The first time I have visited the Munich High End Show was in 2023, and since then I just couldn’t wait to go back in 2024. I am happy to say that I participated this year as well and I had a blast!

I truly enjoyed going to the show. Yes, I did manage to hear awesome new and “old” products and I also got to socialize with other passionate audiophiles.

I really enjoyed the experience and I thank the High End Society for organizing the event. It was fun, I met wonderful people and heard wonderful products.

A little satire

Before getting into the highlights of the show, I would want to make a bit of fun of a few typologies I have noticed at the show. I won’t give names, you know who you are! :))

So yes, I have noticed a few typologies, some behaviors that repeat themselves at the show, both this year and last year.

Crappy Playlists: The Sound of Silence

Ah, the joy of entering a demo room, sitting down with anticipation, and being greeted by… crickets. Not literally, but it might as well be. Some exhibitors seem to think their playlists should highlight a single instrument played once every 30 seconds, interspersed with someone touching some sand, asmr style, and sometimes accompanied by an ethereal whisper from the abyss. Who needs rhythm or melody when you can have the suspense of waiting for the next sound to appear? A drumbeat? Too predictable. Guitars? Overrated. Let’s all enjoy the delicate symphony of almost-nothingness and pretend we can judge system dynamics from it. Spoiler alert: we can’t.

Suggestions: Create proper playlists, remove boring songs from the playlists. I suppose every exhibitor makes an investment when they get a room at the show. Why not make the most out of it? Make sure the playlist is fun, engaging and makes it easy for the listeners to understand the capabilities of the system. No! Stop it! You are not a musical guru who can educates people in terms of musical taste/quality. Get off your high horse and put some relevant music! Also, I would go even further to create a special demo playlist with relevant parts of multiple songs. And no…you are not the only room in Munich. I know you think you and your products are special, and some are, but there are so many rooms to visit at the show and people don’t want to spend 3 minutes for the third bell to enter the song while the first 2 minutes the wind was blowing into a sheet of paper. Most people will want to experience more rooms, and they don’t want to waste time on boring “audiophile” sounds (some can’t even be described as songs) . The playlists are hugely important at shows like this and should have more priority in general.

Volume Issues: Is This Thing On?

Walking into some demo rooms is like stepping into a whispering gallery. You sit down, ready to be immersed in a sonic experience, but instead, you’re straining to hear anything over the murmur of the crowd. It’s like the exhibitors have taken inspiration from elevator music, ensuring their high-end systems are perfect for background ambiance in a dentist’s waiting room. Sure, you could ask them to turn it up, but that would interrupt the zen-like state they’re clearly trying to achieve. It’s an audio show, not a library, folks!

Demo Room Gossipers: The Chatty Audiophiles

Then we have the social butterflies. These are the audiophiles who believe the demo room is the perfect place for a catch-up session. They come in groups, plop down right next to you, and proceed to have a loud conversation about their favorite cables or the weather, completely oblivious to the fact that some of us are trying to listen to the music. Or worse, they position themselves in front of the speakers and start a deep conversation with the exhibitor about the technical specs, blocking everyone else’s view and sound. Remember, it’s a listening experience, not a social hangout (not within the demo rooms at least) !

Hands-On Hooligans: Keep Your Mitts Off

And then, there are the touchy-feely folks. While everyone else is trying to hear how the system sounds, these guys are more into poking and prodding every component. They’re bent over the equipment, touching everything like they might uncover some hidden secret by sheer touch. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left craning our necks, trying to hear past the human barricade. Remember, the magic of a high-end audio system is best experienced through the ears, not your fingertips, people!

Conservative Collaborators: The Lone Rangers of Audio

Welcome to the world of audio exhibitions, where some exhibitors believe their products can stand alone—no matter how much they might stumble.

Picture this: a company with heavenly headphones, but their DAC/amps are just meh. You sit down, expecting an audio experience to blow your mind, but they plug those fantastic headphones into their own subpar DAC/amp. It’s like serving a gourmet meal on a paper plate. The headphones are practically screaming, “Help us! We deserve better!”

But nope, the Lone Wolves insist on using only their own gear. Partnering with another manufacturer? Not a chance! It’s like making an Olympic sprinter run in flip-flops just because they’re our flip-flops. Imagine if they teamed up with the best in the business. Instead of holding back their headphones, they could let them shine with top-notch DAC/amps. But no, admitting another company’s gear is better? Unthinkable.

So here we sit, shaking our heads as potential goes to waste. To the Lone Wolves of Audio: ditch the solo act. Embrace collaboration, and let your products reach their full potential. Your headphones deserve better, and so do we.

Show Report

Now, let’s get to the highlights of the show. Scratch that, my highlights of the show, as I did not manage to hear everything. If you’re not on this list, it might just mean that I didn’t manage to properly listen to your products. Also, this year, I managed to do some sound recordings of 19 rooms. I wanted to do more, but I couldn’t manage it this year. Hopefully, next year, I’ll do more, especially if I receive good feedback from you guys.

