Report: Munich Show 2008

STEREO’S DEAD !!!   After my recent visit to the Munich Hi-Fi show that heading was almost more applicable to ‘Audio Visual’.

The conventional ‘Stereo’ presence was so strong that I hardly noticed much AV presence at all.  Don’t miss-understand us, we too enjoy watching and listening as do many of our customers but ‘Stereo’ is foremost with our business and it surely is here to stay.  The presence and wealth of new and exciting ‘stereo’ products was greater than ever before, in fact I could have taken on many a new stereo product and could now be the importer of about 20 new turntable ranges should I have been looking in that direction.

Good job we have already got the best with the Lumley range and I am delighted to finally announce the that the new Heliosphere is ready for your scrutiny and so far (after customers trials and our stringent testing) it is not very far behind the famous stratosphere.  We did however, take on one new turntable as a retailer and not an importer and we are very proud to present the Continuum from Australia.  Better then the Strat ?

Well yes but there is a reason.  Some of you will have followed this amazing product and we are delighted to claim maybe a second place to the amazing Continuum turntables with our Lumley Stratosphere.  There is just too much to tell you about here regarding the design and performance of this vinyl reproducer.  Suffice to say that one listen will convince you that vinyl is still the best recorded medium and if you truly do have a pretty deep pocket, you should almost consider buying just such a product especially if you are a young listener as it will still be with you when you leave this world. 

I think I should have started this brief spring news letter with the words ‘technology rules’ as that was the other most startling observable character of the show.  It’s almost overpowering.  Every form of electronic (and mechanical) design seems to have had a facelift with technology taking massive control where top performance is concerned.  No longer is it just another new manufacturer following the same old design parameters and the presence of extremely high-tech design philosophy was instantly observable.  One feather in our cap is the re-appointment as the Tenor distributor for the UK.  You may recall that some 5 years ago we represented this product, which immediately found a pretty special following.  As many an enthusiast manufacturer who makes sound more important than survival, they went the same way as many and closed the door at that time.  Along comes 2 well heeled enthusiasts who re-build the company and the product and we now have a contender without argument for the very best amplification in the world.  Driving the Kharma loudspeakers with the Continuum at the front end, this had to be the number one sound in Munich.  Heard this before ?  --  i’m sure you have, but you had better come and here these Tenors too.  We already have another contender for the very best amplification in our portfolio, ‘Vitus,’ but does the new Tenor take it further ?  Maybe but only at a rather higher premium.  Having said that the Vitus is still at the moment my number one choice.

On the other side of the amplification front, Ayon had a fantastic stand with their new valve products looking truly magnificent and their new loudspeakers offering an unrivalled fit and finish like no other at the show.

Talking speakers the new Ascendo 8’s presented one of the very best sounds at the show regardless of price.  In stock soon and great with many a budget amplifier, the new 8’s present an excellent introduction to the ‘high-end’ scene.  The Boulder CD commanded a lot of interest its new technology being the first example of possibly an entirely new way of playing CD’s.  Our first demonstration unit arrives at the beginning of May.  Call for more details here.  I Pod replay at SOM ?  your kidding.  Well with the Krell Kid now installed at Firgrove we can also offer you another new way of presenting this new medium to a level of performance that takes I pod replay right up to the best CD performance in a truly beautiful Copulare package. Yes, that really is the truth. Lastly, we have a truly exciting new way of presenting our company and products to you that even if you are not in the market at the moment, you will surely enjoy following this newest technology exclusive to Sounds-Of-Music.  Using technology like you have never witnessed before,  we will take you into a new world of information about the wonderful world of music and Hi-Fi.  Don’t believe that either?

You had better prepare yourselves. 
 
Come and see us soon.
 
JJ