If you wake up with a head full of oompah, the lingering scent of Brühwurst is clinging to your nostrils, your shirt bears the glorious stains of a Himbeergeist-fueled night and Techno Viking anthems pound your eardrums from unseen speakers, while a lone warrior shreds an epic air guitar solo near a pair of tube amps glowing with otherworldly warmth…then fear not my friend! You didn’t reach Valhalla yet! Oh, no! This is the glorious chaos of the HIGH END Show 2025!
You’ve probably seen us; we’re the giddy ones with cameras poised to capture the bleeding edge of audio innovation. If you spot us, lost in sonic bliss with a goofy grin glued to our Eastern European faces, stop for a moment, give us a fist bump, a hearty toast, and share your own audiophile discoveries. But before we dive into the nitty-gritty, I want to give a heartfelt shout-out to my fellow audio adventurers for the laughter and friendship. If you think we went to the HIGH END Show only for high-end electronics that we could never afford, then you would be wrong! We are going there mainly for the social aspect, meeting our old friends and making new ones, we are going for the jokes & laughs, for the beer and wursts, as we couldn’t survive a day without them. We are also coming to meet YOU and thank you all for the random high-fives and fist bumps. You made this show so much better.
Hello Munich, my old friend. I’ve got to talk about you again. But it wasn’t the sound of silence that drew us to this magnificent city, quite the contrary! It was the roaring sound of loudspeakers, the whispers of headphones, the silent humming of transformers and the rich harmonics of vacuum tubes that called our names for one. Last. Time.
Even if this is our 5th HIGH END show, alas, this will also be our last. Next year we’re changing brühwursts, pork knuckles and cloudy Weissbier with schnitzels, tafelspitz and Stiegl.
Auf wiedersehen, Bavarian capital, and hello Vienna in 2026, but until that happens, let’s crank it up to eleven! I must say, this was by far the most fun HIGH END show we’ve attended so far. We always have a good share of fun, at and after the show, usually somewhere around Marienplatz. But this time around, the event organizers decided to go out with a bang and make it noisier, wackier, and cooler than ever before. We’ve cranked our excitement to an unhealthy level, we’re thrilled, honored, and a little bit terrified to be part of the legendary HIGH END mayhem once again!
With over 1.500 brands, 550+ exhibitors, and 22.000+ attendees, we had to strategically prioritize our targets. Some exhibitors immediately charmed us with their genuine passion and down-to-earth personalities. We were eager to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, and it got us even more amped for the upcoming Audio Video Show 2025 in Warsaw, coming in late 2025.
So, what are we waiting for? Grab yourself a drink and a snack, settle in, and let’s hit some eardrums in a two-part show report, one dedicated to stereo heads and another to headphone aficionados, and let’s start with all things stereo.
I. Stereo Setups
1. BEST OF SHOW
- Storgaard & Vestskov
Our last Editor’s Choice award from Audio Video Show 2024 in Warsaw (you can see it here) went to the Storgaard & Vestskov team, or SV-Audio for short. We remained deeply impressed by their tiny 2-way GRO loudspeakers, they’re not just gorgeous to look at, but so much more! Their sound enveloped all our senses, with a rich, bold tone that seemed to tingle every cell in our bodies. And let’s not forget the crazy dynamics that pounded the room with so much energy like a musical adrenaline shot!
Fun fact No.1: After getting home, we did our homework. We checked their website, social media, and were completely stunned to see Kim Storgaard, the man behind the brand, hand-painting their speakers with rad, one-of-a-kind paint jobs. Kim isn’t just your average Danish businessman; he’s also an indispensable part of the team that customizes every speaker by hand. As for the GRO, they definitely have that classic Danish house sound we’ve known and loved for years. Even though they announced the larger MENJA speaker this year, I couldn’t resist visiting the GRO one last time because, honestly, you just can’t get enough.
That tiny 2-way GRO defies the laws of physics, much like my speakers do at home! They’re small, yet mean and impactful, even reaching surprisingly deep bass regions. At first, the low-end delivery seemed almost impossible for such a compact box, but knowing Denmark’s legendary loudspeaker heritage, it’s no wonder the SV-Audio GRO sounded so alive and impactful with every track.
The MENJA, revealed just a few days ago, takes things to a whole new level. Armed with four bass/mid drivers, a dedicated woofer handling the midrange, plus a Satori tweeter and an Ultra tweeter, there’s no frequency range this beauty didn’t conquer with authority and control. We don’t know much about their custom electronics, just a dedicated preamp and two monoblock power amps, but the moment we heard it, we knew we were onto something special. The rich harmonics carried us away. If you mix the transparency of Raidho speakers with the fun factor of Dynaudio creations, you get the SV-Audio house sound, simple as that! This was the only room we visited three times in three days. After experiencing the roaring power of the GRO, we simply had to see how much better the MENJA could get.
And get better it did, everything was more imposing: bigger soundstage, deeper bass, more layered textures, and sounds that stretched well beyond the borders of the listening room. Dynamics? One word says it all: Earthshaking!
Fun Fact No.2: I had hoped to meet Mr. Vestskov at the show, but instead, a cheerful and knowledgeable lady answered all my technical questions with ease. I didn’t hold back, eager to confirm I was speaking with someone truly in the know. Her badge read Lærke Vestskov—and tada! It hit me: she was the “Mr. Vestskov” I had subconsciously expected to meet. Interestingly, our YouTube analytics show that 98% of our viewers are male, and only 2% female—so it’s refreshing to see a woman leading the charge in this industry. Lærke isn’t just smart and business-savvy; she also infused the team with new energy, bringing a fresh vibe to the show floor.
Now I hope you see why SV-Audio deserves our Best Of Show award. Their speakers sound exceptional, have a sleek design that breaks away from the usual blocky look, boast unique paint jobs, and are crafted with hands-on participation from their leaders. I envy that kind of passion and creativity. I can’t wait to see them again at the Audio Video Show in 2025 and later in Vienna!
