High End Show Munich 2016: Oddities & Other Turntables
Article by WL Low
In this wrap up of my tour in Munich High End 2016, I present you some of the images less published in other web sources. It is evident that analog is making a big, big comeback not only with turntable at every corner of the show, but also restored open reel tape decks and software. There were hundreds of cable & speaker exhibitors too. Horn speakers seems to be back in a big way in Europe, especially in the German speaking countries. Another trending issue is the ever spiraling prices of high end hifi. Six figure turn tables are very common sight at the show, and the race to the top is a Euro 260,000 turn table! 4 tower speaker systems seems popular too, starting with six figure price tags. Prestige, does not come cheap, as they say.
Estelon model YB is a small floor standing speaker with elegantly sculpted design. Note how the exhibitor covered the amplifier to prevent free endorsement for some other products?
dCS digital system demo always sounds good with Wilson speakers, as seen here powered by the lovely Dan D’Agostino mono blocks
Acoustic Signature Invictus boasting enough mounting space for 4 tone arms & high technology design
I’ve always liked wooden tone arms that are so arty in design. Here’s one ………………………….
By Musica Nova and it’s corresponding turn table
More made in Germany horns ………………….
by Horn Kultur, seen here is the flagship of 4 piece design.
Not exactly new, but the Origin Live Voyager turn table always looked interesting
Zu speakers, powered by Leben tube amps, and sourced fron the above mentioned Origin Live turn table
A custom restored Philips open reel tape deck with more software on offer
Klimo Tafelrunde turn table with with 4 matching Lancellotto tone arms! Another one with six figure price tag?
Townshend Seismic Podium, speaker platform
And how the latest Seismic Platform looks like
G Pinto turntable is actually and all in one system built in, all you need is a pair of powered desk top speakers
Big sound emanating from the tiny Boenicke Audio speakers. Yes, that little pair sitting on chairs!
A closer look to the 4 inch single driver based speaker
Eugene Ngoh, the veteran who has worked for numerous dealers including Asia Sound and Swedish Statement, has opened his own showroom in Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya.
By Lam Seng Fatt
After the Kojo Technology Crystal Ep virtual grounding plugs improved the sound when fixed to the black terminals of my ATC speakers, I tried the third plug with RCA cap on my preamp. I couldn't find any unused RCA input in my streamer/transport, DAC or power amp, so I had to use the tube Lamm LL2 Deluxe preamp for the test.
By Lam Seng Fatt
Kenix Chua of Begins Acoustic gave me the opportunity to try grounding speakers when she handed me three Kojo Technology Crystal Ep virtual grounding plugs on the last day of the Kuala Lumpur International AV Show last weekend. Two of them had spades while the third had an RCA plug. I was told to plug them into the black terminals of the speakers or an unused black RCA jack of the preamp, DAC or streamer.
