HIFICRITIC Munich 2013 Show report part 1

By Martin Colloms

HIGH END Munich 2013 has now become the international stereo show

Thursday was trade only but nevertheless the place was packed out throughout, and

then day after day. Proceedings opened with a good blasting on the Alpenhorns from

these attractive ladies and they made a most tuneful sound.

The HIGH END Show is in top form once again and enjoying an unstoppable boom

in bookings. With 350 exhibitors for more than 900 brands at the MOC in Munich.

Hall 3, hall 4, Atrium 3 and Atrium 4 were fully booked and improved demonstration

rooms were featured within the main exhibition halls. This has become the de facto

stereo audio show and I could cover only a percentage of its many exhibits.

I was out there by invitation for several UK press launches from Focal Naim and

Neat, and also checked in on Tannoy, Kef, Creek, Chord, Cambridge Audio and

several others.

Focal and Naim

The agenda was set for the new association this presented by respective heads of

Focal and Naim, Gerard Chretien and Paul Stephenson. Also they introduced

numerous new product launches for each company.

Paul Stephenson of Naim addressing a packed Press contingent on Focal-Naim

matters and the new launches for this show

The top of the line Naim electronics used to bi amp the Focal Stella at this press

launch. A NAIM system was used for the first time in public to drive a Utopia model,

in this case the powerful Focal Stella, here power transfer maximised with a bi-amped

connection.

Focal Stella

Absolute Sounds Editor Robert Harley with Focal chief

Gerard Chretien after the joint launch

Focal announced the oddly named (for a UK audience that is) EASYA lossless

wireless loudspeaker system where the fully active floor standing loudspeakers use

Kleer lossless for the stereo transmission running from a compact hub, effectively

the preamp, also Bluetooth APTX as a backup for auxiliary sources as required.

I reckon we are going to see many more of these wirelessly connected HiFi speakers

Focal also showed their second generation Spirit One headphones which involve

some 20 associated acoustical elements modelled for the smoothest frequency

response and these are also iDevice compatible. Comfort also figures highly in this

attractive design.

Naim’s new Unitiqute with Focal Spirit One headphones

Focal announced a revision, , to the Utopia 3 series Scala after some years of

production, now called the Scala V-2 and we actually have one in for review in

HIFICRITIC now. It looks very much the same but has a significantly improved

Klippel optimised bass driver, revised bass tuning and some matching crossover

tweaks which have rather woken it up.

Focal also announced a new generation of the popular Chorus series with

slimmer styling, better finishes and French made St Etienne drive units throughout.

They are fitted with the new series inverted dome aluminium-titanium foil tweeter

with a smooth response to beyond 30kHz

‘Naim is releasing new software to update its range of hard disk player/servers to

version 1.7. Owners will be able to choose to rip their CDs to FLAC or WAV as well

as converting their music stores to FLAC if they prefer.

Munich High End Show May 9th 2013. Naim announced that it plans to release

version 1.7 of its hard disk player/server software in June.

New Features include Rip to FLAC set as a background activity to maintain current

replay quality. Also MP3 Shadow Encoding where you can choose to create separate

lower-quality 320kbps MP3 versions of their albums as well as the normal WAV or

FLAC rip - useful perhaps for the car or for an iTunes collection. This may be set

automatically while ripping. Encoding will cease whilst the unit is in play mode and

resume when inactive.

Naim adds Multiroom Party Mode and Seek2Time to its range of music streaming

products (Naim owners can choose to update their player themselves or ask

their local Naim retailer)

Multiroom Party Mode allows up to five Naim streaming products to be played

simultaneously with the music in sync. The master volume and track selection can

then be controlled via the n-Stream iOS app.

So far the main request from customers was to have the capability for two rooms with

a few requesting a third room. Naim’s Party mode now allows sharing a maximum of

five rooms and with sources including UPnP, USB/iPod and internet radio with up to

24bit/48kHz sampling rates.

