Impressions
Annex to Dartzeel NHB-108 review: Power Games...
In this audiophile world of ours, each and every one is striving to reproduce an, already “packaged”, musical event as accurately, as possible.
Micromega from France, became famous the past decades mostly because of their quality digital devices. With a presence of more than 25 years, world press has always stood by...
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HIGH END® 2009 Munich
4/6/2009
This year’s Munich Hi-End expo just had to be the most successful ever, in terms not only of numbers but also of inspiration, let alone innovation. More than 240 exhibitors, including many new candidates, a few live events and some brief seminars, all under the strict surveillance of hi-fi industry’s pioneers, gave this event a worldwide recognition.
Among them emerged three Greek designers: TLA (TruLifeAudio) and their exotics, Tsakiridis Devices and Analysis whose magnetostatic speakers are known to make an international career.
There are no words to describe the privilege of attending such a summit or the pleasure of being so close to technical evolution and its motivating forces. Stiff competition and passion to excel made everyone do their best.
For the first time ever, visitors were able to savor on such a variety of new models as well as on classics throughout the world, from cost-effective to cost-no-object.
Abouthifi.com had the opportunity to meet the architects of hi-end, gathering priceless experience, eager to transmit it to you, to even take you there in sound and vision. Please relax and enjoy, as we did!
Text:
Dimocritos Dravopoulos
Text, Photos & English rendition:
Nikos Douris
Videos from the show
Acoustic Plan
Acoustic Plan carefully set up their Veena speakers (priced at 12.000€ or at 15.000€ active), in order to impress. Those Germans know their way around openness and energy. Four woofers and Mosfet amplification (active version). J.C.Verdier turntables and the rest of the amplification was there, too.
Acoustic Solid
Acoustic Solid’s art: Eye-candy turntables, made of various materials including POM, aluminum, acrylic, wood and brass. Their prices vary from about 1.000 € -1.450 € is the Solid Classic Wood- to a good 39.000 € for her highness the Diamond Princess.
Adam
Adam’s highest-end Tensors, lined up in full array, including a central speaker and a subwoofer. Despite their “industrial” looks, the Adam Tensor Alpha, as well as the much smaller Delta, sounded very refined and uncolored, partnered with PS Audio’s PerfectWave Transport and DAC and Analysis Plus cabling. The Liedke-Metalldesign rack was also hosting PS Audio’s Digital Link III DAC, GCHA Headphone Amplifier, GCPH Phono Preamplifier, Trio A100 Power Amplifier, Trio C100 Control Amplifier, Trio P200 Preamplifier, while power was provided by PS Power Plant Premier.
Advance Acoustic - SETA Audio
Advance Acoustic decided to wear a higher price-tag, presenting the MPP 1000 (2.500 €) dual-mono pre and the MAA 1000 monoblocks (3.500 € each) in co-operation with SETA Audio’s Besa speakers (12.000 - 14.500 € depending on finish). SETA’s representative did not neglect to point out to us that the name “Besa” also stands for its meaning in Greek, which is honesty.
Air Tight
Quality, art and value, Air Tight’s all about tubes. A music lover’s walk in the park of 211s, 300Bs, EL34s, eager to radiate warmth and presence. Of course, Koetsu’s cartridges were also attending. Handmade in Japan and ranging from 1.500 € to 14.000 €, holders of a fulfilling yet esoteric legacy that they generously share with their owners. Koetsu Black symbolizes, to this day, my own first analogue-passion days.
Amazon - Trigon
On a Finite Elemente Pagode rack, Amazon’s new and most impressive 1st Choice, accompanied by Trigon ancillaries and Audio Physic’s Avanti V speakers was giving out a scent of live performance. Close up: Amazon Morch superbly engineered tonearms with solid-core silver Teflon insulated cabling.
Amphion
The Finnish took to the race their three-way Krypton2, which bonded masterfully with Hegel’s amps and source. Incorporating various technical patents to their cabinets and given their cardoid dispersion pattern, it is no wonder they managed to fill the room with an extended and resolved soundstage. Also attending, several models from both Primo and Classic series.
Analysis - KR Audio
Greek Analysis, Czech KR, with or without subwoofer it doesn’t matter… or does it to you? The Amphitryon mega-sized planar speaker is looking so simple yet makes you stare at it for a while, let alone the eight enormous KR T1610 triodes heating-up the room! Photo courtesy of Analysis
Angstrom Research
Angstrom Research is serious about it! Build, tubes and class A, are you interested? We know we are! The integrated Equinox + PSU, with 16xEL84 for 32 watts (28.000 €), here with EMM Labs’ digital masterpieces, and of course the Equinox B pre & Reference monos deserve only our top comments. Superb…
Arabesque
Transparency that actually… shows, courtesy of the Arabesque speakers, helped out by the one you cannot see, coming from eight 6550C/KT88 tubes inside each VTL ΜΒ-450ΙΙ Signature monoblock, to produce 200W in triode or 450W in tetrode mode. At the top of the rack -and of the sound-chain-, the dCS Puccini, deservingly bears its awards.
Recent Reviews
EPOS ELS 8
A true bargain under 300 euros(!). Τhis British “little one” comes challengingly priced, offering great-sounding evenings.
YBA DESIGN DAC
The products by YBA always had a special personality, both acoustic and aesthetic.So now even those with more modest budgets can purchase one of their products without spending a fortune. We are talking about the new YBA converter with the code-name WD-202, which is quite reasonably priced.
