Final Germany Audiophile Event – High-End Munich 2025 Show Coverage
High-End Munich is coming to an end and today we cover the last ever audiophile event to take place in the Bavarian City, as this year we’re seeing changes for every aspect of audio, many new interesting technological advancements, as well as new products from companies, while others give us insight in the life and world of audio, music and lifestyle.
Introduction
This year we review the final edition of the High-End Munich event before it moves to Vienna, so this review also includes a couple of travel tips and photos we took in Munich towards the end of the review, as we’re pretty sure we won’t ever be seeing the city again in the foreseeable future, and I wanted to share with you my impressions of it as well. In fact, although we visited for 3 days, we only managed to get a couple of good impressions the first two days of the event, also called trader days, when most of the public are traders, distributors, and business people walking around, as in the third day, a public day, the queue was really long, and we were already too tired to continue, so we hopped on the Munich subway and went to the zoo, hence the second part of today’s review with different photos and notes about Munich / Bavaria.
This review will be exploring each company and what they bring to the table, along with photos of their new products, or information that we’ve got to know, including tips and news, rumours and what we have heard, and in general, it will be in order of how we visited the High-End Munich Event, so please get into our shoes and walk with us through the event exactly as we visited it. We have mostly checked out the World Of Headphones and the more affordable part of the event as I want to give you insight about products that we are likely to be reviewing in the upcoming year and I try to not get too much into products that we’re not likely to review to avoid reader frustration – we are a reviews outlet not an advertising outlet, I want to share all my honest opinion on products I know and understand, otherwise I try the wise way of not talking about a product. Please keep in mind that this order does not represent anything else but the order in which we personally visited and listened to products, this article reflects our personal trip to Munich.
iBasso
Although iBasso was not present at High-End Munich this year as they are from China and it is hard to travel to europe, plus there was an event just as big taking place in China at the moment, their trusty DX340 Music Player DAP has been with me through the entire event, as it is one of the best sounding Music Players in the whole world, and some booths don’t have a source.
I find DX340 the best travel companion I could ever wish for, and despite being heavy, it has enough resolution to easily differentiate between entry-level and flagship earphones / headphones, enough driving power for any headphones, and it has been the source for most impressions for headphones and IEMS.
Astell&Kern
One of the biggest DAP or Digital Audio Player producers in the whole world is always present and they have the most luxury, biggest area compared to most companies, although the queue was so long we only got to peek at the DAPs they bring to the market, and could not get to listen to the A&K new DAPs even during trader days.
This being said, we are hopeful that this year we will be able to bring you full reviews exploring the new SP3000M, SP3000T, and SP3000, as well as SE300 and Kann Ultra. From our prior experience, Astell has one of the most reliable software implementations, and usually a musical and smoother sound, but we shall see what the future has in store for us.
Aune Audio
While usually not as productive as this year, Aune now has a whole new series of products, namely the N Series, but also a new pair of headphones, the AR9000 and a clip-on pair of headphones named AC55.
We gave a listen to the new AR9000, and it is one of the most impressive sounding pair of headphones ever created and they might as well compete with HE1000 Unveiled in the soundstage, resolution and musicality departments, while providing what I heard there at the show to be a higher slam and impact. AR9000 also has excellent comfort, and feels like a feathery pillow on my ears, with superb build quality and a reliable construction. There is also the new pair of IEMs, although at that moment we did not register the name of the IEMS, as it was also still in the prototype stage.
We promise to review the AR-9000 as soon as it is ready for the market, as the one on display at high-end Munich was a prototype, so aune might even improve them further, and naturally we will also cover the new N series, and the new clip-on earphones and the new IEMs once they are ready for the market. This is likely one of the biggest years for Aune Audio and I am excited to see all that they bring to the market.
Campfire Audio
There’s no one else quite like Campfire Audio, the one and only IEM manufacturer from the USA. We got to finally hear the Clara and Alien Brain IEMs, and those really stand out in resolution, clarity and balance of the overall sound, especially for each of their respective prices.
Especially combined with a high-end detailed sounding source like iBasso DX340, Alien Brain was likely the most detailed sounding new pair of IEMs that I heard at High-End Munich this year, so I can’t wait to review it fully in writing and video, as well as Clara, and the more affordable Axiom as well. Campfire has been improving a lot, offering products that are more and more balanced, more pleasing to the ear and more fun to listen to.
Letshuoer
They might have started with a name that made it feel like they were trying to steal the spotlight from Shure, but Letshuoer is now one of the most competitive IEM makers from China, and I have to admit, I use the new Cadenza 12 2024 every single day at the gym, it is a main pair of IEMs for me and I love them to bits.
