Reidun goes to the Munich Hi End show ...Day One
Friday, 10 May 2024 8:13:36 pm Australia/Melbourne
It’s so nice to be back in Germany and enjoying all that’s on offer at the Munich Highend show. Many new products are launched at this show so every year there’s something new and exciting to have a listen to.
First thing is a set of Epos floorstanders! We’ve had a single pair of the large bookshelves, the Epos ES-14N which were the only offering from this newly revamped brand. But now they are adding the ES-28N, a three way floorstander in that very 90s style. These sound big and bold with a healthy dose of bass. I love them and I think their styling is hitting the mark. In addition to the floorstanders there’s also a quaint little pair of bookshelves, the ES7N. Dainty looking but I’m sure with the same boldness in the sound as the other Epos offerings.
Next on the list is some Sonus Faber. A new range of Sonettos and a beautiful pair of active bookshelves called the Duettos. I didn’t get to hear any of these as they were only on static display but I’m sure we’ll get to hear them soon enough in Australia.
The next mover and shaker is Loewe…! Their brand new OLED Stellar TV has made an appearance and this is a very exiciting product. The panel is the very first release of the OLED panel that is made in the Loewe factory in Germany. There has been so much investment and hype around this, the first OLED manufacturing facility outside of Asia, and boy, it exceeds expectations. The picture quality is exceptional and everything you’d expect from a high end OLED panel.
The detailing on the chassis is next level though. A concrete back panel injects a bit of luxury also significantly acts as a heatsink for the electronics. There’s a perfectly made Aluminium bezel surround on the whole Television as well as a classy ambilight LED system. This illuminates and enhances contrast on the set. Unlike the old Phillips TVs that had a similar system, this does not employ the light 360 around the screen and only shines downwards. I always found the bigger ambilights distracting. This however, is restrained and still gives the desired effect with the picture.
There were also two pairs of new passive loudspeakers at Loewe, a bookshelf and a floorstander. Loewe has paired with Lyngdorf to produce these speakers. The drivers are made by Lyngdorf but the cabinets have been put together in the Loewe factory in Kronach.
A special mention must also go to Aussie brand, Halcro. Such exceptional amplification products. I was so impressed by their dynamism and neutrality. Their amplification circuitry topography is quite simply unlike anything else in the world. All hand made in the Adelaide Hills by a bunch of lovely guys. Of course this is just some highlights of day one.
More to come tomorrow.