You can find the entire playlist here.

I also thought of a fun award system for this show. You can find the categories below. I will mention the products that I think fit in each category, but you will need to scroll down to find the products and read more about them.

1. The Wallet Wreckers

Description: These are the products that make your wallet tremble in fear. The moment you hear them, your brain starts scheming on how to justify the purchase, whether it’s selling your car, mortgaging your house, or surviving on instant noodles for a year. These are the show-stoppers that you either already bought or decided you will buy as soon as humanly possible.

Products in this category:

• Rockna Wavedream MK2
• T+A Solitaire P Headphones
• Meze Alba In Ears Headphones (because I wanted to buy them on the spot)
• Chord Integrated & Ultima 5
• ZMF Atrium Headphones
• Cayin U-170 Headphone Amplifier

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2. The Enigmatic Excellence

Description: These intriguing products piqued my interest and left me wanting more. They show immense potential, and I was itching to spend more time with them, dig deeper, and discover all they have to offer. They are the conversation starters and the ones that keep you coming back for another listen.

Products in this category:

• Warwick Acoustics Aperio
• Diptique DP115
• Dynaudio Confidence 20A (Active bookshelves)
• Piega Coax 811
• Borresen X3 Speakers & Mytek Empire Stereo Amplifier
• Vienna Acoustics Liszt Reference Speakers
• Scansonic Q3 Speakers
• Austrian Audio – The Composer Headphones
• Raal 1995 Headphones
• Centrance Amp Mini
• Tannoy SGM 15
• New Raidho X2.6

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3. The Bang-for-Your-Buck Beauties

Description: These superb products deliver outstanding quality without breaking the bank. They manage to offer top-notch performance at prices that make your wallet breathe a sigh of relief. These are the hidden gems that prove you don’t have to spend a fortune to get amazing sound.

Products in this category:

• Harbeth NLE-1 Active Speakers
• Sennheiser HD620s
• Meze Alba In Ears Headphones
• Leak Audio Sandwich 250 Speakers

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4. The Audio Unicorns

Description: These are the mythical creatures of the audio world, so rare and expensive that they remain a fantasy for most. They provide an unmatched listening experience that makes you wish you had a pot of gold to bring them home. These products are admired from afar, like rare and magical unicorns.

Products in this category:

• Borresen 03 and T5 Speakers
• Raidho TD6 Speakers
• PMC Fenestria Speakers
• Monitor Audio Hyphn Speakers
• Esd Acoustics Speakers

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Each of these categories highlights a different aspect of the high-end audio experience, from the dream-worthy products that break the bank to the practical gems that offer incredible value. Whether you’re an audiophile ready to splurge, a curious explorer, a value-seeker, or an admirer of unattainable luxury, there’s something here to celebrate your passion for audio.

Meze Booth

Meze had the best headphone stand at the show again. It was right in front of the main entrance of the 1st hall. Like last year, besides their wonderful headphones, they had a lot of awesome pairings (excellent DAC/amp combos) to test them under different circumstances and to make sure you can experience what the headphones are capable of.

Besides the Liric 2 and Empyrean 2, which have been covered everywhere by now, they showcased two new products at the show. One of them is the new Meze 105 AER Open Dynamic headphones. I see they are already listed for pre-order on headamp.com. These headphones have a very good price. I liked the sound; it presented a good soundstage, good details, and overall an interesting sound signature. It’s not as meaty as the planars, a bit lighter on its feet, but a good headphone, especially for the price. I would need more time with it to see its true capabilities.

The other product was in my case the highlight of the Munich High End 2024 Show. I am talking about the Meze Alba In ears.

Yes, I know. They’re cheap… Am I exaggerating? Well, first of all, they also come with a USB dongle (DAC+amp), which basically looks like a cable. The guys from Meze were very mysterious about them. They said I should listen and then tell them what I thought the price should be. I first listened with an expensive A&K DAP, then I plugged the dongle into my phone. I was blown away by the sound quality. I actually enjoyed the dongle more than the much more expensive DAP. I ended up listening to song after song, tapping my feet and having a great time.

After a while, I took them off. Vlad from Meze asked me what I thought the price was for these headphones. I guessed around $1000. Vlad smiled mischievously and said, “What if I told you these will be $150?”

I was stunned. I wanted to buy a pair on the spot, but it was only a prototype. Okay, now you might be thinking, was this it? Was this the highlight? Well…YES! Why? Because they sound amazing and they managed to achieve that at a price most people can afford.

When I started writing on headmania.org in 2012, it was because I felt this hobby is awesome, deserves more attention, and more people need to learn about it. Products like this bring more people into the hobby and keep the industry young and vibrant! Good job, Meze!

