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CES 08
Perfect 8/Bridge Audio labs
I don't know how he does it, but no matter
what electronics Jay Bertrand, of Bertrand
Audio Imports, shows with, he consistently
puts on one of the better demos at CES. This
year was no exception. The Perfect 8
loudspeakers were some of the most expensive
on hand at CES, but strangely enough, was one
of the better sounding speakers on display.
Not only that, as large as the speaker system
is, it possessed the ability to convey the
emotional content in the music, in a room at
CES, no less. This was a first for me as I
don't usual hear systems that are able to stir
my emotions at CES, but these did. The sound
was open and detailed with good bass
extension, no doubt from the two dual
subwoofers, but also displayed some finesse
with vocals. Music came via the Perfect 8
Technologies “The Force” loudspeakers
($275,000) driven by the beautiful looking,
and sounding Bridge Audio labs BP-1 MkII
amplifier ($70,000) and BC-1 MKII preamplifier
($55,000). Digital source was provided by an
Accustic Arts DAC-1 ($7,000) and Drive-1
($6,500).
Vandersteen Audio
I always find myself enjoying music in the
Vandersteen room. I don't feel they get as
much credit as they should but every year
they're there, they always have a simple setup
and the music is some of the best to be heard
at the CES event. The sound coming from this
room oozes musicality, albeit, a little on the
warm, tubey side of neutral, but extremely
enjoyable nonetheless. Music was being
played by one of my favorite speakers, the Vandersteen 5A ($21,900) with an Aesthetix IO
Eclipse phono preamplifier ($18,000) and
Callisto Eclipse line stage ($22,000) driving
the Joule Electra's Grand marquis monoblock
amplifiers ($18,000). Front end was provided
by a Clear Audio Anniversary Max turntable
($20,000) Graham Phantom Tonearm and tonearm
cable ($5,000) and Clear Audio's Goldfinger V2
cartridge ($10,000). Audioquest cabes were
being used throughout the system and the
equipment rested on an HRS stands (MXR-1921-3V
Double Wide Walnut Burl Frame $15,000,
SXR-1921-2V Frame $2,995, and isolation bases
were $2,395 each).
ModWright Instruments, Inc./Emerald Physics
Frank Kraus really had things cooking in this
room as I found the sound to be lively and
natural sounding. This system also did an
excellent job of throwing a layered stage that
had dimensionality. The speakers being used,
Emerald Physics CS2 Controlled Directivity
Loudspeakers (($2,995 per pair) were a pure
joy, a revelation to be sure and a steal at
the price!! Electronics were provided by Dan
Wright and the ModWright LS 36.5 w/PS36.5
Balanced reference Tube Linestage ($8,995),
SWP 9.0SE tube phono preamp ($3,495). Power
was supplied by a Wyred 4 Sound 4Ch Class D
amplifier ($2,495). Digital source was
provided by ModWright's tube modified Slim
Devices Transporter fed FLAC files from
computer Ethernet network ($3,600). Analog
music was courtesy of the Redpoint Model A w/Triplanar
arm and a Shelter 901 cartridge. Power line
conditioning was done by a Running Springs
Audio Jaco.
Lamm Industries/Gershman Acoustics
This was my favorite room for listening to
classical music. There's definitely a magical
synergy with the Lamm electronics driving
Gershman Acoustics speakers. Present were the
power, the weight and the airy sounds of
symphony hall being recreated in this room.
This was room captivated my imagination as I
sat for a good while, enjoying the music.
Music was presented via the Gershman Acoustics
Black Swan speakers ($36,000) being driven by
the Lamm M1.2 Reference ($21,690), ML1.1
($22,890) amplifiers, with Lamm L2 Reference
preamplifier ($14,790) and Lamm LP2 phono
preamplifier ($6,990). Digital source was
provided by a NeoDio (from France) NR Two
Transport (5,800 euros) and NR Two DAC (5,800
euros). Vinyl was played on a Clearaudio
Anniversary turntable with a Graham 2.2
tonearm. Kubala-Sosna cables were used
throughout. Equipment stand and isolation
bases were provided by Critical Mass.
Avatar Acoustics
This room is one of my “best sounds at the
show” and definitely, one of the most dynamic
and alive sounding rooms on display at this
years CES. Darren Censullo and Frank Tchang,
from Acoustic Systems, literally blew me away
with a demo that had “life like” dynamics and
realism, yet without any harshness or
non-musical artifacts. On music that was less
demanding, the sound was open and detailed,
but always tuneful and natural. Music came via
the wonderful Karan Acoustics KAM1200
monoblock amplifiers ($50,000), KAL Reference
Preamplifier ($15,500 with phono), driving the
excellent Acoustic Systems Tango Platinums
($27,000). Digital sounds were via the
Abingdon Music Research CD-77 CD Player
($8,500), and Current Cable interconnect,
speaker cables and power cords were used
throughout the system.
Half Note Audio/TIDAL/ASR
This was absolutely one of the best, if not my
favorite, room at CES this year. This was the
room that I kept coming back and comparing the
other rooms to. Daniel and Jae Barnum, et al,
put on a wonderful demo that was musically
involving, balanced, dynamic and detailed. The
team did a wonderful job of setting up the
system to give you a nice stage with a good
sense of depth and layering. Music came by way
of the beautiful TIDAL Contrivas ($44,900)
being driven by the majestic looking ASR
Emitter II Exclusive ($26,900). Digital source
came via an Oracle transport driving the
Stylos HAD D/A Converter ($15,000). Argento
Serenity Master Reference cables and Argento
Flow Power cables were used throughout.
Equipment rack was provided by Audiostone and
the isolation bases were Critical Mass Systems
Grand Master Isolation System.
Coming Soon (Hopefully), To A Retailer Near
You
I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of
the manufacturers that were new, had equipment
there but no pricing yet due to lack of U.S.
distributorship or other reasons, or those
that had rooms but did not get back to me with
information I needed on their room to complete
my report:
TruLife Audio
This Greek company had some of the most
beautifully built tube equipment of any
manufacturer at CES. Simply gorgeous. Built
like a tank, all premium parts, big and heavy.
I am looking forward to equipment from this
company hitting the market. Unfortunately,
they did not have any prices available as they
had just chosen a distributor and there were
still some matters to be worked out. Watch out
for this company.
Music Culture Technology Corporation
 Music
Culture Technology, a multi-national company
with headquarters in Asia and Germany, runs
the full gamut of electronic equipment as they
displayed their speakers, electronics and
digital sources. The sound from this room was
sonically pure and transparent with good
dynamics and deep, tight bass. I sat there and
listened, disc after
disc, enjoying the music and the electronics. All of their equipment felt solid and
looked very well made. I'll be looking for
more to come from this company as I look for
their equipment to hit the market.
Technical Brain
 One
of the more engaging gentlemen I met at T.H.E.
Show was Naoto Kurosawa of Technical Brain
(shown above with the wonderful Analysis Audio
Omega planar loudspeakers $18k). This
gentleman truly enjoys music and is most proud
of his electronics. He had on hand his TBC-Zero
preamplifier, TMC-Zero phono preamplifier and
an amplifier of his design that he didn't have
any literature on. Alas, I kept asking him for
more literature but he had none. I asked him
about prices but all he could tell me was the
preamp would sell for about 25,000,000 yen and
the amplifier would sell for about 35,000,000
yen. I hope to be able to get more information
from Naoto but I can say I did enjoy listening
to music in his room.
There was so much exciting new stuff this year
that this was easily one of the best shows
yet. I’m already looking forward to next year.
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