Daily Coverage -
September 5th
Audio Research's new 150.2 stereo amplifier ($2995) replaces the
company's 100.2 amplifier but uses the same Tripath digital-amplification module as the
150M modular amplifier.
The Audio Research MP1 preamplifier was shown and played at CES in an
earlier form. Here it is one month away from shipping. The MP1 offers impressive
flexibility with its three sets of multichannel and four sets of stereo inputs. With it
you can also toggle from stereo to multichannel playback -- great for convincing
multichannel skeptics.
Analysis Plus's first TosLink cable, aptly named the TosLink Optical
cable, seemed very well made but cost a mere $26 per one-meter length.
Dynaudio's newest speaker is the Audience 52SE
($1400 per pair), which mates the woofer used in the Contour 1.3 Mk II with a new tweeter.
Custom WBT binding posts are also used.
Dynaudio's speaker lines are distinct, having
names like Audience, Contour, and Confidence. These new subwoofers won't be part of any
one line; instead they will be for use with all Dynaudio speakers once they are available
later this year. Pricing is not yet set.
 
New from MartinLogan are the Mosaic
floorstanding dipole speaker ($1995 per pair)...
...and Fresco center-channel speaker (below
monitor, $995 each). Industrial design for both models is impressive.
Simaudio's Moon LF-S (right, $649) and LF-A ($599) power-line filters
are for source components or preamps and amplifiers respectively. Both protect against
power surges and spikes and are said to lower the noise floor "by as much as
42dB."
The image of the new Sony Wega KLV-26HG2
flat-screen TV ($3300) looked terrific in person and displayed the vibrant colors and
definition shown in the photograph above.
TEAC continues to impress with products that
just seem more feature laden and intelligently designed than those that compete with them.
Here is the SR-L50 table radio ($249) with downward-firing subwoofer and
"hidden" bass control (it's the top portion of the right-hand silver post).
TEAC also showed two new AM/FM CD/LP players,
the SL-A100 (left, $199) with its three-speed turntable and GE-188 ($199) with its LP
changer.
The newest speaker from Triad is the Silver
LCR ($750 each), which is available in "unlimited" veneer/paint options.
 
Another sighting of the Wilson Audio Alexandria
X-2 ($125,000 per pair) occurred at CEDIA, this time in Ferrari yellow finish that
could only turn heads.
Passive preamps are usually
niche-within-a-niche products made by smaller high-end companies, but Yamaha's jewel-like
YPC-1 ($1499) breaks this mold. |
