Alexis Park - High End.

All prices in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified.

Westlake Audio

Westlake Audio, a loudspeaker manufacturer with an extensive background in recording studio sound design, demonstrated the new BB-10SWP subwoofer which accompanies their existing BBSM-10 reference monitor. The sub contains an 18 inch driver and is designed as left and right pairs. The stereo pair of woofers is $14,000. The companion BBSM-10 reference monitors run $7,200. All Westlake Audio speakers can be fitted with "speaker muffs" to reduce edge reflections and increase bass response. The muffs range from $100 to $600 depending on the speaker.

The Westlake Audio speakers were being driven by Boulder Amplifiers 2060, Weighing in at 250 lbs., with anodized aluminum heatsinks, helping the 2060 deliver it a forceful 600 watts-per-channel.

So what makes a $1,710 amplifier, rated at 200 watts-per-channel, different similarly priced amplifiers? According to Threshold it's the transistors. They use the IGBT transistor in the Forte Model Six which combines the best of MOSFET and bipolar characteristics for a music and tube-like sound. The Forte Model Forty Four is a remote controlled, line level preamp selling for $1,350. Both are new to the Forte series of products.

Revox

German manufacturer Revox is returning to the states after a long hiatus with several new and unique products. The $6,500 Evolution is a lifestyle piece, evoking memories of Bang and Olafson's "wow factor" designs. The amplifier, tuner, and CD player hang vertically from a crossbar and are operated from the touch screen panel that sits atop the bar.

The two middle lines of matching products are known as Emotion and Elegance, leading to the Exception series.Each component is aesthetically matched, and when stacked looks like one unit. The E-450 integrated amplifier delivers 135 watts-per-channel into eight ohms and sells for $4,200. The unit features the often omitted phone preamp, a digital volume control with separate power supply for each channel. Pre-outs are supplied, along with multi-room functions. All settings are easily read on the blue-backlit LCD panel on the front panel. The $3,200 E-460 tuner incorporates RDS (Radio-Data-System) which shows a read of the station name, with program information. The top loading E-426 CD Player provides both balanced and unbalanced outputs. For optimum isolation and stability the transport is isolated from the digital circuitry.

Revox is also marketing a line of speakers all of which can come in brushed aluminum or Beachwood, such as the Prestige speakers which sell for $3,500.

Signet

Signet released two new speakers, the SL388 towers are available in Mahogany and Black finish. Two eight inch woofers are incorporated for extended bass range. The SL388's sell for $ 1,200 a pair. The SL260/II is a smaller two-way design retailing for $600 a pair. The A/V Standard is a two-way design with the addition of an active 12 inch side firing subwoofer (150 watts) in the same cabinet, allowing for left and right imaging of low bass effects.

Audio Refinement is a new product line designed by YBA. The Complete integrated amplifier runs $1,100 with preamp controls and a 50 watts-per-channel amplifier. The CD Complete sells for $950 and another $700 will get you the Tuner Complete if you still listen to the radio. (not pictured)

The Hales Design Group unveiled two new lines of loudspeakers, the Revelation Series with a price range of $1,000 to $2,000. The Transcendence Series picks up where Revelation leaves off, with a range of product from $2,000 to $9,000. (not pictured)

Bryston's SP-1 is an audio-only surround/preamp, providing DTS, Dolby Digital processing with THX circuitry. The cost hasn't been established but product is expected to be available in late March. Their 9B-ST 5-channel amplifier is the same product being marketed by Lexicon (see Lexicon).

Winners of the Innovations Award for Design and Engineering two years running, Particularly Contemporary Design provides production and custom designed furniture pieces for $200 to $20,000.

Balanced Audio Technology showed off their entire line featuring two amplifiers, the VK500 for $5,000 which delivers 250 watts-per-channel and the 100 watts-per-channel VK200 for $3,495. The VKD5 CD player and the VKSI Line Stage Preamp each sell for $4,500. If vinyl is your thing, you might check out the ultimate phone preamp, the VKP10 for a whopping $4,000.

Italian loudspeaker designer Pearl demonstrated the beautifully crafted and naturally sounding Celestra, Contraband and Conebass speakers. Unfortunately, a language barrier prevented the acquisition of price and availability.

Kimber Kable announced the release of the Select series of ultra high end cables for analog and digital interconnects, loudspeakers, bi-wire jumpers with an array of termination options. Kimber Kables range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Resolution Audio demonstrated the dedicated VT960 DVD/CD Transport for $3,500 with a dual 20bit/96kHz D-to-A converter which sells for $1,500. The CD50 employs a Burr Brown 20 bit D-to-A converter. It's possible to go directly from the CD player to the amp (assuming you don't play anything other than CD) due to the analog volume control output.

