Hi-Fi & High End Show 2022

Hi - Fi & High End Show has ended .

Reviews of similar events have already appeared on the website hiendmusic.ru:

REVIEW Hi-Fi & High End Show 2015 – Aquarium Hotel

REVIEW Hi-Fi & High End Show 2022 – Aquarium Hotel

REVIEW Moscow High End Show 2022 – Simonovsky Val

This year I wanted to do something that has not yet been done within the framework of the hiendmusic.ru project - to establish award diplomas .

Of course, the exhibition has its own jury and its own awards. But the official awards are held on the last day of the show, and I decided to present my awards on the opening day of April 13 and immediately report this on the website so that those who go to listen to the systems on the 14th and 15th know what Hi End Music recommends paying attention to.

There will be three diplomas:

The Grand Prize for the best sound will be given to the one and only system whose sound seems to me to be the most advantageous.

Two special diplomas have been prepared for setups with interesting combination of properties. This could be the price/quality ratio, an interesting installation solution, or the presence of some outstanding component in the system. When the reward finds the hero, the reason for the reward will be written in the empty space.

The article about the exhibition will describe only the three systems that received awards - nothing more. Consider this a Hi End Music recommendation on what to look for first.

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And here is the promised article.

I have repeatedly argued that visiting High End Shows is the best way to hear the reference sound of an audio system, but this time I have to refute my statement. With all due respect to the organizers, who, as usual, ran the event at a high level, there was almost no good SOUNDING music this time, and for an inexperienced person there is a high chance of getting tired and leaving before getting to the few decent setups.

It’s not a matter of “bad room in a hotel room,” which is what installers and manufacturers often blame for their own shortcomings. In the same premises a year, two or three years ago, there were always several setups that could be guided by. This time, it was as if something happened to the participants - a bear stepped on the ear or a cold struck the cables - I don’t know. Of the huge variety of systems, only three could boast decent sound:

SALab – which, in fact, received the Grand Prix from me from the hiendmusic website for the best sound.

Slonov Sound

Next Hi Fi - a setup that received a special diploma from Hiendmusic for the best PMC acoustic speakers.

The remaining systems, despite their impressive cost, did not arouse the slightest interest. Sometimes, however, it became curious how the installers managed to spoil the sound of decent components so much - for example, you can make Sonus Faber play poorly with a lot of effort.

I don’t know what is the reason for the degradation of the general level of the presented systems and I don’t want to get to the bottom of it. The purpose of this brief review is to save time for those who plan to listen to good sound at an exhibition. If you don't want to leave with your head swollen from listening to a huge number of stupidly assembled setups, head straight to the following addresses:

Room 403 Next Hi Fi – acoustics PMC Hi End Music diploma for the best acoustic speakers. I am sure that the presented system can play better with more suitable amplifiers, although company representatives assured that they installed “the very top.” As for this “top,” I will say in the words of a person who, to my ears, is truly a top specialist in this field. Suffice it to say that rock bands of the Slayer level play his guitar amps.

“People who knew how to make good amplifiers died in the sixties,” he said. “Now amplifiers are designed by computer designers who don’t even understand how what they do works.”

Listening to the products of modern McIntosh, I believe that this is the case. It’s a mystery to me why you would cram half a centner of expensive electronics into a housing in order to get a compressed, boring sound at the output, which could easily be extracted from five kilograms of Chinese hardware. PMC didn't play with Macintoshes, but in my opinion, the amplification revealed at best half the acoustics' potential.

Room 409 SA Lab - Alexey Semin is a worthy successor of those who knew how to make amplifiers in the sixties. The SA Lab system is the only one that this time I can call the standard of home stereo. Properly designed Italian speakers Rosso Fiorentino Siena , a well-assembled vinyl circuit that PLAYS, and does not reproduce music - all that remains is to add good amplification, and it will be strange not to get excellent sound at the output. That's what he did. The amplifiers operated with a huge margin of acoustic control. Once again I use my favorite analogy with cars - the system played the way a small passenger car like a BMW 3 series could drive with a five-liter high-speed engine. In addition, SA Lab focused on analog playback, which for me personally is always a big plus. The Grand Prix!

