111th AES Convention
Saturday
Neutrik connectors are made in
many configurations to meet the needs of the pro audio market. While audiophile connectors are
considered by some to be tweaky, made of exotic materials, etc., the pro audio business desires quality
and reliability with no nonsense hype.
During the AES there were many different live performances by
various groups/bands. Seen here is the AES Songwriter Showcase stage where you
could sit down at a table, relax and enjoy the music.
STS manufactures both recording studio monitors and far field
loudspeakers. Seen here is their S8R near field monitor $1,095. A ribbon tweeter is mated with a normal dynamic driver.
The S8R seems like an excellent loudspeaker well worth consideration... or
possibly a review (hint hint).
At the New Sensor booth is their usual fare of yummy tubes. Of
course virtually all pros into tubes has heard New Sensor.
The Museum of Sound Recording
believes in dedicate to lifting the audio arts through preserving it's past. Seen here is a
vintage film sound Nagra 3I and RCA ribbon microphone. Hopefully one day we
will see a great exhibition at an American high-end show where vintage gear is
given show space... and due respect.
Messenger XL active loudspeakers were the tallest single
product at the 2001 AES show. The input signal to the loudspeakers is digitally processed for the drivers
while additional digital room correction and tuning of the units dispersion is
controlled. At $6,800, it employs 27 drivers (4.25-inchs each) with 20 fifty-watt amplifiers.
Virtually each driver is individually controlled through sophisticated DSP. The top section amplifiers
drives two speakers each (for those counting the amplifiers to loudspeaker
ratio). So how tall is this loudspeaker? How does 100-inches sound to you?
(pun intended)
Griffin Audio Design offers their Griffin mastering monitor.
it is claimed to reproduce a flat frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz using an RCF 18" woofer, two SEAS 8" magnesium cone mids and Stage Accompany ribbon tweeter. Sensitivity is 96 dB/w/m @ 4 ohm. Retail price $24,500.
(Some humor, but the device itself is a real, extremely
high-end measuring instrument) For those who enjoy LIRPA Labs "audiophile
critic" (clown), here is the Bruel & Kjær Type 4128 head and torso simulator to measure how a device will perform according to the human ear.
This unit will also talk back and tell you how your system's imaging sucks,
your highs are too bright and lacks proper lower frequency response. Once it
says your system is perfect, it waits for precisely 60.45 hours of music play
to once again become unsatisfied with the sound and demand you upgrade once
again. This cycle continues for many years until you decide to simply enjoy
the music and forget what the LIRPA Labs critic has to say.
At the Plitron booth was the largest toroidal transformer i have ever seen. Rated at 500kVA @ 60Hz, it weights "only" 2,640 lbs and could be used for
providing balanced power in a large home... or an entire small village (literally).
Plitron is also know for their output transformers for vacuum tube amplifiers
of course.
Schoeps was showcasing their Polar Flex system. It is a "virtual microphone" where during mix down you can choose the microphone pattern, polarity and frequency response.
Furman Sound's new IT-Reference balanced power unit supercedes my fave IT-1220 balanced power unit.
Yes, the same one that first brought balanced power to audiophiles through my
review in Ultimate Audio many years
ago. This balanced power unit features improvements over the previous model by
including multiple isolated outlets. Not just isolated from main power per se
as each outlet bank is isolated from the
other banks as well. A total of four isolated banks of outlets are includes (twelve electrical
outlets total).
AudioControl's Iasys Electro-Acoustic analyzer. Real time
frequency response measurements through this portable unit that can include a
precision measurement microphone.
Calec live digital production desk. Model Alpha 100 seen here has complete OB board (outside broadcast).
Click here to see a
complete listing of show exhibitors.
