German high-end brand Audionet “restarts with full steam” at High End Munich 2105 says the company’s press release just in. 
They will be in Showroom E101 where they say they will be showcasing:
Kit likely to be on dem will include Audionet’s Art G3 CD player along with their MAX monobloc power amplifiers.
Panamanian (now resident in Minneapolis,, USA) José James attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. In 2008, he debuted with his first album, The Dreamer, on the Brownswood label with Blackmagic following in 2010. 2010’s For All We Know came out on the Impulse! label and became the winner of both the Edison Award[ and L’Académie du Jazz Grand Prix for best Vocal Jazz Album of 2010. More »
Following its world launch at International CES 2015 in January, Chord Electronics’ latest proprietary DAC, the 2Qute, is now shipping globally. Now in full production at Chord’s riverside 
headquarters in Kent, the hand-made 2Qute is arriving in dealerships around the world.
The new 2Qute, which replaces the Qute EX, takes Chord’s proprietary FPGA DAC technology from the Hugo mobile DAC/headphone amp and adds it to the compact, boutique Chordette range.
2Qute advances the Qute EX into 2015 with the latest Hugo DAC specification. It brings the latest technology into a ‘pure’ DAC (no amp), which contains the same Spartan 6 FPGA used in Hugo. The 2Qute also boasts low distortion levels of 0.0003%.
The 2Qute offers support for up to 32-bit/384kHz audio via coax and USB, and 24- bit/192kHz over optical. DSD64 is supported on all inputs and DSD128 is supported via coax or USB (all via DoP). The new DAC also gains a switch to easily move between coax, optical and USB digital inputs.
The device features a Class 2 USB input which, because of the 2Qute’s home-system orientation compared to Hugo’s more mobile aspirations, has been galvanically isolated. This has been achieved using a novel technique which allows for data rates of up to 384kHz; the input is driverless on Apple and Android devices, with (ASIO included) drivers for Windows devices.
“The progression of the Qute, a 10,000 digital-tap-length series of DACs started with the original product just four years ago, with the original 192kHz-capable Qute. It was followed a year later with the HD suffix when we gave the Qute full 384kHz capability, and the EX suffix followed when DSD capability and double-DSD (64 and 128) was added.
“All of these units famously used the same discrete pulse-array DAC board and it’s well known that Chord Electronics chose not to use industry-standard off-the-shelf chips sets. The development of these ground-breaking DAC designs gave Rob Watts, our design consultant, the proving ground for a totally new and holistic type of DAC design which was to become the mobile and desktop DAC, Hugo.
“Hugo has since become the benchmark by which all other DACs are judged and has just shy of 40 recommendations in the press; Hugo’s sonic credentials are undeniable. However, this gave Chord a problem: some customers were less keen on a mobile-orientated product in their home systems and felt Hugo had too many superfluous features for home use. They loved the idea of a simpler and ostensibly lower-cost DAC, but wanted the award-winning sound quality that only Hugo, with its digital tap-length of 26,000, can achieve.
“Rob Watts completely redesigned the Qute’s circuit board in order for it to contain Hugo performance levels without the mobile features, such as the volume control and batteries. Because the redesign was so extensive, we felt the Qute had to have a MkII designation, but 2Qute sounded undeniably better, so the name stuck!”
2Qute key features
The new 2Qute DAC is available now Price: £995
Whilst visiting Munich for this year’s High End event you may find that you can drag yourself away from all the great audio, hifi and events that The High-End Society have laid on and so Hifi Pig thought we would put 
together a list of attractions in Munich that you may like to consider visiting.
In previous years we have found that there is just so much to see at the High End show itself that there has been little or no time for extracurricular activities, other than those based around Munich’s nightlife… and what a great nightlife Munich has and so in this first instalment of “Things To Do In Munich Other Than The High End Show” we thought we’d kick off with a short list of some of the city’s better known drinking establishments – there are of course lots more!.
Most of the beerhalls will offer the thirsty audiophile a selection of beers along with a decent selection of food…which we have found surprisingly good and decent value, though mainly pig based which we of course don’t approve of!.
The main two beers that we have come across in Munich are Helles (pale, malty and quite strong) and Dunkle (rich and dark). You can order a small one or go all out and order a stein which should last all but the most fervent of drinkers at least a short while!
