Latest news with #HighEndMunich
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5 of the most exciting hi-fi teasers we've seen for the High End Munich 2025 show
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The High End Munich 2025 show kicks off soon on May 15 Chord Electronics and iFi Audio have teased mysterious new products Luxury cartridges, headphones and Qobuz Connect will star too High End Munich is where the audio world shows off some of the latest and greatest audio equipment for audiophiles, often with price tags of the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" variety. And while it's true that some of the equipment you'll see at the show costs more than a helicopter made of diamonds, it's a fascinating insight into the world of ultra-high-end hi-fi. This final event from Munich – it's moving to Vienna next year – is genuinely exciting, and some manufacturers are already teasing what they'll be showing next week. Here are five teasers of hi-fi heaven worth looking out for. British high-end pro audio brand Chord Electronics describes its Ultima Reference range of pre-amps and power amps as "our absolute pinnacle of audio engineering", and it's teasing a "groundbreaking" new product that will be a "showstopper" at High End Munich. So what is it? It's definitely analogue, it's going to be a flagship product, and it's apparently state-of-the-art, too. That's all we know so far, but it'll be unveiled by company founder John Franks, and we'll see it on the first day of the event, May 15. Meze Audio make some beautiful and unusual headphones, and the new 105 SILVA promise "exquisite design" and "the next major step forward for audio innovation". The new headphones have 50mm dynamic drivers with cellulose composite domes and titanium-covered surrounds, and Meze says the sound signature "is a new take on Meze Audio's iconic characteristics, including the technicalities of 109 PRO combined with the warmth and genre versatility of 105 AER." They're likely to be somewhat pricier than the more consumer-focused, open-backed and wired 105 AER cans ($399 / £369 / AU$799 a pair) we saw recently, but we're intrigued all the same. Nagaoka makes the highly regarded MP-200 cartridge as well as the MP-110 that came pre-fitted in the Fluance RT85N turntable. For the High End Munich 2025 show it'll be unveiling its new flagship, the MP-700, which will apparently deliver "ever more refined and accurate sound reproduction, bringing listeners closer to the original performance." Naturally, it won't exactly be a bargain, with the price expected to be $1,399 / £1,149 (around AU$2,400) when it becomes available later this month. But it certainly looks a fitting way for the company to celebrate its 85th birthday. iFi Audio promises to launch "two new travel audio essentials – both for in-flight and in-car sound". We're excited about that, because we really rate iFi's DACs: our most recent iFi review, of its flagship Valkyrie DAC, raved about its "staggeringly complete sound". It's not exactly portable, though, so we're all ears when it comes to these new products. Qobuz, which is arguably the best music streaming platform for hi-res audio, is having a press conference on Thursday 15 May. Could this finally be the official launch of the long-awaited Qobuz Connect? The feature is similar to Spotify Connect in that it lets you control your Qobuz playback remotely on compatible hardware. It's been in beta for a while and started appearing for non-beta app users earlier this week, which would make the High End Munich 2025 show a good place for a bigger reveal. An official launch would likely coincide with more manufacturers announcing support and releasing the appropriate firmware updates. Stretch goals – the 8 best money-no-object hi-fi gadgets we tested in 2024 These heavyweight luxury speakers look like Doctor Who villains The American gods of valve-based audio have released a huge monoblock power amp
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Scotland's Fyne Audio Unveils Flagship F704SP Loudspeaker At High End Munich 2025