We already have most of their collection in review, with photos and video B-Rolls taken for Mystic 8 and DX1, but they did bring something refined, new refined variants of the S12 IEMs, with a bright and sharp sound, and an exceptional resolution considering the more entry-level proposed price.
HIFIMAN
While companies like Astell&Kern have one of the largest spots right in the center of the high-end Munich, HIFIMAN gets almost the most traffic and people visiting in the entire event. This year we got to hear the Isvarna, which actually has real slam, real impact and likely will become my favorite pair of headphones once they arrive my way, but I also get teased with their Shangri-La, a pair of headphones that can only be assembled by one genius engineer, which limits the production quantity to just a couple per every year.
HIFIMAN also worked in tight collaboration with Feliks Audio to produce a new Envy designed just for Susvara, a headphone amplifier with such a huge driving power, slam and impact that only the richness and musicality in the midrange remind you it is tube based. At the moment high-end Munich took place, there was just one of those in the entire world, but we are hopeful that this year we will get to see all the new excellent products from HIFIMAN be fully reviewed on our channels, including the new Isvarna, Arya Unveiled, and hopefully, with some heavenly luck, the Shangri-La headphones.
Mr Fang, the owner / managing director of HIFIMAN also has a strong passion for sport, pointing out just how important it is to stay healthy, to be in good shape, to enjoy music and to live as long as possible. At the end of the day, a healthy body will result in a healthy mind which will allow you to enjoy your music to the fullest and we even took a trip to see him play soccer with a local team in Munich, as back in China he plays football to semi-professional levels. You really have to check out the video review of the event, as we got a full interview about this subject in the video.
Lotoo
It is always excellent to see and hear Lotoo products, they have a unique approach to music, sporting a softer, more musical sound, but still the resolution and technical detail to make every single listener out there jump with joy when they discover new hidden germs in their favorite songs. This year, Lotoo has been working on and perfecting their LTTP protocol, part of a completely lossless wireless streaming solution that we will be reviewing soon, but also they have a new desktop DAC / AMP coming, that we will be reviewing, the Lotoo D3, and also a new Mjolnir that we are really hopeful we will get to review, as this variant is a more affordable, yet still as awesome-sounding as the original one. To be honest, I am most excited about the new Mjolnir, as when I heard it, it was likely the most interesting sounding DAC AMP that I heard at the event this year.
At the same booth we got to revisit some of the most ingenious and creatively designed pair of headphones, the Palma DHS-1, which were powered by the Lotoo new Mjolnir DAC / Headphone AMP.
Moondrop
We managed to review multiple moondrop products thanks to Linsoul and other distributors from China, but this time around we got to the mastery of the company, and heard their high-end headphones, Para II and Horizon. I was immediately surprised and amazed by the sound of the Para II, it is incredibly powerful, dynamic and punchy, vivid, yet it looks and behaves like a normal pair of headphones with a solid construction, not being too hard to drive, but sounding just at the level of a flagship.
I promise to do all in my power to review both models, as well as other products from Moondrop as soon as we get the chance, I really like what I heard, and it would make me really happy to bring you the news about the sound of the company.
Spirit Torino
Spirit Torino have long been a favorite for music lovers from all over the world, the genius engineer Mr. Andrea is behind most of their products, but this is the first year I finally got to sit down and listen to their flagship headphones, and WOW do they sound amazing. I am not motivated to review every single one of their models, including the Centauri, Centauri PRO, Pulsar and Radiante. The one I spent most time with is not the priciest, but really made me want more of that punchy, musical, lush sound, the Centauri
Valkyria is also a huge star in the product selection of Spirit Torino, and those are made by hand in Italy, so this year we’re eager to review all of their products, with a promise for us to cover as many of their headphones as possible, including the all of those flagships, but also the Titano and Radiante, Centauri and Pulsar. A new Twin Pulse Beryllium should be coming soon, which should also be more comfortable, more ergonomic than the previous one, and with an improved sonic quality as well.
Feliks Audio
Feliks Audio brings the big guns to High-End Munich, and Bliss is finally here! If you remember that last year we’ve seen and reviewed what looked like a huge black box designed to drive electrostatic headphones, not only did Feliks Audio pair with HIFIMAN to create the special Envy designed for Susvara, but also they got one of the two pairs of Shangri-La in existence in Europe to showcase their Bliss electrostatic amplifier. We are hopeful that we will get to review the Bliss, and also Envy this year, especially the Susvara variant, if Feliks Audio will make it into an option that people can order.
We should also cover the more affordable part of the Feliks Audio lineup, including the new Echo Vibe and Elise, but I am most excited about reviewing the Envy and if HIFIMAN will manage to send a Shangri-La our way, also the Bliss.
