High End Munich 2025 - May 15-18

[MCH]

Material Trend: TeXtreme Everywhere​

One of the things I noticed most was the rise of TeXtreme membranes. Borellsen had them, even Gryphoon did too. I keep spotting this material more and more. Looks like it’s becoming the new state-of-the-art membrane material.

Interesting, this sounds familiar from my day job. Seems that textrem (ultra thin carbon fiber sort of tapes) driver diaphragms are made by Composite Sound. I wonder if there is something worth in their claims:

Technology – Composite Sound

The high stiffness and ultralight weight of the engineered Thin-ply Carbon Diaphragms (TPCDs) enable a wide range of pistonic motion, while the concept of distributed break up ensures a controlled break up behavior with low distortion.

composite-sound.com

 

[boxerfan88]

How the 8381 sounded in comparison to 8361?

My guess: 4.5-way will beat 3-way hands down

Both in terms of SPL & distortion.

 

[Pearljam5000]

My guess: 4.5-way will beat 3-way hands down

People keep telling me 8361+ W371 is better for a normal sized room so I do not know anymore

 

[Behrelec 37]

Pearljam5000

If you like more rock/progressive and heavy metal/classical/opera music, then the 8361a is not the best choice. It is definitely worth going for the master series. You will get more power and life in your sound.

 

[AdrianusG]

?View attachment 451591

What am i looking at here?, is that a CD player?

 

[Purité Audio]

I think it probably is, manufacturers will make anything if there is the faintest sniff of a sale,
All those turntables at Munich so much pandering to a defunct and flawed medium.
Keith

 

[anphex]

How the 8381 sounded in comparison to 8361?

1. Larger, since there were huge bass drivers and overall more baffle to work with. Still really point-sourcy.
2. More relaxed, probably since the Distortion even in the low level range was below -40dB at our listening volume of about comfortable 80 dBSPL
3. More precise, as if the room didn't matter that much. I wonder how narrow the radiation is but I remember the presenter saying that these have two different crossover options depending on room and distance for the whole system.

 

[Sokel]

I think it probably is, manufacturers will make anything if there is the faintest sniff of a sale,
All those turntables at Munich so much pandering to a defunct and flawed medium.
Keith

Someone must tell them that are ways to make a surface fingerprint-resistant.

 

[Pearljam5000]

1. Larger, since there were huge bass drivers and overall more baffle to work with. Still really point-sourcy.
2. More relaxed, probably since the Distortion even in the low level range was below -40dB at our listening volume of about comfortable 80 dBSPL
3. More precise, as if the room didn't matter that much. I wonder how narrow the radiation is but I remember the presenter saying that these have two different crossover options depending on room and distance for the whole system.

I asked Genelec about it:
First of all, "better" is a very subjective term.
There are similarities in the complete concept (adaptive woofer system combined with a coaxial system), but the Quad Midrange System adds something very unique to 8381. Having two midrange ways (1.8 kHz to 500 Hz with the inner midrange coaxial driver, 500 Hz to approx. 200 Hz (this crossover can be set in a variable way) for the four dome drivers gives you a fantastic resolution and directivity control in the midrange. But for sure the W371 combinations are very good options as well ... ;-)

 

[Pearljam5000]

Someone must tell them that are ways to make a surface fingerprint-resistant.

 

[AdrianusG]

This MBL preamp…..

That display, the golden knobs, the used font…..

View attachment 451792

Yes, it's not for everyone

 

[anphex]

Interesting, this sounds familiar from my day job. Seems that textrem (ultra thin carbon fiber sort of tapes) driver diaphragms are made by Composite Sound. I wonder if there is something worth in their claims:

Technology – Composite Sound

The high stiffness and ultralight weight of the engineered Thin-ply Carbon Diaphragms (TPCDs) enable a wide range of pistonic motion, while the concept of distributed break up ensures a controlled break up behavior with low distortion.

composite-sound.com

As I understand it, TexTreme has a weight/stiffness-ratio surpassing aluminium domes, basically appreaching berylium-like performance.
The main advantage is that they can handle higher frequencies before causing a breakup with messy radiation patterns. They can be used for tweeters, mids or bass and the "weaving" pattern can control the specs. Also, it's kind of cheap or at least has good value.

 

[mhardy6647]

Hello
Here are the first two videos from the Munich High End.
Video1
Video2

More to come.

Enjoy the videos

View attachment 451309

Lordy, that's... ugly an interesting aesthetic exercise.
De gustibus...
Reminds me of a gigantic walkie-talkie (or an early handheld cell phone -- not all that much different, in retrospect).

Sorry for the non-technological digression!

 

[Mister.Mole]

Anyone heard the Børresen speakers?
They're very hyped in the audiophile world

They sounded like Erin measured those. One of the worst speakers I listened to.

I liked, in order from most to least:
Genelec / Kii
Radiance 6.2 and 4.2
Lyngdorf FR2
Fink Kim

I also think I could like Purifis prototype/demo model and KEF blade but these 2 had been out in the open not a dedicated listening room so it's hard to put them in the list.

 

[anphex]

Ok, a little off topic, but by far the best realization I brought home from the High End was increased awareness of room acoustics and how dramatic the impact can be. I just repositioned my two diffusors and the improvement is rather dramatic. I wish I didn't have the habit to just do my thing instead of just looking stuff up how to do something right the first time

 

[MattHooper]

Ok, a little off topic, but by far the best realization I brought home from the High End was increased awareness of room acoustics and how dramatic the impact can be. I just repositioned my two diffusors and the improvement is rather dramatic. I wish I didn't have the habit to just do my thing instead of just looking stuff up how to do something right the first time

It’s one of those most common experiences among audiophiles, especially those attending their first shows, to make the type of discoveries you are making.

You go there, thinking you might be hearing stuff that blows away your own system, but then you come home to your own system and you think “ that sounds better than most of the show!”

Happens to me all the time. In fact, I have a friend who reviews “ ultra audio” gear, really expensive stuff, and there hasn’t been one time where I’ve come home after listening at his place and not enjoyed my system far more.

It makes sense because we’ve chosen our system based on exactly what we’re looking for, and we’ve been able to usually set it up in a way that pleases us, so you sort of optimized things to a degree at home to just what you want.

 

[Vacceo]

Someone must tell them that are ways to make a surface fingerprint-resistant.

Any speaker manufacturer that offers not-piano black gets extra points in my book.

 

[kolestonin]

I liked, in order from most to least:
Genelec / Kii
Radiance 6.2 and 4.2
Lyngdorf FR2
Fink Kim

I guess you mean Radiant and I am happy to see I was not the only one I liked these speakers a lot.
And my impression from the vibes I was getting from other persons in the room, as I went twice to listen to them, is that they were also liking them.
Did you also find the base impressive for the size?
Room was quite small though so I don't know how they will perform in a bigger space.

 

[Spocko]

You need the cables as well of course,
View attachment 451082

I love the $1 shoestrings holding together the $5,000 cables.

 

[Spocko]

Fifty years ago, I'd have moved heaven and earth to try to attend a show like this (and did, with the Heathrow shows which were important back in the day). These days it's almost sickening as form and price seems to take over from performance.

Maybe those Genelecs need a bling-infested version to sell at double the price to attract high end domestic buyers?

High end domestic buyers won't touch those - no amount of diamond crusted shellacking will help.
MBL on the other hand? Looks RICH