The 11 Most Stunning Hi-Fi Innovations from High End Munich 2025

Munich has bid farewell to the High End show with a resounding cheer and an impressive explosion, as Europe’s largest hi-fi exhibition relocates to Vienna for the upcoming year.

High End Munich 2025 Is the yearly display for major product releases from leading companies in the high-fidelity market, and this year upheld that tradition with an array of audio items that got people excited and budgets feeling uneasy.

True to its billing, numerous high-fidelity gadgets showcased at this year’s event came with suitably premium price points, often reaching into the tens or hundreds of thousands. This was typical across the expansive exhibition area. Nonetheless, amidst these expensive offerings, several more affordably priced items caught our attention—equally thrilling as their pricier counterparts that boasted alluring glamour and top-tier features.

The What Hi-Fi? The team zipped through an intense couple of days at the recent High End Munich 2025 event, and here are the top debuts and standout high-fidelity items we came across. We saw massive subwoofers, crystal-clear turntables, stylish floor-standing speakers, plus an unexpected unveiling from a brand with over four decades under its belt—these are our highlights from Munich 2025.

Burmester Reference Line

We'll begin with one of the pricier new products unveiled at High End, which might also be among the most minimalist yet visually impactful designs we encountered.

Burmester introduced an entirely new line of products. Reference Line products including the 257 turntable, the 249 preamplifier, and the 259 stereo power amplifier.

Which one catches your eye? If you're looking for a turntable, the 257 features an inverted magnetic main bearing, dual high-torque motors, and an optical sensor system ensuring exceptional rotational precision. Alternatively, consider investing in the powerful 259 power amp; it offers a stated power output of 500 watts into a four-ohm load, doubling up to 1500 watts when configured as a monoblock. Additionally, the 249 preamp comes with modularity options allowing you to integrate streaming capabilities, a phono input, and additional analog connections.

No matter what you choose, it won’t come at a low price. Although we don't have official pricing details as of now, we can estimate that the complete collection will probably set you back around €300,000, placing us firmly in the luxury category.

Cyrus 80 Series

It came as a shock to encounter a Cyrus product in an extended width format. The British marque has always presented their high-fidelity components in the compact half-width "shoebox" design from the beginning, however, this is set to shift with the new release. 80 Series . Cyrus' first full-width hi-fi range consists of the 80 AMP streaming amplifier, the 80 PRE preamplifier and the 80 PWR power amplifier – and we got a first look at the new design in Munich.

Although they are all full-width, the new 80 Series adopts the same contemporary and sleek design that has caught our attention in the previous models. 40 Series , featuring an aluminum frame with a touch-sensitive display screen.

We're particularly excited by the prospect of the 80 AMP (pictured above), which has BluOS streaming platform at its heart and features 150W per channel of Class A/B amplification. For keeping you connected to your music, it's also equipped with support for Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify, and has an MM/MC phono stage inside.

If the 80 Series can match the 40 Series line in terms of five-star performance, exciting times could lay ahead for Cyrus. The 80 Series will officially launch in November.

Gryphon Audio Antileon Revelation

It hasn't been too long since our rating was at five stars. Gryphon Audio Diablo 333 The integrated amplifier we tested in our rooms left us astounded with its impressive output of 333 watts per channel. that is a spectacular amplifier.

During the High End Munich event, we witnessed the debut of a fresh Gryphon amplifier intended to take the place vacated by the Diablo 333. Crafted to mark both the 30-year milestone of their Antileon Series and the brand’s overall 40 years in business, this latest model was launched. Antileon Revelation The power amplifier comes in both stereo and mono configurations, offering 160 watts per channel in stereo mode and 180 watts per channel in mono mode, all of which provide Class A amplification.

In addition to that, each 90kg cabinet houses two specially wound 1500VA toroidal transformers, with a separate power supply handling the dedicated digital control circuits.

What about the price? It will set you back €38,000 / $45,500 / AU$64,995 once it becomes available later this year.

JBL Summit Series

Given the numerous tough Bluetooth speakers they produce and their widespread appeal among portable audio devices, it’s simple to overlook JBL's significant background in top-tier audiophile equipment.

