CA Bits & Bytes Volume 3: 2012 CES, Upcoming Reviews

Hi Doc - I certainly will.

That's great you keep us up-to-date on what's happening at CA. Someday, I'd like to attend an audio show. It must be a blast. And the Sonata review will be well-worth waiting for I imagine (Carly Simon's Anticipation is playing in my ears).<br />

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thanks,<br />

ron

Chris,<br />

Have you seen this? Might be worth a look.<br />

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http://www.samsung.com/us/news/newsRead.do?news_seq=20042&page=1&gltype=localnews

Chris... Maybe worth getting to Meridian. A new digital pre-amp; DSP speakers and update to Sooloos iPad application. <br />

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Eloise

Chris is really gaga over I will attempt to go hear it myself, for another set of ears/perspectives.<br />

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Ted

Quoting The Computer Audiophile on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 19:51<br />

"...Who knows maybe C.A.P.S. v3.0 will be kickstarted at CES :~)..."<br />

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I think the ideal C.A.P.S. v3.0 should have ethernet input and analog output.

Hi Brian - The current C.A.P.S. v2.0 server has Ethernet input and analog output.<br />

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Well, then I think the ideal C.A.P.S. v3.0 should have ethernet input, analog output AND a remote control motorized analog volume control.<br />

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Any information on this interesting new "phase layering" technology would be appreciated!<br />

http://www.bsgt.com<br />

thanks<br />

Francisco

A few times. Will report back on the demo.

Chris,<br />

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I think dCS is there showing their DSD over DAC.<br />

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Could you watch out for us and when that update for Debussy will be available?<br />

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Thx

Agreed on the dCS dsd request, and I will try to ask about this myself as I think I will attend for a day. Does anyone know where dCS will be on Friday?

If you happen to pass by the tablets and TVs, a word or two on the newest stuff would be appreciated. <br />

<br />

-Paul<br />

Hi Chris,<br />

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somewhere I thought I heard you were reviewing the TAD C2000 DAC Preamplifier. A very interesting device it seems. Is this coming or did I get it wrong?<br />

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I was told a few months ago that TAD were hoping to release some new products at CES. I'm sure you'll be catching up with these guys so look forward to hearing more.<br />

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thanks<br />

<br />

murray

TAD will show the new C600 pre-amp (only analog inputs) which completes the 600 reference series next to the D600 SACD-player and the M600 mono amps. Retail is expected at something like 35k.<br />

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In addition the new E1 floor standing speaker will be presented with C2000 DAC/pre-amp and M4300 power amp to complete the so-called evolution series. E1 will be around 25k/pair.

IMO the demos are quite misleading because of the significantly higher volume that is achieve with the QOL engaged versus bypassed. Having a bypass in the unit is somewhat gimmicky feature to sell the QOL since the QOL folks cannot demonstrate an instance where the music sounds better through the bypass. I think a more useable feature would have been to have a variable bypass that engages the QOL circuitry from zero to 100%, especially since there are instances or setups where the full QOL effect might seem excessive.<br />

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I believe the volume levels must be identical for a fair comparison. Most people will find the QOL unit to enhance the 3D characteristics of sound. This is almost similar to what one might get with well done reverberation - not that QOL is using reverb but I believe they are altering the phasing and timing through analog circuitry.<br />

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Of course this is just my opinion since I don't own the QOL unit. I am most interested to read your report.

Hi Chris and Ted,<br />

Suggest you listen to the Music Culture products and see whether you agree with my view in regard to their high value/performance as mentioned in the report in my blog. I foresee these products have significant impact on other brands in the market.

Today. I told them I couldn't get past the 2-3db gain. So Larry put on a compilation cd that was gain matched so we could hear only the phase effects without the added gain (although they claim the gain is not from voltage but from increased music information.). With the cd demo the QOL process sounded pretty good in my short demo! With the most effects being better dynamics at low volumes. I will go back tmrw or Thursday to hear it in a better more relaxed environment (whipped and still jet lagged today).

A couple CA folks there too (afveep, etc) and it was a very nice stay. I will go back tmrw and listen further. Beautiful stuff, wow.

Hi Ted,<br />

Glad that a veteran such as yourself endorses my enthusiasm for the products, especially the speakers. Not only the sound, the build quality of the products is very high. Mr Meletsky is a nice person. Hope he is able to spare the time talking to you at length. Please ask him to use the Jazz at the Pawnshop track as demo and you will be able to hear the realism capability of the setup.

Hi Murray - The C2000 I had in for review had some issues. The unit had traveled the world a few times and something came loose internally.<br />

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Went to the company site. Basically no explanation of anything their stuff actually does:<br />

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"bsg technologies has developed a method of retrieving sonic information from audio signals that provides a realistic and complete rendering of the original acoustic event"<br />

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Robert Harley wrote a review. http://www.bsgt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tas_feb2012_review.pdf /<br />

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Very enthusiastic, he's added it to his system. Some explanation of what it does. But he also says he doesn't understand how the product works.

Audio Research prototype Ref Dac?

I assume that a good part of the QOL involves one or two transformers, capacitors and bypass capacitors in some kind of circuitry to alter and recombine the audio signals.<br />

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It sounds great and as anyone who has played around with different transformers and capacitors knows the significant differences these things can make.<br />

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About the only thing that I dislike about the QOL is the gimmicky bypass feature whose primary purpose is a sales tool. What would be more useful for any consumer would be a variable bypass that engages the QOL circuitry from zero to 100%, especially since there are instances or setups where the full QOL effect might seem excessive. Perhaps someone attending the show could ask the QOL folks to consider a more useable consumer feature that would still be capable of demonstrating the dramatic difference when the QOL circuitry is dialed down to zero.

A prototype is displayed- lit up but not connected. Very nice and as you expected, it does a lot. They're calling it a digital media bridge. Price will be between $14-$15,000 I believe that they said with availability in Q1-Q2, perhaps as early as February. The size is same as other REF chassis.<br />

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DAC portion based on DAC 8 with same drivers. Analog section is all tube based on Ref5SE. The unit is not a preamp but does have a combination of analog and digital attenuation ( avoids loss of critical bits). <br />

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Will accept pretty much everything digital- streaming DNLA/ UPnP, etc via RJ45 ( the person I spoke with did not know what the control app, etc. would be), USB2HS, AES, SPDIF, etc..it has a dedicated USB-type "iPod" port as well as a front panel USB port, presumably for USB sticks. Ability to up sample to 176.4 or 192. Wireless Ethernet built in, Internet radio, RS232 control<br />

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Supposedly, the 3.5" TFT front panel will display some metadata from certain sources. The tube analog section should be awesome but I guess that I'm maybe a bit disappointed that there does not seem to be any major updates to the digital section over the DAC8 (although that is very good except for maybe the possible Mac driver issue that people report).<br />

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It certainly is very interesting and I'd very much suggest that Chris put this on his list to see and report on.