MODWRIGHT: Many of us have been pestering Dan Wright for an integrated amplifier, and we've now been rewarded with a most remarkable product. The KWI 200 represents the integration of simplicity, purity, elegance and power. At 200 watts per channel into 8 Ohms (doubling to 400 watts at 4 Ohms) the KWI 200 has the guts to convey the most colossal dynamic events, yet the power never usurps the ability of the design to reveal the subtlety and nuances that are at the inner core of music. And, like the other ModWright amplifiers, the integrated is adept at capturing the best of solid state (power, punch, control, dynamics) and marrying that to the qualities that endear us to tubes (midrange harmonic texture, three dimensional soundstaging and overall refinement). Dan had been able to do this in the KWI 200 with fully solid state topology. It's a masterful blend that's a joy to hear.
        Available with optional internal phono card and/or DAC, the KWI 200 offers the performance of complex audio separates in a single space-saving chassis. The full function remote controls volume, mute, power, input select, remote triggers, DAC input select as well as phono inputs (when installed) . Dual digital displays, clearly visible from across the room, indicate source input and volume level. Displays may also be remotely dimmed or turned off.
        Simple, pure, elegant and powerful, the KWI 200 is intended for the music lover seeking a simpler path to the enjoyment of music. The KWI 200 is proudly handcrafted in the U.S.A. $4995.
        For CES ModWright unveiled the optional internal DAC and phono preamp options for both the KWI 200 and LS 100 tube linestage. The $1150 DAC board offers both RCA and USB inputs (asynchronous) at 24/192 resolution. The phono board for the LS 100 is tube based and accepts both MC and MM cartridges and is priced at $850. The phono card for the KWI 200 accepts MM and high output MC cartridges and sells for $350.

ModWright KWI 200

SHUNYATA: A few days before heading out to CES we received our first samples of the brand new ZiTron Cobra power cords and signal cables. This range represents the entry level into the ZiTron family of cables (which includes ZiTron Python and ZiTron Anaconda cables). We put these on to "cook" while we were away and were amazed by what we heard upon our return. But that jumps ahead, so let me digress.
         ZiTron (US and International patens pending) is a unique and powerful technology that dramatically improves signal transmission through a conductor. That's the shorthand version, but there's much, more to this very advanced technology that's way beyond the scope of his Newsletter (Shunyata will have details on their website in the coming months to explain the inner workings of this most interesting technological development for those who want the whole story). From my point of view, I'm only interested in whether ZiTron improves my listening experience, and I'm here to tell you that the Shunyata cables endowed with this technology did that for me, in spades!        
        The ZiTron Cobra family is comprised of a power cord (both 15 and 20 amp versions available), interconnects (RCA and XLR) and speaker cables. The interconnects (1M) and power cord (2M) each go for $1000, the speaker cables (2.5M) are priced at $2000. Nice round numbers, and though not chicken feed, quite reasonable in today's world. Designer Caelin Gabriel made a point at CES that the ZiTron Cobra cables can be compared to any cable at any price. He said he was frustrated with the state of the industry where cables priced at five figures are commonplace and set out to design a product that was fairly priced and would outperform cables costing as much ten times more. Though we've only had our new cables for a few weeks, it appears Mr. Gabriel has indeed achieved his goal; the new cables are amazing! The ZiTron Cobra "system" of cables reveals loads of wonderful detail, digs deeply to bring out subtle texture and shadings without ever sounding forced, analytical or overbearing. And value? Without a doubt, these cables offer tremendous performance for the money and have established themselves as leaders in the "bang-for-buck" category. But the ZiTron story doesn't end there, ZiTron Python and ZiTron Anaconda range of ZiTron cables are waiting in the wings and I'm itching see what Caelin has done at those price points.
         New line conditioners! The Hydra Alpha Series Model-4 and Model-6 incorporate the profound advances in measurement science and noise isolation that earned Shunyata Research's Hydra Triton and Hydra Talos awards and endorsements from media outlets and recording studios the world over. Both models core-design elements are identical to those found in the flagship Triton model, however both cost less than half the Triton's retail price. No competing power-distributor or conditioner offers the Hydra-α Series performance, measurable superiority or value at double or even triple their reasonable retail prices. The Hydra-α Model-4 and Hydra-α Model-6 represent real-world references in power-delivery that come without the high-cost, system complications or peak-current limiting of traditional "reference" conditioner offerings. $1795 for the Hydra-α Model-4 and $1995 for the Hydra-α Model-6. You can add the Hydra HC Power cable for just $495, a savings of $100. Free shipping too!
         For those needing only a couple of outlets (for large power amplifiers, video projectors or simple systems) Shunyata announced two new dual-outlet models. The Cyclops ($1995) utilizes the same internals as the Triton; the Hydra-α Model-2 ($995) uses Alpha-level technology.

ZiTron Cobra Power Cord

ZiTron Cobra Speaker Cables

ZiTron Cobra Interconnects

Hydra Alpha Series