Munich High-End 2024: The Top, Top Fives!

Munich High-End 2024: The Top, Top Fives!

The annual Munich High-End Show is the predominant audio occasion. Although AXPONA in Chicago a number of weeks earlier than the occasion and the Hong Kong and Warsaw reveals later within the 12 months are additionally sturdy contenders, that is nonetheless the present to attend if you wish to know what’s new and what’s subsequent in audio.

Its largest downside is its measurement. With tons of of exhibitors unfold throughout the MOC exhibition centre, the close by MotorWorld, the HiFiDeluxe present throughout city, and extra, it’s straightforward for an organization’s new product launch to be completely drowned out. To this finish, this 12 months, each Thursday and Friday had been commerce days, permitting distributors, sellers, and the media extra time to go to producers and permitting producers to unfold their occasions throughout the 2 days. In addition, the 2 atria had been stuffed with producer’s cubicles for business-to-business discussions. Despite this, the sheer scale of the present meant that a number of press conferences occurred each hour over the 2 days.

The Munich High-End Show has lengthy been an occasion of monumental proportions, inconceivable for a single individual to cowl comprehensively. Attempting to cowl all the things would end in an awesome report, a testomony to the present’s significance.

So, as a substitute, we tasked a number of reviewers on the present with arising with their prime 5 merchandise on the occasion. To make these prime 5 extra impactful, we requested them to contemplate their greatest on the present’s finish fairly than having it of their minds as they walked the halls. Note that not everybody took photographs on the present, and the place potential we’ve used our personal photographs, there will probably be some ‘gaps’!

Post-show time is busy for everybody, as folks write their very own studies, attempt to safe merchandise for evaluate, and make amends for misplaced time of their schedules. We despatched our request for a prime 5 to a number of of our reviewers; these had been the primary to reply. There will probably be one other spherical subsequent week!

Alan Sircom

Constellation Audio

On the floor, Constellation Audio launched a revised model of its Revelation vary (dropping names like ‘Pictor’ and ‘Andromeda’ for a less complicated ‘Revelation 2 Preamp’ nomenclature within the course of). It introduced a chic new champagne end and now has XLR connectors between the primary unit and energy provide. However, a root-and-branch change to the Constellation Audio design has changed typical linear energy provides with customized switch-mode energy provides all through the vary. The amplifiers nonetheless retain their Class A/B amplification, however in listening, they ship a quicker, extra dynamic, and thrilling studying of the basic Constellation Audio sound. There is even an improve path from authentic fashions to Constellation Audio Series 2.

DALI

 

Danish loudspeaker consultants DALI introduced its new Rubikore vary on the present. Like the Epikore vary launched final 12 months, Rubicore takes lots of the classes discovered in creating the model’s flagship Kore loudspeakers and brings them to a celebration that prices rather a lot much less. The firm gave an hour-long presentation on each facet of the design utilizing the £5,999 Rubikore 8 to present musical examples to focus on these efficiency points. From the sunshine, inflexible Clarity Cone mid-bass and its modern magnet supplies science, to the mix AMT/dome tweeter array, this speaker may deal with any type of music and units a excessive commonplace to beat on the value.

Marten

 

Marten launched its excellent Coltrane Quintet floorstander at top-of-the-line demonstrations on the present. The loudspeaker, beginning at €170,000 per pair (€187,000 for the Statement Edition on present) now makes use of a Marten-designed diamond tweeter, beryllium midrange dome and new carbon-fibre mid-bass, alongside the Accuton-derived bass models. Some 25% bigger than the Coltrane 3, the four-way bass reflex design additionally makes use of inside wiring from sister model Jorma, the corporate’s trademark first-order crossover and Marten’s new isolators. It was proven in a room-within-a-room, taking part in by means of the recently-rebooted Halcro audio electronics.

Innuos

 

The Innuos ZEN NG and ZENith NG don’t exchange the prevailing ZEN and ZENith. Instead, they use a completely new streaming server platform that has taken three years of improvement. The new, fine-tuned Precise Audio foremost board is significantly extra optimised towards audio efficiency. This is met with a brand new Gallium Nitride-based low impedance energy provide and the brand new Sense 3 working system. These mix to ship a server with strikingly low latency. In efficiency, and within the context of a wonderful system, the £14,200 ZENith NG was buying and selling blows with the prevailing Statement Next Generation server, with many preferring the newer mannequin to the reference.

Wadax

 

Spanish digital consultants Wadax launched the primary in its new line: the Studio • Player. Drawing closely from the corporate’s Atlantis flagship line, the one-box Studio • Player contains a CD/SACD transport, a complicated streaming platform and the identical DAC circuit used within the Atlantis in a extra streamlined, attainable, and – let’s be trustworthy right here – much less ‘bling!’ package deal. The €35,000 one-box digital answer will probably be accessible in mid-2024 and is anticipated to be adopted by a clock and standalone DAC from the identical line. The Studio • Player was on demonstration in two rooms on the present and sounded rattling good in each of them.