Rockna Audio, Trafomatic and Tune Audio Booth

This room was one of the best-sounding rooms in Munich; it sounded magical. This was the result of the wonderful Rockna DAC+Streamer, the Trafomatic amps, and the Tune Audio speakers squeezing out every possible detail.

I’ve had the chance to hear the Rockna DACs on many occasions and in many systems. While the system captured the magic, I think the true technical capabilities of this DAC were not fully showcased by the speakers.

One thing I want to mention is that the DAC you see in the above picture is the new Rockna Wavedream MK2! This was a prototype, but it already seemed to sound amazing. I preordered one for myself! Can’t wait to hear it at home.

You can read more about the current Wavedream Signature here. Many might expect that the MK2 will be a small improvement over the original, but from what I understand, this will actually be a major upgrade. Everything inside, from the architecture to the components, will be next level compared to the original Wavedream.

Let’s not forget about their Audiobyte Line. The stack from below is the new Audiobyte Stack, which will contain everything you would want from external smart power supply, streamer, dac and soon a headphone amplifier. I can’t wait to test these out.

As you a bonus, here is a recording of the room:

Ah, I almost forgot, Trafomatic has some awesome headphone amplifiers, but unfortunately, they did NOT put anything on for testing. I would have loved to test the Trafomatic headphone amps.

Harbeth Room

From my perspective, the Harbeth NLE-1 Active speakers are one of the highlights of the Munich High End 2024 Show. Why? Because they are really small, they are active speakers, and for how they sound, they are actually not that expensive (~$3k/unit).

I was really surprised when the music started playing. The scale of the sound, the size of the vocals, the midrange details, and the pleasant tonality were impressive. The room was not small at all, yet they filled it easily.

This is a teste of the sound:

Hifi Rose – Piega Speakers

Another room that impressed me was the HiFi Rose room with Piega Coax 811 Speakers. I have some experience with Piega speakers and I love the company and their products. I owned the Piega Premium 3.2, Premium 5.2, and Coax 30.2, and I’ve reviewed them on headmania.org. They have excellent build quality and superb sound, especially if you find good pairings to bring out the dynamics, textures, and natural tonality.

I feel like the Rose stack did a pretty good job here. I was lucky to be alone in the room on the first day and listen to them for more than 10 minutes by myself. Man, there is something about these speakers—the finishing and the build quality. I absolutely love that well-finished block of aluminum.

There is also something about the sound that I absolutely love. It’s very focused, detailed, textured, fast, and dynamic, with an excellent soundstage and openness, along with really great vocals on the right gear.

I also managed to hear the Coax 611, the smaller brothers of the 811, in the Piega room. They sounded really good as well, even though they were, of course, a bit smaller in size, not as deep in bass, and not as wide in soundstage. I still loved the sound overall.

The next day, when I wanted to properly record the room, I wasn’t as lucky with having the room for my own, but here is a taste of the sound:

Scansonic Room

I absolutely loved the room. I only got to listen to the small speakers, the Scansonic Q3, which were absolutely incredible for their size. I really thought the big speakers were playing, not the small ones. This room also had a wonderful listening chair in the middle, which was very comfortable and enhanced the overall listening experience. And on top of everything, they were playing the soundtrack of one of my favorite TV series (and book series by George Cornwall), The Last Kingdom.

I was really impressed by the size of the stage, the size of the voice, and then, in the following tracks, the precision and impact these speakers are capable of. Considering other products at the show and in general, these speakers are very good for their price and size.

Here is a taste of the room itself:

Raidho Acoustics

This is the bigger brother of Scansonic, and you can see the room has the same form, design, and positioning. Yes, this room was quite awesome and, like Scansonic, they also had a good playlist that managed to highlight the dynamics, precision, and detail capabilities of these speakers. I got to hear the TD6 (the big ones) and the new X2.6 speakers. Basically, it was the Scansonic type of sound but, of course, better. The precision, speed, and details of these speakers are something else and really hard to match. You can probably set them as a benchmark in these categories, especially when it comes to the TD6, but their new “small” speakers (the x2.6) were quite surprising as well. They sounded much bigger than their size, also very precise, transparent dynamic and detailed.

Because of the high prices, I can also be critical. One thing that did not impress me in general with Raidho is the vocals. I have heard more natural, livelier, and realistic vocals with other speakers. However, this was an awesome room overall.

Here is a taste of the sound. The smaller (first) part of the video is with TD6, and the remaining part is with the new x2.6 speakers:

Audio Group Denmark Room

I visited two rooms here: the one with the Borresen 03 speakers, which, believe it or not, was their “entry-level” or “cheap” room, and their top-of-the-line room with the Borresen T5 speakers. The first room, with the 03 speakers, presented one of the best sounds at the show and some of the best I have ever heard in my life.

