JOIN TEAM HIFI PIG AS WE MAKE OUR WAY AROUND THE MASSIVE HALLS OF THE MOC

Over the years that we have been visiting High End Munich, the area covered by the Halls has grown, with more space opened up for the exhibition, we had Halls 4, 3, 2 and 1 full to bursting with exciting new gear at High End Munich 2025.

There is a large number of stands, with many having Sound Booths for listening, these booths have been designed for great sound and a chance to hear what was on display on the stands outside…often the sound quality in these booths rivals that in the large rooms above.

In the Hall 1 area there was also the World of Headphones, IPS (international parts and supply trade stands) and the Start-Ups Stands, click the links to read those reports.

This report is a joint effort by Team HiFi PiG with Stu, Lin, Oscar, Kelly, Andreas, Kirsten and Janine all snoofling out the hottest HiFi for you, dear readers!

Follow all of our High End Munich 2025 coverage here!

Please note, all content and photos are the copyright of HiFi PiG Magazine/Big Pig Media LLP and must not be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior, written consent of the editor.

REVIVAL AUDIO

We’ve reviewed a few products from Revival Audio and at High End Munich 2025 we got to have a listen to their latest (big) stand mounters – Atalante 7. Interestingly, Reival were using Electrocompaniet electronics and the very same amplifier (AW800 M ) that we use at home. A lovely sounding system that went deep and with a really nice soundstage.

The slam into the kick on the tune we had a listen to was fab, but with no lack of detail through the mids of and tops. Jacky took a little time out to show us the front panel of the Atlante 5 limited edition, which is a sandwich construction that Jacky told us improves damping.  Tres cool!!!

ADMD

ADMD presented its two flagship digital-to-analogue converters at this year’s High End Munich: the Audio Line DAC and the AudioArcEdge DAC. Using the Electrocompaniet Nemo amps with a pair of Sonus faber stand-mounters the sound was excellent in this small booth and later they moved over to a pair of their own actives which somehow sounded better.

The ADMD Audio Line DAC is a dual R-2R ladder digital-to-analogue converter. It features a USB interface with galvanic isolation and supports resolutions of up to 24-bit/192 kHz. The DAC is housed in a precision anti-resonant composite case to minimise mechanical vibrations and external interference.

The ADMD AudioArcEdge DAC is a quad R-2R ladder digital-to-analogue converter. It includes a galvanically isolated USB interface and supports resolutions up to 24-bit/384 kHz. Like its sibling, it is housed in a precision anti-resonant composite case for optimal mechanical and electromagnetic isolation.

It’s tough to get a real feel for what a product sounds like on unknown kit and in a less than ideal booth at a hugely busy show, but what I can say is that the finish on this brand’s products is absolutely beautiful, to the point I exclaimed it was perhaps the most beautiful finish I’ve seen on a bit of HiFi. Expect reviews of these products in the coming months on HiFi PiG.

JOSEPH AUDIO, SOtM, FUNK FIRM

At High End Munich 2025, Joseph Audio and SOtM collaborated with Funk Firm. The setup featured Joseph Audio’s Pearl Graphene loudspeakers, known for their advanced driver materials and compact design. We’ve experienced Joseph speakers all over the world, and they’ve never failed to bring a smile to our collective faces. We also love that they are named Pearl after Jeff’s mum. The speakers were paired with SOtM’s latest digital source components, including the newly introduced sMS-2000 network music server. The sMS-2000 integrates SOtM’s proprietary technologies, such as the sMB-Q370 motherboard, tX-USBx10G USB card, sNI-1G network interface, and the sCLK-EX clock module.

The demonstration also included equipment from The FunkFirm, Cardas Audio, and Doshi Audio.

Joseph Audio’s Pearl Graphene loudspeakers were also showcased in a separate system with Alluxity electronics, highlighting their versatility and performance across different configurations.

The Funk Firm brought a focused selection of analogue technologies to this year’s High End Munich, centring their exhibit around both established and newly introduced upgrades for turntables and tonearms.

At the core of their main demonstration system was the Titanium Ice Vector turntable, equipped with the FZ tonearm and Akutrak system. The FZ tonearm, listed at £6,000, includes several engineering elements aimed at addressing common mechanical resonances in tonearm design. These include: A system to eliminate beam resonance. Rear-end energy rejection (REER). A mechanical decoupling approach similar to the company’s existing Houdini device. A modified Technics SL-1200 was also on demonstration, featuring The Funk Firm’s in-house bearing upgrades and their Advanced Platter Mat (APM) technology. The setup is intended to show how standard direct-drive decks can be adapted using their components.

In a separate area, the company debuted the AK1 tonearm, which includes a zero-tracking error mechanism. Also on show were various accessories: Cobra adjustable VTA system, Houdini cartridge decoupler, Advanced Platter Mat (APM) and the Eeze-Lign cartridge alignment tool.

