From there to another favorite, the $56k Nola Baby Grand Reference -- an open-baffle multi-way floorstander from Carl Marchisotto that I’ve heard often and like enormously. Carl was using ARC electronics. The Nolas acquitted themselves on the Lanza with their usual aplomb -- outstanding transparency, neutrality, timbre, dynamics, air, focus, bloom, outstanding realism. This is another indisputably great loudspeaker and, in a different year at a different show, it would have been a Best of Show winner. As it stands, it was merely great.

(Editor's Note: JV's full CES 2009 Report appears in the current issue of The Absolute Sound)