- Audio Group Denmark (Aavik, Ansuz, Borresen)
I need to confess something to you: this is our first time in five years awarding the Best Of Show award to the same company or, more accurately, a group of companies. Why? Because they were simply legendary! And let me tell you why. Before we dive into the details, let’s clarify that high-end audio isn’t just about the sound, you know. Oh no! It’s also about the build quality, the craftsmanship, the crazy ideas that go into creating these masterpieces, and most importantly, the people behind them.
I’ve known these Danish Vikings for quite some time, and yes, while I absolutely love their sound and all the nerdy details, pure silver, zirconium, inverted Tesla coils, and the like, what I truly enjoy is talking to the folks behind this team of audacious renegades. You know, there’s some Varangian blood running through my veins, and it’s like chatting with brothers from different mothers. We’re more alike than we are different. And if there’s a talkative, expressive Danish crew, it’s definitely the AGD team.
I won’t go into all the details about Michael, Lars, Morten, and Kent, or the liters of beer and gin-tonics we enjoyed at their Factory in Denmark last year (shhh, you didn’t hear that from me), but I will say this: there’s some real magic happening here. They have a knack for balancing work and fun so effortlessly that I almost envy their ability.
Alright, I should probably describe everything I heard at their booths (yes, plural). But that would take several pages. These guys once again brought out the big guns. They likely had the most rooms filled with electronics and speakers, with at least three different setups, and some speakers even swapped out from day to day. If you attended on Thursday but skipped the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday visits, you probably missed three different pairs of speakers, and if you multiply that by three, you get the full scale of the madness and sheer size of the AGD showcase on the floor.
The first system we experienced featured their Borresen C1 stand-mounted speakers paired with a new set of Borresen subwoofers. Lars Kristensen was doing his usual mojo, cheerful, smiling, and full of passion. And surprise, surprise, a brand new turntable was spinning vinyl, linked to a new phono preamp. They chose DS Audio’s optical technology, which significantly lowers the noise floor compared to traditional record players, boosting the dynamic range by about 20 dB! The first thing that struck us was how much detail was extracted from the record. The vinyl sounded incredibly close to streaming high-res files on Qobuz, crystal clear, without the usual pops and crackles you get with standard turntables. And then…her majesty, The Bass! The C1s were dropping some serious beats, hitting hard, like below-the-belt type of deep. Thanks to the new subwoofers, this combo made for a perfect setup in a small living room that can’t accommodate bigger speakers.
Speaking of small spaces, there was another pair that impressed us even more, the new Borresen M2 loudspeakers. We’ve already heard the M3 and M6, and yes, they’ll cost you an arm, a leg, and probably a kidney…or two. But their size was their biggest hurdle, not their price. The M3 and M6 are massive, barely working in 2.5m tall buildings, which isn’t exactly ideal for a fancy apartment in Monaco. That’s where the new M2 fits like a glove! The same legendary craftsmanship, the kilos of silver pushing and pulling those drivers, but now in a more compact, WAF-friendly design. And let me tell you, these are some of the most transparent, resolving speakers I’ve ever heard. After years of attending shows and testing hundreds of systems, I’ve never heard higher transparency or crazier detail retrieval than what Michael Borresen’s M-series offers. When paired with the right electronics and cables, they’re vivid, palpable, and beautifully rich. But no matter what, they always pound the room with outstanding dynamics, again and again.
Our second Best of Show award goes to AGD, first in 2022, and now again in 2025! I think they might just be setting a record.
- WADAX Room (WADAX Streamer & DAC, PILIUM amplifier, Magico S5 speakers)
Alright, everyone, here we go. We’re now entering high-end territory, but not the kind of unobtanium, sell-your-kidneys, I’ll-never-afford-this kind of high-end. No, this is the level I aspire to someday. This is that room. I believe this marks our fourth year visiting the WADAX room, and sure enough, it’s always sounded fantastic, especially last year with the S5s driven by Audio Research tube monoblocks. But, dare I say, last year’s sound wasn’t quite as special or as magically emotional as it was this year. We’ll have two new team members joining us in the coming months, but I’ll let them do the talking when the time is right. However, these soon-to-be-mystery team members begged Catalin and me well, maybe even pleaded to NOT miss the WADAX room. How could I say no? Of course, we went twice!
Not only did this room not disappoint, but it remains by far the most beautiful, coherent, and emotionally captivating setup I’ve experienced in four days. Yes, I’ve said it! Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but in my humble view, this system served up the most believable and palpable sound of the entire show. The part that stole my heart (and gave me glorious goosebumps) was the midrange purity! It was more than just emotional, rich, and sweet; it was something else entirely. I later noticed how well the lows, mids, and highs were intertwined, singing in perfect harmony, like a single living organism. The sound wasn’t disjointed or splintered into tiny fragments (like in the MBL room). Instead, it all came together as one cohesive entity, beautifully portrayed both in front of us and in our peripheral vision.
I love my Raidho TD 2.2s for their midrange charm and presence, and the same goes for Dynaudio’s Confidence range, with absolutely stunning midrange renditions. But this room? It was on a whole other level. And I’m not sure if the otherworldly flow and naturalness emanated from WADAX electronics, the PILIUM’s mighty power and control, or the Magico S5 loudspeakers. Maybe it’s all of these combined. Now I completely understand the fuss about this room and why we needed to experience it, not just hear it.
My third Best of Show award goes to the WADAX room. I can’t wait to see and hear it again in Vienna, and who knows? Maybe I’ll even encounter them at the Audio Video Show this year too!
2. HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Matrix Audio Room (Matrix Audio electronics, Fink Team & Wilson Audio speakers)
I visited them last year as well, but I was in such a hurry that I only managed to snap a couple of pictures and sit down for a minute or two. Unfortunately, I didn’t form a solid impression back then, but even in that brief moment, I was surprised to see much higher-end electronics than what they showcased in the past. Everything looked big, imposing, and quite premium, though the prices, while high, didn’t reach stratospheric levels; they stayed within a realm still considered quite affordable by high-end audio standards.
This year, though, we decided to turn things into a bit of a surprise. I came along with my partner, and we ended up sitting there for at least ~20 minutes (which is quite a long time for a listening impression at HIGH END, considering the mountain of other rooms still waiting for us). Their previous gear was all about ultimate resolution, transparency, and great pace, rhythm, and timing. Their sound always came across as clean, articulate, honest, and quite impactful, whether through speakers or headphones.
But this time around, I sensed some newfound skills in their electronics: a much higher note weight and texture, paired with an abundance of naturalness that rushed forward, sounding livelier, richer, and much thicker than their older designs. I was pleased to see a proper setup that didn’t spare a dime, everything beautifully arranged on a hi-fi rack. They had a dedicated streamer (MS-1), a DAC, a preamp (MP-1), and a network switch (SS-1 PRO, which we reviewed right here). That switch was connected to an atomic clock generator (SC-1), and all the heavy lifting was handled by two massive power amplifiers (MA-1) working in mono mode, driving what I believe are Wilson Audio WattPuppy speakers (at least, they looked just like WattPuppys to me).
The total system cost didn’t exceed ~€100K, yet the sound was on par with systems costing €200K+ that we heard over those four days. There was nothing that bothered us; the top end was crisp, detailed, and clean, without the usual letdowns. Jude (from head-fi.org) was in the same room as us, and no matter what track he played, including some angry metal tunes, everything came together seamlessly. Dynamics went wild, the bass shook the foundation of the room, and the midrange was sweet and seducing… We couldn’t find a single fault with what we heard.
If you’re still undecided about whether their high-end gear is worth a shot, I’ll tell you, watching their gear and hearing it in action, it’s exactly as bold, classy, and downright beautiful as it looks!
- Grandinote Room (Grandinote Solo amplifiers, Grandinote Mach 2 Estrema speakers)
There are so many HiFi brands around this spinning globe that it’s nearly impossible to know them all. But I’m glad that, sometimes, out of nowhere, you stumble upon a new brand that turns your world upside down, 180 degrees. I don’t know much about Grandinote, but as soon as I entered their room, it was crystal clear that these friendly faces were all about one thing: Dynamics! I asked if I could play some tunes we knew well and how high I could crank the volume. The answer? Sky high!
No time wasted, ten seconds later, Mongol warriors, The Hu were loudly chanting their battle cries, and their throat singing echoed across several rooms. Sure, there wasn’t absolute transparency or resolution in that room, no acoustic treatment to speak of, and the space was pretty crowded, but the energy? It was simply: unreal. I turned my head just ten seconds later, and there was Massimiliano, the man behind the band, nodding back, smiling, and even headbanging to the rhythm.
The Holy Roman Empire had a few Mongol incursions in the 13th century, but in the end, they benefited greatly from an alliance with the Golden Horde, something I found myself reimagining that day. The music and the raw energy flowed perfectly through our bodies, and the only thing left to do was to wait for the angry neighbors to show up and ask to lower the volume.
I did my homework afterward, and apparently, their amplifiers never run out of steam. Their headroom seemed insanely high, even as 120 dB peaks shook the room! These Italian maestros know their craft: designing mean, non-limiting amps that can handle all the dynamics you throw at them. If that’s what you’re after, then calling Massimiliano should be your next move.
- Aurender Room (Aurender A1, PassLabs XP-32 Preamps, XA200.8 monoblocks, Magico S3 speakers)
This was the second room at the show that featured Magico speakers, I hope it’s not a sign from above, because I still love my TD2.2s! The Aurender team was polite and friendly, handling the remote control and tablet that managed the music with ease. Once again, we had the chance to try out some of the tunes we’ve known for a lifetime. Pass Labs amplifiers are well known to us, but to our surprise, we’ve never actually experienced Aurender gear in the comfort of our own homes. And wow, that gear was neat and tidy on the inside, with a component selection that exudes quality. Expect top-tier electronics, power supplies, and noise suppression mechanics, they look as impressive inside as they do outside.
This was another magical moment, a moment of pure peace where you feel completely one with the music playing. It’s that rare experience where you don’t even want to open your eyes or move to the next room. For me, it brought a level of extreme clarity, not only in the music but also in my mind. I felt a wave of zen washing over me, wiring me to something much greater.
This room wasn’t just about the sound; it was so much more. Discussing frequency response or dynamics seems pointless because this room had it all—and then some. The only minor quirk was a slight roll-off in the sub-bass region, but considering these are the smallest Magico towers and they still reach impressively low, it’s hardly a dealbreaker.
Apart from that tiny inconvenience, this was probably the third room at the show that I didn’t want to leave. It reinvigorated me for the rest of the day, so much so that even late into the evening, I kept thinking about that uplifting experience. It was absolutely magnificent from every angle!
- Rockport Technologies & Absolare Room (WADAX streaming DAC, Absolare electronics, Rockport LYNX speakers)
There are many audio tinkerers who would never, ever consider using aluminum when crafting speaker enclosures. You need to be brave to use this material, which doesn’t resonate well with music. Yet, Andy Payor proved that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. The DAMSTIF3 (it’s damn stiff, alright) aluminum enclosure is a single massive casting with no joints or fasteners, and that was of the utmost importance to achieve unmatched damping, stiffness, and high mass. Building on technologies from their flagship LYRA speakers, the LYNX sounded tightly controlled, powerful, and alive with movement.
