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It feels like a good time to listen and reflect. I'm streaming the wonderful Jamie XX remixes. You can also visit XL Recordings and gilscottheron.net.
Audioarts’ Gideon Schwartz introduced me to a new loudspeaker from Switzerland’s Stenheim, a company founded by four young designers who had previously worked together at the high-profile Goldmund firm.
Here, the Alumine monitor ($12,795/pair) is mated to an optional subwoofer module ($26,700/pair). Should one opt against the sub, matching aluminum stands add $2975/pair. The speakers were partnered with CH source components and Viola Audio Labs amplification.
These speakers, perhaps more than any others I heard at the show, managed to “disappear,” leaving nothing but music in…
At first, I didn’t know what was going on. I only noticed a very large crowd of people, all seemingly fascinated by what was standing before them.
I walked into the room, found a place along the back wall, and then saw what all the fuss was about: Massive creatures from Japan’s GIP driven by wild and wonderful Silbatone amplification. I think dCS source components and an Artemis Labs turntable by Frank Schroder were also part of the zaniness.
I spoke a bit with Silbatone’s JC Morrison.
I didn’t really understand anything he said.
But everything he said…
The KEF Blade got lots of attention.
"Closer, closer...That's it...Yes...Now look into my tangerine waveguide..."
"Come here often?"
The KEF Muon reflects the exquisite beauty of woman.
JA would have lost his mind.
KEF’s Julia Davidson gave an excellent presentation, discussing the company’s efforts in bringing the Blade concept to life.
We listened to Radiohead’s “All I Need” from the great In Rainbows, and the song seemed to have more swagger than I’m used to, more grip, more pull, a way of reaching out and reeling in.
“That sounds good,” smiled Julia.
“You’re one of the designers?” I asked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “I worked on the cabinet materials. The concept version used carbon fiber, but we revised it to this glass-reinforced polymer…
“Hey, look—Jeff Joseph’s speakers arrived!” Rosemarie exclaimed.
“Oh, cool. Let’s take a picture,” I said. “Go over there and look pretty.”
“What?”
“I said, ‘You look so pretty.’ Geez. Come on, stand next to the speakers. Please?”
“Alright.”
“I said, ‘Stand next to them.’ I didn’t say, ‘Lean all over them like they’re yours.’”
MBL’s 101 Xtreme loudspeaker system ($260,000) combines mirror-imaged pairs of the company’s 101 loudspeaker with outboard active subwoofers. A pair of MBL 9011s drove the lower omnis, while a pair of 9008s handled the upper omnis.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” sounded appropriately thrilling, and it was cool to hear how well the system managed to depict Christina Aguilera as a petite woman with an enormous voice.
Drama, scale, impact, resolution, speed, speed, speed, three-dimensional images on a massive soundstage. This system produced music with a sort of muscular physicality…
Those who’ve attended a Wilson Audio Specialties demo know that the company’s Peter McGrath puts on a good show—when it comes to introducing a loudspeaker and winning over an audience, he’s perhaps the best in the business.
So, I wasn’t actually surprised that Rosemarie took a fancy to the man. I was surprised, though, by how deeply she enjoyed the demonstration.
We listened to several of McGrath’s recent high-resolution recordings, including one made only days before the show, at the University of Miami’s Gusman Concert Hall, with young and enchanting soprano Lei Xu,…
A goodbye note from JB Stanton Communications' Bryan Stanton, one of the many friendly faces I somehow managed to miss while in Munich.
And just as suddenly as we arrived in Munich—just as we were beginning to feel comfortable and alive—it was, unfortunately, time to leave Munich. Rosemarie and I loved the city, the people, the food, and the hi-fi.
The M.O.C. proved to be an outstanding venue for presenting hi-fi in the best possible light, creating an atmosphere that invited attendees to linger, relax, enjoy. Though the weekend’s weather was absolutely glorious,…