Consumer Electronics Show 2007 Pre-Show News Report

 

Siltech will be introducing their new SC1 audiophile loudspeaker during the 2007 CES. Engineered from the ground up to produce the ultimate in performance, the SC1 features the special attention to the cabinet, driver, and actual in-room acoustics to produce the highest in sound reproduction. The upper range is produced by a curved multi-segmented ultra-fast electrostatic driver, with midrange being produced by a 7-inch high-speed driver designed to reduce Doppler and harmonic distortion. Lowermost frequencies are produced by a pair of 16-inch long throw drivers mounted in a proprietary cascade cabinet. Internal wiring is Siltech's Generation 6 Silver/Gold. Overall frequency response is from 18Hz to 38Khz and each complete unit is a staggering 265 lbs.

 

Eggleston Works design team has proudly announced The Nine loudspeaker after years of careful analysis of previous design ideas as well as completely new thinking. Outstanding specifications include a frequency response from 27Hz to 24kHz (-3dB), an efficiency of 88dB/W/m, and nominal impedance of 8 Ohms (minimum 5.6 Ohms). The company accomplishes this by employing a 1-inch cloth dome tweeter, a pair of 6-inch polypropylene double-magnet midrange drivers, and an 8inch woofer in a dual-ported enclosure. Dimensions are 11 x 16 x 43.5 (WxDxH in inches). Each unit weights in at a hefty 120 lbs.

 

Zetex Semiconductors will demonstrate the latest innovation in digital audio amplifiers at CES in January 2007. A direct digital feedback amplifier (DDFATM) controller chipset will feature the 8 channel ZXCZM800 digital modulator and ZXCZA200 feedback processor devices that, when combined with high performance power output stages, is said to produce audio amplification with outstanding audio quality and high power efficiency. The demonstration system will feature THD+N less than 0.004 percent and a wide dynamic range of 120dB from an amplifier capable of delivering up to 500 wpc. Supporting a range of power levels and channel count configurations, the DDFA chipset combines the DAC, pre-amplifier and power amplifier operation together with a comprehensive range of customizable DSP and management functions that are designed to bring new levels of performance to applications such as Home Theatre, Hi-Fi and Active Speakers. Furthermore, a highly effective feedback system is claimed to achieve excellent power supply rejection and delivers low output impedance while maintaining the processing in the digital domain for maximum signal integrity.

 

Nagra has announced their new range of CD players. Nagra says their "ambition with this new family of players is to offer the finest possible CD player, which can reproduce at home, the original quality of a concert or studio recording, often made using a Nagra recorder - the absolute reference." Three CD player models made by the company include the CDT transport with AES, S/PDIF, and optical outputs ($12,495), a CDP player with XLR and RCA outputs and fixed analog outputs ($13,495), and lastly the CDC concept (pictured above) with a full array of XLR and RCA outputs, variable outputs, balance control and a discrete headphone section ($14,995).

 

Zero Surge will showcase their TSC Technology that is claimed to "totally eliminate damaging powerline surge energy, offering total protection from even the worst case category B surges." Their WVR-TSCT (Wide Voltage Range, Total Surge Cancellation) promises to offer unsurpassed powerline protection that totally cancels damaging surge energy. Considerable time and R&D was dedicated to this project and terms like response time, clamping voltage, suppressed voltage, let-through voltage, Joule rating, maximum current rating, etc., are no longer relevant. Unlike common surge suppressors which utilize fixed clamping voltage components, WVR-TSCT is fully dynamic as it can operate over the entire 85 to 265 volt range. Fixed clamping voltage components, such as sacrificial metal oxide varistors (MOVs), limit the functionality of surge suppressors. Zero Surge's non-MOV filters preserve ground wire integrity, which when used with sensitive equipment, can help eliminate unwanted and annoying interference and damage.

 

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