WINTER	2009

2009 CES Show Report

My favorite time of year!

Each year at this time, audio “loonies” from around the World head for the deserts of Nevada and a rendezvous extraordinaire. Otherwise known as the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, it’s THE place to be for those afflicted with that most dreaded of diseases; audiohilia. The atmosphere, the weather, the music and the gear are just the ticket to satiate the most ardent audiophiles’ appetite. Good things on hand this year so let’s have a look...

SHUNYATA: Wow, big changes here! Caelin Gabriel and company introduced a new range of cables and announced upgrades to their Hydra 8 and V-Ray line conditioners.
            Based on the patented Helix geometry applied within Shunyata’s previous generation power cords, the CX Series incorporate a dramatic increase in conductor mass, while still retaining the complex and critical properties of the Helix geometry. There are now five CX power cord models that benefit from this new and ground-breaking technology. According to Shunyata, even the least expensive CX model has proven to deliver never before realized performance. So significant are the improvements, I’m told Shunyata’s previous top performing Helix models are no match for the CX Series power cords.

            Caelin positively beamed when telling me about the new cables, describing them as one of the biggest leaps in performance he’s yet achieved. That’s saying something! Comparing the old cables to the new models, he said is like hearing the difference between a good dynamic speaker and a really great electrostatic. Much better clarity and detail more open and refined.
            As you might imagine, we’re frothing at the mouth to get the new ‘snakes, and with any luck, should have them by the time you read this. Give us a call and we’ll let you know whether they’re all they’re cracked up to be.
            A couple of months prior to CES Shunyata began shipping the new Diamondback Platinum cable. I was very much a fan of the original Diamondback and wondered how they could improve upon it, but improve it they did. We’ve sold quite a few and everyone who’s received theirs absolutely loves them. I was so impressed I thought I’d try re-cabling an entire system  (replacing Taipan’s and Python’s) to test their mettle. Frankly, I was amazed at how good the new Diamondback Platinum sounded. If this is any indication of the performance of the forthcoming CX Series, those cables should be breathtaking
            The Shunyata Dark Field Cable Elevators have been a big hit. If your cables are lying on the floor, shame on you! Grab a set of the Dark Field Elevators right away! In case you missed our introduction and explanation, click on the "Purchase Now" button below to check out the detailed description. It's very enlightening and educational.
           As a sister product, Shunyata introduced a miniature version designed for use behind the rack to separate cables from one another.          Interestingly, and counter to the norm, Shunyata recommends you begin by placing Dark Field Elevators behind the equipment to separate cables from one another, and then extend out into the room to deal with the speaker cables. The crisscrossed tangle of wires behind your rack creates an electromagnetic nightmare that can do serious damage to the fragile signal carried by these cables.The new Mini Dark Field Elevators (as yet unamed), are just the ticket.

           Hydra news. The patented noise reduction compounds found inside the Hydra 8 and V-Ray have been significantly improved. The new ZrCa compound is more effective at absorbing line noise, resulting in a deeper, blacker background and overall cleaner presentation. Good news, Hydra 8 and V-Ray owners can upgrade their units! Please contact us for details.

BASIS AUDIO: The always congenial and informative A.J. Conti and his resident degreed physicist, Jim, were holding court in the Basis suite. I always learn something when I visit these very knowledgeable guys.
           Basis products have long been revered for their outstanding design, craftsmanship and flawless attention to detail. Quality of machining, in particular, has been a standout quality, with tolerances far tighter than virtually virtually any other manufacturer. With the recent improvements, I doubt anyone in the industry can claim better specifications. Case in point, their Revolution Belt. A belt? You say, why focus on the belt? Because it is a supremely important factor in establishing speed stability, which is in turn an absolutely fundamental prerequisite for optimum performance. Recognizing the importance, Basis set out to find a more accurate belt. They searched the planet (literally), and could find no one capable of supplying a belt more precise than the one they were presently using. Not to be deterred, A.J. set out on his own to devise a process that could increase tolerances. After much experimentation he found a way to grind belts to incredibly precise dimensions.
              Initially A.J  was able to achieve a belt thickness accuracy of 1/2 of one-thousandth of an inch, dramatically better than any other belt on the market. Soon that number improved to 1/10 of one-thousandth and now an astounding 1/100 of one thousandth. Expressed another way, +/- five millionths on an inch! Absolutely no one in the industry is remotely close to this accuracy.
              If you’re a Basis owner and have not upgraded to the Revolution Belt, do so immediately. This $125 purchase returns for more performance gains than you would ever expect.

QUICKSILVER: Quicksilver's new Full Preamp is a technical tour de force! Mike Sanders' unique design delivers the pure tube sound Quicksilver is known for, without the limitations common in other tube preamps. High output impedance is common among tube preamps and can cause problems when mating with many solid state amplifiers. The ultra-low 1.5 Ohm output impedance of the Full Preamp allows it to drive any amplifier known, using virtually any length or type of cabling.
            Sonic performance is maximized through the use of extremely short signal paths within the unit, minimal switching and no transistors, regulators or circuit boards. The massive power supply resides in an electromagnetically isolated subchassis within the main preamp.
            Looking in through the perforated top panel I noticed a pair of AAA batteries on the board. What’s this? I phoned Mike for an explanation and found they bias the tubes in the phono stage. I’ve not seen this before but Mike tells me the technique really improves performance. He must be right, the phono stage sounds fantastic!
            Without a doubt, Mike Sanders has another winner here. For those Quicksilver fans out there, or anyone looking for a great full-function preamp, this one may be your nirvana. $3800. Special pricing available on a demo unit!

WADIA: We've just brought in the Wadia iTransport. This revolutionary product is a bridge between the convenience of an iPod and the high-end capabilities of today’s advanced audio systems. Previously, the goal of having an iPod act as a true high-end media server had been hampered by the need to send the digital signal through the iPod’s D/A converter rather than that of a high-performance audio system. The engineers at Wadia solved this problem by designing the iTransport to bypass the player’s converter and output stage altogether. The result is absolutely sensational sound! Robert Harley in The Absolute Sound writes: “The Wadia iTransport is the coolest product I’ve encountered in some time. If you own an iPod and a high-end system, the iTransport is essential!”
          

           At CES we saw a couple of prototype products in the Wadia room that will be partnering the iTransport in the Series 1 model line up. The 151 is a pure digital amplifier (we think it's 50 watts per channel) with four digital inputs with 24 bit/96kHz resolution. Add a pair of speakers and an iTransport for a marvelous mini system!
          The model 121 Decoding Computer features a 24 bit/96kHz USB digital input and up-samples to 705.6kHz.
           Pricing hasn't been finalized, but both should be under $1000 each.

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