My Take on CES - macaque - General Asylum

My Take on CES

Posted by macaque (A) on January 20, 2004 at 07:11:12

As an outsider to the audio business (I love my audio but I'm in the digital imaging field professionally, and an electrical engineer with quite a bit of knowledge of digital theory) I must say I was very disappointed by the high end showings at CES. I managed to spend a day walking around Alexis Park with my favourite reference CDs in hand for those who would let me play them, and I'd listen to whatever was playing for those who wouldn't. Kid in candy store.

Very few rooms made me feel like I was listening to music rather than a stereo system. What was worse were people saying doesn't it sound great when it clearly didn't sound good at all. All of the stuff I had never had the chance to listen to before disappointed me greatly. I imagine a hotel room is a difficult place to set up, but my room at home is far from ideal too.

I visited Quad, Vandersteen, Thiel, Gilmore, Bel Canto, dCS, Manley, Red Rose...yadda yadda yadda with huge expectations. None of them impressed me. None of them convinced me I was listening to anything but a stereo. A lot had very detailed sound but generally very analytical sound which kept me from believing I was listening to music. Some were also way to bright which made me feel like my ears were going to pop out of my head. There was lots of great _looking_ components but at the show there was a distinct lack of great _sounding_ ones.

I only went around Alexis Park, and only caught one room in T.H.E. Show. But the worst sounding room I went into was Gilmore at Alexis Park. Maybe I hit it at a bad time but it was really really bad. Someone told me his rooms at T.H.E. Show were much better but alas I didn't get there (other commitments in the digital imaging booth).

The Connoisseur, Von Schweikert, and Aurum rooms were very impressive. Goosebumps impressive. Sounded like music was playing in the rooms and all the equipment was purely on display. Some of the other big names I wanted to listen to like Meridien and Krell only had booths in the convention centre with displays and not listening rooms. Conrad Johnson was in Alexis part but only had stuff on display, nothing hooked up to listen to. Granted, I didn't get to all of the rooms and I'm sure I missed some great stuff so next year I'll try and concentrate on the names I haven't heard before. If my sampling this year is any indication, they were the ones producing great musical systems. I really wanted to go the the Halcro Room at T.H.E. Show (they were using JmLab speakers apparently) so I went Monday morning when CES was done, but T.H.E. Show was still on and their room wasn't open. Anyone have any comments about that setup?

One of the best parts of this excursion was getting lots of great software at cut rate prices from Elusive Disc, Music Direct, Chesky, Classic, etc. Overall, I feel much better about my home system after listening to some of this stuff. After listening to the Chesky Ultimate Demonstration disc ($10 at the show!) last night at home I feel _really_ good about my system.

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Topic - My Take on CES - macaque 07:11:12 01/20/04 (28)

Audio shows are faulty - Corbu 19:29:28 01/20/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - labtec 14:19:38 01/20/04 (0)

For most exhibitors, CES is not about Best Sound... - Jeff Joseph 12:26:24 01/20/04 (7)

Jeff I agree but... - Corbu 19:35:00 01/20/04 (1)

There would have to be some consensus as to - Jeff Joseph 07:04:12 01/21/04 (0)

Trade Show- Then Just Have Static Displays (NT) - lancelot 19:30:46 01/20/04 (1)

Indeed, some do...but we have more fun going active! nt - Jeff Joseph 07:08:42 01/21/04 (0)

um.. Jeff, I liked the set up with your speakers and Joule... - kuma 15:45:23 01/20/04 (2)

Thanks but credit goes to Jud Barber, David Elrod & co... - Jeff Joseph 07:07:25 01/21/04 (1)

Re: Thanks but credit goes to Jud Barber, David Elrod & co... - kuma 08:29:56 01/21/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - Kenlc 10:26:58 01/20/04 (0)

That's why you should never miss the Headphone setup's - BobM 10:21:15 01/20/04 (2)

A friend of mine got head lice once from headphones at a show. - Jim 10:38:55 01/20/04 (1)

I found a mouse in a pair of Grados.......but I tell lies sometimes. :0) [nt] - chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com 10:42:31 01/20/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - Todd Krieger 10:08:21 01/20/04 (3)

I've heard enough bad horn set-ups, too... - kuma 15:56:43 01/20/04 (0)

I thought the "horn show".... - david hull 13:03:39 01/20/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - Brian Walsh 11:18:21 01/20/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - class act 10:06:07 01/20/04 (1)

Both, very briefly. <NT> - Kal Rubinson 10:53:59 01/20/04 (0)

You got it. - Kal Rubinson 09:39:47 01/20/04 (4)

Yeah, yeah, BUT - mikebake 13:54:27 01/20/04 (3)

I remember when the Quad ELS always won best sound - Norm 15:20:10 01/20/04 (1)

Re: I remember when the Quad ELS always won best sound - mikebake 20:05:49 01/20/04 (0)

Re: Yeah, yeah, BUT - Kal Rubinson 13:56:18 01/20/04 (0)

Indeed... - mgs 08:07:44 01/20/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - Jwm 08:07:06 01/20/04 (0)

Re: My Take on CES - Don T 07:43:07 01/20/04 (0)

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