Lewis CaliburnAbsolute Sounds has revealed the brands it will be displaying at HIGH END Munich 2025. Held at the MOC in Munich, the HIGH END show takes place between the 15th and 18th of May.
EXCLUSIVE $3 MILLION+ SYSTEM DEMO: RESERVE YOUR PLACE
Dan D’Agostino, Wilson Audio, dCS and its German distributor Audio Reference is offering HIGH END attendees the chance to experience what Absolute Sounds is calling “what may very well be the finest money-no-object audio system in the world”. Taking place in Room C112 in Atrium 3.1, each 15-minute ticketed session will include a range of music and an introduction by Dan D’Agostino himself. To reserve your place, click here.
AUDIO REFERENCE PRESS CONFERENCE
Audio Reference is holding a press conference that will include announcements by Dan D’Agostino, dCS and Wilson Audio. This will take place on Friday 16th May at 12:30pm-2pm in Atrium 3.1, Room D111.
BRAND LOCATIONS AT THE SHOW
ANTIPODES AUDIO: HALL 2 – STAND H13
Anyone unsure of how their choice of music server affects sound quality should make an appointment to hear a server made by Antipodes – a company that stands at the apex of digital music storage and playback.
ARTESANIA AUDIO: HALL 2 : STAND H05
Artesania will be present in more than a dozen rooms at HIGH END 2025, as turntable and audio electronics manufacturers use its peerless supports to demonstrate their latest creations. Look out for the new Master Panzerholz support on Artesania’s own stand in Hall 2.
AUDIO RESEARCH: HALL 4 – STAND U01 / ATRIUM 4.1 – ROOM F114
Following a change of ownership in 2023, the brand is opening the throttle and showing an incredible six new products at HIGH END 2025. Not only are there three new valve amplifiers – the I/70 integrated amp (pictured above), LS-2 preamp and D-80 power amp – but the company is also unveiling its first new solid-state designs for years: the LS-3 preamp and a pair of power amps, the S-100 and S-200.
CONSTELLATION AUDIO: ATRIUM 3.1 – ROOM D105
The much-lauded, astronomically named team returns to the HIGH END show this year, demonstrating its new-generation Revelation 2 Series amp components driving Wilson Audio’s brilliant The WATT/Puppy speakers. The upcoming Performance 2 Series Monoblock Amplifier (due later this year) will also be on show. Look out for a glimpse of the incredible Statement power amp too – designed to sit at the absolute pinnacle of high-power solid-state amplification.
DAN D’AGOSTINO: ATRIUM 3.1 – ROOM D111
As well as demonstrating its most recent launches – the Pendulum integrated amp and Momentum C2 preamp – Dan D’Agostino is providing the amplification for a high-end system – the flagship Relentless Preamplifier and a pair of Relentless Epic 1600 Power Amplifiers (pictured above) drive Wilson Audio’s Chronosonic XVX speakers and Subsonic subwoofers in ticketed demos arranged by Audio Reference, the German distributor of both brands.
DCS: ATRIUM 4.2 – ROOM F209
Britain’s digital audio pioneer is demonstrating its just-announced Lina DAC X network music player (pictured above) in a system that also includes Wilson Audio’s The WATT/Puppy speakers. The top-tier Varèse will also be on display. Numerous brands are using dCS components to demonstrate their amps and speakers at HIGH END 2025.
DÖHMANN AUDIO: HALL 4 – ROOM F001
The distributor strongly advises vinyl enthusiasts to seek out the large room in which Döhmann is ensconced (on the right before the Hall 4’s internal doors). Mark Döhmann will take listeners on a musical journey with the aid of his extensive record collection and the Döhmann Helix One Mk3 turntable (pictured above) which incorporates the same vibration isolation technology as the James Webb Space Telescope.
HSE SWISS: HALL 4 – STAND T16
Swiss-based HSE are brought to the UK via the Ten collection – personally curated by Absolute Sounds’ founder Ricardo Franassovici. Highlights include HSE’s latest line-level preamplifier, the Masterline 8 (pictured above), utilising only the highest quality handmade Swiss components.
IKIGAI AUDIO: ATRIUM 4.2: ROOM E222
A recent addition to the Absolute Sounds portfolio, Ikigai is an artisan maker of digital, analogue and power cables of the highest order, named after a Japanese concept that loosely translates as “reason for being”.
JADIS: ATRIUM 4.2: ROOM F205
An amalgam of polished stainless steel, gold-plated brass and glowing glass valves, amplifiers by French specialist Jadis will be on display. Expect to see/hear Jadis’ latest creations, including the JP7 preamp and PA70 power amp (pictured above), the latter complete with KT170 valves.
MAGICO: ATRIUM 4.1: ROOM F115
This year’s Magico demo in Munich centres on the S2 floorstander (pictured above), which is now preparing to ship.
METAXAS & SINS: HALL 4: STAND T10
Absolute Sounds distributes Metaxas & Sins’ reel-to-reel tape machines – high-end audio ‘sculptures’ designed to bring the listener closer to the original master tape than anything else.
REED: HALL 4: STAND U10
Reed’s tonearms and turntables are a welcome addition to Absolute Sounds’ vinyl portfolio. Two new products will be unveiled at HIGH END 2025 – an optical phono cartridge called the Reed SF and a matching Reed EQ phono stage with built-in headphone amp.
TECHDAS: ATRIUM 4.1: ROOM F118
Room F118 in Atrium 4.1 hosts the world debut of the new Air Force IV turntable, with daily demos at 12pm and 3pm.
THIELE ATR ROOM: MOTOR WORLD
Turntable maestro Thiele is exhibiting with its German distributor ATR in Motor World – a separate location opposite the MOC venue. There visitors will find demonstrations of the excellent TT01 turntable (pictured above), as well as Thiele’s new passive damping base.
TRAFOMATIC AUDIO: ATRIUM 4.2 – ROOM E215
A recent addition to the Absolute Sounds portfolio – via the exclusive, artisan Ten collection – Trafomatic makes valve amplifiers designed to push the sonic envelope. The Rhapsody integrated amp (pictured above) will be present, alongside recent additions including the Rhapsody power amp, Reference Line One preamp and Primavera headphone amp.
TRANSPARENT AUDIO: HALL 3 – STAND L01
In addition to its own stand in Hall 3, US-based cable specialist Transparent will be present in various demonstration spaces at HIGH END 2025, as discerning manufacturers use its cables to ensure their audio creations perform at their very best.
WILSON AUDIO: ATRIUM 3.1 – ROOM D111
This American loudspeaker brand is present at the show via German distributor Audio Reference, whose usual large space in Atrium 3.1 will include various speakers from the current line-up, plus details of the next arrival – scheduled for launch in July and under wraps until the show.
In addition, the Chronosonic XVX (pictured above) will be deployed in the previously described $3m+ system, alongside flagship components from Dan D’Agostino and dCS – see the top of this email to reserve a place for this extraordinary demo.
OTHER BRANDS
Not every brand distributed in the UK by Absolute Sounds is exhibiting at the show. But even those that aren’t may be found in the systems of exhibiting brands. For example, Franco Serblin speakers are being used by REL Acoustics (Hall 3, Stand M05). Others, such as DeVore Fidelity, Copland and PrimaLuna, are present only to meet with distributors and reveal their latest creations under strict embargos. Copland, for example, is bringing a prototype for a new line, not yet ready to unveil to the public.