I have listed Scansonic, Raidho, and Borresen rooms in this order because Audio Group Denmark is closely related to Raidho, as Michael Borresen co-founded Raidho before transitioning to his own company. They share a similar sound philosophy and signature, but I consider the Borresen speakers to surpass Raidho in sound quality. They bring more dynamics and energy to the sound and somehow manage to sound a bit more natural and transparent (maybe it was the system as well).

I was mesmerized by the sound, captured by the sheer explosion of dynamics, abundance of detail, soundstage, and precision.

I thought that was THE room and I was already floored by the experience, then I found out that was their “entry-level” room. Their top-of-the-line room with T5 speakers was mind-blowing, but it also costs over $500,000. I felt like even breathing the air in that room was expensive, but it was an experience I will not forget any time soon. The difference here is that this system was truly mind-blowing, compared to other rooms with similarly priced systems that couldn’t manage to beat my sound system at home.

Unfortunately, I did not manage to record this room as I did with the others. I’ll try my best next year to record the room.

This is just a very short clip recorded with the phone’s microphone, not the proper Shure MV88+. However, I did manage to record and spend a lot of time with their smaller brother, the Borresen X3 speakers, in the Mytek Room. You can find more details below.

Mytek Headphones Room & Speaker Room – Borresen X3 Speakers

Mytek had two rooms, one in the headphone area and one in the speaker area. Both were great. They did a fantastic job highlighting the capabilities of their products by pairing them with other great gear.

In the headphone area, they had a wonderful setup where they paired their top-of-the-line streamer/DAC (Empire Streamer DAC) with a Blue Hawaii electrostatic headphone amp and Stax X9000. That was one of the best pairings I have ever heard with the X9000!

But let’s get to the cherry on top: their speaker room, which was awesome! That room actually managed to improve my mood that day. It was Friday, my second day at the show, and I had already been running from room to room for more than four hours, and I was a bit pissed off. Why? Because I had encountered many of the issues I mentioned at the beginning of the report. Too many wonderful systems that did not have the right volume to properly understand the capabilities of the setup, or very boring, slow music, etc.

In the Mytek Room, my mood suddenly changed for the better. First of all, I was quite lucky and, for one minute, I was alone in the listening room. That was enough for someone from Mytek to pass me their tablet, which was connected to a Tidal account, so I could select my own music. I managed to stay there for more than 10 minutes and properly enjoy the system with music that I know and that helps me understand the capabilities of the setup. I have to say, it was a very energetic and exhilarating experience. The sound was fast, precise, and very dynamic. When I left, I had a smile on my face.

The room had their Empire Streamer DAC paired with the Empire Monoblocks that are based on GaNfet technology, which uses the new ultra-fast Gallium Nitride transistors. I have to say, paired with the Borresen X3 speakers, the sound was incredibly precise and fast.

Here is a taste of the room sound:

Lansche Audio Room

This was also an interesting room with good sound. The speakers look a bit like the Raidho TD6 speakers, but the sound is different. It’s a bit more musical, with a slightly more rounded sound and more expansive vocals, but they don’t have the timing, precision, details, and dynamics of the TD6. However, I did like the details and tonality of the treble. Their plasma tweeter seems to do a great job. It produced a big, expansive, natural sound with great bass extension, a good midrange, and detailed treble without being harsh.

Dynaudio Room

This room was definitely one of my highlights from the show this year. I didn’t manage to hear all of their products, just the Confidence 20 Active Bookshelves. The Dynaudio Confidence 20 A monitors come with a built-in DSP sound processor that allows for personalized sound adjustments based on the room’s acoustic properties. Users can fine-tune input sensitivity, tonal balance, and other settings for an optimized listening experience.

The Confidence 20A is designed to be discreet – with the amplifier hidden inside the stand, and the settings-controls on the back. Analogue and digital connectivity is via XLR. It’s a super-sleek way to get to the apex of the Dynaudio listening experience.

I was completely blown away by these speakers. First of all, they sounded considerably bigger than I expected. They filled the room and I was completely transported into a huge concert hall. Then I was struck by how effortless they sounded, yet very detailed in a natural way, with nothing pushed forward in an unnatural manner. There were layers and layers of details, but presented in an effortless, precise, and natural way. The midrange was delicious with lively textures and wonderful vocals. Then, when the bass struck, I almost fell off the chair. That punch… that depth… HOW was that possible from that size? An amazing experience overall.

Yes, the price is spicy at $20,000, compared to the $10,000 Confidence 20A, but considering that you get a full system, it might very well be worth it. I certainly loved the experience.

I also managed to hear the Confidence 50 Standfloors in the Simaudio Moon Room and they sounded very nice:

Stein Music Room

Another room that I enjoyed a lot was the Stein Music room. I have noticed that I am quite picky when it comes to horn speakers, especially if they are trying to mimic/produce bass from a very small driver. Stein completely took me by surprise last year with their incredible midrange, full-bodied sound, incredible soundstage, openness, and superb bass extension. The midrange, vocals, and tonality were just magical.

