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
Exciting things are happening in the world of music streaming. After too many years of only MP3 quality music files, audiophiles will soon be getting CD-quality files from Spotify and (most probably) Apple Music as well.
The new version of the best-seller iFi ZEN DAC was launched just a few days ago and is now on sale at E1 Personal Audio in Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur.
Even today, many audiophiles still prefer the sound quality of R2R DACs compared with Delta-Sigma types. They claim that R2R DACs sound smoother and more like analogue. Audio-GD from China makes some R2R DACs which have received quite good reviews. All Audio-GD products are designed and developed under the guidance of He Qinghua, the 'First Prize Winner' of the National Semiconductor (USA) Audio Design Contest.
