Stephen Mejias

Well, I knew, of course. But, in addition to all sorts of great and suite-clearing music, CES (and the renegade T.H.E. Show) will be an absolute explosion of new audio gear and gadgetry. How do I know? I know because I've got the press releases that say so. They keep coming and coming. I've got an Outlook folder dedicated to them. Why don't I share those releases with you?

While we think about which songs to take along with us, let's also create a list of manufacturers we'd most like to visit.

I've already mentioned DeVore Fidelity, who'll be displaying their new loudspeaker, The Nine, a careful blend of the compact gibbon Super 8 and the mighty Silverback Reference. The final product measures 8.5" W x 14.5" D x 38" H, weighs a manageable 58lbs, and has a projected retail price of $6500/pair. That's too much dinero for my slim wallet, so, while I'll certainly make a point of listening to The Nines, I'll have my eyes and ears on lower-priced offerings from other manufacturers, too.

Included among those will be Usher Audio, whose sparkly S-520 speakers ($400/pair) were recently featured in the lovely and practical Domino magazine. (I like to make a point of calling out an enthusiastic "WTF?" whenever an audiophile name shows up in the alternate universes of fashion, design, home dcor, domesticity, whathaveyou. Don't ask why.) Usher's center-stage will be occupied by their oddly-named Dancer Series BE-10 and BE-20 loudspeakers which feature more beryllium in their drivers than I don't know what, and come in at those ever-competitive price points of $14,400/pair and $16,400/pair, respectively.

How can anything as big and fat as a 300lb BE-20 dance? That's what I really want to know. And maybe I'll find out, but I'm more interested in Usher's entry-level V Series speakers. The $700/pair V-601 bookshelf speaker is not quite as attractive as the colorful S-520, but it ups the ante with a 7" woofer, the same one found in Usher's middle-of-the-line (and quite elegant) 6 Series, and is said to offer bass response down to 42Hz. You'd still be missing the lowest of the floorboard quavering lows, but, in a small area like my 130sq.ft. Jersey City living room, you probably wouldn't need it anyway. It would be more than enough. Still, I wonder why Usher didn't give the V speakers the fancy paint treatment.

I'd like to see that, too.

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DeVore Fidelity will be exhibiting at the Venetian, Suite 29-327. Usher Audio Technologies will also be at the Venetian, in Murano Suites 3301A and 3201B.