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

The Lotus Group will be at C.E.S. 2010 at The Venetian room 30-319 with The Granada open baffle loudspeaker that combines centuries old craftsmanship with the latest technological advances. A Feastrex field coil drivers represent the pinnacle of this driver design and features the world's finest handmade washi paper cones, lambskin leather surrounds and a variety of extremely powerful electro-magnets. The open baffle design was chosen to eliminate "box colorations". The baffle is machined from a three inch slab of Finnish Birch plywood and the company can custom build a pair with any veneer, laminate or finish that will best suit the user's taste. A pair of 12-inch woofers are employed that have massive under-hung motors with a full copper sleeve on the pole. This insures extreme linearity and extremely low distortion and each driver features dual 8 Ohm voice coils with a high Q and low Fs for maximum power and efficiency. The Granada is an actively bi-amplified loudspeaker, thus a crossover of some type is required and passive crossovers were ruled out, whilst analog or digital active crossovers were the remaining choices. Of the two, the option that affords the greatest precision and flexibility is the digital option and so the Granada's digital crossover processes acoustic information at 48 bits in real time. Overall frequency range is from 25 Hz to 20 kHz, efficiency is 92dB/W/m and the unit is wired with Acrolink 99.99997% pure copper wire and Oyaide PCOCC-A pure copper wire. Dimensions are 22 x 54 x 16 (WxHxD in inches).

 

SIM2 USA will exhibit with Krell Industries at CES 2010 in the Penthouse Suite at the Mirage Hotel. "We're excited to work with Krell again after the success at CEDIA this year," said Charlie Boornazian, SIM2's VP of sales and marketing. "We look forward to bringing high-end video images to the high-end audio from Krell. Launched at CEDIA, our MICO 50 is a truly revolutionary product utilizing SIM2's PureLED technology. This balanced design concept combines a new LED light source, latest generation DLP chipset, advanced light engine and powerful SIM2 video processing, to create a projector that excels in every respect." Bill McKiegan, Krell Industrie's VP of USA sales and marketing, said, "We are unveiling our first Blu-ray player and there is no better company to partner with than SIM2 for this introduction." The new Evolution 555 will continue the Krell tradition of defining the ultimate standard for a product category. A ground-up Krell design, the new player will feature reference level audio and video performance coupled to renowned Krell build quality.

 

The Chord Cyan Click, as distributed by Bluebird Music, is an 80 wpc stereo integrated amplifier and DAC plus Bluetooth all in one unit that will be at CES' Venetian room 29-231. The Cyan Click includes a complete range of digital and analog inputs as well as high quality USB and wireless inputs including Chord's unique advanced digital Bluetooth system. No bigger than Chord's popular QBD76, the Cyan is packed full of features and it is the first in the Cyan range. The Click's 80 wpc stereo integrated amplifier and high quality DAC all in one box includes a complete range of digital and analogue inputs as well as high quality wireless via Chord's unique advanced digital Bluetooth system. Analog sources can be connected via the XLR balanced input or to the separate RCA phono input. Both can be used at the same time and are independently switchable. Digital connectivity is via a BNC coax, optical TosLink or USB input and all are converted using a high quality digital to analog converter. Again all of them can be used and controlled at the same time. The wireless connectivity via Chord's unique digital Bluetooth system gives the ability for A2DP enabled phones, digital assistants and personal computers to transmit high quality audio without the need for cables. This Bluetooth connection uses a very simple pairing procedure and with a range of up to 100 feet it can be used anywhere in the home. The USB port can be connected to a personal computer and will seamlessly appear as an audio device by the operating system. Any music played on the computer will be digitally decoded and then converted for playback. Selection and control of all inputs is via an easy to use front panel interface or remote control and the large display can easily be seen across a room. High quality Alps motorized potentiometers are used to adjust both the volume and balance. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Chord Electronics QBD76 DAC, which can be seen by clicking here.

