Chucks THE Show 2004 Faves from Las Vegas

January 2004 Consumer Electronics Show Mini-Summary

Chuck Bruce

To me there was ample good sound at the CES 2004, and as a matter of fact, I thought it was some of the best Show Sonics I have heard under these at best difficult conditions in recent memory. After all there were a reported 129,000 attendees from around the globe, likely the largest attendance on record and the largest "trade only" exposition in the known universe. Attendance at the multiple High-End audio/video venues was respectable as well, with a lot of enthusiasm and old fashioned pent-up demand or cabin fever, especially since 9-11. The most interesting irony in 2004 is that alongside the new high-resolution, high-sample rate digital technologies (SACD and DVD-A – Stereo and Surround) a significant number turntables were observed, and not just for show, but receiving steady play and ample LP’s to purchase at several sites. Still in many cases so called "obsolete" LP was challenging and often beating digital performance in just plain ‘ol tonal accuracy and musical enjoyment. Mike Hobson, President of Classic Records conveyed at his standing room only news conference that he supplied LP’s to more rooms this year than ever. This is not to say that digital has not made progress, the digital playback I have at home or hear elsewhere today whether std. 44.1 CD or the new hi-res formats, the sound is better than ever, as are many of the loudspeakers.

So, let me give share some of my favorites, at least in the area Editor Pitts assigned me, The independent Home Entertainment Show which was located at the St. Tropez and the San Remo hotels, featured a variety of engineering and product styles and accommodated fat and thin wallets alike. The Alexis Park official home of CES High-End Audio/Video offered a lot as well.

The new Soaring Audio SLC A300 is a solid-state A/V power amplifier which provided what I think was likely the most dynamic and exciting new amplifier presentation at the show, particularly so given its mid level price point of $3400. It was also the quietest amplifier that I heard with hum components stated at -120-dB. The amplifier offered a silence between notes and presentation of soundstages and recording venues that was truly surreal. The input circuit includes a patented "SLC" (which stands for Signal Loss Compensator) and also smoothing circuitry with a pair of level controls and LEDs to indicate a proper setting in relation to the preamplifier's input signal level. An output level control is also provided for optimal loudspeaker drive. This amplifier is also a purist ideal for driving direct from a CD player or other line-level source. Even though rated at a conservative 150 watts into 4 ohms and 100 into 8 ohms per channel, the amplifier audibly appeared much more powerful than these ratings would indicate. Paired with a set of Magnepan 3.6's, performance was stunning, without any solid-state stridency or harshness. It appears that Dr. Bill Avery and his inventive cohorts from Sparks, Nevada, are producing a solid statement here.

My favorites in the compact and cost-effective loudspeaker category were the Usher S-520, a two-way bookshelf or satellite style speaker priced at $280 per pair. Demonstrated by themselves on stands in what might be termed "stand-alone mode," their imaging, accuracy, neutrality and depth of field place them among the very best at any price point. When paired with the Usher SW-102, a 10-inch subwoofer with integral 60-watt amplifier, the three-piece ensemble offered an orchestral soundstage and scale that was a jaw-dropper, particularly at its $570 MSRP. The fit and finish of the Chinese-made wood cabinet is also first rate. I saw several listeners emerging from the demo with eyes ablaze and exclaiming, "Did you here that bass and imaging?"

Another showstopper in the cost-effective category, were the new "Acephalic" line offerings from Buggtussel (by Designer Dr. Kevin Blair), highlighted by the Somu tower loudspeakers. Standing at 46.5 inches tall, and said to achieve 91 dB SPL with one watt, these three-way, five-driver towers were launched at $1,000 per pair. They use a finely crafted wood finish with electromagnetic shielding for A/V use. Employing modified transmission-line venting, the new Buggtussels effectively demonstrate that high-end performance can be had at real-world prices. Also showcased by Buggtussel was their new EBB-150 solid-state, 150-watt power amplifier. This robust new amplifier offers up to 500 watts into 2 ohms to drive the most difficult speaker loads and was introduced at $5,000.

Another impressive loudspeaker launch was Albert Von Schweikert's new VR4 Jr's. Priced at $3,995 per pair, these three-way mid-size towers produced as much bang for the buck as any at the show in this price range. The articulate VR 4 Jr's offered precise imaging and all the right spatial cues to convey the best in a variety of recordings. Fit and finish is superb with top drivers and parts complete with rear firing ambience tweeter. These look and sound like winners to me.

Industry veteran Steve McCormack gets high marks for his versatile remote controlled MAP-1, a solid-state, six-channel analog preamplifier. With easy-to-use, built-in, set-up calibration for each channel, it removes much of the difficulty in correctly setting surround audio channel balance. The unit also supports ambience retrieval than may be activated to generate a center channel output and extract ambient information for the rear channels for two channel sources. An optional phono card is also available. In live demo, the McCormack only requires 5 minutes or less to set-up from your listening chair. It has more modes than I have space to convey here. Suffice to say the MAP-1 is a real winner sonically and technically for multi-channel lovers at $2,495. McCormack is also finally shipping its UDP-1all format CD/SACD/DVD-A/Video player priced at $2995 and has a lot of promise as well. It sports a 192/24 chipset which enables appreciation of the latest 2-channel (and sadly few) recordings in this encoding which will knock both your shoes and socks off! Indeed the dandiest thing I've ever heard from a digital source.

In the upper end of the price spectrum, Acarian Systems offered up the Alon Proteus, a large scale (65 inch tall) tower loudspeaker listed at $45,000 per pair. These were powered by a pair of the phenomenal Antique Sound Labs Hurricanes, 200-watt mono vacuum tube amplifiers listed at $4,400 per pair. With visitors begging for more, designer and accommodating host Carl Marchisotto gladly spun some of his favorite CDs and LPs well into the evening. This system produced, I do believe, the finest piano recreation I've ever heard at this or any other show.

Another statement in sheer dynamics was one by the PBN Olympia LX solid-state power amplifier with offers the rarely seen 75-ohm inputs for optimal signal transfer from the companion Lightspeed preamplifier. Priced at $20,000 and $16,000 respectively, these electronics were showcased with the PBN's EPX three-way tower loudspeaker featuring eight 10-inch woofers (four per cabinet). Mounted in a vented isobaric configuration, the EPX drivers lived up to their reputation for tight and controlled bass.

Well, that’s all that stingy Editor Pitts says I have room for. The Home Entertainment obviously had quite a few other pieces of gear that were worth listening to, but perhaps you should go to the show yourself. You might even get Editor Pitts to give you some space to write up your choices next year.