CES 2009

Sort By: Post Date Title Publish Date

CES 2009

Boulder 1021 Disc Player

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jul 13, 2009 0 comments

I'm still amazed at the sheer number of new high-end CD players announced at this show. Either someone didn't get the memo about the disc format's impending demise, or else we've entered that phase, as with turntables, that playback advances will continue to win new customers with big collections.

CES 2009

Aerial Antics

John Atkinson Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

One of the most impressive speakers I have auditioned in the past few years was the three-way Aerial 20T, which was reviewed">http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/404aerial/">reviewed by Michael Fremer in April 2004. I spoke to Aerial's Michael Kelly a while back about getting a pair for a Follow-Up review, but he declined, saying that he was working on an improved version.

CES 2009

Rappin' Up in a Down Year

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

At the end of every CES, we struggle to find the underlying themes that bind the show to the industry and the world at large. The overwhelming theme this year was the economy. Attendance was downthe official estimate was 10% off of last year's, but everyone I spoke with snorted in derision at that figure.

CES 2009

Magic From Magico

John Atkinson Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

Magico had two rooms at the Venetian, the first of which featured the Californian company's new 4-way M5 ($89.000/pair). Weighing in at 360 lbs, the M5 features a ring-radiator tweeter built into the baffle, two 6" Nano-Tec-coned midrange units, and two 9" Nano-Tec woofers, these featuring 5" voice-coils. The sealed enclosure—no ports in Alon Wolf's designs—is constructed, like other Magico speakers, from multiple layers of Baltic Birch plywood. The convex front baffle is machined from a 200lb slab of aircraft-grade aluminum.

CES 2009

Cosmic Clarity

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

Ron Sutherland had a new battery powered phono section, the Hubble ($3800). The batteries come in a special battery compartment, so that there is only a single point of contact at each pole. He reckons the batteries are good for 800 hours of use and he has incorporated at clock in the unit so you can keep track. Each time you fire it up, program in you anticipated listening session and it will count it down and turn off the power at the assigned time—the same LEDs that serve as the timer also indicate battery strength as well.

CES 2009

This Atlas Didn't Shrug

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

While I was basking in the sound of Richard Vandersteen's stunning new Model 7s ($45,000/pair), I asked about the tube amps he was using. "Those are Jim White's Atlases—and I think they're damn good." Richard never minces words, so a "damn good" from him is almost as high praise as a "doesn't suck too bad" from JA.

CES 2009

Timelord

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

Sutherland also had a nifty little record weight/strobe timer, the $900 Timeline. Yikes!

CES 2009

Shiny

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

I was not previously aware of Vexo, a Milan-based manufacturer of tube amps, but I was very impressed by the 15Wpc VXSE-KT88/C ($3900). I asked Koetsu USA's Hiram Toro if that price meant the amps were designed in Milan but built in Asia. "Oh no," he said. "Vexo is designed and built in Italy and it is stuffed with European components.

CES 2009

On Stage

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

Scaena is a modular speaker design that combines multiple small midrange drivers, each mounted in a pod affixed to a rigid stand, with subwoofers placed elsewhere.The speakers come with digital crossover and high-current amplification for the subs. The speakers come as 24, 30, or 36 pod units and you can add as many subs as you require.

CES 2009

Navison Knock Out

Wes Phillips Jan 14, 2009 First Published: Jan 14, 2009 0 comments

Rives Audio's Richard Bird introduced me to Navison, a brand I was aware of but not familiar with. Navison products are aesthetic knock outsgorgeous wood (or black lacquer), etched gold faceplates (or chrome), and deep black transformer pots. They are audio confections.