CES 2016

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CES 2016

Ryan Speakers

Robert Deutsch Jan 08, 2016 First Published: Jan 08, 2016 0 comments

At $15,995/pair, the Tempus III is the top-of-the-line from Ryan Speakers. Their speakers have impressed me before as offering high quality for the price, but perhaps not world-beaters. The Tempus III is different. It uses proprietary drivers, including a new beryllium-dome tweeter, two side-firing woofers, and a midbass that covers the range from 100Hz to 350Hz.

CES 2016

Magico's S1 Mk.II

Robert Deutsch Jan 08, 2016 First Published: Jan 08, 2016 0 comments

Getting near the top of the $4k$18k range, at $16,500/pair is the Magico S1 (Mk.II)which is actually the lowest-priced speaker from Magico. Although it looks similar to the original S1, the Mk II has a newly designed 1" diamond-coated Beryllium diaphragm tweeter and a new 7" mid/bass driver incorporating Magico's Nano-Tec cone material. As was the case for the Mk.I, the enclosure of the Mk.I is formed from a single piece of extruded aluminum, but with a new massive top plate machined to a 3D convex shape, and a thicker base plate.

CES 2016

Dean Hartley of Monitor Audio

Robert Deutsch Jan 08, 2016 First Published: Jan 08, 2016 0 comments

The Monitor Audio Platinum II involves some major improvements in driver technology. Dean Hartley told me that they had moved a good way towards completion of these changes when the original Platinum Series speakers were introduced, but they felt that further improvements were possible, and they wanted to be absolutely sure they got it right, so they played it safe by going with the existing technology.

CES 2016

Monitor Audio's Platinum Series II

Robert Deutsch Jan 08, 2016 First Published: Jan 08, 2016 0 comments

With two years in research and development, Monitor Audio's Platinum Series II involvesaccording to Dean Hartley, Monitor Audio's Technical Director"advances in every area of design: electrical, mechanical, magnetic, acoustic and aesthetic."

CES 2016

MartinLogan's EM-ESL X

Robert Deutsch Jan 08, 2016 First Published: Jan 08, 2016 0 comments

Taking a photo of a single speaker for a show report presents a challenge, especially if the speaker is narrow and tall. In the case of the new MartinLogan EM-ESL X, the flagship of the ElectroMotion series (at $3995/pair, I make it close enough to $4000 be part of my territory), I solved the problem by enlisting the help of the uncommonly photogenic Erin Phillips, Communications Manager for MartinLogan and Paradigm.

CES 2016

Jason Kicks Off His CES Coverage

Jason Victor Serinus Jan 07, 2016 First Published: Jan 07, 2016 0 comments

Which lines took longest to traverse, the one snaking round and round at the CES registration booth in Las Vegas’s Macallan Airport, the ridiculously long one at the lost baggage counter at Southwest Airlines, or those at hotels on the strip that were overwhelmed by late night arrivals? I certainly know which moved faster.

Which leads to this photo. As much as it may look rather placid and fantasy like, it also reveals surprisingly light evening foot traffic in front of the Venetian hotel...

CES 2016

Herb Arrives in Las Vegas

Herb Reichert Jan 07, 2016 First Published: Jan 07, 2016 0 comments

Delta flight 2820: At 497mph the ambient noise in the cabin averaged 94dB and registered 101dB peaks. That is at least 40dB louder than a candlelit night in my listening room. Artur Schnabel brings it up to (at most) 90dB and the loudest I have ever played Led Zep on the Magnepan .7s is 102dB. Now, I can't wait to rinse that crazy engine noise from my ears and hear some clean clear beautifully toned hi-fidelity music at maybe 103dBor more! But these clear-sounding components must be moderately pricedbecause I am a cub reporter and new products that cost less than $5k is the assignment I volunteered for.

CES 2016

Sony Introduces Turntable

Robert Deutsch Jan 07, 2016 First Published: Jan 07, 2016 0 comments

But there is evidence for Sony's commitment to sound quality in their support of Hi-Res audio. Fasulo reported great interest on the part of major record labels in higher quality recording technology, a need that is met by Sony's development of Hi-Res audio.

CES 2016

Sony Progression of Sound

Robert Deutsch Jan 07, 2016 First Published: Jan 07, 2016 0 comments

When the presentation turned to audio, Sony's Michael Fasulo referred to consumers' desire for "an even better listening experience," and that this was illustrated by the progression from LP to compact cassette, and then to CD, and to MP3. I must admit that I was taken aback by this statement. These changes in recorded music media may well represent a search for increased convenience, but few audiophiles would argue that a change from LP to compact cassette or from CD to MP3 represents "even better listening experience."

CES 2016

Sony Kicks Off CES

Robert Deutsch Jan 07, 2016 First Published: Jan 07, 2016 0 comments

The day before the opening of CES is devoted to press conferences, mostly by the big boys: Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, etc. These are generally of little interest to Stereophile readers, so our detailed show coverage doesn't start until the official CES opening.