SoundDomain Sound-Off for 01.28.08

So what’d you get up to yesterday? Nothin’?! Man, then why weren’t you checking out SoundDomain? Do you know what you missed? OK, I’ll help you out this time. But just this once.

• Before the transistor was invented, audio amplifiers used vacuum tubes, little light bulb-looking devices which audiophiles claim offer warmer, purer sound. But unless you’re shelling out big bucks or restoring old hardware, you’ll probably never see one. It’s old school, and it’s pretty amazing. What’s even more amazing is this video of an old French guy making vacuum tubes from scratch.
• Orion’s new Cobalt series is so tough. How tough is it? They’ve hired the UFC fighter Roger "El Matador" Huerta to represent the new line from Orion.
• Metra just introduced a new Katana brand of speakers and subs and we’ve got pics and details on the line. I love the new speakers’ black glass fiber cones.
• Newcomer to the land of mobile electronics, Realm Audio, has introduced a new flat subwoofer that’s only 2.87" deep but has a 600W peak. Big things can come in small packages!