High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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07 / 01 / 26

Flagship Audio Gear, World Premieres, & Show Coverage — July High-End Audio Review Magazine
In-depth listening notes, not-to-be-missed world premiere hi-fi reviews, plus HIGH END Vienna and Southwest Audio Fest 2026.
Great news for music lovers and audiophiles alike as our July Review Magazine is out and it's loaded with hands-on looks at top-tier amplifier, two interesting loudspeaker designs, world premieres, and more! Think long listening sessions, gear that makes you smile, and plenty of great gear pics for your next system upgrade consideration. If you love discovering what really moves the music, this issue is a treat. What really makes this edition buzz is the world premiere coverage — first listens and debut reviews of gear you may not have heard about anywhere else. Charney Audio Kit-1 300B tube amp, efficient Maestro XL speakers, the unique PERFECT8 Cube-S with Sub, and Merrill Audio's exciting reference-class Element 116MX amplifier.

There's also show coverage from HIGH END Vienna 2026, with special news as we're once again sponsoring the Southwest Audio Fest luxury audio event! You'll be seeing our lanyards once again, bringing our joyous orange signature color to Dallas. For the kids and newcomers, there's the Passport To Sound booklet. If you've not heard about this incredible resource, be sure not to miss this month's editorial! From high-end audio show sponsorships to educational initiatives — we welcome music lovers to discover a sense of where these world premieres fit into the broader high-end landscape. Our industry-leading show ties means we give back to the community. If you love discovering new flagship components or want the first word on gear that will define the next year of high-end audio, Enjoy the Music.com's exciting July Review Magazine is essential reading. Dive into the full issue and world premiere reviews, and plan your next audition. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music.
---> Flagship Audio Gear, World Premieres, & Show Coverage — July High-End Audio Review Magazine.

July 2026 High-End Audio Review Magazine — Celebrating Music, Community & The Gear That Brings Us Together
A passionate editorial for music lovers, audiophiles, and our global hi-fi Family.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
This issue of Enjoy the Music.com's high-end-audio Review Magazine arrives at a moment when the global audiophile community feels more connected—and more energized—than ever! Over the past 30+ years, our publication has served music lovers with high-performance audio reviews, show reports, industry news, and heartfelt editorials that celebrate the musical art of listening. This month, we continue that tradition with renewed purpose: to honor the people, the gear, and the shared passion that make high-fidelity audio not just a hobby, but a lifelong pursuit of beauty, discovery, and both human and emotional connection. As the Old Guard is now retired, and we thank them for their decades of service, it is time for fresh faces to take charge as new ideas within the world of modern hi-fi audio move us forward. This issue is written by music lovers for music lovers. Our well-respected musician contributors are not distant observers of music—they play it. We are honored to have musicians as part of the same global family of listeners who obsess over authenticity, realism, tone, texture, timing, and truth. Like you, we stay up late into the evening, sometimes into the early morning, (re)discovering favorite albums; debating the merits of solid-state, vacuum tubes, hornspeakers, planars, cone drivers, digital formats, phono cartridges, tweaks....
---> July 2026 High-End Audio Review Magazine — Celebrating Music, Community & The Gear That Brings Us Together.

Southwest Audio Fest 2026 Ignites Dallas With Luxury High-End Sound Systems
Three days of reference-level listening, product launches, seminars, and vinyl / CD marketplace for serious audiophiles and music lovers.
Southwest Audio Fest 2026 returns to Dallas from July 23rd through 25th with a sharpened three-day schedule designed to maximize energy, attendance, and high-end listening opportunities. Organizers have officially dropped the traditional Sunday session in favor of a Thu-to-Sat format, responding to longstanding industry feedback about slow final day traffic. The new structure opens Thursday from 2 pm to 8 pm, followed by full days Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, creating a more focused and efficient show experience for exhibitors and attendees alike. Hosted at the Sheraton Convention Center in downtown Dallas, the 2026 edition offers expansive demo rooms, proximity to the Arts and Historic Districts, and easy access to restaurants, museums, and cultural attractions. Exhibitors will include major manufacturers, boutique builders, dealers, and independent designers presenting everything from floorstanding loudspeakers and reference turntables to cutting-edge DACs, streamers, and room treatment solutions.
---> Southwest Audio Fest 2026 Show Report.

