Munich High-End – It’s All About The Music

09. March 2016 · Write a comment · Categories: High End Munich 2016 · Tags: ,

Based on the initial projections of the German music industry association (BVMI), the turnover of music sales in Germany for the year 2015 increased by   3.9%.

Audio streaming was at the forefront in the growth trends with a 96.6% increase. Behind all the “new” download and music streaming services lies a societal change that one can hardly ignore. According to a BITCOM study, downloads and streaming generated in 2014 for the first time as much revenue worldwide as with physical recordings. In contrast, the German market is not yet so far developed. The total share of digital music sales (strea- ming and downloads) did however in 2015 with 30.9% reach almost a third of the total turnover.

The future of digital music can be experienced at the HIGH END trade fair

More and more “online shops” are meanwhile appearing with music in high-resolution audio. (High resolution equals a greater number of details.) HighResolution_erleben

Similar to the television image in HD format with four times the number of pixels and thus also a picture that is clearer, sharper and more appealing, Hi-Res audio also contains four times as many sound details compared to the data of a music CD. An increasing number of audiophile “gourmets” therefore naturally want their favourite music in optimal quality.

Measured against the mass music market, Hi-Res is still a niche business, but the fan community for high-resolution audio is increasingly on the rise, and ultimately “what’s better” is the enemy of “what’s good”. Numerous audio devices now also possess the required memory capacity and therefore offer themselves for the saving of high-resolution audio files in various formats and playing them back for the user’s listening pleasure. This revolutionary innovation toward better sound quality can be experienced at the HIGH END trade fair in Munich. Here, visitors will find the entire spectrum of high-resolution players and numerous online music services offering high-resolution audio files in various formats for downloading.

Physical recordings are still much sought-after in Germany

In nearly all countries worldwide, the physical side of audio recording sales has deteri- orated rapidly over recent years. According to the German music industry association however, in Germany the lion’s share of music sales is with 69.1% still generated by physical media (CD, vinyl, DVD, Blu-ray). Of this, the CD continues to command a con- siderable share of the sales with 61.2%. Although sales of vinyl recordings have experi- enced a sharp rise in 2015 (+ 32%), these still only comprise 3.3% of the total turnover. Since 2007 this “black gold” has seen a steady increase in demand, since it represents    a culture of listening that forces us toward slowness and paying attention, and thus also creates a stronger bond between the music and the listener. This remains undisputed.Musikliebhaber

HIGH END as Mecca for collectors of exquisite audio media

Music lovers who want more than simply access to disembodied, downloaded music are sure to find just what they are looking for at this trade fair. HIGH END will feature over 200 music labels, selling various vinyl records, CDs, SACDs, Blu-ray and DVDs.Vinyl

A music collection consisting only of bits and bytes is considered soulless by many    music lovers and is unsatisfying for the music collector. Vinyl records and even, to some extent, CDs, SACDs etc. go beyond music playback and are considered artworks in their own right, due to the unique impression they create. It is not without reason that there is healthy demand for physical recordings, regardless of the fluctuations of seasonal business.

Special exhibition of the 50 best album covers

The 50 best album covers of 2015, which were selected by a jury of renowned design experts and former prizewinners, will be presented at the HIGH END 2016 in the Munich Order  Centre (MOC).Art_Vinyl

The packaging – also called the artwork – is an essential component of the vinyl record        and has developed over the decades into an art form of its own. For many vinyl fans, the design of the record cover is an important purchasing incentive.

Since 2005, the annually chosen “Best Art Vinyl Award” represents the most creative record cover. In 2015, this prize was awarded for the 10th time. The cover artworks can be seen all days of the fair in the lobby of the MOC between Halls 1 and 2 on the ground floor.

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Live Music At Munich High End 2016

01. March 2016 · Write a comment · Categories: High End Munich, High End Munich 2016 · Tags: ,

Live and very close up – the pure, hand-made sound

In the past few years, the accompanying musical programme at the HIGH END has become an integral part of the event. 2016’s Munich High End will again spoil its visitors with a broad international repertoire, sung and played live by outstanding musicians.

