This system, largely composed of Viva Audio components—including three world premieres—was supported by a mix of modest and high-end source components.

This room featured multiple world premieres, including the TechDAS AF 4 turntable ($31,500, all prices approximate when converted from Euros), The Wand Dark-Light tonearm ($8200), and the Mutech RM Hayate MC cartridge (Corrected: $9000 after tariffs).

What more delightful way to end the third day of High End Munich than having a cup of tea and a short chat with Jean-Christophe Calmettes, owner of Jadis Electronics? He had some interesting news to share about the French company's two forthcoming integrated amplifiers, the Aria class-AB ($5200, all prices approximate when converted from Euros) and the Ode 30W pure class-A (available fourth quarter 2025, price TBD).

Germany’s Brinkmann Audio Systems unveiled a full system of its own components in Munich, featuring new releases alongside upgraded legacy models.

Dual sales manager Lothar Mertens presented the company’s full line of manual turntables, along with an intriguing prototype: the CS 718Q, a manual direct-drive 3-speed model.

L.A.-based dealer Common Wave Hi-Fi is presenting in six rooms in Costa Mesa this year. The one I visited was showing a Luxman PD-151 Mark II turntable ($5995) with Luxman's LMC-5 cartridge alongside other Luxman components from the 100-year-old Japanese maker's limited Black Edition Centennial series.

TechDAS turntables appeared in several rooms. In Room F219, I was particularly taken with the Korf tonearm and the intricate latticework design of the Exquisite Vord Cartridge.

Reporting on High End Munich is like navigating a blizzard. As I pushed from room to atrium to hall to lobby, products seemed to whiz by me, their presenters vying for attention in this international maelstrom of hi-fi. Amid my mad dash, a small speaker manufacturer from Sweden caught my attention: Guru.

Danish loudspeaker maker Storgaard & Vestskov, a relatively young company, operates from Bornholm, a small island in the Baltic Sea. Their 150,000ft² production hub handles everything in-house: R&D, milling, varnishing, and final assembly.

Being an audio reporter definitely has its perks—like when you're in a spacious Munich room, listening to top-tier systems deliver music with astonishing scale and precision.