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CES 2007
Some demos
sounded only so-so!
Siltech introduced their very first
loudspeaker in the SC1 - priced between $100k
- $150k. Room and speaker interaction were the
main goal behind the innovative design
features. The only thing I could think of was
how the SC1 chose not to interact with this
listener. I'm not unlike many show goers that
say to themselves "Well, if you're going to
price it so high, show me why." Granted the
room wasn't accommodating in the least as I
explained, but I heard better sound coming
from around the corner in the Avatar Acoustics
room and they were using a speaker at nearly a
tenth the price. I'm also man enough to
apologize when and if I hear the SC1 again
under better conditions. I trust I will.
Singing
Partitions ... literally
The King's Audio Limited Emperor ($32k) is a
three-panel electrostat hailing from Hong Kong
that closer resembles partitions I see in
fancy dining spots and restaurants than
high-end transducers. Artistic ESLs they are
but that's only part of what is attractive
about them. Their sound was seductive if for
no reason other than they simply didn't sound
like they were on. Despite their size they
have the ability to disappear and possess the
ultra transparency ESLs are known for. Driven
by Jolida tube amplifiers I would love to have
the opportunity to hear these under better
conditions. Very promising indeed.
Luminance Audio,
Calix, Wadia and Virtual Dynamics teamed to
show what a good horn based system could sound
like. Generally, I would qualify myself as NOT
a big fan of horns. Unless of course, you've
been to France to hear Jean Yves' massive horn
system as I did. Some designers do a
tremendous job reducing what I always
associate from horns: when played loud they
have a tendency to shout. There was little of
that here except the room's cheap partitions
had some adverse affect on the sound I think.
Knowing Rick Schultz as I do, I am certain he
was powerless over the less than ideal sonics
this room presented. Sigh.
The
weatherman said the weather would be Sunny all
during the show. He wasn't kidding!
Sunny Cable
Technology’s massive 700 lb. Majestic
loudspeaker ($88K), introduced for the first
time to the public, took me by surprise. This
totally impractically sized monster--
particularly if your listening room is located
up two flights of stairs like mine -- sounded
so realistic in the ever so important areas of
tonality, harmonics and pitch, that I was
completely dumbstruck by their performance
especially since this room was afflicted by
the very same poor acoustics mentioned in
previous rooms. Moreover, the decision to use
a ten-year-old discontinued DAC the Sonic
Frontiers SFT-2 alongside Ayre electronics
made these guys appear as though they could do
no wrong. I've personally reported on chief
designer Sunny Lo's previous attempts at shows
and each was, well rather impressive but
nothing challenging the state-of-the-art. The
Majestic Loudspeakers do challenge what is
possible in the home in my opinion. Sporting a
proprietary 16.5" midrange compression driver,
rated at 96 dB, and designed by Lo himself,
coupled to an 18" fast-acting/low-going
woofer. A super tweeter, dialed in at 18 kHz
is used only to sustain air and atmosphere. Lo
first blasted on the scene a couple of years
ago with his stellar cable designs but now
this latest assault on the senses has caused
me to officially rename him “Mr. Majestic.”
Personally, this served as both a reminder and
a wake up call to what is dynamically possible
from an audio system when done correctly. In
terms of dynamic prowess I don't recall EVER
hearing a loudspeaker play simultaneously as
soft, loud and effortless - no not even my
beloved DALI Megalines - as the Majestic.
Impractical yes, but most things challenging
the state-of-the-art are. Here was no
exception. A review is slated for the spring
so we shall see if what I heard can be
duplicated at or least, or bettered.
Heading to the other side of the Venetian to
the Towers would lead me to where all the
usual suspects were hiding.
One of the more
pleasing and affordable sounds came from
Silverline loudspeakers designer Alan Yun,
shown posing next to his newest line of
products. The big floorstander is the Allegro
($3k), while the slender Prelude ($1200) is
partially hidden behind the Minuet
mini-monitor, Yun's most affordable ($600)
model. The system was run by North Star’s
Digital Dynamo DAC and transport. I didn't get
a chance to sit and be overwhelmed by the
sound as only Alan Yun can do, without any
music playing. So, we hope to have some review
samples in the not too distant future. Stay
tuned.
It’s nice to see
the Tidal Audio and their Contriva Diacera
loudspeakers ($50k) stateside. I was smitten
by this company in Munich. Here they were
being shown alongside the ASR II Emitter
integrated ($25k) using Argento wiring
throughout. The digital source was a personal
favorite of mine; the Swiss built Orpheus Zero
($9k) transport and Heritage dac ($30k). The
sound was gloriously articulate, open and
harmonically spot-on. The thing I noticed
about the Tidal series of loudspeakers under
very different settings, is that their tonal
character remains wonderfully well-balanced.
This tells me they're consistent, which is
always a good thing. The ASR/Orpheus combo
displayed greater promise of what Tidal is
fully capable of. Great sounding rig!
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