Arnulf str. 52 – 80335 München – Tel. 0 89 594393
Orlando str 5 – 80331 München – Tel. 089 2111356
Sendlinger Str 14 – 80331 München – Tel. 089 2605026
Am Platzl 9 -80331 München – Tel 089 2901360
Neuhauser str. 27 – 80331 München – Tel. 089 23183257
Residenz str 9 – 80333 München – Tel 089 2318120
Booze wisely !
Pangea Audio has announced the introduction of the HP201 Hybrid Tube Headphone Amp with 24/192 USB DAC. The HP201 is now available with an MSRP of $299.99. 
The Pangea Audio HP201 combines Class A solid state circuitry featuring MOSFET output devices with a vacuum tube.
The Pangea engineering team, led by engineer/designer Jay Victor, selected MOSFETS rather than more affordable op-amp devices because of their performance advantages. “I tested a variety of solid state output devices and vacuum tubes in the design process of the HP201, selecting the combination I thought delivered the best performance despite their substantially higher cost,” reported Victor. The 12AX7 vacuum tube is protected by an easily removable shield, making it a simple task to swap in compatible tubes from different manufacturers for enthusiasts interested in experimenting with the sound..
The output stage of the HP201 is compatible with a wide range of headphone makes and models, and the analogue stereo outputs can be connected directly to a power amplifier and controlled using the large, aluminum volume control if desired. The HP201 also features a pair of auxiliary RCA inputs. The internal linear power supply features an upgradeable rear panel IEC connector, enabling the use of a premium Pangea power cable.
The HP201 is also a USB DAC. The 24/48/96/192kHz compatible input lets you play high-resolution digital audio files directly from your Windows or Mac computer. Conversion is managed by the Cirrus Logic CS4344 24-bit/192-kHz DAC chipset.
Our friends at Blumenhofer Acoustics got in touch to let us know that they will be attending this years High End Munich where they will be in room F224.
for this year’s High End show they will use as a sourse the Air Force One Turntable from TechDas, developed by Mr. Hideaki Nishikawa, the former Technical Department Director of Micro Seiki, responsible for the acoustics imprint of that company and responsible for the creation of the legendary SX-8000II turntable.
Amplification will be from Germany in the form of Einstein Audio who will present its state of the art phono preamplifier.
The electronics chosen will be the top of what Einstein can offer – The Preamp, combined with The Silver Bullet.
Cabling is from a small Italian company called. Cammino who will deliver the cabling and the power harmonization for the whole system..
Loudspeakers will of course be from Blumenhofer themselves and they will have a pair od Genuin FS 1 MK 2 in olive veneer and most probably they will be able to show the new Genuin FS 3 MK 2.
Thore Pfeiffer is a young German producer who first came up on my radar on Kompakt’s excellent Pop Ambient album we reviewed back in October of last year. This is the second artist album to come from the Pop Ambient compilation series that is so carefully curated by label head honcho Wolfgang Voigt. More »
Tejada is a 41 year old producer and Dj based in LA who joined the Kompakt imprint in 2011 with Signs Under Test following his previous album The Predicting Machine and a load of 12 inchers.
This is very much in the bleep and beats techno category with Tejada working the machines at his disposal with assurance and self confidence to produce an album of individual tunes that work well together.
This is clever stuff that is best at home in the murky and dirty underground clubs – no main room, four to the floor bangers here – but for the dedicated follower of anti-fashion this album is equally relevant in the sitting room.
What you have is a collection of tunes that hark back to the days of producers using proper synths and manipulating them to create that gorgeous analogue sound that many will be familiar with. More »
Astell&Kern has launched its most affordable high-resolution portable player yet – the AK Jr.
Despite costing £399, the new AK Jr shares many features with its big brothers.
Its aluminium case, machined controls and performance immediately set it above sub-£500 rivals says the company’s recent press release.
24bit/192hKz high-resolution audio playback
Widest range of music file format support – including DSD
High-quality Wolfson DAC
Premium aluminium casing and textured aluminium volume wheel
Ultra-slim design – 6.9mm at slimmest point; 8.9mm at largest
Weighs just 93g
3.1in touch screen display
64GB of internal memory, expandable to 128GB via 64GB microSD card (multiple cards can be used if you want to carry more music).
Bluetooth 4.0 support: wirelessly stream to headphones/speakers.
Powerful, 1.95V RMS headphone output – drives headphones more effectively than smartphones or rival portables; no need for separate headphone amp.
The Astell&Kern AK Jr will make its European debut at the Munich High End show on 14th May. It will be in shops later in May, at a suggested price of £399.
Astell&Kern has launched its most affordable high-resolution portable player yet – the AK Jr.
