The World’s Finest Audio Brands At The Munich HIGH END Show 2022
The world’s finest audio brands at the Munich HIGH END show
If you’re travelling to the MOC in Munich next week* for HIGH END 2022, don’t miss the latest delights from all the eminent audio brands whose products are distributed in the UK exclusively by Absolute Sounds.
*And if you’re not, drop me a line if you’d like to know more about the most extraordinary new high-end audio equipment on the planet!
ARTESANIA AUDIO
VARIOUS ROOMS
You may not realise how much difference a dedicated audio equipment support can make until you try one made by Artesania Audio – every detail is meticulously engineered to unlock maximum performance from the components placed on its shelves. Artesania will be present in various rooms at HIGH END 2020, as turntable and audio electronics manufacturers use its peerless supports to demonstrate their latest creations. Artesania also has a room at the ‘hifideluxe’ show, which runs concurrently with HIGH END 2022 at the Marriott Hotel Munich.
AUDIO RESEARCH
HALL 4 – STAND U15/W07
The American gods of valve-based audio show off their glorious new I/50 integrated amp in all its colour options, as well as a prototype of the forthcoming Reference 320M mono power amp. In addition, demos of the Reference 6SE preamp and four Reference 160M mono power amps can be found in Atrium 4.2, Room E207, in combination with a Wadax digital source, Wilson Benesch speakers and Transparent cables.
COPLAND
HALL 3 – M03/M03a
ATRIUM 4.1 – ROOM F128
Denmark’s finest exponent of the audio arts shows off its fabulous range of ‘affordable high-end’ electronics, including its acclaimed, recently launched trio of solid-state and hybrid integrated amps, and a prototype of the forthcoming CTA407 – a valve amp with advanced bias and tube protection.
DAN D’AGOSTINO
ATRIUM 3.1 – ROOM D111
At HIGH END 2018, Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems – the company formed by Krell’s legendary designer and co-founder – announced its flagship power amp: the mighty Relentless Mono Amplifier. Four years on and Munich is ready to witnesses the unveiling of an upgrade that is, literally, epic – two new Relentless amps will be revealed, the Relentless Epic Mono Amplifier and Relentless Epic 800 Mono Amplifier. The latter amp will be demonstrated with the Relentless Preamplifier, a coupling that is said to reset the standard in amplifier performance.
DARTZEEL
ATRIUM 4.1 – ROOM F113
Made in Switzerland with the meticulous artistry of the finest timepieces, darTZeel audio electronics are a sight to behold and an unmitigated joy to hear. Visitors to HIGH END 2022 can hear the NHB-18NS preamplifier coupled with a pair of NHB-468 monoblocks, driving Stenheim Reference Ultime Two speakers.
DCS
ATRIUM 4.2 – F209
HALL 1 – E06
Cambridge-based digital audio pioneer dCS is showcasing the new Ring DAC APEX upgrades to its Vivaldi and Rossini components, including demonstrations of the just-announced, limited-edition Vivaldi One APEX – an extraordinary single-chassis DAC, network music player and CD/SACD player, launched to mark the company’s 30th anniversary.
DEVORE FIDELITY
HALL 3 – STAND N04/N05
Hailing from Brooklyn, NYC, DeVore Fidelity makes loudspeakers that exude creative individuality and infectious musicality – the very embodiment of artisan craftsmanship. The O/96 and O/baby will be present at the show – key members of the Ten collection, personally curated by Absolute Sounds’ founder Ricardo Franassovici.
EAT
HALL 3 – STAND M02
ATRIUM 3.1 – ROOM D111
EAT’s turntables and associated analogue products are designed and built by a specialist team in the factory owned by Pro-Ject, the world’s largest manufacturer of ‘hi-fi quality’ turntables – in terms of design ethos, the distinction between EAT and Pro-Ject is akin to that between Porsche and Volkswagen. A new turntable, the C-Dur, will be unveiled at the show.
