Munich Germany -- High End Society 2006 Show

Part 2

---

  High-end audio shows today can make for interesting bedfellows as Denon has their DL103R in a Plexiglas showcase directly next to an Apple iPod docking station. Meanwhile, a live ensemble featuring violin was playing "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end". Right now life feels so surreal...

 

One of the many large halls here at M.O.C.

 

Attendees here warmly received Audio Physic's critically acclaimed Scorpio in Munich. See our review by clicking here.

 

A wide variety of Crystal Cables including phono, loudspeaker, and interconnect. They make great use of silver, which provides a higher signal transfer rate than copper.

 

JBL's European Premier of their Itendi model 1000 and smaller 800 (€7,500 and €5,500 respectively) share the same compression tweeter and supertweeter with Titanium membrane while the woofer is a 10 or 8-inch paper cone driver respectively. The unusual horn arrangement allows it to be relatively freestanding, but i wonder about the differences in dispersion of the horn layout and the sound....

 

Gryphon's World Premier of their Mirage preamplifier (no pricing, though it will be the company's top line product) highlights ease of use with a separate control panel that can be placed by the listener. The control panel wirelessly manages the main unit that has multiple inputs, two sets of outputs, and an AMX/Crestron compliant RS232 port. Naturally the power supply is separate from the delicate analog stage.

 

Cabasse's World Premier is their quite large floorstanding La Sphere loudspeaker (€120,000) 4-way design. A 55cm woofer, 21cm Duocell midbass, 12.5cm P2C ring midrange, and 2.5cm tweeter are all mounted such that the sounds waves generates are point-source for accuracy and imagining... to name 2 of the many advantages. Frequency response is from 20Hz to 22kHz (+-3dB) and amplification is included with the price.

 

Avantgarde Acoustic World Premier is the company's Nano (€11,000), which is part of the company's new Uno Series. The Nano allows for a smaller physical size than the older Uno, yet keep the older designs sound. The Duo Series has greatly expanded to 5 separate products depending on driver configuration and layout and the same can be said of the newly expanded Trio Series. Also new is an enhanced woofer selection for the Duo and Trio with a pair of 12-inch drivers each being powered by a 250-watt amplifier verses a pair of 10-inch drivers and single 250-watt amplification.

 

Bolzano Villetri's World Premier is their 3002 small, perhaps 3 feet high floorstanding loudspeaker with single upward firing 6.5-inch midrange/woofer and down firing 1-inch silk soft-dome tweeter. Frequency response is from 48Hz to 20kHz with 87dB/W/m sensitivity.

 

And saving the very best for last, you know when there are two photos of a product that means Steven is very intrigued. Rank has this unique preamplifier with all three inputs having adjustable input gain on the rear. Many audiophiles know that various source products produce differing output levels, so this adjustment can provide a more even volume when switching from one source to another. Tube compliment is Russian 6N1P, four 12AY7, two SG2P, a 6Z5S, 6S19P, and 6J9p. Phonostage is MC (symmetrical or asymmetrical) and MM plus there is a tape loop. MC impedance is 2.5, 10, and 40 to 100 Ohms while MM is the usual 47 kOhms. Internally, the unit is a double mono design and parts include those from Allen Bradley, TRW (army), Black Gate, and Jensen to name a few. Ok, i'll top there and simply say see their website at rank-concept.de . Oh yeah, they make tube amps and Lowther-type speakers too.

 

Click here for Munich 2006 photofest!