Despite costing £399, the new AK Jr shares many features with its big brothers.
Its aluminium case, machined controls and performance immediately set it above sub-£500 rivals says the company’s recent press release.
24bit/192hKz high-resolution audio playback
Widest range of music file format support – including DSD
High-quality Wolfson DAC
Premium aluminium casing and textured aluminium volume wheel
Ultra-slim design – 6.9mm at slimmest point; 8.9mm at largest
Weighs just 93g
3.1in touch screen display
64GB of internal memory, expandable to 128GB via 64GB microSD card (multiple cards can be used if you want to carry more music).
Bluetooth 4.0 support: wirelessly stream to headphones/speakers.
Powerful, 1.95V RMS headphone output – drives headphones more effectively than smartphones or rival portables; no need for separate headphone amp.
The Astell&Kern AK Jr will make its European debut at the Munich High End show on 14th May. It will be in shops later in May, at a suggested price of £399.
British loudspeaker manufacturer PMC (Professional Monitor Company) has announced that High End 2015 (14th – 17th May) in Munich will see the European debut of the latest addition to its twenty series range – 
the twenty.Sub. This new subwoofer, which has been designed for use with both music and movies alike, is available with the unique ATL™ (Advanced Transmission Line) bass loading principle, Class-D amplification, and DSP control.
Visitors to PMC’s room, which is F123 in Atrium 4, will be treated to a full demonstration of the new twenty.Sub, highlighting the product’s wide-range of placement and connectivity options.
There will also be two 3-way floorstanding models on demonstration. The twenty.26, the pinnacle of the twenty series and the svelte fact.12..
All speakers in PMC’s room will be driven by a Bryston electronics system featuring the BDP-2 Digital Player, BDA-2 External DACand 7BSST2 Mono Power Amplifiers.
There are other chances to hear PMC throughout the show. Cyrus Audio (Atruim 3, booth G10a) will be running systems using twenty.21 and fact.8, whilst Black Pearls Audio (Atrium 4, booth E01) from Greece will also be demonstrating twenty.21 on their stand. There is also a chance to hear PMC’s SE range, as PMC’s German distributor, Audio Concept, will feature the MB2 SE’s in their room (Atrium 4, booth E213). Those also visiting the HiFi Delux show whilst in Munich will have the chance to visit British brand Vertere, who will be running a demonstration using MB2 SE’s in a system designed without compromise.
adidas and Monster join forces again to unleash the adidas Sport by Monster in-ear headphones for athletes. The first models to hit the street are the adidas Sport Response™ by Monster and adidas Sport 
Supernova™ by Monster. Both models make their international debuts at the London and Boston Marathons at the end of April 2015.
The Supernova model offers total noise isolation, while the Response model has a non-isolating design that enables users to hear outside sound during activities such as running on roads or through urban environments.
Each model features Monster’s patented SportClip™ for a comfortable non-slip fit, as well as a 100% sweat-proof design with anti-microbial eartips. Calls can be taken with ControlTalk™ on-cable mics for hands-free control.
The adidas Sport Response by Monster and adidas Sport Supernova by Monster in-ear headphones will be available from May.
Hifi Pig will of course be reporting extensively from this year’s Munich High End show but we are also keeping all our readers up to date with a daily update of the latest news from High End Munich 2015.
This week we have brought you news from the High End Society themselves and their new app plus what German Physiks, Wilson Benesch, CH Precision, Trinnov and TechDAS will be up to at Munich.
We’ve also news from Illusonic who will be sharing a room with Klangwerk, Avantgarde who always put on a good show at Munich, English manufacturer Talk Electronics and also what Italian company Portento Audio will be displaying at this years High End.
Please click on the following links for specific news items or here ot get all the news from the Munich show.
The New HIGH END 2015 App Is Now Available
German Physiks at High End Munich
Wilson Benesch, CH Precision, TechDAS and Trinnov to Partner at Munich High End
Illusonic Sharing a Room With Klangwerk at High End Munich
Avantgarde Acoustic Horns and Electronics At High End Munich 2015
Talk Electronics at Munich High End
Portento Audio Of Italy To Present At High End Munich
British Hi-Fi brand Musical Fidelity bring balanced audio to the consumer headphone market with the launch of the MF200B headphone and partnering V90-BHA headphone amplifier.
Available in May, the MF200B headphones and V90-BHA amplifier will be available individually for £250 each and as a pair for a special price of £450.
