AXPONA 2014 Coverage Part One: Analog and Digital Audio Source Devices

AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) is an annual high end audio show which has been held in different cities over the years, including New York City, Atlanta, and Jacksonville. The last couple shows have been held in Rosemont, Il (a northwest suburb of Chicago), and since it was nearby, we decided to pay a visit and report back on some of the more noteworthy exhibits. We will break our coverage up into three segments; in this first part we cover transports and media playback devices such as CD players, turntables, and digital file players. In the following report, we will cover amps, preamps, and DACs, while our final segment will look at loudspeakers. So what did AXPONA have in store for us?

Turntables

Vinyl’s great comeback has shown no signs of slowing down at AXPONA. I noticed a lot more records than CDs there, even though CDs still outsell vinyl by a ratio greater than ten to one in the US (per Nielsen SoundScan). While I rarely use my record player these days, I can still understand the appeal of vinyl - there is a sense of solidity to the format which the vapory bits and bytes of mere data files will never be able to replicate. The nostalgia for vinyl must be intense, as some of these turntables were so grandiose that they resemble shrines. There is something special about vinyl in particular though, and it is not just a rebellion against the intangibility of digital files; I doubt the same passion and craftsmanship for turntables will ever be shown toward cassette players or eight-track cartridges. For our coverage we will look at just a few of the many remarkable turntables which were on display at AXPONA.

Acoustic Signature Triple X

The new Triple X turntable from the German manufacturer Acoustic Signature made its debut at AXPONA this year. Despite its name, the Triple X has a tasteful and reserved appearance, boasting a thick metal platter. The Triple X is available in a selection of different colors individually for the plinth and top plate, so the appearance has some degree of customization upon ordering. This hefty 55 pound turntable will set you back $7,000 for the base model.   

AMG Viella V12

The widely praised V12 from AMG (Analog Manufaktur Germany) was the turntable of choice in multiple rooms at AXPONA, which speaks to its quality and performance, not to mention its sleek but not over-the-top appearance. While it looks quite heavy, it weighs in at a manageable 25 pounds thanks to its CNC cut, aircraft grade aluminum construction. The base model, which costs $15,000, comes in a black aluminum finish but is shown here with a natural wood skirt, a $1,500 upgrade.

Artisan Fidelity Achates Lenco Idler Drive

Artisan Fidelity is a four year old company which turns existing turntable platforms into finely engineered works of art. The above pictured Achates Lenco Idler Drive, which uses the Lenco L75 motor platform and drive geometry with a new modular inverted bearing and platter system, will set you back $12,895, a more than reasonable sum for the superb aesthetic statement made here. Artisan Fidelity had other models on display which were equally gorgeous. I found these to be the classiest looking turntables of the show.

Avid Ingenium

Introduced last year, the $1,300 Ingenium turntable from Avid was one of a handful of turntables at AXPONA which didn’t cost as much as an automobile. This is Avid’s most affordable offering, and the cost is partly achieved through a minimalist chassis which is isolated from the platter to reduce vibrations. This is in line with the design principles from Avid’s higher end models, and a high quality but affordable turntable is built from filtered down technologies developed for earlier and much costlier turntables. The lack of a large and heavy chassis will let the Ingenium fit in tighter spaces, and isn’t likely to clash with modern decor.

Clearaudio Master Innovation

Clearaudio’s Master Innovation turntable was a sight to behold. This recent release from Clearaudio will set you back $30,000 for the base model, and it looked every penny of the cost. One of the more far-out features of this turntable is that the top platter is partly suspended in air by magnetic repulsion from a lower platter, so those lower platters do more than just make the setup appear monumental. The upper platter’s lack of contact to a lower surface makes it that much easier to control, since the upper platter is ‘resting’ on air and thus is less affected by friction. To keep the platters aligned, another magnetic system uses attraction to hold the platters in place but without enough force to override the repulsing magnets. Another feature of the Master Innovation is that the rotation of the top platter is constantly monitored by an infrared sensor, and any deviation from the expected speed is compensated for by a feedback mechanism. Yeah, turntables have come a long way since I was a kid.

