In a digital world filled with more and more devices to distribute and playback music, it’s amazing that not one of those fancy new items seem to actively pitch the sonic quality of the music that they’re making so portable. That’s what made the High Performance Audio section of CES so refreshing. It’s good to know that somewhere in the outer reaches of the tech world, dedicated lovers of real music are slaving away at things like pitch, modulation and clarity and developing the perfect tone arm for the even more perfect turntable. Thank you, folks.
Until now, vinyl to USB converters have taken on the appearance of cheap toys. And it didn’t help that they were being sold in Urban Outfitters next to throw pillows. Veteran audio company Audio-Technica jumps into the fray with something a bit more sleek, in a color that matches most other components, and ties into the very good Creative CakeWalk sound editing program. Nothing they could do, however, about that problem of having to listen to the whole song before it gets recorded. If you’ve been downloading for the last couple of years, transferring files in real time takes some getting used to. Not to mention that fact that you have to write the album titles in by hand. But if you love your collection, you’ll take the effort.
Excuse the cheesy promo pic.
Are your noticing a pattern here? The best stuff is made by companies you’ve never heard of. No President’s Day Sale at Best Buy to score this stuff. This amazing audio stack was introduced by Soulution Audio.
Together, only about $64,000. And worth every bit of it (um, I guess. But I’ll never know).
Leave it to the Germans to create the Porsche of music systems - The MBL 101 X-Treme Loudspeakers system. A 3600 pound per set, 5 foot tall behemoth that comes in at $199,000 a pair for the speakers alone. The speakers are mono, each requiring its own set of 30,ooo watt power amplifiers. MBL estimates that only ten of these systems will be produced per year - likely because only ten people will be able to afford it.
Home is the big story here this year. Home entertainment, home connectivity, home integration. Home theater is at the top of the rung.And just when you thought you were beating your neighbor Charlie to the punch with your 7.1 Theater in a Box that Circuit City came to install for you, here comes a whole slew of super high end home audio products. These are not for the faint of heart. Don’t think Home Theater, think an actual theater in your crib. So on to the droolworthy…
