CES 2016 - Las Vegas, USA

The new Xeo 2 is the smallest digital, active wireless loudspeaker from Dynaudio. What separates it from its larger brethren, the Xeo 4 and Xeo 6, is its ability to operate without a wireless transmitter. The Xeo 2 also features analog (RCA) and digital (TosLink) inputs, as well as wireless Bluetooth connectivity. The Xeo 2 . . .

. . . has 130 total watts of output power per speaker and has low-frequency response rated down to 40Hz. Touch-sensitive controls are mounted on the top-front edge of the speaker for easy access. Standard colors are black and white, but many others are available. The price for the Xeo 2 is $1599 per pair. Dynaudio also introduced . . .

. . . the new Emit series of entry-level loudspeakers. The M30 floorstander ($1900/pr.) and the M15 C center-channel ($700) are shown in the photo, but there are also two other bookshelf models in the line: the M10 ($750/pr.) and M20 ($950/pr.). All Emit models feature "high-grade" Dynaudio driver technology, which the company says is the line's defining feature at this low price point. More upscale . . .

. . . are two new Excite models: the flagship X44 floorstander ($5499/pr.) and the . . .

. . . X18 monitor, which is priced at $1799/pr.

D'Agostino Master Audio Systems introduced the Progression Mono amplifier, which is priced at $45,000/pr. The power output of the Mono is said to be 800W into 8 ohms, and it is said to be able to double its power delivery all the way down to 2 ohms (3200W). The centrally mounted, Swiss-watch-like . . .

. . . power meter on the Mono has developed into a hallmark feature on all of D'Agostino's current amplifier designs. Delivery of the Progression Mono starts in February.

The AudioQuest DragonFly Black ($99) and DragonFly Red ($199) digital-to-analog converters were announced at CES 2016. These are the successors to the original DragonFly. Compared to the Black model, the Red version offers higher output voltage for driving a wider variety of headphones, including low-efficiency models. The Red also has a 64-bit "bit-perfect" volume control. The Red and Black both utilize a new microprocessor from Microchip, which allows these DragonFlys to be compatible with mobile devices due to their lower power consumption. The AudioQuest . . .

. . . Beetle is also a DAC with an asynchronous USB input, but adds asynchronous Bluetooth operation and an optical input as well. The Beetle's price is $199. The DragonFlys and Beetle will be available in the second quarter of 2016.

EMM Labs showed the new MTRX 2 mono power amplifier, which is said to produce 1000W into 4 ohms and is claimed to be stable into virtually any load. This is the "little" brother of the original MTRX, which is rated at 1500W into 4 ohms. The price for the MTRX 2 is TBA.

The EMM Labs DA2 (left) digital-to-analog converter and the matching TX2 transport are priced at $25,000 each. A company rep said the DA2 uses "industry-first 16X DSD DACs." Although prototypes of these models have been shown before, these are production units ready to ship.

The new D-series speakers from Raidho Acoustics have .1 as part of their names. Shown here is the D-3.1, which is priced at $65,000/pr. in the standard black-colored finish. The new models feature a . . .

. . . new motor system in the midrange and woofer drivers, as well as a revised porting system. Previous-generation models are upgradeable to the new .1 designation.

The Elac Uni-Fi speakers are the brainchild of well-known speaker designer Andrew Jones. The three models are the UB5 monitor ($499/pr.), the UC5 center-channel ($349), and the UF5 floorstander ($998/pr.). Most notable is the use of a . . .

. . . concentric midrange-tweeter drive unit, a hallmark of Jones's previous speaker designs at KEF and TAD, which were the companies he worked for before.

The new NAD M50.2 network music player features Bluetooth and gigabit Ethernet connectivity, as well as 4TB of internal storage. A CD ripper/player is included. The . . .

. . .M50.2 has HDMI, AES/EBU, optical, and coaxial digital outputs for use with the DAC of your choice (there is no internal DAC in the M50.2). The price is $3999. Also new from NAD is the . . .

. . . M32 Direct Digital integrated amplifier. This new entry-level model is best described as a "power DAC," in that it converts incoming PCM signals into a 35-bit/844kHz PWM stream, which, in turn, drives the MOSFET-based output stage, which then drives the loudspeakers. The M32 is rated at 150Wpc into 8 ohms and features three analog inputs as well as a host of digital inputs. The price for the M32 is $3999.

The TAD White Carat (price TBA) is a concept speaker that might find its way into production in the future. This is a more compact version of the company's CE-1. The White Carat -- which we were told is a nickname at present -- features . . .

. . . a 9cm concentric driver with a magnesium woofer and a beryllium tweeter. The aluminum woofer is 16cm.