CES 08

       

After spending some quality hours at T.H.E. Show I made my way over to the Venetian. This year I didn’t spend much time at the lower level Sands/ Venetian because I concentrated most of my time in the suites in the upper levels of the Tower residences. There I found a smorgasbord of top quality presentations that were the equivalent of being at a high end luxury mall that has on display sports cars and luxury vehicles from various top end brands. Mercedes Benz, BMW, or Lexus…. all are good but it just depends on your personal preferences. The same can be said for the following rooms that I had a chance to experience at the Venetian and the Mirage. There were wonderful sounds coming from many, even the ones that I didn’t capture. So here we go!


CES 2008

ETI
Mr. Keith Eichmann, designer of the famed Bullet Plug and Cable Pod, has started a buzz again, this time with the release of his new reference line of high end interconnects and loudspeaker cables under the brand name, Quiessence. Although this was a static display I thought it worth mentioning because if these products are anywhere as revolutionary as his other products, then Mr. Eichmann will definitely turn the cable industry upside down.

Luxman/Vivid Audio

Over at the Mirage, fresh off of his successes with the B & W Nautilus loudspeaker, Mr. Laurence Dickie has again produced a loudspeaker that is both stunning in appearance as well as sound! The Vivid Audio G1 Giya loudspeaker ($54,000.00) is a statement loudspeaker and it is so majestic looking and magnificent sounding that I doubt the price will stay here for long. The fit ‘n finish is first rate and truly remarkable. Sound-wise, the Giya's are big and they give off a big stage; the presentation was so life like via master tapes that I thought that I was transported back in time to when the original tracks were first laid down. All of this was also possible because of the regal electronics. The Luxman B-1000f monoblocks ($48,000.00), C-1000f preamp ($30,000.00), and DU-80 CD player ($9,400.00), together helped to make this demonstration a complete success.

Bel Canto Design

After showing with the Pioneer TAD loudspeakers for a number of years, Bel Canto Design decided to use the Joseph Audio RM-55se loudspeakers (approximately $15,000.00) with the Ref 1000 mono blocks ($3,995.00) and the PRe3 preamplifier ($1,995.00). Bel Canto’s latest product entry to use the same chassis as the rest of the line-up is the CD-2 CD player ($2,995.00), reversing the trend that bigger is better. This is a replacement for the CD-1 ($4,995.00) and is supposed to sound even better than its predecessor. Not only did John Stronzer adopt a smaller footprint for the CD-2 but he also lowered the price; something that I haven’t experienced often. Even with the addition of the new CD player and different make of loudspeaker in his room this year, he continued to produce beautiful music with excellent dynamics and superb PRaT (Pace Rhythm and Timing).

Vitus Audio

Vitus Audio is a two man team of Hans-Ole Vitus who designs the electronics, and Anders Grove who designs the cable line. Vitus Audio had on display the SCD-010 25 watt Class A stereo amplifier ($16,995.00). This gorgeous piece of engineering has received excellent reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and dispels the myth that the quantity of watts is more important than the quality. The Vitus Audio SCD-010 CD player ($16,995.00) is equally beautiful. The system was wired with the new prototype Cassiopeia series silver cables. German Physiks HRS 120 at $24,595.00 per pair completed the system. Consistency, beauty, and musicality are the words that come to mind when I think about the products from Vitus Audio. Year after year I always find the sound in this room to be warm, inviting, and authoritative.

EAR/Marten Design/ Jorma Design

Throughout the years Marten Design has proven to be one of the exceptional loudspeakers manufacters especially at the very top end of the market. This year Mr. Olofsson is showcasing his new Form Series of loudspeakers. The FormFloor, a floor stander ($6,500.00 per pair), uses a seven inch ceramic driver and a ribbon tweeter. Frequency response is 36Hz – 40Khz. The FormSub ($4,450.00) is optional and reproduces the lower frequencies down to 19Hz. The cabinet is in the form of a triangle, acoustically optimized to bring out the best in the music and the shape also helps the FormFloor to disappear in the room. This is a wonderful sounding loudspeaker that the average audiophile can now afford.

    

However a loudspeaker is only as good as the products that are in front of it and the EAR brand of electronics also contributed to the stellar performance. EAR 890 amplifier ($7,295.00), 868 preamplifier ($6,895.00 with phono), Acute CD player ($5,895.00), Disc Master turntable ($17,000.00 sans arm), Helius Omega tonearm ($3,400.00), Jorma Design No. 1 interconnects ($3,100.00 per meter), and Jorma No. 2 speaker cables, all combined to make this room one of my favorites. For a fraction of the cost of some of the other more expensive rooms I found the music to be just as transparent, revealing and enticing.