HIGH END Vienna 2026 — High-End Audio Premiere Show Report
Where luxury and music loving audiophiles meet Vienna's musical heritage.
The HIGH END Vienna 2026 arrives with remarkable momentum: the world's leading international audio show is already fully booked several months before opening. Set to take place from June 4th through 7th at the Austria Center Vienna (ACV), the early sell-out signals not only strong demand, but also a collective eagerness across the industry to witness a landmark edition. After 21 years, relocating the event to Vienna marks a symbolic and practical fresh start that many exhibitors and visitors view as a turning point. Moving the show to the Austria Center Vienna represents a strategic milestone for HIGH END. The venue's modern infrastructure and forward-looking facilities create a canvas for exhibitors to showcase cutting-edge audio technology in a professional, flexible environment. Organizers and participants alike expect the center's layout and technical capabilities to elevate demonstrations, listening rooms, and product launches.
---> HIGH END Vienna 2026 — High-End Audio Premiere Show Report.

World Premiere Review!
Merrill Audio Element 116MX Review: High-End Monoblock Power Amplifiers With Exceptional Clarity & Dynamics
Our exclusive In-depth listening tests reveals the 116MX's exceptionally low noise floor, expansive immersive soundscape, and reference-level transparency.
Review By Tom Lyle
In this review, I will describe and sonically examine Merrill Audio's Element 116MX monoblock power amplifiers. Given the number of Merrill Audio reviews I have written over the past decade, I suppose some may accuse me of favoritism. I'm often chosen to review their components simply because I live close to their factory. As a bonus, they can deliver their products personally and then help me set them up, rather than simply shipping them to me. The Element 116MX is Merrill Audio's newest component, and the most powerful and most pricey amplifier I've reviewed from them. It is a significant upgrade over their earlier Element 116 (sans MX), which Dr. Michael Bump reviewed in the summer of 2019 in Enjoy the Music.com. In this very positive review, he remarked that the Element 116 "delivers some of the best amplification anywhere." Merrill Audio claims that the Element 116MX "offers greater clarity, detail, and dynamic range."
---> Merrill Audio Element 116MX Review: High-End Monoblock Power Amplifiers With Exceptional Clarity & Dynamics.

PERFECT8 Cube-S With Sub Review — Reference-Grade Musical High-Fidelity Loudspeakers With Real-World Transparency
A deep dive into PERFECT8's glass-enclosed omnidirectional loudspeaker sound system that delivers endless musical pleasures for both casual and serious listeners.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
OK. Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way... Yes, they are glass speakers, and yes, they sound "transparent." OK. Phew. Glad we got that over with! At a high-end audio show in 2015, I met Jonas from Sweden for the first time in a big room on the first floor. All Ypsilon electronics and their The Point speakers. All glass, open baffle design, dual dipole midrange, and a ribbon tweeter, each sitting on a sealed two-driver subwoofer. As the name implied, they were the closest thing to a point source I had ever heard. Tonally spectacular, they threw a massive sound stage forward, backward, sideward, upward, downward, and every other way there is; and absolutely vanished into that big room. I went back time and time again, and decided that I needed to get to know Jonas better and make sure I heard his room at every show I went to. I also remember the speakers were very expensive, so owning them was not going to happen back then; not without a divorce, and although I loved the speakers, I love my wife too much for that option....
---> PERFECT8 Cube-S With Sub Review — Reference-Grade Musical High-Fidelity Loudspeakers With Real-World Transparency.

World Premiere Review!
Charney Audio Kit-1 300B Vacuum Tube Amplifier & Maestro XL Loudspeakers: World-Class 300B SET Power Meets Voxativ Precision To Deliver Extraordinary Musical Realism
A deep-dive listening review of Charney's new 300B amplifier and Maestro XL musical loudspeakers featuring Voxativ AC-2.6 drivers.
Review By Paul Schumann
When I first walked into the Charney Audio room at Southwest Audio Fest 2025, I was greeted by this charming song by Victor Wooten. It was being projected into the room by a pair of Lumica VI loud speakers. Despite being a single-driver design, the Lumica VIs were pressurizing the room with their enormous rear-loaded horns. I was intrigued. The room was super busy at the time, so I snapped a few pics, moved on, and made a note to myself to swing back later. When I came back a couple of days later, "The Loneliest Monk" was once again playing, which I thought was an odd bit of synchronicity. I sat and listened to the Lumica VI speakers and was impressed by how they filled the room with just a pair of Voxativ AC-2.6 drivers. After taking some notes, I talked to Brian Charney about reviewing a pair of speakers. After describing my listening room to him, we decided that none of his speakers would perform their best there.
---> Charney Audio Kit-1 300B Vacuum Tube Amplifier & Maestro XL Loudspeakers Review.

