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New York Home Entertainment Show 2007
 It’s
a major blessing for me whenever The Home
Entertainment Show takes place in New York
City. But it was especially nice this year
because it was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel,
only a 15-minute walk from where I work.
Couple that with the fine May weather we had
that weekend and you’ve got one happy
audiophile. Judging from the opening-day
attendance, it seemed I wasn’t the only happy
face in the crowd. If walls could talk, I’m
sure I would have heard them whisper, “Rumors
of high-end audio’s demise have been greatly
exaggerated.” Considering all the negative
press of the previous HE show, held in LA,
this one was like a shot of adrenaline for a
community of fatigued audiophiles. So, let’s
begin!
Silicon Arts Design/Continuum Audio Labs/Peak
Consult
The Hi Fi One room featured the marvelous
Continuum Audio Labs Criterion turntable with
the Copperhead Tone Arm ($51,500) which
transported a pure analog signal to the
impeccably designed Silicon Arts Design
electronics. The silicon Arts Design ZL-120
Mono amps ($23k) and the CF-080 Line Stage
($18k) were both utilizing unique Direct
Signal Path Technology (DSPT). These
electronics drove the Peak Consult Princess
2-way loudspeakers ($10,500) incredibly well.
All gear were supported on the Stillpoints ESS
405-26 rack ($9,500) and CS-4S-9 component
stands ($999) and wired with all Stereovox
cables. The sound was impressive, always
inviting and non-fatiguing. I listened all 4
days and each visit was music to my ears.
Behold/ Ascendo/ Nova Physics/Sunny Cables
 The
Laufer Teknik room proved sonically
outstanding. Three words kept coming back:
transparent, open and natural. The Ascendo M-S
loudspeakers ($45k) were driven by one of the
super-advanced Behold BPA768 amplifier and the
APU768 preamplifier ($25k-$66k depending on
options) with their own hi-tech room
correction. The digital source was the Nova
Physics Group Memory Player ($10,500) while
the electronics were supported on Halcyonics
Micro-40 active iso-platform ($8,500). All
cabling was compliments of the superb Sunny
Cable.
High Water Sound and Avatar Acoustics
This room treated in many ways like my own.
Equipped with plenty of Acoustic System
Resonators ($200-2,500), diffusers and wooden
sugar cubes, this room was treated to the
hilt. Jeff Catalano, owner of High Water
Sound, put up a room that produced brilliant
sound. Both analog and digital were on the
mark. The sound was amazingly natural and
life-like. You really had to listen to
appreciate both mediums. The TW Acustic Raven
AC turntable ($15k with 3 motors) and Graham
Phantom ($4,300) with Miyabi 47 ($4k) were
terrific. The talk of the town digitally
speaking was the AMR CD-77 player ($8,500).
Built like a Sherman tank, it features a
proprietary top-loading transport mechanism,
and at its heart, employs the “king of the
multi-bit DACs” in the Phillips TD1541A
chipset. I’ve a review sample and will report
on my findings shortly. This system consisted
of solely of electronics from Tron. The Tron
Jubilant mono amplifiers ($25k) drove the
Aspara Acoustics HL loudspeakers ($25k)
wonderfully and with lots of soul I might add.
The Tron Syren preamplifier ($22k) along with
the Tron Seven Reference phono stage ($8k) was
wired with WSS Platinum cabling and supported
on Silent Running Audio racks.
Reimyo
The Reimyo room also provided extraordinary
sound. Kiuchi san debuted the long awaited,
beautifully made CDT-777 transport ($8.500),
utilizing the Phillips top loading mechanism
to match with the DAP-777 ($5,195) digital to
analog converter. As always the sound was
special. It was open and very transparent with
a pure midrange to lust for. The PAT 777 300B
stereo tube amplifier ($22k) and the CAT-777
($15,495) vacuum tube control amplifier made
the Bravo monitors disappear. Harmonix cables,
tuning devices and an ALS-777 ($5,195) and AC
power stabilizer completed the set up.
Zanden/Peak Consult
It was great to see Kazutoshi Yamada, designer
of Zanden Audio in New York. Located in the
Sound by Singer room, these electronics
provided a stellar sounding room. Once again,
natural, musical and inviting are very
important attributes. The Zanden Model 9500
monos with KR 845 ($45k), Model 3000
preamplifier ($15k), Model 1200 transport
along with the Model 5000 signature handled
the digital side of the equation. The Zanden
electronics with the Peak Consult El Diablo
Loudspeakers ($65K) proved a great sonic
match.
Oracle Audio Technologies/Usher/JPS Labs
Once again, Rusty Taub of Audiotion put up
wonderful sound just as he did at the last CES
in 2007. He showed the new beautifully
finished Usher Audio Dancer BE-718 Reference
Monitor speakers ($2,500). The Oracle SI 1000
integrated amplifier ($9,250) drove the Usher
loudspeakers with control and authority
particularly for an integrated device. Wired
with the JPS Labs Aluminata cabling
throughout, I was quite impressed with the
Usher’s performance, especially when
considering the price.
Kef/Chord
All the products in this room were from Great
Britain and provided a beautifully rich and
harmonious sound. The Chord reference
amplifiers drove the Kef Reference Series
207/2s ($20k) outstandingly. The sound was
open, transparent and dynamic and yet very
delicate when necessary.
Hyperion
This room was very inviting with good
excellent sound that won’t break your bank.
The Hyperion HPS-968 loudspeakers
($6,500) were bi-amp with their HT-845
mono amps ($4,800), and BEC-P25T
preamplifier ($1,700). This setup also
featured Hyperion cables throughout and again,
sonically did not disappoint. Lastly, a Sony
SCD-1 served as the source.
Key Kim
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