CES 2010 Preview & THE Show Preview
   
Consumer Electronics Show & THE Show 2010 Preview / Pre-Show Report

Simaudio Ltd., a Canadian audio and video equipment manufacturer that has been in business for nearly 30 years designing and building high quality electronics for home entertainment use, will be at CES 2010 Venetian Towers suite 30-106 with their new 32-bit MOON 750D DAC/Transport, 700i integrated amplifier, 600i integrated amplifier and 300D DAC ($12,000, $12,000, $800 and $16000 respectively). The MOON 750D DAC/transport (pictured) features the most advanced digital technology via the first true 32-bit fully asynchronous digital audio playback system to reach the marketplace. Simaudio's Moon 750D is a fully balanced differential design featuring their new M-AJiC32 circuitry (an asynchronous jitter elimination system) built around the ESS SABRE32 Reference Audio DAC. The conversion process uses 8 DACs per channel working in 32-bit Hyperstream. The MOON 700i is the company's ultimate stereo integrated amplifier and is a fully differential dual-mono design rated at 175 wpc into 8 Ohms (350 watts into 4 Ohms). New technologies includes the M-eVOL2 volume control with a phenomenal 530 steps, new MOON output transistors specifically designed for use within their amplifiers and input stage circuit which reduces noise. The MOON 600i stereo integrated amplifier is designed to continue where the award winning MOON i-7 left off. It is a fully differential dual-mono design rated at 125 wpc into 8 Ohms, and features new technologies like the M-eVOL2 volume control with 530 steps and the new MOON output transistors. Lastly, the MOON 300D DAC features an exceptionally versatile external interface that allows for use with a computer via its USB input as well as other digital audio source components such as a music server, digital transport, etc. through either S/PDIF or optical TosLink connectors. With internal upsampling using 24-bit/352.8kHz processing, the MOON 300D will accept an input signal ranging from 44.1 to 192 kHz with a bit-depth range from 16 to 24 bits. Jitter is a virtual non-issue thanks to our highly regarded proprietary digital clocking system. The back panel features a total of four digital inputs (one USB, two SPDIF and one TosLink) and both balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) analog outputs.

 

VMPS invites everyone at THE Show to attend the unveiling of the new VMPS RM50 Dual Line Source Bipole ($12,900 per pair) and hear their "live versus recorded" demo within the Flamingo Hotel's Lake Mead Ballroom. VMPS' RM50 loudspeaker is the result of last year's "Live versus Recorded" presentation and is a unique design they call "Dual Line Source Bipole". The front has twin (Dual) lines with 7-inch ribbon tweeters and lines of 3-inch midrange Neopanels. On the rear are two Neopanels and two tweeters. The woofer section is comprised of twin 12-inch UltraMegaWoofers that are slot loaded and downward firing. The cabinet features a 3-inches thick front baffle, 2-inch thick sides and rear baffle with extensive internal bracing. The crossover options consist of Active/Digital D-OXO (active digital outboard cross-over) and Active/Analog A-OXO (active analog outboard cross-over). Sensitivity is 94dB/W/m, it presents an 8 Ohm load and frequency response is from 20 Hz to 40 kHz (-2dB). Dimensions: are 74 x 14.5 x 19 (HxWxD in inches) and each one weighs at 375 lbs. So far there are no photos of the unit so what you see here could be considered the mystery box ready to be unpacked for the unveiling.

 

Furutech, manufacturer of award-winning ultra refined analog, digital, video cable and accessories, will be at CES 2010 Venetian Tower 30-315 with their new Flux-50 Inline AC power filter. The Flux-50 is a sophisticated, luxuriously made and finished inline power filtering unit that seeks to eliminate many common problems caused by contaminated electrical power lines. It protects against distortion caused by ground noise, voltage spikes and sags, high frequency power supply noise from other components in your own system, plus high frequency digital noise from processors and digital interconnects and heavy damping of the cable/filter itself. Furutech's Flux-50 features the Innovations Award winning FI-50 power connector. They combine two "active" materials: Nano-sized ceramic particles and powdered carbon. Nylon and fiberglass are incorporated as well forming an extremely effective, mechanically and electrically non-resonant connector body that may just be the most sophisticated in the world plus this unit incorporates the AC-1501R EMI-filtering IEC connector. Results when using the Furutech Flux-50 Inline AC Filter are said to be a lowering of noise on every component which is used that results in very natural and extremely fine resolution down and through the utterly silent noise floor. It is also said to improve soundstaging and image palpability. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Furutech's Piezo Powerflux (click) and Furutech's Evolution cable system (click here).