Acoustic Solid - Solid Machine

The Solid Machine from Acoustic Solid was another turntable which blurred the line between functionality and art. Although not cheap, it is not as expensive as one would guess, being priced at $6,700. One of the key features of this beauty is a massive 60mm thick, single piece aluminum platter which must be a major contributor to the formidable 66 pound weight of the unit. It is driven by a separate motor which is unconnected to the chassis in an effort to reduce vibration. Other efforts to dampen vibration include a layer of leather under an acrylic disc that serves as a platter mat, which also contributes to its stylish appearance. 

Funk Flamenca

Unveiled late last year to critical acclaim, the relatively affordable $1,500 Funk Flamenca was not overlooked at AXPONA, even among far costlier turntables. The Flamenca is more like a ‘thread’ driven turntable instead of a belt driven turntable, as the ‘belt’ here is a mere 0.15mm thick. For some perspective on that, the average thickness of hair from a human head is 0.1 mm. The pickup arm uses threads as well; two threads are used to control the bias instead of a traditional ball bearing. Given the praise this unit has received, these departures from the norm of turntable design appear to be quite successful.

Kronos Sparta

The recently unveiled Sparta turntable, which debuted at CES in January, made its way to AXPONA and enraptured a full room of listeners through a pair of Legacy speakers. The Sparta is the successor to the original Kronos turntable, and implements the core technology used in the more expensive Kronos but in a simplified form. The Sparta uses two belt driven platters and two motors. The lower platter is not actually connected to the upper platter and is driven in an equal but opposing rotation in an effort to simply cancel out vibration to the chassis structure. The dual platter vibration cancellation is the most prominent feature of the Sparta, but it is only one of a number of engineering feats in this sophisticated $21,500 turntable.

Kuzma Stabi XL2

The approach which Kuzma takes to vibration reduction in the Stabi XL2 is obvious from a single glance: brute force mass. The aluminum/acrylic platter alone weighs nearly 50 pounds, and the entire table clocks in at almost 170 pounds. Two opposing motors and two belts are used to further reduce vibration by cancelling out the pull of a belt from a single direction. The massive brass tone arm tower can accommodate different tone arms and allows for an 80 mm range of adjustments with each turn of the knob representing 0.1mm precisely. Price with tone arm: $36,000.

McIntosh MT5

McIntosh’s new MT5 turntable, which debuted at last year’s CES, has received glowing reviews ever since its introduction. Speaking of glowing, the luminous 1.5” thick platter is invariably the first thing noticed upon viewing, but it is more than just a pretty light; this 5 pound silicon acrylic platter is magnetically suspended by using two opposing neodymium magnets. The platter is driven by a servo controlled DC motor which has been isolated from other electronic components. Magnets are also employed in in the tone arm’s anti-skating feature in order to reduce motor noise. This hypnotizing, high performance turntable is priced at $6,500. 

TriangleART Signature

There is no shortage of polished chrome finishes on high end audio devices for the simple reason that it is pretty. The TriangleART Signature pulls no stops in this regard and maximizes its chrome finish for the effect of pure opulence. The Signature uses sheer mass to dampen vibrations from effecting record playback, and at over 200 pounds, it’s fair to say nothing was held back in this respect. The plinth and the platter are each single, solid metal pieces; setting one up must have been an arduous task. The motor, base, and tone arm are in separate modules for the purpose of customizability in the setup. This lets you keep the motor on a separate platform for reduced vibrations during playback, and it also lets you use any length of tone arm that you wish. While the TriangleART Signature is not cheap at $15,990, it is priced a good deal less than I would have guess given its regal appearance.

TriangleART Symphony

Next to the TriangleART Signature, the Symphony might seem diminutive, but at 120 pounds, what it’s lacking in size is made up for in weight. The vast majority of its mass comes from the plinth, which is essentially a solid aluminum block, and, like the Signature, the sheer mass is intended to reduce vibration. The Symphony costs $6,000 and comes with a tone arm pre-installed.

VPI Nomad

VPI’s new Nomad turntables were also seen at AXPONA. The Nomad still seems to be in pre-order status at the moment, and does not yet having a product page. The Nomad is a ‘ready-to-go’ record player and needs little of the setup typical of traditional turntables. Among the conveniences of the Nomad is a built-in preamp, a built in headphone amplifier, and a pre-installed Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. As soon as you receive it, you can connect it directly to your amplifier and you are ready to spin your records. Thanks to its built-in headphone amplifier- a rare feature among turntables- you do not even need a preamp or an amp to enjoy music with the Nomad if you have a set of headphones. The Nomad looks like a great solution for those who want a simple and easy way to get into vinyl. It is priced at $995.