The JBL Summit Series Certainly, the loudspeakers seem promising. Three new models were introduced at the exhibition, and we appreciate their appearance, particularly when they come adorned with an elegant ebony finish featuring golden highlights. These three speakers draw their names from renowned peaks of the Himalayas: Makalu, Pumori, and Ama. They complement the impressively sized Everest and the highly-rated K2 within the top-tier collection.

The Makalu and Pumori models serve as the floorstanding options within their lineup, while the Ama series offers standmount speakers. During an event at a trade show where conditions weren’t ideal, we got to experience how well the Makalu could perform. Despite the challenging environment, these speakers demonstrated their ability to handle energetic German rock and techno music blends quite comfortably, appealing effectively to both attendees and media representatives present.

The cost ranges from £15,000 / $20,000 to £37,000 / $45,000, which could be quite a challenge when it comes to affordability.

Fyne Audio F704SP

We have been highly impressed with the speakers that Fyne Audio has been manufacturing during their brief existence. We believe their top-of-the-line model stands out greatly. F1-8 speakers are fantastic; and more recently, the Fyne Audio F501E bowled us over as excellent 'economy' speakers at their £1000 price point.

The new F704SP ('SP' stands for 'Special Production') are a more high-end proposition. Joining the F701SP, F702SP and F703SP models, the F704SP is positioned as the lead model in Fyne's latest F700SP range of speakers, and priced at £20,000 / $26,000 / €24,000, they're easily at home within the high-end halls of the MOC Event Center Messe München.

Aiming to replicate the experience of live music in your home, the F704SP use a 30cm IsoFlare driver which combines a 30cm multi-fibre bass/midrange cone with a 75mm titanium dome tweeter, plus a 30cm multi-fibre bass driver. When combined with an upgraded crossover, more premium components, high-density birchwood cabinets and downward-firing port harnessing Fyne's 'BassTrax' diffuser system, they're an alluring prospect on paper.

We can't wait to hear them again.

Audiolab D7

We were extremely excited to check out Audiolab's newest stand-alone DACs, the D7 and D9, since these models are expected to carry forward the legacy of the initial model. M-DAC , a five-star winner of numerous awards that continues to be cherished in our memories.

What astonished us was merely how small the device turned out to be. Audiolab D7 The DAC/Headphone Amp/Preamp was available for an in-person viewing, and we can easily picture it integrating well with various desk setups – particularly beneficial for those using laptops and headphones who may have limited space. Its compact size makes it notably smaller than the bulkier (and costlier) D9 model, which features a display screen along with more sophisticated tech, circuits, and connections.

However, the D9 offers numerous advantages despite its small size. It features the same ESS 32-bit DAC used in the 7000A and 6000A MkII integrated amplifiers. This device can handle up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512 high-resolution audio files and is certified as Roon Tested. The back panel includes various analog and digital output options such as balanced XLR connections along with USB Type B and Type A ports.

Priced at £449 / AU$999 (approximately $600), this device competes with powerful desktop alternatives like the Chord Mojo 2 and Cambridge Audio DacMagic200M .

Mark Levinson 600 Series

Mark Levinson's 600 Series The range includes three models: the No. 626 dual-mono preamplifier, the No. 632 stereo power amplifier, and the No. 631 monoblock. Although we have only observed these units visually and haven’t tested them within an operational setup yet, they appear quite impressive, particularly the No. 631 minitower featuring ominous red vertical lighting.

These amplifiers employ Class A/B amplification technology, feature numerous analog and digital connection options, and adhere to Mark Levinson’s exclusive Pure Path circuit design principle. This approach seeks to provide “unequaled sonic clarity and an immersive audio enjoyment” through the selection of individual components tailored for particular, exact purposes.

The cost varies between approximately 24,000 / €28,000 / $25,000 and £38,000 / €44,000 / $40,000, and we are highly impressed by both the construction quality and design, which seamlessly combines an anodized aluminum frame with silver buttons and glass surfaces on top of every device.

It really feels like what you might get if Batman had his own sound system.

