Monday, January 8 - Part 2

Esoteric continues to roll out impressive source components, such as the X-01D2 ($16,000), which has some of the features of the P-03/D-03 combo and uses two different sets of DACs,

...and the much less expensive SA-10 ($3500).

Oracle Audio debuted its newest integrated amplifier. With styling that continues the Oracle tradition of beautiful cosmetics, the SI 1000 ($9250) produces 175W into 8 ohms, and features balanced and single-ended inputs and full remote control.

DH Labs is now cryogenically treating a number of its cables -- we saw the Q-10C speaker cable and Air Matrix-C interconnect, with more planned. The company seems quite impressed with the performance gains that the freezing process is yielding. We can’t wait to hear more about it. Seen above is a non-cryo’d model, the new Phono Cable, priced at $250 for a one-meter RCA-terminated length (XLR termination is only a $20 upcharge). [www.silversonic.com]

Hailing from Greece, Ypsilon had an impressive array of electronics. Seen in the picture (prices in British pounds -- there is no North American distribution yet) are the SET-100 monoblock amplifier (£33,000 each), PST-100 preamp (£20,000), DAC-100 digital-to-analog converter (£15,000), and CDT-100 CD transport (£11,000). All of them looked right at home with with a pair of silver Verity Audio Sarastro speakers.