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The Best Show Reporting
Coverage of CES 2000 from Las Vegas, NV --
Jan. 6-9, 2000
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| SoundStage!
LIVE Product Coverage - January 9 |
Gallo Acoustics' Nucleus Micro speakers ($699 per
pair with non-powered subwoofer) come in an array of finishes, including stainless steel.
The new Micro powered subwoofer with 150-watt amp was officially released at the CES. It
consists of two round pieces that are stackable; both pieces of the subwoofer are shown
above. The Micro system with powered sub costs $1500.
ATI's AT6012 amplifier ($1995) has 12 channels and can control six zones of sound
independently.
ATI's AVP7.1 surround sound processor ($3500-$4000
when available) incorporates Dolby Digital 5.1 and 7.1 DTS modes and is THX
hardware/software upgradable. It also includes a video display for viewing menus and
monitoring the selected source. You may recognize a scene from The Fifth Element
shown on the display in the picture.
B&W's SCM-1 on-wall surround speaker ($2200 per pair) is unmistakable in its family
lineage.
Two floorstanding models from Cliffhanger Audio, the CH3 (left, $1000 per pair) and CHS3
($2499 per pair), were beautifully finished.
Denon's AVR-5800 ($2000) A/V receiver has THX Ultra Surround certification. It offers
140Wpc and has dual SHARC 32-bit processors.
MIT's new Oracle V2 speaker cable ($7000 per pair) incorporates the company's
traditionally "network" -- and has its own carrying handle.
As announced on AudioVideoNews, NAD's T550
(top, $799) is the company's first DVD player. It has Dolby Digital, DTS, S composite and
component video, coax and TosLink outputs.
Specifically designed to mate with its Performa series, Revel's new C30 center-channel
speaker (top, approximately $1700) along with the S30 surround speaker ($2500). Revel has
also introduced the powered B15 subwoofer ($2500).
Rotel showed their new RA932 remote-controlled integrated amplifier. The remote, a small
credit-card-sized device that's also very thin, is leaning on the right side of the amp.
The RA932 is one of the first Rotel products to feature an IEC connector, allowing the use
of after-market power cords. In our rush through the Hilton, we neglected to write
down the price. Apologies to our readers and to Rotel.
The newest entrant in the room-correction wars is the Vantas ACS-1, which costs $1000 for
two channels and $2500 fully loaded with eight channels. It incorporates room correction
and linear EQ via 32-bit DSP processing.
Wurlitzer displayed its top-of-the-line all-in-one system at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Robotics pick CDs up from a rotating carousel, rotate them in mid air, and lay them on a
platter, just like the good old days! Perfect for the pool room.
McCormack Audio displayed their line of new and revised electronics developed by Steve
McCormack. Shown here from front to back are the TLC-1 line stage ($1095), the DNA-HT3
($2295) 3 x 125Wpc home-theater amp, the DNA-125 ($1695) 125Wpc stereo amp, and the
DNA-HT5 5 x 125Wpc amplifier (pricing not yet available).
This is one big woofer! While dB fudges with the
camera, Doug Schneider attempts to hold the heavy-duty woofer that will go inside
Paradigm's new Seismic series of subwoofers.
And bigger yet! Paradigm's Bill VanderMarel and Mark
Aling heave the massively built 15" woofer that will go inside the company's new
$3000 Reference series subwoofer to be released this year. Paradigm said that this sub
will have a maximum output of 123dB.
We were impressed by the sound coming from Soliloquy's new 6.3 floorstanding loudspeaker.
The three-way magnetically shielded design retails for $2995 per pair and is available in
curly maple, cherry and rosewood finishes.
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