LAS VEGAS CES 2006

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In the Blue Circle room was the  BC208 Mono Hybrid amplifiers ($24,995 up to $26,800 pair depending on options and such).

The BC3000 GZPZ line stage preamplifier with power supply ($7995 to $9500, depending on options and such ...once again).

Music without dynamic compromise. The PBN Audio Montana KAS loudspeaker ($27,500/pair) combines a hammer with a silk glove; finesse and impact in one package. A great choice for high-end home theater applications (www.montanaloudspeakers.com).

 

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Bel Canto used Verity loudspeakers and their new line of electronics. Shown here is the REF 1000 monoblock amplifiers.

The REF 1000 monoblock amplifier features the ICEPower module (1000w into 4 ohms, 500w into 8 ohms).

In the Aurum Acoustics room was the Integris Active 300B loudspeakers ($27,000) and system.

Aurum Acoustics Integris CDP CD player/preamplifier and amplifier ($10,800) with the Integris Isolation rack. The come from a system approach―this is a complete system, cables and all!

 

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In the Nola room was the Pegasus Reference loudspeaker. Big, BIG sound with no hint of restraint!

In the Joule Electra room was the Joule Electra Rite of Passage VZN-220 OTL monoblock amplifiers ($24,000 pair), Talon Audio Firehawk Diamond loudspeakers ($32,000 pair), Critical Mass stands and such, and all Elrod cabling. Always sounding good, these guys have got it DOWN!

Joule amplifiers and Elrod EPS Signature speaker cables (4 piece system $3000).

 

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In the E.A.R. USA room was the Marten Design Mile III loudspeakers, Jorma Design cables, with E.A.R. electronics

E.A.R.'s new CD player and the finally finished turntable, making for really nice music.

 

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The KR Audio Electronics room used the VA340 stereo integrated amplifier with On Track Audio loudspeakers. Big speakers! Almost too imposing to stay...

KR Audio Electronics Kronzilla DX dual monoblock amplifier with the smaller On Track Audio loudspeakers. Less imposing...

The Kronzilla by KR. So retro and yet, so cool.

Murata ES-103A super-tweeter. Can you hear me now?

 

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Cary Audio showed their new SLP-05 'balanced" preamplifier with outboard power supply ($7500). Very slick! Coming in soon for a review too!

Cary Audio CAD 500 MB amplifiers and CAD 211M with Dynaudio loudspeakers.g.kar βλεπεις??

 

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Music Hall featured a new Shanling A500 amplifier and CD500 CD player. As usual, very Shanling in looks ...translates to ... very cool! No prices as of CES.

In the DH Labs Silversonic room was a Prima Luna Prologue two mated with the Audio Concepts (ACI) Sapphire XL loudspeakers ($1600 a pair), and the AH Tjoeb CD player. This room made way more musical sound than it had any right to, considering the size and cost of the system (well under $5k). Very, very cool stuff and a must hear for anyone short on cash, yet big on needs.

Michael Chang, that is Mr. Chang to you!

King Sound King electrostatic loudspeakers ($600 a pair). Very nice stuff. Sounded very nice too! μονο 600 ευρα..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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Jolida Musical Envoy amplifier featured in the King Sound room ($9500 a pair).

Hyperion HPS-968 loudspeakers ($6500) pair with HT-88 tube monoblock amplifiers ($4600) and BEC-P25 preamplifier ($1750) shown with Sony SCD1 CD player. Sounded good.

Herron Audio showed ESP-1 prototype loudspeakers with the S118 subwoofers, price TBD along with M1 mono amplifiers ($6850 pair). Always a good sounding room and ALWAYS some of the nicest folk around!

 

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Herron's VTSP-2 tube preamplifier $4995, HL-1 solid state preamplifier ($3495), VTPH-2 tube phono stage ($3650) along with VPI TNT HR-X turntable ($10,000).

Avatar Acoustics showed off the stunningly robotic-like Ascendo System M loudspeakers ($36,000 with stand).