A further resource is ‘Seek2Time’ which allows the user to move to a selected point

in a musical piece as required and works with all lossless formats including WAV,

FLAC and ALAC.

The new NAIM operating panel

Naim announces its new internet radio station: Naim Radio

The new Naim Radio station is set for launch in June but is running bandwidth

trials now, while requesting feedback from listeners. Naim is running trials of its planned new internet radio station in 320kbps MP3

format. While the proposed 320kbps is perhaps borderline low for an audiophile, the

required data rate may be excessive for some potential listeners’ internet connections.

Naim Radio will appear very soon in the Naim’s Choice menu – the Naim selected

favourites list presented on all Naim’s network-connected products. Initially Naim

Radio will play a random selection of Naim Label releases but expect some extra

programme material once the trials are completed. Interested listeners without Naim

products can try it out , http://37.130.228.60:8090/listen.pls

(feedback comments to marketing@naimaudio.com )

NAIM a revised version was shown of the Unitiqute 2 all in one, this device

offering quite a package of facilities including 30+30W in the familiar neat housing.

Claiming improved sound, it now has DAB+ and DABFM tuner facility and a change

from an RS232 connector to a mini USB. However the internal changes are also

significant with a new four-layer printed circuit board and new layout to optimise

ground planes and ground paths including improved components at critical points to

further reduce noise. This is said to have a significant effect on the digital audio

performance said to improve sound quality.

NEAT Bob Surgeoner, owner-designer of Neat Acoustics has found an HF unit to replace

that used in the present Motive sereis with something still more natural than that

Neat inverted dome HF unit. Again, experimentation brought him back to an anodised

aluminium inverted dome that combined the existing qualities of the titanium version

with a far better upper HF response. Thus the new Motive SX series was born.

The internal bracing and damping have been upgraded and also the LF tuning

optimised for each model. The HF units now operate in their own enclosures to

minimise driver crosstalk.

The Motive SX series comprises three models: the SX1, a two and a half way

floorstander; the SX2, a two-way floorstander and the SX3, a two-way stand mount.

The bass reflex port on the two floorstanders is fitted to the bottom panel of the

cabinet and is vented through an outlet in a sculpted MDF plinth. The plinth

offers a stable platform for the speaker whilst providing a slight backward tilt to

deliver the ideal angle.

Neat’s new Motives

Dynaudio Excite Series aims to make

high-end affordable

The new Dynaudio range comprises the Excite X14 bookshelf monitor, the X34 and

X38 floorstanding speakers and a centre channel, the X24, to give you the option of a

Dynaudio Excite home cinema system. The Dynaudio Excite tweeters are made using

a specially coated fabric dome, while the low frequency drivers use aluminium wire

voice coils and MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cones – these Dynaudio

specialties. They also come in white, see below, and look completely different

Dynaudio also claims a higher general impedance will make the Excite loudspeakers

more flexible when it comes to system-matching to an amplifier. We shall see. The

speakers are finished in either satin lacquer, black or white, or high-grade real wood

veneer, rosewood or walnut.

PMC add another Fact to their range , the fact.12 speaker at High End

Munich

At £12,000 a set the fact.12 is a new three-way design in the ‘fact’ series, fitted with

new 5cm midrange soft dome derived from the Pro Audio driver. Development

including visualising the radiating acoustic waveforms with a synchronised gated

laser. Dem acoustics were problematic, here sounding rather bright but there was

lots of clarity, and moving further back it was obvious that there was tons of clean

bass when required. This was a prototype and release is a few months away

Munich Show 2013 end of part 1 Martin Colloms

HIFICRITIC Munich 2013 Show report part 1. 2

By Martin Colloms

An attractive tracking and geometry correcting tone arm by Schuchtronic.

The No1 (with the compensating control filaments absent from this shot)

will sell for about 5,000EU

No1 with view of control filaments. The technical detail is fascinating as there are

several articulations active.

