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Steinway strikes upmarket chord in home entertainment

Unlimited Krug champagne and caviar were among the pricey treats at an audio system preview at Azure. The high-performance equipment was designed by renowned audio engineer Peter Lyngdorf (right), who arrived - as part of a promo tour in major cities that started in New York in May - to demonstrate his latest creation: high-end speakers etched with the name Steinway & Sons. Yes, the legendary piano maker has now given its name to a home entertainment set called the Model D Music System.

'They've been looking to expand their name to audio equipment and I knew someone who was in charge at Steinway. We met and talked, and then it all happened very fast,' Lyngdorf recalled. 'Originally, it was just going to be named Steinway but after they heard the sound, they decided it was good enough to be stamped with the full name of Steinway & Sons.'

The posh ceremony's prelude included a recital by a chamber quartet - we're not sure if the audience really cared to sit for a few classical etudes, but they were polite enough despite the occasional ring tones. The gangly audio expert then unveiled the 2-metre-high speakers with Steinway & Sons's traditional colours of black and gold. However, Lyngdorf later admitted that is about the extent of the piano maker's collaboration, technically.

'Their instrument is designed to resonate. Ours are not supposed to make any sound at all.'

Before you dump your boombox for an upgrade, the Steinway & Sons system is US$150,000.

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