The physicality of the sound produced by the LYNX is extraordinary, the sound literally and figuratively moved us. I can’t quite pinpoint where all that naturalness was oozing from, but I’d say the tube-based Absolare amplifiers were giving it a big helping hand. That said, this sound didn’t come across as cold or clinical, which some might expect from such a speaker. Honestly, I couldn’t find anything to fault in their sound. They had everything a music lover and audiophile could ever want: the ability to easily render the lowest octaves with impressive grip and control, high resolution, and dynamic range that soared.
I usually stay for about five-minute listening sessions, but I stood there for almost twenty minutes, glued to the chair. Was the time machine invented yet? Beam me up, Scotty!
- dCS Audio Room (dCS DAC X, Lina Master Clock, VTL MB-185 monoblocks, Wilson Audio WattPuppy speakers & LoKe subwoofers)
I’m glad dCS didn’t bring out the big guns for us mortals. The DAC X and Lina Master Clock are within reach, and so are the VTL MB-185 monoblocks, along with WattPuppy speakers and LoKe subwoofers. This wasn’t an over-the-top system; quite the opposite. It was one of the most affordable, low-profile rooms we visited at the show. But don’t let the modest appearance fool you, the sound felt “expensive,” muscular, imposing, and dynamically impressive right from the start.
In my humble opinion, the WattPuppy speakers didn’t even need the LoKe subwoofers to sound great; they were already imposing and impactful in the Matrix Audio room. But in this setup, the sound was even more powerful, with a greater sense of scale and a booming low-end delivery. Wilson Audio speakers are famous for speed, impact, and deep, rumbling bass in the lowest octaves. All they need are good amplifiers that can tame their character and a highly resolving DAC that reveals every detail behind each track.
This was one of those rooms where every component was chosen with care, after thorough inspection and countless listening tests. No random electronics or speakers thrown together here; everything was carefully curated. I have to give major props to the team behind this room, they did a marvelous job! I couldn’t fault a thing, except perhaps the bass, which was a bit too energetic at times, like it was eager to make its presence known a little too much.
- EverSolo & Luxsin Booth
EverSolo had a strong presence at the show, not only at their booth, but pretty much in every tenth room we visited, there was a DMP-A8 or A10 streaming DAC. Feature-packed to their teeth and sounding great across all genres, it’s no secret why so many people use EverSolo streamers and DACs. At this show, however, EverSolo was proudly displaying their future plans, including a streamer-only T8 and a flagship DAC-Z10 D/A converter that will be coming later this year. They had a playful little thingy with rounded corners, and I was surprised to see so many features packed into such a compact body. If you’re wondering what the EverSolo Play trully is, then you might put your seatbelt first: It’s HiFi streamer with support for some of the biggest streaming services available, it’s a dedicated DAC, it’s also (surprise!) a CD player and you can use it as a CD ripper too AND there’s also an 110Watt per channel integrated amplifier crammed into the same box! Does it sound great? I have no idea, but in the coming days, I’ll prepare an in-depth video review for this bad boy.
As you know already, EverSolo is a sister company collaborating with Zidoo, and at this show, they revealed another sister company called Luxsin Audio, with the S9 being their first product: a neat-looking DAC and headphone amplifier that was properly driving a pair of HiFiMan Susvara OG at the show. It’s properly sized, and through the cracks, I saw some high-quality components, so my hopes are pretty high with this one, and again, I’ll tell you a (much) longer story about the Luxsin S9 in the coming weeks.
3. DISAPPOINTMENTS:
- Way too many booths put excessive faith in their electronics while neglecting their speakers. There needs to be a balance.
- Way too many booths put excessive faith in their speakers, while neglecting their electronics and cables.
- Way too many booths put excessive faith in their systems while neglecting room acoustics.
- Way too many million-dollar booths forgot that we came to listen to actual music, not to the sounds of nature. A cowbell ringing for 5 minutes straight? Birds chirping for 9 minutes? Really?
II. Headphone Gear
2. BEST OF SHOW
- Feliks Audio Booth
We’ve been visiting the Feliks Audio booths for a couple of years now, and every time, they have had on display some of the coolest-looking tube-based headphone amplifiers out there. We heard and later reviewed their Envy Performance Edition a couple of months ago (here it is), and I can’t think of a better headphone amplifier to drive inefficient headphones while pushing the fun factor to the stratosphere.
But Feliks Audio had not just one, but two surprises for us. Nestled within the HiFiMan booth was the Envy Susvara Edition, an elusive gem not yet available in their store and possibly shrouded in mystery for the foreseeable future. After just a few minutes of listening, it was obvious: while the regular Envy can clip slightly with the Susvara OG when the volume dial drifts past 12 o’clock, the Susvara Edition had banished such woes, offering seemingly boundless headroom instead. With noticeably more power and tighter sound control thanks to its amorphous core transformers and subtle enhancements, the Susvara Edition delivered clarity like never before. My buddy Catalin was so enraptured by its sound that he lingered at the listening station, feet tapping and fingers snapping, unmistakably grooving to the audio delight.
Our Best Of Show award goes, however not to the Envy Susvara Edition, but the most beautiful and beastly looking amplifier we saw for four fricking days. Just look at this colossal looking e-stat amplifier and let me know if it doesn’t remind out about low-revving muscle cars with big block engines sticking out on top. I personally see a 1969 Camaro with the big block attached, someone else saw a 1973 BMW 1602 chassis at the show. One truth stands clear: when it comes to designing tube amplifiers that are both ferocious and beautiful, the Feliks brothers redefine the limits of possibility.
The cleverly named BLISS e-stat amplifier is not your regular tube-based amplifier. Everything was cranked up to eleven! It’s huge, it’s big, it’s heavy, and it’s over the top using quad Stradi 300B power triodes, quad EL34 power pentodes, and quad Reflektor 6E5P tetrodes for some power overwhelming action. We have two headphone sockets, one for normal (low-voltage) e-stats and the other for PRO (high-voltage) e-stats. The wheel on top also lets you adjust the voltage bias for the headphones attached. The normal bias goes from 120V to 360V, while the PRO bias starts at 240V and finishes at 720V, letting you use most, if not all electrostatic headphones available right now on the market.
