Consumer Electronics Show – 2006

Moving right along, I came across another room with a very serious approach to analog playback. This was the Acoustic Dreams suite where they had on display their new Lumenwhite Silver Flame loudspeakers ($27,500). This was the premier showing for these speakers and first time on display in the U.S. The turntable referred to was the Blue Pearl Audio JEM turntable with a most unique stand. The full package lists for $75,000. Coupled to the speakers were Ayon electronics connected by Sunyata power cords and line conditioning. Everything was mounted in their stylish and very popular Acoustic Dreams Isolation rack along with a generous supply of their Deadball Isolaters in place. Overall the sound was quite good and very well balanced. Analog playback was absolutely superb and I could have easily stayed for an extended time had it not been for needing to stay focused and visit as many rooms as possible.

As I moved around, our editor Dave Thomas encouraged me to visit the Escalante Design suite. Having been at Dave’s home back in October of last year, I then had an opportunity to hear the Escalante Fremont speaker ($14,990). Very impressive so I was anxious to hear how they sounded at the show. Once inside their suite, I was treated to one of the most musically effective rooms I had visited. These speakers are essentially large bookshelf type units and sport two 12” woofers and a ring radiator, soft dome tweeter. The units are designed to sit atop very solid stands that are made for them. Although there is a subwoofer available for use with these speakers, given the size of the room, overall bass performance was so outstanding that it was decided not to use it. Coupled to these speakers were a ModWright Instruments SWL 9.0SE tube line stage ($2,200), connected to a pair of Butler Audio Monad mono block amps (approx $18,895 pr.), Electrocompanient CD player (transport only) feeding into a Stax DAC. The sound was totally engaging and I managed to persuade them to spin through approximately six different CDs that I had with me. For full effect, we trimmed the lights back a little and everyone in the room became mesmerized. Overall the sound was musically compelling, full range, dynamic, impactful with excellent power and control, utterly non-fatiguing and possessed with tons of finesse. These speakers provide lots and lots of performance and at their price-point, offer a lot to the user. Overall fit and finish was outstanding with a very appealing red high gloss look.

                      

Not far away, ESP had on display their highly musical Bodhran SE loudspeakers. These have much the appearance of their larger flagship Concert Grand SI speakers. Driver configuration for these speakers is considerably different that the top model but at $16,000 pr. they offer a lot of sound and are high on the price to performance scale. These were powered by the very expensive and superbly music Concert Fidelity tube electronics – including line stage ($14,990) and 60 watt SET mono block amps ($29,990 pr.). Feeding into these was the highly acclaimed Esoteric X-01 one-box SACD player . All wires were made by Concert Fidelity. Alternately, one of the API digital players was used as well.

Sound in this room was initially a bit constrained due to damping materials used to control standing waves and reflections. However with a bit of tweaking and removal of some of these materials, the sound opened up and provided a highly refined and tonally accurate presentation. With the speakers well out into the room, there was an enormous soundstage with layering and depth galore. Musical purity is a description that comes to my mind when listening to this system and it was very easy simply slip into a cozy, relaxed sitting position with no desire to move. ESP speakers have a way of bringing musical magic and life into a room and their display at CES was another convincing demonstration of that quality.

Visiting the Bel Canto Designs suite proved to be fun and lots of fun. On display was their new lineup of electronics including PR3 line stage ($2000), Phono 3 ($1900), CD-1 ($5000) player and REF 1000 mono block amplifiers ($2100 each, $4200 pr.). These new amps are fully balanced amplifier and incorporate ICE technology. The striking thing about these new products definitely has to be their size with each component now in a much smaller package than anything they’ve produced in the past. The really good news also is that the performance has been improved on from previous designs and the cost has gone down. Sounds like a real winning combination to me. Coupled to a pair of very nice looking (silver type finish) Verity Audio Parsifal loudspeakers ($19,000), Shunyata power cords and Hydra 8 power conditioner along with new interconnect and speaker cables designed by Cardas Audio specifically for Bel Canto. Analog duties were covered by a SME Model 10 turntable and Sumiko Black Bird high-output moving coil cartridge. The sound was outstanding and for the total cost of this system – it ranked high on the scale for price-to-performance. All tunes played on this system were musically authentic and presented the listening with a very enjoyable listening experience.

