MBL 'Cost Is No Object' Show at Alpha High End, Feb 24-25, '18
Last weekend, as you have read in Jacques' fantastic thread, my wife, Spirit Crusher, Jacques and I went to the MBL show in Brasschaat, near Antwerp.
Jacques' review here: https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=42303 MBL has been something special in my personal audiophile history. After intense listening to music when I was younger, I got involved in other hobbies, to the point my best system was the Harman Kardon in my BMW! Later, some 10 years ago, I bought an entry level B&W surround set (XT-series) with a Pioneer receiver. Half decent for movies, but soon I wanted more. Much more. I listened to Monitor Audio, B&W 800 series, KEF Reference,... Until, some 9 years ago, I attended my first 'Cost Is No Object Show' in Antwerp, with a couple of MBL set-ups. The 101E moved me in such a way I wept. At that time, an MBL system was/seemed unobtainable for me, but I knew what I was striving for: to get as close as possible to that experience. So I was looking forward to this show, a lot. Also because it was a unique opportunity to experience their Reference Line. Normally you can only hear it in Munich, or in Berlin, in their own showroom. How Sammy managed to get MBL and their 2000 kg of gear to Antwerp remains a mystery to me. He must be very convincing. And we were lucky enough to be able to visit! 3 systems were demoed. Let us start with the most modest one: the Corona Line, with the 111F speakers. Outside that room, this integrated from the Corona Line: http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...82untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...83untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...25untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...27untitled.jpg |
Enter the room, not the most easy one to photograph with all the gear towards the sunny street:
http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...43untitled.jpg The Corona Line electronics, with a CD/DAC, pre and power amp each retailing for 6-7K). The speakers: 33K http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...56untitled.jpg |
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http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...58untitled.jpg
http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...57untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...IMG_5414BL.jpg The 111F is in fact a 4-way with traditional woofers for upper and lower bass. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...IMG_5415BL.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...64untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...65untitled.jpg Treble and mid units are the same throughout the lines: http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...47untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...50untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...53untitled.jpg |
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http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...63untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...66untitled.jpg This system sounded very good, with glorious mids and treble, but as we will later see, the integration of the bass and mids/highs could be better. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...69untitled.jpg |
Excellent pictures and thanks for sharing Bart. I have a feeling this was a serious visit and even your wife was involved so.... I have only one question... When is your pair arriving? :D
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If I'm not mistaken, Kimber Cable was used for this system.
I don't know if MBL components are very sensitive to different brands of cables. You would think they are because they're very transparent and revealing. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...70untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...72untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...81untitled.jpg True pieces of art. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...82untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...83untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...84untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...86untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...87untitled.jpg Shiny, like their Berlin colleagues from Burmester, but in a totally different way. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...88untitled.jpg http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...93untitled.jpg |
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Well attended. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...60untitled.jpg An Auralic streamer was doing service here: http://metazahren.com/photography/ge..._2untitled.jpg So, coherence quite good, but not state of the art. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge..._2untitled.jpg This speaker is 100% passive. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge..._2untitled.jpg |
Other gear, unemployed.
http://metazahren.com/photography/ge...51untitled.jpg Total cost of this system: 50K + cables and streamer. It seems that MBL is developing their own streamer now. http://metazahren.com/photography/ge..._2untitled.jpg |
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May be we should start playing the lottery. :D |
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