2013 Munich have much more attendees on the first two days, and many rooms (manufacturers) are applying “bigger is better” approach on audio design products. Solid good performance products at more affordable price area (of course affordable is relative) will be an important direction.  New generation does not care about serious stereo listening at home,  a good sign is they are more care about listen music with mobile devices. Headphones are getting much more expansive and handheld mobile audio devices.

It is a fact, and hifi audio remains niche, as usual.

To ME, listening to high fidelity audio system is the hip icon for jet setter and high lifestyle. The extreme expansive audio product sector competition is crazier than ever. Many manufacturers think they can build a more expansive system to compensate the lost of sales volume. Is it really the case?

About competition, as my usual believe, one brand die doesn’t mean the other brand will sell more. Basically our industry will have to respect, endorse and collaborate each other. The engineering of high performance audio products, will speak for themselves. (I hope)

The Swiss team setup with minimal approach by Weiss MAN301DSD & Klangwerk Ella active loudspeaker in a small room. Music files are stored in German Certon Integrita music server. This system provides extremely revealing transparent sound. I am personally (use them at home) and commercially related to this combo in whole Asia region. The Ella sounds superior with the help of room mode (haha). I especially enjoy Blue Note records “Erik Truffaz – Bending new corners” in this room. A truly great album. MAN301DSD will be official launched by FREE software upgrade very soon. During Munich high end show both Daniel Weiss and Markus Thomann listened to DSD playback through the prototype MAN301DSD.

DAC202DSD and Medea+DSD new optional “Weiss DoP USB” input board. This allows DAC202 and Medea+ playback DSD files from the computer via USB connection. Shipping from July. Contact us for details

Since Weiss products are now DSD capable, I have started to concern many different opinions about DSD format. The same situation happened 10 years ago when SACD/DVD-A were in competition. Now, both Sony & Philips gave up promoting SACD (look at the closing SACD replication plants worldwide) DSD file naturally becomes the last exit. In the near future I plan to write article, showing my perspective and try clearing things up.

Your CD walkman can play CD, does it sound the same as your main audio system?

If you like DSD sound, now DAC202DSD, Medea+DSD, MAN301DSD, INT204, Medus new line up will provide the same SACD/DSD master audio quality experience. WHY? They use the same algorithm which have created most of the SACD/DSD masters in pro-mastering audio world. This is a strong statement. Those SACD/DSD mastering engineers listen the same quality when they are finishing SACD/DSD records. A naturally ideal workflow between two audio domains (From professional records productions to consumer playback in one chain).

Medus is new flagship DAC from Weiss. A lot of new features and re-design areas. If you want to know what can Weiss can do for today music playback, listen to the Medus. Standard Medus comes with DSD/USB interface and full aluminium type remote control. Since there are many re-design and changes, Medea+ cannot be upgraded to Medus. However as mentioned, Medea+ can upgrade with DSD input, and remain on the product line. Shipping from July. Contact us for details

INT204 is Weiss first USB digital interface. It supports DSD file playback from computer, and output AES/EBU, SPDIF for normal DACs in the market. We expect INT204 will be very popular. It becomes bridge between computer and normal DAC for both PCM/DSD formats playback in an affordable price. Shipping from July. Contact us for details

DSD Sources:

 

Alluxity by Hans-Ole Vitus’s son Alexender. He threw a bomb to the audio industry with combine excellent modern outlook/function and superb preamp/power amplifier engineering. The chassis are crafted from block aluminium. This is an extremely expansive approach. I cannot imagine how can he price such affordable for this combo. Soon you will hear / demos / reviews on Alluxity in Asia region. There is a new cable brand that AVA group showing first time during Munich show too. I will gather more details.

During show, Alluxity drives a pair of malt black colour Estelon. Malt black is very nice colour. The demo also includes wonderful W20 music server project from aurrender. There are many new concept and ideas put into this fantastic project and the customer works have been delayed shipment until late June or July.

Vitus Audio room has flagship masterpiece driving deep purple colour X Diamond Estelon. (Another great choice of colour). I especially like its matching back drop logos. My focus was drew by the precision vinyl LP player. These two rooms sound exceptional and very neutral sounding. I always familiar with Vitus Audio superb amplifier quality since first time I entered its CES Alexis Park demo room. (Guess it was 2004). Share you a secret, Mega movie actor and The GrandMaster Tony Leung is Vitus Audio user. I should asked him to upgrade masterpiece. Hope he is enjoying holiday.

Korea brand April Music has produced some very fine quality products with affordable price tags. These are my pick if budget is concerned. The chassis are designed/manufactured by Alex Rasmussen – Neal Feay Design in Santa Barbara, CA. The same company built chassis for Constellation/Ayre Acoustics. You will not find more beautiful chassis than this, regardless of price. Eximus DP1/S1 (DAC+Preamp+Headphone+PowerAmp) full set can be sold at around ~ HK$50,000. DP1 alone can matches so well with active loudspeakers minimal system. In Dreamroom we have DP1 connects UK Unity Audio Black Rock MK2 monitor at one setup. One of the best affordable systems. Although $50,000 is not little money, but the sound quality this combo provides is true high end level.

Its slogan “One day, everyone will own a Devialet”. I admire (love) so much about this company. Its product sounding (No.1 rule in audio product), topology, internal/external design, marketing and brand direction. (Recently financial move too). When I entered its room, I was recognized/welcomed by Mr. Yaohan Yang, the new Devialet asia sales/marketing manager. A warm and great gentleman with modern attitude on high end audio. I am very happy to hear they have setup an asia head office focus on our regional market.

Devialet products are beautiful (who has ever thought to hang amplifier on the wall?) New series line has provided much more affordable products, with the same/even better performances. I cannot wait to congratulate them once again input new elements and put high  end audio to lifestyle. High end audio is all about luxury living. Look forward to test is 110 and 170 models. Maybe one 110 will bundle with Moet, 170 with Veuve, 240 with Dom Pérignon, and 500 with Château d’Yquem. I will be very jealous to see a LV limited edition of Devialet 500!

 

• Rockport speakers are really well made and sound amazing.
• Marten speakers sound modern and fast transient responses.
• Nagra has a new Melody preamp, a new DAC that licensed from Playback Design digital input circuit,  and a new power supply that will fit for multiply products.
• Tidal speakers are very expansive but the finishes can attract millionaires just by one sight.
• amphion speakers are very balanced sounding and it seem they have entered the pro audio market well.
• Kharma as usual represent one of the most luxury brands in audio market.

• Active loudspeaker/monitors – Manager/Grimm are wonderful design and sounding.
• Wilson Audio Alexia has won many audiophiles hearts. I want a pair custom finishing!
• Fine Sound group uses nice looking flowers for decoration. I guess people are indeed improving taste. I found Taiwan audiophile is leading in this area.
• Raidho acoustics loudspeaker is on my top list, always.
• Magico S5 and S1 are new bright stars. We are breaking in a pair of S1 in our sound room. The sound is amazing. Yup, we can sell you a pair too in HK. =)
• Chord room with Dynaudio loudspeaker. I was stunned by the authority this system sound at the show.
• Avantgarde new ZERO 1 includes “all-in-one” approach.

This Munich trip we had the same Fusion German food one night. The other night we went to indoor beer garden.

Cheers from Daniel Weiss and Kent Poon~!

Enjoy music and life. It is a new era because it seems a new beginning stage of mine.