CES Show Report 2010 Las Vegas

 
 


 
 

I've been attending CES for the last 25 years and in that time I've only missed one show. This has given me a consistent pulse of Hi-End Audio. As well as very tired feet and smile muscles. :-)

The 2010 CES was upbeat and a very enjoyable event to attend. As we start a new decade I was happy to see many of the Manufactures were showing new products and we were happy to see Jeff Rowland and Paul McGowan (P S Audio) making new high end conventional amplifiers (see below). The main trends we saw were more for less, vast improvements to interfaces and upgrades to many of our favorite products. One thing that was clear as the the LP grows in options, popularity and improves... digital is rapidly improving and prices getting more reasonable.

Two of my favorite rooms this year were Magico with their new Reference speaker the "Q" and the EAR & Marten Speaker room and in both rooms (Magico & EAR / Marten) they were playing Reel to Reel Tape as one of the sources (sounded real good). Another room making notable sound was the AudioMachina & Modwright room and they were offering a new mini monitor made from solid milled aluminum call the CRM and selling for $7,995 a pair. Karl Shuman AudioMachina's fearless designer and Proprietor is working on a world class sub woofer to match the delightful CRM monitors and stands to bolt the CRM monitor to the new sub woofers which promise to be wife friendly and offer great value. Also playing in the AudioMachina / Modwright room was the Maestro speakers with the Modwright electronics making some of the best sound at CES.

Digital Music servers were abundant and many rooms enjoyed the convenience, sound quality and even played high resolution sources from Music Servers. The two most significant Music Servers to me were the Meridian Sooloos Room (my reference - We're a Meridian Premium Partner, their hight level dealer.) and the promise of what P S Audio is going to offer in a new cost effective music server matching up with the insanely under priced and overachieving P S Audio Perfect Wave Transport and DAC (top value leaders).

  
 

 
 
The biggest buss at this years 2010 CES High End Audio show was the new Magico Model Q loudspeakers featured above. They were making the best sound I yet experienced at a trade show and are the only competition to their bigger brother the M-5's Absolute Sound's Overall Product of the Year. At $54,000 they clearly and in every way represent what is possible in a Reference full range loudspeaker!

Now being made in a new in-house machine shop with six CNC milling machines allows Magico to build the Q5 cabinets at a far lower cost and more efficiently than their previous all aluminum speaker, the M6.

The Q5 also brings Magico's second tweeter - an inverted-dome customized design that is said to extend ultra high frequency response past 50kHz, with lower distortion levels. Pricing for the Q5 should be around $54,000/pr. See Jonathan Vailin's Absolute Sounds report.

Driver Complement:
1 x 1" MBe-1 Customized Tweeter
1 x 6" Nano-Tec Midrange
1 x 9" Nano-Tec Midbass
2 x 9" Nano-Tec Bass
Sensitivity: 88dB
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Frequency Response: 26 Hz - 50 KHz
Recommended Power: 50 - 500 Watts
Dimensions: 47” H x 21” D x 11.75” W
Weight: 387 lbs.

 
 


 
 

The Magico Q's were powered by two sets of mono blocks and wired with MIT's best cables. They were playing a verity of Digital sources some Hi-Res and even Master tape (see next Picture).

On hand for listening Master Tapes were played along with other digital sources.

  
   
 

Side View of the NEW Magico cost-no-object Model Q speaker now available at $54,000 a pair and perhaps the best value and speaker ever offered below $95,000. The picture above shows off the one of a kind cabinetry that only Magico would attempt. It was announced at CES that Magico now builds and machines this and many of the parts and some cabinets in house and purchased the Machine shop they were using. There are 68 internal Plates, 377 Internal Bolts, 8 Bolts on the back plate. It is remarkable that in these times Magico not only raises the standard of what can be done but they buy their own machine shop and build new cost no object cabinets featured in the unrivaled new model Q Speaker.

The EAR Electronics & Marten Speaker Room. EAR's legendary designer and founder and designer, Tim DeParavinici (in my opinion Tim is the finest overall Audio Designer Living) and Dan Meinwald, music lover extraordinaire, Marten Design Speakers, EAR and Townshend U.S. Importer. Dan Meinwald has a real talent for good music and making superior sound and picking components.

  
 

 

 

  
 

The EAR Marten room, featuring the new Marten speakers the Getz. This is a three way design featuring Accuton Ceramic Drivers with a passive radiator at a fantastic value at $20,000 along with the EAR, 912 pre amp (my current reference), 509 100 watt mono blocks $14,000, EAR Acute Tube CD Player $5,500, EAR Disk Master magnetic drive table $17,00 without Arm and EAR's / Technics 1500 Reel to Reel Tape deck with EAR Electronics. I should be noted, the Marten speakers seemed to be everywhere and were in fact sounding wonderful in five additional rooms with speakers ranging in price from $20K to $165K. Something until experienced is simply unimaginable!

