GoodSound! at CES
2005
SoundStage! Network publisher Doug Schneider and I spent
the entire first day of the CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is a sprawling
compound comprising primarily three extremely large halls and literally hundreds of
exhibitors. Finding high-quality audio products, let alone budget products, in this maze
of every imaginable type of consumer electronics was going to be a daunting task.
Fortunately, many specialty-audio manufacturers were concentrated in the South Hall, which
made the task somewhat easier.
One of the most impressive displays of affordably priced
high-quality speakers was from Canadian manufacturer Audio Products International. All
three API brands -- Mirage, Energy, and Athena Technologies -- debuted new products that
should appeal to the budget-minded audiophile.
Gord Van Kessel explains Athena's new WS-series
speakers.
Mirage designer Andrew Welker (center), along with Ian
Paisley (right), explain the intricacies of the new OMNISAT speakers.
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Athena has a reputation for being API’s most
value-oriented brand, but it has released the elegant-looking WS series with attractive
extruded-aluminum enclosures. Intended to complement flat-panel displays, these high-tech,
lifestyle speakers have some innovative new design features. The WS 15 is a
straightforward two-way model with a 1" Teteron tweeter and 3.5" polypropylene
woofer. They sell for $179 per pair. The larger WS-60 utilizes the same drivers, but in an
array that includes one tweeter along with two of the active woofers and four passive
radiators for $399 per pair. The floorstanding WS-100 goes even further with the same
tweeter mated to three active woofers and five passive radiators at the still-reasonable
price of $599 per pair.
The Audition Series 2 features upgraded cosmetics with a
predominantly silver finish that should look good with flat-panel displays and in most
modern décor. Head designer Gord Van Kessel explained that Athena did not feel this
high-value line required any engineering changes based on the feedback that the brand was
receiving. I would have to agree as I still have a pair of the original AS-B1 bookshelf
speakers that received a SoundStage! Network Budget Leader award when it was first
introduced. The prices remain unchanged, with the least-expensive AS-B1.2 selling for $179
per pair and the large floorstanding AS-F2.2 priced at $599 per pair.
There are two new subwoofers that should complement both
the Audition and WS speakers. The AS-P4000 has a 10" driver and a 100-watt amplifier
for only $299, while the AS-P6000 has a 12" driver and a 200-watt amplifier and still
costs $399. Both feature updated cosmetics to better match the new Audition and WS series.
Energy debuted the Reference Connoisseur line of speakers
priced between the high-value and high-performance Connoisseur series and the statement
Veritas series. The smallest bookshelf, the RC-10, caught my eye at $500 per pair. It
features a woven-glass-fiber woofer with API’s patented ribbed elliptical surround.
Mirage also debuted a new OMNISAT line, which includes the
$250 OMNISAT v2 and an interesting model dubbed the Uni Theater that combines the left,
center and right speakers in a single integrated unit for $1000.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced universal A/V
player there were several to choose from. Samsung featured three new models starting with
the HD950 for $199, the HD955 for $249, and the solid and luxurious-looking HD2000 priced
at $1499. All feature upscaled video and HDMI output.
Yamaha showed the DVD-C950 universal changer for $499 and
the more upscale DVD-S2500 priced at $699. Both feature upscaling of video images,
Faroudja DCDi video processing, and HDMI output. The DVD-S2500 includes dual i.Link (IEEE
1394) outputs.
In the upcoming days I will make the trek to the Alexis
Park and St. Tropez where specialty-audio manufacturers for the CES and T.H.E. Show are
located. There I hope to be able to sit down and listen to some great budget equipment and
get away from the insanity of the show floor at the LVCC.
* *
*
The Las Vegas Convention Center was packed on the
second day of CES.
Cambridge Audio's Azur 540P phono stage sells for just
$99.
Mission's M-Cube and the optional color wraps.
Fellow SoundStage! Network writer Jason Thorpe listens
to Roger's BitHead-based system.
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Day two of the CES found Doug Schneider and me back at the
Las Vegas Convention Center combing the aisles, still looking for affordable high-quality
audio. To say that getting around at the CES is difficult would be an understatement.
