These days, consumers are very careful about how they spend their money. I suspect that they’re also looking for good advice from the audio press. So when I arrived at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I decided that I would focus my daily write-ups on products I see here that I would consider buying. I'm calling it "Stuff I'd Buy." This first group comes from TEAC of Japan, a company that also owns Esoteric, a brand consisting mostly of upscale, cost-no-object audio components.
The TEAC Reference Series electronics comprise two CD receivers (CR-H500NT and CR-H238i), a CD player (PD-H600), a 2.1-channel AM/FM receiver with phono input (AG-H380), a two-channel receiver equipped with Internet Radio (AG-H600), a DVD receiver (DR-H338i), and even a complete micro system that comes with bookshelf loudspeakers (MC-DV600). At a show like this one where offbeat products from boutique-type companies can rule the day, these TEAC models leave the impression of great simplicity, good ergonomics, solid construction, and good value -- they’re all priced under $1500 each.
With engineering input from the company's upscale Esoteric division, these TEAC components possess some surprising technology and a high level of build quality. In the photo above, GoodSound! editor Colin Smith can be seen conversing with TEAC/Esoteric's National Service Manager, Tim Crable. Tim is explaining how the large toroidal transformer in the AG-H600 ($1499) can provide plenty of power (75Wpc into 8 ohms, 90Wpc into 4 ohms) for most real-world loudspeakers, and how the Internet Radio feature allows the user access to more new music from around the world than he or she could hear in a lifetime. These products are great for the average consumer, in more ways than one. They are cost effective, practical, yet feature-rich.
Although the Reference Series from TEAC is not brand new to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, it does set a great benchmark for value that other companies showing products here will have to match -- I’ve only started walking the show, but these components have established a baseline for me. I have a feeling I’ll see plenty more. So far I've seen only a few products selling for outrageous prices -- a departure from some previous years where the average product price seemed to hover in the tens of thousands of dollars, far more than most consumers would consider reasonable -- and I’m seeing more and more components at what normal consumers would consider reasonable and attainable. By the way, look for a review of the $799 CR-H500NT on GoodSound! soon.
. . . Jeff Fritz
jeff@soundstagenetwork.com