The Munich Hi-Fi Show is considered the biggest and best on the planet. The Absolute Sound visits so we don’t have to make the trip. Let’s see what they have found for us. That’s why they attend, right? Don’t they want to point us in the right direction?

Speakers

The first pair they discuss are Martens for $190k. Wow. What a start.

The next three are by Stenheim, $25k, $67k & $98k. Then there is a Stenheim for $13,500. Ooops, my mistake. That $13.5k is for a pair of plinths for their towers.

They move on to Magicos for $75k, Rockports for $133k, Cessaros for $600k, Gobels for $70k, Steins for $248k.

Sheeze, can you buy speakers any more for a paltry $20k ?! Well, they did have a “few” and from what I infer, they’re all made in Chinese job houses. Yuk.

Ya gotta wonder… with a magazine subscription price of about $1.25 per month, just who do they think is reading their mag? Why spend pages and pages on speakers that average well over $100k?

Several of the writers like the new MoFi SourcePoint 888s. They’re $5k per pair, made by a vendor in China under spec from MoFi. We’re a MoFi dealer. Their speakers are on the leaner, brighter side, which may be your cup of tea. But I can promise you’ll prefer the muscular Bryston (Canada) A2s ($4k per pair) or the Atohms below. The Brystons easily have more prodigious bass and are smoother. The Atohms are warmer, less boxy and produce a much larger image. And nope, I don’t want to send N American or Euro dollars to China.

Atohm GT-1 $4500 Per Pair

Also at the show, but not written about in their bloviation, were the incredible GT-1s from Atohm of France. The GT-1 is a STELLAR stand mount speaker that could fit in any room. It has a very smooth tonal balance and an image to die for! The localization of voices and instruments is as good as you’ll hear. GT-1 is different from all modestly sized stand mounts from Europe in that they can positively drop the hammer. GT-1 has solid bass and can play at very strong volume levels. You don’t have to go to Munich to hear them. We have them here at AE.

Atohm GT-2 $7500 Per Pair

Also shown by Atohm were their GT-2 towers. These boys are leanish towers with a stunningly beautiful walnut finish, just like the GT-1s. The tower provides exactly what you would expect, which is an even bigger wallop while still being easy to place (42.7h, 7.87w, 10.43d, 57 lbs). This is a speaker that purveys a massive sound stage that extends deep and wide into the room. While I’m sure its bass isn’t as loud as the 100k plus speakers that impress TAS, I’ll bet these towers will blow you away. Please visit AE to give them a listen.

Electronics

Which electronics did TAS like? MSB monoblocks, $60k per pair. They liked Wadax; DAC $166k, Server $69k, Transport $115k, Power Supply $53k- the writer thought the system didn’t reach its full potential through $185k per pair Magicos.

He liked the D’Agostino preamp, $43k and monoblocks, $80k per pair. He said he owns the D’Agostinos. Wouldn’t you like to see what HE paid for them? Oh and he liked the Constellation electronics, preamp $18k and power amp $40k. Gosh, these pieces are dirt cheap compared to everything else. Only $58k for a preamp (which sounds better with extra $5k PSU) and amp. He also liked the ARC $180k per pair monoblocks. If you can’t swing those, maybe the Absolare integrated amp for $28k will do.

Atoll Separates

They missed the Atoll (from France) separates in Munich. They were there with the Atohm speakers. Atoll’s PR300 preamp ($2500) and AM300 power amp ($3900, 150×2) are stunningly fine pieces that will compete head to head with the $50k audio “jewelry.” Driven by Atoll’s CD200 Signature ($2950), this complete Atoll stack runs under $10k and will give the gear from the stratosphere a run for the money. Oh, and you can run dual AM300s (500w monoblocks) for $7800, chump change for TAS apparently.

Atoll is made in their own house in France, where they are extremely efficient in HOW they build gear. They use the same chassis size, face plates and jack panels among many pieces in their line. With that substrate of a foundation, you’re paying mostly for what’s INSIDE their gear. The value is positively unsurpassed! And of course we have it here at AE.

Atoll Integrateds

Atoll makes five fabulous integrated amps, from $1200-$4500. If you don’t want to buy separates, the Atoll integrateds offer industry setting value. They’re capable of deriving outstanding quality through any speakers. But you might consider their French des amis, Atohm.

Turntables

I respect Michael Fremer as much as the next guy. But I’m afraid I know where he will go. His first discovery is a $70k tonearm, which goes on the company’s $220k table. But don’t be a piker, get their $50k vacuum device with it. He goes on to a couple of bargain tables for about $50k each. Then there’s another $60k tonearm. Next is an impossibly cheap Clearaudio arm for $15k. Then a WB table for $370k, and a cheaper version for only $270k. On to another table at $150k with a $20k phono cart and… less than a full page in, I’m throwing in the towel. Ya gotta be kidding me.

Mobile Fidelity UltraDeck

They should have spent at least a couple lines on the UltraDeck, $2500. It is made in Ann Arbor, and is ultra on sale through a summer program at a grand off. It’s a SERIOUS table for literally any buyer, at a fraction of the price of this NEVER NEVER LAND. It’s worth every penny of its $2500 price tag. But why not buy it while they’re hungry enough to run this $1k off program?

It uses HRS leveling feet. It has 3 metal plates on top of the plinth to aid with rigidity. It’s a belt drive, of course. It has a fabulous tonearm (maybe not $60 freaken K fabulous) with Cardas wire. It’s just a great table and if we blindfold the high and mighty, even they won’t be sure if they’re listening to $2500 or $250k!