Munich High End 2018

[Audio 1]

In case this link has not yet been posted ...... my-hiend.com most excellent Munich 2018 pictures.

http://www.my-hiend.com/vbb/showthread.php?12108

[Peter Breuninger]

Did anyone hear these?

Yes, and we shot video with a listening session!

[Nikhil]

In case this link has not yet been posted ...... my-hiend.com most excellent Munich 2018 pictures.

http://www.my-hiend.com/vbb/showthread.php?12108

Thanks for sharing! These guys have amazing show coverage always.

Regards.

[Audio 1]

Thanks for sharing! These guys have amazing show coverage always.

Regards.

Without a doubt some of the highest quality pictures available!

[bart]

Totally agree. Devialet had it going on with a great distributor in Audio Plus Services. But then they decided to go it alone and fell off the face of the planet (or so it seems). For me, when they took over, they got stupid and started saying things like: "you need to bring in every Devialet model into your store and also one extra to sell of every unit." You can imagine my laughter at that one. First of all: no, I won't. Second, they all sound the same (just more power as you go up the line), so that's not even sensible.

For one reason or another, my dealer also dropped the brand.
Although he was selling them well.
They do have a problem, yes.

[ben]

Thanks for the link Audio 1. By far the best coverage of Munich High End 2018. Seems some of the manufactures brought entire collection of their products. This show is HUGE!!!

[wizard]

[Kuoppis]

Looks like Brinkmann have been rather active lately: 5 new releases in Munich. I’m intrigued about the complete re-development of the Marconi mk2 pre-amp.

If it sounds anywhere as good as the Nyquist...

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2018/...brinkmann/amp/



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[Elberoth]

The Magicos M6 were a star of the show for me. By far. I have spent 90 min in Magico's room. I don't recall spending that much time in a single room EVER on any show I've visited in the past 25+ years. The M6 alone were worth the trip to Munich.

It is also probably the first time I really liked a Soulution based system. The system sounded better when the Kronos TT was in action instead of the Soulution CD - another proof that the less Soulution in a system, the more music.

I have the smaller M3s, so certain qualities like incredible smoothness and resolution, lack of gran and coloration, were sth I was accustomed to. But the effortless bass and macrodynamics, transformed this great speaker into sth rather spectacular.

I liked the M6 much better then the Rockoprt Lyra in another room (although in all fairness - the Rockoports system was based on the cheaper Soulution 500-series components, not the top of the line 700 like Magico's). Somehow I expected the speakers to be much closer in performance. I did not hear that smoothness coupled with infinite resolution of the Magicos and the uncany palpability.

Another pair of Lyras in the Absolare room sounded very 'nice', but way too slow and colored on the Absolare hybrids.

BTW - spending 90min in one room let me notice things that I haven't noticed before: how much the system balance changes depending on how many people were in the room and where are you sitting. The system went from upfront (on bright recordings with less people in the room), to rolled off, warm and beguiling kind of sound when sitting in row 2-3, with the room full of people.

Sth to keep in mind when visiting hi-fi shows.

But certain qualities of the speaker shone through irrespective of music and # of ppl in the room - namely infinite resolution, lack of coloration and effortless of sound.

[Anatta]

[Anatta]

[Al M.]

I don't understand why they always have to play those cheese covers with female voice and simple accompaniment. Why not play the original, or some serious heavy rock, or some serious blasting jazz, or some orchestral thunder. Oh, I understand, the system is not set up to be able to do that...

Exhibitors don't want to risk that all those set-ups are exposed as fake.

[AJR]

Nice. So when are you upgrading

[Al M.]

The Magicos M6 were a star of the show for me. By far. I have spent 90 min in Magico's room. I don't recall spending that much time in a single room EVER on any show I've visited in the past 25+ years. The M6 alone were worth the trip to Munich.

It is also probably the first time I really liked a Soulution based system. The system sounded better when the Kronos TT was in action instead of the Soulution CD - another proof that the less Soulution in a system, the more music.

I have the smaller M3s, so certain qualities like incredible smoothness and resolution, lack of gran and coloration, were sth I was accustomed to. But the effortless bass and macrodynamics, transformed this great speaker into sth rather spectacular.

I liked the M6 much better then the Rockoprt Lyra in another room (although in all fairness - the Rockoports system was based on the cheaper Soulution 500-series components, not the top of the line 700 like Magico's). Somehow I expected the speakers to be much closer in performance. I did not hear that smoothness coupled with infinite resolution of the Magicos and the uncany palpability.

