New Products

McIntosh MB50 Streaming Audio Player
You have to admit, a media streamer masquerading as a ’60s-era preamp holds special charm. (You didn’t really think McIntosh would ditch its iconic styling for streaming, did you?) The MB50 supports the DTS Play-Fi platform for streaming over an existing Wi-Fi network. All you have to do is download the Apple or Android mobile app (or Windows desktop app), and a wealth of music from Deezer, Pandora, Rhapsody, Songza, Spotify, Tidal, and others is at your command.
Streaming in Style: The mini preamp streams CD-quality audio thanks to Play-Fi, but it also supports high-resolution files up to 24-bit/192-kHz. Copious connectivity options are provided, including analog and digital (coaxial/optical) inputs plus the choice of a balanced or unbalanced stereo output. Price: $2,000
McIntosh • (800) 723-3512 • mcintoshlabs.com

Sony XBR-75X940D 75-Inch Ultra HDTV
Sony brings all of its latest picture-enhancing technologies to bear in the X940D, including the X-Reality Pro upscaling processor and X1 4K chip, which dynamically adjusts the image thousands of times per second to optimize detail, color, and contrast. Full-array LED backlighting and HDR10 high dynamic range processing (via a firmware update) push image quality to the next level with brighter highlights and increased contrast.
Hang It Like a Picture: With the optional mount, the X940D hugs the wall with a gap that’s less than an inch and a half. The TV supports Google’s Android TV operating system, providing voice search, Google Cast for “casting” video from your smartphone to the big screen, and quick access to a variety of streaming services, including Google Play, Netflix, and Amazon Video. Connections include four HDMI inputs. Price: $5,000
Sony • (877) 865-7669 • sony.com

Tributaries SP4BW Biwire Speaker Cable
Indeed, Tributaries’ new SP4BW biwire cable was designed by high-end designer Jay Victor, but in this case the target audience is “audiophiles on a budget,” according to company president Joe Perfito, who is quick to highlight the gold-plated-brass banana plug connectors and woven mesh jacket.
Tightly Wound: The cable features Star-Quad geometry, meaning the four conductors—each comprising six bundles of stranded wire—are wound together in a “positive-negative-positive-negative” configuration. Perfito says this is done to cancel the opposing electromagnetic fields generated by each conductor pair, a source of noise and distortion. The four bundles are then wound around an insulated center conductor. The Low Pass conductors are 14 AWG, and the High Pass conductors are 16AWG. Price: $190 for 6-foot length; $205 for 8-foot; $220 for 12-foot
Tributaries • (888) 554-2514 • tributariescable.com

Klipsch R-15PM Powered Monitor
Here’s a feature you don’t see every day—in fact, it’s probably unique: a powered speaker with a phono input. That’s right, vinyl hipsters: The once-standard input that has all but vanished from modern A/V gear is right there on the back of the R-15PM alongside a cluster of other connectors, including a subwoofer output and an optical input. (Actually, the input is switchable between line and phono, making it all the more awesome.)
New Territory: Turns out the R-15PM is Klipsch’s first powered monitor. As with all models in the Reference Series, it boasts a horn-loaded titanium tweeter mated (in this case) with a 5.25-inch woofer and 2 x 50-watt amplifier. The speaker comes with a dedicated infrared (IR) remote control and is finished with a brushed black-polymer veneer. Price: $499/pair
Klipsch • (888) 250-8561 • klipsch.com

Triad In-Room Bronze/Silver Atmos-Enabled Height Modules
The immersive qualities of Dolby Atmos are just an add-on away with Triad’s In-Room Bronze and InRoom Silver height modules. Designed to convey overhead sounds in Dolby Atmos soundtracks, the height modules mate perfectly with Triad speakers but will work with any brand or model of speaker. Just place the module on top of the main speaker or in close proximity to it.
The Right Angle: On top of each speaker is an angled baffle with four drivers: The Bronze model has 2-inch drivers rated down to 180 Hz, while the Silver model uses 3-inch drivers that play down to 130 Hz. Black pebble is the standard finish, but a variety of colors and finishes are available, including real-wood veneers and custom-matched paint. Price: InRoom Bronze, $500 each; InRoom Silver, $600 each
Triad • (800) 666-6316 • triadspeakers.com