Once again, the HIGH END will feature a wide variety of interesting talks, presentations, demonstrations and workshops with high-profile speakers all about consumer electronics. 

Special demonstrations, talks, presentations and events with top speakers Here is a small selection:

RADIO AUDIO QUALITY: DIGITAL AND EVERYWHERE

BR, WDR and IRT present state-of-the-art audio technology at the HIGH END Conference room K2A (opposite Hall 1)

Radio in the digital age: 90 years after it was introduced, radio broadcasting uses the full range of digital possibilities. With digital production and broadcasting technology, optimum studio quality can now be delivered directly to living rooms, cars and mobile devices. Bayerischer Rundfunk, Westdeutscher Rundfunk and the Institut für Rundfunktechnik, the joint research centre of ARD/ZDF, ORF and SRG, will be demonstrating the variety and quality of radio programmes and technology for the first time together this year at the HIGH END.

In an acoustically optimised demonstration room (K2A), visitors can look forward to exhibits, demonstrations and information all about audio technology, production, distribution and audio quality.

Sound engineers from BR and WDR will be presenting highlights from the latest music productions and radio plays in studio quality, in 5.1 Surround Sound or binaurally on headphones. DAB+, DVB-C and internet digital broadcasting will all be available for direct comparison. In a listening booth, you can judge the quality of audio codecs and data rates in a MUSHRA test.

Other topics: The importance of EBU R128 loudness regulation and the work, this involves when remastering archive material. Exhibits on HTML5 Audio and Binaural Room Synthesis give an insight into the latest research and an outlook on forthcoming developments.

As well as this: at the BR stand in Hall 2 R06 there is a car where you can listen to DAB+ digital radio and the Symphoria audio system developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits in Erlangen.

Listen to the original master files of a recording session, just like the sound engineer. This is as close it gets to the original recording.

DSD IN ITS PUREST FORM 

Conference room K1b (opposite Hall 1)

Andreas Koch from the USA, one of the inventors of the DSD high-definition digital audio format and owner of Playback Designs, Joachim Kiesler from Saxony, professional re- cording engineer and mastermind of Musikelectronic Geithain, and Primephonic, the new Dutch download portal, have got together to set up a very special joint venture. The aim   is not only to show interested visitors the musical potential of the DSD format, but also to demonstrate the current state of the art in DSD downloading, not just in stereo, but above all in multi-channel audio.

The presentations will be given by the leading European sound engineers Erdo Groot (direc- tor, producer and sound engineer of Polyhymnia B.V.), Jared Sacks (director, producer and sound engineer of Channel Classics B.V.) and Jan-Eric Persson (sound engineer and founder of Opus3 Records). As well as this, the engineers and producers will be presenting their recordings and talking about their experience with DSD.

The subject of DSD mastering of analogue multi-channel tapes will also be discussed. Visitors are sure to prick up their ears at the demonstrations of legendary recordings from the Quadro era of the 1970s.

Duration approx. 30 minutes

Saturday, 16 May 2015 

11:00

Topic: The importance of USB cables for PC hi-fi

Comparison of USB connections in all price categories Exhibitor: Nagra –  Atrium 4, room E217

12:00

Topic: A naturally beautiful voice

Jazz artist Lyn Stanley sings live and on record Exhibitor: Purist Audio Design – Atrium 4 , room F226

14:00

Topic: How sound finds its feet

Turntable spikes show what’s happening below Exhibitor: Aura/Verity Audio, Atrium 3, room D106

15:00

Topic: How sound benefits from modern high-bit technology

Music from MP3 to the highest definition in direct comparison Exhibitor: Burmester, Atrium 3, room D106

16:00

Topic: How a high-class audiophile compilation is made

STEREO’s new listening test CD presented on a super system Exhibitor: MBL, Atrium 4, room D106

More news on presentations at High End Munich 2015 when we get it.

A comprehensive list of the companies at High End Munich 2015 and the rooms they will be in.  More »

The High End in Munich will see the official launch of ecologically-sound stands for each Harbeth loudspeaker. Hand-made in southern Bavaria, Harbeth say they are “‘green’ to the core and the result of loving care and personal attention to detail”.

The new stands are said to be made from sustainably-sourced beech timber from German forests which is transformed into hand-made stands during a labour-intensive process in Füssen. Everything about the products is natural: the power used is from hydro, glues are water-based and solvent-free, the coating from oil and wax. Even the company’s bank is selected because of its  ecological credentials.

Traditional carpentry skills ensure rigidity; not glues, metals or plastics. Even the (eco-plastic and vegetable starch) packaging is sustainable and the transport used is gas-powered.
The duo of Eva-Maria Weichmann and Ralf Sieg give a percentage of their profits to good causes including Rainforest Rescue and German conservation projects.

“Having met Eva and Ralf, and learned about the skill and dedication they use to produce beautiful eco-stands, they are to be commended”, said Harbeth’s MD Alan Shaw. “Theirs is a genuine labour of love and with true regard for the environment.”