Erzetich
While from Erzetich we currently have reviewed mostly the entry-level part of their offering, this year I managed to get some ear time with two new products, the Bacillus II and Bacillus II+, both of which should be stars of upcoming reviews here at Audiophile-heaven this year. Those amplifiers are really powerful, dynamic and punchy, with a warm, lush and open sound, and although the default variant is rather small, it is very strong and has a strong kick.
We will also review the Phobos this year and they are impressive, although the Charbydis impressed me the most, they are a really amazing, warm sounding pair of headphones.
Keces
Keces is now working to release a new series of DACs and AMPs, including Euphony, a Streaming DAC, which will be different from the Ebravo that we’ve reviewed, but Keces also has the S4 Stereo Preamplifier and the S4 Linear Power Supply combo that we promise to review this year.
From my understanding, they’ve been working on a revised version so that they have something new and exciting to showcase, and we will review that newer version once it is ready.
Pylon Audio
Pylon Audio always has one of the busiest, most frequented booths at High-End Munich, and it is impressive to see just how many people love their speakers, design but also the sound they offer. This year we promise to continue reviewing their Pylon Jasper 23 and Jasper Monitor speakers, but at High-End Munich the star was clearly the Amethyst Gamma, a speaker that made my jaw drop with the kind of punch, colour and impact they have. It is so impressive what Pylon is able to create and how revealing, yet musically cohesive their speakers can be.
Design is also a strong point, this is one of the few speaker companies that really knows how to make beautiful speakers, regardless of the price class and type, everything they have has a certain magic and charm, from the more affordable Opal and Jade series, to their high-end flagships.
Fezz Audio
One of the companies that we also see together with Pylon Audio is Fezz, an impressive amplifier / Preamplifier maker also from Poland, but while we did not get to really hear their products in our own setup, I always liked the build quality, and design they have. This year we promise to also review their OVO Tube Headphone Amplifier and Silver Luna Prestige Amplifier, as soon as they will be available for us to review.
Fezz Audio is also as friendly and open as Pylon and they’re also a hotspot for audio products, so I strongly believe that they will have a sonic quality to match the name. Price point of their product is very affordable for high-end audio, and my initial impression from the booth made together with Pylon is that Fezz can totally master the art of tubes, and create a cohesive, detailed sound with excellent control and extremely low distortion.
Shanling
Shanling Audio is one of the companies that first invited us and recommended us to attend High-End Munich and this year they really brought some big weapons to impress us. First off, we have a CD player with a transparent window, the EC Zero T, where you can see how the CD is spinning, but it has multiple security mechanisms to make it fully portable. You can actually and literally enjoy this CD player on-the-go, it will not damage the CD, and if that isn’t a flashy thing, I don’t know what is.
Mary also loved the design of the Shanling T35 CD Player, but this year we really promise that with the help of Heavens we will review the new EC Zero T, but also the M8T DAP, SM1.3 and CR60 from Shanling, as well as new products that the company will lauch.
Elipson
Elipson is the french producer that blends design, fashion, with sound, offering options for audiophiles to make their homes beautiful, while listening to high-quality music and keep it all reasonably priced.
Elipson presents us Speakers, Amplifiers, CD Players, and Furniture, making this event stylish and cool, with products you can order right away when you get home. This year we will try to review as many products as we can from elipson, and try to explore their flagship speakers too.
ZMF
Although from my understanding ZMF struggles a bit with producing as many headphones as they need, and people already love them, we’re also super curious to review them and learn how they sound.
This year we promise to try our best to review as many ZMF models as possible, and maybe we will manage to push the company to expand to increase the production ability, with the influx of customers reading our review. I have a feeling that ZMF must sound excellent, for the popularity they have.
Meze Audio
Meze is a successful company with thousands of clients, including big companies like EA Sports for collaborations with their 99C Classics headphones, so this year we got to listen to their Liric, Poet and Elite headphones, which we really hope we will get to review and officially make both video and written reviews exploring.
Meze is cooking new models, the Meze 105 Aer, which sounds sharp, bright and revealing, and a new 105 Silva, both models being more affordable than the 109 PRO that we’ve reviewed, but considerably improved above the 99C classics headphones. In fact, 105 Silva is a nice pair of headphones in between the 109 PRO and 105 Aer, with a superb resolution, yet a fuller, more voluptuous sound than 105 aer. This year we really hope that with a sparkle of hope from Above we will be able to review the Liric, Poet, Elite, 105 Aer and 105 Silva headphones and bring you all the news about Meze and how each one of their models sounds like.
