CES 2006 & T.H.E. Show Coverage
     

Show Report By Dick Olsher
Page 3

Tonian Laboratories' Tony Minasian is seen here with a terrific new two-way floor stander ($1,500/pair) using a ribbon tweeter and Fostex mid-woofer. Contact Tonian Labs for more information (www.tonianlabs.com).

 

Also in the category of good affordable sound was the Neat Motive 2 speaker ($1,995/pair) setup in the Bluebird Music room (www.bluebird.com). Coupled with the Exposure 2010S CD player and 2010S integrated amplifier ($1,250 each), and complemented by inexpensive interconnects and speaker cable (the Chord Company Anthem and Rumour speaker cable), and without any fancy room treatment, the sound was nonetheless rich in emotional nuances.

 

The coupling of Accuphase electronics and the German Isophon Cassiano speakers ($25,000/pair) made a good impression. San Cassiano, a ski resort in southern Tyrol, donated the name for this high-tech project, replete with Thiel ceramic diaphragm drivers.

 

 

Several products caught my attention for various reasons.

 

If you are into bi-amplification, be sure to check out the Marchand Electronics XM-26 active two-way crossover, which happens to be tube based. I plan to do so in the near future.

It was difficult to leave Las Vegas without internalizing the Chinese impact on high-end audio. Designed in the West and built in the East has become a routine way of doing business for many US and European audio companies. This has completely redefined what is possible in the sub $1,500 price points; a good thing for those in their 20s and 30s who are now able to discover the magic of tube sound without mortgaging the house. Quality control, however, has been a chronic problem for audio goods built to a philosophy of "it's good enough." Kevin Deal, Prima Luna's US distributor tells me that they have taken a direct role and presence in mainland China to control production quality. A "bottoms off" inspection of some of the chassis on display revealed exceptional build quality. I am looking forward to auditioning the Prologue Five power amplifier ($1,395). 

 

Move over WBT! The Furutech line of connectors presently represents my first choice for both upgrades and DIY projects (www.furutech.com). 

 

My favorite integrated amplifier is still going strong.

 

The Feastrex line of full-range drivers from Japan are a fascinating amalgam of old and new technologies. The all feature the Naturfluxtm magnetic circuit which delivers magnetic force efficiently to the pole piece and voice coil gap.

 

Cary Audio Design's Dennis Had proudly displays the new SLP-05 tube line preamplifier and headphone amplifier. There is nothing but a sea of 6SN7 tubes: no less than an octet of my favorite gain/drive tube. The headphone amplifier section uses two onboard output transformers to step-down the 6SN7's output impedance for matching the low input impedance requirements of most headphones.

 

DC Gold (David Chaffey) has purchased the assets, tooling and design rights of the Babb speaker line that has caught the attention of many in the DIY community because of its unique technology and several excellent full-range driver candidates. Mr. Chaffey is working with the chief engineer and the manufacturing expertise of the previous staff to evolve an improved generation of drivers and home audio products (www.dcgold.com).

 

 

And finally some images of the folks who make the high-end scene what it is…

Audio Note UK's Peter Qvortrup (Mr. analog)
having way too much fun with digital sound.

 

Tim de Paravicini and Stan Ricker are grooving
to analog sound in the EAR room.

 

Air Tight's designer, Mr. Muira,
flanked by Koetsu distributor Ronnie Kaplan.

 

Home Grown Audio's (HGS-Silbraid) Holly Walsh
and Mr. and Mrs. (Ray is the lucky guy in the middle).

 

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