Totem At IS Europe

So further browsing the endless of stands at the end of a huge hall, Totem were showcasing their speakers. Slim design, on wall or in wall, in ceiling or floor standing. I think graphically they want to fit into a modern home, typically smaller room sizes. No speaker were overly big, none overly small, and I can see why some would like to use this Totem speakers in their home.

The sound was good, although the size of the hall and all the activity did dampen their efforts to demo their systems. From the little part I heard it sounded like it is a quality product where they did not sacrifice any quality for style.

Their in-wall speakers were professionally fitted into their stand. I particularly liked their in-ceiling speakers which can be used for a full cinema design. 

 

My time with Steinway Lyngdorf at IS Europe

Everyone that have heard of Steinway & Sons knows that it is one of your more superior piano brands. Now I walk through the endless and timeless stands at the IS Europe Exhibition, just soaking up the atmosphere. And all the sudden something looks out of place, or rather, everything else looked out of place. A name that sounded familiar was written in gold above the stand, STEINWAY LYNGDORF. Amazed at what I saw I investigated. Beautiful workmanship, stunning looks, different. (I will give some more detail about the technology in later post) Towering above machine, art and men a like is the Model D, it just looks stunning. There is no grill, rather rope stringed like a harp. Golden work off on the speaker edges, fully digital.

The site that welcomed IS Europe attendees 

A very busy representative quickly slides my way and suggest I must go to the demo room which they have set up especially for the Steinway Lyngdorf Model D. Not knowing what I will experience I take a relaxed walk to the room. Being greeted by Peter Lyngdorf I entered a room where two majestic speakers just smiles down on me like Zeus will look down on an enemy after he tortured them with a lightning bolt. The room configuration was also very epic as shown in the next picture.

Peter Lyngdorf with Steinway Lyngdorf Model D Stereo System

With selected music I was amazed, in awe, in shock, and still not sure what is going on. Why would you pay 180 000+ Euro's for this stereo set-up. Well, because it is just that good, it is phenomenal! It is blasting with precision, it is wildy tamed, it captures the soul of music, the heart of the voice, I can not explain. Something so beautiful (and currently out of my budget) that gives even more beautiful music back to my ears. What have I missed! With piano pieces (and like Peter Lyngdorf noted, a Steinway & Sons piano) the music is right here before, in the middle, with a not in the speaker, here in the middle of the room, playing piano for you, not the speaker, for you. When you close your eyes you can see the pianist passion as he rolls his fingers over the keys. Stunning, stunning STUNNING!!! He played a little bit of rock, perfect, all the instruments accurately and equally distributed all over yet in the right direction.

Steinway Lyngdorf Model D

My ears, my body, my soul was in heaven (well, as close as I have ever been). Clearly Steinway Lyngdorf's Model D is making a statement, if you have the money to buy the best, buy me! What a treat, what a speaker.

At no time did I question what I was hearing, all the music and sounds was given to me in its natural form. Few will deny that this is one of the best stereo configurations on the market. It is a huge name in music Steinway & Sons and a pioneer in Hi-Fi/ Home Theatre Peter Lyngdorf combining its influence into one speaker





After the demo with Peter Lyngdorf we just moved around some curtain to another area where Steinway Lyngdorf were show casing their S-Series Home Theatre system. Some David Foster was played (Michael Bubble to be more specific), and then some movies, and then some shooting. Well...I think they made the mistake by playing the Model D first, ears being subjected to such brilliancy and then going down to small speaker Home Theatre, it just did not impress as much, though good, I was still in a dream world of what was going on just around the corner where the real speakers are screaming my name. I hope I will again get the opportunity to listen to the S-Series Home Theatre set up, I could not truly sit down and appreciate it at that moment.

Steinway Lyngdorf at IS Europe Stand

 This blog will be updated with full product range, news and more in the next few weeks, stay tuned.

Some more ranges from Steinway Lyngdorf

My visit to DM Holdings

We arrived to a bitterly cold, snowy and overcast country, but that would not change our mood. So our journey began with much excitement from Amsterdam, we catch a bus that drives us down to near the Belgium border in Eindhoven. Greeting us at the bus is a friendly Dutch man called Ties, he is the Export Sales Manager for D&M Holdings. Walking over the freezing snow from the previous day, we enter D&M Holdings headquarters, Europe. We walk into a nicely laid out conference room where some snacks and drinks await, as we wait for our cold bones to be warmed up this is definitely a welcomed gesture.


Awaiting us is the team of D&M Holdings staff that are responsible for Europe and Africa. Rainer, Dirk , Oliver and Michel, all greeting us with German- and Dutch-English accent. Also entering the room is a friendly Japanese gentleman, Ken Ishiwata. What a humbling moment and an honour for me, meeting the guys from D&M Holdings and a legend in the field of Hi-FI.

Treated to an introduction we were separated into 2 groups and my group was first go and have a “meet-and-greet” with the legend, Ken. We walk down a spiral staircase into a dream, a studio laid out and fortified, treated and decorated by Ken to get the best sound possible. In front of us is his demo room, Marantz CD Players, Marantz Pre-Amps, Marantz Power Amps, all silver, hooked up to a Boston A-26 and still concept Boston Reference speaker (unknown by name, unknown for release). 