This year, they brought in their Top Line Bob L Speakers, which sounded a bit rounder, with a wider soundstage and more details than the model from last year. One thing I would say is that the Bob L Speakers seemed a bit too big for the room from my perspective, and the match with the smaller speakers was better from a bass perspective. However, this was a room issue, not a system or speaker issue.

Here is a taste of the sound of the room:

Wattson Audio Room with Apertura Enigma MK2 Speakers

This was a very pleasant surprise. It was my first encounter with the brands, but I was impressed by the sound of the speakers and the system. The sound presented good details, which were evident in the guitar plucks as well as the vocals. The midrange and treble sections were quick, with speedy but impactful transients. The bass seemed well-integrated, being fast enough with good extension. The vocals filled the room in a very pleasant and airy manner, and the overall sound presented a huge soundstage that enveloped you from all directions.

Avantgarde Acoustics Room – Mezzo Speakers

I was really impressed with these speakers. It was very close to a live concert experience. The sound was huge, making you feel like you were in a big concert hall. It was detailed, with textured vocals that were big and had a natural tonality. The bass was strong with good punch and extension. One of the best horn systems I have ever heard.

Taste of the sound:

VTL Room & Wilson Audio Alexia V Speakers

To me, this room sounded interesting even from the corridor. Why? Because the bass sounded very full and round from outside the room. From my perspective, this was a very euphonic system with deep, round bass and an excellent midrange. Yes, there are more detailed and precise systems out there, but this was a pleasure to listen to.

A taste of the sound:

Tannoy Rooms

The first room featured their new Autograph 12 speakers. I think I generally like the sound of Tannoy speakers, and the Autograph 12 maintained the features I appreciate about them. They offer an effortless, very transparent, and fast sound with excellent soundstage and imaging. Yes, I have heard speakers with more energy and impact in the bass section, but these have something magical across the frequency range—a consistency, transparency, and signature that is appealing to my ears. I don’t have enough experience with Tannoy speakers to compare them to other models.

However, while I’m not certain about the following statement, as I didn’t spend enough time with both the Autograph 12 and the Super Gold Monitor (SGM) 15, I think I preferred the SGM 15 (pictured below) over the Autograph 12. The sound was a bit more dynamic, more energetic, and the bass went deeper with more rumble. I actually enjoyed the SGM 15 quite a lot.

Fyne Audio Room ( F703SP Speakers )

Since a lot of engineers from Tanoy left and founded Fyne Audio, I was really curious to hear their new products.

When I was in their room, the F703SP speakers were playing. Unfortunately, I did not manage to hear the big ones from the Vintage series. However, I have to say that I enjoyed the sound. It was open, detailed, and a bit light on its feet, but it had something I enjoyed—an effortless way of reproducing the music with a fast and transparent sound.

I also noticed this with Tannoy speakers, but I can’t say I’m surprised. At first glance, from the looks, I thought it was the Tannoy room. I do like the sound, and if Tannoy changes their sound philosophy, I am glad that Fyne Audio will keep it going.

Vienna Acoustics Room

This was one of my favorite rooms at the show. I was very surprised by these wonderful Liszt Reference Speakers. By the way, check out the Premium Rosewood version, which in my opinion looks better than the white version. Oh weh… as you can see, I’m already looking at finishes. That should tell you a lot, as it means I’m already considering the version and the price. Yes, I liked them so much that I started checking prices. From what I’ve seen, they are around $15,000. They are not cheap, but I feel they sound amazing and they impressed me more than other considerably more expensive speakers at the show.

Why? The sound was considerably bigger than expected, with raw dynamics, excellent transients, explosive attack, and detailed, very controlled decay. They went deep, the punch on the bass was amazing, the textures were vivid and alive, and the overall experience was thrilling. The vocals and midrange had an interesting effect. It was almost like directional sound, bringing the textures of the vocals and instruments directly near your ears.

I’m really sorry I didn’t manage to get a proper audio recording with the Shure MV88+ microphone, just a very short glimpse recorded with the microphone from the S23 Ultra.

AlsyVox Speakers Room: Pilium Amplifiers, Taiko Audio Source

I really liked these speakers. It was like having a wall of sound in front of you. The AlsyVox speakers produced a very consistent, cohesive, detailed, and transparent sound across all frequency ranges. The midrange was particularly impressive, offering a rich and textured presentation that made vocals and instruments come alive with stunning realism. The high frequencies were incredibly detailed yet smooth, providing a sense of air and space without any harshness. The bass was deep and authoritative, with great punch and control, making the overall experience immersive and captivating. These speakers managed to maintain clarity and precision while delivering a full, enveloping sound that was simply mesmerizing.

