Hi-Fi News' Hi-Fi Show & AV Expo 2002

Sunday
Page 1

 

  Naim's CDX2 (£2,700) plays CD and CD-R, including discs encoded with the HDCD process. The optional outboard power supply, XPS (£2,300), further refines the payer by keeping power supply noise away from the other bits while also enhancing the power supply forward. Their NAC252 (£4,000) top-of-the-range pre-amplifier replaces their 52 pre-amplifier with features including six inputs total where two of them can be configured for phono stage duties.

 

Here is a look inside the NAC252.

 

Nagra, knows for high-end audio and recording studio gear, were proudly displaying their DAP (Digital Audio Processor, £6,500). This two-channel unit is capable of being upgraded via modules to full 7.1-surround sound. Digital decoding is via advanced, if a bit outdated, chipset for continuous decoding from 44.1 to 96kHz. Digital inputs include AES, SPDIF, and Toslink. Analog output are both RCA and balanced XLR.

 

The dCS Verdi SACD/CD transport (£7,999).

 

For those with challenging room acoustics, Echo Busters can be a blessing as they not only tame room anomalies, but are also available in various decorative fabrics/colors to please you and the significant other in your home.

 

In the Henley Design room was a wide selection of equipment by Roksan and the interesting new Vienna Acoustics called the Schönberg (£1,500). This new design features two 6-inch XPB drivers and a 1" silk soft dome tweeter. The enclosure is seductively curved aluminum.

 

In the Martin Brewster room was Nearfield's Pipedreams in Carpathian Elm Burl (£60,000) being driven by GamuT's impressive S300 stereo amplifier (£20,000). Since the remarkable Pipedreams include an outboard crossover network, one amplifier drove the woofers while the other took care of the midrange and highs.

 

Clearaudio's Maximum Solution three motor turntable (£5,095) could be enjoyed by show goers as it is seen here with the Graham tonearm.

 

Another Enjoy the Music.com™ world first as we have here the new Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor (£2,150) wrapped in seductive Walnut that features a 1-inch Scan-Speak ring radiator tweeter with Scan-Speak 6-inch midrange/woofer.

 

Driving the new Sonus Faber was the Copland CTA520 stereo amplifier (£1,449) that produces 120 watts per channel, yet can be operated as a monoblock as well. Buy one now for openers, then add another for monoblock… or bi-amplification.

 

Another world's first as you are now seeing the new Bryston 3B SST (£1,725) stereo power amplifier. Producing 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms, it easily doubles to 300 watts driving a 4-ohm load. Internal components are of prestigious durability and ultra-low noise while new output devices keep things very tidy. Input is via RCA or balanced XLR connector and naturally quality like this comes with a 20-year warranty.

 

Click Here For Page 2

 

Click here to see a
complete listing of show exhibitors.

 

Click here to see our previous year's show report.