Isotek were busy promoting the new range of power filtration and regeneration

products , and digital or analogue dispaly options were shown

Paul Barton of PSB proudly showed off the exquisite detail inside his successful

active NC headphones PM4-U. Even I had missed an extra facility, namely a press

switch for binaural talk-through to hear airplane announcements. He explained that all

he needed to do for the primary design was to make them sound rather like a pair of

good speakers in a good listening room. This tallies with recent research reported to

the AES by Sean Olive.

Some monster Plinius power amps in two finishes

The Dynamikks horns with a high 101dB efficiency

Dynamikks spec card

All exposed: an exotic Italian open baffle speaker, note the reinforced driver panel

and large foil inductors : this is the Diesis Audio Caput Mundi

The contrasting front view revealing the horn mid treble

Some of the single ended valve amplifiers are extraordinary

From Lab 12 a Pure Audio Project headphone amplifier with a retro moving coil

meter display

This does not so justice to this massive and magnificent CLEARAUDIO disc cleaner

the Double Matrix Professional

CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION double mount turntable with the latest parallel

tracker and also a 12inch radial example

CLEARAUDIO: a close up of the RS series tone arm cable connector which

matches the input to the Phono preamp. This format is said to better the usual phono

connectors which I can believe.

More CLEARAUDIO INNOVATIONS on matching decoupling floor stands :

there were many CLEARAUDIO designs on display

The latest Amphion floor stander while adjacent was a dem of the compact studio

monitors here run on Nagra master tapes by the recording engineer concerned.

And how abundantly obvious was the grainless transparent sweetness of the replay

from this first gen source. The Amphion monitors sounded good too.

That massive HV T+ A integrated amplifier

The fantastically finished cans from Final caught my eye.

..hope they are not as heavy as they look. These the Pandora X are about 2,800 EU

Astell&Kern showed their latest addition to the range at another 35% or so of cost

with more features and a part shrouded volume control knob to avoid inadvertent

operation. This the AK120 has doubled memory, dual Wolfson DACS lower output

impedance and still lower distortion and noise.

The delightful looking RESON digital player and control, designed by Jeff Kalt now

has UPnP capability

That T+A hybrid with balanced bass and electrostatic line treble

T+A showed a compact integrated amplifier, the 1200R which has independent tone

controls for left and right channels

Another T+A combo, this a gutsy powered amplifier allied to a DAC preamp

… the AMP 8 and the DAC 8

HIFICRITIC Munich 2013 Show Report 2

The famed 1930’s Western Electric cinema horn right channel, here demonstrated

with a second system used as a stereo pair and augmented by a more recent high range

horn tweeter just visible tucked under the mid-treble horn. Dynamics were excellent

though I found it somewhat coloured( wooden) on piano. The fine electronics on

offer received scant attention owing to the sheer presence of these gigantic speakers

Dynaudio’s XEO two-way Active with wireless Clear connectivity and linked by

the little hub has proved quite a success in its first year and more of this type are

planned

The Dynaudio Xeo Hub with wireless remote

Dynaudio had a custom sound system for the latest Volkswagen Taureg and not that

expensive at 1,500EU. I enjoyed ‘Keith Don’t Go’ by Nils Lofgren at substantial

sound levels and with fine clarity and dynamics. Both stereo and coloration levels

were most respectable. My photo shows the track on the central display ahead of the

wheel so you don’t need to look away. DSP is used to good effect here integrating the

complex array of drivers and their control.

Sonus Faber and the PAGANI HUAYRA, an exclusive partnership. The Pagani

Huayra system is powered by 1200W of amplification presumably to overcome the

sound of all those bellowing horses under the bonnet, sorry, in the boot. The lot is

rumoured to market at about £1.0m

Audio Research, VSi 75 integrated, with 75W/ch, 6550 valves, a neat and

convenient new integrated valve amplifier with all-button panel controls plus a

comprehensive remote

Audio Research also showed their new Reference 10 Phono two-box analogue disc

preamp to partner the Ref 10 preamp, so four shelves will be required in view of this

paired combination

Sonus Faber showed a delightful looking new model, the Olympia expected to retail

for about £6,000. There is also a smaller stand mount in this series.