 

Simon Lucas

Arcam

The new ‘Radia’ vary of two-channel separates has given Arcam a shot within the arm, it appears – a lot in order that it took the chance to launch three extra fashions at Munich (in between internet hosting some extraordinarily hip German octogenarians showcasing their newest jazz odyssey on vinyl). The SA45 is the standout product, for me no less than – that is an amplifier/community streamer with 180 watts of Class G energy, a switchable MM/MC phono stage and an HDMI eARC socket too. It contains a large (8.8in) hi-res show, two-way aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity and DIRAC Live Room Correction (an applicable mic will probably be offered within the field).

Aries Serat

 

This is what we imply after we discuss ‘excessive finish’. Cypriot lunatic Aries Cerat presumably needed to assemble a room round its ‘Contendo II’ stereo audio system fairly than simply arriving and establishing – even with out its wardrobe-sized bass modules. This speaker system requires loads of area and several other burly people to place. I took an image of the whole set-up, and even when as far-off from it because it was potential to get, I nonetheless wanted to make use of the ‘panorama’ setting on my smartphone to suit the entire thing in. I heard it taking part in some solo piano, and the realism was uncanny. I additionally heard it taking part in some pipe organ, and several other folks needed to sprint to the rest room.

Focal

Focal has been doing admirable work the place full-sized headphones are involved these days, and it used the Munich Show to launch a pair extra pairs – and of the 2, the hard-wired, open-backed £599 Hadenys appear greatest positioned to (for need of a greater phrase) disrupt the established order. More than a bit harking back to the corporate’s Bathys wi-fi headphones, Hadenys are a successful mixture of leather-based, woven material and reminiscence foam at the side of the distinctive ‘honeycomb’ earcups which are changing into a Focal calling-card. They’re fitted with the identical 40mm aluminium/magnesium ‘M’-dome drivers because the Bathys, which gained’t hurt them…

 

Linn

 

Never knowingly understated, Linn took the chance to create a ‘Klimax’ system consisting of an LP12 turntable, Klimax DSM community streamer, 360 Passive with Activ Bass loudspeakers pushed by six (rely ‘em!) Klimax Solo 800 monoblock amplifiers, at £37,500 per amplifier! Given that the Munich High-End Show takes place in an exhibition centre fairly than an plane hangar, it’s secure to say this method constituted overkill – however, on the identical time, it was one of many extra prodigious experiences on provide. I’m restricted for area right here, so I’ll simply deploy the phrases ‘energy’, ‘management’, ‘perception’, ‘dynamism’ and ‘finesse’ to trace on the impression this set-up creates.

Q Acoustics

Not solely is the brand new Q Acoustics 3000c vary not ‘excessive finish’ because the Munich Show historically understands it, however it’s additionally not ‘excessive finish’ the place Q Acoustics is worried. Nevertheless, the covers being whipped off this newest entry-level vary of passive loudspeakers constitutes one in every of my highlights of the whole present – primarily as a result of Q Acoustics is so superb at this form of factor. Two standmounters, two floorstanders and a centre channel comprise the brand new vary, with costs beginning at £329 and topping out at £899. There are 4 finishes – two wooden variations together with black and white. And the 3000c vary are probably the most reasonably priced loudspeakers to function the corporate’s new ‘steady curved cone’ driver know-how that’s gone down so properly within the fairly extra upmarket 5000 sequence.

Steve Dickinson

SUPATRAC

A really radical design, SUPATRAC’s ‘horizontal unipivot’ idea has been confounding expectations of tonearm efficiency. This is a uncommon instance of how some correctly contemporary considering on the function of the tonearm can get some actually extraordinary outcomes. The common ‘cooking’ Blackbird Farpoint tonearm is elevating expectations as to the place the bounds of vinyl could also be, and the ‘value no object’ Nighthawk model, which debuted on the present on a Grand Prix Audio Parabolica, by means of a CH Precision P1 phono stage within the Vienna Acoustics room, appears to bear out the assertion that utilizing the perfect and most applicable supplies for the job, will get you even additional.

Fyne Audio

Not to be confused with the SUPATRAC tonearm, Fyne Audio has just lately launched a supertweeter, dubbed SupaTrax, accessible in a wooden end to match its Vintage sequence loudspeakers and in addition in piano black for wider acceptability throughout (or certainly outdoors) the Fyne Audio vary. What the supertweeter brings to the social gathering is outstanding to the purpose of being transformational when it comes to loudspeaker efficiency, significantly when it comes to total ranges of coherence, tunefulness and tonal accuracy. Partnered principally with their Vintage 12 loudspeakers, that are neither as massive nor as visually arresting as many audio system at Munich, the general ranges of sheer musical communication rivalled any of the seven-figure techniques taking part in elsewhere, regardless of utilizing very modest (in Munich phrases, no less than) Rega electronics.

