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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Aussie “AUDIOBUS” manufacturer takes on the world MASS Technologies’ founder, Hans Groothius, was so disappointed with his “top of the range” speaker system that he set out to design his own. His prototype, using active electronic crossovers, was immediately snapped up by a laser-disc fan to replace his own almost-new speakers. Active speaker systems are not new but have been relatively restricted to the echelons of high-grade profes- sional recording studios and ‘high-end’ consumers. The great expense traditionally associated with active crossover technology has been mostly due to their large number of interconnections and wiring. MASS has developed a method to drastically reduce this throughout its entire speaker range. Now Groothius has started demonstrating his company’s Australian-developed “AUDIOBUS” technology to audio manufacturers in the northern hemisphere. Having been demonstrated twice at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, by MASS itself, and with Peerless/Danish Sound Technology, he believes his speakers will find a ready market where quality of sound reproduction is the ultimate goal. The quality of sound reproduction and power handling even in the first model outperformed most conventional passive and active systems many times their price and size, and MASS’ key technology has been further developed and miniaturised with a view to eventually chipping it. MASS Technologies Pty Ltd, was established four years ago in Perth. The company is now 76  Silicon Chip Contact: MASS Technologies Phone: (08) 9434 4030 Fax (08) 9434 9423 Website: www.mass.com.au Li-Ion Pulse Charger Dissipates No Heat Linear Technology Corporation has released the LTC1730, a complete Li-Ion pulse charger that dissipates virtually no heat while charging a 1-cell Li-Ion battery. Current limiting occurs inside the plug-pack adapter, allowing the charger IC to be built inside the portable device. This eliminates the need for an external MOSFET and blocking diode. Applications include PDAs, palmtop computers, portable GPS devices and cell phones that operate with a 1-cell Li-Ion bat­tery. The LTC1730 features end-of-charge detection and a programmable timer for maximum Slim-line loudspeakers from Jamo Jamo’s extreme X8 loudspeakers represent a big step forward in styling, away from the conventional black (boring) look to one that is tall and slim with a hammered gun-metal grey finish with silver fronts. There are two full range models, the X850 and X870. The X850 has a 8-inch woofer and a power rating of 200 watts while the X870 has a 10-inch woofer rated at up 280 watts and offer a frequency response down to 32Hz. If you want to go the whole hog with a home theatre setup, Jamo have released an add-on pack consisting of a 100W shielded centre speaker (X8CEN), a pair of 100W rear speakers the Australasian distributor for Vifa and Scan-speak drivers from Danish Sound Technology, working to re-establish these high quality drivers in the local market (X830) and a 200W active subwoofer (X8SUB) with a 12-inch long-throw driver. The X870 retail at $2395 a pair and the X850 at $1695 a pair. The addon surround sound package sells for $2695. Alterna­tively, you can purchase the components separately: X8CEN for $595, X830 $795 a pair and X8SUB for $1495. Contact: QualiFi Phone: 1 800 242 426 Website: www.jamospeakers.com capacity charging. Users can set the desired charge time with the addition of a capacitor. Contact: REC Electronics Phone: (02) 9741 0122 Fax (02) 9741 0133 Website: www.rec.com.au End of an era for Dick Smith Electronics. . . Since 1980, Dick Smith Electronics headquarters – and that giant Aussie flag – have been a landmark at North Ryde in Sydney. Then, the company had 17 stores and 275 employees. Today, with over 200 outlets throughout Australia and New Zealand and more than 2500 employees, the company has significantly outgrown the North Ryde site – despite two major building expansions and the splitting of the warehouse into three facilities around Sydney. Between now and June, Dick Smith Electronics will relocate to a new, purpose built complex in Chullora, about 13km away. It has 8000 square metres of office space and 10,100 square metres of warehouse, with room for even more expansion if needed. And that giant flag? “It’s going too,” Contact: Dick Smith Electronics 2 Davidson St, Chullora NSW Phone: (02) 9642 9100 Fax: (02) 9642 9111 Website: www.dse.com.au . . . and Jaycar move headquarters, too Not to be outdone by their competition, Jaycar Electronics have also decided that their Rhodes headquarters have become too small and have moved into a 6900 square metre, newly refurbished head office and warehouse in Silverwater. The new complex has been designed from the ground up to give new levels of service to customers and, of course, to Quality and management standards help lines Businesses and consumers can now find out whether Austra­lian and international standards are being met via two new help lines provided by Quality Assurance Services (QAS). The first is the quality management help line which answers questions on ISO 9001:2000, the key quality standard used worldwide. The ISO help line number is 1 900 920 727. Call costs for the ISO 9000:2000 help line are $5.50 per minute, with higher charges applying for mobile and public telephones. The second help line offers information on management sys­ tems including quality, environmental, food safety and occupa­tional health and safety. Bookings for advice can be made on 1800 815 438. An hourly charge of $175 applies to bookings made for IMS help line assistance. Contact: Quality Assurance Services (QAS) Website: www.qas.com.au TOROIDAL POWER said Jeff Grover, Dick Smith Electronics’ Managing Director. “A new flag pole, the same size as the one at North Ryde, will be erected at Chullora.” The new complex also includes a retail store, necessitating the closure of the old Chullora store. But the new one is easy to find – it’s adjacent to the Centenary Drive overpass, just off the Hume Highway. Just look for that flag! Jaycar’s internal operation. Contact: Jaycar Electronics 100 Silverwater Rd, Silverwater NSW Phone: (02) 9741 8555 Fax: (02) 9741 8500 Website: www.jaycar.com.au 16-Channel Colour Multiplexer Jaycar electronics has released a 16channel colour video surveillance multiplexer. It has 16 camera inputs and a host of useful features. Each camera can be given a 6-digit name such as ‘foyer, carpark, stairs, etc’ and this name is superimposed on the camera image to be displayed or recorded. The images can be displayed sequentially as a full screen image or in a number of display modes including TRANSFORMERS Manufactured in Australia Comprehensive data available Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 4, 7, 10, 13 & 16 simultaneous camera images. Each camera input channel has a corresponding alarm input and the multiplexer can be programmed to give priority to ‘alarmed’ cameras and display them more often than ‘unalarmed’ cameras. Two video output signals are provided, one for ‘live’ camera images and the other for output to a video recorder. The multiplexer will automatically detect the loss of video signal and indicate the lost channel by flashing the corresponding indicator on the from panel display. Alarm output may be used to control a VCR for ‘Event-Only’ recording. Audible Video Loss and Alarm buzzers can alert the user to intrusion and/ or interference with camera video or power supply wiring. The system can also display the date & time on the monitor and recorder output images. The Multiplexer is available through all Jaycar stores (see new head office SC details above left). NEW! HC-5 hi-res Vid eo Distribution Amplifier DVS5 Video & Audio Distribution Amplifier Five identical Video and Stereo outputs plus h/phone & monitor out. S-Video & Composite versions available. Professional quality. For broadcast, audiovisual and film industries. Wide bandwidth, high output and unconditional stability with hum-cancelling circuitry, front-panel video gain and cable eq adjustments. 240V AC, 120V AC or 24V DC VGS2 Graphics Splitter High resolution 1in/2out VGA splitter. Comes with 1.5m HQ cable and 12V supply. Custom-length HQ VGA cables also available. Check our NEW website for latest prices and MONTHLY SPECIALS www.questronix.com.au Email: questav<at>questronix.com.au Video Processors, Colour Correctors, Stabilisers, TBC’s, Converters, etc. QUESTRONIX All mail: PO Box 548, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Ph (02) 9477 3596 Fax (02) 9477 3681 Visitors by appointment only MAY 2001  77