The Munich “Bird” Report

What brand was this?

A long time since I have been to a show, but I recall the same, most rooms were compromised but the experience, meeting the staff and I would still say the sound was enough to merit a dealer follow up.

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I attended the Plasa show as an exhibitor (professional sound an light) representing a professional audio brand last year. First off, its extremely difficult to demonstrate any equipment given the range of variables on a trade show floor, although in the pro market if you can get it sounding great in less that ideal circumstances that’s a really good sell. One thing I found did work whilst the stand was quiet was to play music that most people generally know well - that way most folk were able to hear things in the mix they may not have heard before and that then leads to a further conversation about the equipment and also ‘requests’! All I can say is that as an exhibitor it is an incredibly rewarding but also exhausting experience so my respect goes out to all the exhibitors.

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That’s a good point. There isn’t anything stopping reinforcement of the heritage of the product though, even explicitly acknowledging the current difficulties, but repeating that Naim are a brand with strong values, and calling out the benefit of the focal partnership. I know we’re all armchair critics here, but even the current times can be an opportunity to do something different marketing wise. A heritage display and demo might have helped some dealers out on the used sales side etc. Good margins on repairs and servicing too, I suspect.

…came across a bit negative, apologies, and to the OP

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It is very possible that you are right, but then they have to communicate it with their customers so we have something to relate to. As the situation is now, unnecessary frustration is created which in its extension can damage the brand.

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As usual Bert, great report.

I particularly like the references to the music being played in the various rooms, some of which I am exploring, and there is some great stuff. When I visit hifi shows, I always Shazam music I like and usually make some great discoveries, so many thanks for doing this.

I hope the operation goes well and I wish you a speedy recovery.

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Fully agree @NigelB - anyone fancy creating a playlist in Qobuz with all of the music that Bert mentions in his report? :smile:

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Well done, Bert! I was wondering whether you ever got to listen to the Grandinote room…

From his site I gather that Troels Gravesen’s Purifi 6661 floor standers were also at Munich. He doesn’t specify with whom though, nor is it apparent from the picture.

Did Purifi itself exhibit?

I love the fact that Shazam, with a capital S, no less, is a verb

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IMHO, among the best in the show…

A bit late in the game but here are some photos from the Munich show. So sorry about your leg Birt. I hope your surgery goes well.
It was my first time at the show and I was curious after attending the Chicago AXPONA in April. Everyone said it’s the best show in the world. It was just so overwhelming. It is big as Vegas CES in scale.

Here are the shots from the Linn room. They had a very early 006 serial Sondek on display along with three other current decks.



Got to see the Ekstatik closely and played. ( the only working record player in the dem room ) I assumed that this was the full-on top of the line current Sondek.


Also on demo was their new-ish streamer.

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I was really curios to hear this baby. So I spent some time with it. ( plus noone was there )





they used their own newly developed cartridge. I asked who’s making it and they said it’s a secret. :confused:

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@kuma @BertBird did either of you guys visit the Vertere room?

Looks like the Swiss Goldenberg cartridge.

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Wow. you might be right!~ They might be the OEM for Nagra cart.

I passed their room but seeing that there was no live demo I did not go in.

ha. I was in that room, too and they were obnoxiously loud. But i guess they had a lot of traffic and playing time due to its costly set up.

I had a nice time at Ortofon as well. I wanted to check out their Anna replacement.


It was on an SME arm and TechDAS Five?

It sounded nice enough but I would have loved a bit more colour.

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How did the Nagra sound?