The artists will be providing wholly authentic live music – completely naturally, unplugged and without loudspeakers – that invites guests to linger, enjoy and listen. Visitors can look forward to a highly diverse range of music – Alpine folk, classical music, jazz, Balkan and Argentinian tango will alternate in resounding through the MOC during the trade fair.

HIGH END SOCIETY – supporting young and talented artists

The performing bands and ensembles have been selected solely from the Academy for Music and Theatre in Munich. The Academy for Music and Theatre stands for exceptional levels of artistic quality and for the finest education of outstanding young artists. The institution’s music academy has earned its current standing on the basis of its distinguished and globally renowned instructors, thus paving the way for many international careers. By incorporating the academy and its musicians into the trade fair programme,  the HIGH END SOCIETY is supporting young and talented artists in developing their burge- oning careers.

Traditional Bavarian music at the HIGH END

Traditional music removes barriers, it enthuses everybody present and facilitates lively communication between the musicians and the audience. It is customary for the event organisers to welcome international guests with traditional Bavarian music.

Hirschbachmusi

Playing on: 05/05/16, from 9:30 to 12:30 – in front of the exhibition grounds at the MOCHirschbachmusi

Hirschbachmusi is made up of five musicians all aged between 20 and 30. They came together in 2007 at the Academy for Music and Theatre in Munich. The five musicians have been deeply ingrained in folk music and Bavarian culture since their childhood in southern Upper Bavaria. Hirschbachmusi performs in the typical “Tobi-Reiser” line-up. Salzburg-born Tobi Reiser founded the tradition of playing folk music in with a conventio- nal line-up of dulcimer, zither, harp, guitar and double bass in the 1950s.Hirschbachmusi_2

Their repertoire consists of genuine Alpine folk and classical music. They have entertained audiences at various events with their string  music.

Fun With Mobile Music

The stage is where the musicians are playing. They do not need any technical aids, electricity or microphones. As a walking act they wander among the audience and bring a smile to the faces of the trade fair visitors.

Duo modéré

A musical voyage from the Occident via the Balkans to Tango Argentino

Playing on: 05/05/16 and 06/05/16 from 12:00 to 17:00 – throughout the exhibition areaDuo_Modere

The two young artists Adrian Planitz and Zdravko Zivkovic have made it their mission to perfectly combine the sounds of an accordion with that of a saxophone. Their repertoire ranges from classical music to Balkan sounds and Argentinian tango. Both musicians studied at the Academy for Music and Theatre in Munich and have won several 1st prizes at international competitions.Duo_Modere_2_

Duo Papagena

From baroque music and light classical music and arrangements to music from the romantic era

Playing on: 07/05/16 and 06/05/16 from 12:00 to 17:00 – throughout the exhibition areaDuo_Papagena

The duo was founded in 2012 by flautist Shantala Vallentin and oboe player Carolina Nees. The former scholars at Jehudi Menuhin`s Live Music Now range far from their home in Munich all over Germany and play regularly in Nuremberg, Augsburg, Würzburg, Rosenheim, Freiburg and Mannheim.

In February 2014 they received second prize for the interpretation of a contemporary work at the chamber music competition organised by the Mozart Association 1829 in Nuremberg.

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Latest News from Munich High End 2016

02. February 2016 · Write a comment · Categories: High End Munich, High End Munich 2016 · Tags:

As the global meeting-place for the audio industry, the forthcoming HIGH END 2016 in Munich is already providing important impetus early in the year. Even though there are still three months until the start of the HIGH END 2016, the outlook is already looking promising for the fair where the industry really shows what it can do.Munich_high_end_2016_banner

A positive trend is already emerging for the world’s leading trade show for high-quality electronic home entertainment, even though registration has only just been closed. At present, all 137 enclosed room units between 49 and 297 square metres in the upper atrium floors of the MOC are sold out, which means we can expect another full house for the 2016 fair and there will almost certainly be a waiting list.

