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News and Press Comments
Steve Hoffman, Award-winning
Recording & Mastering Engineer uses Continuum Criterion
ATLANTA, GA April 27 2005 Warner Brothers records with Rhino/Reprise recently announced that they have hired Steve Hoffman, one of the world's most revered mastering engineers, to undertake the most ambitious vinyl reissue program of any major label in recent history. Steve will be mastering with cutter Kevin Gray at Kevin's AcousTech Mastering and records will be pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl at RTI - all are being cut in true analog from original Warner Brothers/Reprise stereo master mixes - some of which have been untouched for 35 years. Steve Hoffman shares, "The old "EQ Cutting Masters" had compromises built in to the sound of the tapes. In the old days the tapes were routinely EQ'd, compressed and sometimes filtered to make it easy for needles to track the groove. When I bypass those tapes the original untouched master mixes reveal a whole new scene; detailed, beautiful sounding dynamic music appears and we can cut this directly onto a phonograph record." At Mr. Hoffman's request, Signals-SuperFi, LLC, in concert with Continuum Audio Labs of Australia, will provide a Criterion turntable and Copperhead tonearm for test-pressing evaluation. Asked why he chose Continuum for the job, Steve remarked, "I heard the Continuum Criterion turntable with the special Copperhead tonearm at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show and was impressed by the resolving sound. This system will be perfect for my evaluation of the Rhino/WB/Reprise vinyl 180 gram test pressings from RTI." "We're terribly excited about the project," confides Chris Sommovigo, owner of Signals-SuperFi and distributor of Continuum's record players in North America. "The fact that Warner Bros./Reprise/Rhino is showing this much commitment to the vinyl format - to not just cut and release LPs from the old EQ Masters but to hire Steve to re-master the albums entirely - is really fantastic news for vinyl lovers. Continuum's analog gear will give Steve the kind of tool that no mastering engineer has had at his disposal before, and Steve will - in turn - be delivering some of the best vinyl ever set onto a turntable." About Steve Hoffman Hong Kong AV Show Report
The Hong Kong Convention Centre had impressive facilities and a user friendly layout. Our distributor, Jadis had 2 rooms which were of considerable size and very well presented. System 1 was in the larger room and comprised of the Caliburn system, MBL Reference Speakers and Amplifiers with a new MBL Phono stage being shown for the first time. As we had exhibited in Munich for the High End show in April 07 we knew that show crowds were drawn to the big MBL system. We were excited about having a reference Turntable like the Caliburn to drive the system and demonstrate how good an analogue front end can be. System 2 was located next door in a slighly smaller room. Here we set up the Criterion Copperhead system into new electronics from Plinius (from New Zealand) and a pair of Wilson Watt Puppy 8's. On Thursday we attended the opening ceremony. All the exhibitors were given flower lapels and it seemed like we were attending a wedding! A couple of speeches were given signifying the relevance and importance of the show. The opening ceremony reflected the rest of the show in that it was flawless and once the formalities were taken care off the dignitaries were taken around personally by the organizers and introduced to the various exhibitors. We toured the various room upstairs and found all the big turntable rigs were on show. Again vinyl played anywhere was welcome. In our rooms we had the opportunity to present the Caliburn and Criterion in a more formal presentation format. At selected intervals during the day we co-presented the systems with Rickie and Tim from Jadis International assisting with translation. We explained the unique technology and approach by Continuum Audio Labs to turntable design. We are delighted to have been welcomed by the Hong Kong audio community and the word about our products had already been travelling with some of the local customers having invited friends to hear their systems. We look forward to coming back next year and continuing the relationships we have forged over the last year.
Munich 07 The High End
Show Report
This year Continuum Audio Labs showed the Criterion turntable and Copperhead tone-arm in conjunction with our Benelux importer (O.L.S) and W.O.D Audio in Germany. The system consisted of reference Wavac products, Kharma Exquisite Reference 1E loudspeakers and wired with Kharma Enigma cables as provided by W.O.D audio. We were pleased by how well the Criterion was received. We also met up with our distributors from Russia, Bulgaria, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia & Korea besides developing new relationships in Greece. In addition we had the pleasure in meeting Giulio Cesare Ricci (President of Fone records) and had an illuminating discussion on how his company makes its records, and it was fascinating to learn about the attention to detail taken at every step of the process. The Munich High-End show is one of the best organized shows in the world, with great rooms, easy navigation as all rooms are under one roof and in most cases reasonably good sonics. Finally it is important to mention the excellent tucker (food) we had and Munich once again provided us with a couple of evenings to remember. Positive Feedback Comments
The Continuum Caliburn/Cobra/Castellon System fitted with the Lyra Olympos cartridge was used as a source component during the review of the Wavac HE-833 MK II. Some extracts below: "What can I say? This system was so very close to pure music it was frightening. " "Listening to "La Campanella," cut two from the Reference Recording Nojima Plays Liszt (RR-25), I was struck with the utter immediacy and control of this system. Never before have I heard piano reproduced with such percussive accuracy. It was as close to the sound of real piano being played in the room with me as I have EVER heard from any electro-mechanical system, period." High end hi-fi -- the ultimate stereo -
Continuum mentioned by CNN
Audio experts say investing in high priced hi-fi is money well spent.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/11/11/ultimate.hifi/index.html "Such is the effort poured into some hi-fi apparatus that some firms, including Australia's Continuum Audio Labs, whose Caliburn turntable retails at up to US$ 112,000, have reputedly received approaches from serious scientists amazed by breakthroughs such as levitating shelving units." First Show CES 2005 Las Vegas
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