 

While not necessarily high-end, is is interesting see more and more companies offering vinyl solutions. On that note, Audio-Technica announced the introduction of its AT-LP60-USB LP-to-Digital Turntable System ($229). This is a complete USB turntable and software package that makes it easy to enjoy listening to records and to transfer vinyl records to digital media files. The new AT-LP60-USB will be featured at CES 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall 1 booth 21840. The AT-LP60-USB includes a turntable and phono cartridge, PC- and Mac-compatible software, a USB cable that connects the turntable directly to a computer, a built-in phono preamp and other accessories. The AT-LP60-USB features completely automatic operation, and a 33.3 and 45 rpm speed selector to play vinyl formats from LP albums to 12-inch and 7-inch singles. The turntable is designed with a precision cast aluminum platter, a high-quality Dual Magnet stereo cartridge with replaceable stylus and a pickup arm with soft damping control. The supplied USB cable enables plug-and-play connection to a PC or Macintosh computer. Its built-in switchable phono preamp enables connection to a wide variety of music and home entertainment systems, powered speakers, and to A/V receivers that do not include a dedicated phono input. The AT-LP60-USB comes with RCA output cables and 3.5mm-to-RCA adapter cables, and a removable dustcover. The included PC- and Mac-compatible Audacity software converts the audio on a record to MP3, WAV or other format digital audio files, which can then be played back on portable audio players, computers, home media centers and car audio systems. The Audacity software includes a host of audio editing features including equalization and click/noise removal.

 

Lamm Industries will be exhibiting at the upcoming CES 2010 and present their new LL1 Signature preamplifier in tandem with the ML3 Signature amplifiers ($42,000 per pair and $139,290 per pair respectively) at the Venetian suite 35-307 plus Lamm Industries' new LL2.1 pure vacuum tube preamplifier ($5990) in their other exhibit in suite 35-309. The LL2.1 (pictured) is a direct replacement for the LL2 preamplifier and features upgrades and modifications as compared to the LL2 that include the addition of a built-in remote on/off for LAMM amplifiers and the introduction of the attenuation for gain reduction by 15 dB. There are also various new parts and new knobs combined with slight changes in schematic diagram. It employs a pure Class A operation from input to output; all stages are single-ended. The preamplifier's audibly neutral power supply features a full-wave vacuum rectifier. This rectifier, together with a choke-containing filter, allows to practically get rid of the hum and buzz and, in the end, to ensure the verity of dynamic range without coloration. Other features include three inputs, one tape loop, two sets of outputs, front panel muting switch, attenuator for gain reduction by 15 dB, built-in remote on/off for Lamm power amplifiers and protection circuitry coupled with automatic mute at turn on/off. The new Lamm Industries monaural line level preamplifier model LL1 Signature is the ultimate statement from the company. The LL1 Signature has been designed to complement the ML3 Signature amplifier, and this combination in a system represents a "match made in heaven". However, the LL1 Signature will perform magic with any other appropriate power amplifier. The LL1 Signature features a topology that brings out the most natural sound performance in the audio path. In principle, it is a single-stage unit that basically represents the shortest possible signal path. The preamplifier contains four very linear low impedance triodes paralleled into a single inverting gain stage. The LL1 Signature employs a pure single-ended Class A operation with no overall feedback applied. Also featured are specially selected high-transconductance dual triodes 6N30P-DR in the signal path and TKD stepped potentiometers for volume control. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Lamm Industries LP2 phono preamplifier (click here) and Model L2 Reference line-level preamplifier (click here).

