Balanced Audio Technology introduced two exciting new additions to their stable of valve/transistor gear, the VK-3iX preamplifier [$2,495 base price] and the VK-220 stereo amp [$2,995 base price, $800 for BAT-PAK].

The VK-3iX replaced the VK-3i series with all-new circuit architecture that includes BAT's most popular options of phono module [$500], SIX-PAK [$600], SUPER-PAK [$500] and Special Edition upgrades [$1,000]. This new preamp offers 2 XLR and 3 RCA inputs, non-inverting XLR/RCA outputs, 20dB of gain, 90 steps of 0.5 to 1dB attenuation and 4x6922/2x6V6 tubes in the standard, and 2x 6H30/2x6V6 in the SE version. It's great to see someone outside guitar amp makers use the 6V6 tube again - it's a fabulous valve I fondly remember from my formative days with the Mesa Tigris. Based on the circuit topology of BAT's VK-6200 multi-channel beast, the VK-220 uses a 700VA toroidal power transformer and offers 125/250 watts into 8/4 ohms, with 23dB of gain, frequency response of 2Hz to 180kHz and 47kOhm input impedance. Both additions benefit from BAT's new industrial design cosmetics.

Hustling along the Las Vegas show hallways like a mad-dog street vendor hawking fake Rolexes and scalped tickets for the new sexy Circque du Soleil show, I barged in on the Bel Canto Design crew to deliver one of our sixteen Year 2003 Blue Moon Awards for their fabulous and very affordable DAC-2. The two new Bel Canto components this year turned out to be the PRe2 [$2,690, add $800 for phono], a tricked-out 2-channel version of the PRe6 which has been serving reference duties chez nous for a year now [left column below]; and the PLayer PL-1A which eliminates the standard PLayer's Faroudja video circuitry to give audio-only aficionados peak universal player performance without paying for features they won't use [right]. Hold on to your toupeés - the price has been slashed to $5,490. Can you scream WOWIE at 110dB?


With the PRe2 , the carry-over PRe1 which still sported the pre-sculpted-silver-fascia aesthetic has finally been retired. The entire Bel Canto lineup now forms a solid cosmetic statement of cool and chic, and as the PRe2's rear panel shows, all connectors have been upgraded to support uncompromised 2-channel performance for those who don't need the added functionality of the multi-channel analog-only PRe6.

The CES display PLayer PL-1A ['a' for 'audio'] found itself in the back of my Jeep Liberty SUV rental when I arrived back in Taos and, honestly your honor, I have no idea how it got there. Kidding aside, this review loan will allow me to investigate the burning DVD-A/SACD vs. RedBook question that is on everyone's mind these days. John Stronczer assured me that no matter what my findings -- which are, naturally, contingent first and foremost on software/mastering quality -- the PLayer's special merit resides in its deliberately hotrodded RedBook performance. It's clearly intended to support those folks who, like myself, have a large investment in standard CDs which will never be remastered to 24/96 or DSD and thus constitute an irreplaceable treasure worthy of the best playback known to man.

The even bigger news for Bel Canto this year? That, my friends, is of an entirely different (secret) order which -- remember my prior confidentiality confession -- I'm unfortunately not at liberty to share quite yet; still, public roll-out of this radical announcement seems imminent any week now. Suffice it to say that it should send ripples throughout the industry and stand it on its cauliflower ear. Do I have your attention?

While we're on the subject of free radicals, consider the new Birdland Audio Odeon-Platinum 192kHz/DSD-expandable Digital Processor/Preamplifier. Gilles Gameiro deserves a Modern Museum of Art design award for his radical industrial design. It places what I assume to be a fiber optic display on a clear acrylic fascia held captive by two massive gleaming posts which front a completely separate curved main chassis that, like the display, is mounted atop a contoured slab of black resin. With three analog and 5+1 digital inputs, a next-generation reclocker, RCA and XLR outputs, RIAA phono input/IEEE 1394 firewire upgradeability and onboard 24/192 and DSD compatibility, this component promises as much sonic and functional sophistication as stunning good looks - which, incidentally, could be changed from the blue/green color scheme to red with the push of a secret button.

