The very elegant Verity Audio Amadis features a 9.5" doped-polypropylene rear-mounted woofer, a 6" doped-polypropylene midrange, and a 1" double-ring-radiator tweeter. The two-piece Amadis retails for $30,000 per pair in standard high-gloss black finish. [www.verityaudio.com]
For the committed analog guys (and gals), leave it to DH Labs to create some new, well-designed, solidly built, and extremely affordable headshell leads ($60 for the set). Made of HC Alloy plugs and Litz silver wire, these little cables might be just what's needed for that cost-effective analog setup. [www.silversonic.com]
Zandèn Audio Systems, best known for their extremely well-regarded digital designs, has now further expanded their analog line with their new Zandèn 1200 MKIII phono stage, priced at a robust $25,000. [www.zandenaudio.com]
Zandèn Audio Systems' unique and elegant product designs come from the mind of Mr. Kazutoshi Yamada, who is shown here pointing to the 1200 MKIII phono stage's outboard power supply. [www.zandenaudio.com]
A joint effort by Redpoint and Critical Mass, the new Solo Voce turntable and Black Diamond PXK stand combination weighs in at an astounding 660 pounds. And its price will have you looking twice, too -- $96,000 for the pair, and that’s not including arm or cartridge. But one look at the size, shape, and design and you’ll know you’re getting a pretty impressive hunk of turntable. One neat aspect: instead of a round or flat rubber belt, the Redpoint uses a flat piece of film for its belt drive.
The Solo Voce sure looks right at home ...
... on the Black Diamond PXK stand, priced at $5400 if bought separately.
British electronics manufacturer Musical Fidelity introduced a host of new products at CES 2010, including the three that you see here: from left to right are the AMS CD player ($9000), the AMS 50 stereo power amplifier ($14,000), and the Primo preamplifier ($12,000).
The massive AMS 50 stereo power amplifier is said to produce 50W in class A and be capable of 100A of peak-to-peak current capability. In addition to the excellent specs, we were also impressed by what seemed to be very good build quality.
Audioengine may be best known for their budget-priced, active loudspeakers, but they displayed their N22 integrated amplifier, which is well suited to drive their P4 passive speakers. It's rated at 22Wpc, and unlike many small amplifiers that are switching designs, the N22 is a traditional class-AB unit. It's expected to ship in March at a price of $199.
The Audioengine N22 features RCA and 1/8" mini-jack inputs and a USB port for charging. It also has binding posts for speaker connections. No spring clips!
Audio-Technica has brought their QuietPoint active noise-cancellation technology to headphones at an even lower price point than previously available. The ATH-ANC27 will sell for $119.95, while the ...
... Audio-Technica ATH-ANC25 will be $99.95. Both models will be available in March.
B&W has updated its 800 Diamond-series loudspeakers. Pictured from left to right are the 800 Diamond ($24,000 per pair), 803 Diamond ($10,000 per pair), 803 Diamond ($10,000 per pair), 804 Diamond ($7500 per pair) and the 805 Diamond ($5000 per pair). The 802 Diamond ($15,000 per pair) is not pictured. They feature all new crossovers, a new magnet for the tweeter and a new motor system on the bass drivers compared to the previous 800 series.
These new speakers are available in gloss black, rosenut and cherry finishes and will be shipping in February.
The B&W P5 headphones are supposed to offer not only the high quality of sound that B&W is known for but also extreme comfort. For instance, the headband and ear pads are covered in natural organic sheepskin from New Zealand. The ear pads are also removable and held in place by magnets. The transducers themselves feature ultra-linear neodymium magnets and highly optimized mylar diaphragms. They will sell for $299 when they become available in late February at the Apple Store and March everywhere else.
Roger Kanno listens to the $1295 Tesla T1 flagship headphones, designed and manufactured in Germany by Beyerdynamic and expected to be available next month. It's a semi-open-back design with an angled driver that's directed to fire back into the ear canal. Not shown is the $749 A1 headphone amplifier driving the Tesla T1 that is available now.
LG was displaying prototype "Premium Speakers" in a 5.1-channel system. The drivers consisted of a 1" Peerless tweeter, 5.25" Scan-Speak midrange and 7.5" Usher woofer. The center-channel speaker and surround speaker (not shown) use a 4" Scan-Speak midrange. The subwoofer is a passive design with a 12" driver. The cabinets are made of real hardwood, and the front baffles of the speakers are 3cm thick. The speakers were being driven by an LG Blu-ray home-theater-in-a-box receiver.
Also shown in prototype form was an LG subwoofer, said to match the Premium Speaker line described previously.
Sherwood's RD-7405HDR surround-sound receiver features 7 x 70W and is their first receiver with HD Radio capability. It also features three HDMI inputs and Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II processing at a price of only $249. The RD-7405 (not pictured) is rated at 5 x 70W with two HDMI inputs and Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II processing.
The prototype SE425 and SE535 sound-isolating headphones were on display at the Shure booth. Both are built off the existing SE530’s design, but with all new sonics and ergonomics. The cables are detachable, and custom-fitted ear pieces are an option. The SE425 will sell for $350 and the SE535 will sell for $550 when they become available in mid 2010.
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