HIGH END 2023 Munich Show Coverage
Celebrating 40 years... to become the world leader of premium audio events. 
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Andrija Ćurković

  And now we come to the last exhibitor on my list of the four best audio systems I've heard at the HIGH END München 2023.

MSB Technology electronics, Marten Mingus Orchestra speaker, Pink Faun music server, and Ikigai Audio cables, gave a well-balanced sound, superb in the midrange, presenting layers of depth and space, with deep and very controlled bass. This was especially evident when reproducing the organ sound in the composition "III. Quiafecit" from the album Magnificat (composer Kim André Arnesen, Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene, 2L Records, 2014). The same composition is marked by an excellent performance of the classical choir and its reproduction was so organic, so seductive that it touched me both musically and emotionally.

At that moment, everything converged at one point, a top piece of music, a top-notch recording, and a premium audio system. This is the list of devices: MSB Premier DAC and Digital Director signal/processor, PinkFaun 2.16 Ultra streamer, MSB 205 monoblocks, PS audio P20 power generator, Marten speakers, Mingus Orchestra and Ikigai Audio cables, all music was streamed with Qobuz.

Jeffrey Dam, designer and owner of Ikigai Audio cables, played his playlist which included the aforementioned Magnificat. I can't help feeling that his choice of demo compositions certainly influenced the overall listening impressions of this system. This is also a skill that, unfortunately, not all exhibitors have. Before launching Ikigai Audio, Jeffrey worked for four years on speaker and cable design at the Dutch company Kharma N.V., as well as eight years at Philips Professional Cameras where he further established his knowledge in the construction of cables / interconnections and started his production of audio cables where he uses only precious metals (silver and gold).

After its launch in the UK just before the Munich Show, the new Magico S3 (€59,900  to €68,900/pair) had also its EU premiere for the continent-based admirers of the company. Backed by two Magico S-SUB MkII subwoofers and impressive (and expensive) electronics featuring Antipodes Oladra music server, Wadax Atlantis Reference DAC / server, Pilium Audio Divine Olympus pre and Zeus power amplifier, and Nordost and VYDA wiring, the new S3 provided distinctive Magico sound, placing it in the top category of premium high-end audio manufacturers.

The sound was firm, clear, deep, and fast in the bass, plus timbral correct, fluent, and precise. It does not try to placate the listener, instead delivers the recorded music with its full strength and plasticity. We should point out that the room where the demonstration was held was acoustically treated like a few other rooms at the show, so this factor should not be ignored in the final sound assessment. However, I still think the new Magico SR3 is a first-rate speaker and the optimum product in the company line-up considering the size, sound, and price.

The Estelon Aura (€17,000 /pair) is the new and smallest model in the Estonian manufacturer's range. Although the smallest speaker on offer, it does not mean it lacked anything in conjuring up the grandiose sound this manufacturer is known for. In a solidly large room at the show, Estelon Aura produced a wide and defined sound image, purity and presentability of vocals was evident, with solid and quite deep bass. Perhaps with not as much authority as we were used to with larger Estelon models, but considering the size and price of speakers, this is very impressive.

In conversation with Alissa Vassilkova-Rajatal, Estellan's CEO, I learned that the Aura housing itself is made using a different technique than other models, for lower production costs, resulting in the speaker coming only in a black or white finish. A novelty with this model is an additional stand that allows positioning of the bass driver facing down. With attractive industrial design, quality of workmanship and sound, and still reachable price, Estelon Aura in a smaller package contains all the necessary elements to become a very desirable product within the premium audio / high-end / hi-fi market.

Despite not being a novelty on the market, I have to point out the Totem Acoustics Tribe Tower speakers (€6,000 / pair), a pleasant surprise with their sound and price. With its "small stature" (only 93.5 cm high) and with two bass / midrange speaker drivers with a diameter of 10 cm, it can "shame" with the sound a large number of displayed speakers that fall into the heavy artillery category, both by the brand they represent, and the price required for them. Owner and chief designer Vince Bruzzese, in a brief presentation, clarified his approach to designing speakers and using their Torrent technology, making bass speaker units that do not use any active or passive components in the signal path of the crossover.  

Many in the audience remained in disbelief at how the Totem Tribe Tower produced such a large and powerful wall of sound, wide, tall, dynamic, attractive, and at the same time communicative. It simply glues you to a chair and makes you listen and listen. If we add to that the flexibility of installation regarding the distance from the back wall (it can be near and far), you have the top budget speaker of this year's Munich show priced under €10,000.

Another French speaker manufacturer attracting attention with its products in recent years is Apertura. Their new high-sensitivity (93dB/W/m) model Forte (around €8,000 /pair) has found a successful symbiosis with the new Enleum AMP-54R integrated amplifier (€25,000) and Wattson Audio Madison Lounge Edition ultra-compact streaming DAC (€4,890). The sound was fresh, open, detailed, and airy, one could say "like a breath of wind on a hot summer afternoon." 

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