Last year, I had heard rumors that Bösendorfer of Grand Piano fame was about to enter the loudspeaker arena. These weren't rumors after all. Bösendorfer Loudspeakers are reality now and based out of Charlotte/NC for Richard B. Levine's US distributorship They incorporate strategic resonance panels to mimic the sound dissipation of a piano and the lineup consists of 5 models, the VC/AC1 [TBA], the VC/AC2 [$11,900 - $13,700, right]], the VC/AC7 [$16,500 - $18,600] and the Home Cinema models, the On-wall [$4,650] and Center [$1,995 - $2,500]. The VC and AC designation refer to specific finish options that include, naturally, Grand Piano black semi-gloss or high-gloss; gloss Cherry, Maple, plain or Bird's eye Maple; and gloss burl Walnut and Pomele. Fit'n'finish were as good as it gets, but that alone doesn't spell potential for success in the market place. Never fear, what I heard was very promising indeed.

For in-room power response, the largest 7 model uses two front-firing tweeters augmented by four side-firing mid/woofers (two per side) and two Acoustic Sound Boards which you can spot behind the lateral grills. Completely flying in the face of the concrete brigade which holds that a speaker chassis should be as inert as 3-inch thick slabs of granite, the Bösendorfer approach of immaculately tuning their speakers for controlled resonance behavior proved itself with a very natural sound that portrayed bass as a phenomenon of bloom and decay rather than chiseled Mike Tyson volleys.

While show conditions are notoriously unreliable to form any concrete -- or oscillating -- opinions, something about this exhibit has me strongly suspect work of true merit. This is distinctly not another me-too product and deserves far closer inspection and Van Gogh-style ears-on validation. Welcome to the jungle, Bösendorfer!
Cairn's first entry into their Multi-Solutions Range shows uncanny familiarity with said jungle, offering, in the new 4810 integrated amplifier, a plethora of add-on boards including XLR i/o ports; 24/192 DAC; AM/FM RDS tuner; MM/MC phono; video switching; 4-channel i/o ports and a 7.1 decoder. Add 2 toroidal transformers, 100/160 watts RMS into 8/4 ohms, 10 watts thereof in pure Class A; rear-mounted headphone socket with front-panel selection; RS323 software interface with Cairn-Ezo's website; contemporary minimalist looks and in-depth display functionality - and you arrive at what appears to be an eminently flexible, adaptable, affordable and smart high-performance unit. Is it just me, or do the Europeans enjoy a certain edge when it comes to design cosmetics? Stay tuned as our own Phil Gold presents his take on the CES, coming from a purely aesthetic perspective to bring a new slant to the common sound/feature/price focus.
The Cary-based triode guild around glow-in-the-dark Dennis Had and Billy Wright launched a complete Silver Oak loudspeaker lineup in the wake of last year's flagship introduction.

Using 3rd-order network 2-way designs with shared drivers, Cary's new speakers include the Model Three tower [$3,500/pr], the Model Two bookshelf [$2,200/pr, $400 for matching stands] and the LCR [$1,500/ea.]. A matching Silver Oak Sub Two [$1,500] with a 12-inch woofer and 300-watt RMS amplifier is also available. Of course, with a correspondent as obviously out of whack and twisted as your scribe below, how could you believe a word he says? Compliments of the massive fish-eye lens and professional-duty Nikon camera of Henk Boot, this shot in the Audiopax/Zanden room also shows his lovely companion Marja Vanderloo in the background, new moonie Steve Marsh staring blissfully into outer space and Jules Coleman haggling with Eduardo de Lima over the lacquer finish of his Audiopax REF 100 speaker review pair. Green it is, I understand - good man, Jules. You've got taste. You get to stick around...