Venus Hi-Fi's primary goal has always been to offer a variety of unique audio products that offer both extraordinary performance and exceptional value. And while we've found many tempting brands of amplifiers and loudspeakers, most high-end digital playback products have left us feeling cold.

But we've just discovered a line of CD players, transports, and DACs that has really put a smile on our faces! These units sound WAY better than they should for their asking prices. For instance, in a series of listening tests, several customers felt that this company's entry-level tube CD player, which retails for around $1500, sounded AT LEAST as good as some highly-touted $3000+ CD players from Cary Audio and GamuT. And not only do these units SOUND great, they also LOOK great!

We're so excited by this new acquisition that we've decided to throw a contest. Here's the deal: The first AK member who correctly guesses the name of this company wins a Blue Circle BC86 MKIII powerline filter (which happens to be Venus Hi-Fi's featured product this Fall - see the "Product of the Season" thread elsewhere on this forum). The rules of this contest are quite simple: You may only guess one manufacturer per post, and you may only post one guess per day.

Yes, I know - this contest is fairly arbitrary in nature. But hopefully you will find it a bit more stimulating than many equally arbitrary contests, such as "Guess the name of my goldfish!" or "Guess how many garbanzo beans I have in this jar!"

My only hint is that this manufacturer is based outside of the United States - that is, this is an import brand...

Happy guessing!

I'll have a go :huge:

nOrh ?

CK

acoustic precision/ metronome tech?

Could it be Audiomeca?

Dave

Granite Audio?

Nope, nope, nope, and nope! :D (I've actually carried both Audiomeca and Metronome in the past as a dealer - very fine players, but nothing quite like this...)

Audio Aero :dunno:

-Dave

Shanling ? Wait you already carried that line already didnt ya. :confused:

I don't know where they are, but the new Resonse Audio one?

Carl

Nope, it's not Audio Aero or Response Audio. And Shanling has been one of my featured product lines for a while now...

Guess again, folks!

Cec from China?
Thanks for the tip Brian,you have my mailing address

Alan

Sorry, Alan - it's not C.E.C. either! (BTW, C.E.C. is based in Japan, not China.)

Yorx? :D :p: ;)

Originally posted by THOR
Yorx? :D :p: ;)

:lmao:

-Dave

Usher?

1,024 garbanzo beans? :D

yba

Audio Note?

Hmmm...Xindak?

Nope, it's not Usher, YBA, or Xindak.

Audio Note is a great guess, but I already carry that line! :)

As far as I know, 1024 Garbanzo Beans went out of business a couple of years ago.

Yorx? Sheesh!

Guess again...

Ah!

i dont even know what im gonna guess tomorrow.

probbly some chinese brand that nobody has ever heard of. One of them real boutique items.

This contest isint as easy as it appears! lol.

Underwriters Labs? :D

If this company name appears on the player I win right?

Ah Tjobe

Spelling ????

J

Tube technology?

Sorry, but both Ah! Tjoeb and Tube Technologies are incorrect! Keep 'em coming...

Okay, you already know that this company makes a tube CD player that retails here for about $1500, and that the company is not based in the United States.

Here's another hint: This product line is NOT Chinese. (This hint should rule out a number of manufacturers who are currently introducing new digital products to the American high-end audio market.)

Electrocompaniet?

Audio Aero Prima

Creek ? Accuphase ?

J:dunno:

Classe

How about Sphinx Project equipment? :dunno:
:dunno: :dunno:
Dave

Don't know where their located, but how about HIT Audio? :dunno:

-Dave

musical fidelity

Philips?

digital dogg?:D

I'm sure it has to be BOSE!
:yuck:
Sorry had to throw in my sarcastic $.02.
Tal

Wrong, all wrong ... heh heh heh (my evil laugh)!

Originally posted by BrianB
Wrong, all wrong ... heh heh heh (my evil laugh)!

Your getting way to much pleasure out of this Brian :grumpy: :p:

-Dave

well i did some looking around Agon lastnight for what brands id never heard of but had products like you describe.

I dont really want to win since i did won the last drawing. but ....

Cayin ?

Although its hard to REALLY see whats on their website.... because its all in german.

Hi Haoleb,

No, it's not Cayin.

