The High End Society is hosting High End 2023 in Munich in May. High End is the largest and most important audio show in the world. On display will be products and systems embodying the art, craft, science and technology of designers and manufacturers from around the world, all in the service of superb music and movie sound. Over four days the MOC in Munich will be filled with audiophiles and music lovers, passionate about sound. They’ll flock the halls and rooms, eager to hear and see the finest that high-end audio has to offer, and to discover what’s new. They’ll meet familiar colleagues and make new friends, exchanging thoughts and experiences. There’ll also be the opportunity to chat with manufacturers and designers. And there’ll be lots of music!
The Serious Music Blog will be covering the show for you … but all this begs the question: “What is high-end audio anyway?” The Serious Music Blog has considered this question before1, but let’s take another view.
First and foremost, high-end audio is about a perspective on sound and its reproduction. At its core is the desire for rich sensual and emotional experiences from reproduced sound. High-end audio isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. Many are very satisfied with what they hear from YouTube and MP3s over their phones, laptops and TVs. However audio enthusiasts are prepared to invest a bit more thought, effort, and yes, some money, in their quest for higher sound quality. They seek excellent sound and reap the rich rewards it offers. But, just what are these “rich rewards”?
Music and movie sound embodies the creativity, thoughts and emotions of artists, engineers and producers. They employ their experience, expertise and effort to fashion their tones, beats, rhythms, textures and effects to communicate their intent. We can use audio devices like phones, ear buds, or Bluetooth speakers to hear recorded sound. However such devices often convey but the gist, the outline, the surface, though for many that’s enough. The full richness of the artists’ creations includes much more than this. It is embodied in timbral nuances, minute timing details, infinitesimal dynamic shadings, the wide range of instrumental textures, the full frequency spectrum, from Stygian bass to the most ethereal highs, and power that is almost physical. These things matter. Why else would a musician choose a specific guitar from his collection for a particular song? Or an engineer insist on a specific mike preamp? All art is about subtleties and details as much as broad strokes. High-end audio delivers the broad strokes and the details, transporting you across space and time, to the scene of the action, raising your pores, quickening your heartbeat, and sending a range of emotions coursing through your being. You don’t so much hear the sound as experience it. This is the “rich reward” that high-end audio offers.
Serious Music will be hosting a demo and discussion introduction to high-end audio. If you think you’d like to get more from your sound reproduction, or if you’re just curious about what high-end audio can offer you, contact Serious Music for details and to register (Trinidad only, this time).
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