Home Entertainment 2003 Hi-Fi and Home Theater Event

Saturday By Steven R. Rochlin
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  Monster Cable had a very simple (overly simplified) Entech Wideband Powerline & EMI Noise Analyzer. Good basics, though not a substitute for a real scope in my humble opinion.

 

Yamaha proudly showcased their MusicCast system (MCX-1000 server for $2,200 and MCX-A10 terminal for $600) that transmits music on the server wirelessly to any room location. A normal CD can be ripped in a mere three minutes. Of course, through Gracenote CDDB, all CD title and tracks will automatically be stored.

 

Velodyne had their huge, nearly 400 lbs, dual driver subwoofer ($15,000) that has both a 12-inch and 18-inch driver. An included 2,500-watt RMS (6,000 watts peak) amplifier allows this unit to produce frequencies from 15Hz to 120Hz (+-3dB). The cones are carbon fiber laminate with ROHACELL center layer.

 

The new Butler 100-A monoblock ($9995) uses a Western Electric 300B triode DC coupled to the loudspeaker output through "strictly proprietary current multiplying circuitry". Each monoblock produces 100 watts (at 8 ohms) while the output is constant-current "Class A" single-ended with zero negative global feedback. There is over 2,000,000uF of power supply filtering while high quality internal parts are by Vishay, Dale, etc. Cardas RCA and loudspeaker binding posts are included.

 

Cabasse loudspeaker company had their Kara four-way floorstanding units ($14,500) that have a 12-inch woofer mated to their triaxial designed point source unit. Note the triaxial driver where the tweeter is centrally mounted (black) with a center white midrange and outer white mass section.

 

Rarely do i comment on sound, yet the Almarro room had their Koro-3033A system ($3,100) that consists of their 18 watt per channel stereo integrated amplifier and dual 4-inch Neodymium magnet drivers in a ported cabinet. Was impressed with not just the transparency and dynamics, it had good low frequency extension as well. Overall frequency response is from 40Hz to 20kHz. Does it really need to be said... asked for review samples on the spot. The tubes in the amplifier are a 6C33CB for output 6SL7 for driver and 6SN7. It is a bit unique, it is relatively unknown, it is almost cheap at this price point. Hmmmmm.... Perrrrrrfect :-)

 

This is not some super Sci-Fi Area 51 spy photo, but that of Chord Electronics with their DAC 64 ($3,100, top), Prima pre-amplifier ($4,400), and Mezzo stereo amplifier ($3,600, bottom two units).

 

Even the British have realized we do quite well here in America as the Rega P3 turntable comes with their RB300 tonearm and great overall coloring to boot! Actually this is just a special for the show. (Joke) As a man who enjoys Boston, the bloody British can keep the tea! Seriously, Rega makes bargain products for easy entry fee pricing that are well worth auditioning.

 

Hovland Company's Radia ($9,500) has this awesome look (and sound) with glowing blue highlights on the faceplate. This dual monoblock construction stereo amplifier produces 125 watts per channel.

 

Hovland's new HP-200 (approximately $6,700) is designed like their HP-100 yet with wireless remote control and it uses a unique hermetically sealed vacuum-enclosed rhodium-contact reed relays. They also optimized the signal path to reduce the length.

 

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