Robert Harley's Best of CES
Robert Harley’s Best of CES
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 a dCS Scarlatti front end, was absolutely magnificent on a wide range of music. I listened to my own music for more than 45 minutes, reluctant to give up the listening seat. The Grand Master had gorgeous rendering of timbre that was simultaneously lush, liquid, and highly resolved. The soundstaging was huge and beautifully defined. But it was the Grand Master’s complete sense of ease and composure during loud and complex passages that was its greatest achievement. The Grand Master appears to be a major accomplishment.
There was some controversy over the Magico Q5, perhaps because it sounded different on different days. I heard it early in the show and again on the last afternoon, when it was much improved. The Q5 was unbelievably detailed, dynamic, and clean. The sound had a sense of precision that some interpreted as clinical. I did hear, however, an extremely realistic and intimate rendering of Sonny Rollins’ sax from The Tape Project’s release of Saxophone Colossus.
The Wilson MAXX 3 driven by Lamm’s new LL1 Signature preamplifier and ML3 power amplifiers electronics was gorgeous—the best I’ve heard this speaker sound.
Perhaps not by coincidence, I heard four great sounds from four different Marten speakers in four different rooms—Vitus Audio, EAR, Engstrom, and Cary. In the Cary room, the Marten Coltrane was driven by a Cary SLP 05 preamp and CAD 211 Founder’s Edition monoblock amplifiers with a Cary CD 303T CD player at the front end. In a sea of hi-fi sound, the Cary room was pure music.
Greatest Bargain
Four of my five best sounds at the show were systems costing upward of $150k. The fifth cost $12k. That system was the diminutive sphere-shaped speakers and DSP crossover from Kubotek called the HSP1C07. It produced an extraordinarily realistic impression of live music. I don’t know how this system fares on a variety of music, but on voice and piano it was magical.
Greatest Technological Breakthrough
The Holm Acoustics DSP room correction system appears to be the most advanced and sophisticated system of its type. The DSPre1 (starting at $7850) can be configured for single amplifiers, bi-amping, or tri-amping with the DSPre1’s DSP crossovers.
Most Important Trend
The dissolution of traditional product categories and the emergence of new multi-function products. These new products combine legacy technologies with advanced capabilities. The Electrocompaniet Maestro is a good example—a single box that offers Blu-ray playback, FM, Internet radio, iPod interface, wireless streaming, D/A conversion, and a three-channel integrated amplifier.
Most Significant New Product or Company
Holm Acoustics has been working behind the scenes for six years on their DSP correction system and has finally come to market. The products appeared to be fully realized rather than the work-in-progress impression one often gets from high-technology software-intensive products. The DSPre1 system sounded wonderful in the two rooms in which I heard it.
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Comments
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your concise overview of CES essentials!
What did you think of the Avalon Time?
Kind regards,
Marcel
Unfortunately, I missed hearing the Time. Each of us has a category to cover (mine was electronics over $10,000) and we're unable to hear every exhibit.
Lol Robert you have good taste you love out of this world stuff as well lol my house is not even 250k which will take 30 years total to pay off. I'm tempted to go audition the hansen. I did hear the prince I think at ces 2009 with CAT components and it sounded pretty darn shockingly good.
I could never begin to afford the Hansen Grand Master, but we should still celebrate those individuals who create such products.
Robert, thanks for the concise "best sound of the show overview". I am a big fan of the Magico speakers (and that is saying something because I am dipole lover having owned Quads, Magneplanars, Apogees, Wisdom's, Sound Lab's, Martin-Logan and MBL's). I think the M5 is the most "holistic" loudspeaker that I have heard to date. My two questions for you is how the M5 sound compared to the new Q5 and what is the "clinical sound" that people were alluding to with the Q5? I've never heard a Magico speaker sound clinical and I've had the V3's in my home for a few weeks.
Too bad, when I was in college, I could afford components around around $500 and all the really high end stuffs seemed to be around $5000-$10,000 max (Infinity IRS-V and Wilsom WAMM not included), then after college, I could afford $3-5000 stuffs while high end stuffs were $8000-20000. Now I can afford some $10,000 stuffs but all the super highend stuffs are $50,000-100,000+ It seems that the gap between high end market price and my income potential kept getting bigger and bigger :( I think need a new career!
Not that I am complaining, it is a free market after all.
My local dealer complains that high end equipments are now so expensive that he wonders if the price drives away some of the younger crowds, recent college graduates etc away from considering high end equipments.
He certainly thinks that he does not get many young customers anymore so who will be buying high end stuffs 10-20 years down the road.
