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Impact
Technologies introduced their new statement loudspeaker, the
airfoil. The planar magnetic driver column is covered by 4 patents,
and the system runs from 16 Hz-24 kHz. It's a statement item at
$38,0000. |
Neuance
Technologies demonstrated to great effectiveness their isolation platform,
with a good old turntable. After removing the platform, and
replacing with a standard shelf, the sound quality was drastically
reduced. Restoring the platform returned the superb playback
quality. |
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No,
your speakers aren't watching you! This is the Cabasse IO
(satellite) atop the Jupiter subwoofer. You can have a 7.1
setup without giving up your entire room to the speakers. |
Kochel
introduced their Center Channel Speaker, unusual for the fact that it is
horn loaded. Not many horn-loaded center channels exist. Also
on display was their KB-200, all driven by WAVAC electronics. |
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PS
Audio showed a late prototype of their Power Frame. Shown above is
the main frame with two stereo modules installed. A stereo module is
pictured below. The upgrades are field installable by the
customer. |
Bel
Canto showed several new products including this EVO 200.4 digital
amplifier which is a four channel version of the 200.2. They
also have a six channel version, the 200.6 which weighs about 50
pounds. In addition, a solid state preamp, the Pre-1 was shown. |
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Von
Schweikert Audio introduced quite a few new products, included the VR 3.5
pictured above. They also showed the VR-4 Gen III, the VR 3.5 Center
Channel and a subwoofer. None were over $3995. |
Vaessen
(from Belgium) and Perreaux (from New Zealand) demonstrated a system with
excellent synergy. The photo doesn't do justice to the glorious
chrome face plates of the Perreaux gear. Expect to see the Perreaux
line being sold again in the US later this year. |
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RBH
showed off their wonderful enclosure real wood veneers. This particular
subwoofer ($1,299) is in hickory, and is very spouse friendly. |
Look
for new designs in electrostatic speakers that don't need an AC power
supply, so you can place them anywhere. These particular ones, from MZX,
are only $3,295/pair and are full range. Usually, full range large panels
are much more expensive. Isn't competition great? |
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Sony's
latest spin on their trade name: The Grand Wega, a rear projector using
true 16:9 LCD panels and capable of a true 720p display. |
Yamaha
is getting into the display business with their DXP-1 DLP projector.
Not just a re-branded projector, everything is a Yamaha original (except
of course for the Texas Instruments DLP chip). |
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Manufacturers
lobbied hard for our attention, as evidenced by these dancers at the
Philips booth. |
DVD
movie lovers rejoice, as there were many more 16:9 displays of all sizes
and technologies this year. |
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We had
a close look at a THX certified PC. More than just audio and video
performance standards, it's all about getting the myriad of PC settings
correct. |
Spectron's
new Premiere six-channel power amplifier sports 475 watts per channel at 8
ohms, and a feedback speaker cable that senses back EMF so the amplifier
can optimize itself. $7,000. |
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ButtKicker
was kicking butt as usual. The shaker is in the oval hole in the back of
the platform. |
Billy
Bags makes some great racks that rotate when you want to make some changes
to the rear panel of your components. They are made of welded steel, and
are built to your specific size requests. This one is $2,200. |