Now, I admit I wasn’t thrilled by the entry-level DAC hooked up to the Bliss, and using an Astell&Kern DAP as a digital transport seemed more about convenience than conquering sound quality. Yet, even with this setup, both the STAX X9000 and HiFiMan Shangri-La Sr delivered a fabulously fun-tastic performance! Oftentimes, I get so lost in the tech specs that I forget to savor the experience, but this time, I paused, closed my eyes, and a few captivating minutes later, someone had to rouse me from my trance-like state.
Priced at €20K a pop, the BLISS might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re in pursuit of the pinnacle, I can’t imagine a better auditory experience. Hats off to the Feliks brothers for blending art, passion, and cutting-edge engineering into these timeless, handcrafted amplifiers! Our Best Of Show award goes to the magnificent BLISS, and I eagerly anticipate another encounter, hopefully at the Audio Video Show 2025.
- Meze Audio Booth
Ever since visiting the Meze Audio factory in Baia Mare a couple of months ago, and signing a couple of NDAs, I’m even more excited about what’s coming than about their beautiful past. If you watched our 2023 interview with Antonio Meze, you already know that there are multiple products in various stages of development, each one gradually making its debut. I’m not allowed to spill the beans on what’s just around the corner, but today, let’s talk about the coolest and nerdiest headphone booth you could find at the show.
While they only had Meze Audio headphones (not like they have just a model or two, they have a ton of options!), you could also try pretty much every high-end headphone amplifier you could think of. From Linear Tube Audio (LTA) VELO & AERO, to VIVA Egoista, Feliks Envy, Cayin Soul 170HA, Gold Note HP-10, the dCS LINA stack, and even a full Ferrum stack, plenty of choices for every audiophile’s taste. Their audio sources were top-notch; I even spotted a Rockna Wavedream Reference tucked away in the mix, and you could spin vinyl on a full Gold Note turntable setup.
These guys had EVERYTHING! Even refreshments, with or without alcohol (ugh!) and an arsenal of jokes. We talked about wine, politics, sound, design, beers, amplifiers, the future, getting fit, and how to recover from a nasty hangover (yes, in that order), and somehow, it all felt… perfectly natural. I don’t want to offend other headphone brands, but this team definitely has it all: charisma, a huge fun factor, and liters of beer!
The main event was the overachieving 105 SILVA open-back dynamic headphones. They blend vintage charm with modern aesthetics, two-tone color schemes, and yes, that’s real wood. As for the sound? Imagine a more inviting, slightly warmer 109 PRO, which skips the “upper-treble class” and instead works out and bulks up in the midrange, packing more meat on the bone than both the 109 PRO and 105 AER. They’re nimbler than the 105 AER, with snappier transients too. Undoubtedly, these are the funkiest headphones in the 100-series lineup. And yes, you can expect a video review coming soon from yours truly.
- FiiO Booth
One of the busier booths we visited was FiiO’s, and it’s no secret why. From peanuts money HiFi to proper HiFi gear, anyone could find something that meets their needs. I know most of their products well, and there are plenty of articles and videos we’ve made about FiiO gear over the years. I remember chatting with the FiiO team last year and trying to guide them toward better products, those that focus not only on features but also on sound quality. The first product to really put them back on track was the K17, which sounded so much better than anything else they’d produced before.
Today, they have affordable R2R DACs, portable cassette and CD players, and even tiny radios if that’s your thing. But for me, the real star, well, the one that truly captured my attention, was the upcoming FT7 planar headphones. The first thing you’ll notice is the vast, open, and wide soundstage that extends dramatically into your peripheral vision. The sound is big, much bigger than what they’ve done before, and the same can be said for its tightness and resolution. Now, they’re not bringing the thunder with bass-heavy tracks, but the K19 isn’t a bass canon either, and the noisy crowd around me didn’t help in that regard. Still, even in such a chaotic environment, I sensed great potential in the FT7. The build quality looks fabulous; they weigh next to nothing for planar headphones. At €749, they could very well be my favorite planar choice under €1.000 in 2025. But I’ll have a better idea once I get them on my test bench.
The second product that surprised me was their upcoming SP5 loudspeakers. They were directly connected to their S15 streaming DAC, so we’re talking active speakers here. The room wasn’t acoustically treated at all, and it wasn’t very large. Yet, they sounded like a proper pair of bookshelf speakers. I also appreciated that they don’t have a super-long excursion when handling bass-intensive music, which kept distortion in check. The sound was clear enough to pick out a few subtle details, which is impressive for such a small system. These speakers are more than suitable for use with a PC, and I can even imagine some folks putting them in tiny living rooms. Good stuff!
2. HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Ferrum Audio booth
We laugh (and drink) a lot at the Meze and Ferrum Audio booth, but I need to be honest—the second part mostly happens around the funky Ferrum team, especially if you approach them near the end of the show on the fourth day. This crew is so much fun, and yes, I cherish them for that. I don’t speak Polish, they don’t speak Romanian, but we look at each other, and suddenly we’re busting out laughing. The language barrier never stops us; after all, only about 7 percent of the meaning is communicated through spoken words, 38 percent through tone of voice, and a whopping 55 percent through body language. With these guys, I’m right at that 55 percent, and honestly, that’s more than enough. There’s some kind of chemistry going on, and it always feels like connecting with an old friend or family member.