All the best gathered on the fourth floor - Slonov Sound Design is there too. I wrote in detail about this system in the review THE BEST HI FI SYSTEMS and HIGH END SHOW. Since then, it has grown in size, but has not changed structurally - the same principle of digital separation into three bands, band-by-band conversion to analog, and active amplification of each band by transistor amplifiers hidden in the speaker housings. This time, a double MOMENTUM MAGNUM / MOMENTUM MAXIMUM power filter was added to the system.

Sonus Victor - one of the best, in my opinion, manufacturers of modern acoustics, presented a new model Sonus Victor Luna . The speakers are superbly made - elegant curved-oblique body, very beautiful finish, attention to small details. The sound is balanced, smooth and... I place the responsibility for this “and” entirely on the amplification. Even the size of the monoblocks indicated that they do not and cannot have the required power. If in the SALab system the most powerful amplifier motor accelerated the small, slender “body” of the speakers so that the system “flyed,” then in the Sonus Victor system the situation was the opposite - a small motor from a passenger car was placed on a heavy “Kruzak”. It played mediocrely - smooth, boring, emasculated. I think with a powerful high-torque “motor” - for example, like this , the situation would be radically different. I will try to conduct such an experiment with Luna soon, which I will definitely tell you about - the result should be decent. In the meantime, a diploma from hiendmusic for the most elegant acoustic speakers.

Presentation of the hiendmusic Grand Prix to SALab representative Alexey Frolov

From April 13 to April 15, 2022, the next largest exhibition of high-end audio and video equipment in Russia “HI-FI & HIGH END SHOW 2018” .

The T-ART company will traditionally demonstrate its exposition in rooms No. 406 and 410 on the 4th floor.

Room No. 406

In this room we will demonstrate a flagship system consisting mainly of Reference series equipment from renowned European and American manufacturers: VPI, Audio Physic, Accustic Arts, Trafomatic Audio and Purist Audio Design.

Audio Physic Avantera III acoustic systems are a new product from Audio Physic. The design of the speaker systems has undergone a thorough revision. The midrange and tweeter drivers have been replaced with third-generation drivers: HHCT III and HHCM III, respectively, the crossover circuit has been optimized, cabinet damping has been improved, and all this wealth is supported by more powerful supports. As a result, Avantera III is significantly superior to its predecessor.

VPI Avenger Reference turntable . Massive three-layer (MDF/Aluminium/MDF) chassis, 12-inch composite tonearm, massive two-piece magnetically decoupled platter, powerful roller drive with dual synchronous motors and external control unit, and exclusive tapered mounts. There will be no doubt in your mind that this is the pinnacle of the VPI Avenger range.

The VPI Avenger Reference will be paired with the Trafomatic Audio Reference Phono One phono . Thanks to all-tube circuitry and the ability to connect not only MM but also MC type pickup heads, this device is an excellent choice for the most demanding lover of high-quality sound. And thanks to the excellent quality of finishing, it will not look alien even in the most sophisticated interior.

As a digital source we will use the Accustic Arts Drive II . German engineering, impeccable workmanship and the legendary Philips CDM 2Pro movement - that's all you need to know about it. He will tell the rest himself.

What digital-to-analog converter can pair with such an impeccable transport? Of course, no less impeccable Accustic Arts TUBE DAC II MK2 (HD) . Not only can it easily cope with CD playback, but, thanks to the presence of an asynchronous USB input, it is perfect for playing music in hi-res and DSD formats.

Trafomatic Audio Reference Line One will switch the signals and prepare them for final amplification in our system . Fully balanced tube circuitry combined with a sophisticated appearance is a double-wonder for the audiophile. Enjoyable listening and high WAF (Wife Approval Factor).

Trafomatic Audio EOS Power is a locomotive that carries our entire system. An all-tube power amplifier with four KT120 tetrodes in push-pull operation, it simply does not know what a “complex load” is.

