CES 2010

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CES 2010

Resolution Audio Pont Neuf

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

A clever USB to Ethernet bridge (Pont Neuf—get it?) to allow your computer USB out to serve the Cantata over long cable runs. In striking case to match the Cantata aesthetics and available in February for $400.

CES 2010

Resolution Audio Cantata Music Center

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

Twice this CES, I found rooms that were so striking that I suggested all the Stereophile brothers go take a look/listen. The first one was the Sumiko/Vienna Acoustics suite up on the 34th floor (I still can't get over how great the sound was in that room—you can read Jason's more reserved take on the room herehttp://blog.stereophile.com/ces2010/wien_wien/">here;), and the second, for completely different reasons, was the Resolution Audio room.

CES 2010

HRT Music Streamer II, II+, and Pro

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

I still remember seeing the first two HRT Streamers at CES last year, when Kevin Halverson held them out in his hand, thinking what a great idea to improve the lot of cash-strapped PC Audiophiles. One year and thousands of sales later, version two of the original DACs are out as the $149.95 Music Streamer II and $349.95 Music Streamer II+. Joining them is the Music Streamer Pro at $499.95 which sports balanced +4 voltage outputs and other goodies for the pro-audio set.

CES 2010

Finishing Up With Evolution and darTZeel

Jason Victor Serinus Jan 15, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

As John Atkinson and I entered the room at THE Show in which darTZeel electronics partnered Evolution Acoustics loudspeakers, I was immediately struck by the fullness of the midrange. It was as though the system was opening its heart and welcoming us in. That's how warm and nurturing the sound was.

CES 2010

Peachtree iDecco

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

Peachtree scored a hit last year with their Decco desktop DAC/Amp combo. They've returned with an updated version of the original Decco called the Decco2 which is available now for $799 and sports a 40 watts per channel tube hybrid integrated amp and ESS Sabre DAC.

CES 2010

Electrocompaniet Maestro and Prelude BR-1 Blu-ray Player

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

I was surprised at how ambitious the new Maestro from Electrocompaniet looked on paper: Blu-ray drive, both audio and video streaming, internet radio, FM tuner, options including iPod dock and DAB/HD radio, integrated amplifier delivering 120 Watts into three channels, and optional 75 Watts times two amplifier for surround that can be wirelessly driven using a RF link. All this for between $8,000-10,000 depending on options.

CES 2010

Resolution Audio Cantata Display

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

Close-up of the retro-futuristic display graphics. Yes, they did line up an entire string of alphanumeric LED displays to match the holes carefully machined in the chassis.

CES 2010

Simaudio 750D DAC/CD Transport

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 15, 2010 0 comments

"It's really red" I exclaimed, "bright, give-me-a-speeding-ticket red." Simaudio's Lionel Goodfield and distributor Michael Baskin were both quick to respond with "is there really any other color when it comes to special cars? So it is with special audio components."

CES 2010

Rockport's Alya Speaker

John Atkinson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 14, 2010 0 comments

I have come to expect innovative engineering from Rockport's Andy Payor, and was not disappointed by his new Alya loudspeaker. The two-way Alya costs $29,500/pair and marries Scanspeak's new beryllium-dome tweeter with a custom Audio-Technology woofer with a 6.5" carbon-fiber cone and a 2" voice-coil. The front baffle is aluminum and internal horizontal rods connect it to the rear of the cabinet, holding the HDF enclosure in a rigid grip. A rear port is tuned to a respectable 35Hz.

CES 2010

A Tribute to Jim Thiel

John Atkinson Jan 14, 2010 First Published: Jan 14, 2010 0 comments

The first night of CES saw a memorial reception held in honor of loudspeaker designer Jim Thiel, who passed away last September. A succession of high-end audio's greatest offered thoughts and reflections on a talented, well-respected, and universally liked man whom everyone agreed was taken from us too soon. Shown in my photo is erstwhile Stereophile publisher Larry Archibald, whose comments were deeply felt and moving. I paid my own tribute to Jim in my November 2009 "As We See It" essay, which I reprised in my closing day's speech at THE Show, discussed above by Jason Serinus..