High End Society Frankfurt 2000 Audiophile Show

 

Saturday

 

Sharp's new 1-bit integrated amplifier system. Quite an interesting piece which uses all digital technology for amplification.

 

Elac Dolce Vita (3,498 DM) employs their unidirectional 4Pi-Tweeter to give a full 360 degree dispersion of the upper frequencies. Midrange is supplied by a 37mm driver while bass is supplied from a long-throw 3cm driver. Sensitivity is 88 dB/W/m and it is a 4 Ohm nominal impedance.

 

Martion Audiosysteme doing the horn thing. Funky and fun looking!

 

Using large, over 12" high and two inch wide output tubes that would make even the most gifted man blush is the Kron Audio Double Kronzilla amplifier ($23,200 USD). Hmmm, maybe this proves that size IS everything.

 

The real-deal Avantgarde Acoustic Duo in a one-off yellow color. This is part of their new series of units that has been receiving rave reviews all around the world.

 

Seen rarely is the Dynavector 507 tonearm (1,000 DM). One of the more interesting analog toys at the Frankfurt show.

 

Clearaudio's new record cleaner cleans both sides of the vinyl at once. The record is lowered into position and spins using a high torque motor while the two black felt equipped tubes apply cleaning fluid, scrub the vinyl and then suction removed the dirt and debris from your record.

 

The new Magnaplanar MG 3.6 loudspeakers (as reviewed by me in Ultimate Audio Magazine) were being driven by the Jeff Roland Model 12 monoblock amplifiers. This was one of the better sounding rooms at the show. A diamond in the rough so to speak. Alas, show conditions are harsh and therefore i admire all manufactures for doing their best.

 

The unique Cabasse loudspeakers Adriatas 600 loudspeaker stands at over five feet high and will truly dominate even the larger listening rooms.

 

The CD Jupiter loudspeaker, reminiscent of the now defunct Platinum Audio Air Pulse 3.1 but in miniature form (320,000 DM), is rated at 92 dB/W/m with a frequency response of 40 Hz to 20 kHz (+-3db).

 

The JMlabs room was featuring the Micro Utopia (9,000 DM) and were looking rather nice on the matching stands. It uses the JMlabs TGU 1" tweeter and a 6.5" 'W' cone woofer.

 

Dynavox had some very intriguing loudspeakers. To the left is their Opal (7,990 DM) which is rated at a healthy 92 db/w/m sensitivity. In the middle is the Dynavox 3.2 (19,800 DM) and rated at 96 dB/W/m while to the far right is the Saphir (12,990 DM) with it's 93 dB/W/m sensitivity.

 

Click here for Sunday's coverage.