The Home Entertainment Expo 2002

Wednesday

Art Audio's Jota monoblock ($12,000 per pair) employs a single 2A3 per channel. The beautiful highly polished chassis is highlighted with gold transformer caps. Rosinante's Dulcinea loudspeaker ($6,200 per pair including stands) has two Focal 5" bass/midrange and their 1" focal titanium with Trioxide coating tweeter. Also in he room to enhance the acoustics were the Argent Room Lens ($1,200 for set of three). Cabling was from Dynamic Design.

 

In another one of Art Audio's room was their Gil Signature parallel single-ended stereo amplifier ($3,850) driving the Soliloquy 6.5 ($6,395 per pair, as recently reviewed within or very own Review Magazine). The VPS-DM dual-mono pre-amplifier, Gill Elise tubed 24-bit/96kHz DAC ($6,000), and Muse Model Nine DVD/CD player was also within this system.

 

Galante Audio had both their Rhapsody ($2,400 per pair, as world premiere reviewed by yours truly in our Review Magazine) and yet unnamed loudspeaker. The Rhapsody has a 8" dual concentric driver while their new 12" dual-concentric driver-equipped loudspeaker has no name... and a tentative price of $4,500 per pair.

 

In one of the Halcro rooms is their dm68 ($35,000) with Revel Salon ($20,000) loudspeakers. Halcro also had their dm10 pre-amplifier ($15,000), remote control, phonostage.

 

Halcro's new dm 38 stereo amplifier produces 180 watts per channel. Source component was none other than Peter McGrath's Nagra D digital recorder with master tape that fed the Muse One Ninety Two converter.

 

Here is Richard Wugang of Sophia Electric showing their new 300B ($350 per pair) mesh plate and 247B rectifier ($149.95 each).

 

HSU Research VTF-3 subwoofer ($849 each) amplified subwoofer employs a 12" long-throw woofer with a 250 watt amplifier in a ported cabinet.

 

muRata has a very interesting small model ES024 loudspeaker ($7,000) that is only 280mm high two-way unit. It features a top is a ceramic piezo hemispherical driver. Very unique and the entire unit 's frequency response is 50Hz -30Khz with vanishing low 70dB/w/m.

 

Marchand's new Eclipse single-ended mosFET monoblock "Class A" amplifier ($995 assembled or $695 in kit form) operates with zero feedback. A cute little bugger that is sure to appeal those with DIY tendencies.

 

In the 47 Labs/Sakura Sakura room is the new SHIGARAKI series audio products. From left to right is the power supply for the slender tall Amplifier ($1,500), small black cube DAC ($1,250) and 47 Labs 4716 CD transport ($1,750).

 

Also in the 47 Labs room is Sead L.'s Essence loudspeaker ($3,200) with their 4" full-range driver. Amazing sound for such a small driver in a relatively thin cabinet.

 

Orca Design specializes in designing and distribution of various French products. The loudspeaker seen here uses the critically acclaimed Raven 3 tweeter ($2,000) with PHL audio model 4530 woofer ($235). Rear mounted, but not shown, is an 18" model number 7030 cone driver ($465).

 

Classic Audio Reproductions T-1 ($23,250 per pair) employs TAD drivers to achieve a frequency response of 20Hz-42kHz with sensitivity of 97.5dB/w/m. Note the statues of famous RCA dogs and exotic Blue and Gold Macaw.

 

Antique Sound Labs LH-1 tubed line stage ($400) utilizes tube regulation via a 6BM8. Three stereo inputs and headphone jack. To the right is the Mini Phono tube regulated unit with outboard power supply provides 57dB of gain.

 

The Audio Static Wing DCI ($6,995, seen left) employed a large electrostatic panel and stands about six feet high and use four step-up transformers. The smaller Wing A DCI ($4,400) is about five feet high and use two step-up transformer.

 

The Chateu Research room offers a wide variety of amplification devices from six-channel amplification to digital pre-amplification.

 

The VIAC Classic Mono ($13,500) amplifiers produce 30 watts per channel using a VIAC 520. The tubes are specifically made for these amplifiers and not for sale to the DIY community or general public. Those purchasing this amplifier would be wise to buy extra tubes just in case VIAC tubes become no longer available in the future.

 

The always visually stunning Italian made Pathos room had the Logo ($5,000) stereo integrated amplifier. It has tubes for the pre-amplification stage and solid-state for output to produce 110 watts er channel. Interesting, the cooling fins as seen below say Pathos! Gotta love those Italians!!!

 

Senior Editor of Enjoy the Music.com™'s Review Magazine Dick Olsher loves his Sound Lab A1.

 

Simetel room had two new monoblock amplifiers. To the left is a 90-watt per channel "Class A" called ATS90 ($12,000 per pair) using 7581 tubes. Same basic amplifier with 60 watts per channel ($10,000). Also seen here is the VYGER Atlantis with new high-pressure tonearm ($27,000).

 

Audio Aero's Capitol Integrated TransTRAC ($6,600) produces 40 watts per channel using a pair of EL34 tubes.

 

Acapella's Campaniele loudspeaker ($31,900) employs four 10" woofers, horn midrange and Ion tweeter. These babies weight 300 pounds and stand about 8 feet high. Most impressive!

 

Heil Kathara loudspeaker ($3,95 per pair).

 

Immedia/Herron/A.R.T. and RPM room.