A turntable system finished in abalone, using the Kepler configuration, was on static display alongside banners highlighting design features and finish options. This is exceptionally cool and a great solution for those looking to have more than one tonearm on their turntable – it spins to allow each tonearm to be easily accessible.

Arthur Khoubesserian, founder of The Funk Firm, was present throughout the event, answering questions on the technical background and implementation of the brand’s developments. we had a really good chat with him about loads of things and specifically the origins of the Pink Triangle turntables.

SV-AUDIO

Danish manufacturer Storgaard & Vestskov, now operating under the SV-Audio name, presented their Gro and Frida loudspeakers in their Hall booth and sound cabin; the dark blue finish on the Gro was stunning. Casper (the V in SV-Audio) demonstrated just how agile these loudspeakers are with a fab selection of ‘non -non-audiophile’ tunes. You can also check out SV-Audio and their fellow ‘Danish Audio Excellence’ partner brands in the Atrium 4.1 report here, where they had an even newer and larger pair of loudspeakers in action.

The Gro is a floorstanding model, and the Frida is a standmount design. Both feature front baffles machined from T6 aluminium. Also on display was a single, custom-painted version of the Frida in Podium Green, finished with a pinstripe detail. This version was painted by company co-founder Kim Storgaard and was first seen at Audio Show Deluxe 2025, at Whittlebury in March.

You can read the HiFi PiG review of the SV-Audio Frida here.

DIPTYQUE

Fantastic to see Eric and Gilles from French loudspeaker brand Diptyque. A brand we have followed for a long time (we own a smaller pair of their speakers) they have grown in the last few years and so have their loudspeakers, gaining acclaim around the world. This year they exhibited their new flagship, the Diptyque Reference MKII. A key feature of the speakers is its proprietary “Crossed Push-Pull” system, where each bass driver uses two independent coils—mounted vertically and horizontally—to move a 12 µm Mylar membrane. This design enables more controlled and efficient low-frequency reproduction. Midrange is handled by a 20 mm isodynamic ribbon, while high frequencies are reproduced by an 8 mm pure aluminium super tweeter, extending response beyond 40 kHz.

With O2A cables and Kora electronics, the French team had once again created a fabulous listening experience in their sound booth.

AUDIO GROUP DENMARK

We listened to a lot of Audio Group Denmark kit as they had several rooms…you couldn’t miss them as they were lined up as soon as you entered Hall 4…a prime exhibition spot indeed. I chose to sit and listen longest to the mid-priced system featuring Aavik i-588, p-588, D3, and the C1 speakers, aided by the new Boresen bass modules, and of course will all Absuz cabling and accessories.

It’s very easy to get jaded when you sit and listen to so much kit, but this was well worth taking time out of our hectic schedule. Lars played us a tune by Smilk that was techno (ish) and the room came alive. Sounds flying across the stage and that BASS was incredible – tight, controlled and completely palpable. Excellent! 

The next very high-end room of Audio Group Denmark’s exhibition space, fronted by the incredible Borresen M2 loudspeakers, was another treat of a room. At the other end of the scale was the totally much more attainable Axxess room…at the budget end of the AGD universe but I could live with this very happily.

The stunning new T series (a step down from the M level) from Borresen was on display outside the cabins…we heard them last year when they were teased at the show and were very impressed, the range officially launched in March, more info here.

TAKUMI & LITTLE FWEND

A chance introduction of a Dutch turntable brand and Nordic tonearm lifter was a match made in heaven, and Rik and Lasse took a stand together at High End Munich 2025……

Expect more from us on the Takumi Turntables very soon, and you can read our review of the Little Fwend Tonearm Lifter here.

AUDIUM

We were lucky enough to chat with Frank and Klaus from Audium on the second day of High End Munich, but wanted to return to the room, sit and have a proper listen. The new Audium Comp 8x speakers sound a whole lot bigger than they are, and the 5500 Euros asking price is more than acceptable for what you are getting. These excellent-sounding speakers were partnered with Atoll electronics.

I think some folk may think that these speakers are a more lifestyle kind of product, and they kind of are, but at the same time, they have serious audio credentials. I thoroughly enjoyed my short time sat in front of them.

You can find out much more about the loudspeaker design and the Audium brand philosophy in our video below, where Stu chats with Frank and Klaus …

ESPRIT HIGH END AUDIO

Esprit has been well known for many years for their high-end cables, but last year the French HiFi brand also released their first range of loudspeakers. This year at High End Munich, Esprit unveiled their new generation of RCA and XLR cables, featuring significant updates in both sound quality and finish, plus added a new model to the speaker range.