Thiel

Thiel introduced the CS2.3 and CS7.2 as new additions to their impressive and natural sounding line of loudspeakers. The drivers are made of aluminum to avoid cone breakup and crossover drop off. Frequencies below a 200Hz are produced by a 12 inch woofer in conjunction with a passive 12 inch bass radiator. Not only does this result in deep bass but port noise and unwanted resonance are eliminated. The speakers are priced at $3,300 and $13,500 respectively.

Aerial Acoustics' 7B rounds out the top of their impressive and extensive line of loudspeakers. The 7B is a three-way, floor standing speaker with twin woofers and a rear port. It's rated flat out to 35Hz. The Black Ash version runs $3,500 and the Rosewood cabinet will run higher at $4,500. (not pictured)

Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Frontiers introduced an entire new product line called Anthem, available in black or silver face. The $895 Pre 1P phone stage is an all tube design, while the CD1 Six Disc Changer with an HDCD filter will retail for $1,595. The CD employs the Burr Brown PCM1702 20 bit D-to A converter. The Pre IL preamplifier is a simple design with the most basic of features, including a headphone connector at a retail of $995. The Amp1 is a class AB design delivering 40 watts-per-channel at $1,195.

Nakamichi

Nakamichi showed a prototype of lifestyle product they plan to bring to market in the early summer. The basic model at $1,100 is a stereo amp, with preamp controls, tuner and CD in one sleek brushed aluminum package. The full-featured version will incorporate Dolby Digital at $2,500. The unit comes with ultra small speakers and a subwoofer for an amazingly coherent and satisfying listening experience.

Martin Logan, a long time leader in ribbon loudspeaker design has created the Cinema center channel for use with the Aruis and SL-3 speaker systems. It is a hybrid product, using a ribbon midrange, two woofers on either side of the cabinet and a dome tweeter. Dialog never sounded so good and it can be yours for $1,295.

Celestion is releasing the bookshelf Acompact speaker for $999 a pair in cherry and back finish (rosewood $ 1,099). An additional $400 will buy you matching speaker stands.

Another Italian made speaker, Voce Divina matches natural beauty with sonic performance. The Soprano's retail for $4,500 but aren't fully complete without the subwoofer that acts as speaker stand for an additional $3,500. The larger Tenore is $7,995 for the pair and the Pear consists of two pieces. The two-way top piece retails for $4,995 and the dual nine inch subwoofers in the bottom portion cash in at $6, 995.

Mark Levinson

Mark Levinson brought to Vegas an advanced prototype of the stereo Reference Controller No.32. Providing eight inputs--three balanced and five unbalanced--it features an unprecedented array of communication ports. The company wasn't prepared to speculate on the price but we here at Audio Revolution venture to estimate it will run between $15,000 and $20,000. It should be available sometime in the summer.

Citation

The Citation System 500 is a complete home theater system that includes the 5.1 Multichannel amplifier, the 5.0 AV Controller, the 5.2 Front Channel speakers, the 5.3 Dual-dipole surround speaker and the 5.4 Subwoofer.

The $1,800 5.1 amplifier can be configured in three ways, as a four channel amplifier with 100 watts-per-channel, as a three channel amplifier with 100 watts for two channels and 300 watts for one channel, or as stereo amp with 300 watts-per-channel.

The 5.0 AV Controller has six digital inputs (four coax; two Toslink) and incorporates Dolby Digital for $3,350. The DTS processor can be added for an additional $300.

The 5.2 Front Channel speakers retail for $475 a piece and you need three for 5.1 audio palyback. The 5.3 Dual Dipole Surround speakers are $1,000 for the pair. The main feature of the 5.3's is they can be used as point source speakers for music or as diffuse speakers for movie soundtracks meeting THX's specifications. The 5.4 Subwoofer requires amplification and runs $795 a piece.

A total of three amplifiers were used for the system demonstration at CES. One for LCR, one for surrounds and another for a pair of subwoofers.

Last year Harman introduced their cost-no-object line of products called Revel. Adding to their Ultima line is the Ultima LE-1a subwoofer amplifier designed specifically for the Ultimia Sub 15. The amp is $6,000 in addition to the $2,500 subwoofer. The Ultima Voice is a dedicated center channel speaker that matches the existing Ultima Gem left and right speakers. The Ultima Voice will be $5,000 with the stand. The Ultima Embrace is a dipole speaker for rear channel speakers and will cost $5,000 for a pair. A floor standing prototype of new $15,000 a pair loudspeakers was also on display and should be available sometime in the fourth quarter.