                   

It had been quite a while since visiting with Ken Stevens, guru at Convergent Audio Technologies, so it was good running into him. In his suite, he had his gorgeous (to look at and sounding) JL3 Triode mono block amplifiers ($35,995), Signature preamp ($7000) Ascendo System M speakers ($36,000 w/stands) and Virtual Dynamics Revelation cables. The sound in this room was absolutely outstanding, tonally accurate, wonderfully musical and highly refined. This was definitely a place to bring your favorite music and absolutely delightful. I simply sat back and enjoyed the sound of both the recordings that I brought along as well as others provided by other listeners.

                      

Visiting the Balanced Audio Technologies suite provided an interesting listen whereas they were using their superb electronics VK51SE line stage ($9,500 with remote), VKCD5SE digital player ($9000) and VK600M SE mono block amps ($16,000 to $23,000 depending on configuration). Speakers were the big bad Wilson MAXX 2s and everything was connected via Cardas Golden Reference cables. For the most part, this system provided very realistic dynamics and power along with a very good overall musical presentation. The amps seemed to place a firm grip on the speakers and despite being in a hotel room on the second floor, the sound was controlled very well. In addition to the sound, this suite also had a very classy visual effect with the setup being comfortable and cozy. Of particular interest was a new solid state preamp VK42SE on display (price unknown) and unfortunately I wasn’t there on the last day to actually hear it in their system. Based on previous products, I am expecting this unit to be something special and anxious to hear it at a better time.

Jeff Smith, designer of the wonderful Silversmith Cables was displaying with his outstanding Palladium cables connecting a full complement of Lamm electronics with Wilson Audio MAXX 2 loudspeakers. Sound in this room was full and complete with a very good musical presentation. Dynamics and power were there in spades but all in control. Midrange purity was outstanding coupled with a deep, powerful low end and very open and clear high frequency range. Playing mostly digital playback, vocals were rendered with authority and a pureness that was captivating. Acoustic instruments were reproduced also in a very pure, easy manner and gave a distinct impression of the real thing.

A surprise discover for me was at the Hansen Audio suite. This is a Canadian speaker manufacturer and on display when I was in the room was their model called The Prince. This speaker retails for approximately $27,000 and offered some of the most dynamically cohesive sound that I heard at the show. From what I learned, the company uses it’s own proprietary drivers with great care given to the crossover and enclosure design. What ever they do – it works and to a great extent. The finish on these speakers was superb and quite beautiful, matching their wonderful sound. When played loud – these speakers gave no indication of breaking up or losing their composure. They simply let the music wash out into the room and pour over anyone listening. Both analog and digital playback were provided with both formats providing excellent musical reproduction. Electronics were also a mix of solid state and tubes.

The real surprise for me at this year’s show was the new pair of speakers designed by Robert Lee of Acoustic Zen. These impressive three-way speakers ($3700 retail) are definitely over-achievers and sounded as though they could have easily been in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. They were demonstrated with two different sets of amplifiers (i.e., Icecube mono blocks as well as the new Red Dragon Leviathan Signature Series solid state mono blocks $5995 pr.). With either – these speakers produced incredibly dynamic sound and absolutely beyond my expectation for anything in this price range. I would expect to hear much more about this product as it gets more exposure.

As my time at CES wound down, and after shaking hands and promising to stay in touch with numerous folks, I managed to cap off my visit with a couple of rounds on the golf course. Living in Minnesota these days means having a long off-season (for outdoor type activities that is) and this proved to be a perfect way to cap off a wonderful visit in Las Vegas. Also, being joined by fellow staff member Dave Thomas, editor, was an extra special bonus. However, neither Dave nor I profess to be particular adapt at this game – we were there merely having fun on a beautiful track of land that looked very much like an oasis in the middle of the desert. So with our games being rusty and scoring low being out of reach, we both agreed that…what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas!

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