All system wiring will be done entirely using Purist Audio Design .

Room No. 410

In this room we will demonstrate the perfect, time-tested combination of Swiss Piega loudspeakers with German Accustic Arts electronics, supported by representatives of the VPI, Trafomatic Audio and Purist Audio Design brands.

Piega Premium 701 acoustic systems . Elegant aluminum housings, a pair of mid-bass drivers with a diameter of 14 cm, made using proprietary MDS technology, and a completely new LDR 3056 ribbon tweeter, which is the company’s own design, are the components that will provide the speaker systems with a unique sound and will win the love of audiophiles.

Accustic Arts Power I MK4 integrated amplifier will help your speakers maintain control over the music . 22 kg of excellent German engineering and 135 watts into a load of 8 ohms allow the amplifier to control virtually any speaker system on the most complex musical works with true Teutonic equanimity.

Accustic Arts Player I will act as the digital source. The player's talents are not limited to playing CDs. Thanks to the presence of asynchronous USB, the player is capable of decoding music in hi-res and DSD formats.

The analog source in this system will be a combination of the VPI Prime vinyl disc player and the Trafomatic Audio Evolution Phono One phono stage.

The design of the VPI Prime implements all the nuances considered important for high-quality music playback. A massive MDF chassis, a heavy aluminum platter, a 10-inch single-post tonearm made of composite material, and a free-standing powerful synchronous motor - everything is aimed at the most accurate sound.

The Trafomatic Audio Evolution Phono One phono preamplifier has extraordinary musical potential and allows the use of both MM and MC type cartridges.

All system wiring will be done entirely using Purist Audio Design .

NEW PRODUCTS at “HI-FI & HIGH END SHOW 2018”

In room No. 406 , we invite you to get to know 2 models of new speaker systems from the German company Audio Physic .

Audio Physic Avantera III loudspeakers - the new, third generation of Audio Physic Reference series loudspeakers.

We will also show what the youngest floor-standing speaker systems in the Audio Physic line look like - the new Audio Physic Classic 5 . These elegant speakers are designed to bring Audio Physic's signature sound quality to an even wider range of audiophiles.

In room No. 410 you will have an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with all three representatives of the new series of acoustic systems from the Swiss company Piega - Premium, announced by the company just at the beginning of this year.

Piega Premium 701 loudspeaker systems - the most senior in the Premium line.

the Piega Premium 501 floor-standing speaker systems look like . The younger model is slimmer and more graceful than her older “sister,” but no less musically gifted.

Well, the Piega Premium 301 are perfect for those who are limited in room size, but do not want to deprive themselves of the signature Piega sound quality.

VENUE OF “HI-FI & HIGH END SHOW 2018”

Moscow, Aquarium Hotel, (3rd pavilion CROCUS EXPO) MKAD 65-66 km, outer side (intersection with Volokolamsk highway), Myakinino metro station

WORKING TIMES “HI-FI & HIGH END SHOW 2018”

April 13: from 10.00 to 18.00 April 14: from 10.00 to 20.00 April 15: from 10.00 to 17.00

Children 6-11 years old can visit the exhibition free of charge in the presence of their parents or other legal representatives.

ADMISSION TICKET

To visit, you must purchase an entrance ticket on the exhibition website: https://hifishow.ru/catalog/

During exhibition opening hours, tickets can also be purchased at the Aquarium Hotel box office.

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest

One of the largest B2C audio exhibitions in North America.
This year it will be held for the fifteenth time - as usual, in October in Denver. More than 400 companies from the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia present their expositions there. Here visitors can communicate directly with company representatives and engineers and test new products on the market (many bring their own players, discs and records to compare the sound of different audio equipment). The main feature of Rocky Mountain Audio Fest is headphones and personal audio. The festival also has a rich seminar program, where quite relevant topics are discussed both for the industry and for ordinary consumers. For example, last year there was a seminar on affordability: “How cheap audio equipment can cost.”