The four large main exhibition halls on the ground floor are also already well filled and the planners at the HIGH END SOCIETY are working flat-out on planning and positioning the many and varied stands, and designing the highly demanded music demonstration booths, that were acoustically optimised only last year at the HIGH END and are thus much in demand from audiophile exhibitors in halls 1 to 4.

For Branko Glisovic, CEO of the HIGH END, the challenge of assigning places at the HIGH END is a happy one, although the limited number of conference rooms and exhibition spaces means a certain number of potential exhibitors will have to miss out.

As always, in choosing the exhibitors it has to be ensured that their products and  services suit the remit of the fair, and thus the focus is on increasing quality, which is    far more important to the HIGH END SOCIETY than selling more and more spaces to as many exhibitors as  possible.

The HIGH END has become the world’s leading platform for the audio industry. As well    as the many German sellers, who will be a big presence this year as always, the interna- tional orientation of the HIGH END has significantly increased. In 2015 more than 60%     of the companies exhibiting came from abroad. Many of the world’s leading suppliers    will be presenting their latest developments at this year’s fair. This focus is clearly on network audio technologies. Music systems are becoming smarter and more intercon- nected. Multi-room systems and wireless speakers are in more demand than ever, and   it

is these which are currently driving the growth of the audio sector. At the HIGH END, the exhibitors impressively demonstrate the innovation with which they meet the constantly growing expectations in our high-tech everyday   lives.

At the HIGH END 2016, start-ups will once again have the opportunity to show off their ideas and innovations free of charge. This year, eight new companies will be contribu-    ting new technology and ideas. They include the German company xivero, which will be presenting a precise, software-based “measuring instrument” called MusicScope, which acts as an audio microscope and visualises the various quality features of a music file or collection. You can use it to analyse digital music albums and analogue sources without needing the wide-ranging expertise of a sound engineer. For example, it is possible to easily verify and demonstrate whether a file created by up-sampling standard recordings   is genuine. As a measuring tool to complements our ears, it can provide quantifiable information on the quality of a music recording.

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Munich High-End 2016 – The Countdown Begins.

10. December 2015 · Write a comment · Categories: High End Munich, High End Munich 2016 · Tags:

The world’s leading trade fair for the audio industry

From 5th to 8th May 2016, international visitors to the HIGH END will be able to experience  the best that electronic home entertainment has to offer. The
Bavarian capital will once again become a Mecca for fans of innovation from all over the world. The fair provides an unparalleled overview of the entire international audio market. It gives visitors a   unique opportunity to experience a whole range of audio delights, and take time to indulge in musical pleasure.

35 years of the HIGH END – a fair with a long tradition

The HIGH END can look back on a long tradition. First held in Düsseldorf in 1982, it will be taking place for the 35th successive year in 2016. After 21 years in Frankfurt am Main, the oldest and biggest exhibition of its kind moved to the MOC in Munich in 2004, where it has been held ever since.Willkommen

The HIGH END is a paradise for audio and video demonstrations

With its ultra-modern architecture and infrastructure, the MOC convention centre in the north of Munich offers ideal conditions for presentation. The MOC has now been home   to the annual exhibition for more than a decade. On an area covering 27,610 square me- tres, the HIGH END occupies four spacious exhibition halls and four glass atria with 140 adjacent showrooms. These beautiful, light-filled, individually customisable units offer ideal conditions to make a lasting  impression.Atrium

The HIGH END represents the entire audio industry

More than 500 exhibitors from Germany and abroad will be presenting their audio inno- vations. Not only the global players, but also smaller audio specialists will be showing     off their flair for development. Once again, the world’s leading suppliers of electronic home entertainment products will be presenting all their product groups and the entire spectrum of state-of-the-art technology.

Click the image to download last years show coverage by Hifi Pig

MunichFrontTHISFINAL

Variety, impact and quality of information

This fair makes a lasting impression on all those who experience it. With high-quality individual presentations by exhibitors from every part of the audio sector, fascinating musical demonstrations, exciting workshops, instructive comparative audio tests, inte- resting talks on the technology stage and live music everywhere, the fair is a guaranteed success.

