CES Preview & T.H.E. Show Preview 2011
   
Consumer Electronics Show & T.H.E. Show 2011 Preview / Pre-Show Report

Teresonic's Magus A55 speaker is their the first speaker of its kind to offer Alnico magnets and pure silver coils that deliver a mighty wallop in a miniscule package. Looking for a compact speaker that combines unique acoustic design with incredible 98 dB efficiency while harnessing the power of Alnico magnets? Don't let the deceptively small speaker deceive you (they're a mere 15 inches tall), for their capabilities in frequency range, dynamics, and transparency that rival those of speakers ten times the bulk. You'll get the utmost in efficiency and Alnico magic in a full range, crossover-less design. What's the secret to the A55's power? It is the new sound engine, the Lowther A55 speaker driver with Alnico magnetic flux of 19,800 Gauss (or 1.98 Tesla). With such a powerful but refined motor, well focused Alnico magnets, and a very light - specially impregnated cone, the A55 makes an extremely efficient sound engine. You can choose to use them mounted on their stand, in a bookshelf, or on a tabletop. Teresonic's Magus A55 retail for US$ 4,985/pair with customized speaker stands retailing for $295/pair. Customers get a 30-day Total Satisfaction Guarantee and a three-year warranty. Specifications include 98dB efficiency (1W/1kHz/1m), a bandwidth of 55 Hz to 22 kHz (±3dB), and power handling of up to 100 watts.

 

Legacy Audio will demonstrate their award winning Focus SE ($9,250 per pair) floorstanding loudspeakers at the CES Venetian Tower room 30-127. The Focus SE marks the culmination of over 25 years of continued excellence in speaker design. Each 6 driver, 4 way speaker features individually matched drivers, a hand-tuned crossover network, braided silver cable and Solen metalized polypropylene capacitors imported from France. A 1" dual pole neodymium ribbon tweeter translates shimmering highs, while the 3" ribbon tweeter, with a vapor deposited kapton diaphragm, is carefully aligned for maximum clarity and detail. Two 7" silver graphite mid-woofers compliment two 12" neo motor woofers. The first choice for music industry professionals and music fans alike, the Focus system is a precision musical instrument. Each tower stands 56" tall and weighs 200 lbs. This highly sensitive speaker is available in a variety of fine finishes and has a frequency range from 16 Hz to 30 kHz.

 

Michael Green Audio will be supplying exhibitors at T.H.E. Show and the Venetian Towers with room tuning products that will help them bring their best sound back to Vegas this year. On display in many of the rooms will be the new RoomTune ART DecoTune, a floor-standing acoustical treatment, 38" high x 12" wide, offering control of excess room energy with décor-enhancing artistic flair. Introduced for 2011, the DecoTune incorporates the RoomTune burn/barrier full-range acoustical control design, and comes in classic Black and Cream colors plus a host of Deco ART designs. It's available as a floor stander with an art-friendly base and for wall mounting. Also among the new products from RoomTune this year are the RoomTune Select acoustical pillow treatments that offer exceptional control and aesthetic excitement in one product. RoomTune Select comes in all the favorite RoomTune pillow sizes and is available in three acoustical "leather" finishes. RoomTune ART DecoTune Floor Stander are $215 and RoomTune ART DecoTune Wall Mount are $165.

 

Aaudio Imports will have two exhibit suites, 30-115 and 30-116, in the Venetian Hotel during the CES. They include reference-level turntables, speakers, tube amps and a preamp, power cords, a power distributor, and more. Many are unusual, like the Sleipner Air-bearing Turntable & Tonearm by Bergmann of Denmark, the High Violoncello II Speaker by Acapella of Germany with its exclusive Ion Tweeter, and The Tube Preamp by Einstein, also of Germany, which is the only preamp in the world that lets listeners decide which tubes power which music sources. The Sleipner Turntable & Tonearm ($48,100 to $54,400) by Bergmann Audio of Denmark is a reference-level turntable powered by airbearing technology. It includes a linear tracking airbearing tonearm, a digital motor-controlled air supply, and a vacuum clamp to stabilize records. Its simple, timeless design is in keeping with Bergmann's "less is more" philosophy, and the friction-free airbearing process minimizes noise and yields exceptional stability. The PRS-6 Power Distributor ($3200) by Weizhi Precision of Taiwan shields up to six components from electrical system noise, vibrations, and magnetic and radio frequency interference, regardless of total wattage. Its electrical neutrality preserves an audio or video signal's correct tone, pitch, pace and timing. Lansche's No. 5 speaker ($35,000 per pair on up) is a three-way model designed to produce music that sounds as direct and natural as when it was performed. Sound is generated using a 3-inch midrange dome driver, two 8-inch long-throw drivers and the Corona Plasma Tweeter. Also planned by AAudio Imports are the Ypsilon AELIUS monoblocks, Ypsilon PST-100 MKII preamplifier, Acapella High Violoncello II speakers and various Einstein products.

