I’ve noticed something different about my Best Sound of Show list for High End 2024. None of these systems are what you might call “budget” or “high-value.” Many of these systems, in fact, stretch far beyond the six-figure mark and well into million dollar territory. Just a few years ago a million dollar system was rare in high-end audio, low-hanging fruit for the skeptics so they can roll their eyes and lament the state of modern high-end audio. Now it’s fairly easy to walk into an exhibit room and sit down and listen to a million dollar system, or even a million dollar pair of speakers. This is a very good thing.
As I’ve always said, this is a gift for audiophiles. For the price of admission for high-end audio shows, you can sit down and listen to these systems for as long as you want. Even if you’ll never be able to afford this gear, even if you object to the rising costs of the very best, you can still keep informed about the sheer, rewarding state-of-the-art performance that is, indeed, the very point of this hobby.
Words and Photos by Marc Phillips
Does that make me complicit in this so-called madness? Of course not. Aside from the usual yet appropriate “you’re not complaining about the price of exotic sports cars” rebuttals, the High End show in Munich is all about putting your best foot forward. Manufacturers are attempting to wow the show attendees, to present them with something worthwhile. That means transporting your flagship products, at great expense, to a place where everyone can see your vision. If you know anything about the sad state of international shipping, you’ll know the tremendous sacrifice these companies make in order to make this gear accessible to all audiophiles–even the grumpy ones.
When I refer to the Best Sound at High End 2024 in Munich, I’m no longer talking about “good for the money” or “punching above its weight class” or “the best at its price point.” My list, presented below, is comprised of rooms that impressed me, rooms that offered something special, rooms that pushed the envelope of high-end audio in an absolute way. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order:
Audio Group Denmark featured systems that were more ambitious and expensive than the room that contained the new Børresen C3 loudspeakers and Aavik U-588 integrated amplifier-DAC-streamer, each $35,000, but this was the room that featured the sweet spot for this Danish manufacturer. I marveled at the simplicity and the ease of use of this system, and it competed with the very best at High End 2024. If there is a “budget” system in this list, this is it. I can’t think of a single thing I’d want to improve about this system.
Benno Meldgaard finally introduced a finished product at High End 2024, and it wasn’t even his upcoming speakers that use the same stiff composite material for both the drivers and the enclosure. No, these unassuming two-way floorstanders were a lark, a side project designed as a birthday gift for a friend’s daughter. Throw in Ideon Audio digital and the incredible amplification and cabling from JMF, and you have the perfect hi-fi for ignoring the problems of the modern world.
I’ve finally heard the groundbreaking speakers from Bayz Audio, and the hype is well-deserved. The Bayz speakers project one of the most impressive soundstages I’ve heard, impossibly deep and oh so satisfying. JMF, once again, comes up with the assist, with a tonality that’s uncommon and perfectly executed. But I can say with the utmost confidence that Bayz Audio is the real deal.
I’m a huge fan of Computer Audio Design–their Ground Control GC1.1 earthing device is one of the most cost-effective and easy-to-deploy products in its market segment. The exhibit room at High End 2024 highlighted those strengths with one of the quietest systems I’ve heard at a busy, crowded show. I’ve been harping on the importance of proper grounding for hi-fi systems, but all you need to do is give CAD a try to see how it can improve your system by lowering the noise floor.
High End 2024 was the show where I questioned the wisdom of expensive, over-the-top horn loudspeakers that require more than the usual room in your listening space–not to mention a massive amount of expendable income. Cessaro Acoustics might have been the lone exception to my curmudgeonly objections–this system kept the sound focused and at a lifelike scale. The Doehmann turntable certainly contributed to the amazing sound, as it should, but the Cessaro horns would be my first choice for big horns that really sound just like the original performance.
Gershman, True Life Audio, Kronos and Cardas
This is a case where system synergy reigned supreme. I’ve been very impressed with the power, tonality and dynamics of Gershman, TLA, Kronos and Cardas at the last few high-end audio shows, and at High End 2024 everyone contributed their best efforts to a system that seems to do everything well. Since I have both True Life Audio and more Gershman coming in for review, I’m more excited than usual to have these in my home very soon.
