Superspeakers at CES 2012

Jeff Fritz · Jan 6, 2012

The Superspeakers series has begun with the first installment:

http://www.soundstageglobal.com/

This series, along with our regular CES coverage, will continue throughout the show.

Ki Choi · Jan 6, 2012

Looking forward to hearing a pair of MBL X-tremes "superspeakers" driven by four 9011 monoblocks.

amirm · Jan 6, 2012

Thanks Jeff. Puzzled by this comment:

" Just a few days ago, Magico bigwig Alon Wolf told me by phone that they were measuring the Q7’s bass response in their listening room in Berkeley, California, flat down to 15Hz."

How could it be "flat" in the low frequency in a listening room? Are they willing to post said measurements and smoothing level applied to the graph/measurement?

LL21 · Jan 6, 2012

Jeff Fritz said:
The Superspeakers series has begun with the first installment:

http://www.soundstageglobal.com/

This series, along with our regular CES coverage, will continue throughout the show.

Thanks, Jeff! Hard at work already!

Jeff Fritz · Jan 6, 2012

amirm said:
Thanks Jeff. Puzzled by this comment:

" Just a few days ago, Magico bigwig Alon Wolf told me by phone that they were measuring the Q7’s bass response in their listening room in Berkeley, California, flat down to 15Hz."

How could it be "flat" in the low frequency in a listening room? Are they willing to post said measurements and smoothing level applied to the graph/measurement?

I probably should have said "at full level" instead of flat. They aren't claiming perfectly flat in the bass in room. My bad.

ack · Jan 6, 2012

amirm said:
Thanks Jeff. Puzzled by this comment:

" Just a few days ago, Magico bigwig Alon Wolf told me by phone that they were measuring the Q7’s bass response in their listening room in Berkeley, California, flat down to 15Hz."

How could it be "flat" in the low frequency in a listening room? Are they willing to post said measurements and smoothing level applied to the graph/measurement?

The room appears treated, based on pictures on the TAS web site of the Q5... is it not possible even then?

Roysen · Jan 8, 2012

Thanks Jeff for your focus on Superspeakers. This is very interesting. I do however also hope that you would take a look at two brands you have not mentioned in your Superspeakers series and not in the latest intallment prior to CES 2012 either. I am thinking about Kharma and Lansche Audio. Kharma is a known manufacturer which has been building some of the markets best speakers for decades. Lansche Audio is a rather new and unknown brand in the US market, but especially their Model 8.1 and Model 7 with their Corona plasma tweeter deserves a place in your musings. Evolution Acoustics seems to have caught on big time in the US, but they are realtively unknown here in Europe. I hope that brand also gets under your magnifying glass during your superspeaker coverage.

I also can't wait for the Verity Audio Montsalvat to be released in the market, but I assume it is not ready yet. Burmester is apparently working on a new superspeaker to be placed above their current top model B100. The new model will be a four tower model with seperate bass towers. I assume they are not ready for CES either. Then we have the German brands German Physiks (with their models Emperor and Gaudi) and MBL (with its model 101 X-Treme) which also derves mention in the superspeaker series. Audio Physic is also working on a new top of the line speaker to replace the now discontinued Kronos. I think they introduce most of their speakers in the Munich show though, so not likely to be present at CES 2012.

Jeff Fritz · Jan 10, 2012

The Sonus Faber Aida

http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=202&catid=79&Itemid=246

LL21 · Jan 10, 2012

Very cool! Thanks for posting!

KeithR · Jan 10, 2012

So the 70k Refence One isn't SOTA these days, Jeff? I'm confused by your comments on TAD.

Randall Smith · Jan 10, 2012

The very first Reference One had one extra driver and a much more complex cabinet. In his opinion, it was better than the current model that has been somewhat scaled down to reduce manufacturing costs. The current model is obviously very good, just not as good as the original.

KeithR · Jan 10, 2012

btw, that Sonus Faber is just drop dead gorgeous. hopefully they will bring it to THE Show this year in Newport.

KeithR · Jan 10, 2012

Randall Smith said:
The very first Reference One had one extra driver and a much more complex cabinet. In his opinion, it was better than the current model that has been somewhat scaled down to reduce manufacturing costs. The current model is obviously very good, just not as good as the original.

I remember hearing it years ago at CES on big Pass amps as I recall. Didn't realize it was so different.

Jeff Fritz · Jan 11, 2012

The Magico Q7

http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=205&catid=79&Itemid=246

Jeff Fritz · Jan 12, 2012

The MBL 101X-treme

http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=208&catid=79&Itemid=246

Note: These are short tech features, listening impressions to come.

Jeff Fritz · Jan 13, 2012

Surprising Results:

http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=210&catid=79&Itemid=246

Steve Williams · Jan 13, 2012

Still awaiting your thoughts on the Aida Jeff. Definitely my number one at the show

Elliot G. · Jan 13, 2012

I havent heard the Aida but I can tell you that the REF 250's are just plain stone cold killers! IMO the best ARC has ever made, which to me says a lot. I have a pair on Nola Baby Grands and they just amazed me as compared to the other amps we tried.

Steve Williams · Jan 13, 2012

The overall Impression by everyone was how poorly attended the show was. There were people outside their rooms asking people to come in. Many too had no one inside.

I have made a decision that this will likely be my last CES. Instead I plan on making RMAF my annual audio fix

DaveyF · Jan 13, 2012

Sorry to hear that Steve. I wonder if the Newport show, which was so well attended, was perhaps more convenient than the CES due to its S.Calif location. I have never been to CES, partly due to their industry only requirement and partly due to the fact that Vegas does NOTHING for me. BTW, I saw you went and talked to Ken Stevens, what's new with him....new preamp coming out soon?

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