FiiO
We are covering most high-end and entry-level products from FiiO so I did not expect to be subsided but at their booth they have a new music player, which comes with a cassette player case! This is so amazingly fun to use in person, it fills my heart with joy, and the new FT7 Headphones are unbelievably nice in tuning, high-resolution in details and fresh, feeling well-made but still comfortable.
We promise to cover every single one of the new products fiiO is releasing, including the FT7 Headphones and the new M21 music player which turns into a cassette player.
Sivga
While Sivga, also Sendy Audio, left a mark on the world with their Peacock headphones, they are coming with new models, including the AIVA 2 which we’re already working on reviewing, but also a new closed-back model that will come to a full review soon. What surprised me the most at the Sivga booth is the Kylin DAC / Headphone Amplifier which has VU Meters, balanced headphone outputs, and will likely be a top player in the audio world this year, driving not just Sivga and Sendy Audio headphones, but also most other flagships.
Things are super exciting for Sivga and we will make sure to cover every single step of the way.
Dan Clark
Dan Clark is one of the most popular headphone manufacturers out there, thanks to their tight, compact headphones that all have a uniquely sharp and revealing sound without sounding dry. Magically combining new driver tech with ingenious earcup manufacturing, Dan Clark has a couple of models we have not reviewed yet, and which we promise to do our best to review, including the new Dan Clark E3, Corina, Ether C Flow, and Stealth.
The stars of High-End Munich have been Dan Clark Noire XO and Dan Clark Noire X, both of which seem to be upgraded versions of the Dan Clark Noire that we’ve reviewed in the past. We also promise to do our best to review the Noire XO and Noire X as soon as possible.
Fosi Audio
Somehow Fosi Audio found its place in exactly the same location as it did in the previous year, but right now they are not just a beginner, entry-level manufacturer from China, but instead now they make some high-end headphones, including the i5 planar magnetic headphones. I found them to sound thick, bassy, detailed and revealing. They really are comfortable, larger than most headphones from other manufacturers, but also to have a huge soundstage.
We’ve also seen the new Fosi Audio ZP3 which we plan on reviewing, and also the new Mamoritai Headphone Amplifier, which we will review once it is ready for the market, it looks as beautiful as it did all the previous years and feels like it will be a successful product once on the market.
Munich Vibes and Activities
On the third day of the event, we found ourselves too fatigued to continue reviewing, as it has been two full days of continuous work at that point, so Mary asked me to go and visit the zoo in Munich, which we decided to do, as it would allow us to explore a bit more of the Bavarian city, knowing we wouldn’t return again.
Although not necessarily a highlight for audiophiles, Munich hosts one of the best zoos in the world, and here best indicates that space for animals is expansive, they get excellent treatment and people in general can come and gaze without disrupting the lives of the animals.
Food in Bavaria and especially Munich is also always excellent, if you want to try pastries, but to my surprise most people that come to Munich actually visit and eat at Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants, and when we gave it a go, the results were excellent. Basically, if you generally struggle with restaurant food, you will love Munich and the quality of their food.
Mary was also very happy to have gotten an interview from the Team at Sennheiser, we’re curious to see the results, as well as review more products from the team.
Architecture is also beautiful in Munich with many spots to visit, castles, and every single year High-End took place right across the street from Motor World, a huge car showroom where this year some audio companies also got space to showcase their products, without necessarily being connected to the automotive world. We went there to eat and get some sandwiches, but unfortunately the Motorworld space was a bit too busy to really test new audio products.
Conclusion
This year has been rich, and joyful from the perspective of products newly launched at Munich, some companies focusing on refining their product selection, while others simply creating products from categories they never explored before. We decided to only focus on products we are fairly confident we will review instead of covering absolutely everything, so this year we tried to bring you more of a teaser of what will be coming to Audiophile-Heaven, rather than everything that was present at the event, as you all requested.
I remember receiving every single day five – six requests to review some of the products we’ve covered last year, but unfortunately for some of them it was not possible, and the situation was too much out of our control, so this year we want to confirm that most if not every single product in this review will receive a full coverage on Audiophile-Heaven.
At the end of the day, we’re really thankful to everyone who’s reading our website, everyone who’s subscribed to our Youtube Channel, everyone who watches our videos, to every audio company for creating and designing more ingenious ways for us music lovers to have fun, and although it is time to go back home and start packing, as we are moving our entire studio to a new location, we’re looking forward to another year full of surprises, top notch content, and to Vienna next year, when I hope we’ll be able to create an even better coverage of the event and explore even more excellent products. As this is an article fully made by us, if you want to support us and this kind of article, along with our adventures you can donate directly, or use our Amazon links when making purcahses there.
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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