![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2256.jpg)
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2257-wharfedale-and-napa-acoustic-small.jpg)
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2258-wharfedale-and-napa-acoustic2-small.jpg)
It was this small system that was playing while I was here. I did not expect to like this room – I often avoid rooms like this, like Polk, Spendor, etc. They don’t need the press and they are at the very affordable side of home audio – just not the type of systems we usually focus on here at Audio Federation. 🙂
But this little $300 CD player [with headphone jack] and similarly low-priced integrated on the Wharfedale speakers sounded better than many, many $100K+ systems at the show which were driven by a laptop. By better I mean is sounded more like music; more melodious, better harmonics, better PRaT, better continuousness, less edginess. Better.
I didn’t really talk to that many people [beyond simple pleasantries] at the show – maybe 3 or 4 – but 2 of them expressed fervent belief that the very low-end, the gear right above Best Buy quality, really needs to be targeted really well in order to bring the ipod generation into high-end audio. [Well, one of them was this Napa Acoustic guy, but it is still a valid point :-)].
I find this Napa Acoustic gear attractive. It sounds good. It is very inexpensive [complete systems for $1100 if I remember correctly. This is still the first hour of the show or so, and I am never good at remembering statistics].
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2259-napa-acoustic-cd-playre-and-integrated-amp-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic CD player and integrated amp
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2260-napa-acoustic-integrated-amp-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic integrated amp
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2262-napa-acoustic-cd-player-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic CD player
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2264-wharfedale-speakers-small.jpg)
Small Wharfedale speakers
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2265-wharfedale-monitor-speaker-small.jpg)
Small Wharfedale monitor speakers
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2266-wharfedale-floor-standing-speaker-small.jpg)
Moving to the larger system, the floor standing Wharfedale speakers
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2267-merrill-williams-real-101-turntable-small.jpg)
The Merrill Williams R.E.A.L. 101 turntable. We’ll see more of this in the next room.
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2268-merrill-williams-real-101-turntable-small.jpg)
Merrill Williams REAL 101 turntable
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2270-napa-acoustic-amplifier-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic amplifier
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2273-napa-acoustic-amp-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic amplifier
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2269-napa-acoustic-amplifier-rear-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic amplifier’s rear panel
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2275-napa-acoustic-cd-player-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic CD player
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2277-napa-acoustic-cd-player-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic CD player from the front
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IIMG_2279-napa-acoustic-hybrid-tube-integrated-amp-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic Hybrid Tube Integrated Amplifier
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2283-napa-acoustic-hybrid-tube-integrated-amp-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic Hybrid Tube Integrated Amplifier
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2281-napa-acoustic-hybrid-tube-integrated-amplifier-small.jpg)
Napa Acoustic Hybrid Tube Integrated Amplifier
![](https://audiofederation.com/ces-2012/a/IMG_2287-napa-acoustic-system-ipod-ready-system-small.jpg)
This is a 100% Napa Acoustic system. The speakers are not going to be as good as Wharfedale speakers, but they are a lot less expensive, too. An ipod cable and dock comes with the Napa Acoustic Hybrid Tube Integrated Amplifier.