Diptyque Audio Room

I also loved the sound in this room. I managed to listen to both the DP 160MKII (the big ones) and the “small” white ones, the DP115. I loved the sound. Similar to the AlsyVox, you had a HUGE wall of sound in front of you, with incredibly low distortion, very good detail, superb soundstage, and excellent vocals. I am always surprised by how good the bass is. But these are not electrostats; they are planars, and yes, the bass goes deep, is detailed, and clean.

Of course, the DP 160 MKII sounded amazing, but I was also really impressed by the upcoming DP115 (June 2024). The level of transparency, speed, and size of the stage, combined with a natural tonality, was quite mesmerizing.

Considering that the DP 140MKII is around $17,000, I would suspect that the DP115 will be around $10,000, and it will be worth the money—probably a very good sweet spot in the range from a price/performance perspective. Considering the price/performance ratio, I think I am fond of Diptyque more than the AlsyVox from the above.

Leak Audio Room

This room was quite refreshing. Why? Honest, good quality at really affordable prices. The room was centered around their Sandwich 250 Standmount Loudspeakers. At $3,000 per pair, these are a bargain for the sound they offer. The sound was big, with good bass depth and impact, a natural tonality, a wonderful soundstage, and decent details. It’s refreshing to see products like these, which prove that you don’t need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to be an audiophile (as some people claim). Of course, there are different levels, but some products manage to punch above their price.

Electrocompaniet Room + Audio Physic Tempo 35 Speakers

This was an interesting system that would fit smaller rooms as well. I used to own an Electrocompaniet amp in the past, and it had that musical sound signature I was accustomed to, but this setup felt like it had more dynamics and details. The system here had two AW300 monoblocks, which are in a different class than my ECI-6 integrated amp from back then. The Audio Physic Tempo 35 speakers are not the most beautiful speakers I have seen, especially in this color/finish, but other colors can look better if you ask me.

Now, when it comes to the sound, they are certainly more impressive than they look. In this system, they sounded big, dynamic, detailed, and natural. I would have preferred a better setup in the listening room, as it was quite loud and too many people were talking, but I think I managed to get a good glimpse of the potential of this system.

PMC Room

It seems that I am a fan of PMC sound. Last year, I also enjoyed the sound in their room. This year, they unleashed these huge beasts, the PMC Fenestria. What I loved about them was the effortless and very natural way they presented the music. The bass was fast, powerful, and deep, and I think it could have been even better, but the speakers were somewhat limited by the room. The midrange was incredibly natural, textured, and euphoric, yet detailed in an effortless manner.

Yes, they are extremely expensive at $80,000, but you can get part of this magic with other less expensive speakers from them. Not to mention, it will be hard to fit these monsters into any room. Smaller models will be easier to fit in smaller rooms and will still get you part of the PMC magic.

MSB Technologies, Magico, Ikigai Room

MSB was my first encounter with high-end DACs, and the MSB Analog DAC was one of the audio components that had the longest lifespan in my system, from 2014 to 2020 when I switched to Rockna. This room had good sound—very detailed, precise, with good and natural textures. It was a very expensive system, but overall, a good experience.

Auralic Room

I felt like this room had more potential that wasn’t fully realized. The system did not have enough volume and wasn’t optimally placed to truly shine or show its capabilities, but I sensed the potential was there. The gear was good, just not very well presented. It was also in a relatively loud area, where people were more interested in talking rather than listening to music. I hope they organize a bit better next year with the placement, playlist, and volume, because they have good products.

Voxativ Loudspeakers room

If you like horns, I think these speakers sounded quite appealing/interesting. They had a very musical sound character, presenting good vocals, snappy attack, a musical decay and immersive soundstage. Overall it was an good experience. Would have been interesting to see how they sound against the ones from Tune Audio which I also enjoyed in the Rockna room.

AudioNet + Vivid Audio Giya Speakers

I kept seeing the Vivid Audio Giya speakers in different publications for years, and indeed, their design really stands out. I was always very curious about how they sound, and finally, I had the chance to listen to them. I was impressed almost from the start. The piano note percussion was very well reproduced, with a good attack on each note and excellent body and decay. Additionally, I felt like they presented a naturally detailed sound, with a good soundstage, natural tonality, and vivid textures.

Vitus Audio & Monitor Audio Room

This room was a pleasant surprise, mainly due to the speakers. I enjoyed the sound of the system quite a lot, and I was really impressed with the speakers. They had something that made me want to stay longer and listen to more music on that system. It had a natural, pleasant tonality with a good low end (both in detail and extension), and an excellent midrange with pure, very present, well-textured, and detailed vocals and instruments. The treble was fine and integrated well with the rest of the frequencies without being harsh at all.

