ShowStoppers -
Series 1
All prices are quoted in euros unless
otherwise noted.
1 euro is approximately .91 US dollar.
From what we can see, Finland's Amphion is the
up-and-coming speaker maker to watch. Hot on the heels of the argon2 is a revised version
of the entry-level model, now called the helium2. The €860-per-pair helium2 has the
attractive Amphion trademarks of a flaring front baffle and well-finished wood veneers. We
took a quick listen, and it seems very promising.
Nagra now has a home-theater processor. The
DAP-5.1 (€12,969) incorporates a six-channel 192kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog
converter that is extendable to 7.1 channels through a factory upgrade. Each channel
group's adjustments are viewable through a front-plate-mounted status panel. As additional
channels are added, the plate is removed and replaced to reflect the change. The DAP-5.1
appears to be built to Nagra's usual high standards, sporting an all-aluminum chassis and
remote control.
Audio Physic showed a prototype of the Kronos
loudspeaker, which will be priced at €40,000 per pair. The Kronos is intended to be a
replacement for the company's current flagship, the Cerubin. The speaker features
side-firing woofers on both sides of the cabinet (four in total), as well as
side-firing midrange drivers (two per speaker). The only front-firing driver is a coaxial
unit (shown below). The woofer section in this speaker is powered. A completely passive
model will be released (name to be announced) based on the Kronos' technology, and company
reps say that this new speaker will eventually replace the existing Caldera.
The front-firing coaxial driver of the Kronos
has a secondary back basket for mounting the driver more firmly inside the cabinet. The
tweeter has a unique suspension system to align it in front of the midrange driver.
England's KEF also released a new flagship
speaker, the Model 207. The speaker has hints of current B&W and Tannoy speaker models
with its rounded cabinet design, flaring midrange headshell, coaxial midrange driver
(KEF'S Uni-Q technology), and a top-mounted titanium-dome Hypertweeter, which is said to
extend flat response to 50kHz. The price of this five-way speaker is €15000 per pair.
Britain's TAG McLaren showed the new AvanGarde
series surround-sound processor. The AV192R features full video processing and digital
radio. According to the company, owners of the AV32R processor will be allowed full-retail
trade-in value toward the purchase of this new unit. Pricing is not yet established for
the AV192R, and availability is said to be at the end of 2002. |
