ShowStoppers -
Series 3
All prices are quoted in euros unless
otherwise noted.
1 € is approximately 1.18 US dollars at time of report.
 
Last year we named Black Forest Audio's Golden
Wings loudspeaker-based system a Standout
Room, and we were impressed to find this year's version, dubbed Helix to Heaven, a
further improvement. This 9500 €-per-pair single-driver/crossoverless speaker
has astonishing transparency, immediacy, and detail, impressing many listeners at the
show. The company now also has a subwoofer called the Mammut, which features an 18"
bass driver and retails for 5000 € each. The speaker and sub shown are both
finished in birch.
Although their appearance sort of reminded us
of the creature from the movie Alien, we also found the Italian-made ARS Aures
Audio Sensorial loudspeakers to be exceedingly well finished (the side panels are beech)
and attractive. The speaker is ported from the bottom, making the matching stands
mandatory. Right now the Sensorial is a prototype, but the company estimates the retail
price on the stands and speakers to be 15,000 € per pair.
Sony debuted the super-huge
TA-DA9000ES/G 7.1-channel surround-sound receiver, which has seemingly every bell and
whistle you could want. It's a powerhouse as well -- the company claims 7 x 200W (into 8
ohms). The retail price is 4000 €. Sony used this receiver to demonstrate their
latest advancements in multichannel SACD playback.
Battery-powered electronics were quite the
rage years ago, but we haven't seen all that many since. Tucked behind 5000 €
Rock Solid power amplifier in the wooden case is its battery power source (all the other
products in the Audio Consulting room were battery-powered, too). The Rock Solid outputs
30Wpc and features a silver-wired input transformer, a wooden chassis, and point-to-point
silver wiring throughout.
A 199 € AM/FM radio/CD player a
ShowStopper!? Believe us when we tell you that this impressively styled, bright-red TEAC
radio gathers lots of attention, even when placed beside the company's far more expensive
products. It includes a remote control and built-in subwoofer -- what more can
you ask for? |
