Big Picture Big Sound

High End Highlights

A trip to CES would hardly be complete without checking out the high-end audio displays over at the Alexis Park hotel. There still weren't too many multi-channel, home theater-oriented demos but here are some highlights of what we saw this year.

Thiel had their usual location in a large conference room near the entrance and used their prime real estate to show off their new CS3.7 loudspeaker (pricing TBD, but in the "$8K to $10K range", available in the first half of this year). This is a complete redesign of the popular CS3.6 which has been in the line since 1992.


McIntosh featured their Platinum Premier system, a comprehensive all-McIntosh home theater system that sells for $200,000. Only 8 McIntosh dealers are certified to sell the system in the United States.


If you're interested in enhancing your home theater with motion simulation, then check out Doron Precision Systems. The motion simulator they had on display was self-contained capsule with seating for 6, featuring McIntosh audio. This specific system was put together for the show but would sell for approximately $140,000 at retail. They currently sell primarily into the commercial space (not consumer) but are exploring the consumer market to see if there is an opportunity there. The Doron demo featured the opening battle/chase sequence from Star Wars Episode 3 "Revenge of the Sith." It was exhilarating but perhaps a little nauseating. An interesting novelty, to be sure, but I can't imagine watching an entire film in this kind of device.


Unfortunately, hard times (or at least a momentary setback) seem to have fallen on Innersound, LLC. Their electrostatic speakers have produced some of the best sounds at previous CES and Home Electronics Expo shows, but this year all they had was a letter on a door saying they are taking the company in a new direction, developing a hybrid loudspeaker called the "Windsong" which was not far enough along in development to bring to the show.


Von Schweikert Audio introduced their new VSX-M ($650) on-wall speakers at the show, which make a nice match for flat panel TVs. They were producing some nice sounds with the Eagle DTS "Hell Freezes Over" DVD on for a demo. Full system price for a 5.1 system including Von Schweikert sub was a little under $5,000.


Arcam showed off a few new home theater products, including the DV79 DVD-Audio/Video player ($1799), AVP700 preamp/processor ($2199) with HDMI switching, and the P1000 7-channel amp ($2299), rated at 135 Watts/Channel into seven channels.


Genesis showcased their new G7.1C loudspeakers ($4350 to $4750/pr depending on finish) as well as a limited edition G7.1cSE Arnie Nudell Signature Edition ($6500/pr., including stands). These were included in a 5.5-channel system (one dedicated subwoofer for each channel) with a total system price of around $26,000 for the loudspeakers. Setting up multiple subwoofers in a room can be challenging but they were getting a nice smooth bass response with no boom in this large hotel suite.


Conrad-Johnson introduced a few new products at CES 2006 including the MET150 ($8500), a five-channel enhanced-triode vacuum tube amplifier and an upgraded CD/DVD/DVD-Audio/SACD player from its McCormack subsidiary, the UDP-1 Deluxe "Conrad-Johnson Edition" ($3995). The products were on silent display but sure did look swell.


Always a highlight of the show, Joseph Audio was on-hand doling out m&ms in celebration of their 15th Anniversary. The 15th year in business brings upgrades to the drivers and crossovers of most of the Joseph Audio line including the new RM25XL ($4199-$4399 depending on finish). These were paired up nicely with Manley Labs tubed electronics. The system captured excellent dynamics and soundstage depth. Also, now shipping is an improved version of The Insider in-wall speaker (now $2499) with a new frame.


As we leaked in our CES sneak preview, Kaleidescape has expanded its media server line to include music servers, in addition to their existing movie/video servers. The Kaleidescape Music Player (Pricing: TBD, shipping Q1, 2006) extends Kaleidescape's powerful user interface to music, allowing users to search songs and albums by genre, artist, song title, or browse their collection visually by cover art.


When you rip your music collection to the Kaleidescape server (or pay your dealer to do it), the system accesses an online database, retrieving detailed metadata about each CD (song, artist, genre, etc), plus high-resolution cover artwork. If you select a particular CD while browsing, the system then rearranges the screen to suggest other similar CDs in your collection. Certainly easier than manually flipping through racks and racks of CDs.


One of my votes for "coolest high-end audio product" (literally) has to go to Von Gaylord Audio, whose liquid-cooled tube amp the Uni is now available as the Uni Signature Edition ($59,000/pair) with separate power supplies. The company rep said they sold 8 pairs of the original Uni amplifiers ($48,000/pair) last year, which is really not too shabby for a limited production high-end specialty item such as this.


Driving a pair of their own "The Legend, Mark II" loudspeakers ($3995/pair), the Uni Signature Editions produced a smooth and well, liquid soundstage.


As in the past, record and accessory stores including Music Direct set up shop in the Alexis Park to help satisfy audiophile attendees' fix for ultra-pure recordings on both black and silver discs.

Well, folks, that's a wrap for CES 2006. Tune in next year, same time, same URL for CES 2007.

Just tuning in? Why not start at the beginning of our CES 2006 Home Theater Report.