Acoustic Sounds
Några at High End Munich 2023
By: Michael Fremer

June 19th, 2023

Category:

Hi-Fi Shows

Nagra's "Meet the Experts" at High End Munich 2023

I was one of a group of experts who presented music in the Nagra room

At High End Munich 2023 Nagra once again produced a "Meet the Experts" feature and invited a group of industry experts, including Matthias Bode, editor the German magazine STEREO, Impex Records founder Abey Fonn, Wilson Audio Specialties' Direct or Sales (and award-winning recording engineer) Peter McGrath, and me to spin records throughout the show for an hour long slot.

The system, featuring Nagra's 70th Anniversary Reference turntable and Reference MC phono cartridge, Nagra’s soon to be introduced HD PHONO stage, HD PREAMP, Nagra IV-S tape machine, and Nagra VII Anniversary Edition digital recorder with HD AMP monoblocks driving a pair of Wilson Audio Alexx V speakers and a pair of Wilson Audio LōKē subwoofers. Cabling was by Shunyata, racks and amp stands were by Modulum. The system sounded superb, though not quite as grand as last year when the speakers were Wilson's larger XVX. However, the smaller Alexx V's still managed to fill the large space and at more than satisfactory SPLs.

Was fun, especially since I played selections from the upcoming Rufus Reid Presents Caelan Cardello record I'm releasing on Liam Records and a rousing track from Patrick Leonard's new prog rock extravaganza It All Comes Down to Mood. A splendid time was had by all!

Here's the post presentation interview.

Comments

  • 2023-06-20 04:16:34 PM

    Jeff 'Glotz' Glotzer wrote:

    Splendid, indeed! You get to play with best toys ever! Kudos. I think if I had a choice in terms of design, I would go with the Nagra turntable over that of the similar-looking SME 60, notwithstanding price and performance 'advantages' the Nagra may enjoy.

    • 2023-12-20 05:43:42 AM

      Zeotrope wrote:

      Agreed! It’s a more advanced table than the SME (as it should be).

  • 2023-06-22 08:37:22 PM

    Georges wrote:

    I also like the 2 Goldmund references & the Esoteric table (with Ikeda TA-9D tonearm of course).