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Thread: Munich High End show 2018

  1. #81
    montesquieu Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Hi Tom,



    Now if some crass idiot, with more money than sense, wants to spunk his 'hard-earned' on blingy badge-fi, which looks much better than it sounds, then that's entirely up to him (or her), but surely what you've written above defeats the whole point of what HIGH FIDELITY is supposed to be about, i.e. reproducing the closest thing to the original sound...??

    And therefore, by definition, SOUND QUALITY should *always* matter more than looks??

    Whilst no doubt going to Munich, with a few of the lads, is a veritable jolly jape, and tons of fun [guzzling gallons of beer, 'exploring' skanky fräuleins, whatever], but what you've just written is *precisely* why I've stopped going to hi-fi shows, as most of them are full of the kit you describe, aimed at the sort of materialistic tossers I'd take great steps to avoid in real life!!

    The day that hi-fi shows return to catering for the genuine enthusiast, who cares more about what's under the hood of the equipment he uses, than what it's 'dressed in', is that day when I might go back.

    Marco.
    Well it's not the **only** thing going on there by any means (the show is enormous after all) but I did find it a bit depressing going into room after room and finding the same formula - blinged up massive power amps (generally solid state), giant multi-driver, not very efficient but beautifully finished speakers, fed by some utterly so-so/boring as hell streaming solution (all playing either Europop or plinky plonk jazz). And a massive price tag of course.

    The good thing is that other companies are there from Kondo to Thoress (your pic above) to Thomas Schick so there is some interesting stuff to see too.

    Though the most enjoyable thing at the slow last year for me was a life fortepiano concert/demonstration and I can't even remember the name of the manufacturer that hosted it.

  2. #82
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: gone

    Posts: 11,519
    I'm gone.

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    For me there is a pride of ownership thing about stuff that looks really cool.

    A recent minor purchase of mine was a Topping VX1 DAC/headphone amp.

    I was a bit jaw dropped at the exquisite delicate precision of the front fascia of this fairly cheap piece of gear.

    The photo (the best I could find) doesn't do it justice, but you can start to get the idea from it.



    And, yes, it sounds good, too.
    .

  3. #83
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jandl100 View Post
    For me there is a pride of ownership thing about stuff that looks really cool.

    A recent minor purchase of mine was a Topping VX1 DAC/headphone amp.

    I was a bit jaw dropped at the exquisite delicate precision of the front fascia of this fairly cheap piece of gear.

    The photo (the best I could find) doesn't do it justice, but you can start to get the idea from it.



    And, yes, it sounds good, too.
    That's tasteful and it doesn't shout 'I've got loads of money'. Now if those D'Agustino monoblocks had that same styling, then no problem.

    I've got nothing against aspirational products and no problem with rich people spending money, so this is nothing to do with 'inverse snobbery'. It's more about good taste and restraint.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  4. #84
    Join Date: Jun 2009

    Location: Guildford

    Posts: 228

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    That's tasteful and it doesn't shout 'I've got loads of money'. Now if those D'Agustino monoblocks had that same styling, then no problem.

    I've got nothing against aspirational products and no problem with rich people spending money, so this is nothing to do with 'inverse snobbery'. It's more about good taste and restraint.

    I have one of these topping VX1's, beautifully made, sounds good as well.
    BigMooG (Jonathan Stanley)
    He says: Decca is Better

    Vinyl System: Superficial Engineering hell/p12 turntable (British Leyland suspension upgrade), Jack-a-nori semi mono Cartridge (tooth pick cantilever), STI Klynik XXX tonearm (rewired with Klimacs Kable ), intelligence quotient 161 (mensa) preamplifier with 224 NOS Ssangyong ECC88s and NOS North Korean kim-jong-ill GZ34s, barelyaudible research V.P.L. dual quad mono amplifiers with modified circuit boards (MDF), Gilson W.A.L.L.O.P Ultimate Final V2 loudspeakers, uranium cable loom (mercury vapour upgrade), hysterical research and Dr Mike Amera room treatments-flock wallpaper, yergota bee-joking cryofrozen fuses throughout
    .

