Sunday, April 27

We're staying in a hotel that’s about five minutes by car from the Munich Order Center -- the facility where High End is held each year. Fleming’s Hotel is a mix of old and new -- recently renovated but at its heart an older building. Although the rooms are small, they’re well appointed and functional, making the stay pleasant. The best part about Fleming’s is that it’s about halfway between the Munich Order Center and Munich’s City Center. This means it’s ideal not only for quick access to the show but for walking downtown to see the sites or finding a nearby restaurant that has whatever food you’re in the mood for that day.

Yesterday after we left the show we ventured out for a side trip to BMW World, the fairly new facility where everything you’ve ever wanted to know about BMW is at your fingertips. There are interactive displays, a restaurant and at least two cafes, several of each model of BMW for you to ogle, a gift shop, and more. The facility is a testament to modern engineering and design -- you simply have to see its sculpted walkways, interesting video displays, and massive stainless-steel walls to appreciate the lengths BMW has gone to in order to promote its brand and create a one-of-a-kind experience for the consumer. It can’t compete in sophistication of presentation or overall breadth with an audio show -- that’s what High End attempts to do: create an experience where people can learn and become excited about the products that are available to them. High End 2008 was a fantastic event and is sure to help further the hobby that we all love so much.

Saturday, April 26

In Thursday’s installment, I wrote about a definite trend at this year’s High End 2008 show: the myriad options for integrating high-end products into the décor-minded audiophile’s home. The examples I gave, which centered on the wilder cosmetic options now available on several audiophile products, are strikingly obvious. But this raises the question of just what audiophiles want. Looks do matter, there’s no question. There are also quite a few high-technology products available at this year’s High End: for example, the room-correction system used in the Behold/Ascendo room. And there’s more still -- witness the huge number of products that set out to make personal design statements, such as the KEF Muon.

The conclusion I formed thinking about all this is that the buyers of these products are as diverse as the products themselves. Some are after ultimate performance based on cutting-edge technology, some want a nice hi-fi system that blends into the background, while others still want to make a personal statement with their audio systems. There are undoubtedly other reasons people are here at High End 2008 too. I’m OK with all of it. When you roll it all up into one ball, you get a lot of people supporting a thriving audio show and therefore supporting an industry filled with innovation and creativity. The flip side is that there is a hugely varied array of manufacturers assembled here to serve these markets with products that fit most any need.

Friday, April 25

Today was an interesting day, not due to the systems we heard -- although we did see and hear some amazing products -- but because of the people that we talked with. If you ever have the opportunity to visit a show such as Munich’s High End, be sure to read the name tags and pay attention to the many faces. And when you recognize someone -- particularly if that person designed a product you’ve owned or admired -- go and speak to him, if for no other reason than just to say "Hello. I like your work."

But High End is also an opportunity to do more than just that. A couple of examples from today: Doug Schneider and I had a nice talk with Snell’s Dr. Joseph D’Appolito about loudspeaker design. It was fascinating to be able to ask questions about the famed "D’Appolito configuration" from the man himself. I was also able to personally speak with Ralf Ballmann of Behold and Jürgen Scheuring of Ascendo about their collaboration to develop a proprietary room-correction system -- a subject I’m intensely interested in. The software is now available in several Behold products, such as the Behold Gentle integrated amplifier (shown below). The software is a marvel to use, but, most important, I have no doubt that it could be extremely valuable when it comes to improving the performance of your audio system.

For the most part the industry professionals I’ve encountered through the years have been polite and accessible. Having so many of them in one place, as is the case at an audio show like High End, presents an opportunity you shouldn't pass up: a free education from the designers and, in some cases, the pioneers of high-end audio. In most hobbies the enthusiasts are kept at arm’s length from the icons of the scene. Not so in high-end audio. So don’t waste the opportunity to pick a few brains if you’re ever given it.

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Thursday, April 24

From Gryphon Audio Designs’ cow-skin finish option (as seen above on the company's Atlantis speakers) to Ascendo’s gold-plated (yes, real gold) speakers to the more restrained leather that ReVox was displaying on its loudspeakers and subwoofers, one obvious trend at High End 2008 is the attention being paid to how high-end audio products visually integrate into the home environment.

It seems that the list of materials available to enhance the look of otherwise industrial audio products is growing fast. The reasons cited are interesting: "to get the spouse involved" was one explanation, while "giving customers a way to make a personal statement" was another, while "fitting any home décor imaginable" another reason still. We like the trend. It not only gives the customer an opportunity to express their wilder side, but could also get high-end audio into spaces that might otherwise be off limits to such products. If finding a way to expand the market means that a creative flair is needed, then some of the cutting-edge designs at High End 2008 have things covered -- and covered in some pretty interesting materials at that.