Esoteric's new P-03/D-03 transport/DAC combo
($25,000) may be the company's most impressive CD/SACD playback gear to date. The P-03
uses a brand-new VRDS mechanism; the D-03 uses new Analog Devices DACs and does not
convert DSD to PCM. Marc Mickelson called dibs on the first review samples.
Also new from Esoteric is the X-01 Limited
CD/SACD player ($13,500), an upgraded version of the well-known X-01. The cost of upgrade
for X-01 owners has not yet been announced.
The Polk Audio I-Sonic is termed by the
company as "The Complete Digital Entertainment System." In case it isn't evident
from the photo, the I-Sonic is a DVD/CD player, an XM Satellite Radio, and a full-function
alarm clock. It also features HD Radio technology. It has four active drivers and is
equipped with the Polk PowerPort bass system. The price for all this functionality is a
respectable $599.
Jeff Fritz poses next to Samsung's new
82" picture-window-sized LCD monitor. It features 5000:1 contrast ratio, two HDMI
inputs, and 1920 x 1080p resolution. This was the biggest TV we saw at the show. The price
has not yet been finalized.
In the development of its new TP-6.5 Reference
phono stage ($5000-$6000), VTL discovered some circuit innovations that will find their
way into other VTL products.