What I loved most was the midrange—the lively and detailed textures—and the fact that somehow it beamed the music into your ears. When you got locked into the speaker’s sound range, you were pulled into the music. I was surprised when I found out those speakers were the Monitor Audio Hyphn. I have heard Monitor Audio speakers in the past, but none impressed me too much. Yes, this is their top of the line, but they do sound amazing! Then I looked at the entire system and how much it costs in total… The first thought I had was, “It better damn well be amazing!” Luckily, it was!

ESD Acoustics Room

Sooo… these guys were here again. This was the biggest room at the show, just like the previous year. Yup… an impressive system, probably meant for people who can afford a castle with a concert hall to fit this system. :)) It does sound impressive; it’s like having your own concert hall. It’s probably the closest to a live concert hall experience I’ve had with speakers. I felt like the system sounded a bit better the previous year, but overall, it was still a very impressive experience.

Chord Electronics

I love Chord’s products, and I actually was blown away by their new Chord Integrated Speaker amp. I reviewed it here.

I loved that amplifier so much that I actually ordered one after the review, and in the meantime, I upgraded to the Chord Ultima 5 Power. In the room at the show, it was coupled with the ATC SCM 40 speakers. I’m not sure what was going on there—probably the room acoustics—but I know that amplifier can be much more dynamic, controlled, and fun than it sounded with those speakers and in that room.

Below you can see the Ultima 5, which is a beast of an amplifier. It’s a bit more refined than the integrated, has even more punch and energy, but also features a larger soundstage, more holographic imaging, and overall sounds a bit more natural. I’m telling you these things because I have experienced both in my system, and now I own the Ultima 5. The beast above is Chord’s top-of-the-line pre-amplifier. I did not manage to hear it combined with the Ultima 5, but Sandu from Soundnews mentioned that the combo is pure joy and sounds amazing.

And now let’s get to their new product announced and displayed at the show: their new MScaler to match their Dave DAC, the Quartet. I have always liked the Dave DAC and have managed to hear it in different systems over time. It’s one of my favorite DACs. The Hugo MScaler was already improving the sound, making it more natural, deeper, more detailed, relaxed, but also more dynamic at the same time. The Quartet takes it to the next level.

It was paired with Dave, of course, and with Dan Clarke Audio Stealth headphones. I did manage to listen to the combo and liked it a lot, but I think the Stealth would have benefited from a better headphone amp than the one found in Dave, especially since the Stealth is quite hard to drive. However, I did manage to get a glimpse of what the new product does, and I think it is awesome (more tests are needed though).

Headphones Section

T+A Solitaire P Headphones

Oh man… I think these are my new favorite headphones. I was blown away by the Solitaire P. Recently, I went back to fun/musical headphones that I love to listen to for hours nonstop—headphones like the Meze Elite, ZMF Caldera, and ZMF Atrium. I preferred them to headphones like the HE-1000SE, Susvara, Focals, HD800, etc., because I don’t want to analyze the music; I want to enjoy it, live it. And while the Elite and Caldera also have good technicalities, there are others that surpass them in detail retrieval, speed, and precision. I do miss some of that from time to time, and the Solitaire P seems to have it all.

It has the speed and transparency of electrostats, but also superb dynamics—maybe the best I have heard—excellent tonality and musicality, and one of the biggest soundstages I have ever experienced. I will try to do a proper review soon for these headphones, as I think these might just be the best at the moment.

Cayin U-170 Headphone Amplifier

This was definitely one of the highlights of the show for me. It seemed to be one of the best amplifiers I have heard so far, especially with the Hifiman Susvara. I had the Susvara at home for weeks and managed to hear it on many expensive and very high-end systems. This was probably the best pairing I have heard with the Susvara, which had not convinced me to purchase them until now.

Why? While I did love the sound and technical capabilities, I ended up preferring the Meze Elite and ZMF Caldera for their more musical sound signature. With the Cayin U-170HA, the Susvara gained a new level of musicality, lively and detailed textures, a wonderfully holographic soundstage, and really fun and engaging dynamics. I am not sure what the price for this amplifier will be, but I can say that I loved it. It was the first time I actually thought about buying the Susvara… and of course the U-170HA, as this combo was magical.

My wallet just fled the room… I really hope I get the chance to test this amplifier in my system properly.

ZMF Headphones

There were also ZMF Headphones at the show, even if Zach wasn’t there. Did I tell you I love ZMF headphones? Here is my review of the Caldera. The first picture below is of the ZMF Atrium. I managed to get a loaner from AudioPrime. I loved them so much that I bought them. I still owe you guys a review, and it’s coming. I can tell you that they are one of my favorite headphones ever. They have such a fun, engaging, full-bodied, textured sound signature that just blew my mind and exceeded my expectations.

The second picture below, I believe, is the Atrium Closed. Those headphones are amazing as well and have even more weight in the bass section, making them a bit more euphonic but at the cost of some soundstage.

