Consumer Electronics Show(CES) 2006 - Alexis Park

[dorokusai]

Here are some photos from CES 2006, the Alexis Park exhibit area. This is another location where you can demo gear in a more intimate setting. It's essentially a condominium community, with each vendor(s) in a specific suite. Over 200 exhibitors were in attendance and we didn't even get to all of them. This was where we should have spent two days solid, period.

Polk Audio shared a suite with Kaleidescape, and displayed the Surround Bar and LC265i In-Wall speakers. This room was packed so alas I have no pictures, but I'm sure I can get some from the gang. The setup was very nice and that Kaleidescape server is really neat....and really expensive.

This area of CES was what made Russ and I decide to step up to the next level....some of the best demos I've ever experienced. The standouts for me were:

Best 2CH w/ Subwoofer - Suite 1401: WLM Grand Viola Loudspeaker ($11K)/ Audio Aero Front/Back End ($59K). The WLM setup used the WLM Duo 18" Passive Subwoofers($5K) and the Active System Control Module ($5K). This was all driven by 4 Audio Aero Capitole SET 50wpc Tube Monoblocks ($23K/pr) and their flagship Prestige CD/SACD Player ($13K). The setup was unreal and I almost got Russ to cry...what more can I say? Ben Harper - Will to Live (RCD-TR6)

Best 2CH Raw - Suite 1651: Joule Electra Rite of Passage Monoblocks ($24K/pr)/ Joseph Audio Pearl Loudspeaker ($20K)/ Wadia 861SE CDP ($10K). The Joule Electra ROP Monoblocks make the Cary V12 Monoblocks, look like Tonka toys. That and the fact the power cables are 7" thick, says that it came to play...although, them being plugged into an average extension cord looked funny :) The entire setup has set the bar for me in regards to audio....I've never heard something so stunning and was drop dead speechless. A perfect demo if there is such a thing. Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue (MOFI-TR1)

I'll comment on the McIntosh Reference Home Theatre later.....you won't believe that demo.

Here are some pics, enjoy! :D

[TroyD]

No way I could have kept my pants on the whole time.

I'd be interested in your impressions of the Quad ESL's

BDT

[dorokusai]

They looked fantastic, but they wouldn't let us turn them up very loud. They sounded good, but nothing jumped out at me from that singular experience.

It might have been the fact that they started doing shots of Jack Daniels while we were listening. It was near the end of the day, and everything goes offline at 6PM....that's when it got REAL crazy :D

As we were leaving one of them was mixing a Jack and Coke, and Russ said that they "...were ruining a perfectly good whiskey with that crap."...to which a hardcore accent laden Brit stated at the top of his voice...."Spoken like a true FUC&ING American, Cheers!"

[amulford]

Wow. I would venture to say that Mac HT set up will require a second home mortgage.

Those acrylic looking TT's are truly stunning.

[aaharvel]

i'm dying to know how the McIntosh setup (especially the Speakers) sounded.
I look at what i have now and i want to cry.

excellent writeup.

[Shizelbs]

I love the Brit's response. Hilarious

Anyways, what was the worst in show? Something that was truly dissapointing? Subpar, way underachieving?

Thanks for the pics. Best collection from the show I have seen yet.

[DAGLJAM6]

Look at the line up of thiels in the past anything that sexy had the good parts covered with the dreaded blackout bar.

[dorokusai]

The most embarrassing stuff was at CES itself, the Las Vegas Convention Center(LVCC). It was pretty hard to find a bad demo at Alexis Park.

I'll add to the CES comment with, you have to realize that some of these folks are simply trying to get picked up by manufacturers or show you what they can produce. There was some absolutely outstanding cabinet work and veneers from China and other places, but the actual speakers sounded like garbage. It's a showcase for everyone to get their name and product out to 130,000+ industry related individuals in 4 days of hard-on inducing fury.

[dorokusai]

I met the crew from SVS while there and the demo room they had established, with the new entry level 5.1 setup, was outstanding. Master & Commander was intense in a 12x10 room....WOW! They had 23 complaints from the surrounding rooms because of the bass explosions that occurred every 5 minutes. It was awesome.

There's a picture of the new mid-line SVS bookshelf in that batch of pictures. It's a prototype, and it sounded like it, but Ron said the final product will be tight. It utilized a unique take on the Vifa dome....with a soft piece of felt instead of a nipple.

The "Baby" SVS subwoofer is on the way as well...so expect a really solid Carver sized cube to be locking the market down, as usual.

Oh by the way...Ron Stimson is a HUGE SDA fan :D

[beardog03]

Mark,
Thanks for the pic`s bro...
I have serious wood right now..!!

Those tube mono`s are stunning..!
I was going to ask how the SVS speaks sounded, but as you stated earlier..."they were proto-types, and they sounded like it"...bummer, I was very interested in snagging a pair for the office..

What speaks are in the pic with the tube mono`s ?

