My CES 2010 Show Report

[unit]

Hi Richard-
Awesome report on CES. Your impressions were detailed and give prospective buyers something to go on.
I am close to a speaker purchase. It's between the Usher BE-10 and Acoustic Zen Crescendo. I heard the Crescendo in Denver and liked it very much. I heard the Usher at another time and place and liked it a lot as well. They both appear to be in same ballpark in price.
Based on what you heard in Vegas, which one would you go with if you were me?
Also, would you mind saying how they differ and what strengths they offer?

[RGA]

Choosing between the two really comes down to personal preference and based on just a show coverage I would not take it TOO seriously because the front end plays a huge role here. That's the diplomatic cover the ass comment.

I preferred the Acoustic Zen room and it the speakers almost made my top 5 (it was the runner up). To be fair to Usher they were still not quite set-up with their desired source but I liked the sound immensely. I personally just prefer the 3 dimensionality offered by tube front ends and the Acoustic Zen speakers are easier to accommodate lower powered front ends. They were close it should be said and I really liked the female vocals of the Ushers and I liked that they sounded cohesive (generally the bigger multi-ways don't). The Acoustic Zens may not have quite the impact the Ushers would be able to muster - not absolute but that's the impression I get.

It's not like either speaker outclasses the other - both were some of the best at the show IMO and far from being the priciest. I think the Usher has a higher impact sound while the Zen is a little more organic and perhaps lusher - but remember that the Zen had a tube front end while the Usher was using big SS and running state of the art recordings.

[unit]

Thanks Richard!
I actually have the Tri 845 amp that was being paired with the Crescendo. I like it a lot.
So I guess it makes sense to go with the AZ.
Is the AZ resolving enough?
I'm sure I missed it here, but what were your Top 5 speakers at the show?

[RGA]

Yeah I really liked the Tri gear - it also looks sexy and the prices are actually sane.

I don't want to give away my top five at this time because Dagogo is posting a couple of more of my reports where I divulge.

Though it is not a stretch to say that one of them is the Audio Note AN E/Spe HE at $7,600. I liked it more than either the Usher or Acoustic Zen - but people find me incredibly biased - I find me biased because of the sound. :-)

It should be noted that the US Audio Note importer apparently has also picked up Acoustic Zen - I find Mike and I agree on most things audio.

http://audiofederation.com/blog/cate.../acoustic-zen/

The AN E/Spe HE with Jinro amp - had just as much bass and volume capability as anything I heard at CES - they actually played them at serious levels. At the end of the day I desire cohesiveness is first priority - larger speakers have larger problems to overcome. The speakers in my top five just sound a little more cohesive and less like a loudspeaker is in the room. The single drivers and two ways typically have the advantage and you will see those in my top five than the larger loudspeakers which may have deeper bass or play louder but which sound more "speaker like" than life like. I also like the AN E/Spe HE because it's about half the price of the Usher or Acoustic Zen and even if they were all the same price I buy the AN E. But I also have a system that was designed for the AN E so it plays a major factor.

Another one to look at between the price points are the Teresonic Ingeniums - one of my fellow writers purchased them. But the bass of the Usher, Acoutcic Zen dig deeper but the midrange up on the Teresonic is better IMO. And 100db sensitive is pretty nice. They also look pretty cool which is somewhat of a consideration to some. The RA Box is absolutely awesome here as well but it costs $25k damn it.

I don't want my preferences to persuade you - There are piles of great loudspeakers and ultimately we all have a preference at the end of the day. The great Tannoy Prestige line was not at CES and the Kensington SE is a terrific loudspeaker for about $8,500 and they have upper models to consider as well.

[unit]

Thanks again Richard.
I have heard a couple of older Tannoy drivers. A friend of mine has the Gold driver in a Cornetta curved back enclosure. It was quite nice, but could have used a bit more bass.
Another friend wrote a review of the Cornetta corner cabinet with the Red driver. http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/tannoy/cornetta.html
I didn't get a chance to hear this, but he said the bass was incredible, while the rest of the frequency response was also great. I guess they are unobtanium now however.
I guess with the cabinet plans and the cost of two drivers and the cost of either having someone make the cabinet or do it yourself, you have an outstanding speaker at a fraction of the cost of most speakers in it's class.
Another dual-concentric speaker is the WLM Diva. http://www.wlm-loudspeakers.com/indexengl.html
Have you ever heard these? They are very efficient as well.

[RGA]

Report number 22 is up covering:

MSB
Harbeth
Spender
Exposure
Scaena Loudspeakers
McIntosh
Kronzilla
Peak Consultant

http://www.dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=729


Last rooms are coming soon:

EMM Labs
Sony Loudspeakers
Kimber Cable
Pass Labs
Boulder
Focal (JM Labs) Loudspeakers
Cary Audio
Marten Loudspeakers
Audio Note (The half million dollar+ system)

[RGA]

I am wrapping this up here as Dagogo is currently busy preparing for the California Audio Show. http://www.caaudioshow.com/

But I hate leaving things unfinished so here is the last set.


IsoMike / Kimber Cable, EMM Labs/ Sony / Pass Labs

Walking into this large room Ray Kimber was explaining to listeners how IsoMike recordings are made and discussing the new flagship Sony Loudspeakers. My first thought was SONY!! Yes with exclamation marks. You have to be kidding me? Looking over at the electronics and seeing Pass Labs, EMM Labs and Kimber cables and Ray himself touting the Sony Loudspeakers I though okay let’s spend some time here and get into a good listening seat. Ray put on a couple of IsoMike Jazz pieces from Joe McQueen and the sound was insightful and powerful. Sony? Really? Wow this is pretty good. Have to tip my cap. Next up was High Altitude drums – an impressive disc of, as you would expect, drumming. The macro-dynamics of this system was indeed very impressive – the soundstage was huge in all directions and terrific non-thumping bass depth and drive. Very well controlled and from what I could gather a pretty neutral response top to bottom. I can see why Ray was so enthused about the loudspeakers. Interestingly, some people whose ears I trust and often agree didn’t care for the sound. Still, I auditioned this room for quite some time and I think the overall sound was robust articulate and fast. I think if I had any criticism it would be in the layering of subtle details and micro-dynamics, but those are minor quibbles since the sound generated scale and drive quite well. Still, I would like to hear the system with my own recordings but this was a room all about the recording process and while Ray was not taking requests, a complaint I had about many rooms, he did at least choose extremely demanding recording material.