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

Abyss Headphones, Pro-Ject Audio Systems, Astell&Kern, And Clearaudio

  One of my fave booths during HIGH END 2018 was Abyss wit their impressive Diana planar magnetic headphones. Combined with the Sony NW-WM1Z N gold Walkman it is one of the best personal audio music experiences (€7000 euro total, headphones are €3450). Abyss' Diana semi-open back headphones are form fitting and comfortable thanks to premium materials and handcraftsmanship; each one is made in New York. Their patent-pending ear-speakers surround your head and deliver sonic details rarely heard in music using lesser headphones. Large 63mm planar magnetic transducer features a special patent-pending design. Impedance is 40 Ohms, sensitivity is 91dB/mw, and they weight 330 grams. Abyss truly cares and so they include a 1.5m headphone cable by JPS Labs with 3.5 mm stereo plug / 6.3mm adaptor (4 pin XLR or 4.4 mm plug optional). The look and sound of Abyss' Diana are truly worthy for those seeking a millionaire's lifestyle in music enjoyment. Read Enjoy the Music.com's review of Abyss' AB-1266 planar magnetic headphones at this link.

When it comes to a typical billionaire's home decor, it can range from classic American, to French, or even Musician Pop. I can think of no better turntable for the Beatles fan than typical British Pro-Ject with their Debut Beatles turntable (€450). This belt-driven turntable unmistakably gives you the wonderful feeling associated with The Beatles Yellow Submarine. The yellow-colored submarine has all the cartoon portholes and visual characteristic you remember and love. Pro-Ject's Yellow Submarine turntable coincides with the film's 50th anniversary and newly remastered for 4k video release. Ortofon has produced their Sonar, a special yellow Concorde MM cartridge for this turntable. You know you want one. Read our World Premiere Review of Pro-Ject Debut Carbon RecordMaster HiRes turntable at this link.

Pro-ject also makes some mighty fine reference-level turntables too! Here at HIGH END 2018 they featured the Xtention 12 with excellent moving coil cartridge for those who demand hearing all the details within their LPs (about €7500 including Ortofon A95 MC cartridge). When it comes to producing turntables, Pro-Ject aims to bring back a classical analog concept from the eighties, and combine it with their advanced contemporary technologies. After eighteen years of turntable manufacturing for analog lovers on a budget, Pro-Ject is delighted to announce their first deck not subscribed to budgetary limitations. The platter is an alloy metal due to its higher mass than acrylic. They found a perfect alloy that is dampened on the inner side with Sorbothane. After more processes, the final product subsequently benefits from a wonderfully resonance-free, heavy platter. Note the gorgeous piano black finish and protective dust cover too! Everything from careful control of tonearm energy to ensuring precise speed stability, Pro-Ject's Xtention 12 turntable is their tour-de-force in turntable know-how.

Many years ago I asked Astell&Kern to make a copper chassis version of their top-line player, which wasn't available at the time. While it took them years to produce, they finally made a copper chassis version and it sells quite well thank-you-very-much. Am now elated to announce that after years of asking for rose gold, as i did with the Noble K10 Tiger Stripe and other models within the industry... are you ready? After years of requesting by Yours Truly, Astell&Kern said their normally aluminum chassis SP1000 ($3499) will be available in special very limited edition Dragon Rose Gold by the end of 2018 (price TBA). Make sure you call your local dealer / distributor right now and ask to be put on the list for one, as rumor has it only 88 will be available! For those unfamiliar, Astell&Kern's SP1000 is their very best portable music player from one of the most respected manufacturers in the sector. This true Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Music player features an octa-core CPU for outstanding response and performance. A high definition HD5 720 x 1280 touchscreen display helps create the best viewing experience. Their innovative new multi-function volume wheel makes controlling your music and volume easy. Naturally this music player has both balanced and unbalanced output, plus handles virtually every digital audio file type available today. Normally the Astell&Kern SP1000 is only available in stainless steel or copper housing, yet remember to call your dealer to be put on the list for their new Dragon Rose Gold SP1000. Tell them Steven R. Rochlin from Enjoy the Music.com sent you. Have also heard a rumor that a basic yellow gold version has been requested by Harrods of London, yet Dragon Rose Gold is for true music enthusiasts who want to feel like they're a billionaire. Read Enjoy the Music.com's Astell&Kern AK380 review, with a bit of comparo using the AK240 and Sony NW-ZX2 thrown into the mix at this link.

By the way, they actually are not making the Dragon Rose Gold version, yet call your dealer / distributor anyway and ask for it if you'd buy one. Let's have Astell&Kern bring this beauty to reality for music lovers.

Since we're in Germany covering HIGH END 2018, it makes perfect sense that Clearaudio is here with their precision made turntables. Offering a staggering array of products from the relatively inexpensive to state-of-the-art reference models, Clearaudio is one of Germany's premiere analog playback experts for decades. Clearaudio's Statement V2 (€161,500) without a doubt showcases their love for music. As the results of a tireless passion and commitment, their Statement turntable with in-house Statement TT1 tangential tonearm together work in concert to reproduce music from vinyl records at the highest possible level. An array of dampeners, acrylic materials, magnetic transmission device (patent pending), and oil dampener combined with a gimbal-mounted chassis.... Am sure the smart billionaire understands that a turntable is akin to a seismograph, and so you want complete elimination of unwanted outside forces from interfering with the critical needle-to-vinyl LP connection. For those who desire the very best German made turntable, Clearaudio is an excellent choice.

For those more on a budget, Clearaudio's Master Innovation (€9300 without stand, seen below) gives you a good dose of high-end sound quality, yet at a more affordable pricing.

Clearaudio is living large as they also had their own imprinted chocolate on offer during HIGH END 2018.

---> Onward to Part 10 of our HIGH END 2018 show report.

---> Back to main HIGH END 2018 page.