This year marks a very different diamond jubilee and to celebrate we take a look at the triumphs and disasters of one of the most recognisable names in audio

In the mid-seventies Marantz ran a famous series of adverts in the States that centred on a 2270 receiver of theirs that had been caught in an apartment block fire. Despite damage from fire and smoke, falling three stories and being buried under the rubble, when it was retrieved the 2270 in question still worked! Well, all we can say is that they definitely don't make 'em like they used to but in many respects the story of that receiver serves as a perfect metaphor for the company itself. Marantz has been going for sixty years and it's been a bumpy ride, with plenty of triumphs and disasters along the way, but the manufacturer is still gong strong. Here is the story of one man's obsession and an industry that has changed beyond all recognition.


In the late 1940s Saul Bernard Marantz began working on a new audio product in the basement of his house on... [Read More]

The hardware giant launches iOS 7, OS X Mavericks, new MacBook Air and Mac Pro

Apple have always done things their own way and the fact that E3 was going on yesterday didn’t deter them from holding their annual ‘love-in’ or, as it’s otherwise known, the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC). As Sony and Microsoft were busy fighting it out for the hearts, minds and, more importantly, wallets of next generation gamers, the Apple faithful were descending on Cupertino to find out if the rumours were true. You see quite a few commentators have written the Californian giant off, saying that they’re doomed by their lack of innovation. Well based on last night’s performance, I wouldn’t write them off just yet.


First out of the gates, Apple announced the all-new iOS 7 and touted it as the biggest change to iOS since the launch of the first iPhone. The drastically redesigned iOS 7 marks a new direction for the company's mobile operating system and includes a radically... [Read More]

With Microsoft having gone first, the opportunity was there for Sony to have the last laugh. If they could undercut their competitor, not avoid the elephant of DRM in the room and showcase a decent array of games at least comparable to those on the One, it would be game on. Easier said than done, when all the content and script has been pre-planned well in advance of Microsoft’s show.

So, how did they fare?

Well, if you’re bleary-eyed like me, having stayed up till past four in the morning to catch it all, it could have seemed something of a dream; for large parts hard to remember, lasting a while but ending with an eye-opening jolt.

Jack Tretton’s relaxed air put most at ease - it’s funny how some figures comparatively become Mr Nice Guy against a backdrop of suits - and he got the formalities of the Vita and PS3 out of the way early. The tech-heavy handheld may be a stellar bit of kit, but despite the assurance that it’s “just the beginning of its life cycle”, there wasn’t a lot to announce. Batman: Arkham Origins will surely be played by most on a console, Killzone: Mercenary may be less... [Read More]