CES 2015

[fmanheck]

Visiting the 2015 CES in Las Vegas I offer the following observation:

I found myself only enjoying systems with analog rigs playing. Almost all digital setups to me seemed "digital" sounding. There were some VERY expensive digital front ends on display here. Some were what I would call OK
 

All were missing the sense of live music I have come to hear and take for granted in my own system. We truly are the fortunate ones. I do not think it can be easily explained to others. It has to be heard to be understood. Cost comparisons are completely meaningless and misleading.

The exception to this observation was in the Venture Audio Room (loudspeakers) which was playing with...yup you guessed it; a NOS1a.

Music through this system was wonderful. The speakers are fabulous ($120K) and mate well with the Phasure.
 
I heard some systems with vinyl sound very good but for digital playback there was only one room to be in this year. Thanks Peter

[PeterSt]

Ah Fred, you are just used to your own sound. haha

But if you are correct then journalists should also get that. All I know is that it isn't always guranteed that the sound is good, so much depending on rooms etc. And what's played ...

But very nice to hear and I was waiting for it of course. We work in close colaboration with the owner of Venture to get their sound the best and I hope you had a nice chat with him. He is a very nice guy, say like you yourself.

Thanks for sharing ...
Best regards,
Peter

[fmanheck]

I openly confess my bias

Njoo Hoo Kong of Venture is indeed very likeable and enthusiastic about the Phasure as well. We do have that in common

To be fair there were some rooms with digital that did sound very good: Absolare USA with MSB rig and Rockport Avior Speakers (their turntable Xact Audio Kodo direct drive turntable was much better though)and Antelope Audio with Amphion and Rubicon DAC/preamp come to mind. I was hoping to find a Berkeley Alpha Reference to compare but did not see one anywhere.

But truly, after listening to the NOS1a for an extended time, most other digital sources sound for lack of a better descriptor... chilly and not warm. It is a more sterile presentation than I am now accustomed to and I also think I am hearing more into the music with greater detail available through the NOS1a.

There is no doubt to me that the Phasure NOS1a is the best digital playback I have ever heard.