The Purest Audio Design & Stahl Tek room at the Show at the Flamingo Hotel featured the new version Stahl Tek Vekian DAC, my favorite DAC made see web link.

Pictured from left to right is Jim Aud founder and designer Purest Audio cables and co designer with Michael Stahl of the Reference Stahl Tek Vekian DAC, Gary Gerlich friend and Audio & Video Mastering Guru and my close friend Mitch Freeman "the man with the Golden Ears".

Pictured under the PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport on the second shelf is the latest version is a cost no object Vekian DAC now $19,995. The Vekian D to A now features several refinements, new and improved clock and now takes the PS Audio HDMI digital interface (virtually Jitter Free interface). The combination played with my favorite transport made the PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport (virtually removes all jitter / time based errors) is the best transport I've ever heard see my link @ http://weinhartdesign.com/weinhart.design-psaudio-perfectwave-event.html To my surprise The PS Audio inexpensive Perfect Wave Transport betters the German designs I've had exceeding 25K and is only $3,000 and was the best I've heard from standard CD's. It should be noted mods are available for the Stahl Tek Vekian for late models for around $2K.

Both products and Stahl Tek upgrades are available at Weinhart Design.


 
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

Bryston Room Craig Bell U.S. Sales Manager and the one and only Gary Gerlich discussing the SST2 Technology.

Bryston Room, The incredible award winning top reviewers choice in DAC's the BDA-1 DA Converter a steal at $1,995 and BCD-1 CD Player an incredible value at $2,695 and new award winner. Both on display at Weinhart Design.

  
 

 

 

  
 

Bryston Room the Bryston B-100 full featured Integrated Amplifier, remote and phono optional. A great sounding piece and bettering many of the top more expensive integrated amplifiers $3,895 + options Phono board $500 and Remote $350.

Bryston room inside picture of the wonderful top model Bryston 28B SST2. This design uses no physical wires and many things that make it a reviews and my choice as a reference for high power mono blocks. Believe it or not 1,100 watts into 8 ohms and 2,000 into 4 ohms and a deal at $17,000! Now on display at Weinhart Design with my Reference Magico M-5's.



  
   
 

The PS Audio Room was as usual full of surprises. Mitch Golden Ears Freeman standing next to Gary Gerlich Mastering Guru pointing at a new Reference Stereo Amplifier called the "Perfect Wave Amplifier" on the second shelf and coming out in the future. The New Perfect Wave Reference amplifier will be approximately $4,000 and be at least 250 watts into 8 ohms.

I overheard a PS Audio employee saying there might be a tube input stage added to the new Perfect Wave Amplifier. We hope that P S Audio is planning to make the Stereo Amplifier bridgeable for approximately 500 - 600 watts each as this would be something that could compete with anything at many times the price... The system playing at CES using the prototype "Perfect Wave Amplifier" sounded really good and this amplifier promises to be something real special.

P S Audio's founder and chief designer Paul McGowan decided that with the Perfect Wave DAC Transport being true Reference Products a New Reference Amplifier was needed. It looks like the Perfect Wave DAC Transport (real nice) but about three pieces high and was real heavy.

At CES this year, I was please to see a trend that more designers are recognizing the limitations of currently available digital amplifiers. Don't get me wrong for Bass they are excellent and some are really quite good and certainly represent value, and convenient but are not a cost no object Reference for my ears.

Featured in the PS Audio System playing was the Perfect Wave DAC & matching Transport top shelf, second shelf new Stereo Reference PS Audio Amplifier and bottom shelf two of the most cost effective versatile power conditioners I know of the PS Audio Power Plant Primier. The sound was truly superb and sounded rich and warm with a deeply engaging sound.

Above is a teaser picture of a poster in the PS Audio Room.

Virtually everyone who has seen or touched a Apple iTouch and or iPhone loves them (ask my kids) and are currently used by Meridian / Sooloos use their pieces for remotes. A trend in remotes is developing and what's next the Google Droid as remotes?

PS Audio showed their iPhone / iPod interface for their Bridge the long awaited interface for any Wi -Fi source to Stream audio to their Perfect Wave DAC and as a interface to the future Music Server.

The Bridge and Server both Hot items are coming at reasonable prices but exact releases, prices and specifications are not available at this time.

  
 

In the middle, it's a bird, a plane or Prototype Music Server

 

  
 

Everyone knows or should know by now the Meridian Sooloos is the finest music server especially if you consider Meridian's latest developments and the incredible interfaces, but there is room in the marketplace for a more cost effective music server to dominate the intermediate market.

