High End Munich: Audio Reference "Most Exclusive System Ever" with Wilson and D'Agostino

CH Precision and Audiovector with TechDAS at High End Munich 2025

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AXPONA 2024

Gryphon Audio Designs’s New PowerZone

Jason Victor Serinus May 01, 2024

Just as they did last year, Gryphon devoted the large Schaumburg E space to static displays, including the debut of the Gryphon PowerZone PZ3.10 power purifier ($14,000) which has eight Furutech AC sockets and 20A current capacity and is said to utilize Quantum Resonance Technology.

AXPONA 2024

Stenheim, VTL, dCS, Nordost, VPI, and Lyra Wow Once Again

Jason Victor Serinus May 01, 2024

Last year in the large Schaumburg F air-walled room in the Convention Center, Stenheim, VTL, and Nordost put together one of the finest sounding rooms I’ve heard at any show. This year, the sound was again among the best I encountered in the over 40 rooms I auditioned.

AXPONA 2024

Fidelity Imports: Opera, Soulnote, QED, Titan Audio

Ken Micallef May 01, 2024

Steve Jain and his Fidelity Imports crew presented six rooms at AXPONA, stuffed with debut products from across the world.

Phono Accessory Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews Spin Doctor Turntable Reviews

Spin Doctor #12: EMM Labs DS-EQ1, The Wand 14-4 Turntable, M•A Inner Sleeves

Michael Trei Apr 30, 2024

"I think both moving coil and moving magnet cartridges are terrible." That's what legendary Canadian audio designer Ed Meitner told me when I asked about the pioneering transimpedance current drive phono stage he created for his Meitner PA6 preamp some 40 years ago.

Meitner has been designing innovative hi-fi gear for the pro and consumer audio markets for more than 50 years, but for most of the last 30, he has been best known for his work with high-resolution digital audio and DSD recording. Despite this focus on digitaland despite that comment about the two leading phono cartridge technologiesdeep in his heart, Ed still loves analog and has fond memories of the Kenwood optical cartridges from the 1970s, which I discussed in last month's Spin Doctor column. So when Ed read that a company in Japan called DS Audio was bringing back an improved version of the optical cartridge using modern materials, he contacted designer Tetsuaki Aoyagi to learn more.

AXPONA 2024

Zesto, Tidal from The Voice That is, Dr. Feickert, Tri-Planar, Ortofon, Cardas, and Stillpoints

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 30, 2024

Oh, how I love the look of Zesto Audio equipment. Here it found its ideal visual complement in Tidal Piano speakers ($57,000/pair) from Philly-area dealer The Voice That Is and a catchily titled (not) Stillpoints ESS42-26-4 rack with acrylic shelves ($13,788).

AXPONA 2024

Treehaus Audiolab

Ken Micallef Apr 30, 2024

Rich Pinto of Treehaus Audiolab, which is based in Southport, Connecticut, has been dedicated to developing SET amplifiers and high-efficiency speakers since 2017. Here at AXPONA, he introduces the A/Machines 300B monoblock amplifiers ($39,000/pair), which showcase his commitment to classic design, in the sound and the aesthetics.

AXPONA 2024

Luxman and Magico

Rogier van Bakel Apr 30, 2024

To say that I had good memories of the Luxman-Magico room at an earlier AXPONA would be an understatement.

AXPONA 2024

Vimberg, Kalista, Karan, Entrec, and Fono Acoustica

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 30, 2024

It was a mixed show for Wynn Wong, mastermind of Canadian-based Wynn Audio importers. Soundwise he did very well, with Ayama Witter-Johnson’s take on Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington’s “The Nearness of You” so satisfying on every level, from solidity of bass to clarity of voice.

AXPONA 2024

T+A

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 30, 2024

Brian Damkroger’s recent review of the T+A Solitaire S 530 was laudatory. I was eager to hear it.

AXPONA 2024

Børresen / Audio Group Denmark from Next Level HiFi

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 30, 2024

It was hard to tell where distributor / dealer Next Level HiFi ended and Audio Group Denmark began. Or, vice-versa), it was equally hard to tell if more action was taking place in the room during the demo or in the hallway. Suffice to say, there was a lot of energy flowing, and all that talking made listening a challenge.