High End Society 2002 Show Frankfurt Germany

Friday

  Vacuum State, operated by none other than Allen Wright who wrote the Cable Cookbook (see review here), had their Realtime Preamplifier (€12,500) is a true dual mono, pure differential/balanced twelve tube design. Tubes are ECC88/6922 while the entire circuitry is 100% hand wired. Proving this is a no-holds barred design; all five inputs have separate absolute phase adjustment. Note the separate right and left controls. Vacuum State also modifies Sony SACD players by adding a module that completely bypasses Sony's analog output audio circuit, thereby eliminating four to seven opamps (depending on model). Several other options available, though all the modifications should total approximately $650.

 

In the Avantgard room was their Space CD player/transport (€9,200). They also offer pre-amplifier amplifier and loudspeakers.

 

Amphion loudspeaker room had their new Helium 2 minimonitor (€860) with it's 25mm titanium tweeter and 5.25" sandwiched polypropylene midrange/bass. Frequency response is 50Hz to 20kHz with a sensitivity of 86dB/W/m at 8 ohms.

 

With such an immense love of vinyl here in Germany, of course VYGER's Indian Signature turntable was well received with the German public. Please feel free to see our very own VYGER review by clicking here.

 

Sonus Faber's Cremona (€7,500) is wrapped in stunning wood, as only the Italians can do, and has an overall frequency response from 32Hz to 40kHz. Sensitivity is 90dB/W/m at a 4-ohm load while the Italians eschew from a normal front grill for interesting black strings.

 

Denon's model DVD-A1 (€4,199) can handle CD/HDCD/CD-R/RW/MP3/DVD-Audio and Video discs. It also has digital in and out via optical TOSlink and S/PDIF. Video is handled by a 14-bit, 108MHz chipset while audio is managed with a 32-bit processor. Looks to be a virtually all format player.

 

In the Halcro room was the Danish Physics Point Zero 3 monitor loudspeaker, a pair of Halcro dm68 monoblock amplifiers, Clearaudio Master Solution turntable with Master TQI tonearm and Insider wood body cartridge.

 

Snell's XA Reference Tower loudspeaker ($30,000).

 

In the Axiss Distribution room (who distribute Odeon, Air Tight, Koestsu, AudioCraft and Western Electric tubes in Germany) was the Acoustic Masterpiece model AM-201 stereo integrated amplifier (€3,500). It uses eight EL-84 tubes, two 12AX7 and one 12AU7 tube to produce 28 watts per channel. Four inputs are provided for while United States consumers take note; the AM-201 is only available in Europe and Asia. Frequency response is rated from 20Hz to 25kHz in ultralinear mode.

 

Horn loudspeakers go wild in the Martin Audiosysteme room.

 

Those of you looking to spy on others with top quality Swiss analog technology would feel at home with the incredibly small Nagra SNST-R stereo recorder (€8,280). With a frequency response of 50Hz to 15kHz, this 146mm x 101mm x 26mm unit operates on two "AA" batteries. Wow and flutter is a staggeringly low 0.05% with tape speed of 3.75 inches per second. Separate inputs for right and left channel are provided for.

 

Are you still a holding out on vinyl? If so, then how about this Music Hall mmf-5 turntable that includes a Goldring 101 moving magnet cartridge for only €695. Just add a phono stage and all the €1 garage sale vinyl you can find.

 

Within the Loth-X room was a familiar sight. Their Silbatone JI300B integrated stereo amplifier with WE300B tubes ($16,000). See our full review of the JI300B by clicking here.

 

Also on display by Loth-X room is their Aura single driver loudspeaker (€2,200). Impressively finishes, the specialized internals within the cabinet allow for a frequency response from 45Hz to 20kHz. Single-ended tube fanatics take note as the Aura is 98dB/W/m sensitive and presents an 8-ohm load to the upstream amplifier.

 

Click here for Saturday's coverage.