T.H.E. Show Newport Beach 2012
The Home Entertainment Show
2012
Report By Steven R. Rochlin
![](nat.jpg)
NAT Magma monoblock single-ended 450TH amplifier produces 160 wpc ($45,000) and has both balanced and unbalanced
inputs. Toooobes!!!
![](triangle.jpg)
Triangle Art Reference turntable ($14,000) made its appearance here at T.H.E. Show Newport Beach 2012.
![](zu_audio.jpg)
The always groovalicious Zu Audio
room had their Definition Mk.IV ($12,500) floorstander.
Can you dig it? The center tweeter is the Radian 850 and has a great extended
response. They told me soon Zu Audio will have a new 100dB/W/m design, yet
will set ya back only $1600 per pair. Sweet!
![](emotiva.jpg)
High value for the dollar Emotiva had a new Pro DAC
($699) that handles 24-bit/192kHz via USB, BNC, AES/EBU, TosLink and has an
analog input. Volume adjustment is analog and there are two headphone jacks so
you and your loved one can enjoy the music together.
![](schitt.jpg)
Mjolnir is the new unit be Schitt ($749) headphone amp is solid-state and seen here in prototype form.
![](von_gaylord.jpg)
Von Gaylond had an entire new system that includes their Uni monoblocks and The New Legend speakers
($17,000 and $13,000 respectively). Very sweet and smooth sounding but not
sappy. What i mean is, the music had a wonderful sense of ease as it flowed,
thus filling the room with natural sound.
![](ripping_vinyl.jpg)
This Antelope Audio setup was switching
between live and an analog source (Technics 1200mkII turntable) and its output
chain... and that same analog source, playing real-time, captured via
24-bit/192kHz sampling. This happens before being converted (by Eclipse 384 AD/DA Mastering Converter) back to analog and played out through the studio monitors.
Compare live versus encoded/decoded.
![](ess.jpg)
ESS model Transparent harks back to Oscar
Heil's original design
($20,000). This speaker includes a powered woofer whilst the middle custom made driver is a special dipole design. Very different and yet sounds really effortless, smooth with impressively extended highs.
![](peachtree.jpg)
Peachtree Audio was showcasing their Decko 65 ($899 on up depending on finish), which uses the Sabre DAC 24-bit/192kHz and includes a headphone amplifier. It is also a preamplifier with 6N1P tube for that magic glow. Speakers are
Dynaudio DM2-6 $800 per pair, so you can easily have an under $2000 system all ready to go.
![](harbeth.jpg)
Harbeth M30.1 speakers were easily being driven by LFD NCSE integrated amplifier and
Palmer turntable with Dynavector cartridge ($6495, $6295 and $11,000 with tonearm). Gotta love that British sound. The stands are made by the company
Resonant Woods in New Hampshire, USA.
![](wyred4sound.jpg)
Wyred 4 Sound's mINT ($1499) integrated DAC/Pre/Amp is a 24-bit/192kHz DAC and produces 108 watts @ 8 Ohms. Fear not vinyl junkies as it also has analog in and out. Very solid sounding (meaning full range, great tight bass support and PRAT for you British types reading this).
---> next page.