 Blue Room
Originally founded under the umbrella of B&W, the very striking looking Blue Room speakers are back with a product called the Mini Pods. Priced between $450 and $499 per pair, the Mini Pods have iMac-like visual appeal. Blue Room also has a subwoofer that looks like a conga drum, called the Bass Station, for a modest $500. Clearly a product marketed toward Gen X and Gen Y, these speakers are named after a 20-minute techno tune by the U.K. act The Orb, which is a sort of Pink Floyd-like aural voyage, complete with quotes from Rickie Lee Jones.
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 Sunfire
Sunfire introduced a newly updated version of their smallest sub, the Sub Jr. Due out in March, this mini powerhouse will produce an additional 3dB and costs $999. |
 B&W
B&W has all new inexpensive speakers for those of us who want it all without spending mega bucks. The new DM303 bookshelf speakers finally integrate the Nautilus speaker technology found on the $40,000 flagship B&Ws at a $300 pricepoint. The DM series come in a sexy wrapped maple or standard black finish, rear-ported with a neat textured front faceplate.
The next level up from B&W’s entry level is redesigned as well, with a sexy aluminum front plate and bright yellow Kevlar drivers. These mini-monitors are priced at $900 and look like $9,000. Floor-standing models are priced at $1,500. All are bi-wireable and feature a ported or dual-ported design. Visually, they are very striking.
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 Diva
The Diva loudspeakers look qutie a bit like B&W 802s which cost $8,000-plus per pair, but the Divas actually cost $1,299 per pair. Made in China and promoted by the marketing power behind Audio Alchemy, Diva loudspeakers make quite a statement for the amount of performance you can bet on a beer budget. In a move of audio confidence (arrogance?), the Diva demonstration featured the $1,200 (per pair) Diva 6.1s on Outlaw Audio electronics and Radio Shack cabling – a very modest setup. The opponent was B&W 802s with $25,000 in Classe’ electronics and high end cables. We aren’t going to say the Diva is better, but we will say we were about as impressed as we’ve been at this show. We will also get these speakers in for review in 2001.
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RBH
Perhaps one of the biggest bargains at this year’s CES was a package of speakers that RBH was billing as their $1,000 package. System included the MM4’s for mains and rear surrounds, the C4 center, and the MS8 Sub. Truly low cost high performers.
Unveiled at the show were the new model 641 loudspeakers from RBH. Probably not available until August 1st, 2001 the 641’s will have an estimated price tag of $1,400.
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 Paradigm
The Seismic Sub series is the latest from Paradigm, a company known for high value with high performing gear at moderate prices. The Seismic 10 retails for $1,100 and like its brother the Seismic 12 which retails for $1,500 are an excellent addition to the Paradigm A/V line. Both are available in April of 2001.
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 Dynaudio
Dynaudio demonstrated what’s new for 2001, their lower priced surround package with their Audience 42W’s for mains at $799 per pair, their 42C center channel speaker at $399, and a pair of Audience 42’s for surrounds at $699 a pair.
Also new for 2001, the Dynaudio Audience 122, demonstrated as both front and rear speakers with a price of $1,500 per pair and the 122C center at $750. Rounding off the package was their 30A sub at $1,400.
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 Kenwood
Kenwood showed a new line of products called Kenwood Sovereign which are higher end versions of Kenwood's best new technologies like DVD-Audio and Dolby Pro Logic II. Kenwood showed a digital audio server which has a 20 GB hard drive, CDR/RW, v.90 modem and RS232 control which you can store, record, archive and distribute your music from. Kenwood also showed the first 400 DVD-Audio/DVD-Video changer which should be out soon.
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 Creek Audio/Epos Acoustic
Creek’s 5350SE integrated amplifier features 90 wpc, remote control and a passive preamp section for $1,495. The CD53SE CD player ($1,595) is 24-bit/193 khz-capable and replaces the CD43 CD player. Epos Acoustics was recently purchased by Creek and now features shielded speakers for use near video monitors. Epos displayed their new M12 ($895) bookshelf monitor and M15 ($1,395) floor-standing monitor. The M12 and M15 feature woofers molded integrally with the front baffle.
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Totem Acoustic
Totem Acoustic introduced their new Wind speaker which utilizes a 4 driver, 3-way design. Totem is best known for their small footprint, two-way designs that were also on display in the form of the Hawk and Arro speakers. Also on display were Totem’s center channel speakers.
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