AMR CD-777 Player/Processor
Abbingdon Music Research out of London revealed their new CD-777 at the show with US distributor Darren Censullo from Avatar Acoustics on hand to explain the details.
An Honest Connection
CES presented me with my first opportunity to make the acquaintance of Stephen Hill and Straight Wire. The Florida company has just released a "push prong" re-usable, solderless RCA plug that makes Straight Wire cable termination a snap. Especially appealing to custom installers, the termination actually leads to a higher level of performance by enabling quick silver-plated termination without piercing cable insulation.
AR CD8 Drawer
To access the drive, a drawer on top slides open.
AR CD8 Transport
With the cover and top plate of the CD8 off, the Philips Pro-2 transport mechanism is revealed along with the damping system coupling the laser and spindle with the aluminum I-beam below.
Aspects of Avalon
The speakers from Colorado-based Avalon Acoustics have either featured conventional, rectangular boxes (in the less-expensive NP series, like the Evolution 2.0 I reviewed">http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/708ava/">reviewed last July) or the unique, multifaceted enclosures that I first saw in 1990's Eclipsehttp://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/703/">Eclipse;, which are used in the cost-no-object designs like the Indrahttp://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1008ava/">Indra;.
Audience Ups the Ante
I walked into Audience's room expecting to see the usal assortment of cables, power conditioners, and high-quality parts, but I was confronted with an entire Audience system, from a heavily modded Denon CD player to preamplifier, power amplifiers to loudspeakers!
Audience, Part Deux
The Wavemaster monoblock power amplifiers ($9000–$10,000/pair) can put out 200W into 4 ohms. They employ an Audience discrete-component front end, switching power supply, and come with an Audience Power Chord. They accommodate single-ended and balanced inputs.
Audio Research CD8
Audio Research is showing their new replacement for the CD7, the Reference CD8 CD player shipping now at $9,995. They've taken a Philips Pro-2 transport and attached it with isolation pads to a machined aluminum I-beam which in turn is bolted to a machined aluminum bottom plate.
Ayre's QB-9 USB DAC Revealed
Saturday morning Ayre held a press conference at the top of the Venetian to reveal their latest products, which include a new USB DAC, the QB-9.
Back of the Sooloos Control 20
S/PDIF, Meridian Speakerline, Comm S, 12 volt triggers and assorted connectors on the back of the Control 20.