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High End 2019: Electronics, Part 5

Details: Written by: Jeff Fritz; Category: High End 2019; Created: 12 May 2019

These days, many audiophiles prefer to hide away their electronics where no one can see them. Either that, or they want those huge enclosures out front and center as talking points when someone enters the room. A company from the Netherlands presented another option . . .

High End 2019: Turntables and Analog-Related Gear

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: High End 2019; Created: 12 May 2019

When Jason Thorpe can’t make it to a hi-fi show, we sorely miss him -- he just won’t stop until he uncovers every last new turntable and phono-related product at every show he attends. Jason, unfortunately, wasn’t at High End, so it was up to me to look for new and interesting products for analog playback. Here’s what I found, with all prices in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Electronics, Part 4

Details: Written by: Roger Kanno; Category: High End 2019; Created: 12 May 2019

This year’s High End show had plenty of introductions of reasonably priced electronic components, even though I would say that many of them were network-streaming products. And even those that were not, like integrated amplifiers, preamplifiers, and DACs, often had streaming capabilities built into them. So, while my colleague Gordon Brockhouse, of SoundStage! Simplifi, concentrated his efforts on streaming-type products, I found a few more intriguing electronic component introductions from High End 2019 that were not mostly streaming-based. All prices are in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Speakers, Part 4

Details: Written by: Roger Kanno; Category: High End 2019; Created: 11 May 2019

At High End 2019, it seems you can’t walk more than a few meters before you trip over a new loudspeaker. Although there were innumerable new models to see this year, there were a few that really caught my eyes . . . and ears. All prices are in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Listening to “Kind of Blue” (and “Sketches of Spain”), Yet Again

Details: Written by: Roger Kanno; Category: High End 2019; Created: 11 May 2019

When I first heard that two of Miles Davis’s classic albums, Kind of Blue and Sketches of Spain, were being remixed in Dolby Atmos, I feared the worst. As I headed into the packed demonstration room to listen to the remixes of these great albums, I had thoughts of Davis, Coltrane, Adderley, and others bouncing around above my head.

High End 2019: Speakers, Part 3

Details: Written by: Jeff Fritz; Category: High End 2019; Created: 11 May 2019

Speakers, speakers everywhere! We experienced the wildest, most-ambitious design at the show, and a high-end stalwart introduced more affordable models. And, oh, a Danish brand demonstrated its best loudspeaker yet . . .

High End 2019: Headphones and Portable Electronics, Part 2

Details: Written by: Gordon Brockhouse; Category: High End 2019; Created: 11 May 2019

About a week before I got on a plane to Munich, Doug Schneider asked me if I’d like to cover headphones and related products at the show. Absolutely -- a big chunk of my listening is done through ’phones, so I’m really interested in the category.

High End 2019: Speakers, Part 2

Details: Written by: Jeff Fritz; Category: High End 2019; Created: 10 May 2019

Big, impressive speakers are always a highlight at High End, and the 2019 event was certainly no exception. Speakers I saw came in lots of configurations, sizes, and at every price point imaginable. Multi-way dynamic speakers seemed more common than any other type, though an array of horn-type models were also plentiful. Let’s start with the former . . .

High End 2019: Electronics, Part 3

Details: Written by: Roger Kanno; Category: High End 2019; Created: 10 May 2019

Even though the audio show held in Munich each spring is called “High End,” it still offers frugal audiophiles like me plenty to see and hear. High End 2019 didn’t feature a lot of gear at mass-market prices, but it did include many excellent new products that provide high value for their cost. Here are a few of the electronic components that caught my eye for providing interesting features at relatively reasonable prices. All prices are in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Electronics, Part 2

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: High End 2019; Created: 10 May 2019

In the online hi-fi world, I noticed a new and welcome trend. Instead of companies waiting until High End actually starts to announce new products that would be shown there, as most did in previous years, many companies announced them days or even weeks in advance to start getting word out. They either e-mailed the information out to group lists or posted it on social media (usually Facebook) as a story or a link to their website. Since I’m online almost all the time, these early releases helped me get my initial coverage up more quickly. Here’s the first batch of hi-fi electronics, with all prices in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Streaming and Lifestyle Audio, Part 1

Details: Written by: Gordon Brockhouse; Category: High End 2019; Created: 10 May 2019

Munich’s High End is mostly about serious high-end audio, but this year’s edition also had a lot of fodder for my primary beat, “convenient, lifestyle-oriented hi-fi,” to quote the blurb for SoundStage! Simplifi on our network portal. On the first day, I came across more Simplifi’d audio products than I can cover in a single report, and there are many halls that I haven’t yet visited, so check back for further updates. All prices are in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Speakers, Part 1

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: High End 2019; Created: 10 May 2019

Munich’s High End still reigns supreme as the world’s largest and most important hi-fi show, which is why we love it. One problem its size poses, however, is that it’s next to impossible for our team to cover every product presented during the show’s four-day run. I doubt we’ll achieve 100% coverage of the show this year, either -- but that doesn’t mean we can’t do better than in the past.

