TAVES Consumer Electronics Show 2015 Show Report 
Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show Part 4
Report By Rick Becker

Across from Todd was the AuDIYo table manned by Layton Tsang where I encountered the ADL Stratos ($2000) which is not only a headphone amp with balanced input and a 32-bit 384kHz DAC, but also a 24-bit/192kHz Analog to Digital converter for those who wish to digitally archive their LPs or even the cassette recordings of the live Westwood One live radio concerts we all taped, back in the day. Listening to it was accomplished with a pair of very nice ADL headphones. AuDIYo is also a great source for parts, particularly Furutech and people were frequently scanning the tables for special connectors. A Furutech record clamp with machined stainless steel and carbon fiber was as expensive as it was elegant. The bottom side contained concentric rings of rubber.

Just when I thought I had seen it all, this guy glided by on an electric skateboard with blue headlights, carrying a GoPro on a stick, videotaping himself breezing through the crowd. I understand this is the hot ticket for Christmas this year, selling for around $300US. So much for walking in the malls for exercise anymore. This toy will kill that sport fast.

I stopped by the AudioSensibility.com table at a rare moment when no one was browsing through the boxes of used LPs Steven Huang always brings. Within seconds a guy in an orange parka was flipping through the boxes. Steven is always very generous with his time and his wisdom in talking with customers, conveying a sense of trust and integrity. There is always something new and interesting to see here. This show it was the new Testament Figure 8 power cord with a C7 connector that is gaining in popularity with powered monitors, big screen TVs, and smaller electronics like Blu-ray players. Michel Plante, Plurison National Sales Manager did a blind test with two Naim Mu-so with the Testament Figure 8 and the standard power cable and wrote in praise of the Testament: "The difference was so huge, more details, more space, extension in the low frequencies, etc." Personally, I've had outstanding success with the standard version of this power cord hard wired to my AM/FM tuner. With Ohno continuous cast copper, cryogenic treatment, and ERS filtration, this is the most formidable power cord I know of on the market with a C7 connector. And the price, at $189 CAD, is very reasonable, particularly for those who are State-side with the strong US$.

Chris Tam of Japanese Pressing had a table full of... Japanese LPs! This was the first time I've seen Chris at a show, but LPs from Japan have a good reputation. He was engaged in an extended conversation so I didn't get a chance to ask if people in Japan sell LPs in garage sales.

Blue Circle Audio was present again and the hot item at shows seems to be the Thingee power conditioners seen here in the wine rack in the background. In the foreground was the Model CSD Class D integrated amplifier putting out 145 wpc for $2895 CAD. I was even more intrigued with the BC 2K4sh Class D stereo power amp with a selectable 6SN7 input tube to make it a hybrid amplifier. Putting out 300 wpc into 8 Ohms and 600 wpc into 4 ohms, and bridgeable to 1000 watts into 8 ohms this is a serious piece of kit, starting at $6495 CAD. On top was a 12-outlet power distribution center. Gilbert Yeung is another boutique designer and entrepreneur who consistently go one on one with his customers to share his knowledge. While he is not widely distributed, those in the know have very high respect for his gear. He also enjoys being a rather different soul as you can see by his dapper outfit. From the program, it looks like Gilbert and Blue Circle were occupying the space reserved by Entracete Audio, a "by appointment" dealer who sells Blue Circle, as well as ATC, Custom Design, NAD and PSB, although these other brands were not in evidence. Check out Entracete on line.

The next table was the home of Mystic Audio, who is also a Blue Circle dealer as well as WireWorld cables, Cocktail Audio, Moon, Dynaudio, HiFiMan and IsoAcoustics. The first photo shows a variety of other brands as well. There wasn't a Headphone Zone at the show, per se, but there were a lot of headphones spread around the show at different tables and in different rooms. In the second photo was an active rig – as active as you can be in a hallway situation, I suppose. Philip Bryant from Dynaudio walked me through the contents of the table. The outer speaker was the Dynaudio Focus 200XD ($8700/pr CAD) that are a lot more than just speakers. They incorporate integrated amplifiers with a DAC capable of handling up to 24-bit/192kHz. There is also an analog input and the speaker can be set up for wireless and, hence, multi-room applications. Something called "Speaker Position EQ" was not explained to me, but possibly it is some kind of room correction capability.

A new "Connect" interface will soon be available to offer both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection. This was one of many instances pointing toward a trend of simplification whereby multiple functions are incorporated in a single chassis – in this case the speaker. Next to it was the Dynaudio Confidence C1 Platinum ($11,000 CAD) which was the entry level speaker from their high-end Confidence series. ISO Acoustics stands (ISO-L8R155, $130/pr) offered a degree of isolation from stand (table) vibrations. The source for the rig was the top of the line Cocktail Audio X40 one box does it all digital front end for $2595. The Cocktail units are like Swiss Army knives for audio, offered at several different price levels. The preamp was the Blue Circle BC107 ($4895 CAD) and it was mated with the BC 2K2 Class D stereo power amp with 150 wpc into 8 ohms that was mentioned earlier. Apparently more powerful versions of this amp are available all the way up to the 2K8 model with 2000 watts @ 8 ohms/4000 watts @ 4 ohms for your own personal Woodstock revival system. Cabling was by WireWorld and included the Starlight Digital 75 Ohm RCA cable that has been receiving very good buzz on the net.

The MB3 table in the hall was not identified in the program, but I think it was the guys from www.VKmusic.ca, which I seem to recall running into at previous shows. They were featuring the Elekit TU-8200DX amplifier ($725US) with headphone amp which has been heavily reviewed along with the new TU-8500 preamp with phono stage ($495US). The speaker was a single driver, full range monitor from Unity, which might also have been a kit speaker. It featured wood cones and whizzer cones and looked to be well made. The TU-8200DX can be configured in Ultra-linear, Pentode or Triode mode. The one playing here was in Ultra-linear which normally put out 8 wpc with the stock 6L6GC tubes, but it was using KT88 tubes, which the purchaser would have to buy separately, giving it an additional 2 wpc. The CD player was the Sparkler, also from Japan, about $1250US, though it wasn't clear if this was a kit. A top loader, similar to a 47 Labs transport, it comes with a DAC and a separate power supply seen next to it. It may seem totally pretentious of me, but I thought this was one of the Best Rooms at the show, despite the fact that it was on a table in the hallway. Combining low tube power with a single driver speaker, it sounded incredibly good in spite of its limitations. As an entry level rig, this is jumping into the deep end of the pool. Seriously good. It's hard to believe the published -122dB S/N spec of the TU-8500, but maybe it's for real. I also have a scribbled price of $6500 for the speaker, which also seems unlikely, but that could go a long way toward explaining why I thought this innocent looking rig sounded so good to me. Of course whether these kits would sound as good coming off the bench of your workshop depends on your skill with a soldering iron.

As I headed toward some of the larger rooms in the Sheraton I crossed paths with this little dude who was tearing up the track with this video game. The kid was so good I asked his father if the boy could chauffer me back to Rochester. Unfortunately, he doesn't have an enhanced license for driving across the border. Come to think of it, he probably can't see above the dashboard, either.

As I moved along I spotted Simon Au, one of the major players in organizing this show, along with his wife and two kids. I blew my whistle for a ‘time out' and a quick family portrait. Simon and Suave Kajko, President of TAVES, are two smooth and gracious operators, for sure.

In part 5 I'll get into the larger, big $$,$$$ rooms at the Sheraton. Stay tuned!

--->Part 5 of Rick Becker's TAVES 2015 show report.