CES 2013

Bob Graham introduced the new Phantom Elite tonearm at CES 2013 mounted on the eye-catching $85,000 Air Force One turntable he is distributing in the United States (currently under review). The 'table is designed by legendary Micro-Seiki creator Hideaki Nishikawa, with whom I had a long and productive chat at the show about the design.

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.

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.

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.

The 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show begins Tuesday morning. I'm flying out tomorrow morning and will begin tweeting @analogplanet and blogging on this site as soon as there's stuff to report. Honestly, I still haven't posted everything worth noting from RMAF back in October and I fully intend to get those posts online here too but first, 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.

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