Best Sound (cost-no-object) I heard quite a number of outstanding systems at this show. My contenders for Best Sound include Sonus faber’s $250k flagship loudspeaker (called simply the “Sonus faber”) driven by Audio Research 610t ...

One of the standouts during Day 2 was the new integrated amplifier from Perreaux. The respected New Zealand brand is in the midst of a stateside resurgence with the Audiant integrated amp leading the way. ...

About half of Day One was taken up with me trying to figure out transportation, press badge pickup, and getting the basic lay of the land, since I had not attended a CES at the ...

On the previous day, I noted too many rooms had a prominent glare and a bite to their respective sounds. On Day Two, this was largely gone. Break-in and setup adjustments may have had something ...

In the last few years I generally expect CES Thursdays to be fairly mellow, sparsely attended afternoons. Not the case this year. I’m no pundit but the sense of economic recovery was definitely in the ...

Jonathan Valin on Loudspeakers Priced at $20,000 and Above Right on the heels of Robert’s declaration that the sound was less colored at this year’s RMAF, I’m here to say that, in my neck of ...

Neil Gader on Electronics Under $15,000 and Loudspeakers Under $20,000 I’m no economist, but in spite of the year’s financial ups and downs I was more inspired by what I saw and heard at this ...

Robert Harley on Upper-End Electronics The mood at this year’s Audio Fest was markedly more upbeat and optimistic than that of a year ago, and particularly that of two years ago. The show saw a ...

The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show The TAS Staff Reports on the Greatest New Gear Coming Your Way Chris Martens, Steven Stone, Neil Gader, Alan Taffel, Dick Olsher, Robert Harley, Jonathan Valin Chris Martens on Loudspeakers ...

Best Sound:I heard great sounds from the Wilson Sasha, the refrigerator-like Dynaudio Consequence Ultimate and even the new and smaller two-way YG Carmel. But anchored by the superlative Vandersteen 7 and assisted by Aesthetix electronics, ...

The super stealthy Esoteric RZ-1 ($6000) was one of those components I couldn’t get out of my head. It hides its complexity beneath a silver vault-like exterior. Part slot-loaded SACD/CD transport, part integrated amplifier with ...

Best Sound Although I’ve liked the sound of Hansen Audio speakers in the past, I was absolutely blown away by the stunning Grand Master. This $239k loudspeaker, driven by some expensive amplification from Tenor and ...

As curious as I am about the Magico Q5 intro--and I'm deadly curious--I've gotta admit that were I restricted to attending just one premier at the upcoming CES, I would have to skip the Q5 ...

The best part of a trade show from my point of view is seeing old friends. Although I talk to most of them almost daily, Robert, Neil, Jacob, Jim, Chris, Steven, Alan, and I generally ...

Best Sound The TAD Reference One loudspeaker in the Kimber/WBT demo room (with Bel Canto’s DAC3.5, the CD2 player transport, Virtual Battery Supply, Ref 500M monoblocks and all WBT terminated Kimber Kable) produced effortless orchestral ...