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Positive Feedback ISSUE
11
january/february 2004
CES 2004 Show Report
by Victor Chavira
The
2004 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was an
outstanding event. Our team of editors returned home with empty wallets, sore feet, and
bags full of product literature. A comprehensive analysis of the show would be a major
task for even the most gifted audio hobbyist. Hence, I focused my time and energy on
seeking out rooms according to musicality. If I walked by a room and the music sounded
pleasing, I went in, sat down, and listened. It is important to note, however, that the
primary objective for most participants, be they manufacturers or distributors, is not to
achieve new heights of audio ecstasy, but to generate business, meet old friends, check
out the competition, and keep their sanity under extreme circumstances. Here are the rooms
I found most interesting, in no particular order.
The
Bertrand Audio Imports room featured floor-to-ceiling speakers from Denmark. In spite of
their imposing size, the Dali Megalines produced intimate and richly detailed music via
the Xindak SCD2 Super Audio CD player, Messenger tube preamp, and MingDa tube amplifiers.
Gilmore
Audio resorted to sensationalism, with their ads featuring model Linda ONeil.
Nevertheless, Atmasphere amps and Gilmores Model 2 speakers created musically
coherent sound and impressive bass, as demonstrated by fully-clothed Los Angeles session ace,
Abraham Laboriel.
I
found myself returning to the Vandersteen room quite often. Vandys new Quattro
($6500) and Audio Research tube monoblocks filled the room with subtle warmth and vivid
harmonic textures from both analog and digital sources. If I could choose one system from
the show to live with for the rest of my life, the one in the Vandersteen room would
certainly be on the list.
Another
room with pleasing sound was shared by E.A.R. and Swedens Marten
Design. The focus of attention was a prototype pair of the carbon-fiber Alto loudspeakers
from Marten Design that promise performance near the level of their $50,000 Coltranes for
less than half the price. The Altos were powered by E.A.R.s 25th anniversary 509
amps, a Modwright Sony SACD player, and Origin Live turntable. Cables were from Jorma
Design, also from Sweden. More
interesting for me, however, was the more affordable back room that featured excellent
sound from a pair of Marten Design Mingus speakers, an MSB CD player, and the new E.A.R.
834T hybrid integrated amplifier.
Axiss
Distribution also made wonderful music with a little help from Air Tight amplifiers,
sculpted Odeon speakers, TransRotor turntables, and Accuphase CD players.
Several
other products are worth mentioning for their potential. Music Hall displayed a beautiful
wood version of their successful MMF5 turntable with a
Goldring 1022GX cartridge for $850. Margules Audio of Mexico showed a sexy
new hybrid integrated amp with curved aluminum faceplate called the ARCH 1.2 that will
list for a very reasonable $1400. I hope we review this product soon. The MSB Reference CD
Signature II was featured in many rooms, making good music.
Finally,
I must report on the inevitability of 5.1 audio, as deftly demonstrated by such
established companies such as Genisis, Theil, Magnepan, Talon, Verity, Wisdom, Halcro,
JMLab and many others in the main convention center. Although the demonstrations of
high-quality 5.1-channel audio were clearly impressive, I walked away feeling ambiguous
about the new paradigm. For me, stereo is still such a rich and rewarding experience, and
I only needed to listen to any of the rooms hosted by the companies listed above for
evidence. Victor Chavira
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