The HIGH END in Munich brings together every aspect of the audio industry

The HIGH END covers every area of technological development. Bringing together traditional analogue hi-fi, the latest digital trends and high-definition video, the fair has everything there is to offer.  Visitors can experience the whole variety of video and    audio systems. People have different tastes, and there is a wide range of ways to listen with pleasure. So, for example, visitors to the HIGH END can enjoy everything from the reassuring sight of a vinyl disc turning to high-definition audio files with sophisticated conversion systems. There is no single method that can please everyone, so everyone  can and should use the variety of media exactly how they want to.

There’s also pure analogue technology

The whole range of tried-and-tested analogue technology will be there, with turntable units, amplifiers, tone arms, cartridges and valve equipment. Vinyl records are also on   sale to go with it. The tactile, heavy vinyl disc has been in growing demand for a number of years.

Naturally, the “sound of the future”

The entire spectrum of recent digital developments will be on show. These days, music    is not just consumed on digital and mobile devices, but also online and in networks. The

products on display include internet-capable receivers and hi-fi systems, as well as multi- room music systems, wireless Bluetooth speakers, sound bars and innovative, state-of- the-art headphones.

HIGH END in the car

Visitors to the HIGH END 2016 will once again have the opportunity to listen to unusual sound systems in different classes of car. This is because during the past decade, many  car manufacturers have used the expertise of the companies in our industry to offer   their customers tailor-made, and therefore better, audio systems. In Germany, a third of all new cars sold are now equipped with a special, optional sound system.

Electronic home entertainment for every age and every pocket

Naturally, affordable entry-level models for newcomers to hi-fi will be presented. Visitors can find everything the music enthusiast needs, regardless of age and listening habits.

After all, the HIGH END will always be a fair for music lovers.

The HIGH END begins with a special day for trade visitors

On 5 May 2016 (Ascension Day), the fair is only open to registered trade visitors and journalists with prior  accreditation.

The HIGH END is organised by the HIGH END SOCIETY, the trade association for high- quality electronic home entertainment, which includes the industry’s leading companies.

FACTS:

Location:  MOC Munich – Lilienthalallee 40 80939 Munich-Freimann

Dates:      5th May – 8th May, 2016

Trade  visitors  day: Thursday, 5th May 2016 (with prior registration only)

Opening times:10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Trade visitors:   EUR 20.00 with prior registration(valid on all days)

General   public:  EUR 12.00 / day ticket from Friday to  Sunday

See you there!!!

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Metaxas Solitaire 2016 To Première At High End Munich

29. October 2015 · Write a comment · Categories: High End Munich, High End Munich 2016 · Tags:

After 40 years of creating audio equipment, the last thing that artist-designer Kostas Metaxas wanted to produce was “another box with transistors on a heatsink”. He was apparently inspired by ‘the most spectacular architecture, design and sculpture’ he had experienced and ‘wanted to bring that emotional intensity, daring and seductive beauty to an audio amplifier.’Metaxas_solitaire_1

The Solitaire 2016 is the result. Machined from a solid block of either aircraft aluminium, copper or titanium, it’s totally bespoke and Metawas claims that ‘the modular electronics make it future-proof’. Even the circuit boards are CNC machined from 1mm solid silver coated clear polystyrene.  100% designed and engineered by Kostas Metaxas, each amplifier is assembled by his sons, either Andreas or Alessandros Metaxas.Metaxas_solitaire_2

The Solitaire 2016 along with the Ikarus Integrated Amplifier and Opus preamplifier will be “world premiered” at the Munich High End Hifi Show in May 2016. A Studer A80 will be playing 10″ Analogue Master Tapes from a selection of the over 300 Classical and Jazz concerts recorded by Metaxas on his modified Stellavox Tape equipment. Hifi Pig will be there to report back on how they sound.

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