Yet more from CES

Posted by Rod M (W) on January 15, 2002 at 09:07:51

Audio Aero from France was showing the Capitole Power Amp (center), a 50W KT88 amp and the Prestige Monoblocks, 40W Single ended using 6SNT, VT4C and 813 tubes. I believe these were in the Carfrae room and both looked and sounded quite nice.

Glass Audio had their PL509SE 1 ($2,800), a SE Triode stereo amp with 18 wpc driving AvantGarde Unos at THE EXPO.

AvantGarde Unos in the Glass Audio Room. Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend much time here because Stephen was hungry. My first impression was a quite inviting sound.

Going topless is the Hovland HP-100. The build quality and appearance of the preamp is simply first class. Knobs are large, beautiful and silky smooth. The volume control is a hand soldered stepped attenuator with switched resistors in 2db increments. An MM or MC phono stage is optional.

Mated with Audio Physics speakers and the Hovland Sapphire monoblocks (40 wpc, EL34), Hovland sounded as good as they looked.

And another for Mikey.....

The Vyger Signature turntable found in the CAT room, simply stunning, who cares what it sounds like!

Also found in the Convergent Audio Technology room was my pick for the most outrageously expensive, stinker of the show, the Wilson Audio X-1 Grand SLAMM. I'm sorry, but this system was all slam and no finesse. The soundstage was flat and lacking in depth and completely uninvolving. Perhaps the speakers weren't broken in, perhaps the setup was wrong, perhaps I expect too much and perhaps, the speakers suck.

Back to good sound, the Vaic room was a treat. This little system with a $250 CDP, was excellent. You've got the Vaic Monitor Loudspeaker, 91db, 40Hz-35kHz, $2,125 and the Vaic 300B Stereo amp ($3,400). Here's a system for under $6K that was extremely musical.

A close up of the Vaic 300B with potentiometer volume control. Stunning looks, great sound.

Classic Audio Reproductions T-1 Project ($23,500) brings the vintage JBL sound forward with contemporary designs and the finest drivers available today. Anyone looking for a high efficency, full range speaker should consider these products, excellent sound, easy to drive and weighing in a 300 pounds each, a dollar per pound value.

At $4,000, the Heil makes a come back as the Kithara from Oskar featuring the AVT (Air Velocity Transformer) from Switzerland. It was a static display so we didn't hear them. Specs are 4 ohm minimum, 94db and 28-23kHz response.

And finally, the Eggleston Works Andra II driven by huge Pass X600 amps. The sound was nice, but I wasn't overwhelmed. Perhaps by this time in the show I had gotten jaded.

Anyone up for more turntables.....Mikey?

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - Yet more from CES - Rod M 09:07:51 01/15/02 (20)

Best pics yet from the show! Congratulations!!! Obviously shot by an Audiophile. nt - theob 18:08:36 01/15/02 (0)

Hey Rod, are you paging me?? (nt) - Mikey 16:22:59 01/15/02 (1)

Naw, the other Mikey, Mike K aka Vinyl Lover(nt) - Rod M 17:31:11 01/15/02 (0)

Audio Aero in the Merlin/Joule Room? - jmimac351 14:57:07 01/15/02 (3)

The Merlin/Joule rack... - Rod M 18:07:00 01/15/02 (1)

Re: The Merlin/Joule rack... - Rich Brkich 12:13:47 01/16/02 (0)

Yep! We had a brand new Capitole 24/192 for use in the room. (NT) - Rich Brkich 17:56:51 01/15/02 (0)

Avantguarde and Glass Audio - Edp 14:26:02 01/15/02 (2)

Re: Avantgarde and Glass Amplifier Company - Michael Maduras 09:40:08 01/20/02 (0)

Nigel - Edp 06:58:54 01/16/02 (0)

Audio Aero- Once Audio Sculpture/Audio Matiere? - Todd Krieger 13:36:39 01/15/02 (0)

Glass Audio - Kal Rubinson 13:13:30 01/15/02 (2)

Re: Glass Audio - Michael Maduras 01:29:45 01/21/02 (0)

What's the URL for Glass Audio??- - or is it That The Magazine is Making these Amps!!???- - - john c. 13:12:03 01/16/02 (0)

More turntables? Yes please! - fred g 12:23:27 01/15/02 (0)

The Kithara from Oskar - Jerry O 11:49:19 01/15/02 (0)

Thank *YOU* Rod... - s.hum 11:41:06 01/15/02 (0)

I liked the sub $6 K system ............ - Cut-Throat 09:50:21 01/15/02 (0)

Thanks, I didn't make it this year so keep 'em coming!<nt> - jmimac351 09:27:19 01/15/02 (0)

Very nice, thank you Rod. - John PA 09:20:27 01/15/02 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.