CES 2015

On one level, this was just "another CES." The barrage of humanity, traffic, flashing lights, cigarette smoke, hawkers, gawkers, noise masquerading as music, and the ever-present Las Vegas Strip above was such that, as I entered the Venetian on the last day, all I could think of was the promise that, before the night was over, I would be back amongst the trees, silence, and rejuvenating peace of our home in Port Townsend, WA.

But on a deeper level, the "high-performance" audio displays in and around CES 2015 signaled anything but business as usual. Take a look at the pages upon pages of blogs that follow, and you will see a gratifyingly large number of new music servers, network players, headphone and computer audio-based cables, portable playback devices, and fine-sounding lower-priced products. Herb Reichert, who covered relatively affordable products in all categories, was so enthused by what he encountered and heard that he wrote, even before his blogs were complete, "I saw so many smart happy people, young and old, showcasing well-considered innovative products that I think we might just be heading towards a new golden age of audio . . . maybe."

One thing is certain. The High End is not standing still, as might a stunned islander, watching in despair as the effects of global warming submerge his home. From a host of innovative products to three days of hi-res audio presentations, the industry is finding ways to embrace both new technologies and the younger generation that has adopted them.

Yes, vinyl has made a strong comeback. As Michael Fremer reports at AnalogPlanet, there were many new analog products in all price ranges at CES 2015. But for young people, and those encountering vinyl for the first time, it is far more than a retro product; it is, first and foremost, a tangible, collectible medium that, like high-resolution music files, can facilitate a deeper connection to music and its creators' intentions than any MP3 download possibly can.

It's an exciting time for the high-end. Even as designers and engineers redefine the limits of what was thought possible just a decade ago, more and more manufacturers are also thinking in terms of gateway products. Marijuana may not be a gateway drug that inevitably leads to cocaine and heroin, but Pono and other hi-res portable music players, great sounding headphones, music-enhancing headphone cables, and bargain-priced products may in fact serve as the entryway to a whole new generation of committed music and equipment enthusiasts.

The Age of the Audiophile is far from over. As CES 2015 has made abundantly clear, the show may be over, but the fun has just begun.