Esoteric displayed in quite wonderful fashion, I should add, their complete arsenal of sonic weapontry. Most impressive was the equipment rack that housed each and every component in a way that spells C.L.A.S.S. There was too much to list here when attempting to comprise all the features each of these components offers. But one of the honorable mentions has to go out to their new power amplifiers (photo left). For further information visit their website at http://www.teac.com/esoteric/

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Speaking of beautiful works of art, Copulare's Gerhard Brandl (photo above) designs the most attractive equipment racks these eyes have seen. So much in fact that I often forget the ingeniously disguised multi-layers of resonance/vibration control that goes into each one of Brandl's creations. Employing different grades of sand and leadshot  for the external steel frame as well as each platform - in addition to a sophisticated inlay of multi-layered birch plywood  - insures  resonance control on the vertical as well as horizontal planes. Last year, Copulare displayed their wares with Transrotor, who themselves possess a very high WOW factor. There's something eye catching about Copulare's color schemes. And if you're into aesthetics as much as this designer is then you really should look into Copulare's extensive  product line at http://www.copulare.de/800/index.htm.

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Upstairs in what many would consider a world class setup, let alone the sound, the Ascendo/CAT room was out of this world. This was better than a very well done demo that featured in 'Vegas back in January. Of course, the room here was much bigger than 'Vegas, the Behold setup downstairs, and any other real-world listening room I've been in (Ralph Glasgal's humongous listening room and the setup in Jean Yves' France expanse doesn't count).

Notwithstanding the huge attendance at this years event, it was standing room only in many showrooms and the Ascendo/CAT was no exception. This years setup included the newer and more advanced CAT JL3 MkII signature amplifiers that produced a sound that was fabulously open, extended and ultra musical. The newly released Audio Aero Capitole SACD player looked as serious a player as it sounded. The liquid midrange it spilled forth was among the best I've heard under showroom conditions. Of course, you can't leave out the rest of the setup and the very intimate and involving Ascendo System M loudspeakers wired via Virtual Dynamic cabling among others. All in all, this was among the best at the show.

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