Gallery: Beautiful, Expensive Stereo Gear That Hits the High End of Hi-Fi
Brian L. Frank for WIRED01have-a-listen-to-this
BURLINGAME, California -- If you've got a few hundred grand burning a hole in your Prada slacks, this is the place for you. High-end audio shows like this one -- the [California Audio Show](http://www.caaudioshow.com/), a yearly event set up by the staff of the website [Dagogo.com](http://dagogo.com/) -- pop up all over the country at different times on the calendar. They're hubs for audiophiles, meeting places for the manufacturers, dealers, and consumers of high-end audio gear. The California Audio Show lacks the pomp of the big industry meets like CES. There's no bustling expo floor, no booth babes. Rather, the whole affair is spread out through a few dozen rooms in a decidedly un-fancy hotel down the road from San Francisco's airport. In each room, you'll find an equipment dealer or a speaker manufacturer showing off their latest goodies. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own music for demos, and the bearded, ponytailed and bespectacled throngs hoof from room to room with their stacks of 180-gram Deutsche Grammophon LPs, Bob Dylan tape reels, and Yo-Yo Ma SACDs in hand. But an audiophile's dream is also a bargain hunter's nightmare. A pair of speakers being shown here could set you back twenty or thirty thousand dollars. That glowing tube amp could run another five grand (and you'll need two, one for each stereo channel). Oh, you like that crazy-looking turntable? How does $28,000 grab you? Welcome to the rabbit hole of cultured insanity that is high-end audio geekdom. Have a Listen to This --------------------- In the above photo, attendees demo various headphones and specialized headphone amplifiers at the booth for [The Cable Company](http://thecableco.com/) in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza hotel. The Pennsylvania company specializes in custom speaker, power and video cables, but also carries components. The large, wooden headphones being tested here are [Audeze LCD-3s](http://audeze.com/audeze-lcd3), a favorite among audiophiles. They cost $2,000 a pair, and yes, they sound absolutely spectacular.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED02magico-s5-speakers
Magico S5 --------- The S5, the newest loudspeaker from revered manufacturer [Magico](http://magico.net/Product/S5/S5_01.php), were some of the best speakers we heard at the show. They're massive: 48 inches tall, with a one-inch beryllium tweeter and a six-inch midrange driver stacked above dual 10-inch aluminum-reenforced woofers. The whole speaker cabinet is crafted from extruded aluminum, and the walls are a full half-inch thick. These Magico S5s could be yours, in any color you desire, starting at $28,600. Those dual woofers really pound -- the S5s threw out some loud, crystal-clear bass when they were powered by a pair of $78,000 VAC tube monoblock amplifiers. Impressive stuff.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED03vtl-amplifier
VTL Siegfried Series II Reference Amplifiers -------------------------------------------- These tube monoblock amplifiers from [VTL](http://www.vtl.com/) will run you $65,000 a pair. A monoblock is designed to power only one channel, so if you want to listen to music in stereo, you'll need two. Like most high-end monoblocks, they are massive -- two feet tall and 200 pounds each -- so they won't squeeze behind your potted ferns. Inside each of these Siegfrieds are twelve 6550 power tubes, each one about the size of a medicine bottle. You can also choose to load them with KT-88 tubes if you wish. There's a mesh grill topping the assembly, so the unit stays cool while the tubes stay protected. The Siegfrieds can pump out 750 watts to a 5-ohm load, so they can drive even the most thirsty speakers -- in this case, a pair of [Wilson Alexandria XLFs](http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product_xlf.shtml), which are roughly $200,000 a pair. That's some serious cheese, but boy did this rig sound amazing. We listened to a few Police tracks, and when I shut my eyes, it felt like Stewart Copeland's octobans were set up about six feet away from my head. 