MF200B
Based on the recently launched MF200 (Hifi Pig review is imminent), the MF200B has the same choice of design and materials plus the same micro vented, inert enclosure, specially selected and paired 40mm drivers and powerful neodymium magnets of the original model.
The MF200B has also been specifically modified for balanced audio with separate wired inputs into each ear cup, a thicker insulated cable, and a 4-pin locking, balanced connector.
V90-BHA
The V90-BHA is a tiny package measuring just 117 X 47 X 70mm WXHXD.
The V90-BHA offers a high input impedance and low output impedance allowing connection to most sources and the ability to easily drive the vast majority of headphones (from 10 ohms to 600 ohms).
Distortion is typically less than 0.005% across the audio band. The V90BHA also delivers a signal to noise ratio of better than 109 dB (‘A’ weighted). The frequency response is 20 Hz to 80 kHz (-1dB).
Inputs include both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA while outputs include a dedicated four pin Mini XLR balanced connector and a 3.5mm headphone jack output, making the V90-BHA.
Portento Audio is a new business based in Turin (Italy) devoted to the production and sale of hand-crafted hi-fi cables and accessories. 
“Portento Audio’s mission aims to preserve the musical message in its entirety, focusing on the listener’s main target: Music. In order to achieve this, top-quality materials have been carefully chosen, like the low-mass RCA connector with a customized aluminium body. All this is meant to hit music at its heart, by delivering solid and exciting playback quality” comments Pier Paolo of Portento.
Portento audio delivers a wide range of products: from analogue interconnect cables to digital ones, USB, speaker and power cables.
Electronics includes a power distributor machined from aluminium and the versatile power distributor/conditioner Powercond. It’s about a mix of electronics and technology, which main feature consists of six switched outlets divided in two groups, a parallel power line filter, a galvanic isolation transformer for digital sources and a digital voltmeter.
Portento Audio is aimed to an audience who cares about quality, sensitive about finishes, but also to the budget-conscious audiophile.
Portento Audio will be present at the Munich High End 2015 Exhibition at Hall 03, Stand L04.
Hifi Pig becomes the latest media member of The Clarity Alliance.
The Clarity Alliance, the UK hi-fi industry’s trade body, is pleased to announce that Hifi Pig, the rapidly growing online hi-fi magazine, is the latest member of the media to join the Alliance. The membership of Hifi Pig 
further strengthens the communications abilities of Clarity as it works to spread the word about quality hi-fi and home entertainment to consumers.
Founded by longtime hi-fi and music enthusiast Stuart Smith, Hifi Pig is fast becoming a very popular destination for hi-fi fans across the UK and further afield. Based in north west France, Stuart and his wife, Linette Smith, run the magazine with a number of freelance reviewers who are all hi-fi enthusiasts and audiophiles with a great deal of experience across all branches of the industry.
Hifi Pig’s ethos has always been to be inclusive and, whilst its writing is often focused on “high-end” audio, the magazine is keen to engage with lovers of music who do not have vast sums to spend on equipment. An approach which is reflected in the breadth of news coverage and reviews and is in keeping with Clarity’s mission to make hi-fi exciting and available to all consumers.
Laurence Armstrong, chairman of Clarity, commenting on the membership of Hifi Pig says, “The media is hugely important to the ongoing development of The Clarity Alliance and the UK hi-fi sector through its role as the supportive voice of the industry. By working closely with all the media outlets we are able to collectively get our message out to the people we need to be hearing it.” He continues, “I am very pleased to welcome Hifi Pig into the Alliance as one of the new breed of dynamic media organisations routed in the very heart of our industry and look forward to working with Stuart and Linette for mutual advantage.”
Stuart Smith, owner and editor of Hifi Pig adds, “Hifi Pig is delighted to have been asked to take up membership of Clarity and we look forward to working closely with the Alliance in the coming months and years. Hifi Pig is only three years old, but it is clear that we have been recognised as a fresh and enthusiastic voice in the hifi world and our invitation to join Clarity further endorses this.”
The blurb on the Naim Records websites says that Collected 1 is a collection of their favourite records from the last few years and succeeds the Naim Sampler series. It’s out on official release on 11th May and is available in hi-rez download or on limited and numbered vinyl.
Its a wide reaching collection in terms of the styles of music represented and I really like it for that, though there is a bit of an emphasis on the more jazz tinged. More »
Naim today announced that Dr. Trevor Wilson will become Managing Director from 1 July 2015. Paul Stephenson, current Managing Director, will then move to the role of Chairman of the company. 
