CES 2013

This sleek new B.M.C. unit combines a preamplifier, a DAC, and a headphone amplifier.

Clearaudio debuted the new $3000 Performance turntable/tonearm combo at CES 2013.

Acrylic and I don't get along well in the turntable/tonearm world so I remain skeptical about the sonic performance of this $1575 Scheu Cantus acrylic tonearm but of course I reserve judgement until I get to hear it.

The venerable Record Doctor record cleaning machine, which resembles a Nitty Gritty minus a record spinning motor has been out of production for a few years now but thanks to the vinyl resurrection (it's gone way beyond a revival don't you think?) it's being resuscitated with a hoped for price of around $200.

Constellation, a consortium of designers headed up by industry veteran Peter Madnick introduced the long awaited Perseus phono preamplifier designed by the legendary John Curl who says this is his best yet phono preamplifier.

That calling the goings on in Roy Hall's Music Hall room "the real world" is indicative of just how bizarre this business can be. Along with shots of single-malt, Hall and his partner Leland Leard demoed some new reasonably priced analog gear including this $599 Creek MM/MC phono preamp that's dip-switch configurable and given Mike Creek's experience and track record, probably sounds very fine.

Zanden introduced its new Model 120 prototype phono preamp, the company's first solid-state design. The estimated price is $7500. I have no more details to report other than that it sounded good playing a Buddy Guy lacquer I brought to the show.