Brian L. Frank for WIRED04chord-spm-14000-ultimate
Chord SPM 14000 Ultimate Monoblock Amp -------------------------------------- Another amplifier that takes two to tango is the beastly SPM 14000 Ultimate monoblock from [Chord](http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/). It's an older design, but this was the first time I've heard a pair of them in action. And my god, they're full of stars. Wattage doesn't just give you volume, it gives you depth and clarity, adding that elusive "oomph" to the music. And you'd be hard-pressed to find something that delivers a more crystal-clear flavor of oomph than Chord's solid-state monoblocks. The SPMs drive a tremendous 1,000 watts at 8 ohms and a testicle-gripping 2,000 watts at 4 ohms. Each unit weighs 165 pounds, much of that attributable to the high-voltage 12kW power supply a massive amp like this requires. Each one also has a set of warning lights on the front that flash when you're pushing your speakers a little too close to the edge. The blue and pink interior lights turn on when you power up the amp, and they provided a pleasingly appropriate tint to the ambience of the room as I listened to a selection of funky Herbie Hancock jams. Want a pair to call your own? $75,000. 
Brian L. Frank for WIRED05amg-turntable
AMG Viella Turntable -------------------- The [Viella](http://www.amg-turntables.com/) is a work of art: a gloss-black, hardwood-trimmed plinth topped with a two-piece, belt-driven aluminum platter, all hand finished and hand wired in AMG's factory in Bavaria. The price, with the 12-inch tone arm, starts at $16,000. And since you wouldn't slap any old stylus on a turntable that costs more than a Warhol, you'll need a $15,000 [Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement cartridge](http://www.clearaudio.de/_en/tan_Goldfinger%20Statement.php) like the one shown here.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED06kef-ls-50-speakers
KEF LS50 -------- Hi-Fi giant KEF is celebrating its 50th year in the speaker business with a newly designed set of studio monitors. The [LS50](http://www.kef.com/html/en/showroom/flagship_hi-fi_series/LS50/overview/) is bookshelf-sized -- just under 12 inches tall, 8 inches wide and 11 inches deep -- and features a beautiful, bronze-colored driver. The speaker uses an [exceedingly complicated design](http://www.kef.com/uploads/images/en/series/LS50/technology/kef_ls50_uni_q_en.jpg) that stacks a tweeter on top of a mid-range driver. (KEF calls this the UNI-Q system.) Also, the funky bit of folded material at the center that looks a bit like a citrus juicer is a "waveguide" that disperses the soundwaves over a wider area, giving you a much bigger sweet spot. The LS50s are passive, so they require a low-powered amp of about 25-100 watts (they're perfect for your [Nexus Q](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/google-nexus-q/), maybe). But they sound excellent, with a shimmering high-end and extraordinarly clear mids. They're kind of slim on bass, but that's the price you pay for such a compact build. Well, that and $1,500. These will be shipping by early September, if not sooner.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED07audioengine-d1
Audioengine D1 -------------- We're long-time fans of Audioengine -- [we rated](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/audioengine-a5plus/) the company's [5+ powered desktop speakers](http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-5-Plus) the best in the category last year. Now, the small manufacturer is showing off its combo 24-bit DAC and headphone amp, [the D1](http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-D1). Digital-to-analog converters like this connect to your computer using the USB port or an optical connection. They ensure whatever audio is coming out of your computer is represented as accurately as possible when it's sent to your speakers or headphones. As a headphone amp, it added depth and clarity to the Steely Dan and Erykah Badu songs I used to test it. Sweeter than the sound is the price -- only $170. That's peanuts for a DAC/amp combo of this quality. The compact, attractive design is just gravy.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED08anthony-gallo-reference-3-5-speakers-2
Anthony Gallo Reference 3.5 --------------------------- We were initally attracted to this speaker simply because of its crazy looks. Anthony Gallo is known for his spherical speaker cabinet designs (his company's domain name is [roundsound.com](http://www.roundsound.com/)) and his [Reference 3.5](http://www.roundsound.com/reference-3-5.php) speaker follows the pattern. The dual 4-inch carbon-fiber mid-range drivers are isolated near the top of the cast aluminum chassis, and between them is a cylindrical tweeter that casts high notes in a 300-degree arc. At the bottom is a side-firing 10-inch woofer. Looks aside, they also happen to sound wonderful, and you can install them in your living room for a relatively affordable $7,000.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED09kronos-turntable
Kronos Audio Turntable ---------------------- This turntable from [Kronos Audio](http://kronosaudio.com/) uses an engineering principle borrowed from automotive design: crankshaft balancing. Beneath the platter where you put your LP, there's a second platter spinning in to opposite direction. It acts as a counterweight, eliminating much of the vibration and movement that would normally shake the turntable and gunk up the sound with wow and flutter effects. In short, you get a more stable turntable. Just to show off how well it works, Kronos added a laser speed meter that measures the rotation velocity four times per second and displays the current speed on an LED readout at the base. The design also incorporates a split plinth design, which is quite beautiful to behold, especially with all the wood trim. These are hand-assembled in Montreal and cost $28,000 each. Only 250 will ever be produced. This specimen also sports a Graham Phantom Supreme 12-inch tonearm ($6,000) and another one of those ridiculous $15,000 Goldfinger Statement cartridges. 