Dali V-16 F

It's always thrilling to witness the latest from the Danish company Dali. At High End Munich 2025, Dali had quite an active presence, introducing a range of new color options for their products. IO-8 and IO-12 headphones as well as its flagship Kore loudspeakers, and, as we can see, a completely new subwoofer.

The Dali V-16 F It’s quite substantial for its weight at 53kg, essentially acting like a powerhouse. The speaker features a broad spectrum, minimal loss design alongside low levels of both harmonic and non-harmonic distortion. According to Dali, the V-16 F ensures ample accuracy along with this significant strength.

Boasting 2500 watts of Class D power, the V-16 F is advertised as Dali’s “most potent subwoofer to date.” This latest model features a prominent 40.5 cm speaker cone, which utilizes aluminum for increased rigidity combined with lightness in the diaphragm construction.

It will be available starting in July at a staggering price of £4499 (approximately $6000 / AU$9000).

Audio-Technica AT-LPA2

Audio-Technica now offers a high-end turntable, and it’s called the AT-LPA2 We're always thrilled to encounter a new turntable from a well-established brand, and what makes this one even more appealing is its entirely transparent design!

Inspired by the special edition AT-LP2022 celebrating the manufacturer’s 60-year milestone in Japan, the AT-LPA2 includes a belt-driven mechanism, along with a carbon fiber arm. It ships equipped with the high-end AT-OC9XEN dual moving coil cartridge from the same line. Its see-through appearance stems from both the clear acrylic body and turntable disk. Additionally, this model bundles an independent power adapter for enhanced performance.

At the exhibition, Audio-Technica was exclusively providing listening demonstrations via headphones, which means we will need to await a unit in our testing facilities to truly assess what this latest turntable is capable of.

Interested in one? The AT-LPA2 can be purchased right away for £1699 / €1999.

Eversolo Play (+CD Edition)

Here’s something quite distinct. Up until now, we have primarily focused on premium equipment, particularly from well-known brands like Burmester and Gryphon. However, as always, High End Munich also showcases newer companies aiming at more affordable segments of the market, including brands such as WiiM and Eversolo.

The new Eversolo Play Is a multifunctional streaming amplifier designed to provide an extensive array of features that can compete with many high-fidelity brands at a lower cost. Its small size includes a Class D amp, an AK4493 DAC chip, along with Eversolo’s superior streaming platform and user interface. It supports various formats including hi-res audio, UPnP, Tidal Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music, and others.

The physical connections are also noteworthy, featuring HDMI ARC along with optical and coaxial inputs, a subwoofer output, and a phono input. Additionally, there’s a 5.5-inch touchscreen display; during my demonstration at the exhibit, it appeared equally crisp, reactive, and impressively equipped. Eversolo DMP-A6 music streaming service that we enjoyed using so frequently.

For enthusiasts of tangible music collections, there’s also a CD Edition available, featuring aCD drive that extends from the side. This option could prove quite appealing, particularly with its pricing. The standard model comes at€699 (approximately£600 / $790 /AU$1200), whereas the CD Edition retails for€799 (roughly£680 / $900 /AU$1400).

Chord Electronics Ultima Phonostage

And lastly, we have a product whose details remain somewhat mysterious; however, it compensates for this lack of information with an overwhelming amount of conspicuous design.

Chord Electronics removed the lid. Ultima Phonostage The latest top-tier phono preamplifier within their dazzling Reference Ultima line boasts a dual-mono construction and incorporates the company’s cutting-edge Ultima technology. Given our positive experiences with the Ultima Integrated amplifier as well as the Ultima Pre 3 and Ultima 6 models, this device arrives with considerable anticipation from us. Designed for both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) cartridge compatibility, it allows individual customization of analog input settings, enabling use across up to three separate turntables or tonearms.

Chord’s ‘spaceship’ design, highlighted by a central glowing LED sphere—however, our attention was captured by the two VU meters that were maxing out during the demonstration.

The Ultima Phonostage is set to release later this year, however, we've been informed that the cost will likely be approximately £18,000. Whew.

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