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 High-Performance
Audio Gear Reviews,
Music News, Show Reports, Articles & More!
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Lovers.
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HIGH END 2024 At Munich's
M.O.C. Show Report (Updated 05/17)
From May
9th to 12th, 2024, the 41st HIGH END trade show in Munich will once again shine
a spotlight on luxurious premium music reproduction systems, inspiring listening enjoyment and exquisite audio technology.
HIGH END continues to be one of the most important marketplaces and trading rendezvous for the audio industry, with many international trade visitors from around the world.
Music lovers from over 90 countries visit Munich to discover high-performance audio industry trends, exchange views, learn the latest news, plus network and do business. For industry experts, audiophile enthusiasts, and music enthusiasts, the HIGH END four-day event in Munich will once again be a spectacular
event. It is the perfect place to establish business relationships, expand networks,
exchange ideas and experiences with other industry experts.
---> HIGH END 2024 AT Munich's M.O.C. Show
Report.
AXPONA 2024 Show Report
Now Complete
Audio Expo North
America (AXPONA) 2024 three-day experience featured a multitude of floors,
with a total of approximately 200 listening rooms. Special showcases include the
Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and a variety of seminars. Whether you're a
very serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you found everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite
sounds. The Ear Gear Experience is the place to go to find everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, as well as cables DACs and players. You can also shop audio accessories, turntables, cables and more in the Expo Hall. Plus find new and vintage vinyl in AXPONA's own Record Fair.
---> AXPONA 2024 High-End Audio Show
Report.
Karan Acoustics KAS 600 Stereo
Amp And
KAL Reference MK3 Preamp Review
Enjoying all genres of music at the highest level of fidelity.
Review By Gregory Petan
It seems like a lifetime ago I
reviewed the Karan Acoustics KAS 450 stereo amplifier. My conclusion was
"This is an amplifier I could live with for the long haul,"
and was planning on adding it to my system. If not for a train wreck of
an experience with a speaker manufacturer who took a $20,000 down
payment for new speakers after I sold my reference, I would have happily
added the KAS 450 to the system. Failing to fulfill his promise to
deliver my new speaker in eight weeks, I had to sell one of my
amplifiers in order to fill in the speaker gap left for the next 10
months. When the new speakers finally arrived, the varnish crackled not
just once, not twice, but three times, each taking a month in between to
fix.
--->
Karan Acoustics KAS 600 Amp & KAL Reference MK3 Preamp Review.
Rogue Audio RP-9 Vacuum Tube Stereo
Preamplifier Review
Exceeding the listener's expectations.
Review By Bob Grossman
Rogue
Audio's RP-9 is the latest flagship preamplifier from the ingenious
designs of the American manufacturing workshop of Mark O'Brien. Having an
interest in doing this review of the new RP-9 was a simple decision as a
long-time user of the Rogue RP-7. I have been using the remarkable
powerhouse Rogue Apollo Dark Amps for several years as both a sonic and output
upgrade to my previously owned Rogue 180 Amplifiers that were used to run Magnepan 3.6
speakers. I replaced the Maggie 3.6 speakers with their 20.7
models several years ago and needed more powerful amps. I wondered if the
increased musical experience of moving further up in the Rogue Amplifier line
was going to be repeated with their new preamplifier by going from the RP-7 to
the RP-9 model. However, before proceeding and hearing the RP-9, I
wondered what was going on since the RP-7 has received numerous accolades, recognition, and
rewards. Could designer Mark O'Brien improve upon the noteworthy RP-7 that I
have been enjoying?
--->
Rogue Audio RP-9 Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier Review.
HIGH END 2024 At MOC Reaches New Heights
The High End Society's HIGH END 2024 high-end audiophile show in Munich reaches new heights with a total of 22,198 visitors during the four day event. While the visitor statistics were a touch above last years, with 11,237 trade visitors and was higher than public attendance numbers of 10,373 for the first time. Music enthusiasts
traveled from 108 nations to HIGH END 2024. There were 588 media representatives who
traveled to Munich to discover the latest in high-performance audio gear and immersive music. According to the show promoter, "The HIGH END 2024 saw overwhelming visitor traffic on the first public day, where visitor crowds were so large at times that sections of the atriums had to be temporarily cordoned off to prevent the aisles and rooms from being
overfilled." Space within the MOC covers more than 30,000 square meters in the four halls and three atriums, and HIGH END 2024 visitors experienced fantastic demonstrations of exclusive hi-tech audio and hi-fi
products.
---> HIGH END 2024 At MOC Reaches New Heights.
audioXpress' June 2024 Issue
Editorial: Different Listening Perspectives
Using Multiphysics Simulation For Electrovibroacoustic Analysis
Dimensional Reduction For Vibroacoustical Simulations
Measuring MEMS Microspeakers
A Low-Feedback Triode Amp With Zero Output Impedance
Classic Hollow-State Hi-Fi Before 1950
Moving Audio Into An Era of AI And SDV
Integrated Audio Development Frameworks
Crafting Immersive Driving Experiences
Car Audio Tuning And Upgrading
And Much More!
---> audioXpress' June 2024
Issue.
