111^th AES Convention
Saturday

  Neutrik connectors are made in many configurations to meet the needs of the pro audio market. While audiophile connectors are considered by some to be tweaky, made of exotic materials, etc., the pro audio business desires quality and reliability with no nonsense hype.

During the AES there were many different live performances by various groups/bands. Seen here is the AES Songwriter Showcase stage where you could sit down at a table, relax and enjoy the music.

STS manufactures both recording studio monitors and far field loudspeakers. Seen here is their S8R near field monitor $1,095. A ribbon tweeter is mated with a normal dynamic driver. The S8R seems like an excellent loudspeaker well worth consideration... or possibly a review (hint hint). 

At the New Sensor booth is their usual fare of yummy tubes. Of course virtually all pros into tubes has heard New Sensor.

The Museum Of Magnetic Sound Recording believes in dedicate to lifting the audio arts through preserving it's past. Seen here is a vintage film sound Nagra III and RCA ribbon microphone. Hopefully one day we will see a great exhibition at an American high-end show where vintage gear is given show space... and due respect.

Messenger XL active loudspeakers were the tallest single product at the 2001 AES show. The input signal to the loudspeakers is digitally processed for the drivers while additional digital room correction and tuning of the units dispersion is controlled. At $6,800, it employs 27 drivers (4.25-inchs each) with 20 fifty-watt amplifiers. Virtually each driver is individually controlled through sophisticated DSP. The top section amplifiers drives two speakers each (for those counting the amplifiers to loudspeaker ratio). So how tall is this loudspeaker? How does 100-inches sound to you? (pun intended)

Griffin Audio Design offers their Griffin mastering monitor. it is claimed to reproduce a flat frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz using an RCF 18" woofer, two SEAS 8" magnesium cone mids and Stage Accompany ribbon tweeter. Sensitivity is 96 dB/w/m @ 4 ohm. Retail price $24,500.

(Some humor, but the device itself is a real, extremely high-end measuring instrument) For those who enjoy LIRPA Labs "audiophile critic" (clown), here is the Bruel & Kjær Type 4128 head and torso simulator to measure how a device will perform according to the human ear. This unit will also talk back and tell you how your system's imaging sucks, your highs are too bright and lacks proper lower frequency response. Once it says your system is perfect, it waits for precisely 60.45 hours of music play to once again become unsatisfied with the sound and demand you upgrade once again. This cycle continues for many years until you decide to simply enjoy the music and forget what the LIRPA Labs critic has to say.

At the Plitron booth was the largest toroidal transformer i have ever seen. Rated at 500kVA @ 60Hz, it weights "only" 2,640 lbs and could be used for providing balanced power in a large home... or an entire small village (literally). Plitron is also know for their output transformers for vacuum tube amplifiers of course.

Schoeps was showcasing their Polar Flex system. It is a "virtual microphone" where during mix down you can choose the microphone pattern, polarity and frequency response.

Furman Sound's new IT-Reference balanced power unit supercedes my fave IT-1220 balanced power unit. Yes, the same one that first brought balanced power to audiophiles through my review in Ultimate Audio many years ago. This balanced power unit features improvements over the previous model by including multiple isolated outlets. Not just isolated from main power per se as each outlet bank is isolated from the other banks as well. A total of four isolated banks of outlets are includes (twelve electrical outlets total).

AudioControl's Iasys Electro-Acoustic analyzer. Real time frequency response measurements through this portable unit that can include a precision measurement microphone.

Calec live digital production desk. Model Alpha 100 seen here has complete OB board (outside broadcast).

Click here for Sunday's coverage.