Published: 03/02/2025
Author: Karsten Hein
Category: Explorations
Tag(s): Norddeutsche HiFi-Tage
With the HIGH END trade fair relocating to Vienna in 2026, the Norddeutsche HiFi-Tage (NDHT) will become the most significant audio show for the industry in Germany. Each year, hundreds of famous brands in HiFi flock to Hamburg to display their latest product innovations. This year, the fair was hosted by the Le Meridien hotel, located at the Inner Alster, a famous lake in Hamburg's inner city. Below are some key highlights and impressions of my time at the show.
The picture shows Jan Sieveking, the founder of the Bremen-based High End retailer by the same name, presenting assorted HiFi gear and audiophile music with heart-felt passion. Because loudspeakers present a clear practical challenge for many home systems—balancing both functionality and the now-infamous Wife Acceptance Factor (W.A.F.)—I decided to keep my focus on them this year. In doing so, I simply assumed that the equipment driving them had been chosen wisely.
As I walked into the room, a pair of Swedish Marten “Parker Quintet” loudspeakers were playing a Leonard Cohen album from vinyl. The setup fit the room well. The music sounded tonally balanced, and the vinyl track revealed a soft and becoming treble. There was natural flow and rhythm to the sound. This, however, changed when we transitioned to a digital source. The treble became overly crisp, and I could not help but focus on the harshness of the tweeters. The rhythm seemed more mechanically driven and the natural flow was replaced by a more fragmented impression. I left the room with the positive memory of the vinyl experience in which the acoustic capabilities of the Martens had managed to shine through. However, the experience again reminded me how fragile the balance can be on modern ultra-precise HiFi setups.
Marten Parker Quintet Specifications
The German Voxativ audio company is a designer and producer of High End audio gear based in Berlin. Although the company itself is still relatively young, the company’s co-founder, Dipl. Ing. Inès Adler, has a long history in the industry and is highly knowledgeable about the products she presents. As I walked into the room, I could sense that I was in for an extraordinary experience, not only due to the dazzling personality of the presenter, but also due to the perplexing appearance and sound of the loudspeakers.
The Alberich Array System is a combination of sleek-looking single-driver monitor speakers that are stacked on top of a bass module and held in position by means of a mostly invisible metal rack paired with absorbers. The monitors form an array of three full-range drivers, namely one "Hagen 2" cabinet featuring a Voxativ AF-2B driver (reaching up to 30,000 Hz) sandwiched between two "Hagen 2" cabinets equipped with Voxativ AF-1.9 drivers. An active woofer module takes over below 40 Hz. Powered by a built-in 500W class D amplifier, the sturdy Neodymium PA-Type woofer, which is a dipole (semi-open from both sides), can easily keep up with the speed of the Hagen 2 drivers.
The overall impression created by the Alberich Array System is that of a “Wall of Sound”, as described on the company website. The performance is agile, dynamic, tonally rich, and mostly entertaining and enjoyable. Obviously, some of the merits of a single-driver system are lost in the array setup, and I could not help but wonder what a single Hagen 2 monitor, perhaps paired with the Alberich bass module, would have sounded like. I decided to keep this company in mind for a future visit at the fair (or a trip to Berlin). After all, fresh ideas should be celebrated. Voxativ also offers other lines of speakers, integrated amplifiers, cables, etc.
Voxativ Alberich Array System Specifications
Reichmann AudioSysteme is a High End audio retailer based in the German Black Forest region and a declared specialist shop for the brands Magnepan, Musical Fidelity, Music Hall, Rekkord and Triangle. Each year, the company brings along a small selection of sophisticated audio gear to caress the ears of the visitors to the fair. While I was a little disappointed by their Musical Fidelity and Triangle setup at the Steigenberger hotel in 2024, this year’s setup and positioning fit the room much better and resulted in a cleaner and faster sound.
This was also the first time that I had a chance to listen to a set of magnetostatic loudspeakers. The Magnepan 2.7i are flat panel speakers using a single magnetic foil to generate all frequencies across the band. Next to electrostatic speakers (such as the American Martin Logan and the Dutch Final) the magneplanar technology promises excellent transient response without phase shifts and lags in response time common to speakers using multiple dynamic drivers.
I was generally pleased with the sound of the setup, although some of the challenges of working with magneto-static speakers also came through. For one thing, the noise floor at a trade fair is relatively high at around 40-50 dB. Magnepan speakers excel in detail retrieval, a strength that is somewhat lost at the fair. Magnepan speakers are most tonally balanced at medium volumes where bass excursion is less pronounced. The volume levels at the fair therefore blurred some of the intrinsic strengths and made the Magnepan seem less dynamic than they would be in a home setup.