T+A put in a strong showing, here showcasing the new High Voltage amplifier

design with the Solitaire flagship moving coil /electrostatic hybrid speaker of good

sound. I approved of the bass design which has side firing force cancelled woofers on

both sides, keeping matters in balance. The PA 3000HV integrated amplifier ahs

360V internal supply rails for higher linearity at the required operating point and a

peak 4ohm output of 700W/ch. Note the huge internal toroid transformer.

Chord Electronics continued to expand their line here with a powerful system

driving the top Dynaudio Evidence Platinum loudspeakers

Marantz brand ambassador Ken Ishiwata: ‘Is that loud enough Martin?’

Not a good place for a demo of his Boston floorstanders and so we talked further of

the belated release of the, his personal flagship Hi Res audio source namely the

Marantz native DSD compatible NA-11S1 Reference Class Network Audio Player

and USB DAC. It also handles Apple idevices, USB sticks etc. DSD downloads are

on the up and are considered very good sounding.

Devialet massively expanded their range including a 6,900 EU model at 2x 170

Watts, also with upgrades to their existing flagship, and yet another , the 110 at just

4.900EU. The top model a dual 240 operating in mono is good for 500W/ch and costs

23,00EU. The functionality and connectivity continues to improve by the month.

Devialet: I asked that a rear cover plate be detached so I could assess ease of

connections , and clearly improvements have been made for accessibility

Brodman, (formerly Bosendorfer) loudspeakers exhibited with live piano recitals

with a beautiful matching Viennese style imperial finish

End Munich show 2 MC

Munich HIGH END 2013 show report 3

by Martin Colloms HIFICRITIC Stereo Magazine

as we went to press some final show details became available, 363 exhibitors from

35 countries, 5,200 trade visitors ( excluding 480 press) and 11,000 public, the total

10% up on last year.

MAGICO S5 : Not sure what to expect under show conditions, the twin 10 inch

sealed box loaded bass drivers happily drove the massive space to thundering,

textured, growling effect. The choral sections were good too! Can’t wait to review

these

RAIDHO Michael Børresen chief designer RAIDHO exchanging the older C-1.1 for the

advanced D-1, so providing an A/B comparison of these two compact two way

loudspeakers.

The C1.1 sounded spacious and capable as usual with a bass power and control which

belies its compact dimensions. The D-1 improvement was subtle as they are

essentially the same design, but nonetheless was certainly worthwhile with greater

definition, transient accuracy and transparency throughout the frequency range, not

just the upper mid, where in theory the technical improvement is concentrated. The

gain was global and this raises interesting questions about how and what we hear.

Raidho D-1 with carbonised diamond coatings on the bass-mid and a further revised

ribbon tweeter. There are also revisions to the stand.

MSB were present in force with the an improved UMT transport, still higher

specifications to the Signature series with superior ‘Femto 140’ clocks plus native

DSD playback. They also showed the larger monoblock power amps, and the flat

brick design Analog DAC

The MSB power amps

AVID were showing with Eggleston Works, and to good effect with nicely stable,

clean LP replay and a punchy, clean and focused sound .

The matching player looked more than good enough to review while the

demonstration also ran a prototype AVID disc preamp, with versatile EQ facilities

and matching power supply

AVID REFERENCE disc preamp

Taller than a tall man the latest KHARMA flagship the Exquisite Grande

Visually impressive, for me this room did not sound quite right for this ambitious

loudspeaker

Another amazing CLEARAUDIO turntable

The Rockport Atria loudspeaker, all black, using carbon cones and beryllium

tweeter, gave a fine account of itself with the new EAR DAC and Drive in chrome.

Rockport clearly remains a contender, and I enjoyed the sounds here.

EAR DAC4 and Drive including DSD replay

I was intrigued by these LEEDH E , four-way, bi-directional force-cancelled piston

speakers which while understandably lacking low bass, also had low coloration and

holographic imaging. The vestigial driver volumes are mass dominated.