FRANCO SERBLIN
HALL 4 – ROOM R10
The late, great Franco Serblin – founder of Sonus Faber – is a true legend of high-end loudspeaker design, and the company that bears his name continues hislegacy. Models such as the Ktêma, Accordo and Lignea are as beautiful to the eye as they are to the ear and are sure to delight visitors to HIGH END 2022.
JADIS
ATRIUM 4.2 – ROOM E228
A glorious amalgam of chrome, polished brass and glowing glass valves, amplifiers by French specialist Jadis are a sheer delight. The JPS2 preamp and a pair of JA80 MkII mono power amps can be heard at HIGH END 2022, driving Alsyvox full-range ribbon speakers. Jadis also has a room at the concurrent ‘hifideluxe’ show at the Marriott Hotel Munich, where visitors will find a prototype of the company’s latest project – the I-300 integrated amp, featuring 300B valves.
KRELL
ATRIUM 3.1 – ROOM D111
Legendary American high-end audio brand Krell – famed for its groundbreaking amps since the early 1980s – has developed a new and mighty power amplifier to mark its 40th anniversary. The KSA-i400 will be previewed at the show, alongside the new K-300p phono preamp which begins shipping this month.
MAGICO
ATRIUM 4.1 – ROOM F115
When it comes to ultra-high-end speakers, no manufacturer has made a bigger splash this millennium than California’s Magico. The company is demonstrating its A5 floorstander – the top model in its most affordable range, the A-Series – as well as showing off its new Titan 15 subwoofer, complete with 6,500W of built-in amplification.
REQUEST AUDIO (SWITZERLAND)
ATRIUM 4.2 – ROOM F228
Made in Switzerland to the most exacting standards, in partnership with US-based ReQuest, The Beast and The Raptor are unequivocally the finest music servers that money can buy. Visitors to HIGH END 2022 who seek a solid-state storage and playback solution for all their music, with a complete absence of compromise in terms of both sound and usability, should make a beeline for Atrium 4.2!
ROBERT KODA
ATRIUM 4.1 – ROOM E106
Robert Koda is a maker of extraordinary preamplifiers and power amplifiers, personally selected for the exclusive Ten collection by Absolute Sounds’ founder, Ricardo Franassovici. Visitors to HIGH END 2022 can experience the remarkable Takumi K-160 mono power amps – among the finest in the world according to those in the know.
TECHDAS
ATRIUM 4.1 – E110/F118
Exemplary Japanese engineering for vinyl addicts, incorporating air suspension, vacuum clamping and much more… Room E110 in Atrium 4.1 features the Air Force One Premium turntable with an Elite Ti 10in tonearm – a Graham Phantom Elite upgraded with the TechDAS TDTW-01Ti titanium tonearm wand – and TechDAS TDC01 Ti cartridge. A second room, F118, showcases a new turntable variant – the Air Force III Premium S, building on the success of the Air Force III Premium with newly designed suspension feet.
TRAFOMATIC AUDIO
ATRIUM 4.2 – E215
A new addition to the Absolute Sounds portfolio – via the exclusive, artisan Ten collection – Trafomatic makes valve amplifiers that shake conventions and push the sonic envelope. The new Rhapsody integrated amp will be on demonstration at the show, together with the Lara preamp and Glenn mono power amps.
TRANSPARENT AUDIO
VARIOUS ROOMS
US-based cable specialist Transparent will be present in various demonstration spaces at HIGH END 2022, as discerning manufacturers use its latest Generation 6 cables to ensure their audio creations perform at their very best. The dCS room (Atrium 4.2 – F209) is one of several where these exceptional cables can be heard.
WILSON AUDIO
ATRIUM 3.1 – D111
The doyen of ultra-high-end American loudspeakers is present at the show via German distributor Audio Reference. Expect to see recent launches including the SabrinaX compact floorstanders and Lōkē subwoofer, while speakers such as the splendid Alexx V are being used by discerning audio electronics manufacturers to demonstrate their latest high-end creations.
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