This year, the show in Munich was impressive in both scale and exhibits, signaling, possibly, a recovery trend for the industry of high performance audio products. A recovery not only in economic terms but -most importantly- a recovery on ideas and philosophy. Entering its second decade, since moved from the symbolic Frankfurt Kempinski hotel, where it was hosted for the last time in 2003, the largest show for Hi-Fi and high end audio products in Europe, was at its best.
Bigger in both exhibits area and exhibitors number, more international and more interesting, presented the entire range of audio products in all its variety both in analog and digital domains, including multimedia, desktop audio and networked audio products.

Apart from the traditional systems (quite often impressive in sound quality, price or both), the visitors had the chance to have a first hand experience in wireless, app controlled systems, audiophile hi-fi solutions for the car, music download portals, streaming systems, docking stations for mobile devices, etc.
There is no need to settle on these introductory and most probably subjective statements, though. Take a look at the photos starting from here and continue to the 2nd Part, here…

dStam

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