Trevor Wilson has been with Naim for eight years, most recently as R&D Director, where he has led the team of 40 plus engineers. Trevor has a wealth of experience in developing high end audio products. Previously he held senior engineering roles at Bentley and Jaguar.
Paul Stephenson commented: “Naim has been a huge part of my life for over 30 years. I am immensely proud of the international brand we have built and the truly innovative contributions we have made to the audio industry.
“We are busier now than at any point in our history, with extraordinary products in development for our ever growing customer base around the world.
“Every successful organisation must plan for the future and now is the right time for me to take a step back and hand over the running of the business to the next generation, while I focus on our product development strategy. I can’t think of a better person to entrust the baton to than Trevor.”
Trevor Wilson added: “I have loved the challenge of developing Naim’s industry-leading products and I am honoured to now be leading the Management team. We have a well- established, long-term strategy for growing the Naim brand. I look forward to working with our hugely talented team and our valued partners to deliver that.”
Christophe Sicaud, CEO of Vervent Audio Group, parent company of Naim, added: “Paul has been central to the phenomenal success of Naim over so many years. He has helped to shape Naim into the world leading brand we see today. I am delighted Naim has a worthy successor in Trevor, who brings a wealth of engineering expertise and experience to the role. Naim is an engineering led company and it is that focus, on developing the best possible products, that will ensure its continued success.”
“Trevor is also supported by an excellent leadership team spanning the central functions of Research & Development, Manufacturing, Marketing & Sales. Naim’s management team has never been stronger.”
“I thank Paul for his huge contribution and I am delighted he will continue to be a key member of the Naim family for years to come.”
“The new Yggdrasil DAC from Schiit Audio is an entirely different take on “end-game” DAC design, eschewing the now-standard delta-sigma and DSD-optimized architectures to deliver optimal performance for the 
99.99% of recorded music out there—music in PCM format” says the opening lines of Schiit’s latest press release.
“Yggdrasil was designed with a single goal in mind: to give you the most from the music you already have,” said Mike Moffat, Co-Founder of Schiit Audio. “It’s the end result of five years of research into digital filter algorithms, resulting in a unique closed-form digital filter running on an Analog Devices SHARC DSP processor, as well as four true 20-bit Analog Devices DACs running in differential configuration.”
Yggdrasil, or “Yggy,” as the DAC in known informally at Schiit, supports all PCM formats from 16/44 to 24/192 through all inputs, including USB, AES/EBU, BNC, Coaxial, and Toslink optical. From there, the all-new USB Gen 3 input receiver and Schiit’s proprietary Adapticlock™ system manages clock regeneration. The SHARC DSP processor implements Schiit’s proprietary 18,000+ tap digital filter algorithm at 352.8 or 384kHz sampling rate and 20-bit depth, which is then passed to the AD5791 DACs and a discrete JFET output buffer. Yggy outputs both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA (summed) analogue simultaneously.
“It’s the best DAC I know how to build,” Mike summed up. “We’re very proud of its performance—and we’re very excited to be able to deliver this level of performance to the overwhelming majority of PCM music that everyone already owns.”
Like all Schiit products, Yggdrasil is designed, engineered, and manufactured in the USA, with the vast majority of its total production cost going to companies manufacturing in the USA, and local assembly, testing, and support through Schiit’s Valencia, CA offices.
Yggdrasil, (in Norse legend, the “world tree” or source of all things) is available to order now on the schiit.com website for $2,299.
Simon Lomax is predominantly known as a producer of music for film and television, but his self released A Glimmer Of Memory sits firmly in the ambient and atmospheric category.
The six tracks on this album are sparse, with pads ebbing and flowing to produce an album that is quite beautiful in its textural quality and ability to trigger an emotional response – All That Is Gone has a mournful and eerie quality to it that is somewhat sad whilst At First Sight manages to conjure a much more positive and forward looking vibe.
A Glimmer of Memory is best listened to with the lights dimmed whilst sat in your favourite armchair and allowing the music taking you along with its natural flow.
This is electronic music, of course, but it manages to remain organic and pure in the feeling it conveys. A tune may produce a contemplative response or a more uplifting reaction, and this is certainly music for the mind and not the body.
There is an instant calming of all senses whilst it is playing Glimmer and whilst it meanders, twists and flows you can’t help but be drawn in to its soundscapes. Linette on first hearing it said it was “like tripping but without the drugs”
Beautiful and highly recommended!
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