LEEDH E system component close up

Harmonix showed a range of audio components and an elegant sound, using XRCD

24 bit mastered recordings. A nice room to visit.

Since I last looked Gobel has grown up, here showing a flagship tower, with a

massive black subwoofer tower further back. The primary technology uses a centrally

mounted, open back rectangular bending wave panel for mid and treble.

The system sound was authoritative and open sounding.

The matching Goble sub with serious amplification

This double cord drive Kronos turntable was present in several rooms, here with an

SME tonearm . The second platter is contra-rotating which negates rotational inertia

forces which could occur with vibration inputs and would disturb both speed and

cartridge stability.

Magnat showed the RV 3 hybrid valve /solid state integrated amplifier

This polished Heco design has an open baffle, alnico powered mid range, and triple

venturi port bass loading together with a versatile terminal patch bay for various

options.

One of the several Focal presentations, here the Utopia III Maestro in a Trinov

room equalisation presentation, powered by Acoustic Fidelity amplification

A Vivid Giya powered by an amazing looking push pull valve amplifier

These were by Audio Power Labs of Columbus, Ohio, USA. Monoblocks, they are

zero feedback, 200W push-pull units with switch mode power supplies.

A set of glossy back framed two way ribbon speakers from Italy, by Leonardo, with

piezo polymer super tweeters

Audiovector had a take on the active, wirelessly connected loudspeaker, here the new

Si3

…And the active system may be retrofitted to many previous designs.

Audiovector’s new flagship, the R1 Arette, larger than it looks here, and capable of

very high clean sound levels, which were demonstrated, and necessarily briefly!

Totem’s founder and designer in chief Vince Bruzzese entertained me with several

examples, simply but effectively demonstrated the compact but high power,

slamming bass, Element Fire (white), and the latest edition of the Forest, a

Signature edition and sounding as coherent as ever. See below….

Totem Forest Signatures

Kaiser employed Vertex AQ stands with a revised Vivace speaker of excellently low

noise floor revealing details deep in the soundstage. Monoblock amplification was by

Thrax

THRAX monoblocks

These German Physics, travelling wave cone full range speakers have matured

nicely with a pleasing sound from these examples, the HRS -120-D

Marten Coltrane Tenor

I enjoyed listening to the Marten Coltrane Tenor at about £40,000, a feisty,

involving presentation, and with a full size Nagra tape deck in attendance (below)

End of Munich 2013 part 2 HIFICRITIC Martin Colloms

Munich HIGH END Show 2013 HIFICRITIC report part 4

Martin Colloms

CREEK launched their new Evolution 50A integrated amplifier designed by ex

Cyrus engineer Dave Gamble, using Class D technology

Packed houses at the big screen McIntosh demos

Wilson Alexia with Pass 300s amplification gave a good account of themselves in a

larger space than I could provide back home when I reviewed them. Noise levels

outside were low enough to open the large window so refreshing the atmosphere.

Sorry to say, I lost track of this striking creation with its massive veneer figuring

A pair of the smaller YG Acoustics Carmel using Scan drivers and as is customary

built in aluminium, most of it solid machined panels, resulting in a 30kg, 66lb mass.

A pair of satin black YG Anat III ; the full monty, with lower bass mid module and

sub woofer module driven by Qualia amplification. Good sounds came from this

careful installation

Kronos turntable designer Louis Desjardins with his highly regarded turntable

An experimental one piece carbon fibre arm operating on the Kronos. It sounded very

good on a late 1960s Count Basie LP

A neat looking control unit built into a case machined from solid alloy.