Marcin and his team had their entire lineup on display, including the newest Wandla Headphone Edition. But the best part isn’t just seeing their hardware in action (which we already know very well)—it’s their latest fresh-out-of-the-oven 2.0 software update for the Wandla OG, Wandla HP, and GSE edition. This update is so radically transformative that it even has a name: Ferrum Streaming Control Technology. Wowza, that’s a mouthful! The most exciting feature is that, for the first time on a non-streaming DAC, you can see the track title and artist displayed on its touchscreen. It doesn’t change the sound in any way, but it’s a neat quality-of-life upgrade. As far as I know, this is a world-first feature for a non-streaming DAC. They’re working on new stuff already, and I’ve already cracked Max’s (over)mind and planted a few of my own ideas. But we’ll see, I’m eagerly looking forward to whatever comes next from Ferrum. Until then, Na Zdrowie!
- Zaehl Electronic Sound Technology booth
The Zähl HM1 headphone amplifier made a very positive impression on us; we first heard it in Munich, exactly two years ago. Since then, it has become the no.1 choice for many professionals and head-fi enthusiasts. The only two issues the HM1 had were its hefty price of $10,999 and the waiting time, since only 55 units could be produced each year. Even at such a price, the waitlist was longer than the Great Wall of China… until Mr. Zähl stepped in and created a more affordable amplifier that drops a few features but keeps the sound pristine. The best part? They can now produce many more units per year, and those long waits are a thing of the past.
Their newest H1 amplifier has dropped the price to $7,999 and is currently in the pre-order stage, just announced at the show. As for the sound? It’s exactly the same, highly articulate, highly resolving, and utterly transparent without adding any colorations to your system. It flawlessly drove two extremely inefficient headphones with flying colors. Never once did I feel like I was running out of steam with the DCA Stealth and Expanse, and yes, the sound was incredibly clean, but without ever sounding dry or analytical. It’s still not an “affordable” amplifier in the strict sense of the word, but I’m sure many of you will prefer it over the HM1. I’m definitely looking forward to trying one myself in the coming months.
- ZMF Headphones booth
We approached Zach and Bevin on the last day. Our internal engines were running on fumes, I could barely walk, and my camera batteries were also depleting. Nothing seemed to lift our spirits. Walking for 8 hours a day, 4 days in a row, is quite the exercise—not only for your body but for your mind as well. We had a brief chat with Zach, and he looked just as exhausted as we were. Then, a couple of minutes later, my colleague hands me the Caldera Closed, connected to the Feliks Envy amplifier, with a laptop serving as the digital transport. It wasn’t the ideal source, and their booth’s location was far from perfect, still, I could hear tons of noise from event goers with closed-back headphones… but I kid you not.
Once I closed my eyes and focused on the music, everything else started to fade away slowly, and my headache eased considerably. The sound wasn’t just immaculately clean and beautifully laid out in front of me, just like a pair of open-back headphones would do, yet, this time, the sound was trying to catch my attention with something else. With pure emotion. The Envy is definitely juicing up the Caldera’s diaphragm and infusing a bit of soul into them, but at the end of the day, the Caldera is doing everything else. Usually, closed-back headphones are quite terrible, but these were crafted from a different cloth.
My colleague tried a few more ZMF headphones and later confessed to me that his next pair will be a ZMF. Now that’s saying something!
- Aune Audio booth
I’ve been chatting with Shelly from Aune Audio for over six years now, so it felt fantastic to finally meet her in person. There are many, many products coming from this brand that I consider affordable yet great-sounding. They announced over 10 new products at the show, and it would be too tiresome to discuss each one individually. However, I must mention the upcoming AR9000 open-back headphones that are aiming for the throne of the most open and spacious headphones. Sennheiser HD800 level? Easily in the same ballpark, and they come in at a considerably lower cost. They’re surprisingly lightweight, much like their AR5000 and SR7000 models, and I barely felt them on my head—perfect for headbanging without them flying off! With great build quality and high comfort levels, at around €1000, these will be tough to beat.
Another product that caught my admiration is their first offering from a brand-new line of products. This upcoming high-end line will seriously outclass their S-series by a good margin. The design is striking, with a front plate that looks like an alien spaceship, but the tech inside and the components used are top-notch. The brand-new A17 headphone amplifier is quite massive; in fact, it’s one of the biggest solid-state amplifiers I saw at the show. As for the sound? It’s effortless, enveloping, big, muscular, thumpy, and energetic, with plenty of meat on the bone. Imagine a much bolder-sounding S17 PRO EVO with even more power on tap, and you’ll get the A17. It represents a paradigm shift in Aune’s lineup, and I can’t wait to see what else the A-series will bring. The future looks bright for Aune Audio!
- Erzetich Audio booth
How could I ever forget about the most colorful, audacious, ass-kicking, eardrum-smashing, bald, and barefooted headphone builder out there? Let’s give a round of applause for the one and only Blaz Erzetich! I have to be honest with you guys, I probably spend more time discussing homemade drinks with Blaz than audio gear, which we all know so well. I’m a bit sad that, in my rush to visit everything, I forgot to try some of his beverages. They’re lifesavers when you need them most, a sort of energy-tonic mixed with strong spirits, which I’ve dubbed “the Green Ooze.” And I totally missed it!
Naturally, Blaz came prepared with his full arsenal of headphones and headphone amplifiers, ranging from portable to desktop, and from dynamic to planar-magnetic. The brand-new headphone amplifiers released just a couple of months ago were also on display, including a very limited edition Charybdis plated in pure gold. Unfortunately, only 21 of these golden beauties are out there, and you can probably snatch one if you hurry. Send the dolaritos to Blaz and the Green Ooze to me, do we have a deal?
III. End Words
As usual, we didn’t have enough time to visit every booth out there, listen to every pair of speakers, experience every headphone set, sample every wurst, or taste every Weisse beer available in the city. There was simply too much to take in, and we still wanted to have some fun later on in town. Nobody likes a walking zombie showing up at a beer drinking contest, right? We already miss the friendly people, the vibe, and the stunning cityscape.
Unfortunately, though perhaps fortunately, the HIGH END show will be moving to Vienna starting in 2026. And you know what? We’re pumped! A whole new city, new adventures, and an entire buffet of music, audio gear, local dishes, refreshments, and eeeeeeeverything else! So long and thanks for all the fish!
