The Best Of The Best - High End Munich Show 2023 Full Coverage
If last year was Show must go on, this year is what for an incredible Show! During four days in MOC event Munich (Germany), the first two reserved for distributors and press, Munich High End attracted more than 22k visitors from all the countries. With 550 exhibitors and more than 800 brands i had plenty to hear and see. Cover everything in 4 days is impossible, and edit gigabyte of video file, believe me is nothing funny, but I did my best to capture what I enjoyed and first of all details, to let you feel as you are at the show watching with your eyes and touch with your hand. This is my second time at the Show, I felt much more comfortable moving between huge halls and the entire show.
INSANE Perlisten 11.7.6 THX Dominus Home Theater
Dirac, StormAudio, and Perlisten Team Up to Showcase an insane Home Theater Performance at High End Munich 2023, probably the most immersive home theater demo that i ever experience in my life! The setup combines the intelligence of the new Dirac Live Active Room Treatment software with StormAudio’s powerful ISP Elite MK3 Immersive Sound Processor and a THX Certified Dominus home theater-quality Perlisten 11.7.6 surround sound system. But not only to support the insane setup we can find also the Barco Njord Projector with Light output up to 12,000 lumens and a retail price around 100 grand!!!
ifi Audio NEW iCAN Phantom Headphone Amplifier
iCAN Phantom NEW reference-class analogue headphone amp with incorporated electrostatic energiser with advanced user interface and network-connected control system. The iCAN Phantom sports two input stages – one valve/tube-based, the other solid state – enabling the user to switch between the two in real time. It is, indeed, like having three amplifiers in one, each with a different sonic presentation. Solid-state offers pace and immediacy. Tube mode adds fluidity and a free-breathing dynamic quality. Tube+ accentuates the sonic influence of the valves, delivering a spellbinding romantic warmth that may suit, for example, acoustic and vocal musical styles. The GE5670 valves have an expected lifespan of around 10,000 hours of use. When the time eventually comes to replace them, the iCAN Phantom’s smoked glass panel is easily removed to provide access, meaning the job can be completed in minutes. The amp is compatible also with 6922 valves.
Integrated amplifier A1 Reissue
MUSICAL FIDELITY exclusive presentation of the Integrated amplifier A1 reissue, one of the most iconic amplifiers of all time and LS 3/5A the Musical Fidelity edition of the classic british broadcasting monitor. Technical specifications A1: Power: 28W pure class A into 8 ohms, 14W pure class A into 4 ohms. Current delivery capability: 25 amps Inputs: 5x RCA, phono (MM/MC) Outputs: speaker, RCA fix, RCA pre-out Weight: 12kg Color: Black including remote control The Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier will be available in black at a price of 1,599 euro (RRP) from summer 2023
Musical fidelity has succeeded in presenting one of the most loved amplifiers in history with an audition that left everyone speechless for its naturalness and musicality, A+!
Avantgarde Acoustic Colibri C2
With the new Colibri C2, Avantgarde Acoustic presents the first model of the new family at the High End. The Colibri family comes with a beautiful concept design and can be operated both horizontally and vertically. Light voice coils and membranes are intended to drive the Colibri with an high efficiency of 98 dB and a maximum sound pressure level of 117 dB. Optionally, Colibri also offers a suitable subwoofer the C18, for more bass power. Colibri C2 will have a retail price around 3,500 euros. I had the pleasure to ask some questions to Mr. Holger Fromme Managing director of the company Avantgarde after a short audition.
I was very surprised by the free and airy sound, an immediate and simple tonality, A+!
Dali Epikore 11
Dali want it to bridging the gap between the DALI EPICON series and DALI KORE with the EPIKORE 11 that incorporates many of the groundbreaking technologies from the flagship speaker. We had a short press conference and interesting audition with DALI CEO Lars Worre illustrating all technical aspects.
I never rely on Show audition too much, but my first impression was ultra positive, with an explosive dynamic and the Dali natural but detailed sound signature that I was expecting since I had for several times the Dali Rubicon 8 at home as reference speaker.
YAMAHA NEW Headphone Amplifier HA-L7A
At the Yamaha booth, the headphone amp HA-L7A was unveiled for the first time in Europe. The L shape design at first glance looks like a separate housing, but it is an integrated product, with two visible power supply and the front amplifier section. The headphone amplifier output is very powerful, 2x1,000mW (at 32Ω if i understood correctly ) and is equipped with the ESS 9038PRO DAC capable of native playback up to PCM 384kHz/32bit and DSD 11.2MHz. As headphone output we can find a standard 6.3 mm, 4.4mm balanced, and XLR balanced. Release date and retail price are still undecided.