 

Divergent Technology will be showing the Copland CDA 825 ($6500), which is the result of Copland's quest for refining the musical capabilities of the CD media. The routing and grounding scheme of the CDA825 power supply provides effective isolation between the digital and analog parts of the CD player. Furthermore, the power supply has been designed to ensure constant low output impedance towards the power consuming electrical circuits. Within the digital domain, the servo/error correction circuit is a prime source of ensuring error-free extraction of the data from the disc. These circuits are designed by a few select semiconductor manufacturers. The Philips chip-set used in the CDA825 provides full implementation of all error-correcting schemes of red-book CD and hence, guarantees that the extracted data from the CD-Pro2LF mechanism are recreated correctly. In order to provide further isolation between the data-extraction parts (drive, servo and error correction) and the reproduction parts (DAC, analog and output filtering), a digital buffer containing two seconds of musical data has been included in the signal path between the drive mechanism and the DACs. The purpose of this digital buffer is to isolate the drive from the DACs. The CDA825 uses the Wolfson WM8741 24bit, 192 KHz DAC. Two of these devices are used - one for each channel. Each DAC consist of two Digital to Analog converters each providing an in-phase signal and an opposite phase signal. By combining two in-phase and two opposite-phase signals per channel, the statistical properties of the signals are taken to advantage; the signal power of the phases correlate and add-up in constructive addition, whereas the noise power of the phases are de-correlated in a manner that improves on the signal to noise ratio of the resulting analog waveform.

 

Jaton will show our new Operetta CD1000 CD player, RC2000 pre-amplifier. AP2300AX amplifier and REAL A3 a floor standing three-way loudspeakers at the T.H.E. Show. The new CD1000 CD player is not just another new product from Jaton and it presents the first time that Jaton is showing an entire system from source to speaker since we debuted the Operetta AP2140A amplifier at the year 2007. It took four years to complete the designing and manufacturing of the whole stereo system which included Operetta CD player, stereo pre-amp, stereo amplifier, and REAL Loudspeaker. The CD1000 series has three different models and will be retailed from $1900 to $3900 depending on configuration. The Operetta AP2300AX stereo amplifier is designed into a 300 Watts x 2 channels and it will be retailed at $5500. The Operetta RC2000 stereo pre-amplifier comes in two models. The RC2000P is a pure analog design and will be retailed at $1300. The RC2000S with the digital input and a controllable LFE sub-woofer signal output retails at $1500. Jaton's REAL A3 speaker is their three-way floor standing flagship speaker and retails at $12,000.

 

VMPS invites everyone at T.H.E. Show to attend the "LIVE versus VMPS" demonstration featuring the new VMPS RM50 Dual Line Source Bipole with OMG Woofers ($14,900 per pair) This "LIVE versus VMPS" demo will be held in the Flamingo Hotel's Red Rock 8 Ballroom. VMPS' OMG RM50 loudspeaker is a modded result of last year's "Live versus VMPS" presentation and is a unique design they call "Dual Line Source Bipole". The front baffle has twin (Dual) lines with 3-inch ribbon tweeters and lines of 8-inch midrange Neopanels. On the rear are two Neopanels and two tweeters. The woofer section is comprised of twin 12-inch TC Sounds (OMG) Woofers and a Single 12" BIG BUMP Passive Radiator that is downward firing/slot loaded. 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 speaker weighs at 375 lbs. VMPS will be featuring the following manufacturers and components: Atma-sphere MP 3 3.1 tube preamp and MA 2 220W tube monoblocks, Wywires Power Cables, Speaker Cables and Interconnects will be used to wire the system, and Bybee Labs will co exhibit and show their new nanotube quantum resistor noise filters on the RM50, plus amps modified with their DC noise filter PS mod. They will also be featuring Napua Davoy singing live with a Piano, Woodwinds, Stand Up Bass, and various Rhythm Instruments for the "Live versus VMPS" demonstration.