You can see Harbeth in Hall 3 and Stand F21 at Munich High End and rumour has it they will be releasing something very special….but they were remaining tight lipped about that one.

KR Audio have been in touch with regards to High End Munich to let us know what they will be up to and it seems quite a lot actually.

KR Audio will have their own stand (Halle 4, C05) where they will be displaying their wares and demonstrating the VA 830, Kronzilla SXI with KR T-1610 new Zirconium application along with their VA 200, 200 Watt monoblocks with the KR 842vhd application.

They will also be represented at Munich in the Berlin Hi-Fi room (Halle 4, A05) where there will be a demo of  KR VA 355i and  KR Kronzilla VA 680 with Lundahl trasnformer application, the Tektron Itlaia room (Halle 2, M01) with the KR 211 tube application to OEM design.

Hi Fi Racks Ltd got in touch to tell us that they will again be exhibiting at High End Munich in May 2015 – and this year, the Rutland-based firm will be presenting the worldwide launch of two brand new product ranges. The UK market has already been given a sneak preview of the Grand and Ianua products at Bristol Sound & Vision in February, where the feedback was extremely positive – Hifi Pig got a good luck at the new racks and they look very nice indeed.

The Grand Range
The Grand Stand and Grand XL products have been designed to meet the needs of the higher end of the market and to complement sophisticated hi fi and audio visual systems, with extra isolation and de-coupling on each tier.

Each hi fi rack and TV stand is constructed from the customer’s choice of solid oak, cherry, maple, walnut or mahogany, with a range of finishes also available.

Each piece is handmade in the company’s own workshops and customers will be able to choose from a range of standard sizes or tailor their rack to meet their unique requirements.

The Ianua Range
Ianua is the very first Hi Fi Racks range to feature doors and are designed for people who want their hi fi rack or AV stand to blend with their other furniture. Each product is manufactured in solid oak, with a choice of finishes to complement any room. Both wall-mounted and floor-standing racks are available.

The Ianua range features soft open/close doors, multiple shelf configurations and de-coupling shelf supporters as standard.

‘Both the Grand and Ianua ranges went down a storm at Bristol Sound & Vision in February. We received lots of positive comments from stand visitors, especially around the products’ aesthetic design and superior acoustic benefits. What’s more, we also took a number of orders on the spot – a sure sign that Grand and Ianua are set to be popular.’

You’ll find Bradley and the Hi Fi Racks’ team at Hall 3 Stand G10 from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May.

AudioQuest will be at this year’s High End Munich and this year will have all of their Product Development Champions in attendance.

Their new Headphone, the NightHawk will be on display/demo at the show, and Skylar Gray, the designer will be there in our Room – E122 in Atrium 4, everyday of the show between 2-3pm.

Steve Silberman AudioQuest’s Digital Guru will be at the show, presenting 2 new products, and as always Steve will be able to chat about ideas and future technology.  Steve will be in E122 everyday from 3-4pm.

Joe Harley and Bill Low will be on hand to talk about cable, and any other interesting subject.

Graham Audio have announced the purchase of the CHARTWELL and SWISSTONE Companies. The famous Chartwell brand were historically regarded as the finest builders of the BBC LS3/5A speakers and their products are perhaps the most sought after of all the licensees who built the brilliant LS3/5A

“Graham Audio will be manufacturing the most famous of all the BBC speakers under one of it’s most cherished names with the attention to detail and sound that made Chartwell so famous. The bespoke drive units and crossover networks are by Derek Hughes working in conjunction with Volt loudspeakers to produce a fully licensed ‘Made in England’ speaker using the very finest materials available” says the company’s recent press release.

Chartwell by Graham Audio, will be releasing a BBC licensed LS3/5A speaker at the Munich High End Show in May 2015

Cars with customized sound systems at the HIGH END 2015

For many people the car has become an individual listening room. The vehicle interior is a home on the road and, at the same time, is also a place to retreat, recover and relax. Workers in Germany spend an average of 90 minutes per day in their vehicle. The great feeling of driving and listening to music is hard to beat and never more so than when a high-performance car comes together with a high-end music system. Here the driver can enjoy their own particular individual music, without disturbing others and at any volume

they choose. For this reason the right acoustic interior design is important for many drivers when purchasing the vehicle.

Fortunately, more and more vehicle producers are now contracting reliable manufactu- rers in the industry to design new vehicle sound systems so they can then provide an exceptional premium sound in the latest cars. Now, one quarter of all new cars issued in Germany are purchased with a high-end audio system included at a surcharge. Virtually all new vehicles in the upper price segment can be equipped with an excellent music system.

Several well-known businesses in the audio sector are now working hard in the area of development in order to provide drivers and passengers with the best possible in-car music experience.

This year, once again, visitors to the HIGH END 2015 have the opportunity to listen to exceptional sound systems in cars which are mainly premium category vehicles.

Burmester presents pioneering high-end surround sound systems for an extraordinary in-car music experience at this year‘s HIGH END ON WHEELS. More »