 

Exposure, distributed by Bluebird Music, will have the new 2010S2 and 3010S2 and much more at the CES Venetian room 29-231. Exposure has revamped its entire range of products, with the new 2010S2 entry level series building on Exposure's highly acclaimed 2010S products. The 2010S2 integrated amplifier now utilizes relay switching. This is said to provide a substantial improvement in transparency over the previous version's mechanical switching plus now a cleaner signal path in the 2010S2 power amplifier results in better sound quality. There is a new Tuner available and the entire range is designed to cosmetically match the 3010S2 products so customers can easily and transparently mix components from either series within one system. Exposure's mid-range 3010S2 products receive more substantial upgrades like a dedicated preamplifier and 100 watt monoblock amplifiers have been added to the series. The preamplifier is based on Exposure's high quality Classic preamplifier but also receives the new relay input switching. The 3010S2 integrated has its preamplification section upgraded based on the Classic and new relay input switching, while the power amplifier receives the same improvement as the 2010S2 power amp. The 3010S2 CD player receives improvements to the clock, digital output supply and DAC output. The new 3010S2 monoblocks are based on Exposure's flagship MCX. All Exposure products feature high quality all aluminum casework, a full function system remote and three year warranty. All integrated amplifiers and preamplifiers can be fitted with high quality MM or MC phono cards, whilst all models are available in silver or black. USA prices in the 2010S2 series are: CD player $1195; integrated amplifier $1295, power amp $1095, tuner $1095, phono card $195. USA prices in the 3010S2 series are: CD player $2195; integrated amplifier $2195; pre-amplifier $1395, stereo amplifier $1595, monoblock amplifier $2595 (per pair) and phono card $395.

 

Teo Audio's Liquid Cables will be at THE Show at the Flamingo room 4056 with Sound Lab, AMR front end and and Atma-Sphere amplification. So what makes Teo Audio's Liquid Cable special? According to the company, "Until now, every cable design has been based on attempts to overcome the frequency-based limitations inherent in the transmission of electromagnetic signals through solid metal conductors. Fortunately for all of us who love music there is, for the first time in decades, something truly revolutionary to enjoy! Years of inquiry into an entirely new medium of electromagnetic signal transmission - liquid metal conductors - has lead a Canadian company, Teo Audio, to create their Liquid Cable line of audio, video, and digital cables. Unlike anything before them, Liquid Cable achieves a sonic result that seemingly re-writes the rules governing cable design."

 

Kubotek Japan will be THE Show room 4024 with their Small Coaxial Speakers and Active Phase Controller ($12,000 for a pair of coax speakers with enclosure and digital controller). The analog network circuit for the multi-way speaker system can be designed to flatten the amplitude-frequency curve, but it inevitably introduces the significant phase shift at the same time. This, in turn, causes a 'blurring' in the music reproduction. Kubotek's new Hybrid Network System compensates this defect by using their unique digital music signal processing technology. It flattens both the amplitude and phase curves for the speaker system having analog network inside. The digital "active phase controller " as its component, which is tuned to compensate the total distortion in amplitude and phase frequency curves, caused by the network and the speaker unit together. The flat phase curve results in the superb impulse response, which assures the authentic reproduction of the original music signal as the sound, together with the coaxial speaker unit which is closer to the ideal point sound source.

 

Pass Labs, a longstanding audio innovator renowned for its unique high-performance products, will be introducing their new SR-2 loudspeaker ($18,000 in Cherry, and $21,000 in Madrone or Ash) at CES 2010 at the Venetian Tower suite 29-140 during the show. As the company's third loudspeaker, the new SR-2 is a compact 3-way version of the SR-1 and has been optimized to make the best use of smaller, more acoustically demanding environments that may not support large floorstanding speakers. Like the SR-1, the SR-2 uses highly efficient Nextel series drivers from Seas of Norway, with each speaker system containing one 7-inch midrange driver, one 10.25-inch long excursion woofer, and a 1.1-inch HEXADYM magnet tweeter. All the drivers feature very long excursion diaphragms, low mass, underhung voice coils and substantial copper faraday rings in the motor assembly, characteristics that assure very low, non-linear distortion, high dynamics, excellent transient response, and predictable performance. In addition, each speaker element and crossover is hand wired, inspected and tested in Pass Labs' Foresthill, California factory, guaranteeing it receives the company's meticulous personal attention to quality control. Like its predecessors, the SR-2 leverages the ability of dedicated, active electronics to enhance and complement the performance of its passive components, making it compatible with a wide range of power amplifiers. It offers considerable flexibility in selecting complementary amplifiers and crossovers, from totally passive to active quad-amplification. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed various Pass Laboratories' products including their Aleph X2.5 preamplifier, X250 amplifier and Aleph 30 plus the Volksamp Aleph 30 amplifier and First Watt Model F1 amplifier.