Reel-to-Reel and Summary

United Home Audio Phase 11S

Reel-to-reel tape decks are not something you see often these days, but I bet they would become more common if more of them looked as wicked as this UHA Phase 11S open reel tape machine with Celtic Cross graphic art. This model is a new design from United Home Audio with a base cost of $19,000 for the playback model and $26,000 for the playback/record model. One of the new features of the Phase 11 is a PCB design which eliminates all capacitors in the preamp, so UHA claims there are no capacitors in the signal path. The entire playback circuit is hard-wired, so there are no “plugs, connectors, gain, or volume pots to degrade the sound”. Another feature, and one of the reasons for the expense of the unit, is the silver wiring used from playback head throughout the deck to the outputs. One might wonder if the sonic benefits are worth the cost of a full silver path, but in a device as esoteric as a fully functional reel-to-reel player, you might as well go the whole nine yards. Reel-to-reel may not be destined for the kind of comeback vinyl has made, but if more people get exposed to the sound I heard from the Phase 11S at AXPONA, I think some kind of minor resurgence would be possible.

Summary

Out of all the audio technology out there, media transports seem to change the most rapidly. If this show had been held just ten years ago, the shape of speaker, amplifier, and preamplifier technology would have been similar, although not the exact same. Transports, on the other hand, would have taken a very different shape. Digital music players would not have been nearly as prevalent. Vinyl may have had a less of a presence, and CDs and SACDs would have doubtlessly dominated the show. Today, few rooms were playing CDs or SACDs. My impression was most systems were using digital music file playback systems of some type. Many rooms were just using laptop computers as the source while others were playing back vinyl. Those changes over a single decade forces one to wonder how different the world of transports is going to look ten years from now.

In part 2 of our coverage, we will look at some of the amplifiers, preamplifiers, and DACs on display at AXPONA. Stay tuned!

SACD / CD Players & Digital Music File Players

Vinyl may be fashionable at the moment, but CDs are still the king of physical media, at least with respect to popularity. Although there is no doubt that the compact disc is entering its waning years, the technical excellence and convenience of the format will guarantee its presence as a music delivery system for many years, if not decades to come. Some of the CD players on display at AXPONA seemed to be a response to a challenge on just how far this early 80’s technology can be pushed. Like many other high end transports on exhibition, some of the designs may be a bit excessive given the limitations of the medium they are intended to reproduce. Nevertheless, many of these over-the-top players made me want to dig my CD collection out of storage and take some of old favorites for another spin.

Audio Research Reference CD9

Released last year, the Reference CD9 CD player and DAC by Audio Research has almost every bell and whistle you could wish for in a CD player and then some, thanks to the added DAC functionality. 192kHz/24bit upsampling almost goes without saying on these high end models, but in the case of the CD9, upsampling is available for all inputs, of which you have an array of choices. For digital S/PDIF inputs there is Toslink, RCA, and AES/EBU, and further in the digital realm you have a USB input. BNC and AES/EBU comprise the digital outputs. Analog outputs consist of an XLR and RCA pair. Listeners can adjust the sound to suit their tastes with the selectable digital filter for a fast or slow rolloff. CDs are top loaded on this $13,000 unit, and the CD9 comes in a brushed steel or black exterior.

Ayon CD-3sx

One of Ayon’s most recent releases is the CD-3sx CD player, which is an upgrade over the Ayon CD-3s in its ability to handle DSD files. Ayon is an Austrian company which targets high end audio, and this feature rich, top loading $9,800 CD player is evidence of that. Using the finest components and materials available with a design philosophy to match, the CD-3sx includes an output stage governed by tubes as well as enough connectivity and functionality to be used as a high end preamplifier if desired. Of course, optional upsampling to 192kHz/24bit is onboard, and a nice finishing touch is analog controlled volume. 

