Las Vegas CES and T.H.E. Show 2006

Part Two

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Best of Show:
For me it was less difficult to pick the best sound of the show than it could have been. There were an unusually high number of excellent sounding systems at this year’s Las Vegas shows, but one in particular had me consistently returning for more. However, before I describe that system, I want to chronicle two high-performing runners-up that I felt were extremely worthy in their own right.

                      

The first, and least expensive alternate, was found in the Audiopax room at the St. Tropez. This system was unusually clean, fast, dynamic, and detailed. I first listened to an excellent recording that featured a very potent drum kit. Hearing the different drums reproduced by the Audiopax Ref 150 speakers ($12,490/pr), I was very impressed by the tautness of the drums, and their lifelike dynamics and natural tonality. Moving to my blazing Tim Reynolds guitar cut, I dared the Audiopax to reproduce those ferocious strings without blurring or smearing and with the proper timbre and bite. To my amazement, they did exactly that without a fret, glitch, or a hitch. The R150 speakers are medium sized 3-ways with de-coupled tweeter modules and custom-built woofer and midrange units. They were finished in the slick-looking Dark Imbuia furniture-grade wood veneer.

The thing about the Audiopax system that really made me pause and think was when I learned that these 92 dB efficient speakers could play so loudly and authoritatively with solid-state monoblock amplifiers rated at only 30 watts. This was a tough lump to swallow, but apparently, it was the case. Using the Audiopax Model 5 LE preamp ($5990), and a pair of Model 55 single-ended monoblocks ($11,990/pr), the sound was not only incredibly dynamic and articulate, it was also highly musical. I am told that Audiopax also markets excellent 30-watt tube monoblocks, the Model 88 Mk-II, for $14,990 USD/pr, but unfortunately they were not hooked up during my visit.

 

My second alternate pick for Best of Show was located at Alexis Park in room AP1614. This system was clean and powerful and served the music very well. It included the Ascendo System M-s speakers ($36,000 with stands), the large Convergent Audio Technology JL3 tube monos ($36,000/pr), CAT SL1 Ultimate Mk-II preamp ($7,000), and a Reimyo CDP-777 CD player ($15.5k). Cabling was the Revelation Signature by Virtual Dynamics, with an upscale equipment rack ($5k) by Acoustic Systems International.

This system was extremely gifted at belting out a powerful, full-range presentation. I’d rank it just a fraction of a notch behind the aforementioned Audiopax system in that it seemed just perceptibly slower, slightly rounding the fastest musical transients, with all other parameters being relatively equal. Nevertheless, I spent quite a bit of time in that room because of the dynamic and alluring sound and also because of the attractive lady presenter, Bonnie Censullo of Avatar Acoustics, who served good cappuccino.

                      
Finally, the best sound I heard in Vegas was at T.H.E. Show in ST1006, in the Ayon Audio Suite. For some reason (actually for many reasons) this system just clicked. It was not the most precise system I heard in terms of pinpoint focus and ultimate resolving power, although it was certainly very good in those respects. Yet, on a sheer emotional level it was able to convey the heart and soul of the music appreciably better than any other system I heard. Heck, I could have stayed for hours listening to the Blue Pearl JEM turntable spin vinyl—so seductive and captivating was it’s sound.

It was crystal clear to me that all of the fabulous components in this system were carefully measured ingredients in an incredibly synergistic electro-mechanical amalgam. This system had it all, not only because it was aurally glorious, but because it was breathtakingly drop-dead gorgeous to boot! From the curvacious, ebony, Lumenwhite Silver Flame speakers ($27,750), to the massive, chrome-plated Ayon 52B tube monoblocks ($29,250 ea.), to the Blue Pearl Audio JEM turntable (circa $80k) with its sleek Graham Phantom arm and Lyra Titan cartridge, the system just oozed glamour! Also onboard were the Messenger Reference tube preamplifier ($16,000), and an Acoustic Dreams 3-Shelf Isolation Rack, Series 1.0 ($5,000). If I ever hit the lottery, this system could become my final destination.


Honorable Mentions
In closing, I’d like to give out a few honorable mentions for other goodies that impressed me both sonically and visually.

                                        

My short list includes:
Room AP2603 Kingsound King full-range electrostatic panel speakers ( above $6k/pr)

Room AP2503 Acapella High Violin Mk3 horn loudspeakers ($48k/pr) with the gorgeous Einstein The Final Cut Mk60 OTL monoblock amps

Room AP2505 Calix Venus Phoenix elegant horn speakers ($13,000/pr) and Chord CD player and model 2600 integrated amp, which was stunning when reproducing the double bass.

Happy Listening! 

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