January 8, 2009 - Series 2

Vienna Acoustics debuted The Kiss stand-mounted loudspeaker ($15,000 per pair with stands). The Kiss is the second loudspeaker from the company's Klimt line and features much of the technology developed for the flagship The Music. The Kiss is a three-way loudspeaker that incorporates a coaxial tweeter-midrange driver and a 9" woofer. The Kiss is somewhat unique in that the top module can be rotated from left to right and angled for proper tilt in relation to the listener. The bottom bass module can also be angled for what the company says is better bass integration.

A handmade full-range Manger driver generates all of the frequencies that the Silbatone Aporia ($30,000 per pair) covers, but the speaker's sensitivity is low by horn standards -- 93dB. It still played loud driven by an 8Wpc Silbatone amplifier. The enclose is made from an anti-resonant resin in which foam is injected, lowering the speaker's weight by a third.

The Ayre QB9 DAC is the company’s first USB-equipped product. Unlike most USB DACs, the QB9 will accept a 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution signal. The front-panel readout indicates the sample rate that the unit has locked on to -- a helpful feature for audiophiles using a computer-based system. The QB9 also uses Ayre’s new digital filter technology, which the company says has also migrated into the MP-series digital players. Price for the QB9 is expected to be under $2500.

Esoteric's A-03 ($12,000) can be used as stereo power amp, in which case it outputs 50Wpc in class A into 8 ohms, or it can be bridged and used as a monoblock, where it produces 200Wpc into 8 ohms. [www.teac.com/esoteric/]

Esoteric also introduced the new E-03 phono stage ($5500). The E-03 has two inputs and a "fully discrete dual-mono analog circuit." Of course, it has enough gain for moving-coil cartridges. The styling matches that of other 03-based products in the Esoteric line with its contoured aluminum faceplate. [www.teac.com/esoteric/]