Brian L. Frank for WIRED10linn-reference-granite-speaker
Linn Audio Reference Granite ---------------------------- David Linn stands next to his latest loudspeaker, the [Reference Granite](http://www.linnaudionh.com/reference_granite.html). At the center of the seven-foot-tall, double-ported cabinet is a wooden horn coupled with a compression driver of his own design. It's his pride and joy, Linn says -- he spent several years tweaking the design to perfection. Filling out the rest of the baffle are two neodynium ribbon tweeters and two 15-inch woofers with 20-pound magnets. Linn shares his name with the [famous U.K. company](http://www.linn.co.uk/), which makes turntables and other components. But this Linn, based in Oakland, California, makes only speakers and specialized amps to drive them. David is set to begin shipping the Reference Granite for $80,000 a pair.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED11melody-an845-amplifier
Melody AN845 ------------ Melody, a boutique tube amp manufacturer from Australia, sent over its AN845 integrated stereo amp to be displayed the show. The design is based around the company's home-spun 845 vacuum tubes (the two tall tubes on the far right and left). This is a brand new amp -- its North American debut was held in the room operated by [Angel City Audio](http://www.angelcityaudio.com/), which sells the amp for $7,300 (they also make their own [line of speakers](http://angelcityaudio.com/products/angel-city-audio/trinity/)). The AN845 puts out 22 watts per channel, which may not seem like a lot, but it's enough to power most smaller audiophile speakers, and it's likely all the juice you'd need for an apartment or a medium-sized listening room.
Brian L. Frank for WIRED12mbl-corona-line
MBL Corona Line --------------- The Germans are renowned for their classy and understated approach to design, and true to form, there's nothing gaudy or conspicuous about [MBL's new Corona line](http://www.mbl-northamerica.com/) of home audio components. All the boxes are finished in glossy white with subtle chrome, and the assembled system, as a whole, is truly beautiful. The speakers, the 126 Radialstrahlers, are actually rather demure at 20 inches tall (or 44 inches on their matching stands). But turn this stereo on, and it will pummel you to a mushy heap of grinning goo with absolutely transparent reproduction and a take-no-prisoners level of drama. I sat in front of them as my fellow attendees queued up everything from jazz piano trios to Zep's "Going to California" to Von Karajan's reading of the Ninth, all of it played pretty damn loud through the company's matching C11 preamp and C12 300-watt stereo power amp. There's no other complete system that I now want in my house more than this one. The whole thing, including a CD player, is $39,000 -- which is a steal if you know how sky-high MBL's other products are priced. Not like I can afford it, anyway. The secret to the Corona's success are the perfectly transparent, perfectly accurate Radialstrahler speakers. As the "radial" in the name implies, they are omni-directional, sending circular sound waves out like a beacon. Mmmmm ... beacon. 