The good folks at PS Audio are going to offer soon a high quality Music Server for the common music lover and audiophile. If their Perfect Wave DAC Transport are any indication a bargain for $3,000 (one of my absolute reference DAC's) they will own the market on cost effective music servers! P S Audio has plains for 1 - 10 terabyte versions to be available in the late Quarter of 2010 for around $2,000 up... We can hardly wait for their release!

David Weinhart standing with long time friend and Audio Master Jeff Rowland. Behind my two thumbs up are the two new amplifiers the cost no object 925 Mono Blocks and on the Right the Stereo 625 amplifier.

On the left is the about to be released 925 two chassis mono blocks that have a suggested retail of $48,000 a pair and in the 400 - 500 watt range into 8 ohms using conventional output devices and an unusual new biasing Jeff is introducing. By my right thumb is the new stereo 625 conventional amplifier also about to be released.

If they sound like they look Jeff has a new reference.

 

 
   
 

Jeff Rowland Capri Stereo Pre Amp current production and only $2,995 and with phono option $3,475.

Top Reference Two Chassis Pre Amplifier Model Criterion in production $18,600.

From the Jeff Rowland site "On very rare occasions, one person's vision encompassing a life's experience and creativity will merge and come to fruition in a work of art unequalled among peers. Jeff Rowland proudly presents his Criterion Preamplifier.

The Criterion incorporates the most tried and proven concepts trailblazed by JRDG over the 25+ years of successfully developing the finest audio products available: battery power that provides the cleanest possible power source and isolation from the power grid, balanced circuitry, transformer coupling and much more. Additionally new ideas resulting in the further elimination of haze-inducing vibration are included in this no-holds-barred design.

Additional details are forthcoming, but words alone cannot adequately describe the sonic excellence of this unique product. It must be heard to comprehend this outstanding achievement. "

 

 

  
 


 
 

The new about to be released Corus Stereo Pre Amplifier approximately $9,995 and borrows from the cost no object Criterion Pre amplifiers design at a more affordable price.

The new about to be released cost no object 925 two chassis mono block. This is a half of a pair.

  
   
 

Jeff Rowland standing next to his about to be released Model 625 Stereo Amplifier.

The Balanced Audio Room sounded great and featured all of their best products including the Two Chassis REX Pre Amp and New REX bridged amplifiers, Wilson Speakers and Immedia Table.

  
   
 

BAT's New Reference Tube Class A Amplifier, The REX Power Balanced Tube Amplifier. 80 watts stereo or 160 watts bridged as a mono block, 100 pounds The successor to the VK-75SE and VK-150SE series sounded wonderful and natural. My compliments to BAT.

So what is Ken Forsythe Meridian's Sales Specialist Smiling about?

Its no secrete that Meridian's surround processors needed to be updated to their new property CAT-5 DSP-Speaker interface (Balanced Digital) for their property new version Digital Active (DSP) Speakers. Well Ken is not only smiling he is ecstatic over Meridian's new offerings, the G-61R, G-68 and 861V6 are vastly updated and easily represent WHAT IS POSSIBLE in Surround Processors. The new world renown digital filters, new back plane developments and the new and improved Analog To Digital etc are something to celebrate if you want the best possible sound for analog (regular speakers) or the Digital out used with Meridian DSP-Speakers.


Shown above is the back side of the new G-68 & 861 G-61R. Trade in are always accepted and now may be the best time every to upgrade to the best surround processors ever made.

Also big news is the new 808.3 Reference / Signature CD Player. It's been six years since the first 808 CD player was introduced by Meridian. With each new 800 series Reference / Signature CD System Meridian adds a few improvements to their reference players, and the 808.3 is no exception. Like the 808.2 before it, the 808.3 uses Meridian's DSP based up-sampling system and triple FIFO buffering.

It features an analog input card like previous models but uses superior analog to digital conversion when compared to its predecessors. While the 808.3 is a CD player, the audio enhancing DSP can be applied to other audio signals as well. To support this, the 808.3 features audio and digital inputs as well as an all new balanced digital audio SpeakerLink input.

CDs are played back through a specially built custom CD-ROM based drive. Meridian says that this allows for error correction and data recovery many times better than that of traditional CD systems. he 808.3 also features an ID40 Sooloos card, which allows networked play with the Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System. Thanks to the audio enhancement tools and buffering system, the 808.3 is Meridian’s highest performance network playback device.is now enhanced further, has DAC inputs, Sooloos interface and analog inputs designed to be used either as a CD Player, Reference Transport or with variable volume directly out as a DAC, or with analog inputs (similar to the previous models i option / now only available with everything included and shipping February 2010 at a suggested price of $19,995 and will be available for audition at Weinhart Design).