Metronome Audio Le DAC 2 Review
The Spice must flow.
Review By Paul Schumann
It's no secret that Hollywood has become the land of the sequel. Nine of the top ten grossing movies from 2022 were sequels. I excluded The Batman because it technically wasn't a sequel, but it was a reboot, for goodness' sake. Now I'm not going to bash sequels out of hand. I watch a bunch of them myself. My big complaint is when a sequel is done by a different set of writers and a new director and is so different from its predecessor in tone and theme that about halfway through I throw up my hands and ask, "Why am I watching this?". One sequel I'm looking forward to watching is Dune: Part 2. While they call it a sequel, it's more of a continuation of the first movie with Denis Villeneuve and his team completing the task. Even though I've only seen 2.5 minutes of it in a trailer, I am incredibly hopeful that this crew will bring the ship safely into the harbor. Yes, I could be wrong, but like Fremen, I believe.
---> Metronome Audio Le DAC 2 Review.

Genesis G7 Samba Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
You're drawn into the music by its amazing, lifelike sound.
Review By Senior Editor Tom Lyle
I first became aware of Genesis speakers when I was a young man, shortly after they were first introduced in 1991 via the audiophile press. It was tough to ignore the fact that anyone who discussed this brand of speakers never failed to mention their chief designer, the late Arnie Nudell, and his passion for research and development, as well as the use of premium materials, their impeccable design, and, by all reliable accounts, their outstanding sound quality. Genesis introduced their more affordable G7 Series in 2005, beginning with the G7c, also known as the Convertible, a bookshelf speaker designed by Genesis' Arnie Nudell, who sadly passed away in 2017. The G7c speakers were soon followed by other models created by Mr. Nudell's successor, Gary L. Koh, who is now Genesis' Chief Designer and the CEO of Genesis Advanced Technologies. These newer models included the G7p (Petite) and the G7f, a floor-standing model with an active side-firing woofer. Although the G7 Series was discontinued in 2018, it has now been reintroduced.
---> Genesis G7 Samba Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.

Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

06 / 25 / 26

Audiophiles: Can There Be Too Many Notes?
Not just listening, but truly hearing the music.
Article By Roger Skoff
Do you remember the part in the movie Amadeus where Emperor Joseph II, his Kapellmeister, and other music advisory staff, including Salieri, have just heard a part of Mozart's latest work, are less than pleased with it, and the emperor declares that it "has too many notes"? Mozart is shocked and amazed, and, to everyone's horror, openly disagrees with the emperor and his sycophants, saying, instead, that there are precisely as many notes as there needs to be. That was about an opera, The Abduction From The Seraglio, but the same thing could be said of any piece of music – there are neither more nor fewer notes than there needs to be to communicate what the composer is trying to say. I remember hearing a lecture many years ago about Beethoven, where the speaker was analyzing one of the great Beethoven symphonies, note by note, phrase by phrase, and showing that even that great and complex work was composed of just a few simple themes and leitmotifs, layered, interwoven, repeated, inverted, changed in key, and passed from one instrument or instrumental group to another.....
---> Audiophiles: Can There Be Too Many Notes.

World Premiere Review!
Synergistic Research PowerCell 14 Power Conditioner Review
Raising the performance of audiophile gear you plug into it.
Review By Rick Becker
The naysayers on internet forums will have a "hey"-day with this review. They complain about reviewers who proclaim that each new product they review is better than the last one. Well, I'm here to plead "guilty" as this is the third power conditioner I've reviewed in the past seven months, along with an incredible 650 photos and 59,000 words in the reviews of the Toronto Audiofest 2024 and Capital Audiofest 2024. Each power conditioner was better than the last, as well as significantly more expensive. Let me give you an overview in case you haven't been following along. My longstanding power conditioner, since July 2017 when the review was published by Enjoy the Music.com, had been the Synergistic PowerCell 8 UEF SE with an Atmosphere Level 2 power cord, a unit that sold for about $2000 at the time.
---> Synergistic Research PowerCell 14 Power Conditioner Review.

06 / 24 / 26

Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors SWAF 2026 Show Lanyards & Passport To Sound Booklet
High-end audio's leading online hi-fi publication once again shows its strong support for the industry and assists music lovers, too.
Southwest Audio Fest 2026 returns to the Sheraton Dallas Hotel from July 23rd through 25th, and this year's show arrives with an exciting partnership: Enjoy the Music.com, one of the industry's most respected online publications for over 30 years, is the official lanyard sponsor for the three-day luxury high-end audio celebration. Their support ensures every exhibitor and member of the press receives a premium lanyard the moment they check in. For youthful and aspiring music lovers, Enjoy the Music.com is once again providing the critically-acclaimed educational booklet Passport To Sound. Written by scientist and higher education instructor May Anwar, Passport To Sound is the industry's foremost publication to help both inquisitive adults and youthful enthusiasts about the fundamentals of the high-fidelity world. Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) 2026 is expected to host many exhibit rooms, featuring flagship sound systems, class-leading turntable showcases, top-level headphones, and product debuts from global manufacturers. The lanyards—worn by many throughout the weekend—serve as a unifying visual element while highlighting Enjoy the Music.com's ongoing support and our many years of giving back to the high-end audio community.
---> Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors SWAF 2026 Show Lanyards & Passport To Sound Booklet.