High End 2019: Headphones and Portable Electronics, Part 1

Details: Written by: Gordon Brockhouse; Category: High End 2019; Created: 09 May 2019

I’m the Munich newbie in the SoundStage! crew. High End has been on my bucket list for over a decade, and it’s all I hoped it would be and more. In addition to my regular beat for SoundStage! -- Simplifi’d hi-fi -- I have another gig for Munich: headphones and portable electronics. It’s a big assignment, because there are scads of new products -- more than I can cover in my first report (so check back tomorrow). All prices here are in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

High End 2019: Electronics, Part 1

Details: Written by: Jeff Fritz; Category: High End 2019; Created: 09 May 2019

Expensive electronics abound in Munich at High End, and the first batch I came across was of the massive, solid-state variety. As well, most of it came housed in the machined-aluminum-encased enclosures that audiophiles know and love. All prices are in euros (€) or US dollars ($).

Listening to the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo Wireless Speakers at Hi-Fi Centre's Vancouver Audio Festival 2019

Details: Written by: Roger Kanno; Category: Roger Kanno; Created: 28 April 2019

Last week, Bowers & Wilkins announced its new Formation line of wireless products, which I first read about on our SoundStage! Australia website. It really piqued my interest.

Pop-Up Audio Demo at Gingko Audio

Details: Written by: Howard Kneller; Category: Howard Kneller; Created: 03 April 2019

There wasn’t much advance notice, but it wouldn’t be a pop-up if there were. Recently, New Jersey-based Gingko Audio extended a last-minute invitation to a few audiophiles and fellow manufacturers to attend a pop-up audio demo on March 23. Word of the event was also spread to the New York and New Jersey audio societies.

Montréal Audio Fest 2019: Electronics, Part 2

Details: Written by: Gordon Brockhouse; Category: Montreal Audio Fest 2019; Created: 24 March 2019

Is the 2019 edition of Montréal Audio Fest the busiest audio show in Montreal ever? I can’t say, because I’ve attended the show for only a few years. But I had lunch with an industry veteran who said this is the busiest he’s seen the show (Montréal Audio Fest and its predecessor, Salon Son et Image) in a decade.

Montréal Audio Fest 2019: Speakers, Part 2

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Montreal Audio Fest 2019; Created: 24 March 2019

Finding speakers to cover at Montréal Audio Fest 2019 wasn’t hard -- they were in abundance, varying greatly in shape, size, price, and, most impressively, country of origin. In fact, it’s been years since I saw so many speakers from so many places at this show. Below is the second batch of speakers that caught my eye, with prices in Canadian dollars unless specified otherwise. You can read my first installment about new speakers at Montreal here.

Montréal Audio Fest 2019: Cables and Accessories

Details: Written by: Jason Thorpe; Category: Montreal Audio Fest 2019; Created: 23 March 2019

There’s a huge infrastructure that supports the speakers, amps, and sources at audio shows. However, the cables and accessories often don’t share in the glamor that speakers, electronics, and turntables enjoy. And that’s a shame, really, because systems just can’t work without cables, and the accessories add some spice to an ecosystem that would otherwise be at least somewhat sterile. Below are the new cables and accessories I found in Montreal, with all prices in Canadian dollars unless specified otherwise.

Montréal Audio Fest 2019: Speakers, Part 1

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Montreal Audio Fest 2019; Created: 23 March 2019

Loudspeakers are the easiest for me to cover for three reasons: they’re typically the most obvious things when you enter a room, I keep abreast of the market and usually know right off the bat what’s new and what’s not, and I’m really into speaker design and always keen to learn what might be new. As a result, the moment I got to the Hotel Bonaventure, the home of Montréal Audio Fest 2019, I started looking at loudspeakers and little else. Below are the first speakers I found, with all prices in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

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