[dorokusai]

Bear- Which tube monoblocks? I'll presume that it was the Joule Electra's and you should save your money. They have smaller model monoblocks and you should step up into that bracket if you have the time. However, on the used market they aren't that scary....that is, IF you can find them used.

And in respect to the SVS speakers, the entry level, which is available now, was great....it was the new one that was cagey. Just to clarify.

[beardog03]

pic #34 & 35 (JE)(beautiful mono`s)

I was saving for the V-12`s, but now.....!!!!

[dorokusai]

Bear - Save up, that Cary amplifier gear is high end, but anyone can have that. Strap on the unique shoes and step into something that you they should jail you for doing.

[RuSsMaN]

That WLM rig jacked me up. I'm serious, I'm not the same person I was before I entered that room. I still need a hug or something man.

I told Mark I was going to blow his mind with Patricia Barber Mofi, he sh&t his flat hat right there.

Either room, I could have stayed in the entire trip, and been perfectly fine.

[dorokusai]

I experienced two rooms, out of 150+ that rocked my world...if that isn't what audio is about, I don't have an answer.

Russ set the bar, in the rig that set the bar for me....I don't know what to say. You don't need SDA to create a 3D soundstage folks, it CAN be done. If you haven't figured that out yet, you're fooling yourself. It wasn't CES that made me aware.

[TroyD]

I actually have found the SDA's to be lacking in soundstage depth. Maybe not lacking, but not as good In terms of 3D-ish....the AR-9 and DQ-10's have been my reference in that particular respect.

BDT

[dorokusai]

I actually have found the SDA's to be lacking in soundstage depth. Maybe not lacking, but not as good In terms of 3D-ish....the AR-9 and DQ-10's have been my reference.

BDT

I remember when SDA was cool, now it's a must have it seems. It's cool, but not the standard. A couple Polk's exist that are rock solid, but they get overshadowed by SDA's...why? No reason, just hype.

SDA's are not perfection. What could possibly solidify that it's perfection? Just an ego of ownership, nothing more, nothing less.

I was awakened when SDA enlightened me, but eventually found that the love of a soundfield, could be found in other speakers....and it was real, not interpreted. It didn't require a cable, and it didn't require a physically wide loudspeaker.

Polk realized SDA works again, ala Surround Bar....but until they move it into the 2CH bracket again, I will enjoy the vintage efforts. I will enjoy them, but not be a slave to them, because if that's your only choice, that's sad. There is too much to experience to segment yourself in a 20 year old idea.

[beardog03]

the JE mono`s with the "pyrimid" shaped speaks...
I would have loved to hear that rig...

I really dig what I have, but your right....
When I do save enough to make a move on my tube mono`s, it`s going to be something like no other....something that is an experience that makes me feel the way you and Russ felt when you heard "the one"...

[TroyD]

Well, I say what works for you (you, being a generic term) works for you and who am I to pass judgement? Many folks have found the sound that they are looking for, and if it works for them, it's not for me to criticize. Personally, I think that SDA's, particularly the SRS, are in fact 'reference' quality loudspeakers. I just enjoy different things and doubt I'll ever be satisfied with one set of speakers.

Personally, I don't think the age of the technology has anything to do with it. If I did, I'd probably not own tube gear. Hell, I'd fart into a styrofoam cup if I thought it would sound better.

BDT

[F1nut]

Yawn, now where's my hip waders?

[RuSsMaN]

You another room that was really good, and depth in front and back of the speakers was what suprised me - was the Merlin room. Simple, straight forward design, but man, the depth was unreal.

I'd still like to hear those new Jamo (properly setup), the open baffle with the dual 15's, mid, tweet. Mark, did we get a picture of those?

[dorokusai]

No, but here it is....

JAMO R909

Troy - I'm just over the SDA craze, if that's what makes them happy, good luck.

[Jstas]

I will enjoy them, but not be a slave to them, because if that's your only choice, that's sad. There is too much to experience to segment yourself in a 20 year old idea.

You mean to tell me that there are other speakers out there besides Polk Audio?

You GOTTA be kidding me! ;) :p

[polkatese]

cool pics, Mark! did you by any chance, stopped by APLhifi room? Alex (the owner) was showing off his latest player, an esoteric modded player, for $20k, so I was told.

[dorokusai]

I'll guess and say no I didn't. I was pretty overwhelmed by everything so I neglected to write alot of stuff down.....next year I'll pay more attention.

[madmax]

Yawn, now where's my hip waders?

Hey F1,
Maybe next year we could go hang out outside and panhandle the tourists.

madmax

[F1nut]

It would seem, as SDA lovers, that would be all we are worthy of.

[madmax]

It would seem, as SDA lovers, that would be all we are worthy of.

OK, I'll be the blind guy and you can be the deaf guy, deal?
madmax

[RuSsMaN]

Won't be a hard role for F1 to fill, that's for sure.

I actually have a strange hankerin' for some LSi9's right now.

[madmax]

Just for giggles, which speakers can I buy for under $10K that will better all aspects of the SDA-SRS? Oh and throw in that lovely Avid table.
madmax