Sphere Entertainment Buys
HOLOPLOT Immersive Technology
Sphere Entertainment Co., live entertainment and media company, has
purchased HOLOPLOT, a pro audio company enabling the next generation of audio experiences and how society engages with sound. HOLOPLOT enables
Hi-Res Audio sound quality for all, with integrated immersive capabilities for increased creative freedom. This acquisition will increase Sphere Entertainment's ability to
innovate with an eye on the future. HOLOPLOT GmbH enables high-quality, fully scaleable (small to large venues) 3D audio technology. Of note is that Sphere Entertainment made its first investment into HOLOPLOT back in 2018, when the two companies partnered to develop Sphere Immersive Sound. This technology revolutionized live music experiences within the Sphere in Las
Vegas. When one thinks about live music immersive audio, it is also about the ability to
scale for the venue size and creating a soundscape that is desired to covey the aural
emotional experience as the artist(s) intended.
---> Sphere Entertainment Buys HOLOPLOT Immersive Technology.
What Kind Of Music Do You Like?
Roger writes why what you like is what you ought to buy.
Article
By Roger Skoff
Many
a long year ago a friend of mine asked me what kind of speakers he ought to buy.
Complimented by his confidence in my judgment and wanting to be helpful, I asked
him some questions to help me figure out what might be best for him. One of the first was "How much do you want to spend?" To which
I got "It doesn't matter; whatever it costs." I should have known better – he
was the local Maserati dealer, quite well off, and really could afford just
about anything I might suggest. Next, I tried "What kind of music do you listen to? " and was
told "Everything; I like it all, as long as it's good." Other questions about all the usual hi-fi criteria –
imaging, soundstaging, timbre, transient attack and decay, harmonic richness,
the whole thing – got equally vague answers until I finally asked him "Is
there anything at all that you particularly like or want in the music you listen
to?", That's when I hit the "jackpot": "Loud." He said, "I like it really
loud!"
---> What Kind Of Music Do You
Like?
Fear Of Frying
Or how I learned to stop worrying and love my home audio system.
Article By Joyce
Despite the fact that I've been married for
years to an audio geek extraordinaire; despite the fact that back in college I owned
the mini-component audio system that was the envy of the entire fourth floor of my
dorm; despite the fact that I have artfully wielded a soldering iron (okay, so his arm
turn in a cast, and mine was twisted behind my back, no matter), I still find that nobody
takes me seriously as an accomplished, dues paid-in-full, audio aficionado.
I really resent this. All I have to do is walk into a room full of "audiophiles" and the
conversation goes something like this, "Yeah, this 655 output to primary voltage
resistance is very musical. Oh, hi Joyce, bake anything interesting lately? Great.
Like
I was saying, try an unfilamented 90LX cap to ground next time and blah, blah...." Okay,
so maybe electronics manuals aren't my favorite bedtime reading and maybe I
was diagnosed with math anxiety at the tender
age of eight. None of this means I don't like music, beautiful, tuneful
MUSIC.
---> Fear Of
Frying.
Linkwitz LX521 Loudspeaker Review
I hope you have the opportunity to hear them.
Review By Rick Becker
It
is no accident the Linkwitz LX521 speaker eventually landed in my listening
room. It would have happened much sooner if I had not been so busy. The three Best
Rooms awards you may have seen in their ads have resulted from my very favorable
impressions at AXPONA (2022 and
2023) plus Capital
Audiofest. I've been a big fan of open baffle
speakers since my world premiere reviews of Tekton Designs' OB 4.5,
PureAudioProject's Trio 15 TB, and Treehaus Audiolab's Phantom of Luxury
speaker. Other major proponents of open baffle design include Nola and the
now-named Clayton Shaw Acoustic Lab. And more recently, Songer Audio on the West
Coast, plus a few I've likely missed. I don't normally read other writers' reviews of products I
review. For that matter, I pretty much focus on doing world premiere coverage,
but I wanted to get a first-hand listen to the Linkwitz in my own room.
--->
Linkwitz LX521 Loudspeaker Review.
Nagra Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, And VFS
Review
Bringing tears of joy when listening to special songs.
Review By
Tom Lyle
In January 2021, I was fortunate to review Nagra's
Tube DAC and Classic PSU power supply. In my review, I said that the
owners of this vacuum tube Hi-Res Audio DAC will be able to appreciate the "sonic glory"
of this "high-performance component." So, I was not surprised that the
Nagra Tube DAC and its PSU power supply were awarded Enjoy The Music.com's Best
Of 2021 Award. After I finished the review, I was not psyched to
return the $40,900 package consisting of the Nagra Tube DAC, Classic PSU power
supply, and VFS Classic base to the distributor. I was captivated by the sound
quality this digital front end contributed to my system. My reference DAC, an EMM
Labs DA2, is no slouch, but this Nagra Tube DAC package costs twice as much.
It was not twice as good as the EMM Labs converter; it doesn't work that way, but
the improvement in sound quality was significant. I jumped at the chance when I
was offered the subject of this review, the relatively new Nagra Classic DAC II
/ PSU / VFS combo.
--->
Nagra Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, And VFS Review.
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