Esoteric Grandioso P-1

At a list price of $44,000, the Esoteric Grandioso P-1 is the most expensive CD player I’ve ever heard of. Its power supply lays in a separate, similarly elegant chassis in order to make enough space so that each of the four circuits in the player gets its own DC power transformer. The main unit weighs 59.5 pounds and the power unit weighs 53 pounds; altogether that adds up to a 112.5 pound CD player, which also makes Esoteric’s Grandioso P-1 the heaviest CD player I have ever heard of. As you would expect at this price point, extreme measures were taken to shorten the signal path and reduce vibration, and precision machining is involved in every area. The remote for this unit has a fine leather finish. Frankly, I’m not sure that this CD player is intended for mere mortal human beings. 

Marantz SA-14S1 Super Audio CD Player

A recent addition to the Marantz Reference family, the SA-14S1 is a $2,500 Super Audio CD player that can handle a variety of different discs and file types, including DSD over bitstream from a rear panel USB port. The SA-14S1 has reference class digital-to-analog conversion and can handle 192kHz/24bit resolutions. The power supply, digital audio stage, and analog audio stage are kept on their own circuit boards to minimize any interference. Another feature nifty feature is a high quality dedicated headphone output with its own volume control. The headphone output is designed to handle a wide range of headphone types including lower impedance headphones.

Marantz SA8005 Super Audio CD Player

Introduced only a few months ago, the Marantz SA8005 Super Audio CD player shares most of the functionality of the higher end SA-14S1 at half the cost. DAC flexibility, a fully discrete headphone amplifier with its own volume control, front panel USB-A port to connect mobile devices, a rear panel USB-B port for connecting your PC, and Marantz’ discrete component HDAM technology are all on the menu. The SA8005 even uses the same reference class, high current CS4398 D/A converter. If you can live without the heavy duty chassis and superior disc-drive mechanism of the SA-14S1, the SA80005 should perform similarly for only $1,200.

MOON Nēo 260D

Launched late last year, the MOON Nēo 260D CD transport is one of Simaudio’s more affordable CD players at $2,000, with an option of upgrading to a 32 bit DAC for an additional $1,000. One of the features which Simaudio highlights is the “M-Quattro gel-based 4-point floating suspension system” on which the CD drive is mounted for the purpose of vibration damping. The base model provides you with XLR and RCA analog outputs and S/PDIF RCA and AES/EBU digital outs. The 32 bit DAC upgrade nets you four digital inputs: two S/PDIF RCA jacks, a Toslink input, and a USB input. Simaudio touts a “1 picosecond” digital clocking system for the 32 bit DAC. For those of you who, like myself, lose track of your metric prefixes somewhere below micro, a picosecond is one trillionth of a second.

Digital Music File Players

There does not seem to be a universally accepted term for what I will simply call a ‘digital music file player’ for the present. ‘Network music player’, ‘network transport’, ‘file player’, ‘digital music server’; those are just a few of the names given to these devices. Simply put, these are transport devices which playback data sound files, whether off of a network server or from local storage. Hopefully the audio industry will settle on some nomenclature for these devices in the near future.

T+A MP 3000 HV music player

The $12,500 MP 3000 HV from the German company T+A (Theory and Application) is a ‘does it all’ digital music player, with the exception of SACD and DSD playback. It is a CD player, a digital file player supporting most major file types at a 192kHz/32 bit resolution, an internet radio tuner, a FM tuner, and a serious DAC with an array of digital inputs, as well as digital and analog RCA and XLR outputs. Ethernet, WLAN, and USB ports allow the MP 3000 HV a wide degree of freedom for network connectivity as well. The construction quality is as you would expect for the price, with each electronic function group separated into its own compartment within a heavy-duty 50 pound aluminum chassis. The compartmentalization goes as far as to power the analog and digital circuitry with different power inputs, so this unit eats up two power outlet plugs. This intensely feature rich player may be expensive, but the list of things it can’t do is a lot shorter than the things it can do, and it should serve well as the heart of any music system.

Aurender X100 Music Server

Aurander’s new music server, the X100, comes in two flavors, the S ($2,980) and the L ($3,490). Both flavors have 4GB of memory and a 120GB solid state drive, but the X100S boasts a 1TB disk drive while the L ups that to a 6TB disk drive. A single USB audio output keeps connectivity simple; just plug it into your DAC. Two USB ports and an Ethernet jack comprise the inputs. The X100 can be controlled by your iPad via the Aurender app. Also, if its local storage isn’t enough for you, the X100 can also access and playback music on network drives. It handles all major digital music formats at native bit and sampling rates. The large AMOLED front display and relatively narrow chassis size add to the convenience.

