April 15, 2007
(All prices in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.)

We'll refrain from making stoner jokes in describing the Omega Speaker Systems speakers, which use full-range drivers with cones made of hemp -- billed as "very light...and very strong." Left is the Compact Hemp ($1399/pair), center is the Maxhemp ($2495/pair), and right is the Super 3XRS ($949/pair).

The Renaissance Audio Opus No.1 ($25,000) uses T100 output tubes that were created expressly for audio purposes. This stereo push-pull amp outputs 60Wpc. It sounded sweet and gutsy. It's an amp to watch -- and hear when you get the chance.

The Townsend Seismic Sink Speaker Cradle isolates speakers from floor-borne vibration, though we wondered if the speaker itself would move because of the drivers' excursion. A version that holds speakers up to 260 pounds is $1800/pair.

The Copland DAC205 ($2400 CAD) uses "the latest/greatest DACs" and brings room correction down to an affordable price.

Paradigm's demonstration of Signature S6 v.2 (left, $4500-$5100/pair depending on finish) and Millenia 300 ($1999/pair) speakers seemed to be forever in session, so we had to snap this picture while one crowd was leaving the room and another was entering. [www.paradigm.com]