HIGH END 2022 Show Report
High End Society Munich Germany
Show Report By Andrija Ćurković Of HiFi Media Magazine

  For the audiophiles of more modest means, Marantz has unveiled its new CD 60 CD player (€899), with a distinctive new case design introduced for the first time to the public when their Model 30 integrated amplifier and SACD 30n network streamer / SACD player were released in 2020. From the same Sound United Group come the two new Denon integrated amplifiers - PMA-1700NE (€1,999) and PMA-900HNE (€999), with built-in streaming using HEOS and AirPlay 2, and DCD-900NE CD player (€499). The Denon PMA-1700NE also has a built-in USB-DAC with support for high-definition audio files up to 11.2 MHz DSD and 384 kHz / 32-bit PCM.

Karl-Heinz Fink is one of the most respected speaker designers today and was largely unknown to the general public until his WM3 speaker (now WM4) was unveiled with Marantz electronics at the 2016 HIGH END in Munich. Encouraged by the reaction of visitors and audio media, he founded FinkTeam, which has launched two more models to date, the Borg and KIM speakers. Two years ago, he bought the Epos Loudspeaker brand from Michael Creek, once a well-known British speaker manufacturer, to bring it back to the audio scene. The result of this acquisition has just been shown in Munich - Epos ES14N (€4,500). Created on the template of the well-respected model from the late 1980s of the last century, the new version of the speaker has been thoroughly modernized for today's consumers.

This bass-reflex speaker features a 7-inch bass / midrange unit with a powerful hybrid magnet (Ferrite / Neodymium), a 28mm tweeter with an aluminum / ceramic dome (without the use of Ferrofluid), and a body (unlike the original) made of MDF board glued together with a damping glue and beveled front panel to keep the tweeter time aligned with the bass unit. With modern construction and modern sound, the new Epos ES14 plays accurately, open, with high transparency and resolution.

Gryphon Audio Systems pleasantly surprised me with the dimensions of its new EOS2 speakers, albeit still in the prototype phase. I'm used to seeing bigger and bigger speaker models from this manufacturer so it's commendable that they opted for one model that will be easy to install in smaller rooms. It is a dual system speaker with 34 mm Beryllium dome tweeter and 7-inch bass / midrange with carbon fiber diaphragm. The interesting thing about this speaker is that it can be with a bass hole on the back or front, thanks to the removable inserts for the bass reflex hole (removable port plugs) which further simplifies its positioning in the room. Also, next to the speaker terminals, there is a three-position switch that enables the user to optimize the high-frequency response at the listening position. EOS2 should go on sale at the end of August at a price of around €20,000.

Dali Kore is the new flagship speaker (€80,000) and represents the culmination of their previous research in sound reproduction. The maker himself states that "The Dali Kore is simply the most outstanding audiophile loudspeaker we've ever created". Every speaker unit built into this speaker is designed from the ground up. The two bass (11.5-inch) and midrange (7-inch) units use a new, second-generation of their SMC (Soft Magnetic Compound) technology that is now balanced as they use two coils to reduce potential losses and sound distortion. The mid-range unit (7-inch) has been given a redesigned wood fiber membrane which is practically their trademark. For the tweeter, they used the Evo-K hybrid model we can see in their Epicon series, only here it is an improved version with a new 35mm dome (dome tweeter) and a redesigned ribbon (10 x 55mm). The rather heavy speaker (140 kg) goes on sale this fall.

German manufacturer Einstein Audio presented an audio system composed of its products, thus achieving maximum success because, in my opinion, it provided, in addition to Aries Cerat, the best sound at this year's HIGH END show in Munich. The room was dominated by new Megalith speakers (€150,000), completed just a week before the show, as one of the company's founders, Volker Bohlmeier told us. Their second new product is the Aerolith turntable (€70,000 to 80,000, depending on the configuration).

The turntable uses air suspension, and played with a cartridge made in collaboration with Ortofon. Excellent bass control and definition, multilayered presentation of space and exceptional transparency are the first characteristics that can be noticed while listening to the Einstein Audio system.

Clearaudio Statement V2 Edition 2022 is a very special turntable, and a product whose final ownership will be difficult to decide because the company intends to produce only one copy. The Statement V2 turntable comes in white piano lacquer and silver metallic finish, made of aluminum, steel, wood, and acrylic with all the best parts and technologies that the Suchy family has created so far. It is characterized by contactless drive unit, magnetic drive coupling, diamond coated bearing shaft, and Clearaudio magnet bearing technology. It features solid main platter made out of acrylic or POM, real-time speed control via adjustable display, built-in TT1 tangential tonearm (with the possibility of installing up to 4 tonearms), and Goldfinger Statement V2 MC cartridge. The whole set costs €216,552.50, but if the customer wants a Statement Clamp, it is necessary to pay an additional €1,000.

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