 

Silbatone will unleash their SGW-24 Field Coil Exhibition Speaker at the 2011 CES. Working together with their friends at Global Intelligence Products of Japan, Silbatone Acoustics is pleased to unveil a large-scale field coil theater sound system for the musical enjoyment of our visitors at CES. They selected a pair of original 1930s Western Electric 24A horns to complement the amazing G.I.P."Field HiFi" 9101 compression drivers that weigh in at 92 pounds each! Silbatone hope that their G.I.P. 9161 18" electrodynamic woofers in Silbatone-designed backhorn enclosures will provide the best bass of the show! Tweeters are the famous Western Electric 597A field coil units. For many years the company has been preaching the benefits of a field coil theater systems from the School of Western Electric! Silbatone will also demonstrate the top of the line C-100 preamplifier and new RI-25 stereo integrated amplifier featuring rarest-of-the-rare vintage Siemens Ed and Marconi DA100 triodes.

 

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, introduces the compact VISO THREE Music System ($899). This system aims to prove that a stack of complicated equipment is not necessary for great sound. NAD's new VISO THREE is a space-saving CD Receiver that lets listeners enjoy music from CDs, an iPod, a USB drive or the radio. An iPod dock and charger, included with the VISO THREE, enables users to enjoy their entire music libraries through matching VISO TWENTY speakers, a special VISO THREE option. Users can also play music stored on a USB drive with VISO THREE's convenient USB Input. The VISO THREE is easy to place, set up and use. Its compact dimensions and outstanding performance make it ideal for those who crave superb music but have minimal space. Its hassle-free assembly simply involves removing the VISO THREE from its box and plugging in the VISO TWENTY speakers. Key VISO THREE features include a CD player, support for MP3, CD-R and WMA audio formats, two 50-watt channels, and a sensitive FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets that let listeners save favorite stations for fast, easy recall. RDS capability shows information about all broadcasts from RDS-compliant radio channels, including station IDs and song and artist information. The VISO THREE includes functions for program track, repeat, A-B repeat, and shuffle play; a USB Input for playing music from a USB memory stick, and a rechargeable iPod Dock with a remote function and song display.

 

NAD Electronics is also launching three upgrades for their modular design construction program. The new modules include the VM 150 High-speed Digital Video Module, which expands NAD support for 3D and digital media formats; the VM 150X HDMI Expansion Module, which adds HDMI 1.4a ports and broadens connectivity for A/V receivers; and the CM 200 Control4 Director Series Module, which, for the first time, adds Control4 functionality to MDC-equipped NAD A/V receivers. The introduction of this third generation of MDC upgrade modules since the program's launch in 2005 demonstrates the company's commitment to MDC. It also means the NAD A/V receiver purchased years ago is all set to go for HDMI 1.4, 3D TV, and whatever may be the next technological revolution. NAD's MDC architecture enables dealers and installers to offer custom configurations to owners of NAD's high-value A/V products. Owners can install one or more of NAD's innovative upgrade modules into select NAD A/V receivers and processors, or purchase new components already equipped with the MDC architecture. The new VM 150 Module fully supports all available HDMI 1.4a features, all mandatory 3D video formats, and analog-to-digital conversion for video signals to HDMI. It provides an audio return channel, outputs all sources in their native resolutions, and supports NAD's new VM 150X and CM 200 Modules. A powerful type of integrated circuit known as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) supports future software features and development. The VM 150 also includes three HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs. The CM 200 Control4 Module embeds the Control4 Operating System into MDC-equipped A/V receivers, enabling each component to function as the core of a Control4 smart home, controlling not only A/V functions but lighting, climate control, security systems and much more. Control4 is a leader in automation technology and the CM 200 is the first product to add Control4 home automation to the MDC feature list. The CM 200 module overlays Control4's 720p Flash User Interface on active video up to 1080p in resolution, lets Control4 commands run without interrupting programs, adds Home Theater operational software, and includes three HDMI 1.4a inputs, four RS-232/IR outputs, an Ethernet port, a USB port and a ZigBee antenna. It also works together with NAD's new VM 150 Module, and allows Control4 dealers and installers to purchase whole house software.

