2008 CES/T.H.E. Show Part 1



The 2008 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and The Home Entertainment Show (T.H.E. Show) presented an odd mix of exciting new products and odd industry changes. As you know, last year was the first year that the high-end audio exhibits for the CES were hosted at the Venetian hotel while the exhibits for T.H.E. Show remained at the St. Tropez. But this year the wonderful people over at T.H.E. Show may have made a gross, though well-intentioned error by attempting to recapture past glory by stretching part of their show over into the Alexis Park. Unfortunately, only a brave handful of exhibitors set up shop there leaving the St. Tropez feeling weakened (most exhibits this year were located on one floor instead of two) and the Alexis Park on life support. Frankly, after experiencing the excitement and buzz over at the Venetian going back to T.H.E. Show seemed hardly worth the wait for a shuttle. I hope T.H.E. Show folks rethink this tactic and concentrate their efforts on re-vitalizing the St. Tropez, it’s a great location and a nice departure from the madness at the Venetian.

Now don’t get me wrong, just because T.H.E Show lacked the sizzle of the CES at the Venetian doesn’t mean that there weren’t great demos there. On the contrary, there were some absolutely stellar rooms over there.
 

Audio Design and Marketing: When it comes to component matching and system setup there are few people in the industry like Bruce Jacobs of Audio Design and Marketing. Jacobs put together two wonderfully musical systems. The first system featured the Exemplar CDX-1 CD player ($6,500), Belles Statement LA-01 preamp ($6,750) and MB200 mono amps ($6,750/pr), and Sonics Allegra loudspeakers ($7800/pr). The cables used were the Stereovox Reference speaker cables and interconnects. Amp stands and spikes were Stillpoints ESS ($6,500).          

       

The main system featured the TW Acoustics Raven AC turntable ($10,000) with Triplanar arm and Dynavector X1 cartridge, and Tron Seven phono stage ($4,000). The electronics were the Exemplar Reference preamp ($12,000) and Berning Quadrature Z mono amps ($29,995/pr). The speakers were the German Physiks HRS 120 ($28,995/pr) and again, the cables used were the Stereovox Reference. Both of these systems were characterized by a musicality that was uncommon for show conditions and was easily the best sounding room at the St. Tropez. If you ever get a chance to meet him Bruce Jacobs is a treasure to talk to and a veritable encyclopedia of audio knowledge. Just don’t ask him about the Green Bay Packers. It’s a touchy subject.

     

NAT Distribution: I went to visit Stephen Monte of NAT Distribution to see what he thought of the JAS Audio Orsa loudspeaker and Aura Note CD player/receiver he distributes (and that I recently reviewed). But instead I was taken aback by the system he had in his main demo room. It consisted of some lovely tube electronics from Raysonic and a pair of the JAS Audio Odin loudspeakers. The CD player was the Raysonic CD-128 ($1,849), and the electronics were the C200 preamp ($2,899) and M100 mono amps ($8,000/pr). Sweet, sweet, sweet was the sound of Erin Bode’s voice coming from this system as I listened to “Holiday” from her CD, Over and Over [Max Jazz]. This is a disc that would get a lot of play during the week.

It’s also worth mentioning that Monte’s stirring up memories by bringing back Dual turntables to the U.S. On display was the fully automatic CS-455-1 turntable with walnut plinth and vibration damped heavy platter. The tonearm has a Cardan bearing with zero-mass tracking force setting thanks to a precision Torsion spring. The cartridge used was the Ortofon OMB 10 moving magnet. Total package cost ($1,479.00). Also on hand were the CS-505-4 ($1329.00) and CS-435-1 ($795.00).

     

April Music: Because I was staying at the Alexis Park (that tells you how empty it was) I was able to get to the few show exhibits that were available there first. This turned out to be a good thing as my show reporting got off to a great start in the April Music rooms. They had two small systems setup both of which had exceptional sound and represented enormous value. The first system featured the Stello CDT-100 top-loading transport ($695), DA100 Signature DAC ($895), HP100 headphone amp/preamp ($595), and S100 50W/channel power amplifier ($745) all running through a pair of B&W 805 loudspeakers and Red Rose cables. This system provided a shockingly large and lively sound considering its diminutive components and bargain price.

But nothing was a bigger bargain than what was on display on April Music’s other room. Simon Lee, President of April Music was on hand, and after telling me that he had just read my review of their Aura Note CD player/receiver, he gave me some news that I thought was just down right exciting. First, the excellent Aura Note, that on top of being musically satisfying, attractive, and loaded with features, has now been upgraded to include an additional input and they’ve added a switch so that when you closed the glass lid, it automatically begins playing your disc. Second, while they’ve made these additions to the unit, they’ve also lowered the price from $2,500 to $1,850! How often do you hear of an audio company doing that? Finally, they’ve introduced the Aura speaker to compliment the Aura Note. And get this; it’s priced at only $650. So for the price of what the Aura Note used to cost, you can now have the new Aura Note and Aura Speakers. Of course the best thing about this news is that this new combo sounds wonderful. This system produced scads of detail and a lively music presentation that belied its flat-out steal of a price. Way to go April Music!

        

Sanders Sound Systems/Merrill: Fans of ESL/dynamic hybrid speaker designs will be thrilled to know that Roger Sanders is now at the helm of the company that was once known as Inner Sound and has introduced the new and exciting Sanders Sound Systems Model 10A ESL hybrid loudspeaker ($12,995/pair). This new design includes an adjustable midrange and a 600Wpc amp for the woofer. They were being driven by the Sanders Sound Systems amplifier ($3,995), preamp ($3,995), and Sander’s own cables and interconnects.

Equally responsible for the great sound in this room was the Merrill Scillia MS21 turntable ($24,000). It was outfitted with a Triplanar arm ($4,000) and Ortofon Jubilee cartridge ($2,000). The sound from this system was enticing and made you think a lot about just how much better it would sound in better room conditions. ST writer Mike Wright who owns a Merrill table and a pair of Martin Logan Quest hybrid ESLs himself, couldn’t help but drool over the prospects of getting that combo into his listening room at some point in the future.

      

Another system with great sound at T.H.E Show was the Laufer Teknik room which featured the Behold BPA768 amp ($45k) and APU768 dac/room correction preamplifier ($30k - $70k depending on options), the fabulous and newly designed Nova Physics Memory Player ($11,500), and the very attractive Ascendo C8 loudspeakers ($9,500). I only got to listen to this system for a brief time but was immediately taken with it. Hopefully, they be paired up together again next year.