There are huge lines to catch a shuttle bus from the Convention Center to the Alexis Park
and other hotels, to get on the monorail and even to catch a cab. As Doug Schneider said,
"Nothing is easy at CES." In addition, the weather was uncharacteristically wet
and there was even snow falling on Friday morning as we navigated the jammed streets of
Las Vegas in our rental car.
However, our return trip to the Convention Center was not
in vain as we stopped by the Cambridge Audio booth, where last year we discovered a
complete line of budget products from the then-new Azur line. This year Cambridge
introduced the compact Azur 540P moving-magnet phono stage, which sells for the almost
unbelievably low price of $99. The Azur 640P MM/MC phono stage, which retails for a still
very reasonable $189, is also available.
Cambridge also introduced the Azur 640H music server
powered by AudioFile, which the company describes as a "suite of proprietary embedded
software developed to manage storage, transfer and playback of music in a real hi-fi
environment." At a project retail price of $1399, the Azur 640H is not inexpensive,
but it is a fully featured hard-disk-based music server. It can be connected to your PC or
other digital audio device with Ethernet, USB, or Wi-Fi (via USB adapter) interface to
playback uncompressed PCM, Windows Media, MP3, AAC or many other music format files. It
utilizes a 160-gigabyte hard drive, built-in CD burner, and the same Wolfson DAC and
filter as the 640C CD player.
We also made the long walk to the Hilton Suites located in
the adjacent Las Vegas Hilton where several high-end manufacturers were showing away from
the hustle and bustle of the Convention Center. Having previously received a press release
that promised the unveiling of the new Super Audio line of speakers from NHT, I looked
forward to visiting NHT’s suite. Like many audio enthusiasts, I have owned NHT
speakers -- the nearly legendary Super Zeros and a pair of 1.5s in my case. Unfortunately
when we got to the NHT room we discovered that the new Super Audio series will not be
available until September and that no models were on display. We did learn that the new
series will include several bookshelf and center-channel designs and one floorstander. Of
interest to NHT fans is that one of the bookshelf speakers, the SZT, is loosely based on
the Super Zero, and the 2T is loosely based on the Super One.
Mission has had a fairly low profile in North America in
recent years, but the company has a full line of speakers ranging from the budget-minded
m2s multichannel A/V system up to the ultra-expensive Pilastro statement speakers on
display in the Mission suite. The newest system is a micro lifestyle system called the
M-Cube. The tiny satellites utilize DML (Distributed Mode Loudspeaker) technology that is
said to radiate sound evenly in a 180-degree pattern. They are available in white or black
with interchangeable colored wraps for the fashion conscious.
Earlier in the day we presented the GoodSound!
Product of the Year award to Ivy Scull and Andrew Hertsens from HeadRoom for the Total
BitHead headphone amplifier. The Total BitHead is a truly outstanding product -- I brought
mine along with me to Las Vegas. It provides excellent sound from my laptop as I work on
show coverage. Because the Total BitHead connects to the laptop via the USB port, it uses
its own high-quality internal DACs instead of relying on the output from the
computer’s usually suspect headphone jack. It also draws power from the USB port, so
you don’t even have to install batteries when you use the Total BitHead in this way.
I also use Sennheiser HD 580 headphones. Although they have
been surpassed by the more recent HD 600 and the HD 650, the HD 580s still provide nearly
reference-quality sound at a street price below $200. With the $269 for the Total BitHead,
I have a portable laptop-based sound system that plays back MP3s from my hard drive and
provides me with a little bit of solace and inspiration when I travel. Even SoundStager
Jason Thorpe, who has spent two days seeking out expensive high-end gear for coverage on Ultra
Audio, commented on how good the HeadRoom/Sennheiser combo sounded.
* *
*
After a couple of days at the Las Vegas Convention Center,
I was happy to make my way to the more civilized atmosphere of the Alexis Park and St.
Tropez. There, high-end manufacturers were able to display their products in individual
rooms, where demonstrations can be conducted in an environment more suitable for audio
reproduction.