Actually, all Cayin products are made in China by Spark Audio. Here is a link to the English-language homepage of their website:

www.sparkaudio.com/indexe.asp (http://www.sparkaudio.com/indexe.asp)

The name "Cayin" was introduced by Spark's German distributor.

Cheers,
Brian

Brian, your a man who knows his manufactuers! :yes: :thmbsp:


i hope somebody wins this thing. We're gonna have every name on the planet mentioned before this is over!

I'll give a second try.

Dynavox?

primare

Hey I thought it was only one guess per person :saywhat: :headscrat

I like boobies!

Ok :headscrat , is that like a new company Thor? :p:

I think its one guess per person per day Grumpy

-Dave

Dave

Thanks ! see ya do learn something new everyday ;) As for Thor I think hes sitting in the corner talking to himself again :D

:naughty: :D

Now remember, Dingus - mum's the word! ;)

Brian,

I just couldn't resist an appropriate smiley or two. Not a word though. If they ask.....:dunno:

Originally posted by BrianB
Now remember, Dingus - mum's the word! ;)

Now what's up with this! :saywhat:

-Dave

Actually Dave, I designed it! :lmao:

Yeah Dingus! and I got some swap land I'd like to show you :deal: :nutz:

-Dave

Thingees with tubies Inc.

OK ok...

we give up. what is it.

Theres nothing left to guess. :confused:

The suspense is killing me too! If I wasn't a fellow retailer, i'd take stab at it.........

there were a number of tubed Cd players I could come up with...but very few fit the $1,500 entry level...either they're below or way above.

:dunno:

Originally posted by gonefishin
there were a number of tubed Cd players I could come up with...but very few fit the $1,500 entry level...either they're below or way above.

:dunno:

Yup, and that's another reason I'm quite fond of this particular unit! There are quite a few really good players costing $1000 or less, and a number of truly outstanding players costing $2000 and up, but the $1500 price point is something of a no-man's-land for high-end CD players. And it seems that there are lots of audiophiles out there who are willing to spend a bit more than $1000 for world-class digital playback, but who simply cannot see spending $2000 or more...

Okay, all you web surfers - here are two more hints that ought to narrow things down considerably:

1) This company produces both tube and solid-state CD players, as well as some very nice hybrid amplifiers.

2) The company is Italian.

Hope this helps!

garmut

Audio Analogue?

Nope and nope!

Synthesis?

ck

Could it be Fase?

Dave

Thanks to this little fellow...................

While they keep guessing, I'll buy one. Brian I sent you a PM.

Moderator please change my name to KEEPSROBOTSAWEEK&BUYSSTUFF

Lector :dunno:

-Dave

Lector it is. Congratulations, Dave918!

Brian, I had no idea [and no guess] what line you picked up. And while I know nothing about Lector [have link] your contest sure popular was a hit! MikE

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Would you believe this is the first thing I have ever won in my life :D , seriously! And on a wild-assed guess at that!

You've made my day Brian, and you know I have a good application for the MKIII powerline filter.

-Dave

HEY! We all know Dave just dropped some serious coinage with Brian. Something smells fishy here!!! :saywhat:

Just kidding of course. ;)

Nice going Dave & thanks for the contest Brian!

mOOn

Brian, how about some details on the Lector gear! From what I could see/understand on their web site, which wasn't much, they have some interesting stuff.

-Dave

Congrats Dave ! Can i borrow it :D

Well its about time somebody guessed it!

Congrats!
You've made my day Brian, and you know I have a good application for the MKIII powerline filter.

Hope you like it, i know i use my headphones everyday. usually for a couple hours a day and lovin em.

Thanks, everyone, for making this little contest such a success! And Dave918, I have little doubt that you'll be pleasantly surprised your prize. Congratulations again!

I'll be posting more information about the entire Lector line on my website (www.venushifi.com) fairly soon. Lector does have their own website (www.docet-lector.com), but it's not all that informative - the photos are grainy, much of the information is outdated, and a number of their export models differ from what is shown.

Oh, and DingusBoy should be able to post a review of their entry-level tube CD player in another couple of weeks... :)

Cheers,
Brian

Dr. Evil,
Cool contest even though I didn't win.:smsex:
Woof!