Top Audio & Video 2004 Milan, Italy

Sunday

  Classé Audio's new CDP-100 compact disc player ($4,500) proves that perhaps there is still a market for multi-thousand dollar CD players in this world of DVD-Audio and the upcoming higher resolution Blu-ray disc format.

 

SAP's new VF Autograph turntable (€8,500 without tonearm) has a direct drive, zero-feedback stepped five-phase motor. Double magnet suspension, one for platter and one for the plinth, insures vibrations do not negatively affect the critical vinyl/needle interface. An output power supply insures a steady speed and also adjusts for 16/33.3/45/78 speeds.

 

Redstar's Finale Mono monoblock 2A3-PP amplifier. Not much more information, yet it looks very enticing to me.

 

Do you like horns? Do you like wood? A pair of compression drivers feed this nearly four foot wide top horn while a pair of 15-inch woofers fills out the rest.

 

Avantgarde Acoustic's Duo hornspeaker was a joy to hear at the show. Brings back memories when they were in my home for review. Wonderful! See my review of their Uno hornspeaker by clicking here.