High End Munich 2022 Day 3

Another odd anomaly in the coverage is that while I was invited to play records in the Nagra room in a “prime time” Saturday 3:30 afternoon slot and did so for almost an hour and a half, I didn’t cover the new $175,000 Anniversary Reference turntable even though I played it! How did that happen? The room was SRO packed every time I visited and the idea of stopping the music to get a turntable “walk through” just seemed wrong. There was a second turntable out by the entrance but that area was also packed with visitors, so it was nearly impossible to get a “tour” there as well. However, the sound produced in that room using the new turntable, a full array of Nagra electronics including 4 HD amps, 2 driving Wilson Audio Specialties XVX speakers and 2 driving a pair of Wilson Watchdog subwoofers was voted by many as “best in show”.

It sounded great but I’m not qualified to vote since I heard so few rooms, running from one to the next just documenting the new analog offerings. I played an interesting mix of music including an acetate of AC/DC’s “Nick of Time” that sent a few audiophiles running from the room. I love when that happens! I also played the 45rpm 12” single Classic Records version of “Stairway to Heaven” (got applause), an unrelease 45rpm version of The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly”, the Electric Recording Company’s mono cut of “Giant Steps”, Bill Evans’ “You Must Believe in Spring” from a forthcoming double 45rpm edition from Craft Records and an acetate of Hank Mobley’s “Soul Station” as well as the 45rpm acetate of part of side 3 of Tommy. No Beatles, but a splendid time was had by all! The new Nagra turntable’s design concept and execution was covered in an analogPlanet news note.

I chose to go home on Sunday so had to fit it all in in 3 days. Day 3 was hardly “leftovers” as you’ll see many interesting new products including the Holbo airbearing ‘table and arm pictured in the thumbnail.

I did manage to get cajoled by a friend into the iO room on the main show floor where I heard the €80,000 baffle-less iO NAKED loudspeaker system consisting of 3 different driver types (cone woofers, planar-magnetic midrange and ribbon tweeter) suspended on a finely finished girder-like superstructure. 3 driver types is a recipe for sonic confusion but the rendering of Pete Townshend’s voice on a from-vinyl digital file I supplied of a track from “Rough Mix” was the most startlingly real sounding vocal I’ve ever heard from that track. I hung there for many tracks sourced from my USB stick and when I left the individual asked if he could keep the tracks on his server and of course I obliged. Despite the open baffle design, iO Design claims for the speaker 22Hz on bottom. Not sure if DSP is involved.

At day’s end I hustled over to the Marriott to see two new phono preamplifiers from JMF Audio—a French company that’s strongly associated with pro audio. It’s now being imported to America by Audio Skies. The person with whom I spoke made his low regard for audiophiles clear in his tone if not in his words. When it comes to EQ curves and when to deviate from the RIAA curve we are on the same page. He seemed surprised by that since I’m an “audiophile reviewer”.

You’ll also hear that the show was super-crowded on Saturday and the noise level made dicey recording people talking. I think it fair to claim that AnalogPlanet’s Munich High End 2022 analog coverage is the world’s most complete. If you think otherwise, please provide the URL(s). Enjoy!

[VintageStereoCollectorChannel]

Quite a variety of turntables and interesting tonearms. Works of art. Thank you for taking us along on your journey!

[captainbigjim]

Thanks for the clip at the 19:38 spot. Incredible....can't blame you on that spot.LOL

[suheilatallah]

Michael best report made!!! Amazing !!! We love those designs it seems a art, how many beautiful designs and ingenious too

[aag]

We haven't heard from this channel in a while. I do hope everyone - especially the great man himself - is well. Best wishes to you!

[rickp]

OMG Have you all heard the all new Clarisys Audio Panel Loudspeakers yet they are unreal
They will be at the 2023 Florida Audio Expo Show this month in rooms 1&2 and 915 from Suncoast Audio

[chrisl]

Thank you Michael for this very interesting and informative overview of High-end Munich for those of us unable to attend. Lots of interesting turntables/tonearms to consider even though most are beyond my budget. I enjoyed the brief snippet of your presentation though I wish I could have been there to watch the full show.

[davidtomsett]

That Mola Mola phono stage is insane!!

[MrBonger]

Awesome coverage. Wish I could afford more of this gear. Looking forward to The Tracking Angle

[zelev]

"Why have a labcoat to clean records?!?" lol nice jab at Kirmuss 😂😂

[Dave]

Thanks Michael always appreciate your effort on these coverages .
Cheers mate from Australia 😊👍🎵🎶🎼🦅

[lawrence]

Thank you for the insight into the new Degritter that is coming this year. I also bought one but now that a new model is coming I will wait for it. This is the only information on the net about this at this time. So thanks once again.

[trackingangle]

Michael Fremer's TrackingAngle YouTube channel is up with its first video!

[analoguecity]

I'm a record guy, but I'm happy to see "new" tape machines in the market!

[lukather]

5 months...i hope that youre ok. flying hug from Spain :)

[carmenandthedevil]

Thanks for your coverage Mikey. As always, informative and essential for people that can't get there.👍

[iamwoteveriwanttobe]

Some large tweeters in this video if you know what I mean and I think you do.

[nathnullobject]

I'm a proud owner of The Wand Turntable from NZ. It is fantastic.

[masterpassword]

6:53 That's a total lie. It's digital but the guy lies to you about it being analog.

[dbmccoy]

What is the other arm, next to the Dewey arm???

[wprimrose]

Mikey, please review the Mola Mola!!!