Big speakers and small rooms are usually ingredients in a
recipe for sonic disaster, except when the speakers are the new Emerald Physics CS1s
($10,000 per pair), whose dipole radiation pattern produces nulls at the sides of the
speakers, limiting side-wall reflection and leading to a very focused sound. The CS-1s
sounded authoritative in the bass, exceptionally dynamic, and sweet -- no zingy hi-fi
sound here, perhaps due to the speakers' DSP crossover, which also provides EQ
functionality.
Electronics for this system were Ampzilla mono and stereo
amplifiers, an Ampzilla preamp, and a two-box Raysonic CD228 CD player.
Of all the speakers we heard at the RMAF, this is the one
we'll talk about most and anticipate hearing again at CES in January.
