September 9, 2007

The Peachtree Audio Decco ($799) looks like a table radio, but it's actually an integrated amplifier with a tube input stage and built-in DAC. And if you get tired of its outer case, you can change it to another.

Two new Era floorstanding speakers drew admiring looks. The D10 (left, $1700/pair) and D14 ($2200/pair) were designed by Michael Kelly, head of Aerial Acoustics.

If less is more, this product is too much. The Musical Fidelity 550K Supercharger ($5000/pair) operates as a conventional mono amplifier, but it can also accept a speaker-level input. Voilą -- it becomes an amplifier for your amplifier.

In the waning minutes of the show, we came across these brand-new tube preamps from McIntosh. Above is the single-chassis C2300 ($6000)...

...and here is the dual chassis C500 ($11,000). Both have an MC/MM phono stage -- an unusual feature for new preamps these days.

The Denon DVP-758 is a progressive-video-equipped universal A/V player that costs $349. It is direct competition for all of the low-priced Oppo players that offer a similarly rich feature set.

Just another subwoofer? Monitor Audio's new Gold GSW12 ($1699) has remote control and a 10-band EQ. You can choose from four sets of standard EQ settings or create your own custom set. [www.monitoraudiousa.com]