High End Munich 2025 live: news and pictures direct from the high-end hi-fi show
Expect brand new speakers, turntables, amplifiers and more, and we'll be bringing it to you live from the High End show
Qobuz Connect officially launches, with wide support across hi-fi brands
Qobuz Connect is just like Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect – it lets you stream tracks through Qobuz direct to your hi-fi, with no third-party apps required.
Just like its rivals, the streaming duties are handed off to the supporting hardware (e.g. a Connect-enabled streamer connected to your network) instead of being locally tied to your smart device, while the native app on your smartphone is used simply as a controller.
But the best news is it's been widely adopted by hi-fi brands.
Read more in our Qobuz Connect news story
Chord Electronics unveils flagship Ultima Phonostage – and we've had a first look
Joining the flashing reference Ultima range, the new Phonostage is set to officially launch later this year – at which point we will get the full details of the product and final price. But we've had our first look at the new product as it was unveiled at High End Munich, and can share some initial images and specifications.
Find out more in our Chord Electronics Ultima Phonostage news story
Mark Levinson’s new 600 Series “redefines what’s possible from preamplifiers and amplifiers”
This is Mark Levinson's new 600 series of amplifiers. The range consists of three models: the No. 626 preamplifier, No. 632 two-channel power amplifier (both pictured above) and, for those who want power delivered to each of their speakers by a dedicated box, the No. 631 monoblock.
Each amplifier is built on Mark Levinson’s Pure Path circuit philosophy and showcases the brand’s trademark Tectonic industrial design, which blends a machined aluminium chassis, anodised in black with silver controls. Glass panels on each amp and signature red accents and lighting complete the striking, trademark aesthetics.
Of course, there's a lot more to them than just aesthetics...
Find out what in our Mark Levinson 600 series news story
NAD launches next-gen Masters Series amplifiers
NAD has announced two new amps in its Master Series range.
The M33 V2 BluOS Streaming Amplifier follows the original M33 which reviewed very well indeed, while the M23 V2 Stereo Power Amplifier succeeds the original M23.
Both promise a "refined sonic performance" and "enhanced connectivity." And both feature aluminium bodies with magnetic iso-point feet and precision-machined detailing.
NAD claims they will work in partnership for a performance that rivals boutique brands but without the price tag.
Speaking of which, the M33 V2 costs £4999 / $5999 (around AU$10,000) and the M23 V2 £3499 / $3999 (around AU$7000). Both go on sale on 11th August.
Read more in our NAD M33 V2 and M23 V2 news story
Triangle's latest speakers pledge greater sonic clarity thanks to upgraded cabinets, crossovers and drivers
Triangle has unveiled its latest pair of standmount speakers, the Borea BR04.
Born out of a desire to push the limits of the five-star Borea BR03's performance benchmark, the new BR04 promise upgraded performance while maintaining the signature qualities that have helped to define Triangle's popular Borea line of speakers.
Read more in our Triangle Borea BR04 story
Want to upgrade to a moving-coil cartridge? Ortofon's new MC X range could be the answer
Ortofon has released the replacement for its long-running Quintet series of moving-coil cartridges.
The Danish cartridge specialist’s new MC X range consists of four models, the MC X10 (£269), MC X20 (£429), MC X30 (£599) and range-topping MC X40 (£875).
Every model shares the same generator system and housing, with their differences coming down to the type of stylus tip. The MC X40 uses a boron cantilever instead of the aluminium one found elsewhere in the series.
Read more in our full Ortofon MC X story
Wharfedale's Evo 5 speaker series promises "heavenly high-end sound at refreshingly down-to-earth prices"
Succeeding the Evo 4 series, the Evo 5 range boasts updated cabinets, drivers and crossovers and new damping technology, while still offering premium technology and sound at reasonable prices.
The Evo 4.4 floorstander is a five-star, What Hi-Fi? Award winner, so we're excited to hear what the new Evo 5 range has in store for us.
Read more about Wharfedale's Evo 5 speaker range
JBL aims high with three high-end speakers joining its flagship Summit Series
JBL has launched three new pairs of high-end speakers in its flagship Summit Series: Makalu, Pumori and Ama. These join the existing Everest and the five-star K2 speakers.
Like their forebears, each speaker is named after a Himalayan peak. And each promises a suitably large-scale performance, with heavily-braced cabinets, binding posts wrapped in carbon fibre and plated in rhodium.
They also boast JBL’s MultiCap crossover network, which promises to maintain purity and performance throughout the audio chain, and JBL IsoAcoustics adjustable isolation feet.
Prices range from around £14,000 to a whopping £36,000. Which is a little steep, appropriately enough.
Read more about JBL's new Summit speakers
Crazy speakers, crazy price
It wouldn't be High End Munich without a pair of crazy Chinese speakers...