Another pair of Lyras in the Absolare room sounded very 'nice', but way too slow and colored on the Absolare hybrids.

BTW - spending 90min in one room let me notice things that I haven't noticed before: how much the system balance changes depending on how many people were in the room and where are you sitting. The system went from upfront (on bright recordings with less people in the room), to rolled off, warm and beguiling kind of sound when sitting in row 2-3, with the room full of people.

Sth to keep in mind when visiting hi-fi shows.

But certain qualities of the speaker shone through irrespective of music and # of ppl in the room - namely infinite resolution, lack of coloration and effortless of sound.

Thanks for report and image. Also interesting the observation about changing acoustics depending on circumstances.

A small critical remark: there is no such thing as "infinite resolution". For credibility of a report it is better to refrain from unnecessary hyperbole.

[Priaptor]

The Magicos M6 were a star of the show for me. By far. I have spent 90 min in Magico's room. I don't recall spending that much time in a single room EVER on any show I've visited in the past 25+ years. The M6 alone were worth the trip to Munich.

It is also probably the first time I really liked a Soulution based system. The system sounded better when the Kronos TT was in action instead of the Soulution CD - another proof that the less Soulution in a system, the more music.

I have the smaller M3s, so certain qualities like incredible smoothness and resolution, lack of gran and coloration, were sth I was accustomed to. But the effortless bass and macrodynamics, transformed this great speaker into sth rather spectacular.

I liked the M6 much better then the Rockoprt Lyra in another room (although in all fairness - the Rockoports system was based on the cheaper Soulution 500-series components, not the top of the line 700 like Magico's). Somehow I expected the speakers to be much closer in performance. I did not hear that smoothness coupled with infinite resolution of the Magicos and the uncany palpability.

Another pair of Lyras in the Absolare room sounded very 'nice', but way too slow and colored on the Absolare hybrids.

BTW - spending 90min in one room let me notice things that I haven't noticed before: how much the system balance changes depending on how many people were in the room and where are you sitting. The system went from upfront (on bright recordings with less people in the room), to rolled off, warm and beguiling kind of sound when sitting in row 2-3, with the room full of people.

Sth to keep in mind when visiting hi-fi shows.

But certain qualities of the speaker shone through irrespective of music and # of ppl in the room - namely infinite resolution, lack of coloration and effortless of sound.

I knew it was just a matter of time until the M3s were leaving your domicile for the M6.

You can say no all you want, but let me be the first to congratulate you on your new purchase!

[nonesup]

I don't understand why they always have to play those cheese covers with female voice and simple accompaniment. Why not play the original, or some serious heavy rock, or some serious blasting jazz, or some orchestral thunder. Oh, I understand, the system is not set up to be able to do that...

Exhibitors don't want to risk that all those set-ups are exposed as fake.

+1

[brad225]

I understand what you are saying but, there those of us that would either not enter the room or leave with music played to loud. It's just a personal preference as is our equipment.

[Al M.]

I understand what you are saying but, there those of us that would either not enter the room or leave with music played to loud. It's just a personal preference as is our equipment.

You don't have to play it too loud. What if I'm fed up entering a room with a cheesy female voice?

I hope as a music lover you can take diverse musical genre's. But don't ask me to take the same narrow genre, cheesy female voice, in each and every room! That's just unfair

[VT Skier]

I knew it was just a matter of time until the M3s were leaving your domicile for the M6.

You can say no all you want, but let me be the first to congratulate you on your new purchase!

I remember his room as being fairly small, so I'm not sure the M6 would fit. There must be some minimum seating distance from the baffle in order for the sound from the drivers to properly coalesce.

And I would love to hear them at that distance, but I'll have to wait for Mike's to arrive in Florida.

[brad225]

You don't have to play it too loud. What if I'm fed up entering a room with a cheesy female voice?

I hope as a music lover you can take diverse musical genre's. But don't ask me to take the same narrow genre, cheesy female voice, in each and every room! That's just unfair

Maybe I mistook you Blasting Jazz and Orchestral Thunder for loud. I can listening to a bit of just about anything with a few exceptions.

[klesken]

[klesken]

The Magicos M6 were a star of the show for me. By far. I have spent 90 min in Magico's room. I don't recall spending that much time in a single room EVER on any show I've visited in the past 25+ years. The M6 alone were worth the trip to Munich.