06 / 23 / 26

Capital Audiofest 2026 Returns As The Northeast Coast's Premier Luxury Hi-Fi Experience
Capital Audiofest 2026 is set to take over the Hilton Rockville in Rockville, Maryland from November 13th through 15th, reaffirming its status as the Northeast Coast's most anticipated luxury home audio showcase. Now in its 16th year, the high-fidelity home audio festival continues its evolution from a regional gathering into a nationally recognized celebration of high-end audiophile sound, immersive listening, and community-driven audio culture. With expanded exhibitor participation and a growing audience of seasoned audiophiles, newcomers, and families, the 2026 edition promises to be the most ambitious yet. The show's hallmark remains its room-to-room exploration format, where attendees can audition cutting-edge loudspeakers, amplifiers, DACs, turntables, and streaming systems across a wide range of price points. Exhibitors representing boutique artisans, global luxury brands, and innovative newcomers will transform the Hilton's floors into a multi-level sonic playground. Visitors can expect meticulously tuned listening rooms, world premiere product unveilings, and hands-on demonstrations designed to help listeners translate specifications into real-world musical engagement.

Beyond the gear, Capital Audiofest continues to cultivate a warm, family friendly atmosphere. The bustling Atrium Marketplace will once again feature vinyl vendors, CD sellers, accessories, and audio ephemera, while evening entertainment brings live music, special performances in the Theater, and tastings from local distillers. This blend of high-end audio and relaxed audiophile community energy has become a defining trait of the festival, making it a destination not just for equipment evaluation but for shared musical discovery. Organizers are also emphasizing convenience and accessibility for 2026 attendees. With its mix of world-class audio demonstrations, vibrant marketplace culture, and welcoming community spirit, Capital Audiofest 2026 stands poised to deliver another standout year! As the high-end audio industry continues to innovate across analog and digital frontiers, the festival remains a vital hub for discovering new products, refining listening preferences, and celebrating the art of sound. For many, it's not just a show—it's an annual homecoming for music lovers. Learn more at Enjoy the Music.com's exclsuive Capital Audiofest 2026 review and show report.

06 / 22 / 26

Southwest Audio Fest 2026 Ignites Dallas With Luxury High-End Sound Systems
Southwest Audio Fest 2026 returns to Dallas from July 23rd through 25th with a sharpened three-day schedule designed to maximize energy, attendance, and high-end listening opportunities. Organizers have officially dropped the traditional Sunday session in favor of a Thursday–Friday–Saturday format, responding to longstanding industry feedback about slow final day traffic. The new structure opens Thursday from 2 pm to 8 pm, followed by full days Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, creating a more focused and efficient show experience for exhibitors and attendees alike. Hosted at the Sheraton Convention Center in downtown Dallas, the 2026 edition offers expansive demo rooms, proximity to the Arts and Historic Districts, and easy access to restaurants, museums, and cultural attractions. Exhibitors will include major manufacturers, boutique builders, dealers, and independent designers presenting everything from floorstanding loudspeakers and reference turntables to cutting-edge DACs, streamers, and room treatment solutions. The show's emphasis remains on extended, reference-level listening sessions, allowing visitors to hear complete systems in acoustically treated environments rather than rushed trade show setups.

Programming for 2026 expands with curated listening rooms, full-system demonstrations, and a robust slate of technical seminars, moderated panels, and Q&A sessions. Topics will range from room acoustics and analog-versus-digital workflows to the latest advancements in streaming technology. The festival also dedicates space to lifestyle-focused audio, including home theater and A/V exhibits on the 10th floor, broadening the appeal for both seasoned audiophiles and newcomers exploring luxury sound. Special events will anchor the evenings, including after hours listening parties, manufacturer-hosted product launches, and keynote presentations highlighting new flagship components and limited edition collaborations. A major vinyl LP and CD marketplace returns as well, giving collectors a chance to browse rare pressings and meet regional record vendors. Southwest Audio Fest 2026 positions Dallas as a rising hub for high-end audio, supported by the region's strong demographics, international airport access, and growing luxury living market. Learn more at Enjoy the Music.com's exclusive Southwest Audio Fest 2026 show report page.

