HIGH END 2023 Munich Show Coverage
Celebrating 40 years... to become the world leader of premium audio events. 
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Andrija Ćurković

  The MoFi (Mobile Fidelity) SourcePoint 8 (€2,999 /pair) coaxial speaker demonstrated in a large room what an 8" driver with Aesthetix electronics can do, and it can do a lot of good. From the dimensions of a relatively modest size bookshelf speaker emerged a large and dynamic sound, precise and open, a sound that filled the space of the large room it was playing in. It made no sense to analyze a minor lack of volume in the lower frequency spectrum because it would be more appropriate if it was placed in a room half the size. However, even in such conditions, it showcased all its good characteristics, which placed it at the very top of the list of what buyers in this price category should listen to first.

Following last year's launch of its new flagship speaker, the Kore (€80,000/pair), DALI unveiled in Munich the Epikore 11, a smaller model that combines technology from the Kore model and the popular Epicon series. The DALI Epikore 11 is a 4.5-way design with four bass drivers (8"), a newly developed midrange (6.5") and DALI's EVO-D hybrid tweeter module that combines a dome tweeter with a ribbon super-tweeter. All used drivers are built around the second generation of DALI's SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) technology, which greatly reduces distortion by reducing eddy currents in the magnet. SMC-Gen 2 is also used in coil cores. With this speaker DALI also marks its 40th anniversary, and will be available in August for €40,000 /pair.

The Avantgarde Acoustic Colibri C2 is a very attractively made passive modular three-way speaker with horn-loaded midrange and tweeter and two 16.5 cm bass drivers. The speaker can be placed horizontally or vertically, and it is recommended to use a subwoofer with it because its lower frequency range drops sharply at 65 Hz. The price of €6,600 per pair for Colibri 2 does not seem excessive.

The Danish Audiovector did not exhibit a new product but relied on their proven best model, the R 8 Arreté, and two additional R Sub Arreté subwoofers. Brinkman was in charge of the analog sound source, Naim for the digital while the Gryphon Audio Commander preamplifier and Apex output amplifier gave the speakers the power they needed. The sound was pleasant yet detailed, wide with great dynamics and deep bass, which was certainly helped by these two subwoofers.

Some of the key and strong hi-fi brands such as Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, etc were not present at this year's show, but their competitors – Onkyo, Pioneer, and Yamaha were.

After VOXX International Corporation acquired Pioneer, Integra, and Onkyo brands last year, with the help of its subsidiary – Premium Audio Company (PAC), they are completing structural changes with the primary goal of expanding the sales structure for all brands around the world, including now the markets in Europe. Both brands showed AV receiver models for 2023, with the new flagship model Onkyo TX-RZ70 standing out, as well as the return of the Jamo speaker line.

Yamaha has shown interesting new products, among which we should mention their network stereo receiver R-N2000A (€3,799). It comes with a built-in DAC and in-room sound correction system (Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer – YPAO), Music Cast streaming platform, MM turntable input, and DAB/FM receiver. Two more affordable streaming amplifiers R-N1000A (€1,599) and R-N800A (€1,099) and two bookshelf speakers NS-800A (16 cm bass/midrange unit, €3,999/pair) and NS-600A (13 cm bass / midrange unit, €2,399 /pair) were also shown.

A complete photo gallery from Munich with a much larger number of exhibitors and devices is published on our official Facebook page.

Finally, we congratulate the organizer of HIGH END 2023 in Munich on another successfully held event, especially in today's very demanding times, as well as on this year's jubilee – the 40th anniversary of the High End Society’s Germany event. See you next year at HIGH END 2024 in Munich at the M.O.C.

Enjoy the Music.com humbly thanks Andrija Ćurković of HiFiMedia for his exceptional HIGH END 2023 show report. The full photo report from Andrija can be viewed on HiFiMedia's Facebook page.

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