In the sound booth, the system featured amplification by Karan along with electronics from fellow French HiFi brand, B.audio. The Esprit Lisa made her debut at the show, a three-way speaker that incorporates 6 dB filtering, allowing for optimal frequency distribution between the different drivers. This model also uses ALNICO and AMT drivers, like the rest of the brand’s speaker models, and weighs in at 80 kg. As they achieved last year, the sound in the Esprit listening cabin was sublime.

Equipment used in the cabin was as follows: Karan Acoustics LINEa Line Preamplifier and POWERb Mono power Amplifiers, Esprit • LISA Loudspeakers (World Premiere). Full cabling by Esprit. APL Hifi DSD-GR Reference Pure DSD DAC.

Find out more with Vivien of Esprit High End Audio as he chats to HiFi PiG’s Editor Stu…

SILENT POUND

Lithuanian HiFi brand Silent Pound brought the new standmount Bloom loudspeaker, which condenses an 8″ coaxial mid/high driver and twin 12″ dipole woofers into a monitor-sized frame. A patent-pending midrange chamber and constant directivity maintained across the entire audible spectrum steer energy away from walls, delivering ‘full-range impact and a holographic stage even in untreated rooms’. Dealing with ‘bad’ rooms is the USP of Silent Pound speakers, and they are rapidly becoming well-known around the world. We heard Bloom for the first time in Warsaw last year and were as impressed as when we first experienced their Challenger model at the same show a couple of years before. Since then, we have reviewed the Silent Pound Challenger II, and we applaud both the brand’s energy and enthusiasm and their ‘outside the box’ approach to loudspeaker design.

Perreaux from New Zealand provided the amplification, with streaming products from Network Audio and power distribution from Titan Audio. Cables and accessories in the system were from Life Audio of Thailand. Speaker cables: Signature 2, Footers/pads for the amplifier: Signature 3 Mellow
Footers/pads for Silent Pound Bloom: Signature 3 Mellow, Footers/pads for Silent Pound Challenger II: Signature 3 (Custom), plus the Life Audio Signature 3 Jump Up AC, an extension that connects to the amplifier and then to the AC cable. You can read the HiFi PiG review of the Perreaux 200ix amp here too.

If you want to find out more about Silent Pound and their loudspeakers, watch our new video below, with Stu and Silent Pound’s Audrius, as they discuss the speakers and brand philosophy…

QOBUZ

The Qobuz stand at High End was continually busy, and here’s why.

Qobuz announced the launch of Qobuz Connect, a new feature designed to simplify music playback across devices. The update allows users to control compatible HiFi systems directly from the Qobuz app, without the need for third-party software.

Qobuz Connect enables continuous playback when switching between devices, such as moving from headphones to speakers. Users could operate the desktop app using a mobile device and vice versa, providing more flexibility for multi-device use. The feature also retains access to editorial content and curated playlists within the Qobuz platform.

The new functionality supported high-resolution playback, maintaining Qobuz’s focus on sound quality. Over 100 million tracks were available in CD-quality and 24-bit high-resolution formats.

Developed in partnership with StreamUnlimited Engineering, Qobuz Connect is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. It was supported at launch by nearly 60 audio brands, including Auralic, dCS, Naim, McIntosh, Luxman, Focal and many, many more too numerous to list here.

Thanks to all the Qobuz team for the invite to the fab evening over at Motor World and the delicious pizza.

ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE

Makers of some of the most impressive-looking ultimate High End uber-decks that you are likely to see at a HiFi Show, German HiFi brand, Acoustic Signature, has been very busy since we visited them in Stuttgart, back in 2019 as they were beginning to roll out their NEO range of products. From huge beasts that will accommodate up to four tonearms, to more compact models, the Acoustic Signature high-mass turntables are a pure feat of German engineering. All of the turntables and tone­arms of the NEO series are designed to be matched to each other and are complemented by three phono stages, one line of cartridges and various accessories. A great-looking stand that was drawing in the crowds from around the world at High End Munich 2025. Gunther and Jacqueline Frohnhoefer, along with Robert from Team Acoustic Signature, were kept very busy with visitors to the stand, and it was fab to catch up with them.

AUDIO ANALOGUE & AIR TECH

An Italian group of HiFi Brands who we have been following for some time, Audio Analogue are the electronics side and Air Tech, the loudspeakers and cables. This is really gorgeous gear, both from the design aspect and the sound, with everything designed to work together and, of course, all Made In Italy.

Giuseppe, Stefano and the team presented a large display of their electronics plus a listening booth with the components listed below. An effortless sound with a fantastic synergy, as you would hope for when brands are designed and made in tandem like this.

I also love the way they always light their demo set ups in the colours of the Italian flag… bellissimo!

Expect more very soon as we have their Maestro integrated amp arriving soon at HiFi PiG Towers…we can’t wait!

System info:

Audio Analogue Master 2.0 amp, AAdac and Aaphono.

Airtech ATS01 loudspeakers, which combine magneto-planar and dynamic technologies.

Airtech Zero and Airtech Stargate cables.

