PRESS RELEASE
11th January 2012: What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, the world's most trusted home entertainment buyer's guide, today announces the Stars of CES - the experts' pick of the most innovative new hi-fi and home cinema products launched at the world's largest consumer electronics show. Combining high quality, high-performance design with the very latest streaming and network technologies, Stars of CES celebrates the cutting-edge of music and film reproduction in the home.
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision magazine editor Dominic Dawes, commented: "The What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Stars of CES is an awards list with a purpose: to celebrate the serious, high quality hi-fi and home cinema brands that demonstrate the continuing value and importance of quality audio and video performance."
The Stars of CES 2012 in no particular order are:
1. Arcam rPac portable DAC
"For offering a simple, portable, affordable and high-quality improvement to any music you have stored on a laptop or digital media player, our first Star of CES is the Arcam rPac portable DAC".
2. Rega RS10 loudspeakers
"For a fine combination of beautiful aesthetics with their BMR drivers and transmission line design, the Rega RS10 loudspeakers are worthy winners."
3. Bang & Olufsen Beolit 12 Airplay system
"The first of a new range of more affordable products from Bang & Olufsen, the Beolit 12 Airplay system offers wireless music in a high-quality package."
4. Monitor Audio Shadow series speaker package
"With many consumers requiring discreet and compact design as a pre-requisite for having home cinema surround speakers, our next Star of CES is the slim and stunning Monitor Audio Shadow Series speaker package."
5. Meridian M6 active loudspeakers
"Innovative speaker design always goes down well with us, and for their highly unusual physical presence, as well as proprietary DSP that means they're incredibly flexible about positioning, The Meridian M6 active speakers are deserving winners."
6. McIntosh MC275 50th anniversary integrated amplifier
"At CES 2012, McIntosh wowed us with its new ‘gold-toned' limited edition version of its classic MC275 valve power amplifier, but with some very 21st century updates, making them another Star."
7. Dynaudio Xeo wireless active speakers
"For some, the idea of high-performance wireless speakers seems like the holy grail. So our next Star of CES could only be the Xeo wireless active speakers from Dynaudio."
8. Audio Research Reference DAC Digital Media Bridge
"High-end music streamer, preamp and DAC in one substantial box, internet radio-enabled and fully compatible with high-resolution audio, when we saw the Audio Research Reference DAC Digital Media Bridge, the words ‘Star of CES' were not far behind."
9. Krell Phantom III stereo preamplifier
"A state-of-the-art stereo preamplifier with myriad optional digital upgrades struck us as a worthy star of the show - so the Krell Phantom III is another worthy winner."
10. Wilson Audio Alexandria XLF loudspeakers
"A towering example of speaker perfectionism, the enormous and spectacular Alexandria XLF speakers offer something truly exceptional. They are our final Stars of CES."
About What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision:
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision is the world's most trusted home entertainment buyer's guide, with a 35-year heritage of providing clear, expert and independent advice. Through news, reviews, videos and one-to-one online advice, its experts are helping millions of people get more from their music, movies and TV - however and wherever they want to enjoy them.
Further information can be found at www.whathifi.com
Twitter: @whathifi
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whathifi.com
