SUMMER	2005
Page Four

Miscellaneous Photos from around the show

The high end exhibits at the CES Show are located in the Alexis Park Hotel. The rooms are located throughout the complex which consists of 21 two story "wings" connected by an outdoor walkway. The first photo is of one of the buildings, the second is a shot of the walkway (which was covered this year due to rain and, believe it or not, SNOW!)

Herron Audio Suite. VTSP-2 preamp and M1 solid state monoblock amplifiers driving Keith Herron's Prototype Speakers (not slated for production any time soon, so don't ask). The sound was excellent - very smooth, easy to listen to yet able to uncover subtle detail.

mbl Suite. There were three systems set up in the room. This is the main system featuring the 101E speakers and the Company's top end electronics. Price around $135,000

Stereovox Suite. More stuff here than you could shake a stick at and the sound was awesome. Image stability was the best I have ever heard from a turntable-based system, maybe the best I've heard period. The Continuum Audio Caliburn turntable and Cobra tonearm were marvels of engineering excellence. Novel shape optimization technology was used as a design platform. This software-based system throws the rule book out the window and calculates the theoretically ideal shape for any given application (as you can see the arm is different from anything you've seen). It's a very interesting design concept that has never been used before in audio (as far as I'm aware). More, the company created purpose specific alloys and composites, each tailored for their intended purpose. Fit, finish and attention to detail were exquisite. Read more about the very interesting Continuum gear at  the manufacturers website.
Peak-Consult Princess full system in Wenge' finish ($21,999.99 / pair)
Wavac HE-833 v 1.3 amplifiers ($69,000.00/pair)
Wavac PR-T1 Linestage Preamplifier ($30,000.00)
Wavac LCR-X2 Phono Preamplifier ($25,000)
Esoteric P-70 CD Transport ($7,500.00)
Esoteric D-70 DAC ($6,500.00)
Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn Turntable (estimated: $38,000.00)
Continuum Audio Labs Cobra Tone-Arm (estimated: $12,000.00)
Lyra Olympus cartridge (limited production)
Acoustic Dreams audio racks ($5,500 x 2)
Acoustic Dreams amplifier stands ($650 x 2)
Furutech Acoustic Panels (2pcs)
Shunyata Hydra 8 ($2,200.00)
Stereovox LSP-600XL 1.5mpr ($5,249.99)
Stereovox SEI-600 II 4.0mpr ($4,499.99)
Stereovox SEI-600s 1.0mpr ($999.99 x 2)
Stereovox PHO-600 2.0mpr ($2,499.99)
Stereovox BAL-600 1.0mpr ($1,499.99)
Stereovox HDXV 1.0m ($99.99)
 

On display in the courtyard of the Alexis Park was a new Ford GT. As a noted figure in the audio world, I got to take it out for a spin. NOT!

Competing with the CES is The Home Entertainment Show (T.H.E. Show). This years venue was the St. Tropez Hotel, which just happens to be located next to the Alexis Park. How convenient!

A few exhibitors display their wares off site in other hotels across the city. This year I visited one manufacturer in the Bellagio. The hotel had a Christmas display set up that was astounding. The atrium was probably 200' x 200' and 50' - 75' high. The photo doesn't begin to capture the scale. The time effort and expense that went into the display was mind boggling. Computerized dancing founds, thousands and thousands of  Poinsettias,  huge conifer trees, amazingly real faux snow,  a number of pools each filled with 35 pounds of floating cranberries, several frozen ponds (cooled from below) and on and on. Amazing!

Three Polar Bear statues were part of the exhibit. They were about 15' high and were covered with over 35,000 chrysanthemums.

And for you motorheads, the world's only turbine powered motorcycle was on display at the Bellagio.