06 / 19 / 26

audioXpress' July 2026 Issue
Editorial: Audio Human Extensions
Born To Be Connected: Why Passengers Finally Get To Have Fun Too
A Software-Defined DAC Using Delta-Sigma Modulation
EPC9192 Reference Design For EPC2307 eGaN FETs
Designing the Dynaco ST-70 Series 3: It's All About the Bass
FC-100: A JFET Testing And Matching Device
MPEG-I Immersive Audio The Standard for Realistic VR / AR Sound
The Challenge Behind Believable XR
Building Flexible Immersive Home Audio Systems
Reintroduction Of The 90s Mesa Triple Rectifier Solo Head
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "I believe language is the largest market opportunity for the audio industry—essential for augmented reality and any applications that augment our human abilities, which I have characterized as human extensions. Language and voice are intrinsically connected and are cornerstones of today's audio product designs both to expand human interfaces, but more importantly as the "code" that connects our experience with technology. I am always fascinated when I see how people explore our current generative AI engines—mostly conditioned to natural language prompts—in different languages and how that "language" interface results in diverse outcomes. As the interactions with AI-powered products and solutions that are based on large language models (LLMs) expand to different levels, from work to entertainment, we are now witnessing the rapid transition to AI agents, which theoretically should be agnostic to human languages. Yet that's absolutely not the case—and the reason why I believe this is such a promising field for the audio profession. Something I predict will be (at least) a decade-long transition for language and voice technologies to evolve."
---> audioXpress July 2026 Issue.

06 / 18 / 26

Integrating New Audio Technologies Into Your Home For Stereo / Immersive High-Resolution Sound
Listening To The Future: An audiophile's AI assistant has this to say...
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin And His AI Assistant
Over the past six months of 2025, Enjoy the Music.com has taken you on a journey through six luxurious high-end audio events, each one a vibrant celebration of sonic excellence. We began in reverse order with the season's grand spectacle, HIGH END Munich 2025, the largest and most anticipated show, setting the bar high for the industry. Just before that, the more intimate Lone Star Audio Fest 2025 charmed enthusiasts with its unique vibe, followed by a polished series of events including AXPONA 2025, Montreal Audiofest 2025, and Southwest Audio Fest 2025. Each of these events brought its own distinct flavor to the high-end audio landscape. Early February greeted us with the Florida International Audio Expo 2025 — a delightful convergence of world-class audio and family fun, plus after the event your family turns into fun-filled vacationers headed to Disney, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and beyond.
---> Integrating New Audio Technologies Into Your Home For Stereo / Immersive High-Resolution Sound.

World Premiere Review!
Grandinote Mach 8 XL Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
Reproducing the heart and soul within recorded music.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
What has eight woofers, one horn compression tweeter, no crossovers (well maybe a single capacitor, first order high pass for the tweeter. So a filter, not formally a crossover), and a semi resonance tube 'transmission line like' cabinet? You guessed it, the Grandinote Mach 8 XL speaker does. Wow... You're good! And so are they! Although it sounds counterintuitive, the one word that comes to mind when describing these very tall, nine-driver speakers is, "Simple." Massimiliano Magri's design philosophy equates to the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Reduce resonance in the simplest way possible. Reduce intrusion of capacitance, inductance, and resistance as much as possible by eliminating the use of crossover components. Utilize elegant and simple speaker design to improve performance by implementing a modified transmission line that they refer to as a Semi resonance tube.
---> Grandinote Mach 8 XL Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.

06 / 16 / 26

Immersivephiles Enjoy Pure Audio Streaming On Apple TV As Next-Gen Immersive Audio
Pure Audio Streaming (PAS), a lossless immersive music platform, is officially coming to Apple TV and marking a major step forward in high-fidelity (hi-fi) home entertainment. The expansion, slated for Q3 2026, brings PAS's uncompromising, studio-grade audio formats—including immersive, binaural, high-resolution multichannel, and lossless stereo PCM—to Apple's popular streaming device, widening access for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts alike. Pure Audio Streaming says the move is driven by a surge in demand for immersive music experiences across both consumer and professional markets. With standards like RP22 and new open-source formats such as Eclipsa making immersive playback more accessible, the company sees Apple TV as a natural next step for delivering reference-quality immersivephile^TM-quality sound in more homes. With Broader platform support, it further strengthens the ecosystem for audiophiles, music lovers, and listeners.

