“The last HIGH END in Munich”, is the buzz everywhere, but there can be no talk of a gloomy farewell – quite the opposite: manufacturers have clearly been busy celebrating this change of era with a firework display of new products and some surprising technological developments.
In many cases, new ideas found at the HIGH END 2025 revolved around how exactly a hi-fi chain should be divided up: ever since streaming is the dominant form of music consumption, integrated DACs have found their way into both sources and amplifiers, while at the same time separate converters continue to spread across the hi-fi landscape – as a result, many have two, if not three DACs in their setup, most of which are just sitting there out of a job.
Advance Paris figured that nobody needs this kind of redundancy, so the are giving the user a choice with its newly introduced Novo series, which is positioned above the well-known Classic devices: the integrated amplifiers in the new premium line only do what it says on the tin, whereby a slot on the rear opens up the option of upgrading with a streaming module. This is nothing ground-breaking in itself, but in my humble opinion, quite a few manufacturers should take notes. That’s not all, though: the module has one more trick up its sleeve: the housing can not only disappear into the associated amplifier, but can also be used independently as a stand-alone device on components of any brand.
The newly emerging demand for amplifiers that really only amplify is driven by the versatility of the latest sources such as the new Auralic Aquila X3, which is a streamer and media server by design, but can also be expanded to include an analog output module and even a phono preamp that transfers the stylus signal to the digital domain. The CD drive, which the manufacturer recommends for both ripping and playback, finally turns the high-end component into an all-round music hub.
As usual, the philosophies of integration and separate components thrive merrily side by side: Meitner, for example, presented a brand new CD drive as the final link in a chain populated throughout with separates. New CD player launches may come as a surprise in the year 2025, but calls for silver disks are apparently getting louder again, especially from Asia. Meitner has found an elegant solution for integrating the player into the system: the device has no buttons, but is controlled directly via the DAC using a communication line.
No matter the source, amplified via the mighty EMM power amplifiers and converted into sound pressure by the Eggleston Works speakers, the system delivered such a tightly and at the same time organically musical performance that sitting motionless in the armchair was simply not an option.
Streaming receivers are of course still very much on the rise as a convenience-oriented antithesis to ceremonious lots-of-boxes solutions: T+A, for example, used the new Symphonia streaming integrated amplifier to drive the equally fairly new Talis S 330 in its demonstration. For a good 20,000 euros, this was a slim, living room-compatible system that shone with a very polished sound performance.
At Audio Group Denmark, the customer has a choice: where last year, the Danes were teasing the upcoming 88 series with empty enclosures, this year you actually could see, touch and hear them: In one of the three listening rooms, a full setup drove the new C1 standmount loudspeaker and impressed with the incredibly transparent and agile performance that the Nordic sound engineers are known for. For those who are not happy with half a dozen individual components, the U-588 streaming receiver is available as a one-box system.
On the amplifier side, the entire alphabet was represented this year, whereby innovations – perhaps unexpectedly – were by no means only to be found in switching amplifiers: Canor, for example, presented its new Virtus A3 streaming integrated amplifier, which uses tubes in the input and transistors for the power amplification, very much in line with the brand values.
These classic principles are implemented with fresh ideas, though: The slim line of the amplifier is made possible by a heatpipe-based cooling system inspired by gaming PCs, which achieves an extremely effective air flow by means of cooling fans that run at a leisurely pace of just over 300 rpm.
The number of actual premieres at the HIGH END 2025 really surprised me, just as the variety of technologies and concepts was once again pleasingly broad this year. Vienna will have big shoes to fill next year – we can’t wait to see Austria do it.