New from Ayre Acoustics are the P-5x phono
stage (left, $2350) and DX-7 DVD player ($4950). Ayre's D-1x DVD player was named Home Theater & Sound's product of the year.
Audio Research's newest high-power mono tube
amp is the VM220 ($9990 per pair), a 200-watt design that we thought looked especially
lovely and sounded great driving Vandersteen 5A and Quatro
speakers. [www.audioresearch.com]
New from Nordost are the Silver Screen video
cables...,
...shown here in RGB configuration ($599 per
meter set). Composite, S-VHS, and component versions are also available. [www.nordost.com]
The Revolver name has resurfaced, this time on
a line of speakers. From left to right are the R-33 ($995 per pair), R-45 ($1595 per
pair), and RW-45 (same as R-45, but with real-wood veneer, $1995 per pair). On top is the
R-25 center-channel speaker ($695 each).
Nordost used the bottom-ported Eben X-3
speaker ($15,000) for one of its well-known demos, during which it produced some very
tight, very tuneful bass. The speaker's planar-magnetic tweeter helped its highs sound
extended and refined as well.