Avatar Acoustics paired with the folks of Luminance who demoed the new monoblock amplifiers (200w into 8 ohms, $20,000 pair). These are the stereo versions of the KST-150 stereo amplifier turned into mega-monoblocks, which are then are Frankenstienized by the crazy modders of Great Northern Sound! Seriously, these are a highly modified version of the stereo amplifier, by Great Northern Sound. All cabling by Virtual Dynamics

Avatar Acoustics used the smaller Ascendo System E speakers ($12,500) with a Karan preamplifier ($12,995) and the Luminance KST-150 stereo amplifier ($3000). All cabling by Virtual Dynamics. I really liked this room and would love to hear this amplifier here...

 

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In the Channel Islands/Modwright room was the SWL 9.0 SE tube linestage ($2200) with Penaudio Serenade loudspeakers ($9000). Pretty much what we heard at RMAF ...sounded very good.

Denon player by Modwright ($3995), Channel Islands Audio D-200 monoblock amplifiers ($2299 pair). Dusty makes some very cool stuff indeed! Dan too! And they are nice people to boot!

And another World Power Wing from World Power (audioexcellence az). This time in the Channel Islands/Modwright room.

 

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The tmh room used the Talon Firehawk loudspeakers with Wavac PR-T1 linestage preamplifier ($30,000) and MD-804 MK-II monoblock power amplifiers ($47,000), along with Argento cables and a plethora of Symposium products.

Wavac MD-300B Class-A single-ended amplifier ($7500) on Symposium Ultra shelf with Serenity cables by Argento Audio.

In the Nagra room we found the Nagra PL-L preamplifier ($8495), PL-P preamplifier with phono stage ($11,495), and DAC ($11,995).  An Exoteric X01 ($13,000) was used as a transport. This stuff is just fun to look at!

Two pairs of Nagra PMA monoblock amplifiers ($10,995 per pair) and Verity Audio Sarastro Speakers ($34,995).

Nagra V, part of their professional line with the PL-P preamplifier.

Nagra PL-L preamplifier. So minimal, and yet so esoteric, and yet-ter (even still) so industrially cool.

 

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The Swedish Statement room. And what a statement it is! Total system came to like $450,000 total ...and it sounded just like mine here ...NOT! Uh... way better mon! Thanks for the vodka!

Marten Design Coltrane Supreme Speakers ($250,000 a pair) did not overpower the room. Very nice integration with no "hey, pay attention to me" coming from any of the drivers/columns.

Bladelius Beowulf monoblock amplifiers, Gondul CD player, Jorma Design cables, and Woo Design racks.

Nordic Concept Artist Signature turntable with air bearing tone arm and Magnapivot tonearm

 

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AND ANOTHER World Power Wing. Is this something we all need to pay attention to ... a break-out product?

Marten Design Coltrane Supreme uses 2" diamond-mid range and 3/4" diamond tweeters.

Anthony Gallo Acoustics. Little speakers filled this room with no problem, and no sub-woofer. Big sound and effortless music.

Prima Luna Prologue Six monoblock amplifiers (70 wpc with EL-34, $2295 a pair) and Prologue Seven (70 wpc with Genalex KT88, $2695 a pair) monoblock amplifiera. Different tubes ... different sound ... but not different on musical terms ... same WOW factor! How do they do this for so little cash? This room rocked with the Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario loudspeakers and DH Labs Silver Sonic cabling. Nice seeing Kevin Deal... a good man he is...

Cardas room with a samples for one and all. These guys got it covered with a line and product for just about anyone! You need it, they make it!

Isophon Cassiano loudspeakers with Accuphase amplifiers in the Axiss room.

Transrotor turntable on TAOC rack ... elegant!

Zu Definition MK1.5 loudspeakers. These guys are simply too cool for CES! They need their own show with the iPod generation and well ...those of us into the alternative stuff they spin when you are in their room. No audiophile crap here!

 

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And another World Power Wing from World Power (audioexcellence az). This time in the Channel Islands/Modwright room.

ρε Mac αυτο το πολυμπριζο εχει μαρμαρο η γρανιτη στα πλαγια.....να κανουμε ενα power buy θα εχει κατι χροιες μουρλια....