Apple, meanwhile, is quietly preparing its own audio upgrades. With tvOS 27, Apple TV 4K will support Hi-Res Lossless audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, a major leap from the previous 24-bit/48kHz ceiling. Apple Music subscribers with compatible external speakers will soon be able to experience true studio-quality playback directly through Apple TV. The update also introduces AutoMix, a DJ-style continuous mixing feature that enhances immersion and energy during music playback. These enhancements follow Apple's earlier confirmation that tvOS 26 will add audio passthrough, allowing Apple TV to deliver untouched bitstreams to external receivers for the first time. This change enables AVRs and high-end processors—not the Apple TV itself—to decode formats like Dolby Atmos, unlocking higher-quality surround performance for premium home cinema systems. Developers will need to update their apps to support passthrough, but the improvement is expected to be significant for enthusiasts. Together, Apple's platform upgrades and Pure Audio Streaming's (PAS) expansion signal a new era for high-resolution and immersive audio. As Apple TV evolves into a more capable hi-fi hub and Pure Audio Streaming brings its lossless immersive catalog to the platform, music lovers gain unprecedented access to premium sound.

06 / 15 / 26

HIGH END 2026 Vienna: Global Audiophiles And Music Lovers Converge For A Landmark Luxury Hi-Fi Show
From vintage horns to billionaire scale rigs, Vienna's debut high-end audio event delivers variety and spectacle.
HIGH END 2026 Vienna Audiophile Show Report By Robert C. May
This year, a little later than usual, and in a new location, the audio world came together in Vienna for the annual High-End audio show. Two days of business-to-business and two days open to the public, a vast array of audio items were on display across the halls of the Austria Center Vienna – so much so, that the cornucopia of products is all a bit daunting! The main attractions being shown off are of course the audio systems on display. From the relatively modest to the don't bother to ask the price, there were such a surfeit of choices that limits had to be set to avoid sensory burnout! With literally hundreds of systems, spread out over five floors and four halls, time allowed even those who most astutely surf the displays only a small selection. Nevertheless, for those of us who like listen to audio systems, as a business, a profession or a consumer, the HIGH END show does scratch the audio itch. This year's HIGH END Society luxury audio show moved from its former home in Munich to Vienna, with its Hapsburg heritage, exceptional art museums and Sacher Torte mit schlage.
---> HIGH END 2026 Vienna: Global Audiophiles And Music Lovers Converge For A Landmark Luxury Hi-Fi Show.

06 / 13 / 26

Vienna Shines As A Modern Global Stage For HIGH END 2026 Debut
The Austria Center Vienna proved itself a world-class venue as HIGH END Vienna 2026 made its highly anticipated debut, marking a successful new chapter for the international audio industry. Expectations surrounding the move from Munich were high, yet from the opening moments exhibitors, trade visitors and music lovers responded with enthusiasm. The venue's spacious architecture, abundant natural light and inviting outdoor areas created an atmosphere that was both relaxed and vibrant. Despite strong attendance, the exhibition remained comfortably accessible, with well-attended demonstrations and consistently busy rooms underscoring the event's appeal. In total, 23,106 visitors attended, including 10,603 trade visitors, 11,957 consumers, and 549 media representatives. With guests from 104 countries, HIGH END Vienna 2026 immediately established itself as a premier international platform for high-quality luxury audio technology. The first two days, dedicated exclusively to B2B and press engagement, offered ideal conditions for in-depth discussions and new business relationships. Nearly 500 exhibitors reported high visitor quality and strong commercial interest.
---> Vienna Shines As A Modern Global Stage For HIGH END 2026 Debut.

06 / 12 / 26

Exclusive: Inside Vienna High-End 2026 — The Pinnacle Of Luxury Sound Unveiled
From flagship high-end audio debuts to artisan audiophile craftsmanship, this year's HIGH END 2026 Vienna hi-fi show sets a new benchmark for excellence in audio performance.
HIGH END 2026 Vienna Show Report By Jason Kennedy
A new city and a new venue meant a challenging two days of orientation for show reporters, but with a lot of schlepping, I found my way around the vast Austria Centre and a couple of satellite events and heard some often expensive, sometimes truly great sounds at this year's HIGH END. Here are the highlights. "Vienna brought a different energy to the show — a blend of imperial elegance and modern precision that set the tone for the systems on display," says Creative Director Steve R. Rochlin. "Exhibitors seemed determined to make a statement, filling their rooms with bold flagship debuts, lavish materials, and engineering that bordered on the obsessive. Crowds were strong from the moment the doors opened, with long lines forming outside the most talked-about rooms as word spread of breakthrough designs and six-figure sonic spectacles. The new venue's sprawling layout encouraged deeper exploration, revealing hidden gems tucked between the major halls and boutique makers showing off handcrafted artistry. Even seasoned showgoers, including seasoned journalists, felt a jolt of excitement as brands used Vienna's debut year to push boundaries, elevate expectations, and redefine what luxury high-end audio can mean. It is clear that HIGH END 2026 in Vienna wasn't just a relocation — it was a reinvention!"
---> Exclusive: Inside Vienna High-End 2026 — The Pinnacle Of Luxury Sound Unveiled.