 

MIT Cables, with over 25 years of design expertise by Bruce Brisson who licensed to Monster Cable certain technologies including Bandwidth Balanced, Phase Correct and Time Coherent windings, continues to innovate and deliver with the company's new MIT Oracle MA-X loudspeaker cable ($34,999). The new MIT Oracle MA-X will debut at CES 2010 Venetian suite 35-207 with Magico Q. MIT Cables' Oracle MA-X features Adjustable Articulation Response Module (A.A.R.M), this providing users control of articulation between the amplification and loudspeaker. It is engineered to optimally transport the harmonic structure of a musical piece between the source and the load throughout the entire audio bandwidth. According to MIT Cables, until MA Technology, speaker cables couldn't maintain complex and consonant tones between their input and output because simple cable, or poorly designed 'black box' networked cables, scramble the harmonics. These types of cables dynamically discriminate against the magnitudes of the harmonics while simultaneously changing the intervals/pitch between notes of the music. The harmonics then are no longer equidistant between themselves (think of the 100 cent interval between the two piano keys) or to the fundamental/tonic of the music. When this occurs within a cable, consonant intervals that were pleasing to listen to, become dissonant, or unpleasant to listen to. MA Technology, released in 2007, was the first cable that was engineered around the criteria of maintaining harmonic integrity when transporting music between the input and output of a system's components. The new Oracle MA-X speaker cable with A.A.R.M. now takes this another step further. The MA-X not only contains 105 poles of articulation, but also gives the audiophile a means of "fine tuning" articulation, thereby helping to maintain equidistance between the music's harmonics, preserving pitch, and insuring the consonance of the music. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the MIT Oracle loudspeaker cable (click here), MIT Oracle V3.2ic interconnects (click here) and MIT Cable's Oracle AC1 power cable (click here).

 

Legacy Audio will have their Whisper XD ($19,995) large floorstanding loudspeaker at ES' Venetian Tower room 30-130. Armed with 24 bit processing and dual 500-watt internal amplifiers, the mid and high frequencies may be driven by the user's amplifier of choice. Armed with dual 500 watt ICE amplifiers, Legacy Audio's new Whisper XD speaker system employs a differential acoustic wave-launch which uniquely preserves the directional cues encoded in quality stereo and multichannel recordings. Two full length baffles, driven one behind the other, are digitally synchronized to maintain an ideal directivity pattern. The nearly six foot towers host dual 15" woofers on each of the two baffles, which are spaced less than four inches apart. The midrange is covered by a carefully positioned array of four cast frame drivers with a silver-graphite/Rohacell diaphragm. Highs shimmer from the neodymium ribbon tweeter and pleated ribbon super tweeter. The 'plug and play' 24-bit Whisper system allows adjustment of channel separation, low frequency contour and proximity via the proprietary algorithms included in the Wave-launch processor. For the tube lovers, the upper portion of the highly sensitive speaker can be driven by the user's choice of amplification. Each tower stands 67" tall and weighs 235 lbs and has a frequency range from 20 Hz to 30 kHz.

 

Cable Research Lab, Inc. announces new product debut at CES 2010 room 30-321 and THE Show room 4039. Cable Research Lab will debut the new LP series reference cables at CES 2010, Las Vegas, Nevada. CRL's LP cables were designed in conjunction with Winston Ma. The room will also include CRL's new Reference Power Cords, designed and built by Art Almstead and include the outstanding Oyaide M1/ F1 connectors. CRL's LP series and Reference Power Cords will be displayed together with LP speakers and deHavilland Electric electronics. LP speakers, designed and built by Luis Pires in Portugal, will be making their United States debut. The deHavilland Electric electronics 50A amps and Mercury 3 preamplifier. CRL will also be exhibiting the Bronze Series cable package (retail $895). The Bronze Series speaker cables are handcrafted in the USA from 4–14 gauge stranded OFC copper conductors that are individually insulated with modified PVC dielectrics. Bronze Series interconnect cables are also made in the USA, yet is a silver/copper hybrid design. Two solid core silver conductors in Teflon insulation and one stranded OFC Copper conductor are in Polyethylene insulation, then in a braided configuration that is wrapped with Teflon tape.

