For those who aren't familiar, High End Munich is the largest hi-fi convention in the world, held in the MOC München in Munich, Germany every year in May. Audiophiles are all on the edge of their seats, as the audio show is coming up this weekend, May 18th to May 21st. The first two days are reserved for trade visitors, and the show opens to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by High End Society, the convention will showcase 800 brands and is estimated to have over 20,000 visitors.
The convention had a two year hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, and debuted a sparkling return in 2022. This year's event is highly anticipated, not only because of the outstanding turnout last year, but because this will also be High End Munich's 40th anniversary. With much to celebrate, we expect many brands to bring out the big guns this weekend.
For those prepping for a trip to Munich, here's an overview of what you can expect to see at the big brands' booths. For those of us who aren't so lucky, here's what you wish you were about to see in person. Hey, maybe if you think hard enough, you can astral project yourself into the convention. Not working? Ah, well. Maybe next time. This is what you're missing at High End Munich 2023.
Followers of Yamaha releases will be familiar with the YH-5000SE special-edition orthodynamic headphones they released a few months back. These flagship open-back headphones boast impressive dynamic range, accurate sound reproduction, and ultra-lightweight diaphragms. As Yamaha's leading headphone model, these will run you a few thousand big ones. Many Yamaha fans will be pleased to get the opportunity to check out these headphones in the next few days.
While that may be exciting enough, there's more. Yamaha is going to give a sneak peek of the yet-to-be-debuted headphone amplifier partner for the 5000SE. Munich Show visitors will get one of the first chances to listen to a pre-production version of the new HA-L7A amplifier that is set to release later this year.
Earlier in the year, at the CES 2023, JBL unveiled the brand new Classic Series, which features an expansive lineup of hi-fi gear. Attendees will get to check out the MP350 music streamer, CD350 CD player, and the SA550 integrated amp. JBL is also branching out with their first ever turntable, the TT350. Visitors will get to decide for themselves if JBL's record player keeps up with the competition.
If the Classic series wasn't enough, they will also be showcasing the new 4329P Studio Monitor speaker system. This compact, all-in-one sound system was designed to rival the KEF LS50 wireless speakers. Powered by a 300W amp, these active loudspeakers are powerful and versatile. They offer built-in Apple Airplay 2, Google Chromecast, and Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive audio, so you can stream however you like.
NAD Electronics has announced that their 50th anniversary celebrations are extending from last year all the way into the Munich festival. The city is the birthplace of NAD, as the idea to create the company first began there in 1972. The company will showcase the new C 3050 LE streaming amplifier that was released last October, as well as an even newer Masters M66 DAC and network streaming preamp. Visitors will also get to see the affordable CS1 add-on for streaming.
Cambridge Audio has more than enough to show off at the Munich Show this year, so it's just as well that they'll have booths both inside and outside. Of course, at Munich High End, we expect to see their high end Edge lineup, but visitors will also likely get a look at the AXN10 and MXN10, their two newest streamers.
As per our last blog post, Cambridge Audio is also excited about the release of the Evo CD, a dedicated CD transport to go along with the other Evo streaming amplifiers. So expect to get a closer look at this new piece of gear this weekend, and maybe even another surprise...
2023 is not only the 40th anniversary for Munich High End, but is also the 40th year for Dali. As one of the most prized hi-fi brands in Denmark, we expect this celebration to be nothing short of spectacular. The company is gifting us with not one, but two surprise releases at the show that are committed to delivering "high performance audio while celebrating their heritage". The teaser image suggests a new high end speaker that gives homage to a classic Dali product.
Sennheiser has something innovative planned for Munich High End 2023. More than just a new release, the German brand will be kicking off a pilot program known as Custom Comfort Tips. This initiative uses personal ear scans to create custom eartips for headphones that are personalized specifically for the user. Some attendees at the convention will get to have their ears scanned, and the project is soon rolling out to all German customers.
With all this coming and more, Munich High End 2023 is sure to be a spectacular event for all visitors. If you're curious, here's the full list of brands that will be making an appearance this weekend.
Image credit: High End Society