Also in the system were the New Horizon turntable and Think Digital Audio Stage 4 Streamer.

SOLIDSTEEL

Solidsteel are perhaps now one of the world’s best known makers of HiFi stands and racks, their reputation for Italian design and solid build quality propelling them onto the world’s stage…safe to say their iconic ‘tripod’ style stands are seen everywhere supporting standmount loudspeakers at shows, HiFi dealers and in listening rooms. As usual, they had a large exhibition space at Munich, and it was great to catch up with the team.

LAB 12

LAB 12 from Athens, Greece started their High End Munich journey at the same time as HiFi PiG, they were on the (as it was then) Newcomers stand the same year we first attended the show….now they are a globally known name and there are new things coming very soon…watch this space!

MATRIX AUDIO

Matrix Audio were showing off their brand new TS-1 music streamer which features a features a fully balanced headphone output, analogue inputs, HMDI input, as well as sub-out. They also had their new all-in-one streaming amplifiers using class-D modules in a lovely looking chassis, they come in 2 different power output models, the MD-1 (150wpc) and MD-1P (300wpc).

In their demo booth they had two setups, one using the MD-1P running into a pair of Fink Team KIM speakers, the other featuring their full separates setup including their MP-1 pre-amp and two MA-1 mono block amplifiers, running into a pair of Wilson Audio speakers. One thing that really impressed me with the new Matrix Audio kit was the quality of their new app, it is extremely slick and intuitive to use and combines local and streamed music in one, easy to browse library. They have clearly put a lot of work into optimising their app, and it pays off.

BONAWATT

A young brand we have met at the Warsaw Show, nice to see them doing really well with their lovely electronics.

LEHMAN AUDIO

Great to see Norbert. We were shown his new isolation products, with a novel music box dem…more to come on these soon.

CHESKY AUDIO

Just outside Hall 4, we met Lucca Chesky and his new loudspeakers (David Chesky pictured having a proud dad moment with Lucca).

Now we hand over to Janine, who picks out her favourites from around the Halls….

HEGEL MUSIC SYSTEM

A big name these days in audio excellence is Norwegian HiFi brand Hegel, they showed off their H400 Streamliner amp and D50 reference DAC, labelled the “Raven”. Both complement their wide range of amps, DACs, phono stages and CD players.

Hegel will be launching something very special this summer, and Stu and Lin got to see the new top-secret product with Andres from Hegel and Bill from their UK distributor, Auden Distribution. It should launch around the time of the Hong Kong AV Show in August…keep an eye on HiFi PiG for more info as we get it!

TAPES AND MACHINES

It was so good to see several manufacturers of recorded reel-to-reels at the show, including Zavalinka Records, Analogue Audio Association, and Inakustik. At the Zavalinka Records booth was the gorgeous Analog Audio Design TP1000 reel-to-reel from France, a machine that took four years to develop, and is a playback-only device. Stu and Lin went to the launch back in Covid times, in Brittany, France.

The brilliant Kostas Metaxas from Metaxas and Sins was not far away with all his artistry, products that are not only excellent performers but also take design and art to new levels. His Stellavox-based Tourbillon reel-to-reel was there, of course, plus his new electrostatic speakers, but what got my attention was the MX5 5-channel mixer. This is a Class A unit with Cardas transformers, and the mixer can be used as a phonostage as well as a tape playback preamp. And, if you’re a sound engineer like me, you can add five phantom-powered microphones and record your local gig.

REVOX

I wouldn’t have been happy attending the show without visiting the Revox stand. Being overjoyed at the news that the B77iii was to be released, they have since brought out the special “Yello” version (with yellow VU meters), and now the “Alice Cooper” version with red LEDs and VU meters. Normally, the £16k reel2reel is with blue pyrotechnics, but this one at 27,950E is signed by the singer himself, and comes with an Alice Cooper hand-signed tape. If you don’t have any need for tape, then the T77 turntable at 8,950E comes with a signed LP of his music (T77 normal price is 5,995E). The special version is only available in a small run of 25 units. Work began on the new B77 two years ago and technically, it is more like the PR99 than the older B77ii that I have at home. Apparently, “10 times better” precision and with balanced output (plus a switch in the rear to change output level by 6dB for professional use), it is designed to last as long as Alice Cooper has been performing. I think they are better looking, though he might disagree.

You can read more about the new Alice Cooper and Revox collaboration here

PYLON AND FEZZ

These two Polish HiFi brands partner up at most shows around the world, they just work so well together. Having established themselves with the more affordable ranges, they have very successfully added more High-End lines, with incredible finishes. The Pylon Amethyst Beta speaker was on display outside the cabin, whilst the smaller Pylon Amethyst Gamma made its debut inside. The craftsmanship and finish are just as lovely as the sound.

