VTV Exclusive 2007 CES and THE
SHOW Report - Page 2
Triode Corporation, Junichi Yamazaki and Santy
Oropel
Great music from Mr. Yamazaki's TRV-35SE Class A/B push-pull integrated amplifier
($1699). With 45 watts at 8 ohms, this amp created a sound that was resolving and
balanced, emanating from the tiny Micropure Kotaro monitors ($3100) which feature
Murata super tweeters and a no-crossover design.
.
Micropure Kotaro monitor is on the stand in front, with Cain & Cain Ben
behind it ,and
the Bailey subwoofer in back of the line of Triode Corp. electronics.
TRV-35SE integrated amp
Junichiro Yamazaki, Chief Designer, Triode Corp.
Source was a dCS P8i CD/SACD player--probably the most refined digital I heard at the
show. Cabling was all Acoustic Zen-- Silver Reference II interconnects, Satori speaker
cables, and Tsunami PC. I asked Santy (US distributor) to play my demo track from the
Mozart's "Mass in C." I'd heard "Kyrie," the first movement, on
glittering megasystems
earlier in the day, but the Triode amp and tiny Micropure mini-monitors created a much
more harmonically coherent, tonally clear, and overall musical sound, even for large
choir and orchestra. Mr. Yamazaki told me he'd been crafting amps since his teens,
going small for the reality of Japanese apartment-living.
Audio Electronics (Cary Audio), Gregg Dunn
I didn't hear these amps, as they were only on display in the Cary room at the
Venetian. Gregg Dunn explained to me that this was an old "kit line we've
revived" and
showed me the Six Pacs monoblocks (60W) and Super Amp MKII stereo amp
(40W). Both amps use the EL34 power tube.
Audio Six Pac monos (far left and right) and Super Amp Mk II (center)
Gregg Dunn of Cary Audio
Audio AE-3 MkII preamp
The full lineup also includes the AE-3 MKII preamp and PH-1 DJH single-ended phono
equalizer. Prices are very affordable--$1500 for the pre, $1800 for the stereo amp, and
$2500 for the monoblocks. The phono is only $900. Making its debut was the Cary
CAD 120S--a KT88 stereo amp that puts out 120W ultralinear and 60W in triode. Gregg
said the design is a new one. Designer Dennis Had set the operating voltage higher in the
circuit to achieve the output power he wanted with four output tubes per channel instead
of six, as in the V 12 power amp. The front panel meters show the bias setting for the two
channels. For $5,000 retail, it ships in March.
Cary CAD 120S, a new KT88, 2-channel power amp--120W ultralinear, 60W triode.
Unison Research/Opera Audio
In the Unison Research/Opera room, the system centered on Unison's big SS/hybrid
Unico 200SE, a 200W integrated. It was driving the very sleek, steel grey,
spaceship-skinned, near floor-to-ceiling multiple-driver Opera obelisk called the Caruso.
But I was much more impressed with Unison's design in valve amps.
Three caught my eye--the 14W Preludio ($3,700), the 27W Sinfornia ($5,699), and the 40W
Performance ($11,500).
The Sinfonia is a duo-mono integrated, single-ended parallel, ultralinear Class A amp and
the Preludio is a stereo amp that is also single-ended parallel, ultralinear Class A. The
Performance is the big dog--40W with six KT88 tubes. Their look of red-stained
cherrywood with brushed aluminum plates and fittings shows that any of Unison's valve
amp designs is worthy of museum display.
Preludio (14W, 2 KT88s)
Sinfonia (27W, 4 KT88s)
Performance (40W Class A, triple-parallel, single-ended ultralinear 6 KT88 amp
Merlin Loudspeakers and Joule Amplifiers, Bobby Palkovich
Bobby Palkovich has the energy and enthusiasm of a special teams football coach, though
here he is in a pensive mood, researching a Merlin review on the internet.
Bobby Palkovich of Merlin Music
Merlin VSM-MXe/Super BAM Speakers ($11,500/pr) with
Joule Electra VZN-100 monoblocks
Joule Electra VZN-100 Monoblocks ($19,000/pr)
VZN-100 on Critical Mass Stand (Custom-Build)
I spent a long time in the Merlin Music room listening to the latest iteration of the
Merlin
floorstanders--the lead-free VSM-MXe/Super BAM two-way floorstanding speaker--and
Joule Electra VZN-100 monoblocks in musicwood. Those bumpy valves on the amps are
the 6C33 Russian power tubes originally designed for the MIG-25 Foxbat fighter. After
Bobby changed out the tired 9v batteries to fresh ones in the Super BAM module, the
system sound was resolving, neutral, and absolutely clean. Generously, Bobby introduced me
to a Water Lilly SACD recording of Mahler's Fifth Symphony (Yuri Termirkanov conducting
the St. Petersburg Philharmonic). When he played it, the textures and timbres were
glorious--precise and splashy brass, moody strings. The source was an audio Aero Capitole
and the cabling was all Cardas Golden Reference.
Audio Machina, Karl Schuemann
At the end of the first day at CES, I found the Audio Machina room, where designer Karl
Schuemann had set up a tidy but sonically gorgeous system featuring The Pure System--
two-box speakers he was introducing at CES. The Pure consists of the Melody Monitor
and the ICE-powered Symphony Subwoofer that fit perfectly, one on top the other.
Together, they rise to the height of an adolescent Emperor penguin (about 4'), have the
look of a pair of viola cases and the sound of a small orchestra. I was told each cabinet
is
CNC machined from two solid blocks of aeropsace aluminum that then are fitted tightly
together like two halves of a a clamshell. The system source was an Audio Aero Prestige
SACD running straight into a pair of Audio Aero Prestige 40W triode/pentode Class A
monoblocks. These amps use two 6SN7GTBs, one VT4-C, and one 813 each. Cabling throughout
was Absolutecables--solid-core copper speaker wires and interconnects, stranded copper
power cords. Behind all this were two attractive 2' x 4' wood-slat sound deflectors called
the
Kosmic Acoustic Panels ($2000 ea) that, together with the simple line of components laid
out on the
floor, made it seem as though I was about to be served tea in a Zen monastery--with the
Pure transcending the real as dual bodhisattvas looming over the ceremony. One of the
best sounds of the show, this system flat played music, rendering a medium-sized
soundstage with depth and inner detail as well as creating a warm and resolving sound
with voices and strings. With operatic solos, the voices were vibrant, liquid, and
natural.
I couldn't ask for more, actually. Except a lower price--I was told the speakers were
retail in excess of $20,000.
The Pure System--Melody Monitor and Symphony Subwoofer
(Photo by G. Radulesk)
Karl Schuemann
Audio Aero Prestige SACD, AA Mono, The
PURE, Kosmic Acoustic Panel (rear)
Audio Aero Prestige Mono Bloc
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Page 3 of the 2007 CES Show Report
