Anyone who has ever looked into the hi-fi world in a little bit more intensive way knows that the arbitrary combination of well-reputed audio components does not necessarily lead to a guaranteed musical enjoyment. In the field of high-end audio, only very few manufacturers offer complete solutions—mainly those featuring a digital source. To my knowledge, Einstein is the only laudable analogue exception.

However, I do not want to anticipate: The analogue turntable, of which prototypes have been shown at trade fairs for years, is still awaiting its debut, which—probably—will happen at the end of this year. But even without it, the rich portfolio of the Bochum-based Einstein manufactory offers you even such alleged trivialities like cables or power bars. But before I continue to speculate about the turntable's future or write about my experience with Einstein's—almost—complete audio system, let me briefly look into the past. Volker Bohlmeier, whom I got to know in Bochum in his first hi-fi store—in his second store, by the way, back when I jobbed during my student days—founded Einstein Audio almost 30 years ago. The first product was visually eye-catching as well as felicitous solid-state amplifier, whose circuitry concept had been developed by Rolf Weiler. Over the decades, this cooperation has proven to be a good one:  Up to these days, Rolf Weiler still makes sure that Einstein's electronic components are always characterized by innovative technical solutions. A good example is the preamp's input selector, which avoids relays or switches in the signal path. For some time, the interior designer Annette Heiss has been responsible for Einstein's distinctive appearance. The team in Bochum is complemented by electronic engineer Uwe Gespers and radio and television master craftsman Rolf Wittig. To celebrate the decadal company anniversary in 2018, I planned a visit to the former mine building in Bochum.

Readers who have been following my writing activities and the publication of Hifistatement will find many Einstein components being old acquaintances:  The excellent balanced phono stage The Turntable's Choice I tested way back at the beginning of 2005, and acquired it shortly thereafter. Since then, a phono preamplifier for me has to be balanced. Up to now I haven't heard anything better at this price. The already-mentioned preamplifier with the prosaic name The Preamp has been extensively worked on by our tube specialist Jürgen Saile years ago. Since the testing of the semi-active loudspeaker system Maestro GSE from AudioMachina has been carried out (to which project Volker Bohlmeier, in his function as distributor of the American manufacturer of premium aluminum speakers, had also brought along his preamp to join the other components), I would not want to miss this one in my audio chain. I had already publicly acknowledged the quality of the Einstein, upon the urging of colleague Wojciech Pacula in his review on Einstein's The Preamp and The Silver Bullet. (Go to www.highfidelity.pl to find this.) Some indication of how good The Pickup sounds can be found by going to our sound library.