The new Fezz offerings took the shape of the new Supernova range, the Magnetar set consisting of two 200W monoblocks with KT150 valves and a linear lamp pre-amplifier.

The two brands have also been working closely with fellow Polish brand LampiatOr (notably last year’s Fezz/LampizatOr DAC collab) and the LampzatOr Pacific DAC was in the show system.

NEAT ACOUSTICS

From County Durham, this British loudspeaker company were showing off their Momentum Jet range, including the J6 featuring two downward-facing 170 mm drive units in isobaric configuration, for the very low bass frequencies, and JS stand-mount speakers. The tiny Iota II really got my attention with its small size and big sound, reminding me of the essential small monitors on mixing desks in studios. This Iota replaces the 2011 original and, with its tuned rear por,t works down to 45Hz and 50-100W amplifiers.

MARANTZ

Marantz immediately caught my eye with their brand-new wireless speakers, reminding me somewhat of B&O (with the Horizon Tripod stand, available for £650 extra) or Devialet. I was told in some press info a while back that this is their first loudspeaker, though I am old enough to remember their foam-fronted speakers from the 70’s. At £5,250, the Marantz Grand Horizon is their first powered single-speaker. These ones are sculptured for the 21st century, available in 3 colours (silver, black and gorgeous champagne), with a touch-sensitive volume control that you press and lights up around the edge of the main driver. Luckily, today’s young generation of largely HiFi-void youngsters can perhaps explore stereo if you connect up two of them, though the price of a pair might be just too much. The base is a very heavy marble to keep it stable and look good (there seems to be a lot of marble at the show this year), and each box holds a 6½” bass, 4½” mid and three tweeters. Not bad sounding, either.

THUONO AUDIO 

Thuono Audio is an Italian company based one hour from Venice, which first appeared at Munich 3 years ago. They had three gorgeous-looking turntables and an arm on display at Munich this year, coming in at 22, 34 and 48 thousand Euros respectively. The arm includes ball bearing balancing and carbon arm with Titanium inside for optimal energy transfer and resonance control (a bit like the new Wilson Benesch wand, also at the show). TH400 is the top-end turntable out of the TH series. This turntable has a large 400 mm diameter platter supported by a proportionally designed rotation system. The chassis is composed of a thick layer of aluminium and Nero Marquinia marble (there you go, it’s the marble again!), and supported by magnetic suspensions. This turntable was designed to ensure exceptional sound performance. The large size and structure ensures that a high amount of inertial torque is obtained.

FISCH AUDIOTECHNIK

Fisch Audiotechnic from Berlin had on display several different types of HiFi essentials; some great looking, heavy and solidly built mains blocks with quality components to fisch out RFI’s and EMI’s. Interestingly, they haven’t star-wired the mains sockets (which are available in any socket-type), since by having equal lengths of cables trailing like a fishing-line inside would actually cause more interference than just making them as short as possible.

AUDES

Two new models from Audes joined their series of gorgeous looking filters with Amp/Volt meters, so you can see if the expense was all worth it. They also produce amplifiers and speakers from this Estonian company, including a KT120 amplifier which has its transformers made by them, of course.

PATHOS

No HiFi show could be complete without the iconic side heat-sinks that define Pathos amplifiers. Formed in 1994 in Vicenza, Italy, it is clear to see from these products that the history of the town is steeped in fashion and jewellery. And they sound as good as they look. A big selection of products was on show here, particularly the excellent InPol Legacy range, a tribute to the work of Gianni Borinato, co-founder of Pathos. 

JTC AKUSTIC

There were several stalls full of loudspeaker boxes or drivers, for the DIYer to create their own masterpieces. JTC were there to show off their handmade speakers from Hungary, all supplied detailed literature as to their vital statistics. Their own Speaker Boxes at €11,700.00 can be created in any colour you like. 

KLAUDIO

Klaudio had one of the many highlights of the show for me. A clever turntable with a laser light to ensure tangential tracking of the record, and a platter which floats entirely on permanent magnets, so there is no mechanical noise. It contains an exceptionally quiet direct drive motor, and liquid is used to enhance stabilisation. At 55kg and 50k Euros, the Magnezar requires Klaudio’s tangential tonearm with the laser pod (a further 20k Euros), and has a mount available for a secondary tonearm, if one’s not enough. You can check out what Stu and Lin thought of their turntables in the High End Munich 2025 Atrium 4.1 report here.

OKKI NOKKI, TONAR AND AFI

Of course, at High End Munich 2025, there were plenty of motorised record cleaners, and Okki Nokki, one of the favourites, was there to show off their new DV. With a new logo on the front and a 12/10/7” selector switch on the arm, it comes in at 550 Euros. If your record is now clean but still warped, then AFI’s selection of trouser presses was there as well, with their 3850Euro “Flat” model their most programmable; with a standard temperature of 58 degrees, you can alter the heat or the time (Sci-Fi warp time?)  – particularly useful for those obese 220g vinyls. In Hall 2, Tonar were also there to show off their “quietest” sounding LP vacuums at 550€.

