CES 2016

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CES 2016

REL Acoustics' S/5 SHO Subwoofer uses Super High Output Driver

Larry Greenhill Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

REL Acoustics was displaying their new S/5 SHO 12" subwoofer at CES. Like other S-Series subwoofers that came before, the S/5 has a forward-facing, 12" active driver and a 12" passive downward-firing passive driver. The S/5 can be driven wirelessly, and employs the 3-stage, low-noise "limitless" electronics for a wide-dynamic range and increased power output.

CES 2016

REL Acoustics’ 212SE Subwoofer

Larry Greenhill Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

Because the total 6-pack sets one back $24,000, I asked REL Acoustics' David Schultz if there might be a "Six-Pack light" version. Yes, he replied, we have the "poor man's six-pack," the REL Acoustics 212SE. Wireless-capable, the almost-70 lb, 212-SE sealed-cabinet enclosure stands 20" tall and uses two active 12" and two passive 12" drivers, all powered by the 1000W RMS class-D internal amplifier with a new low-noise 3-stage input circuit.

CES 2016

Is REL's "Six-Pack" Subwoofer Line Array Just What We Need?

Larry Greenhill Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

I ran into REL Acoustics' highly eloquent John Hunter on the way to the Venetian Towers, and he suggested I come by to hear the REL Acoustics "Six Pack." As it turned out, this was not a San Francisco microbrew special, or well-developed abdominal musculature, but twin towers of 3 stacked, (84 lb each) REL Gibraltar-2 subwoofers ($4000 each) set between two full-range Rockport Avior loudspeakers.

CES 2016

Thiel's New Intellisub

Larry Greenhill Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

Thiel's new Intellisub was the highest-tech new subwoofer I encountered at CES 2016. It uses wireless control with convenient SmartSub app, which allows the user to control its digitally-processed, Auto-Room correction software. Rory Buszka, Thiel's engineer, explained that the built-in SmartSubXT system automatically adjusts its output based on measurements from 140 locations in the room.

CES 2016

JBL's Eye Candy: the Everest Horn-Loaded Speaker

Larry Greenhill Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

I made my way from the main 2016 High-End audio exhibits at the Venetian Hotel over to the Harman exhibit at the Hard Rock Café. I was immediately captivated by a JBL Everest horn-loaded floorstanding speaker, its enclosure finished in an almost neon lipstick red, and its front baffle in brilliant silver.

CES 2016

Bang & Olufsen's 18-driver Beolab 90

Larry Greenhill, Robert Deutsch Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

Bang & Olufsen celebrated its 90 years of existence by releasing a $75,000/pair loudspeaker that had been 12 years in design. Geoff Martin, Bang and Olufsen's Tonmeister and Technology Specialist in Sound Design, played an instrumental role in bringing the Beolab 90 from its origin as a blue-sky project...

CES 2016 Graham Nash CES 2016

Graham Nash Visits the YG Acoustics and Constellation Suites in the Venetian

Jon Iverson Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

I'm grouping these two rooms together since we didn't listen to Graham Nash's album in either one, but rather had each host pick something out. We were getting behind schedule, so the idea was to expose Nash to some completely different speaker technologies back to back and see what he thought.

CES 2016 Graham Nash CES 2016

Graham Nash Visits Ayre Acoustics in the Venetian

Jon Iverson Jan 13, 2016 First Published: Jan 13, 2016 0 comments

Graham Nash seemed to know right away that these were the guys that provided the guts for his buddy Neil Young's Pono player and wanted to know all about it. After all, there is a version with Nash's signature on it.

CES 2016

Magicos Make Music

Jason Victor Serinus Jan 12, 2016 First Published: Jan 12, 2016 0 comments

Even though Robert Deutsch has blogged about Magico's new S1, Alon Wolf (right) prevailed upon me to take a (brief) listen. Paired with Convergent Audio Technology (CAT) monoblock amplifiers, the sound was lovely and warm. I did catch a bit of distortion on the right channel at one point, cause unknown, but Joni Mitchell's aging, low voice was maximally evocative, with an extra kiss of tube warmth.

CES 2016

Magico's Latest S Loudspeaker

Jason Victor Serinus Jan 12, 2016 First Published: Jan 12, 2016 0 comments

As with Wilson Audio, Magico presented its latest S5 Mk.II loudspeaker ($38,000/pair in M-Cast finish, $42,750/pair in M-Coat finish) in static display. The only element of the original S5 design retained in the Mk.II is the identical extruded aluminum cabinet. All drivers, distilled from the research that culminated in the S7 loudspeaker, are new. The tweeter is a 1" MB7 beryllium dome, and the midrange unit a 6" Graphene NanoTec carbon. This midrange is claimed to have a stronger molecular structure than standard carbon, but is 20% lighter and 30% stiffer than its predecessor.