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The Best Show Reporting
Coverage of CES 2000 from Las Vegas, NV --
Jan. 6-9, 2000
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| SoundStage!
LIVE Product Coverage - January 11 |
Horst G. Paul of Germany's HGP Loudspeakers stands proudly beside his Ronda ($8000 per
pair), a complete speaker system that includes a separate monitor and subwoofer that fit
precisely into a well-designed stand. HGP speakers are now imported into the US by
Discovery Cable.
The Huff System 3 sells for $18,000 to $20,000 per pair depending on finish. The satellite
employs an omnidirectional radiator that operates down to about 140Hz. The subwoofers are
currently not powered, but there will be a powered option in the future. These omnis had
much less ringing than what has been heard from some other omni drivers using metal
radiating surfaces.
The J.C. Verdier La Platine ($7,900, turntable and motor only) features a magnetic
suspension for the platter and an air-suspension isolation base built in.
Three visions of Utopia. From left to right, JMlab's In-Wall Utopia (price per pair to be
announced) Center Utopia ($5950 each) and Micro Utopia ($5000 per pair). Not shown but
also new is the Sub Utopia PP ($7000 each).
Jolida's newest CD player, the JD603 ($550), has a two-12AX7 tubed output stage.
SoundStage!'s Jon Gale (left) and JPS Labs' Joe Skubinski are connected by
opposite ends of JPS Labs' recently introduced GPA power cord ($149 for two meters). In
its brief history, the GPA power cord has already received an award for "best power
cord" in Japan.
The Köchel K200 is 95dB sensitive and has an 8-ohm impedance. In standard finishes (black
ash, sapelle, light cherry) it sells for $4995 per pair, while piano black and rosewood
add $1000 to the price.
Manger showed two loudspeaker models that employ the unique Manger compression driver that
supplies audio frequencies from 140Hz to over 20,000Hz. The bookshelf size Zerobox 109
(left, on top) sells for $3250 per pair direct from Manger. The prototype subwoofer under
the Zerobox is not being produced for sale at this time. The floorstanding Cavendish Elite
employs three Manger drivers operating omnidirectionally. It is sold through Manger
dealers for $13,500. All of the drivers in the Cavendish Elite are powered. The Manger
drivers operate on a 150-watt amplifier, and the woofer is powered by a 250-watt
amplifier.
Julian Margules kneels next to his new Magenta HCRH-1 integrated amp ($1295), which offers
solid-state power output, 75Wpc, and a tube preamp section.
McCormack Audio’s new RLD-1 preamplifier is an update to the company’s previous
ALD-1. The unit shown here includes the optional phono-stage card and retails for $1695.
Monolithic Sound and Channel Islands displayed their complete system of smallish, but not
tiny, components. On the top shelf is the HC-2 high-current digital/analog power supply
($259), which is powering an MSB Link DAC with Channel Island mods installed ($600 retail
for DAC and mods). The small silver box is a Perpetual Technologies PA-1 loudspeaker
correction box (discussed elsewhere in the show coverage, $950). On the next shelf and on
the left are a pair of HC-1 power supplies ($239 each), which are driving the PA-1 line
stage ($499) and the PS-1 phono stage ($399). The bottom shelf has a pair of M50A
amplifiers, 50-watt class-A monoblocks ($649 each). Each component comes with a standard
power supply at no additional cost. Monolithic offers the high-current power supplies
pictured here as upgrades at additional cost.
Top to bottom, Nakamichi's SoundSpace5 system ($800) hangs on the wall, while the
SoundSpace3 ($500) is actually a sophisticated two-user stereo clock radio with
subwoofer (the box in the middle).
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