I also heard the new Caldera Closed and I enjoyed them a lot. They did sound a bit more v shape than the open version, but there was more energy and punch in the bass section. I can’t wait to test them at home.

Centrance Amp Mini & Dac Mini 2

This was a very interesting stack. It’s quite small, but I was surprised to see that it drove the Dan Clarke Stealth very well. Those are not easy headphones to drive, and the Amp Mini did an awesome job. What I loved about this amplifier is that it had a tube knob that went from 0% to 100%, and it was quite apparent and fun to play with. You can go from full solid-state to full tube. It was detailed, punchy, and musical, and the latter is adjustable. Quite an interesting, versatile, and fun stack.

Austrian Audio – The Composer Headphones

These headphones and the company were a very interesting find for me. Apparently, when the famous AKG company was sold, the main engineering team from Vienna started their own headphone company, Austrian Audio. I did wonder what was happening with AKG and why we hadn’t seen anything exciting in the last few years. Well, those engineers have created exciting products elsewhere, at Austrian Audio.

The Composer headphones offered impressive resolution and transparency, combined with a huge airy stage, a good tonal balance and natural tonality, precise and fast sound, and a fun and engaging bass section.

The Composer incorporates Austrian Audio’s award-winning Hi-X technology, but with a new 49mm driver design: The Hi-X49 DLC, featuring a diaphragm coated with diamond-like carbon for exceptional rigidity and an authentic listening experience at all loudness levels.

VioElectric DHA V380MK2

I think this was the first headphone system I heard at the show. It was right there near the headphone section entrance, and I went for it. I’m glad I did. It really made the HD800s sing, giving more depth and punch to the bass, better textures in the midrange section, less treble sibilance, and better energy and dynamics overall. I really enjoyed the sound and would love to take the V380 MK2 for a proper spin.

Raal 1995 Immanis Headphones

The Raal 1995 are very interesting headphones and certainly have that wow factor. They are really detailed, quite dynamic, and energetic. I was quite surprised and impressed by their performance. I also liked that the headphone stand now includes their current drive interface, which is required to drive those ribbon drivers.

However, they are $10,000, and I’m not yet sure of their true capabilities or if they deserve the price tag. I have a feeling they might be too sharp and detailed for long listening sessions, but this might change with different DACs and systems.

Sennheiser HD620s

I have to say that when I put them on my head, I didn’t even know what they were, then I noticed. The Sennheiser HD 620S are closed-back headphones designed to deliver the expansive sound quality of the open-back HD 600 series while offering superior isolation. I was really impressed by the sound. I might end up liking them more than the open version. They had better bass extension, a superb midrange, and smooth, detailed treble. And yes, the soundstage was great for closed headphones. I will definitely try to get a pair for proper testing and reviewing.

Aune SR7000

I really enjoyed these headphones. I think they are not launched yet, as I couldn’t find too many things about them, but I don’t think they will break the bank. They sounded transparent, fast, open, detailed but smooth, a bit ethereal and with a rich midrange. Reminded me a bit of electrostats.

Erzitech Headphones

This was a very interesting stand for me, and the owner was fun to talk with. I liked their HUGE Charybdis headphones, which, as you would expect, have a huge, open sound with good bass extension, a rich lower midrange, and a bit darker sound in the upper midrange. Overall, it was a pleasant sound if you like their signature. The Phobos had a similar sound but was not as defined, and the lower bass was not as extended.

What took me by surprise were their small Thalia headphones, which from my perspective are kind of a “Grado done right” headphone. They focus a lot of energetic goodness into your ears with punchy mid-bass, good midrange, and pleasant treble. I really enjoyed that sound as it was fun!

Warwick Acoustics

I loved this room and the people from Warwick Acoustics. I had great discussions with the team and a very interesting conversation with their Director of Marketing, Orazio Pollaci. The team was energetic and passionate about their work, and I love meeting and talking to such people.

Their room was very well put together, providing a quiet environment to properly test and listen to their products. I liked their Bravura headphones, but my thoughts remain with the Aperio. First of all, because of the awesome way they organized their room and auditions, I managed to have proper time to test the headphones in a quiet and relaxed environment where I could choose the music I wanted from their playlist.

I noticed that the more I listened to them, the better they sounded. Not sure why that was happening, but this is the feeling I got. The sound was incredibly transparent, fast, detailed, and ethereal, with good vocals and an open, holographic soundstage.

I am not sure why, but I think I did not discover the true potential of these headphones, as I believe they might have the capability for more punch, weight in the bass section, and a bit more warmth in the midrange. I think that pairing them with a Rockna Wavedream Signature might take these headphones to a different level. Definitely one of the most interesting experiences at the show.

Orazio also told me of their plans for the automotive industry. I am trying to imagine that pure warwick electroctrostatic sound in a car and I think it will sound amazing. Not to say that I don’t know anyone who is trying to bring this type of tech into the automotive industry.