Finally, Magnepan speakers produce a relatively narrow sound field which is great when you are having to deal with side wall reflections but not so great when it comes to listening to music well outside the sweet spot. As the Reichmann booth was generally well-attended, I did not manage to sit in the center and therefore mostly heard one channel of the stereo setup. However, this does not mean that I think less highly of them following the experience. Owning a set of Martin Logan electrostatic speakers myself, I do understand that everything is a compromise and still have Maggies on my list of highly attractive speakers to own. Good to know: Magnepan speakers are surprisingly affordable for their performance.
Magnepan 2.7i Specifications
Located just north of the Chiemsee region in southern Bavaria, Robert Auer manufactures High End speakers “Made in Germany” by master carpenters in his local factory. His passion for wood and quality materials also extends to the trade fair booth, which is fully treated with absorber panels and diffusers along the primary reflection points.
The speakers on display were Versura V_4, large floor-standing models with a narrow front and additional side woofers. I greatly enjoyed the atmosphere and dynamics in the room and also overheard conversations in which the overall sound quality was highly praised. To my own ears, the treble and upper midrange sounded a bit analytical, very similar to the Marten experience described above. It is well possible that the impression was caused by the electronics driving the speakers.
Looking at the impedance curve and sensitivity, the Versura V_4 should be easy to drive, even with a small tube amplifier. And I think this would have been more fun and intimate to listen to than the beefy electronics required for the demonstration at the fair. I therefore made a mental note to listen to them again on the next occasion.
Auer Acoustics Versura V_4 Specifications
Canton, Europe's largest manufacturer of HiFi and High End audio systems, is based in a small town not too far from Frankfurt am Main. In fact, when my wife Sabina and I took up our HiFi journey once again back in 2012, Canton seemed to offer a fair balance of price and performance. Looking at the photo, it is easy to see why the brand is popular among consumers. Their loudspeaker designs are clean and sophisticated looking, a design that has carefully evolved over the years.
The Reference Series has always been a staple among HiFi enthusiasts. Sadly, however, the setup was such that critical listening was not really possible. On the other hand, visitors had an opportunity to touch and feel the latest designs, to assess speaker sizes and material choices.
Acapella speakers are "from Duisburg of course, the High End capital of Germany", as Richard Rudolph half jokingly explained. I had just stepped out of the Harlekin 2 demonstration, across the hall from Symphonic Line, the other High End Duisburg brand, and was still digesting the experience. Acapella speakers feel solid in every conceivable way, but let's not start here. This section is about the High Cellini.
Horn loudspeakers can sound a little compressed in the midrange, they can be overly large, or have extremely deep cabinets that are difficult to position. Non of these characteristics were present on the High Cellini. From our multiple listening positions, the music sounded detailed, tonally rich, and very dynamic. However, as the listening room was a little too small for the speakers, vocals only began to come together and sound right along the back wall of the room where bass accentuation was becoming a bit of an issue. Such is the nature of the fare, where manufacturers need to make the best of what they are given.
Vocals aside, I was perfectly taken in and could have listened for hours on end when the High Cellini started to play back recordings of wind instruments, such as horns and trumpets. You just don't get the dynamics of wind instruments on more conventional loudspeaker designs. I left the room transfixed, hoping to hear the Cellini in a more suitable room some day soon.
Acapella High Cellini Specifications
PMC is a British manufacturer of professional studio monitors used in the audio and video industry, as well as a manufacturer of High End audio equipment. The floor-standing Fenestria is their current High-End flagship loudspeaker, measuring 1.70 m and weighing around 80 kg, thereby coming in slightly above the ideal BMI of a human male of this height.
Visually, the Fenestria will appeal to technically minded people and young entrepreneurs who wish to boast of their financial success. But, unless they are driven at high volumes—which they are perfectly capable of—this is not how they sound. Their resonance free design makes them both precise and tonally appealing to the ears. The 2.4 m advanced transmission line design makes their bass performance natural and incredibly extended. The sound remains natural and fluid, even at very high volumes.
PMC Fenestria Specifications
Despite its understated name and design, the FRIGG 02 sounded anything but average to my ears. On the contrary: The modest and clean looking cabinet even supported the no-frills sound philosophy of phase coherence and tonal balance that has become the trademark of Scandinavian HiFi. Surprisingly, the speakers sounded much larger than they looked, which brings us back to the Wife Acceptance Factor.
ø-Audio also builds horn loudspeakers, such as the Icon 12 and the Verdande that I have heard audiophile friends report positively on, although I must confess that I have not yet had a chance to listen to them myself. Another company to keep an eye on, especially because it is currently expanding its international distribution network.