As I have aged over the last 20 years....surely I see the treatment difference in Hi-Fi shops. And to be fair I guess its fair to assume by them that younger/younger looking people more than likely would not have the money to purchase lots of the high end stuff out there. People who buy them are generally older and over time I have been able to afford slightly more expensive stuff then say in my 20's. I think as other companies have moved to attracting the general public, the HI-end audio industry has moved to an even smaller niche group. The equipment has become more and more boutique like. Lots of the stuff looks like fashion statements. And certainly lots of it is not for the general public(and I mean realistically)(some of these things even if someone earns $100K(top bracket in US as percentage) a year cannot afford it). if you see the coverage posted so far on Stereophile and TAS blogs the stuff has price tags that I would guess only the very very rich could afford. Bottom line is that Hi End is not the same as it used to be when we were in college. Its switched to more like Rodeo Drive shops. a museum for visitors to get amazed with but available for purchase by a few. I think the best approach in this case is to follow what R.H.'s book of High end systems state. Determine a budget based on your income, audition stuff and purchase the best system you can within those means and auditioned products that sound best to YOU. I skim through shows and coverage and new technology and it sure is exciting that such amazing things are coming out but I'm not going to spend more money than my house on audio equipment and jeopardize the well being/future of my self, my family, kids, etc....that's not musical enjoyment. its product affection and chasing. So I would suggest not to worry about the chase, look for the best system you can afford and ENJOY IT. Like you say....the local dealers that I have visited in about 5 states are drying out and struggling to hold up from the impression I got by the few that I visited...I don't know what the scene is with the general dealerships in the country.I hope Hi end survives when the older guys are gone.
"what is the "clinical sound" that people were alluding to with the Q5?"
I thought that they sounded anything but clinical. In fact if I have to complain, they were a bit polite, perhaps underpowered in that enormous room. Still best sound at the show IMO. I could have listen for hours. Not your typical hi-fi fatiguing sound that most other systems sounded like.
Robert,
Did you get a chance to hear the Revel Salon 2's driven by the Levinson 53's reference monoblocks
I did hear the Salon2 and the 53s, but just briefly and with the Holm DSP room correction.
Not very helpful RH. What is your opinion of them?
Robert did you hear the P.S. audio Perfect wave combo any where in the show and what were your impressions? or the VPI classic Turntable. From the show coverage of RMAF 2009 it seems like these 2 products were in A LOT of different rooms.
Some Perspective:
One year I spent 5% of my annual income to purchase high end speakers. Those speakers cost $8000 a pair. If I spent 5% of my annual income on a pair these monsters I'd need an annual income of $9,560,000. Yikes! I guess if you have to ask the price...
And many celebraties, musicians, movie stars, CEO's easyly make that much money from collective effort of the general population. Bottom line. Do something that sells for cheap like movie theater tickets of ur movie, cd for ur album, mcdonalds heartattack food that millions will buy and easily part with their money to generate that kind of income+ the recreation drug money, women, shopping, partying helps as well. But remember how it was pooled. That money came from somewhere. It's not new money printed. Lots of money floating around. People just need the skill and desire to milk the system. Lol
just looking at them(speakers) makes me sick. they are ugly beasts.
I am pretty sure they sound good but nothing in them or on them justifies the price. goes the same for Wilson, and so on.
High End audio. give me a break.
I am around it for more than 20 years becoming more and more disgusted by it.
I would not buy them even for 10grands, still not worthy.
Wilson is another one. those guys. they live good for sure.
I meant The Grand Master of course. and what is it about all those superlatives used in such products names?
why you guys even discuss such a decadency
stef
Mr. Harley,
I am surprised the Hansen speaker post has not resulted in the usual flood of class warfare replies. However, what is Hansen trying to achieve with this speaker? I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but they probably won't sell more than a dozen or 2 of these. There is already a lot of competition at the high, high, high end with Focal, Magico, Wilson, YG, etc.
Is it pride? Do they think that just because they can make a good price no object speaker, it will trickle down and translate into sales for their "cheaper" speakers? I wouldn't think that audiophiles would go for that without scoping out the competition at each price point, but I could be wrong.
Or did they just want a little buzz, attention, and publicity for the show? What is the business objective?
He already said it that "its to celebrate the individuals who make such products"
So here's one interpretation: YG is the best speaker on earth in the ads, and confirmed by Stereophile. Magico M5 is the best speaker per the very influential and superb writer JV. It's also on the cover of TAS. Mr. Harley owns the big Wilsons, and thinks Rockport is up there also. Wilson Maxx 3 wins product of the year from Stereophile. Big Focals are the cats meow for Roy Gregory, and are on the cover of HiFi+ and TAS.
What does Hansen, whose ego is as big as that of the others, do? Why not steal some of the attention from the other big boys by releasing the one of the most expensive speakers in the world? It got a page write up in TAS and I'm sure everyone was talking about checking out Hansen at the show.
Will it translate into sales? Maybe a little bit due to extra awareness of the brand, but I doubt it will be a big impact for the reasons I mentioned above.
Robert:
I'm interested in more details about the DSP correction system . Can you direct me to some reading you'd recommend to get up to speed?
Try this one http://www.holmacoustics.com/