furniture design Chris brings a unique eye to the speaker world and enables us to do something unlike that which has ever been seen. Plus, he loves Iron Maiden, so there's that.

Kevin, Operations
Secret weapon. Kevin worked for several wine, beer and spirits companies in a major operational capacity. So if you're wondering why he's the secret weapon, you should come visit our offices, happy hour starts early.

Eric Wenger, Business Operations and IT
EWang as he's affectionately known is the glue that keeps it all together here at Grain. In addition to handling our business operations, he's also a top-notch web and IT guy. Plus, if you need a recommendation on a Widespread Panic show to listen to, or bar to go to in New Orleans, he's your man.



grainaudio.com

World's Most Expensive Sound System. $1.84 Million Gold & Gem Bang & Olufsen Beosound

above: the front and back view of the 24ct and diamond Beosound 9000 and Beolab 6000 speakers

Stuart Hughes just can't seem to stop making obscenely expensive versions of high tech items and gadgets, his latest being the world's most expensive custom music system and remote. He has manufactured a Bang & Olufsen Beosound system out of solid 24k gold, and studded it with diamonds and gems.



Designed in Liverpool U.K. by Stuart Hughes, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound 24ct gold & Diamond Edition is the world’s most expensive and Bespoke Music center. Priced at £1.2 million, ($1,842,900.00 USD) the B&O Gold Beosound System took a whole 7 months to manufacture.

The Beosound's whole body including the speakers have been reformed using 32 kilograms of solid 24ct gold. The outer screen guard area has a handmade solid gold veneer which houses 70 brilliant round cut 0.75 flawless diamonds which sit amidst surrounding gemstones of aventurine & topaz. A limited edition of only 5 units will be made.



Of course it wouldn't be complete without his gold and diamond Bang & Olufsen Serenata Mobile phone (I originally listed this as a remote and was embarrassingly corrected by a reader).



The Bang & Olufsen Serenata, exclusively in diamonds and solid gold. The diamonds are mounted on their own solid gold bezel sitting perfectly over the main scroll mechanism.



Diamonds used total 16.25ct in the form of VVS1 quality, F color. The main facia and rear release are reformed to precision using a circa of 140 grams of solid 24ct gold. This handset is of a limited edition only of 10 to be created.

Serenata Priced at £44,995 ($57,184.00 USD)

Both the gold and diamond Bang & Olufsen Beosound System and the Serenata mobile are available exclusively from www.stuarthughes.com

Montegiro Luxury Turn Tables: A Reason To Keep All That Vinyl

Just because you like your music 'Old School' doesn't mean the equipment has to harken back to the seventies and eighties. With the four technologically advanced, aesthetically pleasing modern designed turntables from montegiro, you can listen to music from decades ago without sacrificing a modern sense of style.

The Legno:




A new generation of turntables for the new generation of vinyl lovers. Organic shapes, rounded edges, natural materials: the legno model exudes a harmonious look that reflects its full, sonorous yet delicate sound. The legno skilfully combines wood and high-grade steel to produce an ideal sound. Available in white or bamboo:




The chassis takes advantage of wood’s stabilising qualities combined with its resonance damping properties. The four adjustable high-grade steel feet are decoupled by embedded o-rings (innovative rubber composite), as is the extremely precise, specially treated synchronous motor, which is driven by an outboard high-end motor controller designed for highest demands.



The integral 10,5’’ tonearm (modified for montegiro) and the Benz cartridge provide – even at the entry level – the typical montegiro sound. The legno builds its power upon the fundamental musicality common to all montegiro turntables. The tight bass provides the perfect foundation for the development of a smooth mid-range and stratospheric highs.

The Vivo:




The cubistic, tinted acrylic chassis is available in several colors. The armboard for the 10,5’’ tonearm (specially optimized by montegiro) is also made from acrylic as is the platter mat atop the high-quality steel platter. Design integrity plus perfect finish in the manufacturer’s best tradition provide for a tremendously aesthetic ensemble.



As with all four montegiro models, the vivo is equipped with a special high-end, decoupled synchronous motor. An external high-end motor generator provides for the correct drive of all models and meets the highest playback demands.

The Mondo:


The rectangular chassis is milled from a single piece of special steel. Powerful bass with ideal weight provides a perfect foundation for the mid-range and well articulated heights.



The armboard, made from acrylic, is embedded into the chassis and integrates itself perfectly. The steel and acrylic topped platter produces an extremely low resonance combination. The steel feet rest upon precious special steel plates embedded with acrylic which are additionally optimized by a montegiro innovation.



The specially treated, freestanding synchronous motor, decoupled within the chassis, is controlled by an external high-end motor generator. It provides the correct drive for all models and helps produce superior dynamics and timing. In addition to a Graham Engineering Phantom B-44 tonearm, the basic configuration includes the montegiro MG1 – a state of the art titanium bodied pickup system.

The Lusso:



The lusso is built upon alternate layers of aluminum and black acrylic, including the upside -down cone for the aluminum platter fitted with an acrylic platter. The lusso is driven by a newly developed, extremely precise high-end synchronous motor suspended within one of the cones. The cones, connected to each other, embrace height-adjustable feet that serve for perfect set-up. Even the carbon tonearm, mounted on a cone, demonstrates attention to detail and style.




Sonically, the lusso carries you into a perfect world of sound:
Between precise, crystalline highs, and weighty bass is a generous, softly melting midrange that helps produce an ideal, musically balanced turntable. Both the base version of the lusso with three cones and the top-of-the-line model with four cones and two tonearms provide the perfect symbiosis of technique and design. The basic configuration consists of a 10’’ carbon arm from Da Vinci (model Nobile), and the MG1 from the montegiro family, a state-of-the-art pickup-system from titanium. The top-of-the-line model with four cones includes a 9" SME, model 5009 tonearm. Other armboards are available upon request.

Montegiro

Contact info:
Dattenberg GmbH
Zum Ludwigstal 10-12 · 45527 Hattingen | Germany
Tel.: 0 23 24/ 93 32-0 · Fax: 0 23 24/ 93 32-33

Wireless Speakers That Go From 0-60 As Fast As You Can Say "Ferrari"

David Weiner Ventures has licensed the latest Ferrai branded luxury product; home audio speakers called ART.Engine. The wireless speakers house 18 drivers and four 200 watt digital built-in amps and are available in 4 color schemes (made to match ferrari colors, of course). You can transfer music wirelessly to them from your computer or 802.11 wifi enabled devices.







Only 1000 units of these have been made. And at $20,000 a piece, I'm guessing the customer is probably a Ferrari owner, not renter.

Learn a lot more about them or, god forbid, buy them here.