“It’s a very stable connection,” Ertzeid said. “Even with all the competing networks here, the music hasn’t skipped at all.”
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Hegel’s Anders Ertzeid stands proud with an Apple iPad and Hegel’s HD20 DAC ($2000). Ertzeid was using the iPad and AirPlay to wirelessly stream full-resolution files into the HD20.
Here, the lovely Rosemarie tempts Hegel’s mascot.
The polar bear, Isbjornar, keeps watch over Hegel’s prized “Soundengine,” the company’s reason for existence, a technology meant to optimize power consumption, reduce distortion, and increase damping factor.
But Isbjornar seems smitten. I think Rosemarie has won his heart.
Many enticing colors: A lovely line-up of high-quality, affordable Pro-Ject turntables.
An entire family of Chord Chordettes: The Toucan headphone amplifier; Dual moving-coil phono stage; Prime 4-input preamplifier; Peach D/A processor, descendant of the Gem; Scamp 40Wpc power amplifier; Mogul micro PC with six USB inputs, 320GB storage, and HD audio support; and Maxx integrated amplifier.
The Chordettes are meant to make up one powerful, versatile, colorful system.
Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl.
There was a lot of it at the Munich High End Show, and the vinyl booths were always well-attended. Here, we see the Da Capo stand, where I spotted a great selection of indie rock titles.
I managed to control myself, unfortunately.
Acoustic Signature turntables are solid, non-suspended designs with heavy platters and electronically controlled drive motors. Their maintenance-free bearings are meant to last a lifetime, while their exchangeable tonearm plates allow for easy swapping of tonearms.
All but the most affordable Barzetti, or "Black Beauty" (1800), which has an integrated electronic motor and sports a 10-layer piano finish, are made in Germany. The Barzetti is made in Poland.
An Acoustic Signature Ascona with SME Series 5 tonearm and low-out moving-coil Ortofon Rohmann cartridge made beautiful music leading a system comprising VTL MB-450 Series III monoblock power amplifiers, TL-7.5 Series III preamplifier, and TP-6.5 phono preamplifier. Speakers were the distinctive and dynamic Vivid G2 Giya.
To start off our listening, I picked one of my sister’s favorite albums, Adele’s 21. I noted a great sense of forward momentum and stunning dynamic range, all of Adele’s strong soulfulness communicated fully. I turned to Rosemarie, and I searched for some sign of…
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…