A CAT JL 3 signature stereo with a granite front decal

Sony make some high end speakers and this established SS-AR1 example uses

European drivers, here ably driven by CAT amplification

TAD fielded their larger monitors in a massive room, still with effortless ‘stamp on

the floor’ slam bass. The fine sound invited visitors to remain, and many did, with

informative introductions by designer in chief, Andrew Jones

TAD

Andrew Jones in full flow at TAD, with iPad control in hand

Some new electrostatic panels from Audreal

Frank Kuzma showing off his latest turntable creation Stabi M where an inside

look reveals far more engineering than the modest appearance suggests. High

rotational inertia is allied to a very powerful drive. Likewise Frank has worked hard

on a new tone arm which he feels now surpasses even his own parallel tracker

The purposeful Kuzma tonearm, 4POINT

The extraordinary Pivetta Opera Only power amplifier, opened for inspection

6 channels of 20kW, with a 160kW rated power supply requiring a special mains

installation.

A deeper look inside this Pivetta prototype, rumoured to be part financed by an EU

technology grant.

Thoress is a German firm making essentially hand built product to a standard and

finish of pro audio from the 1950s, with extreme attention to detail

Thoress phono preamp, uncompromising traditional build

Thoress phono preamp with adjustable LP equalisation

Epos showed their latest floor stander in satin white, which was much admired.

It had been hoped that an active version would be demonstrated but it got trashed in

transit to Munich

End Munich High End Show 2013 Report Part 4 HIFICRITIC Martin Colloms

Munich HIGH END 2013 Show Report 5 final, by Martin Colloms HIFICRITIC Stereo Magazine

A pillar ad for the Mirrophonic reproducing system

for cinemas from Western Electric

The crossover and electronics for that Western Electric cinema horn speaker

Silbatone electronics from Japan ran the Western Electric exhibit and also showed

their very rare RI-25 DA100 single ended amplifier with a Schick turntable

Straussman electronics drove these impressive looking towers equipped with a

central ribbon (Raven) tweeter flanked by heaps of Accuton ceramic coned bass mid

drivers . These towers were the Engleholm Solo which claims a high 95dB

sensitivity.

This photo does not do justice to the sparkling granite structural components of this

cord drive turntable at the Straussmann exhibit

The remarkable Living Voice four way horn plus sub to the rear

One of the more civilised rooms, a tasteful layout from LV

A proud Kevin Scott beside his Living Voice creation

I could not do justice to the amazing Monaco yacht quality veneer work on the Living

Voice horns which are rumoured to cost over £400,000 once installed, depending on

finish. I felt the solo contralto voice track played was remarkable for its smoothness

and natural dynamic authority, with low colouration; a sense of almost being there at

the performance. The overall noise floor was extremely low with a natural ambience

conveyed, you could almost hear the air breathe.

Van Den Hul showed a prototype of a unique nano carbon tube (NCT) conductor

cable. This will at the moment be limited to balanced interconnect cables owing to the

very high price of CNT stock. The demo model was a hand made XLR connection

1.25m, while the actual conductor consists of 19 strands, each 2.0 micron thick

resulting in a 75 Ohm/meter DC impedance. AJ considers that in context, this the

finest sounding cable he has ever made!

Illusonic sound processor systems put on a fine display of multichannel and centre

channel enhanced stereo using an array of Focal Be Viva Utopia loudspeakers

including a substantial sub. The stereo idea is to synthesize a real, in-phase centre

channel from the stereo tracks to replace the usual phantom image, use some crosstalk

cancellation for left and right to enhance separation, and thus reinforce the ambience

and depth components in a recording.

My first listen indicated the centre channel gain was too high dominating events, the

settings were revised, and yet I must be so used to the ‘normal’ if contentious

phantom image that I found this processing a little disconcerting, even though the

ambience enhancement and centre channel stability was clearly improved.

Wilson’s new Duette Series-2 , shown at the 2013 Munich Marriott. As is customary

at Wilson there are all round improvements to the 2006 launch version including the

wave chamber loading for the tweeter , a delay compensating 10deg tilt to the front

panel and X material enclosure construction save the driver baffle which ‘S’

specified. Now optimised for vertical orientation only, it is now diode coupled to the

stand while the separated crossover is also made part of the stand assembly.

