Bob Walters, coordinator of the Bay Area Audiophile Society, pegged Tonian Acoustics as one of the best-sounding loudspeaker exhibits at the Show. If only I could share his enthusiasm for the Tonian Acoustic Classic 7.1 ($5500/pair), a 16 ohm loudspeaker with 95dB sensitivity is inexplicably absent from the Tonian Acoustics website.

Hooked up by Tonian's solid-core copper speaker cable ($480/8ft pair) and interconnect ($350 for 1m) to a Philips CD player and Audiolab 8000 integrated amp, the system was a bit sharp and bright on an excellent Pentatone recording of Schubert's Trout Quintet, and lacked midrange warmth. A classic Elvis Presley track was a joy to listen to, however, despite its brightness. On Four Drums Drumming, whose tedious opening track was used by far too many exhibitors, the sound was very fast and clear, but lacking in deeper tonalities. Also on display was the larger Tonian Acoustic TLM-2 ($17,000/pair), again unlisted on the front page of the website.