Peak Loudspeakers 

Does anyone bear in mind Peak Consult? If you do, you will have welcomed their return at Munich final 12 months. Now dubbed PEAK Loudspeakers, they demonstrated their prime mannequin, the €180,000 Dragon Legacy, supported by Gryphon electronics. I revisited this room repeatedly as a type of ‘detox’ from a few of my different experiences on the present. Effortlessly musical, they shamed many significantly costlier options and, had I the funds or the area, these are end-game loudspeakers. I additionally suppose the wooden and leather-based end, whereas not novel, is so fantastically executed it helps you overlook their substantial measurement.

EPOS ES28N 

FinkTeam demonstrated its new EPOS ES28N, finishing a 3-model lineup of the small ES7N standmount, the chunkier ES14N, and now this mid-sized, 3-way floorstander. It was doing all the best issues for me, and at round £8,000, it appears prone to be an actual contender at that value. Slotting in beneath FinkTeam’s branded Kim and Borg fashions, the EPOS vary retains the religion with the FinkTeam method at considerably extra accessible costs and deserves to do properly. Also of curiosity on this room was the brand new Luphonic R3 turntable, a clear, contemporary design with an fascinating rotating armboard that simply accommodates all method of efficient lengths. Here, utilizing their very own in-house designed and constructed 12” tonearm, it appears and sounds ok to problem fairly a number of established turntables.

CH Precision 

CH Precision’s 10 Series continues to develop, with the brand new €91,000 C10 DAC introducing digital audio on the 10 Series’ efficiency stage. Like the amps, preamp and phono stage that preceded it, the C10 goes past the efficiency of the 1 Series parts – a fast 30-second A/B comparability with CH’s C1 D/A management unit was all I wanted to understand that this was a next-level efficiency. It’s not as fully-featured because the C1 and gained’t fulfil the unit’s management capabilities, so that you’ll nonetheless want a (L10) preamp. it’s a extra targeted product, and that focus reveals in the way it performs. CH additionally has some very fascinating ideas in regards to the function of digital filters on DAC designs and why they appear so particular on each C1 and C10.

 

Ed Selley

Musical Fidelity

Among what seemed to be an entire new firm’s price of substances from Musical Fidelity, the NuVista 600.2 built-in stood out as probably the most alluring of the various new fashions on present. Fractionally much less volcanically highly effective than the prevailing 800.2 built-in (150 watts into 8 ohms and 300 into 4), it truly provides higher connectivity than the large amp due to a second balanced enter. Resident designer Simon Quarry has revised it considerably over the unique, partnering the NuVista preamp stage with a beefier energy amp part than was used beforehand. It is on sale later this 12 months.

Dynaudio

I’m a giant believer within the adage that if it appears proper it most likely is and the upcoming Dynaudio Contour Legacy is a working example. Designed to pay tribute to the Contour designs of the eighties and nineties however with trendy internals, it makes use of a 28mm Esostar tweeter and twin 180mm woofers derived from the Evidence vary that are managed by a bespoke crossover made utilizing premium parts. The American Walnut end has been chosen each for its similarity to the unique Contour veneers and since it’s sustainable. Only 1,000 individually numbered pairs will probably be constructed.

Meridian Audio

It has been some time since we’ve seen something new from Meridian Audio so the arrival of the Ellipse wi-fi speaker on the firmly terrestrial finish of the market is nice information all spherical. The £1,900 unit options UPnP, AirPlay, Chromecast and will probably be Roon licensed, supported by wired enter choices. The chassis is sealed and all metallic with all meeting being undertaken within the UK. Demonstrating one thing as dinky because the Ellipse within the unforgiving area of the MOC isn’t with out threat, however the Meridian managed to sound extraordinarily spectacular over the assorted check tracks being performed.

Fyne Audio

Fresh from delivering the Classic and Vintage ranges, Fyne Audio unveiled the Classic Gold vary which go on sale later this 12 months. These sit between the prevailing Classic and Vintage ranges (and Fyne is eager to level out they’re nearer to the Vintage vary in efficiency whereas being nearer to the Classic fashions when it comes to pricing). It can be the primary time that there will probably be a 15 inch driver mannequin within the Classic vary and whereas they’re neither small nor precisely delicate, they appear nice enjoyable and a welcome addition to the vary.

Wilson Audio

The first Wilson Audio audio system I ever heard was a pair of flip of the century WATT/Puppys they usually left an enduring impression with me. The resolution subsequently to revive the identify in 2024 is a really welcome one. The premise of the design is similar as earlier than; a two method standmount sat atop a separate bass module; two distinct audio system however bought as a single entity. It now advantages from each further materials and engineering profit that has been achieved by Wilson because the final iteration in 2011. I virtually actually can not afford a pair however I covet them very a lot certainly.

 

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May 16, 2024 at 12:05PM