The ultimate high-end turntable motor?
Take a look at Wilson Benesch's dedicated poly-phase motor and power supply system, The Omega Drive.
Inside the motor drive system, poly-phase drive signals are synthesised by a microprocessor-controlled DAC module that controls each critical variable in real-time, while analogue, linear amplifiers then handle the transfer of these synthesised signals. Simple, right?
It is part of the company's GMT One System, a turntable system built from the ground-up to deliver "unprecedented levels of accuracy".
Read all about it in our original news story: Wilson Benesch's GMT One System is a turntable like no other
This turntable is nuts... Peanuts
Pro-Ject is known for its special edition turntables and its latest is possibly its coolest yet.
The Pro-Ject Peanuts Turntable celebrates the 75th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz's iconic comic strip, featuring Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang.
Technically, it's a rebadged T1 BT – a Bluetooth model that we haven't reviewed, but that is closely related to the five-star Evo model (which made our list of best Bluetooth turntables).
It's all Peanuts-themed, featuring music-inspired moments from the comic strip, and even comes with an acrylic record plate in the form of Charlie Brown's head. (No wonder Snoopy often refers to him as "the round-headed kid".)
On show at High End Munich 2025, it will be available to buy in June and will cost £579 (around $760 / AU$1200).
Read more about the Pro-Ject Peanuts turntable
First look at the WiiM Sound speaker
We've already talked about the new Amp Ultra from WiiM – but there's more.
This is the company's first speaker, the WiiM Sound.
This is a pre-production model but it's a first glance at how the company's speaker could look and what it may have to offer. And yes, we think it looks a lot like the Apple HomePod, too.
The top panel has a simple touch-capacitive display for playback and volume controls, with icons illuminating as you tap it.
There's a small display on the front of the WiiM Sound, which means the company may well beat Apple to the punch here – the rumours of a HomePod with a screen or display have long been touted, but we're still waiting to see it materialise.
The Sound runs on WiiM's own proficient streaming platform, with the accompanying Home app offering all the settings and control.
The feature list covers Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA – but conspicuous in its absence is AirPlay (no surprise, as it is also missing from WiiM's other new products).
Interestingly, the WiiM Sound can be used as part of a 5.1 surround sound system. The WiiM Sound speakers were being used in conjunction two Audio Pro wireless speakers in Munich, but you can configure any connected (and compatible) speakers using the WiiM Home app.
Consider us intrigued.
Find out more in our WiiM Sound first impressions.
School's Out, reel-to-reel in?
Ah good, some silly stuff.
Despite music not being sold on reel-to-reel tapes for around 50 years, Revox has continued to make reel-to-reel machines, and they've hooked up with Alice Cooper to produce a branded version of their iconic B77 MK III recorder.
The machine, which is on display in Munich, will set you back €27,000 (£23,123 / $29,565), and comes with a master tape of Cooper's 2017 release, The Sound of A.
First look at the WiiM Amp Ultra
Here's the new WiiM Amp Ultra on show at High End Munich.
This is a streaming amplifier that, by name at least, combines the talents of its Ultra streamer with those of its existing Amp (and Amp Pro) streaming amplifiers.
We may not have loved the Amp when our expert reviews team tested it last year, but the Ultra streamer proved, like its cheaper Pro Plus sibling, a runaway success.
If it is indeed the foundation of WiiM’s latest streaming product, and the company can build on that with decent-sounding amplification circuitry, the WiiM Amp Ultra should be a tantalising proposition that's hard to resist.
Read all about the new WiiM Amp Ultra
Meet the team on the ground
We have three members of the What Hi-Fi? team out in Munich to cover the show.
Kicking off our all-star team is Kash, our intrepid hi-fi and audio editor. A What Hi-Fi? veteran, she is a seasoned pro at covering High End Munich. During her tenure she’s covered everything from speakers, amplifiers, turntables and headphones. As the driving force leading the hi-fi and audio section she has the best view of what’s going on at the show.
Ketan is one of the longest serving members of the What Hi-Fi? team and our current technical editor. He’s seen everything from the rise and fall of the ill-fated mini disc to the arrival of streamers and all-in-one systems in the world of hi-fi. He’s also reviewed more Temptation level products than any other member of the team, giving him a particular expertise in the high-end of the market – which is a good thing considering the focus of the show.
Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered various launches and major industry events including last year's High End Show, so he's practically an old hand at this stage.
The last High End Munich
High End Munich opens today – Thursday 15th May – and its the last ever High End in Munich.
High End is changing location and for 2026 its new home will be Vienna, Austria.
So will Munich go out in style this year? We hope so.
We've already heard about new products on show from Audiolab, Chord, iFi Audio, Klipsch, Onkyo, PMC, Qobuz, T&A and Technics. More details to follow on those.