ø Audio FRIGG 02 Specifications
Qualio from Poland has two loudspeaker models on sale which both combine high quality components from Mundorf, Jantzen Audio, SB Acoustics, WBT, etc. into highly versatile loudspeaker designs. On their website, Qualio explains that the IQ model, for example, uses a semi-closed design featuring an open-baffle treble and midrange section paired with a responsive Satori woofer within a ported cabinet.
The dipole design of the IQ model allows the music to be reflected off the listening room walls, providing a wider sweet spot and a more immersive listening experience. The ported bass cabinet can further be customized to fit small listening spaces by closing the port. From looking at the parts, such as the Mundorf AMT, I can imagine that this speaker has some potential. The music playing during our stay at the booth, however, made it difficult for me to judge its important vocal characteristics.
Qualio Audio IQ Specifications
The company was founded by Josef W. Manger, a German engineer who developed a deep interest in acoustics and how humans perceive sound. His journey into speaker development began during the 1960s. Manger was driven by a desire to create a speaker that could more accurately reproduce sound as it is perceived by the human ear, minimizing distortions and phase issues that are common in traditional driver and loudspeaker designs.
The P2 loudspeaker model makes use of Manger's W06, the latest bending wave transducer of the company. The frequency range of this driver is impressive. Here are the specifications of the driver alone:
Manger W06 Driver Specifications
Daniela Manger, the company's CEO in the second generation, is respected within the audio engineering community for her contributions to acoustic design and her commitment to high-fidelity sound reproduction. Her personal efforts have cemented Manger Audio as a distinctive brand in high-end audio, known for its precision, engineering excellence, and steadfast commitment to the unique bending wave technology pioneered by her father.
The first time I heard the P2 loudspeakers perform was at an exhibition at the Auditorium in Münster. The room that the P2 were placed in was less than ideal for them to deliver a satisfactory performance. I spoke to Ms. Manger about my concerns, and she suggested that I could take the speakers home with me following the upcoming Hamburg fair to better understand their sound. This meant, I now had to stay at the Norddeutsche HiFi-Tage fair in Hamburg until its very end in order to take home the speakers with me.
Manger P2 Specifications
Jens R. Wietschorke (research and development) and Dr. Goetz von Laffert (finance & PR) teamed up in 2013 to challenge established loudspeaker concepts by merging the latest in loudspeaker driver technology and digital signal modulation with fresh compact designs that fully integrate into sleek modern households. Today, Lyravox produces seven loudspeaker models of different sizes to satisfy home entertainment needs.
The Lyravox KARLOS is a floor-standing speaker of modest dimensions that is lifted up and tilted backwards by means of a sturdy metal rack which supports the speaker from underneath and stabilizes it from behind. And although the KARLOS ranks among the company's smaller loudspeakers, it already incorporates most of its signature technology.
The midwoofer of the KARLOS 2-way design uses an ultra-stiff light-weight aluminum cone for superior detail retrieval. This is paired with an Accuton 30mm inverted ceramic dome tweeter that is coupled to a wave guide. Instead of using a passive crossover, the two drivers' transition frequencies are actively harmonized by means of a DSP. The highest frequencies are then added using an up-firing air-motion transformer (AMT). The natural effect of the AMT pointing upwards is a more immersive listening experience and a wider sweet spot.
My first listening expression was that of walking into a cinema while the film was already in progress. The music sounded as large and direct as one would expect from a cinematic experience. There was a sense of purpose and robustness to the sound that initially attracted me. However, the placement of the speakers so close to the floor and in the corners of the room made critical listening difficult. Someone's head was always in the way to cover one of the channels, and the front row seats were in the middle of the room, where bass frequencies tend to cancel out. I therefore made a mental note to give these speakers another listen when they are available in a more appropriate setting.
Lyravox KARLOS Specifications
Design and Drivers
Amplification and Processing
Inputs and Connectivity
Physical Specifications
Additional Features
The KARLOS is designed for rooms ranging from 20 to 50 square meters, offering a frequency response from 28 Hz to 28,000 Hz, depending on room acoustics. Its combination of advanced driver technology, sophisticated amplification, and meticulous cabinet design ensures a compelling and immersive listening experience.
The EMT 928 is a revival of an industry classic. The original EMT 928 was a professional turntable that was introduced in 1971 by Elektromesstechnik Wilhelm H. Franz K.G. (EMT) in Germany. It was unique in EMT's lineup as their only belt-driven model and developed in collaboration with Thorens. It was actually based on the Thorens TD125. Designed for studio use, the EMT 928 featured a compact and lightweight design, making it suitable for mobile broadcasting applications.