Before you go, Catalin has a lot to say about his discoveries, which you’ll find below. Immediately after that, hundreds of pictures are waiting to delight your eyes. Until next time, folks, Sandu’s signing out! 🤜🤛
– Cătălin’s Highlights –
Hello Munich,
It is my third Munich High-End Show. It began after the pandemic and was my first show. It is impressive and overwhelming time and again. But somehow, it’s not about the devices anymore, not about electronics or speakers, not even about the rooms. For me, it’s increasingly about the people. Having the chance to meet fellow audiophiles, talk with a beer in our hands, laugh, debate, laugh again, and share warm hugs at the end means more than anything. Meeting remarkable people from the industry and seeing and hearing legends of this world is still mesmerizing and so rewarding. So, yes, whether in Munich or Vienna next year, it will remain the most impressive show of the year, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world. Thank you all for being there, smiling, laughing, explaining, and even wrinkling your noses in disapproval when the occasion called for it 🙂
I will try to describe only the rooms or the equipment that impressed me the most. Something that I will carry with me for months to come and may even become objects of desire. The level of quality is exceptionally high, and the prices can reach astronomical levels, so sometimes it doesn’t make much sense to bother. Yet, sometimes the emotions tied to them touch your heart so deeply that you need to preserve them as precious memories. The following is what I will attempt to keep with me for as long as possible.
Audeum, Silbatone Acoustics & G.I.P. Laboratory
Describing this auditorium is challenging for me because it was much more than just a room; it transcended a mere system based on alliances or temporary connections. This auditorium represented not only the past but also the fundamental values that are frequently overlooked.
Emotion. This room was primarily about human emotion. Music is one of the most wonderful forms of expression that humans create solely for other humans, with one singular purpose: to spark, grow, shape, distill, and experience pure emotion. In our pursuit of extraordinary technical innovations, we sometimes forget the true aim of all this creation: to experience the feelings in their purest and deepest form. This room reminded me of and ignited the most profound musical emotion of the entire show. I felt something so beautiful that it’s a rare opportunity for me to encounter it.
The auditorium featured a Western Electric 22B Horn Speaker System, paired with Silbatone electronics, which exclusively played vinyl records. Additionally, G.I.P. Laboratory showed their exquisite drivers along with the 9700A Field Coil Loudspeaker System.
Audeum (audio museum)
The Audeum (Audio Museum), located in Seoul’s Gangnam district, is a place that transcends the traditional concept of a museum – you can not only see but also experience sound firsthand. Moreover, it is not just a place to listen to sound; it is an architectural instrument that returns humans to a natural state, allowing them to experience the five senses of the body.
The Audio Museum is a specialized museum featuring an extensive collection of artifacts related to sound reproduction technology, ranging from 19th-century Edison phonographs to high-end modern sound systems. At the center of its collection are the analog triode vacuum tube amplifiers and horn speaker system, which together create a truly unique listening experience. Audeum’s origins trace back to the early 2000s, with the establishment of Silbatone Acoustics. The company has participated in exhibitions to showcase the significance of vintage audio equipment and the technological heritage of audio history.
Western Electric 22B Horn Speaker System
This year, Audeum showcased the Western Electric 22B speaker system at Munich High-End, originally produced in 1935. The complete 22B system includes the 597A tweeter, the 555 driver, and the 4181 woofer. The speaker units manufactured between 1927 and 1937 are electrodynamic speakers featuring high-quality field coils—an expensive technology that significantly outperforms the low-cost permanent magnets used in modern speakers. Unlike the mass-produced commercial units of today, these high-performance speakers were developed 90 years ago with a cost-no-object philosophy and were leased to movie theaters instead of being sold.
The Experience
To claim that I was blown away would diminish the entire experience. I cried. You can laugh all you want or treat it like a childish statement. When the violin started playing the “Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 – I,” I felt pure emotion coursing through my spine up to my neck and exploding with an incredible sensory experience, vivid and so realistic imagery in my mind. The emotion generated by the WE 22B speakers with only a few watts of power from Silbatone electronics was unexpected and beyond comprehension. It was such a life-like presentation, textured, sweet, natural, and incredibly powerful. I stayed in that room longer than in any other. Coming with our friends from WoodYard (woodyard.ro – Hi-Fi furniture specialists), I wake up alone there, without knowing when they left. I did not experience such an emotional and immersive experience in any other room.
The only reason that I can not declare this Western Electric / Silbatone / Audeum / G.I.P. Laboratory room as the best of the show room is that the experience itself can not be reproduced outside of the museum itself, or without the WE 22B speakers. These are old, unique, huge, and beyond achievable. You can get close with Silbatone / G.I.P., probably, but never really reach the fantasy offered by Western Electric from 90 years ago. It is now just a dream, but an incredible piece of history that reminds us of how pure and emotional music can be.
VYGER
Amargosa Speakers
And here goes my only “Best of Show” Award for Munich High-End 2025. Totally unexpected. I ended up in the VYGER room at the Munich Marriott Hotel, the second location of the show. I knew nothing about VYGER stepping into the room. Overwhelmed by the somptuous interior, even the hi-fi furniture stands columns with ornate capitals, the massive high-gravity turntables, and statues coming from ancient Rome, this Italian company was there to impress. I had no ideea how much…
I remember sitting down and listening to some jazz. The volume was quite low, which created a cozy atmosphere. Tired after nearly a full day of wandering through the show, I took a few minutes to recline in the chair and just breathe. The company owner appeared near the turntables, and pointing at the right side turntable that was playing, he shook his head and looked at us, saying, “This is broken now. Kaput. Wait a minute to change something around here.” Say what? I was waking up from the reverie…
He continued to shock his dead with disapproval and operated some remotes to switch to the big, but what do I say…, enormous turntable in the center. He added another vinyl, dropped the needle onto the center stage turntable, and the heavy machine started playing again. It was a more vivid jazz, starting slowly and atmospheric, and later the cymbals sizzled, the trombone came alive, and the full bloom music filled the room. Wandering around, the owner (I’m sorry I didn’t ask his name as I left with my head spinning) looked for the remote now as the first track was coming to an end.