MASTERSOUND

There is always great-looking gear from the Italian contingent at these shows, and the amplifiers from Mastersound were no exception. Their PF200, making its debut at Munic,h is a tube mono-block amplifier, using the iconic 845 valves that I have seen spreading through Italian amplifier manufacturers, such as Unison Research. This amplifier is pure class A, with XLR input and all homemade, and typical Italian style. This is the oldest Italian HiFi company, having been in existence for some 35 years. With no less than eight 845s and four 6SN7 double triodes, and with output transformers designed by them, expect a fast and musical performance at a price.

CARY AUDIO

It was great to see Cary Audio showing two new models at Munich: the SLP-300 Preamplifier – A fully balanced all-tube design with LCD display, full of XLR and RCA inputs/outputs, plus phono and headphone sections – and the DMS-300A Streaming Integrated Amplifier delivering 75 watts per channel in Class AB. It supports Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, DLNA, AirPlay, and more. Good to see future-proofing with a balanced 4-pin headphone socket at the front.

YA HORNG

There was a large contingent from Taiwan at the show, and one company that caught my attention was the transparent turntables from Ya Horng. This turntable has a headphone output and MM RIAA phonostage.

ANALOGIS

Analogis from Berlin weren’t far away, offering everything you need to ensure the best vinyl playback; from belts, cartridges, cleaners, and everything else.

SANGEAN

One of my favourite stands was from Sangean, another Taiwanese company, who’s retro DAB+/FM/BT products just looked so gorgeous and tempted me like sweets in so many colours, shapes and sizes. And then I saw some retro radios reminding me of my own Roberts Radio. Yes, Sangean do make some of the radios for this very British of British companies. Sangean themeselves go back to 1971 and are the biggest maker of radios in Taiwan. Roberts started in 1932 and since the 1950s have held a Royal Warrant. Sangean even make radios for C.Crane (C.C), another portable radio big-ee. Their CP100D really got my attention with its gramophone styling.

TIEN

Next door, Tien (also from Taiwan) was showing off their excellent turntables that all deploy no less than three 12v DC motors driving belts under the platter. Their “10th Anniversary” looked very well made, as did their cheaper TD3.  I really wanted to see their massive Nirvana flagship turntable, which uses a similar design of 3 motors.

KECES

This company was founded in 1997, and their small and neat products on show included the S4 preamp and S4 power supply, with XLR in/outs and balanced headphone XLR. The company also manufacture power conditioners, and all their products are magnificently constructed and spec’d.

SOUNDSMITH

One of my highlights of the show was visiting Soundsmith from Allen Town, Pennsylvania. I have always liked their well-priced phono-stages, and here at the show, they showed off their new Airon unipivot tonearm. Unipivots have always had a marmite effect on audiophiles, with Hadcock, VPI and Roksan being three companies famed for deploying the balancing method, and Soundsmith were pleased to show off their clever new air-bearing tonearm. This new model has a sideways design which adds tension by compressing the arm to make it more rigid. Using aerospace engineering the arm levitates using an air pump, so the only thing “touching” the base is the cable! The 10” arm (though any size can be ordered) has a VTA adjustment that can be altered at the most important time of all; when you are actually playing your record.

KEITH MONKS

Their new “Edwardian” record cleaner is certainly a statement and a bit steampunk! You really need to have it on show. At £1495 this is certainly a conversational piece, very quiet in operation and made from bamboo with laser printer engraving. Pure beauty.

ONCE CUSTOM SOUND

I remember seeing these unusual speakers once before at Munich High End Show, and it is always great to see something that is a little more abstract than the usual box speaker. The pair that set up this company certainly wanted to produce something that caught the eye. These are pure artwork, though I never got the chance to hear them. 

AUDIO TECHNICA

I have followed AT and their MC/MM cartridges and dynamic headphones for many years, but what really caught my attention was their headphone amplifier HPA-KG NARU gets its name from the thunder god of Japanese legend, the NARUKAMI, and uses a special KUROGAKI wood that is only available in one forest in the world, selected to bring the listener closer to the wonders of nature. At $108,000 it’ll probably only get me closer to my bank manager. Made to order, this is only presently available in US and Far East. Damn, I won’t order one, then. They also presented their brand-new £100 MM cartridge, the VMx, based on their 1979 icon, the AT100. Also at the show was their new AT-LPA2 flagship turntable in acrylic and with separate power supply unit.

STONES SPEAKERS

This company does exactly what it says on the (stone) tin. Made of a compound like granite these speakers use the same stone as is found in Venice. At 300kg, probably best not to carry them upstairs.

