Once again, we have been very busy with NorhTec. NorhTec shipped $179,000 USD worth of computers in January. NorhTec's growth is great but it is also time consuming. However, we haven't forgotten nOrh. Ultimately, my goal is to see how we can create synergy between nOrh and NorhTec. One of the projects I have wanted to do is to create computers for entertainment and high quality sound systems that match computers. You can read an article about NorhTec here.

Today, most digital recordings are made with computers. Soon, movie theaters will replace film with computers. Today, more and more people are taking photos and using their computer to archive the images. A new industry is growing up around MP3 and other portable devices that can carry a complete library of recordings and move them from computer to device.

I wrote about MP3 many years ago as being a very significant and important factor in music enjoyment. At the time, many audiophiles attacked me for encouraging a low quality sound format. I responded with a letter that I published on the website that I couldn't get published in the audiophile magazines. I believe that MP3 was actually a high quality replacement for cassette based Walkmans or AM and FM radios.

When MP3s were first introduced, the industry attacked the promoters of this technology the same way that they attacked cassette recording and video recordings earlier. The industry pushed Napster out of business, only to wind up with the spoils. Now Napster exists as a commercial entity collecting fees to distribute music over the Internet.

Photography

I wrote an article a few months ago about my new Nikon DX70 camera. As great as this camera is, it is just a bit to big to carry with me all the time. Here in Bangkok, traffic is quite bad. I have started riding a bicycle back and forth to the factory and office. It is a bit challenging to carry the DX70 while riding a bike. Recently, my wife bought the Nikon Coolpix 5200. The Nikon Coolpix is probably the best compact digital camera on the market. When I decided I needed a small camera, I went to a local photo store to buy the Coolpix 5200. The store was out of the Nikons, but I was determined to buy a new camera.

After comparing the cameras that were available at the store, I decided to buy the Pentax Optio S5i. The Optio S5i is one of the smallest cameras I ever owned. I was willing to accept some loss of image quality to have a camera that I could literally take everywhere. I am posting photos taken with my new camera on this month's web page. The camera is very much recommended. I still think the Coolpix takes better photos but the Pentax Optio takes very impressive photos. In fact, the photos I am taking with the Pentax are consistently better than the photos I was taking three years ago with my "top-of-the-line" Sony digital camera I bought for $1,000.00.

Most of the rest of the photos on this page were taken with the Pentax S5i. The camera is small enough to fit in your shirt pocket. I have yet to run the battery down taking photos. The camera comes with a very convenient to use docking device that allows you to charge the camera without taking the battery out of the camera. The Pentax Optio S5i is one of the smallest digital cameras around and for its performance and features, the Optio S5i is quite a bargain.

Speakers

Lek is studying photography at his university. I handed him my Optio S5i and asked him to take some photos for me so I could put them in the website this month. The photos taken in this section were taken by Lek.

There are two combinations of equipment I recommend most. Both of these are based on the SE 9. I have use a SE 9 with my computer and a pair of nOrh 3.0s. I use this combination more than I have ever used any audio system. That is because I am chained to my computer almost all day long. I am absolutely pleased with my nOrh 3.0 and nOrh SE 9 combination. People with a bit more space or want to play their system a bit louder should consider our Classic 6.1. The Classic 6.1 is a very efficient loudspeaker.

The Classic 6.1 looks and sounds better than just about any speaker available in its price range. When combined with the SE 9, you have an ultra inexpensive high-end system that will please based on both looks and sound.

Red nOrh 3.0s

The combination of the SE 9 and the nOrh 3.0s cost about the same as department store systems. The 3.0s are available in rosewood, walnut, Teak Prism and painted colors.

Classic 6.1s shown without grill

The Classic 6.1s have a sensitivity rating of 90dB. They drivers are both from Vifa. The sound is ultra smooth and accurate. Many loudspeakers in this range, particularly efficient loudspeakers, tend to be strident. Classic 6.1s are never strident. The Classic 6.1s are ideal for home theater use because they play very loud, even with modestly powered receivers. The Classic 6.1s are carved from solid wood logs and have a beautiful hand crafted look that simply isn't available from other loudspeaker vendors who use contact paper over chip board for loudspeakers in this price range.

Teak 4.1 Center

I use the nOrh 4.1 as my center speaker in my main system. The 4.1 looks like artwork on my TV and its shape is quite practical. nOrh loudspeakers are designed to eliminate parallel surfaces. We use natural impedances to reduce the energy inside of the speaker so that we don't have to stuff them with foam, wool or fiber. The sound is more dynamic and natural. The 4.1 Center uses one of the world's finest and most expensive woods, real Teak.

SM 6.9 (left) and Classic 6.1 (right)

The SM 6.9s are one of our best values. The tweeter is the same tweeter used in an ultra-expensive loudspeakers, costing $39,000 USD. The synthetic marble loudspeaker looks very much like real marble. The sound characteristic is also equal to our more expensive real marble loudspeakers. For less money, you can enjoy the Classic 6.1s. Both of these loudspeakers are excellent values. Both of these loudspeakers sound great.

Music

For the past few months, I have talked about the Bangkok Jazz Festival and my highlight of the evening, being introduced to Mindi Abair. Several readers bought her CD based on her tribute to the Americans who died serving their country. I thought his was a very brave thing for her to do performing outside the US. I had a chance to ask her about this and she told me that "someone had to speak for them".

I bought Miss Abair's CD, "Wish You were Here", at the show and I have enjoyed it very much. Several people who have heard the CD playing have asked about it and have also bought the CD. Ms Abair's style is easy generally light jazz with a bit of blues and funk added in. Miss Abair's vocals are quite suited for pop music but without the digital enhancements that are now very commonly required with less gifted vocalists. Mindi Abair's "Wish You Were Here" features great melodies, great rifts, great vocals and great fun.

The ACA 2b is a high-end preamp that costs less than almost any preamp available. The ACA 2b is a beautiful product, with excellent build quality and outstanding sound.

The ACA 2b uses a platinum coated switch. The volume control is made by Alps and there ACA 2b has three inputs and and a record output. Furthermore, there are two amp outputs.

The ACA 2b is still only $395.00 USD shipped to North America. Please contact us from other regions to check on shipping charges. The ACA 2b is the best preamplifier in this price range. The ACA 2b has plenty of drive to power long cables. The ACA 2b works with both tube and solid state amplifiers. Here is your chance to buy a tube preamp for the price of some passive preamps.

For those of you who still listen to LPs or have an LP collection, we have a phono preamp that you can add for only $295.00 USD. However, a better deal is to go with the SE 18. The SE 18 has an active preamp, integrated RIAA (phono) equalization and 18 watts of Single Ended Power.