Munich 2025

IBEX, TechDAS, The Wand, Engström, and a Kroma Coma (in a Good Way)

Ken Micallef  |  Jun 8, 2025

This room featured multiple world premieres, including the TechDAS AF 4 turntable ($31,500, all prices approximate when converted from Euros), The Wand Dark-Light tonearm ($8200), and the Mutech RM Hayate MC cartridge (Corrected: $9000 after tariffs).

Also in the system: an Engström M-Phono phono stage ($32,500), plus, on the digital side, an APL Hi-Fi DSD-WR DAC and an NSP-GR streamer ($21,500 each), along with an ANS-MR network switch ($2500). An Engström Arne 300B integrated amplifier ($40,900) drove Kroma Atelier Macbeth standmount speakers ($29,000/pair). Ikigai Audio cables, an Artesanía Audio Exoteryc Pro 3+3 rack, and Subbase PhiTon_resonaTor feet completed the setup (prices vary).

Some systems seem finely tuned yet oddly restrained, as if optimized on paper but hesitant in practice. Not this one, which flung open the throttle and made every track feel urgent.

COMMENTS
Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on June 11, 2025 - 10:49am

very wild system

h

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on June 11, 2025 - 10:00pm

To me, that's asking a lot ($29,000/pair), and asking a lot for that tiny AMT tweeter (even with slight horn loading) to reach right down to an 8" bass unit they claim they get down to a "ported 25hz", or visa versa the 8" bass unit to get up to where the AMT is still comfortable.
Unless!!! they use some very high order LP and HP passive xovers which will make them difficult to drive. I checked and nowhere do they have the xover point mentioned or are these measured, even by 3rd party reviewer/measurements.

Cheers George

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