SOLEN-AUDIO

Solen Audio were there in force with two stand-mount speakers, but it wasn’t just the design of the HELios that got my attention, but the clever DIY speaker stand holding it up. “HEL” stands for Hybrid Enclosed Line and its unusual cabinet design, especially at the rear, gives it its unique sound. It is designed for smaller amps, including Solen’s own range, of course.

AUDIO RESEARCH

As well as being used upstairs, notably in the Acora/Audio Research room, Audio Research had a small set-up in Hall 4 to show off not only some unusual stone loudspeakers but also their own i70 integrated. This is the big brother to the i50, having the same chassis and with 6550 tubes. With an active tube preamp and audio bias, it has the same output transformers as are used in the Reference 75SE. Even the headphone output is driven by the 6550 output tubes. With styling inspired by the Reference 330M, it has two gorgeous valves at the front with information such as volume level and input selection, comes in a stunning silver or black mesh finish and most importantly, was told it is cat proof. After all, not even my cat will sit on top of hot valves.

CAYIN

This Chinese company were here to show off more than just two new products; the Soul 170C preamp and 170P power amp. These are beautiful-looking valve amps that complement a range of DAPs and amps. Their C9ii is a headphone amp for their DAPs, and keeping the theme of valve-is-best, uses two Korg Nutube 6P1s. Their N6iii, like my A&K SE180, allows users to change the DAC if they want a different sound, coming as standard with an ESS9039S PRO. Options for changing the motherboard include C201, which has no less than 4 Texas Instruments OPA1622’s. Shame A&K have stopped producing the SE180 with its own choice of DACs.

STAR AUDIO

Star Audio, another manufacturer at the show, make the cabinets for companies such as Dali. The internal structure/bracing is their own design.

NAGAOKA

Nagaoka had on display their MP700 moving iron cartridge, operating at 47kohm, 1-4 grams and with 100pf load capacitance. Formed in 1940 and celebrating their 85th year, this new cartridge retails at 1299Euro.

PRO-JECT

Pro-Ject has always done things differently and helped to bring back the LP to the audiophile. Having recently made special turntables to celebrate Pink Floyd or AC/DC, their new Elvis turntable will certainly attract interest.

TRANSPARENT AUDIO

If you are really serious about your loudspeaker cables, plus have the space, the money and the muscles, then their Magnum Opus connectors could be for you. Available in 4 colours of gloss or satin the carbon fibre ‘tortoise shell’ in the middle of the wiring system – shaped to reduce internal resonance – is the “network module” that passively controls the electrical properties of your kit and calibrates the best sound. Simply tell them what your source amplifier is, and they will build it so that your speakers get the very best sound. At $82,000 for 2.5m/pair it also comes in a massive metal trunk on wheels so you can wheel it in.

THORENS

Another big name from the past, Thorens (and who also temporarily brought out a new reel-to-reel recorder a few years back) were also here to show off their hi-end at the High End Show. Their New Reference turntable has a piezo suspension system which recognises movement and adjusts it automatically, even showing on a screen what is going on. Lots of people walking by seemed to want to jump up and down to see the effect of the damping. At 220kE, including two tonearms (well, 1 just isn’t enough) from Tiele and Thorens, this 90kg monster comes with its own 120kg stand to put it on.

LENCO

Another name from my past Lenco, was also here in force. It is good to see a company that wants to address the vinyl lover of “all varieties”, with the cheaper turntables and even turntables with loudspeakers that sit next to Crossley’s and others at HMV shops in the UK, plus the more serious turntable using all their long years of experience. Their L-455 is a 6.6kg turntable with a 2M Red cartridge at 500E, and a new turntable from September is the LBT515 with a 2M Blue for 600E. However, the product I really loved was their 250g record weight stabiliser complete with strobe light show. It changes colours and brightness depending on the music! Let’s party!

EMOTIVA

This Tennessee company was here to show off their excellently priced amplifiers. Cleverly designed so that you can add extra channels by sliding boards in at the rear they make any amp from 1 channel to 11, plus 2-channel pre-amps. Uniquely, they use Class H design. Their 600W 2-channel power amp is only 1,821.95 Euros!

VIVID

In Hall 3 I was immediately drawn to my old friend Lawrence Dickie, from Vivid, and whose work at B&W can never be forgotten. With him were the Kaya K90 and Moya loudspeakers. Named from Zulu words, they mean “home” and “Spirit” or “air”, respectively. The Kaya series is a less expensive way to experience Lawrence’s vivid imagination of how loudspeakers should both look and sound.

JICO

Cartridge and replacement stylus company JICO were there to announce a larger-than-life version of the iconic Shure V15iii cartridge. Their JV15 type iii cartridge is reportedly even better and has a boron cantilever. The big question is, was the original iii a better cartridge than the iv?

