2011 CES Show Report V

Audiopax

Audiopax makes svelte sounding and appearing equipment. The sound was ultra-smooth with very warm and supple, completely non-fatiguing. It was a breath of fresh air after being pounded with power and detail for days. The system is compelling for those seeking a stressless listening experience, like mentally reclining in a lounger and taking the weight off one’s soul.

The Ayon CD-5S ($11,995) led the way to the Audiopax Model 5 A3 Pre Amplifier, Model 88 A3 Monoblock Amplifiers, and Arpeggione Speakers. Stealth Indra interconnects and Dream Petite speaker cables were used.

NFS Audio

Here, for your entertainment, is the room belonging to the system listed as winner of the Party Boys of the Weekend System! The 4001 NFS (Not For Sale) Audio rig sported nearly as many light manipulating machines as audio producing components. For a moment I thought I had been transported to a demented version of Easter Island. You have to love hobbyists who for the love of audio haul their stuff to shows and have a blowout good time!

In honor of these enthusiasts I list their system:

VPI HMW 19 MK IV Turntable with JMW 10 Tonearm and Ortofon Winfield cartridge, Modwright Oppo BpD 83SE, Esoteric DV 50S, vintage Harmon Kardon Citation One Preamplifier with Carver mods, Harmon Kardon Citation II Amplifier with Carver mods, Apogee Mini Grand speakers, and a “mishmash” of cabling. I could feel the love of audio in this room! Kudos, gentlemen!

Clarity Cable

I am currently finalizing a review of the Clarity Cable Organic and Vortex series, and am just taking possession of the Raven Design Ebb Speakers for review. These are exciting products with tremendous “surprise factor” in terms of performance. The Clarity room gets better each time I hear it, and I think the rework of the Ebb to display the lamination process in production is a lovely touch. The AMI HiFi Mini DA was producing excellent playback from a hard drive source.

The system was comprised of Dr. Feickert Analogue Twin Turntable ($9,000) and 10.5 Tonearm ($1,000), Denon 103R Cartridge ($300), Playback Designs MPS-5 Reference SACD/CD Playback System ($15,000), AMI HiFi Mini DA (analogue output, $7,000), darTZeel CTH-8550 Amplifier ($20,300), Raven Ebb Speakers ($14,000), and among cabling the Clarity Cable Organic RCA Interconnect ($500/5’) and Organic Speaker ($2,800/10’).

Highend-electronics

My week drew to a close in the waning hours of Sunday with a stop by the highend-electronics room, another purveyor of gear which gets it right sounding even in hotel rooms. Though last, it certainly was not the least in terms of sound, and the Consensus Audio Conspiracy is among the best ceramic driver-based speakers at either show.
A Sony XA9000ES ($3,000) as transport fed an Audio Synthesis DAX Discrete DAC ($6,000), the Valvet Soulshine Tube Preamplifier ($5,590), and alternating between the KR Audio Kronzilla DX MkII Mono Amplifier and the VAlvet A3.5 Class-A Mono Amplifier ($5,590), and finally the Consensus Audio Conspiracy Speakers ($41,700).