I’ve always been impressed with the speakers from Göbel High End–I awarded them Best Sound at Munich just a couple of years ago. There’s only one problem with these massive, wildly dynamic speakers–they’re huge. I can’t imagine shlepping a pair to my listening room at the lake house. With the new Divin Comtessa speakers, however, Göbel has introduced a smaller speaker that’s quite manageable without sacrificing that magical sound. Am I jonesing for a review pair? Yes. Yes, I am.
I usually choose Innuos for my best-of-show lists because I’m enamored with they way they perform their A/B comparisons to show the strength of the latest improvements to their digital line. At High End 2024, I spent more time than usual in this room–including an after-hours listening session where the Innuos staff and I played DJ for each other. Extra points are awarded for the inclusion of Kroma Atelier speakers in the mix–these were unusually accomplished transducers that made a fantastic first impression.
Phasemation, Yukiseimitsu and Wolf Von Langa
For the second year in a row, I am under the spell of this amazing yet somewhat low-key system. I can think of no other exhibit room that so consistently pulls me into the music and makes me forget that I’m in a very crowded and noisy room. While I was quite frustrated with the listening sessions at High End 2024–don’t these people understand how truly special this gear is?–the Phasemation, Yukiseimitsu and Wolf von Langa system always won out, providing a spellbinding trip into one musical performance after another.
When I hear a TIDAL Audio system, I always think that this is The Sound to Beat. There’s always an undeniable rightness about the TIDAL Audio sound–for me, in 2024, it’s the closest I’ve been to hi-fi perfection. The fact that the Contriva G3 speakers, at one-tenth the cost of some of those massive horn systems, can still come on out top when it comes to my favorite rooms, says everything. Sure, the TIDAL for Bugatti system lurked in the background, reminding me constantly of my experience at Munich 2023, but the Contrivas with the the all-TIDAL system was more than enough for me to shrug my shoulders and declare, “Does it get any better than this?”
Brilliant room-running from Martial Hernandez aside, the VAC and VSA system still reminded me why I love both of these brands. The return of the Von Schweikert VR-55s, the very first VSA speaker I’ve heard, was an added bonus–these speakers are incredibly accurate and natural and, in my opinion, they come very close to what I expect from VSA’s Ultra line. While these two brands dominate the ranking at most domestic audio shows, at High End 2024 they still remain as a top contender, the exhibit room to beat.
The YG Acoustics room at High End 2024 might have had the most firepower at the show. Traditionally, YG populates this room with every single speaker they make, which makes for a breathtaking display, but this year I was constantly amazed at the great sound–again, despite unruly crowds and lots of discussion. Adding Boulder electronics and a Technics SR-1000 turntable just increased the wow factor of this fireworks show–I was never disappointed with the pure, thrilling musical presentation in this room.
As I mentioned in the show report, ZenSati cables are relatively unknown in the states. But it’s obvious their room at High End 2024 demonstrated that they really know how to build an exciting system. This year, Brodmann Acoustics of Austria brought in their flagship speaker system and once again I was amazed at the seemingly infinite soundstage, despite the fact that I was sitting almost on top of the equipment rack. I will never skip another ZenSati room after this.
Best Sound at Munich 2024
Is TIDAL Audio the current King of the Mountain in high-end audio? As much as we all shy away from making conclusions about the “best” gear out there, Jorn Janczak quietly wears the crown. This makes two years in a row that TIDAL has won Best Sound at Munich, and this year they take the award with a system that isn’t made of the flagship products. That’s an exciting accomplishment considering that both TIDAL for Bugatti and the new $450,000/pr Sunray G2s that were in the same room.
Congratulations to TIDAL Audio and all the other Best Sound nominees. High End 2024 was a great show by any measurement, and I can’t wait to return for High End 2025.
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