HYPEX

I come from the days of building amplifier kits from companies like Maplins, Sinclair and Heathkit, and indeed the early valve power amps and preamps from companies like Leak were designed to sit hidden inside your homebuilt cabinet. Hypex have been making amplifiers, power supplies, and DSP solutions to be hidden in your own boxes since 1996. Their former CEO was into class D, which is why all their products are now Class D. With an amazing collection, even some better-known names of amplifiers actually have Hypex boards inside their own boxes. The new uprated N COREx NCx122MP amplifier is brilliantly constructed and with plenty of power to drive any speaker.

ELIPSON

Elipson were in Hall 3 to show off their speakers, especially the Legacy II range. The 3220 has two 6.5″ aluminium midbass drivers with ceramic-coated cones with the highs handled by an AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter. Their largest 3230 model looks more like a B&W 801 Dalek, perhaps.

MELODIKA

Melodika Cables from Poland were busy showing off their excellent cables that offer no “audiovoodoo” but give just excellent sound at affordable prices. Deploying top-class Neutrik connectors, look out for the HiFi PiG review of the Sky Blue cables coming very soon!

KUZMA

Kuzma were in force to show off their XLDC 80kg turntable plus Air Line tangential tonearm, incorporating air bearing which ensures practically zero friction in movements, while still maintaining a rigid bearing. 35kEuros plus 15.8kEuros for the pair. I am a fan of tangentials, as it means the cartridge is maintained in a position the same as the cutting head. Amazing that Edison thought of that idea in the 19th century with his cylinder player!

DIORA ACOUSTICS

Another HiFi brand from Poland, Diora Acoustics is a company offering bespoke cabinets for major speaker manufacturers, who now also produce their own full loudspeakers. With 140 staff, all the building, assembly, sanding, polishing and testing is done in-house. The Chors 1,3, and 5 are infinite-baffle units with ceramic-coated drivers and with the front woodwork magnetically attached, so you can keep changing it to fit in with your décor. Their Perun range is their flagship series of three speakers that are horn-loaded. The top model is 71kEuros and covered in bull leather, and deploying a vibra-isolating system at the base to dampen vibrations. Again, these are sealed units. Also on show was the newly released Lada and Polaris range. This company once made radios in the 1940s and later even TVs and HiFi systems, but it all finished in 2004, luckily to be reopened again in 2023 with products of a visibly higher pedigree.

AUDIO ANTIQUARY VALVES AND AEMILIA AUDIO

Another turntable manufacturer was hidden amongst all the stands within a section full of lots of NOS valves, this company project originated in Aemilia, Italy, where Lambo’s and Ferrari’s are made. The company logo cleverly mixes a turntable with the shape of a sports car. The turntable on show here can have 4 arms attached if you so wish, and the company has links with Micro Seiki, another great turntable/arm manufacturer from my past.

DUAL

A great name from the past, Dual, was there with their turntables, including the CS429 and CS618Q models, all at prices that allow the beginner to get onto the audiophile ladder.

HIFI ROSE

Another highlight of the show for me came from this excellent South Korean company of amplifiers and DACs, distributed in the UK by Henley Audio. They are as beautifully constructed and the products are generally so good for the eye to look at, as well as for the hands to operate and of course, the ears to listen to. Where their minimalist DACs could win a prize in the Tate Modern for its simplicity, their RA180 integrated amplifier is basically steampunk. Their CAD operator must have either eaten something weird or just had nightmares.  There is nothing out there like it, and I want one. Just to look at. It is an incredible feat of engineering, let alone its audio performance. With VU meters and even tone and balance controls, it is the skeleton watch precision of the volume control that just wants me to keep changing the level. Its industrial design is flawless, though for once they missed out on adding a DAC inside, but added four 200W amps, so you can properly bi-amp your speakers if you so wish. This might not be a new product, but it still draws in the punters, and of course, the ‘marmite’ comments…I love it!

UNITRA

Another highlight from the show was Unitra, a Polish company founded in 1961 that, like Diora Acoustics, also from Poland, disappeared and then re-established itself again in recent years. Showing off their 1974 Unitra Fonica multi-45rpm Wurlitzer, it was more their new retro-looking products that caught my attention. Their WSH 805 is a classic amplifier design that has just been added to the line-up, with side panels made of natural veneer, which is a nice addition to the usual cold aluminium structures of the 21st century. To make it look even more special there are gorgeous solid brass switches to help take it back to yesteryear. All the products from the company are made in Warsaw with a team of 35 staff (including 20 engineers). Their ZGZ-801 mk2 is a new improved infinite baffle speaker system, and their new CD player on show is the first ever (so they tell me) to use e-ink display. It actually is really easy to read. The complete system reminds me of the Amstrad “all in one” systems of the last century, which were contrary to belief, highly successful for the company. This retro set up did look good!

And some more Halls shots from Andreas…..

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Linette and Stuart Smith

Oscar Stewart

Janine Elliot

Additional photography by Kelly Bowden and Andreas Schlösser