It is also probably the first time I really liked a Soulution based system. The system sounded better when the Kronos TT was in action instead of the Soulution CD - another proof that the less Soulution in a system, the more music.

I have the smaller M3s, so certain qualities like incredible smoothness and resolution, lack of gran and coloration, were sth I was accustomed to. But the effortless bass and macrodynamics, transformed this great speaker into sth rather spectacular.

I liked the M6 much better then the Rockoprt Lyra in another room (although in all fairness - the Rockoports system was based on the cheaper Soulution 500-series components, not the top of the line 700 like Magico's). Somehow I expected the speakers to be much closer in performance. I did not hear that smoothness coupled with infinite resolution of the Magicos and the uncany palpability.

Another pair of Lyras in the Absolare room sounded very 'nice', but way too slow and colored on the Absolare hybrids.

BTW - spending 90min in one room let me notice things that I haven't noticed before: how much the system balance changes depending on how many people were in the room and where are you sitting. The system went from upfront (on bright recordings with less people in the room), to rolled off, warm and beguiling kind of sound when sitting in row 2-3, with the room full of people.

Sth to keep in mind when visiting hi-fi shows.

But certain qualities of the speaker shone through irrespective of music and # of ppl in the room - namely infinite resolution, lack of coloration and effortless of sound.

Your statement of "less Soulution in a system, the more music" rather contradicts your subsequent claim of "really liking" the soulution system pairing with the M6. Unless you meant the soulution gear was standing in a way of the M6 sounding much better. I seriously doubt this to be the case IMO as MAGICO have tested their speakers with a variety of amplifiers. The source at play was not a soulution CD but a 760 DAC, which can sound absolutely fabulous when properly set up, ( personal experience as I have it in my system). The 760 has been optimized to sound its best over Ethernet which was not the case in Munich. The choice of digital cable and digital music library also makes a significant difference. (Aurender not being the best choice either IMHO). Claiming that Kronos playback > soulution playback is therefore rather presumptuous as the sound is a result of numerous interdependent factors. Judging show demos is always a bit precarious from my experience.The soulution/ M6 pairing was really lovely but a fell quite a bit short of "infinite resolution". For that, you would need a perfectly acoustically optimised room with ideal speaker placement, state of art Mains filtration, best cabling etc. Again, it is about the circumstances, not just the gear.

[Alectiong]

I liked the M6 much better then the Rockoprt Lyra in another room (although in all fairness - the Rockoports system was based on the cheaper Soulution 500-series components, not the top of the line 700 like Magico's). Somehow I expected the speakers to be much closer in performance. I did not hear that smoothness coupled with infinite resolution of the Magicos and the uncany palpability.

Another pair of Lyras in the Absolare room sounded very 'nice', but way too slow and colored on the Absolare hybrids.

Thanks for the comparison note. I am interested to know how these two great speakers compare. I wasn't at Munich. Some of my friends who went gave me opposite feedback about M6 vs Lyra. It is interesting that different ears hear different things with different conclusions.

[Elberoth]

Thanks for the comparison note. I am interested to know how these two great speakers compare. I wasn't at Munich. Some of my friends who went gave me opposite feedback about M6 vs Lyra. It is interesting that different ears hear different things with different conclusions.

Indeed. I have spent a great deal of time in both rooms. It would be interesting to know, which room they are refereing to, as Lyra / Absolare and Lyra / Soulution, sounded very different.

I was at Munich with a bunch of friends (reviewers and dealers) and all 10 or 15 people I've talked to, were more impressed by the M6.

[Alectiong]

Indeed. I have spent a great deal of time in both rooms. It would be interesting to know, which room they are refereing to, as Lyra / Absolare and Lyra / Soulution, sounded very different.

I was at Munich with a bunch of friends (reviewers and dealers) and all 10 or 15 people I've talked to, were more impressed by the M6.

Not doubting your conclusion. Some of my friends preferred M6, others preferred Lyra. Personal tastes I suppose.


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[Umberto]

Our Piazzolla Master Tape in Wilson/Nagra setup:



And TAD Reference One setup:

[Umberto]

Piazzolla Master Tape in EAR/Yoshino room:

[Al M.]

Maybe I mistook you Blasting Jazz and Orchestral Thunder for loud. I can listening to a bit of just about anything with a few exceptions.

Sorry for the ambiguity.

[Al M.]

Piazzolla Master Tape in EAR/Yoshino room:

Great music!

[Glareskin]

Some more Munich pix...

