Series 1
Thiel brought its brand-new CS2.4 ($3900/pair)
to CES, which the company expects to be shipping by the end of the month. [www.thielaudio.com]
Audio Research showed their Model MP1
multichannel preamplifier in prototype form. The MP1's retail price is yet to be
determined. [www.audioresearch.com]
Talon Audio's angular Firebird ($25,000/pair)
uses a ceramic tweeter and midrange and looked formidable. According to Jason Thorpe, the
Firebird sounded "pretty darned good." [www.talonaudio.com]
The newest amp from Japan's Zanden Audio is
the mirror-finished Model 9500 ($30,000/pair), which uses 845 output tubes in a push-pull,
battery-biased circuit. We liked the round window in the front -- a new way to view tubes.
[www.zandenaudio.com]
Tenor Audio introduced the 300 Hp hybrid
monoblocks ($29900/pair), which are rated at 300 watts each. The 300 Hps is a 150Wpc
stereo version of the amp and costs $17,900.
Orpheus Labs' sleek Zero CD transport ($8000)
is available with or without an optional DAC module and has one of the coolest disc clamps
we've seen. [www.globeaudiomkt.com]