 

Audience, a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing ultimate-performance audio/video equipment, will introduce its ultrahigh-end ClairAudient LSA 4+4 loudspeaker ($12,000 per pair) at THE Show in room 4035. The new LSA (Line Source Array) 4+4 incorporates the company's exclusive full-range and crossover-less driver technology. This one-way bi-pole design measures 17 inches high by 15 inches wide by 12 inches deep and has eight Audience A3 drivers. There are four facing forward and four facing to the rear in vertical arrays. The drivers are housed in an enclosure with gently curved sides that give it an understated yet elegant appearance. The LSA 4+4 is available in a variety of exotic wood veneer finishes. The unique Audience A3 driver is the product of 14 years of research and development. The 3-inch driver delivers unusually flat frequency response from 40 Hz to 22 kHz, eliminating the need for a separate woofer, midrange, tweeter and crossover network. The A3 driver features a large, patented neodymium-magnet motor structure and voice coil that moves with an extremely linear excursion. It utilizes an exclusive rigid, lightweight anodized aluminum-magnesium alloy cone material with a curvilinear shape. The driver's concave dust cap is made of a proprietary material that is specially designed to control high-frequency cone breakup and provide optimum dispersion. The patent-pending A3 surround has a unique "S" shape that allows the driver to provide large excursions without impacting the movement of the cone, enabling the driver to behave more like an ideal pistonic (back and forth) radiator. The driver's patent-pending basket (frame) provides rigid support and eliminates sonically degrading resonances. Other refinements include large pole-piece vents for efficient heat dissipation; a spider (the circular piece that holds the driver's voice coil in place) that allows unrestricted cone movement, and many additional enhancements.

 

QED's uPlay is a hi-fi Bluetooth stereo audio adapter that will be at CES 2010 stand 14734 LVCC central hall. Users can wirelessly connects Bluetooth enabled devices like iPhones or laptops to home stereo systems for music streaming. With the aid of apt-X technology, the music streams with CD quality sound. The new 'puck' shaped QED uPlay (pronounced 'yoo-play') is specifically designed to exploit this new and exciting opportunity in the form of a discreet Bluetooth Hi-Fi Receiver which incorporates the incredible apt-X Codec as well as the latest Bluecore 5 chipset. QED uPlay seamlessly switches between the standard SBC Codec and apt-X, depending on the transmission source. uPlay is ideally suited to connect to an existing hi-fi system, home theater system or even the better quality iPod docks, fitted with an Aux in socket, thus enabling true wireless connectivity of a PED to your favorite sound system.

 

Magico LLC, a California-based high-performance loudspeaker design and manufacturer, will be unveiling their newest loudspeaker, the Magico Q5 ($54,000 per pair) at the CES Venetian Towers suite 35-207. This 5-driver, 4-way floorstander features a housing that is fully-braced, fully-damped and made with aluminum and brass. The Q5 is the first Magico product to feature complete in-house control of all design and build variables. From the outside, the Q5's form is indicative of its function -- pure and simple, rigid and unbiased. Although not significantly larger than Magico's V3, its total weight is nearly 400 lbs. The enclosure, machined entirely from aluminum and brass at their new facility. The frame architecture alone is made from over 50 individually machined parts, all of which must be aligned, fastened, and assembled in a particular sequence. Continuing a pursuit of developing and implementing the world's finest loudspeaker drivers, Magico's new MBe-1 tweeter features Beryllium diaphragms and results in wider extension, lower distortion and greater power handling. Magico-designed Nano-Tec drivers complete the Q5 driver array with two 9” woofers, a 9” mid-bass unit, and a 6” midrange to deliver the full frequency range. Numerous new developments have been made on other fronts as well, including a unique Bass Mechanical Resonance Cancellation (BMRC) system that allows us to acoustically cancel break-up modes by precisely offsetting the bass drivers’ acoustical center and angle. Sensitivity is 88dB/W/m, impedance is 4 Ohms and overall frequency response is from 26 Hz to 50 kHz.

