Audes' Orpheus loudspeakers ($5,900 per pair) were being driven to good effect with the Audes NS1 monoblock tube amplifiers ($3,600 per pair). The NS1 produces
seven watts with two EL34 in parallel single-ended operation.
In the Sanibel Sound room they were featuring many products they distribute
here in America. The Piega C40 loudspeakers ($29,995) have a coax-ribbon driver
for midrange and tweeter duties while five 6" aluminum cone drivers provide
bass support. The new Aloia 15.01 stereo amplifier provides 60 watts per channel (around $6,000). Using inductive power supply, the amplifier and the Aloia CD Player (around $4,500) provides immense power storage that
tends to avoid the rippling effect as show in some typical, lesser capacitor-type power supplies.
The Spendor room was featuring their "S" loudspeaker line and Talk electronics.
The topless Audio Analogue Cellini (price not set) digital to analog converter decodes CD and DVD-Video (with capabilities for DVD-Audio decoding),
DTS, MLP, Dolby Digital, etc.
Eminent Technology's LFT 14 ($3,900) uses planar ribbon technology to reproduce 40Hz-20kHz. Sensitivity is rated at 85dB at 8 ohms.
Threshold's new Stasis 7.0 ($7,000) stereo amplifier produces 100 watts per channel with 18 output devices per channel. This is a high-current "Class A"
operating unit up to 20 watts or so. It then goes into "Class AB" for the remainder. Frequency response is DC to 50kHz. Also new is the Stasis R5.0 pre-amplifier ($5,000) has two pair of balanced inputs (XLR) and six stereo inputs (RCA). The internal software can be upgraded via the provided RS-232 port. Lastly is the new Stasis 9.0 monoblock amplifier ($9,000) that produces 300 watts. All of Threshold's new products are
true balanced throughout the signal path.
JJ Electronics' new 2A3-40 ($60 each).
Coming from the Netherlands is Floating with their visually interesting
Synthesis 1 four-way loudspeaker ($15,900 per pair). This unique and substantial design weights 159 lbs. and reproduces frequencies from 16Hz to 25kHz.
Loudspeaker driver manufacture Morel was showing many of their designs. Note the very long throw woofer to the
left.
Kimber Kable's Dick Diamond with their new Palladian series power cable as reviewed by our very own Karl
Lozier within our very own January 2002 Review
Magazine.
Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio is holding their new Venus monoblock single-ended tube amplifier ($15,000 per pair). The unit is completely silver
wired by hand for the utmost in sound quality. Cobalt is used within the
output transformer instead of iron for top-shelf performance.
Also new at Wavelength Audio is their Sine wireless remote control battery powered pre-amplifier ($5,000). Besides all the usual high-quality
goodies as found in all of Wavelength Audio designs, the wireless remote is RF and therefore easily works through virtually all walls with a range of approximately 600
feet! The battery supply can power three Wavelength devices such as their phono stage and DAC.
Roland Audio's MC6 amplifier ($16,500) can be mono to a six-channel amplifier depending on configuration.
McCormack Audio was showing their extensive line of electronics. Their new MAP-1 six channel analog pre-amplifier ($2,395). There is
passive matrix ambience retrieval for turning two channels into six channels.
Also note the Grand Prix Audio stands are being employed in the McCormack room. Alvin Lloyd of GPA discussed with me how their stands were designed through
true scientific method for vibrations isolation.
VTL's new TL7.5 ($10,000) is a two box fully balanced pre-amplifier with wireless remote control. One box is for the power supply while the other box holds the sensitive, high quality analogue stage.
This type of design reduces the power supply noise from negatively effecting
the critical analog signal. There are four balanced ()XLR) and six single-ended
(RCA) inputs and two tape loop. Two sets of outputs are also included as well.
In the Manley Labs room they had their new Neo Classic 300B pre-amplifier
($5,250) and the Shrimp entry-level pre-amplifier ($1,880). Something good is
happening at Manley.
Also in the Manley Labs room is the Coincident Speaker Technology model Total Victory ($11,500) nine-driver loudspeaker. There are four 8"hesvy-duty paper treated woofers, two 6.5" midbass drivers, two 3"fabric dome midrange and a single Isodynamic planar ribbon tweeter. Frequency response is rated
from 26Hz to 40kHz with a high 97 dB/w/m sensitivity (10 ohm load). This is a
very low wattage triode friendly design! Seen to the right is the 100-watt monoblock Manley Labs Snapper amplifier ($4,250 per pair) that uses four EL34 output tubes.
Nagra held a press party tonight to commemorate their many years within the
music industry. One of our writers will have detailed coverage concerning this
interesting event shortly.
Click here to
see a complete listing of
specialty high-end audio show exhibitors.
High-Performance Audio Reviews