Ayon NW-T Network Transport

A new product from Ayon is the NW-T network transport, which is essentially a DAC with the ability to connect to other devices on your network like a NAS or computer through an Ethernet port. The chief difference between this model and other network transports is the tube-buffered digital output, by which the NW-T claims to give you an analog sound even before any preamp stage in your system. It handles most major music file formats and can upsample to 192kHz/24bit if desired. As with other Ayon products, high quality components are used with the shortest possible signal path to preserve sound quality. Naturally such a design does not come cheap with a list price of $6,125.

Blue Smoke 384/32 Digital Output and Black Box II

Blue Smoke demonstrated their Black Box II at AXPONA, which is a Windows 8.1 music server/PC attached to their 384/32 Digital Output, with the two pieces being kept separate to insure no interference with the sound. With 8GB of memory and a solid state drive, the Black Box II is essentially unlimited in playback, and with Windows aboard, compatibility with any file type is a given. The Black Box II can be controlled by iPad, Android, and Windows devices. The Black Box II, or any compatible computer, can be connected to the 384/32 Digital Output via a USB connection. The Black Box II’s partner unit shown resting on top, the 384/32 Digital Output, is a powerful digital converter which takes data from the USB input and outputs the data as digital sound via S/PDIF and AES/EBU outputs. As its name suggests, it can handle 384 kHz sample rates at 32 bits, just in case you have a bionic sense of hearing. Black Box II price: $3,500, 384/32 Digital Output: $3,000.

Marantz NA-11S1 network audio player

On display in the Denon and Marantz room was one of the latest additions to Marantz’ Reference line, the NA-11S1, a $3,500 network audio player and DAC. It can access your network through WiFi, Ethernet, or USB connections, stream music from all major internet radio networks, and playback every major file type including DSD (all of which can be handled at a 192kHz/24bit sampling rate). The NA-11S1 can be controlled with your iOS or Android smartphone via the Marantz Remote App, as well as with the included remote. With XLR and RCA analog outputs and Toslink, digital coaxial, and USB inputs, the NA-11S1 can also serve as a DAC. A nice touch on this feature rich network player is a high quality dedicated headphone jack with its own output stage.

Sony HAP-Z1ES HDD Audio Player

There were at least three rooms that I spotted the Sony HAP-Z1ES being used as a music source, which would normally be surprising considering how new this digital music player is. However, considering its relatively affordable price of $2,000 and functionality, we’re not entirely shocked. Although we previewed the HAP-Z1ES last year, let’s mention a few of the highlights of this seemingly popular unit: 1TB storage drive, all major music files supported including DSD, rear USB port for an additional drive, WiFi connectivity, an engine that converts any signal to DSD128 playback, an engine to restore sound peaks lost to compression, etc. The HAP-Z1ES has fairly limited connectivity with only one pair each of RCA and XLR outputs, an Ethernet port, and a USB port, but Sony likely isn’t expecting it to be used in systems without preamplifiers. Given its prevalence at AXPONA and its current backordered status as of this writing, it appears that Sony has a hit in the HAP-Z1ES.

Weiss MAN301 Music Archive Network Player

A recent offering from Weiss, the MAN301 is another attempt at an all-encompassing digital music player, and a pricey one at $9,083 for the base model and $12,262 with an added DAC. An iPad is required to operate the MAN301. One thing to note about the MAN301: although it is basically a music playback computer, it does not store music onboard. It only plays back music from network drives, connected devices, CD, or digital audio inputs. However, being a computer with a full-fledged operating system and all the flexibility that comes with that, there is no file type it can’t handle and internet radio streaming should be trouble free. Another advantage of its PC architecture is flexibility in the way it can connect to your network, especially with the inclusion of WiFi connectivity. Updating and improving the MAN301’s software will be much less of a hassle too, as opposed to the cumbersome firmware update procedures of dedicated electronics. There are some real advantages to be gained with the approach which Weiss has taken to a network music transport in the MAN301, if you can afford it.