2008 Consumer Electronics Show Report (Part 3 of 3)

Audio Technica has an easy to use turntable and software package featuring USB connectivity so you can transfer your vinyl collection to a computer. The AT-LP2D-USB ($229 US) includes a fully automatic turntable, a moving magnet cartridge and all the necessary cables.

Alberta's EMM Labs make some of the best digital players and converters in the world. Shown here are the new TSD-1 SACD Digital Drive and the partnering DAC-2 asynchronous converter, which will together cost over $20,000.

A number of companies are introducing state of the art CD Players, none more interesting than Boulder's 1021 Disc Player ($24,000 US) featuring a very large and well laid out display. The 1021 reads the CD into RAM memory and replays it from there, which reduces jitter and allows improved error correction. The sound was first rate through Boulder 1050 Monoblocs ($21,000 US each) and Dynaudio Temptation speakers ($40,000 US).

Nobody makes better looking speakers than Italy's Sonus Faber. New this year is the Cremona M ($12,800 US) which features a 1" tweeter, a 6" midrange and two 7" woofers made from an advanced aluminum/magnesium alloy. They sound as good as they look - rich, dynamic and spacious.

Ayre Acoustic introduces their new KX-R preamplifier ($18,500 US) - an attempt on the state of the art, carved out of a solid billet of aluminum. Other preamps boost the source signal first then attenuate it by passing it through a volume control. In the KX-R the volume control changes a resistor that determines the amount of gain instead. The result is lower noise, especially at lower listening levels.

Toronto's Gershman Acoustics introduces a new version of their long running Avant Garde speakers ($8200) featuring new drivers and crossover components.

Plenty of Vinyl spinners were shown at CES, among them this new Wyndsor model from Creek ($4500 US with Project Carbon Fiber arm).

From the same stable come the Epos M22i floor-standing speakers at $2599 US.

Definitive Technology has two single speaker five channel arrays for mounting under a flat panel display. For 30" to 46" displays choose the SSA-42 ($800 US) or for larger screens there's the SSA-50 ($1099 US) which offers higher sound pressures and more dynamic range.

Definitive developed new axially aligned driver/tweeter arrays. These speakers are designed for those who can't or won't set up rear speakers.

Best sound of the show goes to Meridian Audio with a simple system comprising two new products - the Signature Reference 808.2 CD Player ($14,995 US), an update of the 808 and the DSP7200 Speaker ($US 34,995. The 808.2 features improved clocking and buffering systems that together reduce jitter to extremely low levels. It is available with analog and digital inputs for an extra $1000. The new speaker is the first to include the company's latest input-board architecture, which employs standard, RJ45 (Ethernet) ports for Meridian Comms interconnection, delivering the simplicity and elegance of installation via CAT5 cabling. Naturally the new CD Player can output over Meridian Comms.

Best looking new product is the Giya Speaker from Vivid Audio. This four-way, five driver speaker features reinforced advanced composite materials with a high gloss automotive finish. Vivid make all the drivers in house. A pair will set you back over $50,000. The designer is Lawrence Dickie, the man who brought us the legendary Nautilus speaker from B&W. The Giya is a development from that design, and although still in prototype form, it clearly has great promise. The design features catenary dome profiles (look it up), open pole radially-polarized rare earth magnet systems, reaction cancelling bass driver mounts, highly aligned heat conductive driver chassis, tapered tube absorbers and a host of other engineering details. Each speaker weights 70 kg.

Every year after CES I'm so exhausted I swear I'll never come back, but by the time the next CES rolls around I change my mind. Is this my last visit? Tune in next year to find out!