He finally found it before the frustration reached a breaking point and exploded throughout the entire room. It was funny, starting with the “kaput” turntable and ending with the search for the remote. When the second song started, we had the privilege of hearing the music at a proper volume, louder than the 70dB restriction present in almost all the rooms at the show. It wasn’t painfully loud but set to a volume that allowed us to appreciate the true sound of the instruments. And that was it! I was hooked, and my mouth just broke open.
The dynamics of this turntable system were something I had never encountered. It was not related to the volume itself, as it was nothing extraordinary. It simply allowed the speakers to breathe properly and show some muscle. And what a muscle. The speed and realism were incredible. I had no idea that vinyl could be so dynamic, vivid, coherent, and simply natural. It felt as if the sounds could not be coming from the speakers; it was too real, too quick, to be a mere reproduction. It must be a live event beyond the wallpaper depicting ancient Rome. It was unbelievable and completely unexpected. So much realism and pure dynamics from a micronic groove?
Vyger just launched its first speaker. Called the Amargosa, the name derives from a star. The Amargosa project took many years of research and development, and like the other VYGER devices, nothing was left to chance. The design of the Amargosa was a collaboration of specialists and engineers in world-renowned fields. The Armagosa’s design achieves incredible temporal coherence and an excellent impulse response. Indeed. The system consists of a tweeter, two midrange drivers, one mid-bass driver, and a subwoofer. The drivers are built to tight tolerances in Denmark, according to VYGER specifications. You can learn more on their website – www.vyger.com
Later, I read many posts and references to the VYGER room, and if I hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t know what it’s all about. But I was, and I encountered a sound so real, so dynamic, so natural and beautiful that it was an eye-opener. Vinyl, done right, and the VYGER transducers can surpass even the best digital systems showcased at the show. Founded in 1993 by Giuseppe Viola, who already had extensive experience in precision machining complex parts, and a little later, in 20023, joined by Enrico Datti, VYGER achieved one of the best sounds at the CES show in Las Vegas. In 2021, Björn Östen joined the VYGER team, bringing a new technical dimension.
It was a fantastic discovery as I knew nothing about Vyger. For the outstanding sound quality and realism, I have to award the Vyger company with our “Best of Show” badge. Highly impressive!
Clarisys Audio / Lampizator / VAC
I witnessed the Clarisys Atrium Speaker System and LampizatOr Horizon 360 again in a cathedral-like room with impressive acoustics. The first time was last year in Warsaw. Now, in Munich, it was bigger, bolder, more complex, and absolutely limitless. It was a statement of what is possible. Powered by VAC monos and driven by the LampizatOr Horizon 360, the Clarisys Atrium recreated a sound so enormous and vivid that entering the room while organ music played felt surreal. I felt as if I were entering the Sagrada Familia. Not that I’m particularly into organ music, but it was still overwhelming.
LampizatOr once again confirmed the enormous capabilities of pentodes and the impeccable rendering of every detail. The entire system featured unmatched complexity, which undoubtedly deserves profound admiration, at least from an engineering perspective. It’s certainly one of the best rooms of this year, if not the most impressive. The fact that something like this is hardly achievable and probably impossible to reproduce compels us to award it our profound admiration and “Honorable Mention” of Munich High-End 2025. If this were something we could have built, it would surely have been one of the best rooms of this year. But this kind of work and the achievement are reserved only for very few exceptional people.
Avantgarde
For many years, Avantgarde has made its mark in Munich’s high-end market, impressing customers year after year. The top-of-the-line Avantgarde Trio is a standout in its own right, looks incredibly beautiful, and sounds impressive. It also serves as a statement product in terms of price, is highly configurable, and has a striking appearance. Benefiting from all the advantages of compression drivers and nearly no known downsides, it sounds incredible.
It is time to award Avantgarde with “Honorable Mention” not just for this year’s room but for the rooms of every year. They are exceptional and consistently good. The look is fabulous, the sound is exceptional, and now there are even more achievable models in the Avantgarde range. That is fantastic!
Wilson Audio
I’ve read a lot about the new Sasha V from Wilson Audio. We came across a stunning orange version that looks like an audio Lamborghini. Alongside Nordost, Dan D’Agostino, and DCS, the Wilson Sasha V presented a powerful and dynamic sound, accompanied by an extensive and highly precise soundstage. I really loved it!
The color reminded me that this beauty can be configured in almost any color one can imagine. The outstanding performance in the lower octaves, with such clarity, punch, and detail, made me think for a long time about Sasha V. Regardless of the room and electronics, Wilson Sasha V is an outstanding performer.
For the beauty of musical reproduction and the elegance and perfection of the diva Sasha V, we must award it the “Honorable Mention” of Munich 2025. It deserves all the credit and so much more!
Last Words
Auf wiedersehen, München. Guten Tag, Wien.
A chapter ends now, and a new one begins. The world’s largest Hi-Fi show is moving house next year; The HIGH END will be hosted by Vienna’s AVC (Austrian Centre Vienna) starting in 2026. The venue is advised at 26,000 sqm, around 10% smaller than Munich’s MOC. We will look back with emotion, remembering the precious moments we had in Munich for many years.
As this is not the end but a new chapter, we want to thank everyone for the friendship, for the passion, for the knowledge, for the warm handshakes and embraces, for the smiles and the laugh, for hope, for inspiration, for keping alive this mighty and glorious love for music and all the things surrounding it. See you soon, and let’s hope to hear only the best!
Last but not least, hundreds of pictures await your viewing pleasure. You can check them out 👇