 

Furutech

 

Michael Green has updated his well-known Michael Green Audio RoomTune acoustical control products for the new decade. The new RoomTune II designs will be on active display in the Zion Room hosted by Purist Audio Designs at THE Show. The MGA RoomTune II Squares, the new RoomTune II SoundStage family of floor standing tuning panels, as well as the new tunable Cable Grounds cable elevators and tunable Amplifier Platforms, can be seen there for the first time. The new RoomTune II Squares and TunePak can also be seen at the UltraSystems booth plus the Ultra Systems will also be introducing the brand new MGA RoomTuneART acoustical control art panels. The RTART panels (seen here) are available in many sizes and artistic designs that meld beauty and acoustical control power into an extremely décor-friendly product that will suit any room. All of these are the first new Michael Green acoustical control product designs in a number of years. Michael had been spending much of his time working with organizations such as Herman Miller, Inc. and the State University of New York, and has recently begun focusing his energy on new design work. As a result, in addition to these new acoustical and specialty products, new MGA loudspeaker designs will be forthcoming also.

 

Ultralink will be at the South Hall 2 booth 25401 plus the Venetian Tower 30-234 and 30-236 at CES 2010 with their Ultralink/XLO Products. On of the newest products is the company's Powergrid PGX-UPS IP addressable power conditioner with UPS battery backup system. The PGX-UPS is a voltage control device that is efficiently designed around its battery backup function. Most backup units trip only when there's a power outage, but that leaves you completely unprotected against the constant power sags and surges that can wreak havoc on valuable home audio and video components. The PGX-UPS maintains smooth, consistent power to your system with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) technology that constantly correct for small voltage fluctuation creating a stable, clean power platform for all connected components. If the power goes out, the unit goes to battery power then switches to the AC line when power is restored. The 1200/640 watt battery provides up to 40 minutes of backup power ensuring system memory settings remain active. The PGX-UPS offers ten surge-protected outlets (six with battery backup), three pairs of coax line protection plus a USB port for IP address monitoring of the device. The PGX-UPS carries a three year warranty, a $500,000 Connected Equipment Warranty, and comes with a six foot premium power cord. 

 

Summit Wireless provides 24 bit lossless wireless audio technologies via an integrated circuit that allows for uncompressed audio. This audio signal can be combined with programmable filters and crossovers that are tunable to the characteristics of the speaker cabinets and drivers. This technology can be integrated into a variety of audio platforms including, speakers, audio video receivers, DVD players, digital televisions, game platforms, MP3 players, etc. Partners demonstrating Summit integrated solutions CES 2010 include SB Acoustics, Solidex Audio Corporation and Tymphany. Summit technology automatically performs 3D Audio Mapping to identify the number speakers in the home theater and is scalable from 2.0 to 7.1 system. Summit then calibrates the system by assigning each speaker the correct audio channel, calculates the correct audio delay and adjusts the volume level to the listener's position. The Focus Enhancements FS848 Wireless Audio IC is the premium audio solution that sets a new standard and makes this all possible.