The most outstanding room I wandered into was by Sound Art,
which displayed many of the high-value products available for sale at the AV123.com
website. For multichannel fans, there was the full-featured Emotiva LMC-1 7.1-channel
surround-sound preamp/processor, which includes the latest DPL IIx processing and sells
for only $599. This processor’s controls are completely software driven and can be
adjusted using the front-panel display or on screen. It is capable of controlling a second
zone and even comes with an optional second-zone transceiver that will be available for
approximately $99. The massive 70-pound Emotiva LPA-1 multichannel amplifier can be
configured for 6 x 125Wpc or 5 x 125Wpc plus 2 x 50Wpc and is priced at $699.
The $299 Onix XCD-88 CD player.
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Also in the Sound Art room was the 38Wpc Onix SP-3 tubed
integrated amplifier, which is available along with the Onix Reference 1 Mk II bookshelf
speakers as a package for only $1199. Even though the system was situated in a very small
room, the Onix integrated maintained crisp imaging and drove the speakers to high levels
with wide dynamics. The source was the $299 Onix XCD-88 CD player, making for an amazingly
good-sounding two-channel system for under $1500.
Arcam demonstrated the sleek new $1599 Solo CD receiver,
which incorporates a CD player, AM/FM tuner, clock with alarm feature, and second-zone and
preamp outputs all in one compact unit. It is said to have performance similar to that of
Arcam's entry-level separates. Rated at a continuous 50Wpc, the Solo easily drove
prototype Arcam Alto minimonitor speakers, which are built to Arcam’s specifications
in Denmark. Music from this small system was, in fact, very big and easily filled the room
with smooth yet precise sound. The music did sound like it might be coming from very good
entry-level separates, and there was surprisingly good bass from the tiny Altos. Both the
Solo receiver and Alto speakers seem to be well built, with solid construction and a
weighty feel.
NAD's $599 L53 DVD receiver.
Contrasts collide -- Roger Kanno (left) was covering
affordable products for GoodSound!, while Jason Thorpe was "searching for
the extreme" for Ultra Audio.
Both worked tirelessly throughout the show.
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NAD along with PSB hosted a suite at the Hard Rock Hotel,
which is conveniently located across the street from the Alexis Park. There the two had a
pair of new stereo receivers on static display. The C720BEE is rated at 50Wpc of
continuous power into 8 ohms and is priced at only $599. The L53 is a slim DVD receiver
that comes in an attractive titanium finish. It is also rated at 50Wpc continuously into 8
ohms and combines CD/DVD playback, an AM/FM tuner, and the simplicity of a stereo
integrated amplifier all in one unit for $599. With these two new products and its
existing lineup, NAD continues to provide high-quality entry-level audio components at
true budget prices.
Fans of Audiolab will be thrilled to learn that the 8000
series of electronics has been redesigned and will be relaunched in 2005. Although the
products are now finished in silver, they maintain the appearance and dimensions of the
original 8000 series. The 8000S is a remote-controlled 60Wpc integrated amplifier that
will be available for $1000. The 8000Q preamplifier ($1200), 8000P stereo power amplifier
($1200) rated at 100Wpc, and 8000M monaural power amplifier ($1200) rated at 125Wpc will
also be available.
Hsu Research is developing two new top-of-the-line
subwoofers that the company was showing in prototype form. The new models will be dubbed
the VTF-2HO and VTF-3HO and will be Hsu's most powerful subs to date. I can’t wait to
try these out -- I consider the current VTF-3 Mk 2 to be one of the best full-sized true
subwoofers available for under $1000. Both of the new subs feature a slimmer, taller
cabinet than the existing VTF models and a patent-pending "Turbocharging"
system. The VTF-2HO will utilize a 10" downward-firing driver with a 350-watt
amplifier and a single 4" rear-firing port. The larger VTF-3HO will have a 12"
downward-firing driver with a 500-watt amplifier and two 4" rear-firing ports.
Pricing is to be announced.
...Roger Kanno
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