JMlab's new Sib/Cub system combines a $350/pr 2-way monitor with integral stand/wall-mount and a $450 subwoofer spec'd to 35Hz. Doing a 5.1 LifeStyle system French-style will set you back all of $1,195.


For customers with a larger budget, the firm will introduce a completely revised Grand Utopia at CES, to be followed, during 2003, with equally upgraded Utopia-range models. Reportedly, four new patents have been issued for the technology involved. 6moons.com has been promised a behind-the-scenes interview with the designer to report on the nitty-gritties of JMlab's newest technological break-thrus.


KEF's new XQ range begins with the XQ One, a time-aligned dual-concentric three-way with bullet-mounted super tweeter whose response is said to extend to 50KHz +/- 3dB.


Finish options include lacquers in graphite, silver, pearlescent white, maranello red, or maple veneer. Fit'n'finish of these puppies were Robb Report centerfold league. Sensitivity is given as 89dB, low-end extension as 60Hz, max output as 109dB, impedance as 8-ohm nominal (3.2 minimum), weight as 20.2. lbs and dimensions as 14.7" h x 9" w x 11.9" d.


The complete range spans the four-way stand-mounted dual-woofer'd XQ Three, the triple-woofer XQ Five tower and the XQ Two-c center.


Bravo to all manufacturer embracing lacquers. From Cary to Soliloquy, CAT, Avantgarde and now KEF, it's about time we got some color into our living quarters!


In talking to Dan D'Agostino of Krell, 2-channel devotees of the brand were advised to wait for about 6-8 months. Dan is currently at work on an amplifier and preamp that -- in his own words -- he wants to own, personally. Accordingly, they'll embody the very soul of his love of music. He has investigated the newer digital amplifier topologies and feels them incapable of the necessary speed he requires. However, his new Class A amp will employ a proprietary switch-mode power supply he's very excited about. Without divulging secrets, the gleam in his eye indicated how strongly he believes in the impact this new statement piece will make.


Speaking of statements, the folks at Linn are busy perfecting their forthcoming universal player. It's based on a proprietary platform jointly developed with Sony. Surprisingly, the targeted retail is not in Sondek territory. Shooting initially for $6,000, the Linn representative admitted that R&D developments since indicate a retail of ca. $8,000 as more realistic. Nevertheless, he was quick to add that no matter what, this would remain a sub $10K piece. Competitors beware - this could become the player to beat!
Richard Marsh of Marsh Sound Design posed next to the Wilson Audio Specialties' Watchdog subwoofer. It received The Perfect Vision's "Subwoofer of the Year" award.


Where does Richard fit into the picture? He designed the internal amplifier for Dave Wilson and is rightfully proud of the acclaim he helped win for Wilson with this take-no-prisoners piece.


For his own line, Marsh showed the HT4000 preamp/tuner/processor ($4,495) in a joint exhibit with Soliloquy, AAD and FPS. The HT4000 introduces a new silver-black look for Marsh and has begun shipping. Richard also pointed out that the next shipment of Marsh A200/400s amplifiers to US distributor Dave Berman of Soliloquy would be bridgeable. The current iteration is not. Bridging will significantly increase power in monaural mode. Final pricing for this upgrade is still pending but the surcharge for the new feature is said to be marginal at best. Richard already has a 1000-watt monoblock on the drawing board but remains doubtful at present whether final retail pricing for such a beast could slot into the existing high-value structure he has created for the brand.
While Meridian introduced a new active speaker dubbed the DSP7000 ($27,000/pr) that offers trickle-down technology from their top model, the latter's array of eye-popping colors caught my fancy. Due to low lighting conditions on the main floor, I had to artificially brighten this image afterwards to properly display the high-gloss lacquers. They're even more luscious and saturated in real life. Meridian joins my list of "not afraid of color" firms and wins top honors for showing off so many different ones.


As you can tell by now, I firmly believe that satin-black is dandy for the silence between notes. It's not for the silence that ensues when you attempt to shoehorn your latest pitch-black audio acquisition past the interior decorator in the family. Hence, color me prejudiced but - tasteful applications of colors made my days at CEDIA.
Celebrated Stereophile writer Sam Tellig has repeatedly found himself under heavy artillery for his most extensive coverage of Musical Fidelity products.
After seeing these components in the flesh, I'm not so sure that Tellig's fidelity to this brand isn't rightfully zealous. Audio jewelry in the more affordable segment of the market, anyone? Look no farther. The new 308 series includes the top-left duo of A308cr choke-regulated, 24/96kHz upsampling CD player ($2,995) dubbed "a Nu-Vista 3D CD without Nuvistors"; and the 150wpc dual-mono A308 integrated amplifier ($2,995). A source in the know tells me it sounds more tube-like than certain tube amps but of course offers high-current, high damping bass control that tube amps can only dream about. I put in word with marketing arm Kevro's VP of sales, David Solomon. I would love to review one of these. Let's see what happens.


The new Tri-Vista 300 Integrated (lower left, $5,995) joins the forthcoming SACD player ($6,495) and the 300 pre- and power amplifiers (TBA) in the company's new Tri-Vista range. How the heck does Anthony Michaelson keep unearthing secret stashes of exotic military-issue tubes nobody's ever heard of before? Check out the truly discreet pre/power boards [lower right] that use flying-lead RCA-terminated interconnects in the integrated amplifier. Whether the added materials junctions between the wire, connectors and receptacles are good for the sound is debatable. But the freedom to "roll cables" (since the tubes don't have substitutes you could experiment with) is perhaps a nice touch - or else simply further proof that audiophiles like us are one loony bunch.
Gayle Sanders of Martin Logan rolled out the new Clarity 1 ($2,695/pr) aluminum 8" hybrid electrostat and Depth subwoofer ($1,795/ea.) with three vibration-cancelling 8" high-excursion woofers in what the firm dubs BalancedForce array.


Benefiting from a new MicroPerf stat panel, the Clarity's individual holes in the stator screens are smaller than before. A defeatable up-firing 1" soft-dome tweeter mounted atop the woofer cabinet is said to undermine HF beaming by expanding the useful listening window.
Martin Logan also showed a prototype of a small subwoofer (middle-left) that might one day augment the Clarity 1 entry-level speaker model.


Specs for the Clarity include: 40-22,000Hz range; 89dB sensitivity; 6-ohm nominal impedance (>1 @ 20kHz); 200-watt power handling; 47 lbs weight; dimensions of 10.25" w x 12" d x 53" h.


Depth specs include: 20-150Hz range +/- 3dB; variable low-pass at 30, 35, 45, 55, 65 and 80Hz; high-pass filters at 40 and 70Hz; 25Hz level control +/- 12dB; 300-watt RMPS/500-watt peak internal amplifier; 65 lbs; 16.6" w x 16.15" d x 16.25 H.


NAD's new L70 DVD/CD surround sound receiver ($999) was so new that printed specs weren't available yet. As the lazy but resourceful fellow I'm told I'm supposed to be as part of my Teutonic heritage , I snapped the spec display board instead. Lo and behold, it came out legible enough. See below.


For HT-weary souls ready to make the jump, this all-in-one solution could be a Godsend. On the other end of the scale, Revox of Switzerland introduced an equivalent solution that is covered later on in this report for the same reason: Simplicity, integration, the old less-is-more rule that has me embrace SET amps and integrateds.