 

Thorens, a longstanding turntable manufacturer based in Switzerland, will be at the 2010 International CES Venetian Towers room 29-112 presenting their new TD 309 turntable (1650€). Features include a new innovative suspended sub chassis turntable, new suspension system to make setting up easy, low noise, low voltage electronically speed controlled DC Motor and an adjustable belt tension for best performance. Other new features of the Thorens TD 309 design is aluminum sub platter with single line contact, fused silica platter for consistency and sound quality plus Thorens' new low resonance TP 92 arm with precision Japanese bearings and arm adjustable for azimuth and overhang. The turntable's three-point-suspension ensures balance, which is also reflected in its styling. The three suspensions are easy to adjust from the top with just a hex driver. The TD 309 benefits from being on a shelf or rack that is not massively heavy, as the suspension is tuned to 4Hz deliberately well below and ideal cartridge/tonearm resonance. The suspension delivers the maximum vertical freedom with minimal totally controlled lateral wobble, which also reduces footfall related problems especially in rooms without solid floors. The TD 309 employs a low-voltage low-noise DC motor and mounts in an anti-vibration adjustable moulding. The TD 309 will be supplied with a Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) delivering the necessary 12 V DC for the motor. The base is precision machined from MDF by Computer Numerically Controlled machines to achieve consistently tight engineering tolerances. The sub platter is precision-machined Aluminum (ALMG1) with a single ring micro-contact area. The diameter of the contact point (121 mm) selected by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to be at the lowest resonant point. Thoren's newly designed TP 92 tonearm uses an armtube that is manufactured from an aluminum extrusion that is cold worked and rolled for strength. The armtube is surface damped with a random contact material designed to damp resonances without adding emphasis on any one frequency. Reduced modal resonance. An innovative but simple magnetic anti-skate system features zero friction while a brass dual-decoupled counterweight allows for tracking for adjustment.

 

Kimber Kable, a longstanding and well-respected cable manufacturer will be showing at CES 2010 at the Venetian room 29-5530, with their both finished products and 'raw' wire for DIY'ers. Kimber Kable's 4VS consists of four gray and four black conductors that utilize the company's proven braiding technique. The aggregate wire size is two 13 awg conductors, which are of VariStrand, ultra-pure copper. Kimber Kable offers their KS 9033, KS 9035 and KS 9038 jumper cables are 10-inches long and terminated with gold-plated banana connectors for loudspeaker application. These jumpers are commonly used between the high frequency and low frequency posts of bi-wire capable speakers when a standard configured cable is used. The KS 9033 jumpers are designed to complement the company's KS 3033 speaker cable as well as the Kimber Kable's Monocle X and XL cables. The KS 9033 jumpers use our proven Hyper-pure VariStrand copper conductors and V-Teflon dielectric. Kimber Kable's KS 9035 jumpers complement the KS 3035 speaker cable and are made with a special hybrid braided geometry incorporating Hyper-pure VariStrand silver and copper conductors. For top-of-the-line applications, the KS 9038 jumpers complement the KS 3038 speaker cable and are comprised entirely of Kimber Kable's finest Hyper-pure VariStrand silver conductors. Kimber Kable's new top-of-the-range Select KS-1036 analog interconnect (pictured here) utilizes the company's 'Black Pearl' silver conductors. This no compromise interconnect from the well-respected and legendary cable company Kimber features 50 percent more conductors than their KS-1030 plus proprietary X38R central core compound to ensure that the conductors are locked in place and precise cable geometry. The increase in conductors is said to reduce the resistance within the cable and enhances Kimber's braided geometry design that reduces the effects of RF interference. Also new is WBT's 0102 Ag nextgen RCA connectors with 'passivated' pure silver conductors. The plug is machined from a solid block of platinum coated brass to provide electromagnetic shielding and are the finest WBT plugs produced to date. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Kimber Kable power cords (click here), their budget-priced TONIK (click here) and Kimber Cable QC-Mini AG all silver cable (click here).

