Consumer Electronic Show 2003

Thursday

  In the CES Design & Engineering Showcase Honors 2003 room was the Monsoon PlanarMedia 9 flat loudspeaker satellite/subwoofer system (as reported on by our very own Karl Lozier within the Review Magazine).

 

As also previous covered by us, yet within our CES pre-show report, is the THIEL Audio CS1.6 coherent source loudspeaker.

 

The very innovative PRePro by Bel Canto Design is heir no-holds-barred audio/video/pre-amplifier/processor capable of handling both audio and video with aplomb. Inputs are vat including, but not limited to, DVD, VCR, CD, Tape, 7.1 (channel), and LD.

 

Looking ever so sheik is the Tivoli Audio Model Three clock radio. Both AM/FM signals are piped through the top-mounted loudspeaker and front analog-styled clock all wrapped in wood give this unit a wonderful look.

 

The Analog Production's new release by Little Hatch Rock With Me Baby features13 tracks from this legendary harp harmonica/singer. The CD release is now available with LP release available in a few weeks.

 

Ruby Tubes has been busy with their new EL34 designed for them and made in China. It is said to be very durable due to enhanced internal structure.

 

New Sensor has been busy releasing many new tubes including 6922EH, 6SN7EH, 6CA7EH, 6CG7EH and 5U4GBEH. The 6922 was designed by the Russians to be the basic tube within their military. At 1988 the surplus went on sales and that is basically when the audio community "found" it. It was a good, quiet tube that was reliable. The metallurgy of the plate is actually three layers to help increase linearity. New Sensor has decided to rebirth this tube to top specifications. Improvements include new pins, new plating and very low noise with high linearity.

 

Chesky Records has been very busy releasing new multi-channel SACD/CD hybrid titles including Bucky Pizzarelli Swing Live, Ana Caram Blue Bossa, The Conga Kings Jazz Descargas, Clark Terry "One On One" and Christy Baron Steppin'.

 

Cisco Music has three new titles they were showcasing. Britten The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and Dohnanyi Variations on a Nursery Tunes, June Christy Something Cool, and Milstein Dvorak Violin Concerto.

 

The Genesis 1.1+ ($135,000) is a four-piece system and adds six more amplifiers for the woofer towers.

 

In the Joule Electra and Elrod Power Systems room was their Heavens Gate SE amplifier ($7,900) that use two 6350, two 6DJ8, and four 6C33CB output tubes to produce 70 watts. The loudspeakers are the Talon Chorus-X ($12,000).

 

Vincent's CD-S6 ($2,000) features HDCD capability, headphone output, digital output, and for analog output has a 6N6.The front 6922 tube is for power supply.

 

Seen here is a prototype turntable employs special dampening within the legs and a special, oil-free bearing (!), and 24-pole variety.

 

Isophon loudspeakers, the oldest German loudspeaker company in business for well opver70- years, had their new Europa ($10,000) that features 1" silk soft dome tweeter, three 4" midrange drivers and to internally-mounted 9" woofers. A steep, 50dB crossover is used and overall frequency response in from 23Hz to 20kHz.

 

In the Cardas room was Ayre's D-1x DVD/CD player ($5,250 for base unit, options extra), K-1x pre-amplifier ($7,000, add $1,600 for phono stage), and Ayre V-1x amplifier ($9,000).

 

Reimyos PAT-777 is a 300B single-ended triode zero feedback 7-watt amplifier. Other tubes include a pair of 310A and one centrally mounted 5R44WG. Frequency response is from 10Hz to 20kHz with a signal to noise of 90dB. An amazing looking amplifier i hope to review one day soon.

 

The Joule Electra VZN-100 OTL tube monoblock amplifiers ($15,000) employs six 6C33 tubes to produce 100 watts. The optional Music Wood enclosure that is said to increase the overall performance and appearance of the unit. The Merlin VSN Millennium loudspeaker ($8,950) features 1-ibch silk soft dome tweeter mated with a 6.5-inch midrange/woofer. Frequency response is from 33z to 20kHz (with bass equalizer circuitry) and sensitivity is 89dB/W/m. Seen here in premium clear coat finish in Ruby Heart Red.

 

WAVAC Audio's new PR-EX1 pre-amplifier has both balanced (XLR) and single ended (RCA) input (pricing to be announced). A separate power supply chassis matches this unit. The chassis themselves are from solid aluminum and is employs as the heat sink for the tubes. Tubes within the pre-amplifier are two 12AU7s per channel.

 

A nice selection of Nordost cables.

 

So far the coolest loudspeakers of the show are the Sound-e-Motion 2x31-R29 BF. While not the most memorable model name, this solid wood loudspeaker design has a frequency response from 60Hz to 40kHz and has a 4-ohm load. Sensitivity is 91.5dB/W/m and the unit can handle upwards of 140 watts. Scanspeak tweeter is mated to two 18cm midrange/woofers.

 

Silverline model Grande La Folia ($28,000) is a large floorstanding unit featuring a three-way, seven-driver configuration. The Dynaudio drivers are one T330D Esotar 1.25-inch tweeter, two D76AF 3-inch sot-dome midranges and four 24W100X long-throw 9-inch woofers. Frequency response is from 25Hz to 32kHz with an overall sensitivity of 93dB/W/m.

 

The Acapella Violin hornspeaker ($23,500) features their special Ion tweeter mated with a 10-inch midrange/woofer to produce frequencies from 28Hz to 40kHz. Great for tube lovers as the sensitivity is 91 dB/W/m.

 

Quasar turntable made by En Vogue in Germany is a mass-loaded turntable said to be capable of reproducing great microdynamics and low-level resolution.

 

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

 

Click here to see last year's show coverage.