Interesting! The guy doesn't seem to know how to write his own name :-)

[Nikhil]

Our Piazzolla Master Tape in Wilson/Nagra setup:

...

Umberto,

As a Piazzolla fan I am curious to know more about these demos. (Fantastic sound by the way!)
Did you just take a Piazzolla from your personal collection to Munich?

Or are you from the recording industry? Just curious as I am always looking for Piazzolla material.

Regards.

[Elberoth]

I knew it was just a matter of time until the M3s were leaving your domicile for the M6.

You can say no all you want, but let me be the first to congratulate you on your new purchase!

I really wish! Unfortunately, my listening room is just too small to support them (14' x 19').

[AJR]

I feel. My room is medium size too. As much as I would love your old S5 mk2s and beyond that the M3s and ideally the M6s (budget aside), I don’t have the physical space to make any of those options workable from a practical (and value) perspective. A big ups to Mike - he taught me that it is all about sizing a speaker to pressurize the room size you have.

[Elberoth]

That is really a shame, as I love the speaker. IMO this is by far the best and most complete speaker they have made.

[Nikhil]

Enjoyable video of the Munich show from the guys at PS Audio

[Nikhil]

** Duplicate post **

[Umberto]

Great music!

Thank you!

Jake Purches & Maria Kazantseva:

[Umberto]

Hemiolia Records:

[GreginNH]

Amazing thread. Makes me want to make travel arrangements for next year!

[wisnon]

That is really a shame, as I love the speaker. IMO this is by far the best and most complete speaker they have made.

Adam, I am shocked you have not yet made the trade up to the PACIFIC. RUN, DONT WALK! LOL
The PCM is sublime.

[wizard]

[Kuoppis]

Robert Harley’s Best of Show:

Best Sound (cost no object)
The Zellaton Statement loudspeaker (see JV’s report for system details) created the most realistic reproduction of the human voice I’ve ever heard from a hi-fi system. The sound was ineffably beautiful, seemingly existing in space independent of the physical means of its reproduction. The focus and coherence was beyond hi-fi.

Absolare always produces a great sound in Munich but this year was its best sound yet, with its new hybrid power amplifiers (tube input, solid-state output) driving Rockport Lyra speakers, with Absolare equipment racks and Echole cables. There was a complete lack of grain and glare; the presentation had utterly natural timbre and tremendous ability to pull me into the music rather than to think about the sound. A terrific system expertly set up.

The Vandersteen Model 7 Mk.II driven by Brinkmann electronics was also very high on my list, as it usually is at every hi-fi show at which the Vandies are demonstrated. The Model 7 is world-class in every way—and a relative bargain compared with mega-priced flagship speakers from other companies. The system was supported by Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) equipment racks.

Magico's M6 driven by Soulution 7-Series amplification and HRS racks was terrific in every way, and an interesting contrast with the Q7 Mk.II that I lived with for two years. The M6 wasn't has hard-hitting in the bass, but it had a timbral beauty and ease. A great showing.

One of the best demonstrations of a Wilson speaker was in the Constellation Audio room, where the company’s Centaur II monoblocks, Perseus phonostage and Virgo III linestage, Continuum Obsidian turntable, and Cygnus Media Server drove Wilson Alexia Series 2 speakers. The whole system was supported by Shunyata Research AC conditioning.

Best Sound (for the money)
The Magico A3 at $9800 per pair. Although not budget priced, the A3 establishes a new benchmark at the important $10k price point. A far better speaker than Magico’s $27k V3 of ten years ago.




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[Umberto]

Let's fly!

[Perfect Sense]

Our annual report (in Swedish of course) is now online. Fortunately, our visual language is somehow universal . Then there's Google translate of course, which is sometimes your friend.

https://perfect-sense.se/artiklar/ma...i-munchen-2018



/ Marcus

[Kingsrule]

Actually there are many who don't use Google....a properly designed website with language tabs is the only way to go, especially if u want to expand ur readership.....

[Perfect Sense]

Actually there are many who don't use Google....a properly designed website with language tabs is the only way to go, especially if u want to expand ur readership.....

Well, please enjoy the photos then . Locally, the main target group are Swedes naturally, where having a complete and proper English translation is too demanding I'm afraid.

The Google translate version is far from perfect, but readable: https://translate.google.se/translat...i-munchen-2018

/ Marcus

[Kingsrule]

Your photos are great....

[Perfect Sense]

Your photos are great....

Thank you - appreciate it!