06 / 11 / 26

Cirrus Logic Unveils Professional Quality High-Performance Audio Converters
Cirrus Logic has announced a major expansion of its flagship audio converter lineup, introducing nine new high-performance ADCs, DACs, and CODECs aimed squarely at the fast-growing professional and prosumer audio markets. The new devices—optimized for musical instruments, podcasting gear, active speakers, mixing consoles, and installed AV—arrive as global demand for premium sound in mid-tier products continues to surge. According to industry reports cited by the company, the combined pro and prosumer audio sector now represents a $9 billion market, driven by creators, musicians, and integrators seeking elevated performance without premium-tier pricing. The expanded portfolio builds on Cirrus Logic's existing CS430xx and CS530xx families, giving design engineers a broader set of tools to scale performance across multiple product tiers. The new converters incorporate enhanced analog capabilities, hybrid gain control, and a new voltage output driver, enabling improved noise performance and simplified system design. These engineering upgrades help manufacturers deliver cleaner, more accurate audio while reducing overall system complexity—an increasingly important factor as brands push to differentiate in competitive mid-range categories.

Cirrus Logic emphasizes that the new devices are engineered for flexibility across a wide range of applications. Target use cases include mixing consoles, I/O racks, stage boxes, active speakers, studio interfaces, podcast equipment, and musical instruments such as synthesizers and guitar processors. The converters also support high-performance playback systems including amplifiers, AVRs, and powered speakers, giving manufacturers a unified platform for both capture and playback designs. This scalability allows brands to maintain consistent sonic signatures across entire product families. By offering high-end features at optimized price-to-performance ratios, Cirrus Logic positions itself as a key enabler of the next wave of creator-focused audio hardware. The newly released CS5312x, CS4332x, and CS4233x devices are available for sampling now, with full datasheets and technical resources accessible through Cirrus Logic's website. As the company continues expanding its pro audio portfolio, these converters are expected to play a central role in future generations of interfaces, instruments, speakers, and studio equipment—bringing flagship-level performance deeper into the mainstream market.

Triangle Art L-200 MK2 Stereo Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Review
It is Triangulicious!!!
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
The fascinating thing about reviewing Triangle Art's L-200 MK2 vacuum tube preamplifier is that it's a tube pre-amp…  and that I know, when I agree to review it, that this review will not get half the readership to click on it because it has the word "tube" in it. And I will lose even more because Triangle Art is not a mainstream name and many do not recognize it. So, for the 20% to 30%-ish of our readership that made it this far, you will be rewarded by learning about a pre-amp that everyone should know about! The Triangle Art L-200 MK2 is a $25,000 tube preamp that can compete with a $40,000 preamp (tube or solid-state), built by a company that has a creative philosophy similar to Porsche. Take a design and just keep making it better (think 911 of the 1980s and today); they call it, "Think it out."
---> Triangle Art L-200 MK2 Stereo Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Review.

World Premiere Review!
Acora Acoustics QRC 2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
First-class sound quality in a luxurious form factor.
Review By Rick Becker
Val Cora must have spotted my press pass when I first encountered their SRB two-way stand-mounted monitor at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest show back in 2019. He encouraged me to take a closer look and listen as I didn't seem particularly interested. It was my subconscious fear of tipping over heavy stone or aluminum speakers that I later traced back to a childhood trauma incident. Fast forward to 2023 and I've become one of Acora Acoustics' biggest fans, typically including them among the Best Rooms awards in my show reports. Not so much because I like them as because they're so damn good. Val has been a master of setting up rigs in a wide variety of rooms supported by a diverse selection of amplification and front ends. That he consistently features different top-level turntables and phono cartridges has been a particular delight, though he also showcases digital front ends. I fear that since he recently acquired Audio Research, his presentations may become more restricted to their products.
---> Acora Acoustics QRC 2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.

