CES - Hits and Miss - Edp - General Asylum

General Asylum

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

CES - Hits and Miss

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Hit and Miss
Hit -Gilmore Audio - Altma Sphere room with Ray Karlston at volume helm. Letting the
big speakers present the big sound with ease by NOT trying to crank it. Shows his savvy
and experience. They speakers were okay, and I have attended home constructor
gatherings 6 years ago that had full length dipole ribbons in Coran and line dipole
woofers, so this was hardly breakthrough or amazing. Nice sound, outdone by many
others, but well presented.
Miss - Gilmore Audio - The DEBUT room. Demos run by Rookies. "Let me now play
a 16 hz signal" Pop Pop Pop POP! (um guy you got a driver that has given up ghost and
is broken) "Isn't that amazing the accuracy of the reproduction" (but didn't you notice that
is NOT how it is supposed to sound?). "Now lets show you that it doesn't hit
compression until 120 db" (um the ribbon is going totally non-linear at the low frequency
signal and that raspiness to the voice is the hint) "Now lets really turn it up" (that's what
we call harsh and compressed loud).
"Any questions?" (um when is Ralph coming down here to run the program)
Two hours later the room was closed as they changed out some drivers.
Hit - Convention Hall before opening - Wanted to check out a few statics and things in
Convention Hall, idea was in, two hours max, get the heck outta there. Got to place by
bus 45 minutes before opening, but got off at exact opposite side that I needed to be in.
Probably a half mile difference. Just bucked up and headed off through the convention,
there was a passage that their checking badges, wonder what that was about, hmmm they
ain't any body in here, OH I guess its only open for floor reps/exhibitors (done enough
CAE shows to beentheredonethat). Any rate for seeing statics, only way to go. Strolled
by 30 or so booths that I wouldn't gone over for, but since there here (krell, sonus,
JMLab etc). 40 minutes and I'm done.
Miss - Usher Audio - Unfazed of cloning Scan Speak designs and market, set sights on
JBL professional. Clone of the older JBL K2 series. They do a fine job of direct
radiators, but got a good ways to go to do the horn thing down
Hit - Casinos not dropping tokens in one arm bandit bins. The incessant din clink clink
clank clank of "winnings" hitting the slots tray is a thing mostly of the past. I'm certain not
because of anything other than it is a cost saving efficiency thing, but it sure makes
walking through a much more pleasant experience.
Miss - Omega Speakers/Eastern Electric/Two Bald Guys - They of course actually have
a nice winner here in fine performance for low cost. BUT they just got to stop trying to
show what these units CAN'T do. The usual, "let me show you how much you can get
from this little tiny speaker" "be amazed that the amount of almost dynamics you can
get". Turn the knob up, little 3, 4 and 5 inch drivers crying uncle trying to reproduce a full
orchestra at dynamic output or even some Techno. Guys, guys, just work with the meat
pitches, agree that the large scale dynamic stuff just ain't the offerings cup of tea and sell
to that market. High distortion demos of bassless and treblelite speakers/amps are only
going to reinforce the common wisdom that it can only sound great if you spend ALOT.
Hit -Art Audio - lots of rooms using, each room was well above the performance norm.
Either selected well or over performing. Suspect a good portion of each.
Miss - Vac makes Marantz Model 8 - Not really a miss due to fact they didn't go hog
wild on price ($2000), but layout is a Model 8 (except driver tubes). Bias dial, bias
knob, lettering, layout, everything. Model 8. No idea how it sounds and not a big miss,
just seems to either pay homage by stating it or just leave it alone.
Hit - Rio Rooftop Vista - As always the prime spot for nighttime view of the Town.
Its the Voodoo lounge on 51 floor, outside giant deck. Unobstructed view of entire
valley and the strip laid out in front. Only view that exceeds it is the Fuji Blimp.
7th trip and never a miss.

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Topic - CES - Hits and Miss - Edp 12:50:28 01/14/04 (0)

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