Series 3
The Bel Canto universal audio/video player was
so new that it didn't even have a logo. This didn't stop it from catching Roger
Kanno's roving eye. It uses Faroudja DCDi video processing, and Bel Canto claims that its
audio performance matches that of their award-winning DAC2.
Impact AudioDesign showed their prototype
Airfoil 2 speaker (approximately $5500/pair when available) with finalized driver
complement but preliminary cosmetics. The sound was open and delicate even at low volume.
Motorola incorporates digital-cable reception
with home-theater use in one component. The DCP301 ($799) combines a digital-cable set-top
box, DVD player, and home-theater receiver with Class-T digital amplifier technology.
The laminated-birch Nordic Concept Reference
turntable ($14,650) comes with a battery power supply and built-in phono stage. It was
shown with an Airtangent 2002 tonearm ($8225).
JMlab debuted their new Utopia
Beryllium-series speakers, complete with several new finishes. Replacing the older Utopia
series, Utopia Beryllium speakers use an updated driver complement and a new crossover
design, as well as refined cosmetics. Shown is the top-of-the-line Grande Utopia Beryllium
($80,000/pair). Also available are the Nova Utopia Beryllium ($35,000/pair), Alto Utopia
Beryllium ($17,000/pair), and the Diva Utopia Beryllium ($11,000/pair).
The new Utopia Beryllium midrange driver.
Germany's mbl introduced their 7008 200Wpc
integrated amplifier (right, $5000) and 1501 universal audio/video player ($6000), which
look nearly identical.
