Consumer Electronic Show 2003

Sunday

  In the Wavelength Audio room was their Triton Blue monoblocks ($12,500) sixteen-watt Cobalt-coupled 300B amplifier. L-pair canceling Black Gates and pi-filtered power supplied are part of this design. Wire in the rooms was supplied by Nirvana and consisted of their SX series (see our review here) while the loudspeakers were the Third Rethm ($4,200). Wavelength Audio had their new Tangent battery powered MC tubed/hybrid phono stage ($3,500).

 

McCormack Audio proudly showcased their new universal disc transport UDP-1 DVD-Audio/DVD-Video/SACD player ($2,995, available in late spring). The 24-bit/192 Burr Brown chipset for decoding duties of CD and DVD-Audio plus Dolby Digital and DTS. Video-wise, a 54MHz, 10-bit DAC and S-Video/component outputs are provided for. Dedicated, discrete regulated power supply for the audio circuitry assures top quality sound reproduction.

 

VAC's new PHI 2.0 Master Control Preamplifier ($13,000) has a lovely beveled glass top and etched front has ten inputs including two phono, seven-line and one fully buffered tape loop. Fully balanced inputs and outputs. The entire PHI system has the iVAC communication bus the entire system, synchronizes the entire system/for lighting, power, and other duties (housekeeping, not audio signal transfer). Also 12-volt trigger system is included for industry standard configuration.

 

In the Galante Audio and Sophia Electric room was the Galante Audio Rhapsody 8-inch coaxial hornspeaker ($2,299) that has 96dB/W/b sensitivity with a frequency response from 50Hz to 20kHz. Sophia Electric's new 300B amplifier with Princess 300B tube ($4,500, as seen within our pre-show report). The Princess ($600 per pair) can be added to an existing amplifier with a small bias adjustment and resistor. Mesh plates and the usual good Sophia stuff applies here.

 

Brinkmann amplifier on the very lovely Middle Branch Furniture amplifier stand.

 

Kimber Kable's Select line was in force. From copper to 100% silver... use these babies in my personal setup.

 

Chesky Records, producers of many great audiophile music titles, had their C1 loudspeaker ($5,500) feature a 1-inch dome tweeter d 6.5-inch midrange/woofer. Overall frequency response is from 45Hz to 25kHz with a sensitivity of 89dB/W/m.

 

JJ Electric line of tube amplifiers.

 

EgglestonWorks Andra II floorstanding loudspeaker ($18,900).

 

The Piega C 3 LTD three-way loudspeaker ($9,000) has a very unique ribbon midrange with a centrally mounted ribbon tweeter. This coaxial driver insures a point source for the uppermost frequencies. The C 3 LTD employs two 18cm woofers for lower frequency sound reproduction. Overall frequency response is from 32Hz to an amazing 50kHz.

 

CTC Blowtorch ($15,000 on up depending on configuration) is a CTC Blowtorch ($15,000 on up depending on configuration) is a statement, no-holds-bared piece. Rave reviews appear many places.

 

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

 

Click here to see last year's show coverage.