  
   
 

Meridian's basic Surround Processor the G-61R now support Speaker links and analog outs, USB input and room bass correction.

Meridian's mid level (virtually the best level) Surround Processor, with newer speaker links and XLR / Balanced or RCA analog outputs, Meridian's SmartLink inputs, Bass room correction, integrated AM/FM tuner with 30 pre sets, USB inputs for PC's.

 

  
   
 

Meridian 861V6 Reference Surround Processor, DAC, Sooloos interface and Pre Amplifier close up / rear view. Showing both Analog Balanced / XLR out puts and Meridian Speaker RJ45 Link outs for Meridian DSP speakers. The best processor made, replaces all earlier 861's Trades gladly accepted (call for details). When the best is required look no further.

 

Meridian Adds Rhapsody and Internet Radio to Sooloos Digital Media System, New Remote Apps for iPhone & iTouch, new integration options and improved sound.

A 2010 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award Winner for Integrated Home Systems, the Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System is releasing access to Rhapsody ($13 USD per month). Albums from Rhapsody can be added to your Cover Browser and then browsed, searched, and played as if they are stored locally. Since there is no limit to the number of Rhapsody albums you can add to your Cover Browser, you can build the collection you've always wanted. (Rhapsody is currently only available in the US.)

The Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System also offers Internet Radio and a dedicated iPhone application - so you can control the Sooloos system from your iPhone. You can download the Meridian Sooloos iPhone application from the Apple App store, install it on an iPhone or iPod touch, and enjoy a wonderfully and convent, cost effective remote control.

A newly added sorting feature lets you organize your music collection according to how often you listen to albums, and also allows sorting by audio quality to separate mp3s from full quality files.

An entry system with a Control 10 Touchscreen and Ensemble is available for $9,900 (USD). Existing Meridian Sooloos customers receive the 2.1 software suite as a free update. Also, new Meridian Sooloos customers receive a free six-month membership to Rhapsody.

 
   
 

Parasound JC-1 Halo Pre, and Parasound Halo A-21 Stereo Amplifier front view.

Parasound's Richard Schram, founder and owner of Parasound holding the new about to be released John Curl designed MM & MC Phono section. This promises to offer the best Phono sections a competitor for around $2,000.

  
   
 

Parasound Room rear view of Halo stack.

Parasound Room new cost effective Parasound Z-Phono small phono pre amp with two sets of inputs, USB output for computer and detachable IEC Power cord.

  
   
 

Parasound Room, Honey, I shrunk the CD Player, a cost effective CD Player that offers DAC inputs and great features.

Parasound room rear view CD Player showing RCA outputs and Tosh Link Optical and RCA Coax Digital outputs.

  
   
 

The AudioMachina and Modwright room. Pictured above, Modwright electronics and the AudioMachina Maestros (available for audition at Weinhart Design), also shown in the room was the very nice sounding new AudioMachina CRM monitors retailing at a reasonable $7,995.

Another notable (pun intended) trend we saw in most of the good sounding rooms was either the P S Audio Power Plant Primer (best value I know of in a power conditioner one of my References only $1,695) and the Running Springs, Dmitri (simply the best power conditioner made). Running Springs by far dominated the majority of the high end rooms using power conditioners. During the CES Show, Robert Harley Editor and Chief of The Absolute Sound stopped by the Running Springs Audio room at CES with the owner of The Absolute Sound, Tom Wilson, to officially give Running Springs Audio the "Product of the Year" award for the Dmitri power conditioner. During Robert's visit he mentioned how much of a presence that Running Springs Audio had at CES and that all the the rooms using Running Springs sounded great. Running Springs Audio was in the following great sounding rooms: Musical Surroundings, Aesthetix, Pathos, Clear Audio, Electrocompaniet, Immedia, Balanced Audio, AudioMachina & Modwright, Bel Canto & the Running Springs Audio room.

  
 
 
 

Hanson's Grand Master Speakers got my vote for for unusual and run a cool $240,000. They sounded good but may be hard to hide form the wife.

Venetian Hotel's Lobby, you know what they say "what happens in Los Vegas Stays in Las Vegas". The CES every year shares the weekend with the Adult Entrainment Show and the adult Entertainment awards dinner. The outfits and people are remarkable and often entertaining.

  
 

 

That's it for CES 2010. I hope you enjoyed the reviews as much as I did chasing down the best gear whether price-no-object or best value in class. You're invited to make an appointment to come and talk about CES and choose a system to demo. While it hasn't been covered, Weinhart Design now offers full in house installation of the finest Home Theater equipment available. Again, in price-no-object or price conscience. We have an award winning history of superb Home Theater installations going all the way back to Ambrosia Audio - my former company. Be sure to call and come in to hear and see all the gear in our showroom.

  
       
 

 


  
 


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