Soledge showed a music server control with wireless connection to matching mono

power amplifiers to be located near the loudspeakers

The Soledge Tenor 160 wireless connection amplifier

Tannoy Canterbury Royal GR (about £17,000)

Cones and crossovers have been upgraded plus cryogenic cable treatments

Tannoy Introduced several models in the Royal range. This is the Kingdom Royal, a

hybrid comprising the traditional concentric main driver plus an auxiliary bass section

and a super tweeter. Here the crossover fine tune settings are brought out on the front

panel. Alnico magnets and much revised cones and crossovers are employed. With its

carbon fibre cladding reinforcement this model is a little over £50,000 a pair

Constellation Virgo II preamplifer

Virgo II supply unit enables true dual-mono operation, with separate transformers and

outputs for left-channel audio, right-channel audio and control circuits.

The new power supply also adds additional filtering to reduce noise and improve

sonic detail. It is designed to fit directly underneath the Virgo II main chassis.

( from Absolute Sounds)

Constellation Virgo II preamplifer

Voxativ shown their new compact model Pi, (reviewed by PM in the coming issue of

HIFICRITIC) which sound I enjoyed for its communicative vivacity

Voxativ recent electronics includes a single ended (of course) power monoblock

with a 845 triode, and a valve preamplifier the PA- 01

Krell Connect Server DAC prototype announced at Munich HIGH END which now

has a free app for control. Versions will have digital or analogue outputs

Some alternative JoSound enclosure forms using the Voxativ Pi driver

Avantgarde Zero One: a compact active design with a direct radiating bass, plus

horn loaded mid and treble sections: which flow integratedly into the single

enclosure. Bass employs a 400W amplifier while the mid and treble only need 50W

since they are a very high 104dB efficient. It has USB, Toslink, SPDIF and the

professional AES/EBU inputs and may be used wirelessly as a WLAN loudspeaker

via the wireless receiver of your choice (e.g. AirPort Express). An input board may be

easily retrofitted for an analogue source. Crossovers are active DSP, fully

compensated. They may be slim but these are very powerful, style conscious

loudspeakers.

A collection of Zeta Zero Loudspeakers. These are relatively keenly priced, come

from Poland and have ribbon mid and treble while some versions have a powered

subwoofer

Some of the truly heroically engineered drivers from the Zeta Zero series.

The stunning Airforce One, air bearing, air suction clamping turntable from Japan.

(Absolute Sounds)

Another room with YG Acoustics, here the Kipod II loudspeakers for Auralic,

tastefully displayed.

Swissonor created involving sounds from this relatively simple retro analogue system

with a full range driver

Swissonor electronics with an early Thorens turntable

Estelon X Diamond with Vitus Audio amplification, one Vitus channel shown!

This was the second Estelon I heard and I thought both were well balanced and

articulate. The unusual enclosure is well damped and has inherently low diffraction.

Despite the driver spacing the sound was well integrated. Three were at the show, the

XA the XB, and the X Diamond

D’Agostino showed their recently completed preamplifier, where the outer ring of the

volume indicator is the volume control, silky smooth in action.

Calibrated, ‘audibly transparent’ bass and treble controls are included, while it sits on

a power supply, this an integral isolating base. The design now has internal

differential cross- coupling allowing both SE (via an adaptor) and XLR balanced

inputs.

The SoundKaos WAVE 40 with 200mm Envie full range plus ribbon high range

tweeter. Semi-transmission wave side loading at a friendly 94dB/W sensitivity.

Here was a well integrated sound with characteristic direct coupled single driver mid

dynamics.

The new Nola Baby Grand Reference Gold delivered convincing dynamics, while

continuing with the characteristic open baffle mid and treble format. Price is

estimated at £50,000 Carl M was on hand to field questions.

.. and we have reached the end; many thanks to everyone who showed great patience,

and apologies to those exhibitors that I just could not get to in the time available.

HIGH END Munich 2013 end of show report

HIFICRITIC Martin Colloms May 2013