 

PSB Speakers, long renowned for affordable excellence in loudspeaker designs, expands its highly acclaimed Custom Sound Series with its CS1000 universal/outdoor speaker ($499/pair). This loudspeaker features a sophisticated multi-purpose design ideal for outdoor residential and commercial environments. The all-weather CS1000 brings PSB's renowned sonic performance to the great outdoors. Its durable features include a thick, UV-resistant polypropylene cabinet, an aluminum grille, and rustproof terminals with a rubber cover for protection from the elements. Equally important are the CS1000's multiple mounting options, based around a unique, highly flexible dual-axis bracket that allows the CS1000 to be mounted vertically or horizontally and rotated along either axis, up to 90 degrees on one and 170 degrees on the other. The PSB CS1000's two-way system includes a 6.5-inch woofer with a clay/ceramic injection-filled polypropylene cone and rubber surround that complements a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter to deliver full-range music reproduction. Additional features include extensive internal ribbing for extra stiffness, a front-facing port with a rubber port plug, a unique wire management system, a paintable enclosure and grille, and five-way, gold-plated binding posts.

 

Perreaux  will have their Audiant integrated amplifier ($2995), which produces 80 wpc. Since 1974 Perreaux have been manufacturing High Fidelity components of exceptional quality in New Zealand. The Audiant proves again that commitment and passion can triumph over geography and high expectations. The elegant implementation of MOSFET output devices and Class A signal stages give the unit a potent, dynamic and sophisticated sonic signature. A variety of digital inputs enable you make the most of the superb 24-bit/96kHz DAC. Perreaux's Audiant also provides control of computer music application (e.g. iTunes) via USB when using USB input. Standby power consumption <1W, meeting Energy Star requirements. There is a Home Theatre input selectable and can be used as an HT loop or line level input. Analogue inputs include two line, one Home Theatre and one Phono. Digital inputs include one S/PDIF coax via RCA, two Optical (Toslink) and one USB Type B. Loudspeaker output is via high quality gold plated bonding posts.

 

Benchmark will be launching their ADC16 ($3995), which is a new 16 channel ADC with PC interface. The ADC16 features an optional card-slot for a computer interface, making it directly compatible with Pro Tools 9 and other native DAWs. The ADC16 also features Benchmark's latest clock technology, UltraLock DDS, as well as 9-segment dual-range metering with peak-hold. The ADC16 utilizes the same analog and digital topology found in Benchmark's award-winning ADC1 - a 2-channel A/D used by Lurssen Mastering and many other well-known mastering studios throughout the world. The ADC16 is the first Benchmark product to utilize their latest clocking technology, UltraLock DDS. This clock-sync topology is the successor to their popular clock system, UltraLock. The newer technology utilizes 'direct digital synthesis' technology, which is used in low-jitter, high-frequency RF data communication. The introduction of the ADC16 coincides with Avid's announcement that their latest Pro Tools software can work with third-party hardware. Since the ADC16 can be equipped with a computer interface (FireWire, USB, etc), a Pro Tools user won't need any additional hardware to record into Pro Tools. The ADC16 can also interface directly with all other native DAWs as well (such as Logic, Nuendo, Cubase, etc.). As an additional feature, the ADC16 can operate as a bi-directional computer interface when used with the optional card. This means that the user can assign tracks within the DAW to be sent to the digital outputs on the ADC16 (which include 8 balanced AES, 8 coaxial, and 8 optical). So, for example, eight independent stereo headphone mixes can be made in the DAW and sent from the ADC16's digital outputs to eight DAC1's for independent headphone monitoring.

 

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