 

Harbeth's USA importer and Fidelis AV will be exhibiting at the Venetian Suite booth 29-112 with their new P3ESR as pictured here ($2195 in cherry and $2395 in rosewood or maple) alongside the flagship M40.1 and SHL5 will on display. The all-new RADIAL2 coned Harbeth P3ESR is the company's ultimate mini monitor and the latest in a lineage that stretches back twenty years to the original Harbeth P3... and even further to the BBC's pioneering LS3/5A. A generation of home users and studio professionals has relied on these Harbeth minis to fill even the smallest room with a full, warm, natural sound. The P3ESR is the culmination of the designer's four-years research into upgrading the Harbeth mini. From the new removable back panel for improved cabinet damping to the radically new bass unit yielding a wide smooth frequency response, every detail of these astonishing loudspeakers has been thoroughly honed and optimized. The objective has always been to create the genuine Harbeth sound in miniature: the P3ESR (R for RADIAL) is that much closer to reality. The P3ESR's performance flows from the integration of the cabinet, drivers and crossover. Harbeth's world exclusive RADIAL2 cone technology has been lifted from the larger Harbeths and is now at the heart of this new-generation P3ESR. Designed and made by Harbeth UK, the new RADIAL2 equipped 5-inch bass/midrange driver (a first for Harbeth) offers the hallmark clarity and naturalness of the larger Harbeths. A new variant of the P3 family's well proven 19mm tweeter compliments the wholly new woofer and its open-weave protection keeps little fingers away but lets the fine musical details flow through. Designed for 'free-field' use, the optimal bass-mid-top balance is achieved when the speakers are away from walls and on suitable stands at about tweeter-ear height. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Harbeth P-3ES2 (click here), Monitor 30 loudspeakers (click here) and Monitor 40 (click here).

 

Wavecor Ltd, a Chinese company that specializes in driver design and engineering, we will be located at the CES' Venetian Hotel floor 29 suite 29-329 showcasing many of their products. Seen here is their WF182BD 7-inch paper cone driver available in 4 or 8 Ohm and is designed as high performance bass and midrange units for monitors and high-end hi-fi speakers. The balanced drive motor structure for optimal drive force symmetry results in largely reduced 2nd order harmonic distortion. A copper cap on center pole reduces voice coil inductance and minimizes variations in voice coil inductance as a function of voice coil position. The rigid die cast alu chassis with extensive venting ensures lower air flow speed reducing audible distortion while the vented voice coil former reduces distortion and compression. Wavecor's WF182BD 1.5-inch voice coil diameter allows for control and power handling of the cone while the built-in alu field-stabilizing ring reduces distortion at high output levels. Low-loss suspension (high Qm) aids in better reproduction of details and dynamics while black motor parts provide efficient heat transfer to the surrounding air. Gold plated terminals ensure long-term trouble free connection.

 

Audio Wave Music is a new record label with a primary purpose of re-issuing new XRCD24 titles and will be at THE Show's Marketplace. Their first set of releases is a series of 25 Blue Note titles that includes Sonny Clark Cool Struttin', Hank Mobley Soul Station, Herbie Hancock Takin' Off and many others. Planned titles for spring 2010 also include Art Blakey's The Big Beat and A Night In Tunisia, Lee Morgan Candy and much more. Elusive Disc is offering a subscription where each month you will be shipped two Audio Wave Music Blue Note XRCD24 titles until your subscription is completed. They will bill you $29.99 per title plus shipping cost as the titles ship and you will be charged $0 for your 25th title.

 

Click here for page 4 of our CES 2010 / THE Show preview report.