The new FS704SP speaker from Fyane Audio weighs a massive 71.5kg and can handle up to 600W. Scottish speaker brand Fyne Audio is exhibiting at the High-End Munich 2025 Show and is launching a brand-new flagship loudspeaker, the F704SP. This UK-built loudspeaker has the power and dynamics of Fyne Audio's acclaimed F704 speaker but with some extensive refinements and sonic enhancements taken from the brand's elite F1 Series. The F704SP is based on Fyne Audio's signature 300mm IsoFlare point source driver. Developed alongside the 300mm driver used in the F1-12S, the IsoFlare integrates a 12-inch multi-fiber bass/midrange cone with Fyne's signature 3-inch titanium dome compression tweeter, which is time-aligned to the larger cone at the driver's center. Fyne claims that the powerful point source configuration is driven by multiple motor systems featuring a neodymium magnet for the high frequencies and a large ferrite magnet for the main cone. The conductive nature of the neodymium magnet reduces distortion by damping voice coil inductance losses. The FS704SP has an IsoFlare driver that integrates a 12' multi-fibre bass/midrange cone with Fyne's ... More signature 3-inch (75mm) titanium dome compression tweeter time-aligned to the larger cone at the driver's centre. Fyne says this results in an exceptionally accurate frequency response and improved high-frequency performance. A large ferrite motor ensures the larger low-frequency cone has an exceptional excursion range while tightly controlling the voice coil to produce a tight, fast and dynamic bass. To extend the lower frequency response still further and enable high sensitivity of the overall loudspeaker, the F704SP has a second 12-inch bass driver, featuring the same lightweight multi-fiber cone, ferrite motor and FyneFlute roll surround as the partnering IsoFlare driver. The F704SP has a cabinet with a curved and contemporary finish. Made from pressed high-density European birch plywood and with extensive internal bracing, the enclosure has a lot of rigidity for its large internal volume. The enclosure has a unique twin-cavity loading system. Initially pioneered by Fyne Audio on the F1-10, the system also includes a downward-firing port paired with Fyne Audio's BassTrax Tractrix diffuser system that can deliver a 360-degree low-frequency wavefront. BassTrax makes in-room bass response smoother and allows for a wider range of positioning for such a large loudspeaker. As a significant upgrade on the F704, the F704SP's entire plinth and BassTrax assembly are machined to the same high specification as the F1-12S. This includes a heavyweight sandwich of aluminum plates, advanced tractrix cone engineering and Fyne's large M12 threaded metal cone feet with convenient top mount height adjustment. The FS704SP from Fyne Audio is available in piano gloss black, gloss white, and gloss walnut ... More finishes of the original F704 and also available in a real wood walnut veneer. The plinth assembly acts as an ultra-rigid radial low-frequency wave guide for the BassTrax porting system, which significantly improves the bass performance compared to traditionally ported designs. The plinth design also provides stability for each 71.5kg loudspeaker with ideal floor coupling. Central to the F704SP's enhanced sonic profile is an upgraded crossover network. Redesigned using computer modelling and listening sessions, the crossover incorporates premium components, including ClarityCap high-grade polypropylene capacitors and Vishay high-power, military-grade, thick film resistors in the high-frequency signal path. Fyne says the improvements dramatically reduce compression effects and boost detail resolution, giving a richer and more lifelike performance. Further enhancing signal purity, Fyne Audio has applied its proprietary cryogenic treatment to the complete crossover assembly at its in-house DCT facility in the company's new factory based in central Scotland. The advanced process relaxes material stresses in components, solder joints, and wiring, which maximizes signal transparency and audio fidelity. Internal signal integrity is assured by using Neotech PC-OCC wiring throughout, which is renowned for its transparent signal transfer characteristics. Externally, the loudspeaker has high-quality gold-plated WBT Nextgen terminals. The plinth design of the FS704SP provides exceptional stability for each 71.5kg loudspeaker with ... More optimal floor coupling. Fyne Audio says the new F704SP is a landmark product in the company's portfolio and is the brand's flagship contemporary styled loudspeaker. In terms of performance, the F704SP has an impressive frequency response extending from a deep 22Hz to 26kHz, with peak power handling capabilities reaching up to 600 watts, plus a high sensitivity of 96dB/W. The substantial 71.5kg (157.6 lbs) weight of the speakers underscores their build quality. In addition to the piano gloss black, gloss white and gloss walnut finishes of the original F704, the F704SP is also available in a real wood walnut veneer. Hand finished to a satin sheen, this new finish accentuates the texture of the wood grain, turning the speakers into bespoke luxury furniture. Built in the UK at Fyne Audio's new Scottish manufacturing facility and head office, which opened late last year, the F704SP is one of Fyne's most ambitious and powerful loudspeakers to date. The Fyne Audio F704SP loudspeaker costs $25,999.99 / £19,999.99 / €23,999.99 per pair and is available now.
