Incredible Sound Systems At HIGH END 2024 In Munich
Another fantastic high-end audio show at the MOC HIGH END 2024.
Show Report By Jason Kennedy

  Since many of you are very familiar with details concerning the HIGH END show in Munich, let's jump right into it, shall we? Vertere took a room in the Motorworld across the road from the main show to reveal a high-end phono preamplifier dubbed CALON. This takes a multi-layer approach by adding gain to the signal before and after RIAA EQ, with both gain stages being adjustable. The idea is that a stronger signal will be less prone to picking up noise during the filtering.

Vertere has also added a subsonic filter because company founder Touraj Moghaddam considers such things to be useful in making the lives of both amplifiers and loudspeakers easier, not having to amplify signals below 20Hz is good for amps and not having pumping cones is good for speakers. The price has been set at $19,995.

Vertere was also showcasing a new tonearm, the Super Groove II PTA for the first time. This is based on the geometry of his megabucks Reference arm using the silicon nitride bearing and HB internal wiring from the existing Super Groove arm. It is priced at £13,500 and sounded remarkably good on an SG-1 Super Groove turntable. The presence of FM Acoustics amplification and PMC Finestra loudspeakers clearly helped, and this was still one of the best analog sounds of HIGH END 2024 in Munich.

The folks at Siltech and Crystal had plenty to tell, they have created the most ambitious cables yet in the Siltech Master Crown range, these use the purest mono-crystal silver conductors with gold plating on conductors and plugs. These have an EMC-defeating weave and dielectric composed of Teflon, Kapton, and air. Prices start at €36,000 for the interconnect and €20,000 for the power cord.

The company has purchased German cable specialist HMS in order to bring more accessible price points to their portfolio, HMS's thing is shielding because of the company founder's expertise in network technology.

The Crystal Cable brand has created its most ambitious power cord yet. The Infinity is the result of seven years of Research & Development and capable of carrying up to 200 Amperes (should you need it). It's made up of 18 conductors in mono-crystal silver and silver/gold. It's claimed to be completely immune to electromagnetic radiation and is optimized for all types of amplifiers. Limited to 200 pieces worldwide price starts at €18,000 for a meter with every extra half meter being €5,000 extra.

The Linkwitz guys were in the Motorworld among classic cars and making some great sounds with a French Analog Audio TP-1000 reel-to-reel machine and a Kuzma Stabi-R turntable. Their LX521.4 MG active speaker system is driven by 10 channels of Ncore Class D amplification delivering 850 Watts from two Power Boxes. 

"Handmade by perfectionists in Germany" the full-range dipole speakers have twin 10" bass drivers, two midrange cones, and a tweeter in American walnut baffles. The price is $23,900 for the amps and speakers with an upgrade option for a Panzerholz and wood or aluminum baffle.

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