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CES 2011
Marten Getz
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011
Another potential best-of-show system has to include the Heritage Series Getz, a new model from Sweden's Marten loudspeakers. With their all ceramic drivers from Acuton (apart from a passive radiator, one of the large cones visible in the photo) they were very different in balance from the Sony speakers, above. Faster on their feet and even more sparklingly detailed, but less weighty and majestic sounding. And at $20,000, cheaper, though not exactly a blue-light special.
CES 2011
Dept of Wretched Excess
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011
While I can't say I had any complaints about the sound of this system featuring Lamm tubed electronics and Wilson Alexanria X-2 MkII, at around $675,000 (2-channels only, of course) it was a bit, um, over the top.
CES 2011
B2 Titan
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011
I've never heard of the Italian loudspeaker company B2, but their Titan, which stands about 65-inches tall and weighs in at 286 lbs, sounded spectacular in a very large room. The mids and highs were particularly transluscent, thanks to a pair of ceramic-coned midranges from Accuton and a 6" ribbon tweeter. The smaller speaker on the right in the photo is the Hebe (not heard). Estimated retail prices as of show time were about $75,000/pair for the Titan and $19,500 per pair for the Hebe.
CES 2011
Pass Laboratories SR-2
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011
Most of our budgets won't stretch to the $18,000/pair level of these floorstanders, but with their Nextel series drivers from Seas of Norway, each speaker with one 7-inch midrange driver, one 10-1/4-inch long excursion woofer, and a 1.1-inch HEXADYM™ magnet tweeter, the Pass Pabs SR-2s sounded mighty sweet.
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CES 2011
Joseph Audio Gets Perspective
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011
Hardly cheap at a mere $11,800 per pair, but a bargain compared to some of the above systems, Joseph Audio's new Perspective floor standers are an outgrowth of the company's $7000 pulsar stand-mount monitor, with an added 5" woofer in a larger cabinet. They sounded superb, with far more bass than I expected.
CES 2011
Goggle Guy
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011
From Liquid Imaging Co. LLC comes the Summit Series HD combination video camera and snow goggles. The integrated wide angle HD camera captures the wearer's point of view while the skier is shushing down the slopes!
Signs of the Times
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 11, 2011
CES 2011 may be over, but we've got a lot more to show you, which we'll be posting this week. Meanwhile, here are some photos I took in the last hour on Sunday, when the crowds were mostly gone.

Many of the major manufacturers increased their booth space dramatically, which indicated to me that the economic recovery is well underway for them. Panasonic built auditorium seating in front of this wall o' 3D TVs.

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Custom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
A Show House with Dramatic Stylings
Kim Wilson Photography by Marisa Pellegrini  |  Jan 11, 2011

Building a theater was part of the plan for a designer’s show house that entailed the complete renovation of an old mansion for community events. Everyone donated their efforts and the two key contributors to the theater were Interior Decisions, who created the design, supplied the decorative appointments including custom cabinetry/millwork and Woodbridge Stereo/Video, who donated their integration services, the AV equipment, acoustical wall fabric and seating.

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CES 2011
Anthem
Shane Buettner  |  Jan 11, 2011
Other Tech
CES 2011: Wrap-Up
 |  Jan 11, 2011

CES 2011 is a wrap, but the new products will live on - at least until they're made obsolete by new stuff at next year's show. Here's a hand collection of all the news you need from the floor and beyond.

CES 2011: The Wild World of the High-End Audio Rooms

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