Demo Room D&M Holdings


To begin with he played some songs on the Boston A-26 bookshelf. Ken Ishiwata has also been involved in the development of the Boston A-Series. He hooks it up to the Marantz KI-Pearl Lite, obviously his signature is on that specific unit. So this was awesome, a speaker and stereo amplifier which both was influenced by Ken Ishiwata. Cranking it up a bit it became apparent to me (listening first time to the A-26) that Boston is in for business and aims to tackle the stronghold of the British speakers. The typical American sound has become much more musical, much more balanced, and it costs a fraction of most bookshelf speakers. Dear I say the B&W 685 bookshelf does not seem that impressive in my mind, well not as much anymore since listening to this combination.
Beautiful mid-range, the HF is well pronounced, the bass is effective in filling the room with what it is given. To all who are looking for a brilliant bookshelf stereo set up, get a Marantz KI Pearl Lite and a Boston Acoustic A-26. . .fabulous!

No he is not dancing

Next in line were the Reference Speakers that were only show cased once. They were hooked up to the Marantz Legendary CD, Pre Amp and Power Amp (SA 7 S2, SC 7 S2 and MM 9 S2).  Just to put this into perspective, I have heard B&W 803 Diamonds, 800 Diamonds, I have heard Steinway Lyngdorf Model D, I have heard the KEF Blade, and I can assure you if or when this speaker comes into production it will change a lot of people's view on Boston Acoustic's ability to make high end Reference Speakers. It was awesome. He played specifically a piece of bass guitar solo. Good heavens, what absolutely stunning presence, control and balance. Ken showed us the design of the cabinet and it explains a lot how the sound from these speakers is brilliant. The speaker does at no time feel held back, it is crisp, clear, polite yet aggressive, with precision thundering bass. 

What a treat to be with a legend in the field of Hi-Fi. He is passionate about what he does. And when you look at the excitement and passion of the group of people at D&M Holdings, the future of Denon, Marantz, Boston and their associated products looks very bright. They are always asking for input and feedback on their products, always willing to take a compliment and suggestion a like. 




After our encounter in the demo room we moved up to the conference room again. Here, some new products which were recently launched were displayed to us. Their soundbar TVee 30 is really a lovely piece of work for those who have space restrictions, or just want to have great sound in their bedroom. Most soundbars on the market cater for movies almost exclusively, but not the Boston TVee. Dare to play David Foster Blu Ray through it! You will find a great pleasure in this, I can almost guarantee this. Also some new i-Pod players will come onto the market in the near future, which will be Airplay friendly. Beautiful design and it does sound better than the Boston Duo.

The time had come to leave the D&M HQ, Europe. With a huge smile on my face, off I plodded into the freezing cold winds of Holland. Fortunately we were treated to an awesome Japanese restaurant where food at one stage flew around, (the video to be added about this at a later stage).


I would like to give specific mention to the people that really made this experience truly unforgettable, my sincerest thanks to: Ties, Rainer, Dirk , Oliver and Michel, and Ken Ishiwata, you have left such a great impression in my life, meeting all of you is something that I will cherish as being one of the great moments in my life. Thank you all so much for the opportunity to meet you, chat with you and create some really special memories. You have inspired and humbled me.

IS Europe Intro

I was standing at the Airport ready to board an Airbus 380-800 (magnificent) not realizing what I am going to. It is really wonderful. Amsterdam is really a lovely city, people are friendly, dogs are quiet. I was situated in the Amsterdam Citizen M Hotel for the time being in Holland. Truly Amsterdam is a beautiful city.

Arriving at the Amsterdam RAI where the Exhibition is held, many people are registering for the show. 34k plus people pre-registered for the exhibition and 4000 registered at the entrance. What was to see is truly out of this world. Many exhibitors from different country attended, the first hall I entered was mainly outdoor display, commercial display and LED display companies. 

The chinese salesman jumped at every opportunity, ready to market to everybody, even when showed no interest at all they will go out of their way to impress and to show of their products. Some from a distance like the picture added actually looks like a smooth running LED TV, yet when coming near to the actual panel it is 1m x 1m LED panels where each LED is 4mm apart. Costing around 33 000 Euro's it is kind of a brilliant marketing tool. But then again, I was not there for the commercial advertising, but the Chinese oaks were just all in my face and enthusiastic beyond believe

Coming around the corner, WOW, good heavens and hell apart, there starring at me, two huge silver chrome speakers, just catching every eye, it was the KEF Muon, spectacular, no picture can do it justice. It is huge, it is curvy, it has an incredible presence to it. The guys from GP was on the ball to help on any info. When I asked them why the hefty price, one of the representatives replied "It is a KEF, and it is brilliant"








Many brands was represented at the ISE Exhibition and I will add the different speaker brands and amplifier brands in the coming weeks. I will add for each brand the photo's and news from the respective brands.

ISE Report

I will within the next few days add a lot of news and info on products at the IS Europe Exhibition. Also will add a lot more speaker brands to the site.

A big highlight was a evening with Kent Ishiwata, I will write some more about this in the coming 2 weeks.