    Digital system: cd player

  5. #85
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    That's tasteful and it doesn't shout 'I've got loads of money'. Now if those D'Agustino monoblocks had that same styling, then no problem.

    I've got nothing against aspirational products and no problem with rich people spending money, so this is nothing to do with 'inverse snobbery'. It's more about good taste and restraint.
    +1. Exactamundo!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  6. #86
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Hi Jonathan,

    Long time no see! Hope you're well?

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  7. #87
    Join Date: Mar 2017

    Location: West Sūþsēaxe

    Posts: 2,015
    I'm Edward.

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    Speaking of bling I did a very blingy thing at the show in Munich on Friday. Passing by the Marantz room I spotted none other than Ken Ishiwata (he of KI Signature fame).

    So I grabbed a Marantz pamphlet and a pen and went up to him and introduced myself. And then grabbed his signature (well that is what he is famous for! No?)








    In answer to my question he said he was finding the show 'interesting'. I then did my doumo arigatou and bowing bit and wondered off with my loot.


    So where should I start the bidding for this signature item? £1,000?
    Current: [P20] Roon/Tidal > Custom PC> Chevron Paradox NDF16 > Phast Pre > Neuro. 686 > Tannoy Berkley (RFC tweaks)


  8. #88
    Join Date: Jun 2009

    Location: Guildford

    Posts: 228

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Hi Jonathan,

    Long time no see! Hope you're well?

    Marco.
    hi marco, I'm well thank you and hope to post more here....always enjoy this forum...now I'm off to listen to some musique
    BigMooG (Jonathan Stanley)
    He says: Decca is Better

    Vinyl System: Superficial Engineering hell/p12 turntable (British Leyland suspension upgrade), Jack-a-nori semi mono Cartridge (tooth pick cantilever), STI Klynik XXX tonearm (rewired with Klimacs Kable ), intelligence quotient 161 (mensa) preamplifier with 224 NOS Ssangyong ECC88s and NOS North Korean kim-jong-ill GZ34s, barelyaudible research V.P.L. dual quad mono amplifiers with modified circuit boards (MDF), Gilson W.A.L.L.O.P Ultimate Final V2 loudspeakers, uranium cable loom (mercury vapour upgrade), hysterical research and Dr Mike Amera room treatments-flock wallpaper, yergota bee-joking cryofrozen fuses throughout
    .

    Digital system: cd player

  9. #89
    Join Date: Sep 2010

    Location: West Midlands, UK

    Posts: 646
    I'm Lee.

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    Had a great few days at the show in Munich, some lovely rooms to be heard and some down right crap but that’s HiFi shows for you, for me the Thoress room was excellent, the tonal balance was fantastic

    If you ever get a chance to visit the show then it’s a must, this was my second time and shall be returning next year all being well, it’s such a wonderful experience
    Vinyl rig 1 - NAS Spacedeck / FR64s / Lab 12 Melto / Denon SUT / Ortofon GM SPU. Vinyl rig 2 Mono Set Up - Lenco GL75 c/w Jelco 750D / AT33 Mono / EAR 834P Modded. Amplifiers - Audio Note Empress Silver / Hattor Passive Pre. Digital - Fanless Mini PC / Lampizator TRP / Linear PSU / Hummingboard Network audio adaptor. Speakers - Horns.pl Mummy's. Cables are Audio Note / Albedo / Furutech Speaker wire. Power conditioner is a Gigawatt PC2 EVO

  10. #90
    Join Date: Nov 2008

    Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire/Panteg is where my late father was born

    Posts: 4,382
    I'm Chris.

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    https://youtu.be/sOw6n2OZiQ4

    Michael Fremer interview with Leif Johannson, very interesting.
    Chris

    We've gone on holiday by mistake !

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