 

Crystal Cable, winners of CES 2010 Best Of Innovations Award, will have their cables and the award-winning Arabesque speaker ($45,000) at the Venetian room 30-336. With their cabinet made from 0.75-inch thick glass, the loudspeaker's name comes from the shape of the cabinet that is a type of teardrop shape to keep unwanted cabinet resonances in check. The ribbon tweeter is by Raal while the three 6.5-inch drivers are by ScanSpeak from their Illuminator line. The drivers have been modified to the specifics needed by Crystal Cable. Computer engineering was employed to first carefully simulate before the design began then tweaked accordingly. This is how all walls are not parallel and, as such, the company states that internal dampening was not necessary. Frequency response is from 27 Hz to 100 kHz (-3dB) with a sensitivity of 95dB/W/m and presenting a 4 Ohm load. Recommended power amplification is at least 20mwatts and each unit weighs in at 220 lbs. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Crystal Cables Dreamline XLR (click here) plus we have a manufacturer article with their White Paper by Joe Shanaphy of Crystal Cable USA's preview distributor (click here).

 

Concert Fidelity electronics, designed and built by hand in Japan in the best artisan traditions with a perfectionist's fanatic attention to detail and a purist’s pursuit of optimized simplicity as the means of achieving the most musically authentic results, will be at the CES 2010 Venetian Towers room 30-201 exhibiting their legacy Silicon Arts Design & Concert Fidelity top line components. Seminars by world renown recording engineer Mr. Steve Hoffman will also be taking place in the room. In addition, Concert Fidelity will be demonstrating the Si2 Series for the very first time, which is the new Silicon Arts Next Class line of components. The line will feature Silicon Arts Next Class Si2 Micro integration line, Si2 Preamp & Power Amp, plus Concert Fidelity SPA-2 Studio Playback Phono Equalizer (with modernized Denon DP-3000 / DA-305 playback system). The Silicon Arts Next Class products are the results of Masata Tsuda's challenge to affordability realized through application of his minimalist philosophy, resulting in ultimate value statements. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Concert Fidelity DAC-040 digital to analog converter (click here) and the Silicon Arts ZL-120 monoblock amplifier & Concert Fidelity CF-080 line preamplifier (click here).

 

dCS  (Data Conversion Systems), a British company that since 1987 has been dedicated to the design, engineering and manufacture of the best performing digital audio components in the business, will be at the CES 2010 Venetian Tower suite 30-128 introducing their new Debussy digital-to-analog converter. Housed in the sleek U-Clock chassis, Debussy features a wide array of inputs, including dCS' patent-pending asynchronous USB, as well as traditional S/PDIF and AEB/EBU. An LED-based display indicates active input, sample rate, and volume level. The control board and Ring DAC are derived from those in the Paganini DAC, with variable output of either 2V or 6V available on either XLR balanced or RCA unbalanced analog connectors. Venetian Tower room 29-123 will have dCS Scarlatti Transport, Upsampler, Master Clock, and DAC while Venetian Tower 30-111 will have the Scarlatti Transport, Upsampler, Master Clock, and DAC.

 

UniwaveTek, Utah based company that takes advantage of digital processing's speed and efficiency plus smaller form factor, utilizes CMOS based semiconductor technology with their proprietary patented ANACO controller technology that can be seen at THE Show suite 4014. As a result of UniwaveTek's technology implementation, their ANACO 2 digital amplifier has achieved the bandwidth about 250 kHz and preamplifier goes up to about 3 MHz. The Uniwave preamplifier ($4800) comes with a programmable remote controlled blue light displays, true balanced output stage with a total of six inputs including phono, tape, CD and three auxiliary. There are a pair of single ended RCA outputs including one non-volume controlled out for copy-out. The Uniwave Digital ANACO 2 stereo amplifier ($6800, pictured) has an output of 500 wpc @ 4 Ohms, with 1800 watts peak power. Bandwidth is up to 250 kHz with a SNR of 90dB. The company also offers two monitor speakers, with the Château Reference ($2500) that has a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms, phase variation of 420° from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and measures 12 x 12 x 11 (WxDxH in inches). The M3 Elite Reference monitors ($4500) are 89dB/W/m sensitive, present a 6.8 Ohm load and are 14 x 14 x 15 (WxDxH in inches. All Château Reference Monitors are vented enclosure design and avoid any kind of parallelism in the structure. Finish options include piano black and black with selected veneer hardwoods.

 

Click here for page 2 of our CES 2010 / THE Show preview report.