THE Show 2012 (at CES) – Kudos Audio, Perreaux, Stein Music


Stein Music had their Harmonizers assisting the system in this room, a set of 6, I think, black boxes with little blue lights in them that affected the sound in the room.

After a demonstration with the Harmonizers on, then off, then on again, I felt that they made the system less ‘open sounding’ and adding a little dampening down to the dynamics. This is a similar effect to many power conditioners out there and many people seem to like this considering the overwhelming success of these kinds of devices. It makes the music more accessible, easier for the brain to parse, to grok, I sometimes think, perhaps because it is delivered in a more familiar package.


The speaker with a Blue Magic Diamond tweak on top


The speaker with a Blue Magic Diamond tweak on top, close-up


Stein Music tweaks on the ceiling


The Stein Music H2 Harmonizer system


The Stein Music H2 Harmonizer system


Smart Audio component of some sort [there is nothing at smartaudio.net]


Smart Audio component of some sort

THE Show 2012 (at CES) – Kings Audio


This room sounded very Enjoyable. Big and open, sufficient harmonics and separation – although the dynamics was somewhat ‘evened out’ so perhaps it would never stray out of Enjoyability to be Real or Impressive. There was a certain even-handedness across the midrange – which I personally think is essential is one is going to call something ‘high-end’ audio – unlike many other systems, it didn’t just collapse into a mush at some freq., it didn’t get a lot more harmonics/resolution/dynamics that what it was supposed to have at some frequencies and a lot less at others, etc. etc.

Not saying it was great – but I wouldn’t have minded just collapsing into a chair and joining the other people here.


Kings Audio loudspeakers and Jadis amplifier and AMR CD player


Kings Audio’s King III speaker


Kings Audio’s King III speaker rear


Kings Audio’s Queen III speaker and Prince III speaker


Kings Audio’s Queen III speaker and Prince III speaker rears


Kings Audio’s Queen III speaker rear


Kings Audio’s Hummingbird II super tweeter


AMR CD-777 CD player


Jadis JPL preamplifier


Consonance preamp


Consonance USB DAC


Jadis amplifier