In 2022, EMT introduced the EMT 928 II, a modern reinterpretation of the original. This updated model retains the belt-drive system—as a homage to its predecessor—but incorporates some contemporary enhancements: Notably, it features an independent battery power source, providing over 40 hours of playback while eliminating potential interference from the mains supply. The chassis is precision-machined from aluminum and rests on four decoupled, spherical feet. The 5.5 kg platter is driven by a modern 20-watt motor combined with a high-precision control loop circuit, ensuring rapid acceleration and consistent speed within tight tolerances.
I did not get a chance to listen to the turntable perform at the fair, but I was immediately taken in by its sleek design, especially when stacked on top the phono preamplifier with the same basic chassis form. What a crazy world this will be when these new High End icons will be available on the used market. That will surely be much more interesting than the devices available to budget shoppers today.
EMT 928 II Specifications
Solid and sophisticated are two adjectives that come to mind when I think of my listening experience with the Harlekin 2 at this fair. Capable of recreating life-like music events between your ears at any moment and volume you may desire. Acapella speakers are a rock in the ocean when it comes to a sober presentation in the midst of chaos around them, a characteristic that had me nailed to the seat for the longest time. How do they do it?
Part of it may have to do with the driver technology, with the company's experience of creating uncolored horn speakers. Perhaps it is resonance management that is at play here. Perhaps it is their origin in Duisburg, as Richard Rudolph suggested. Whatever it may be, the Harlekin 2 are surprisingly effective at making music come alive and—all considered—the speakers that I would have taken home with me, if purchasing speakers had been my mission on that day.
Acapella Harlekin 2 Specifications
As I entered this particular room, I was accompanied by four gentlemen who had never heard an electrostatic speaker perform before. They walked around the tall speaker panels in disbelief and said that they very much enjoyed the sound they heard. And, personally, I had never heard the sound of a non-hybrid electrostatic speaker before. My Martin Logan speakers use a conventional dynamic woofer in a closed cabinet to kick in at the lower frequency spectrum.
I also enjoyed the sound of the FINAL 15+ speakers and was surprised how well they managed to present bass frequencies despite their obvious constraint in physical movement. They sounded agile, crisp, and punchy. What I did miss, however, was the wider scope of the Martin Logans which have a curved front panel. In this sense, the music propagated from the FINAL 15+ much like it did from the Maggies above. This is not a killer argument per se, and listening tastes do vary, but it is a difference one might want to be aware of.
FINAL AUDIO Model 15 Specifications
Walk into room 202 and meet the grand master of High End audio himself. Because much of what we classify as High End today has its roots with Rolf Gemein and the other founders of the High End Society. Here are the origins of the famous High End trade fair and also the origins of the Norddeutsche HiFi-Tage. Mr. Gemein recalls the Society's founding moment as an archetypal event, driven by a spirit and energy that made it clear to everyone involved that they were onto something great.
With two unpretentious-looking Symphonic Line "RG5 Reference" speakers positioned down the long left wall of the room and Rolf Gemein sitting in the opposite right corner, room 202 radiates acoustic warmth and looks inviting. The amplifier driving the speakers is a Symphonic Line "Kraftwerk MK3" that receives its signals from a Symphonic Line "La Musica MK3" CD Player. All components from the electric socket to the speakers are made by the same company and have been checked and confirmed by the man himself.
The seasoned founder of Symphonic Line selects outstanding recordings from the 1950s until today and in his calm voice explains the special moments captured by each one. The twelve seats in the room are mostly occupied during the day, and visitors often need to wait their turn before they can be seated. Looking around, I see that many visitors have their eyes closed while they are enjoying the music. I hope that none of them fall asleep and thereby unnecessarily extend the waiting time for everyone else. Music and the anecdotes around it are the focus of attention here, because the system only demands attention in those brief moments in which it thunders an unexpected attack into the room.
Görlich chassis will do this for you anytime. In combination with the air motion transformer "Belcanto MK2" they make music feel so natural and effortless that one can easily forget the speakers. Vocals are smack center stage and the instruments perfectly positioned around them, until—slam—you get a surprising salve of a drum beat that simply stuck out from the rest. Eyes open for a moment, people looking around for confirmation "Did you hear this, too?". I left the room feeling satisfied, relinquishing my seat to the next listener waiting in the corridor.
WESTLYD
A refreshingly fundamental Rock and Pop speaker design that is capable of playing loud with ease. The resulting sound signature is an interesting blend of the 1980s and our modern tastes. The sound quality, especially in the vocal spectrum and on quieter music played, is not on par with Tannoy and other more established brands, but it really does not have to be at the current price point.