Another oasis for good sounding rooms was Nova Audio debuting the newest loudspeaker in their line, the Applause XP Concept ($10,000). A feature of this design is its massive baffle, milled from a solid billet of aircraft-grade aluminum, greatly reducing unwanted enclosure resonance. It combines the accuracy and musicality of the "S" model with the full-range performance of a floor-standing loudspeaker.

Famous electronics manufacturer Threshold Audio made a comeback after being out of the action for nearly five years. Their new high-current and high-bias designed STASIS 7.0 stereo power amplifier ($7,000), rated at 100 watts per channel, made an assault on the senses. Nova's website states this new design "represents a combination of Threshold Audio's patented STASIS topology with 21st Century engineering and design."

The sound coming from the Threshold 7.0 strapped to the Nova XP Concept's via critical runs of Cardas Neutral Reference Cables produced a sound that simply brought a smile to this listener. It didn't hurt a bit that all zeros and ones were played through the fabulous Wadia 27ix Decoding Computer and Wadia 270 CD transport. All AC contaminates were stripped by way of Chris English's SineLock AC Line Filter ($2,500), which by the way, impressed Jim Merod so, he nominated it to his Stereo Times' Most Wanted listing.

On static display in the adjoining room was Threshold Audio's partner Chris English proudly showing for the first time the STASIS-R 5.0 preamplifier ($5,000 remote included) and STASIS 9.0M 300 watt monoblock, ($9,000 ea). Nova Audio's David Lee humbly showed his Applause S active monitors ($15,000) replete with a built-in 300 watt Threshold Pro amplifier. The song "Fresh and So Clean" from the fun-rapping duo Outcast aptly described the sound of this room. Bravo!