Consumer Electronic Show 2003

Friday
Part 2

  Ensemble's new dirdrondo drive is a high-resolution CD transport with top-loading mechanism. The digital; section will resample the data to either 96kHz or 192kHz resolution. Both BNC and RCA coaxial outputs are provided for. They also have the same transport section, yet with digital to analog decoding in their dirondo player (prices of both units to be announced). The Ensemble dichrono hi-dac can decode signals from 14 to 20-bitsand sampling rates from 32kHz to 96kHz and upsample to 192kHz. Both BNC and RCA digital inputs are included.

 

Audio Note M2 line balanced ($2,999) is a transformer coupled tube power supply with choke pre-amplifier. The usual Audio Note parts and tweaks apply. See our pre-show report for more info.

 

The Blueroom loudspeakers come in ten colors and consist of the Minipod ($499/pair), Cinepod ($399 each), and self-powered Base Station ($699). And yes, they are available in Ferrari red.

 

In the Tenor Audio 75Wp OTL monoblock amplifier ($20,900) that produces 75 watts using four 6C33C output tubes. The Kharma Midi Grand Ceramique ($32,000) loudspeaker features a 25mm titanium tweeter, 6-inch ceramic midrange, and 11-inch Nomex-Kevlar woofer. It produces frequencies from 25Hz to 25kHz with a sensitivity of 90dB/W/m.

 

In the Herron Audio room was their VTSP-1A stereo pre-amplifier. See our full review of this wonderful unit by clicking here.

 

TS Limm's Diva line's new Tian Zhu CV 345 amplifier is a single-ended pentode design with the CV345 for output an ML6 for driver. This unit produces eight watts per channel.

 

Gryphon was showing their prototype of their top-loading high-end CD player/transport that features upsampling to 24-bit/96kHz. Can be upgraded to higher digital rates as good sounding chipsets are released. The unit operates fully differential, balanced. Therefore it needs eight chipsets for digital to analog conversion.

 

Impact Technology Airfoil 2 ($8,000 approximately) is a streamlined version of their top-line Airfoil 1 that uses three Airfoil drivers coupled to an Impact modified Seas 6.5-inch cone for midrange and bass. Overall frequency response is from 32Hz to 23kHz with a sensitivity of 89dB/W/m.

 

While some people need Viagra, others might prefer other methods of "bulking up". Here we see the Steroid 7 system by Adcom (GTP-860 home theater pre-amplifier and GFA-7607 seven-channel amplifier, $3,000). Offering seven channels of 125-watts of power, this system decodes Dolby Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital, dts, and Adcom 7.1 surround.

 

For the man who has worked hard and desires only the very best in life, Italy-based U-Vola has a Ferrari red loudspeaker to match those who enjoy other Italian "Prancing Horses". These egg-shaped loudspeakers also are offered in many other colors and designer styles including looking very much like a watermelon.

 

Eichmann, made famous by their Bullet Plugs (see review here) has their new complete cable line on the market. Featuring a unique EMF buffer system, they say these cables are $200/meter and sound like $1,000.

 

The ProAc room was making good sound with their new Response D80 as seen within our pre-show report.

 

Audio Note Japan had their new Gakuoh KR300B (or KR305B) monoblock push-pull triode amplifier (est. $50,000). Featuring a "Super Intelligent Power Supply" and KSL technology, the unit has 100% silver wire internally and for the output transformer.

 

conrad-johnson GAT Amplifier ($38,000) is the company's first venture into 300B tube amplification. This is the only 300B amplifier that outputs 1,000 watts (not a typo). A low ratio transformer is coupled to a push-pull buffer. This keeps the voltage gain characteristics of a 300B but the current gain of the output buffer stage.

 

conrad-johnson also had their Premiere 140 stereo amplifier ($6,795) produces 140 watts per channel using four 6550 tubes per channel.

 

Von Schweikert had their VR-1 ($995) and VR-2 ($2,495) loudspeakers.

 

Clearaudio is celebrating their 25^th anniversary and, appropriately, they have decided to offer a special "Anniversary" turntable ($6,000). Based on the Master Reference and Solution turntable, the Anniversary's chassis is made from solid CNC machined wood sandwiched by an aluminum top and bottom plate.

 

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Click here to see a complete listing of
specialty high-end audio show exhibitors.

 

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