06 / 09 / 26

Hi-Fi+ June 2026 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: Do We Audiophiles Have Too Many Choices?
Linn 360 Active Loudspeaker System With Pistonik Drive Technology
Rega Planar 6 RS Vinyl LP Turntable 
Innuos Nazaré Digital Audio Music Server
Analog Relax EX300 Moving Coil (MC) Cartridge
Triangle Capella 2Active Stand-Mount Speaker Streaming System
Allnic Audio ASRA RHPA-7500 Headphone Amplifier And Integrated Amplifier
Eversolo DAC-Z10 DAC / Headphone Amplifier And Preamplifier 
Connected-Fidelity CF-1010 Turntable Tonearm
Pro-Ject Flatten-It! Vinyl LP Record Flattener
...And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "Are we spoiled for choice? Maybe a little too many options leads to the tyanny of choice; not just in audio equipment, but in our choice of music we play and enjoy. In the same way a fully free-thinking Internet leads almost inexorably to conspiracy theories and puts us in touch with our darkest sides, so having access to what is, in essence, the entire musical canon at our fingertips works against us. I think we need some curation and guidance. Think about the average smartphone today. A smartphone user expects, demands and, under most circumstances, gets immediate and unfettered access to pretty much everything that's been recorded. Sure, they may need to pay a monthly subscription fee, either for wider access, fewer adverts, or to unlock higher resolutions, but the concept taken for granted by all of us today, is something that was unimaginable a couple of generations ago. Sci-fi is a great indicator. Not necessarily of the future, but at how people view the future at that time. And if you look to the sci-fi of the 1970s and before, almost no-one predicted that complete, always on, access to everything."
---> hi-fi+ June 2026 High-End Audio Magazine.

06 / 04 to 07 / 26

HIGH END Vienna 2026 — Premiere High-End Audio Show At Austria Center
Music lovers and audiophiles will enjoy Vienna's legendary musical heritage.
HIGH END Vienna 2026 opens a new chapter for the world's premier high-end audio exhibition, staging its debut at the Austria Center Vienna from June 4th through 7th. The relocation from Munich to Vienna was framed as both symbolic and strategic: organizers emphasized Vienna's musical heritage and the ACV's modern facilities as ideal for larger, more immersive listening experiences. The event has a sold out exhibitor floor well in advance of this audiophile event and will reach a steady stream of international visitors across four days. The Austria Center Vienna provides a spacious, acoustically flexible setting that allows manufacturers to build larger demonstration rooms and more elaborate installations than in previous years. Exhibitors range from legacy loudspeaker and tube amplifier makers to boutique turntable builders and cutting-edge streaming and room correction technology firms. Many luxury audio brands will use the Vienna high-end audio show debut to present flagship products and concept systems, some of which were prototypes slated for later commercial release. Programming at HIGH END Vienna 2026 will balance product launches with musical presentation, under the show's cultural theme "The Power of Music." Curated listening sessions and live performances will be woven into the schedule to demonstrate how high-fidelity systems translate musical nuance into emotional impact.

Dominique Fils-Aimé serves as a visible cultural touchstone for the event, participating in performances and moderated sessions that highlighted interpretive detail and dynamic expression. These musical elements were intentionally paired with technical demonstrations so attendees could compare subjective listening impressions with measured performance. The result was a program that appealed to both audiophile purists and music lovers seeking a deeper connection to recorded sound. Industry reaction emphasizes the improvements of the Vienna location. Attendees will enjoy larger rooms, clearer circulation, and a more international exhibitor mix. For visitors and exhibitors planning ahead, the show offers practical takeaways thanks to wonderful listening sessions, expect a mix of production models and prototypes, and organizers signal that Vienna will remain a focal point for future editions. Plans to refine the balance between technical showcases and musical programming are being enabled to keep the event relevant to both industry professionals and passionate music lovers alike.
---> HIGH END Vienna 2026 Audiophile Show Report— Premiere High-End Audio Event Coverage From The Austria Center.

06 / 04 / 26

T.H.E. Lone Star Audio Fest 2026 Show Report
High-end audio comes back to Austin.
Lone Star Audio Fest (LSAF) 2026 Audiophile Show Coverage By Paul Schumann
Last year was a big occasion for the high-end audio community in Austin, with the T.H.E. Lone Star Audio Fest having its inaugural show there. Therefore, I was excited that Emiko and company were bringing it back for a second go. I did see some familiar faces, but also some new ones, as this audio show retained its Texas feel. Lone Star Audiofest 2026 (LSAF) returned Memorial Day weekend, running May 22nd through 24th at the Embassy Suites in Round Rock, Texas. The three-day event promised a mix of exhibitor rooms, seminars, and live demonstrations aimed at audiophiles, hobbyists, and industry professionals. The festival highlighted a long tradition of hands-on listening rooms, DIY, and a marketplace atmosphere where both established brands and up-and-coming builders present loudspeakers, amplifiers, turntables, and DIY projects. Demonstrations within exhibit rooms showcased the world's finest hi-fi gear to audiophiles and music lovers alike.|
---> T.H.E. Lone Star Audio Fest 2026 Show Report.

Previous High-End Audio News
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