A Billionaire's Guide To HIGH END 2018 In Munich
HIGH END 2018 Munich Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

Ascendo, VAC, Von Schweikert, Chord, Raidho Acoustics, And Crystal Cable.

  Ascendo speakers enjoys living large with their truly enormous SMSG24 and SMSG32 custom made 24" and 32" (respectively) high-performance bass drivers in cabinet. With 6000 Watts of power included, Ascendo's new SMSG24 and SMSG32 have a 90mm linear stroke to produce deep bass. The cabinet is a closed box design and multi-DSP control is included.

VAC and Von Schweikert have teamed up once again, this time at HIGH END 2018 with VAC's Statement Phono Stage / Line Stage / Statement 450 iQ Monoblocks ($80,000, $75,000 and $120,000 per pair) for amplification, and Masterbuilt Audio cables. Just as with AXPONA 2018, Von Schweikert's ULTRA 11 ($295,000 per pair) extremely large floorstanders with their Shockwave V12 subwoofer ($11,500 each used for active room correction) delivered a truly great performance! Once again this combo delivered an amazing world-class sound, and am beginning to truly lust after this system. Without a doubt the VAV and Von Schweikert room produced s one of my favorites sounds during HIGH END 2018. Read our world premiere review of VAC's very impressive Renaissance Preamplifier Mk V with MM/MC phono stage at this link.

Our good friend Rune Skov was at HIGH END 2018 showcasing Raidho Acoustics' TD-4.8 large floorstanding speaker (€149,900 in Glass Black). Chord Electronics for front-end duties, the Raidho Acoustics TD-4.8 offers excellent dynamics, speed, and easily reproduces the entire audible frequency spectrum. This bass loaded vented design uses a Raidho Sealed Tweeter, two 100 mm Raidho Tantalum-Diamond drivers and six 115 mm Raidho Tantalum-Diamond drivers. Frequency response is from 26Hz to 50kHz and has a sensitivity of 90dB/W/m. You can easily bring the styling into your luxury home as cabinet finishes on offer include Piano Black, Walnut burl veneer or any color / combination of your choosing. Thoroughly enjoyed my time listening to superb-sounding music within Raidho Acoustics’ room at HIGH END 2018.

Crystal Cable was at HIGH END 2018 wit their Duet and Double Duet headphone cable. Their Double is 2.5 meter (€1700) and features visual balance of black and white, leading to powerful messaging. According to Crystal Cable, "Black's most common association is power, authority and strength, while white is righteous, good and peaceful. In music, both these worlds are present – Duet is translating music as pure and natural as life." Crystal Cable's Portable Duet and Double Duet can be terminated with almost all types of in-ear and over-ear headphone connections. These include 2.5mm jack, 3.5mm jack, 4.4mm jack (for Sony player), 6.35mm jack, 4-pole male XLR, and two 3-pole male XLR. Out connectors include IEM 2-pin, IEM MMCX, 2.5mm TS, 3.5mm jack, Lemo for Focal Utopia, HD800, Mini-XLR 4-pole (for Audeze). Other connectors or configurations might be available upon request. So whatever your needs for in-ear and headphone cables, Crystal Cable has that very high quality connection you need.

---> Onward to Part 6 of our HIGH END 2018 show report.

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