Making its first appearance at CES is the TAD
Model-2 loudspeaker ($40,000/pair estimated price). The three-way design is a simplified
version of the company's Model-1, which is said to be "on hold" due to
cabinet-construction complexity. The new model is said to have even deeper bass than its
more expensive big brother and a less-complex crossover.
Klipsch displayed the 60th Anniversary Edition
of the famed Klipschorn loudspeaker, which sports "many refinements'" in the
crossover and to the drivers. There will be only 400 pairs produced. Above right is the
rear of the cabinet, which inserts into a room's corner and cannot be seen when the
speaker is placed. Retail price is $11,000/pair.
Krell replaced its entire line of amplifiers,
preamplifiers, and surround-sound processors with brand-new models fashioned after the
company's Evolution reference components. Seen above is the retro-styled FBI (Fully
Balanced Integrated), a massive integrated amplifier that is rated to deliver 300Wpc into
8 ohms and 600Wpc into 4 ohms. It features Evolution CAST technology and sells for
$16,500.
The most powerful Krell amplifier in the new
line is the Evo-900, a massive monoblock chassis rated to deliver 900W into 8 ohms and a
staggering 1800W into 4 ohms. The new styling eschews external heatsinks, giving the unit
a clean outer appearance. The price is $40,000/pair.
The newest addition to NAD's Masters Series is
the M5, a fully balanced CD/SACD player "optimized for sound quality." It uses a
Sony transport and DSD chipset along with Burr Brown 1794 DACs. Design features include an
NAD-designed DSD board and the class-A output modules from the Masters Series M3
integrated amp. Expected price is $1799; expected delivery is "about three
months." [www.nadelectronics.com]
