Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025: Part One

The annual Bristol Hi-Fi Show took place on the last weekend of February 2025. Last year, the hotel changed its name from the Marriott Bristol City Centre to The Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre. The carpets are newer, and the fixtures and fittings are more modern. However, the brutalist concrete architecture stays the same!

Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025 focused more on quality than on quantity. Although exhibitor and visitor numbers appeared slightly lower than last year, the new product launches were as strong as ever. The Bristol Hi-Fi Show, organised by the UK audio retail chain Audio T, reflects the company’s friendly, down-to-earth approach. While a few brands ventured into high-end territory, this show emphasises affordable and accessible audio. The exhibitors, their products, and most of the launches at the show were all within those price points.

A show report can become repetitive quickly. So, instead of the usual solo exploration through the halls, I tasked a few of our reviewers with creating a top five list of products seen in Bristol. I deliberately asked them not to discuss the task with one another to determine if there were any overlaps. This week, it’s the turn of Paul Soor and Alan Sircom.

Alan Sircom

Lindemann Audio Woodnote:Combo and Revival Audio Sprint 3

We appreciate a system that outperforms expectations. The combination of Lindemann Audio’s new £2,250 Woodnote:Combo 2x50W streaming DAC amplifier (pictured on the left rack, 4th from top) and £990 Revival Audio’s Sprint 3 bookshelf loudspeaker achieves just that. The new Woodnote range offers high-performance 24bit, 384kHz PCM/DSD 256 digital audio and an innovative Power DAC design. Meanwhile, the rear-ported Sprint 3, with its 28mm soft dome tweeter and 180mm basalt sandwich woofer, is perfect for filling small rooms with sound.

Morgan Acoustics 1012

Designed by a Scottish designer living in Bristol, Morgan Acoustics’ 1012 floorstander is the culmination of five years of listening and fine-tuning. It features an AMT ribbon tweeter paired with a 6.5” midrange in a top box, along with an enclosed 10” mid-bass and a ported 12” side-firing woofer for the bass. With a sensitivity of 93dB, this loudspeaker design is just a few finishing touches away from becoming a potential world-class contender.

REL No 31s

Not all systems at Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025 are affordably priced. REL decided to demonstrate what it can achieve when the gloves are off. The system included an Innuos Statement Next Gen paired with an Audio Research DAC 9 converter, a Reference 6SE, and – shown for the first time in the UK – a pair of Reference 330M mono power amps driving Stenheim Alumine Five floorstanders. Every cable was top-of-the-line Chord Company. IsoTek brought its state-of-the-art power products.

Why this high-end system? Two stacks of three REL No 31 subwoofers were arranged in a line array. That’s a cool £42,000 of low-end power and control at the end of about £240,000 of audio electronics. John Hunter of REL explained – and demonstrated – why these subwoofer stacks make a difference. This was one of the best sounds ever heard in the 35 years of Bristol Hi-Fi Shows!

Ruark R610 and Sabre-R

First presented in prototype form at Munich High-End 2024, the £699 Sabre-R represents Ruark’s return to its roots. From 1985 to 2006, the brand focused on high-performance small loudspeakers, including the original Sabre. Since 2006, the company has shifted its focus to portable DAB radios and, more recently, integrated music systems. The new Sabre-R is a compact two-way bookshelf speaker designed to work with the company’s £1,200 R610 music console. This system can include Ruark’s matching £250 RCD100 USB CD player and has MM phono inputs for a turntable. This makes it an ideal option for a second system, student setup, or bedroom use (although it currently lacks a clock-radio feature).

Wilson Benesch Horizon

Launched at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025, Wilson Benesch’s new £25,995 Horizon floorstander is part of the company’s popular Fibonacci series. Positioned between the A.C.T. 3Zero stand-mount and Discovery 3Zero floorstander, the Horizon utilizes the company’s Tactic 3.0 drivers, Fibonacci tweeter, and a highly advanced carbon composite monocoque enclosure for ‘unparalleled’ rigidity and damping. It is said to reduce noise significantly compared to similarly sized wooden cabinets. When played through an excellent CAD front end – showcasing the first appearance of the new CAD 1543 Mk III digital converter – the Trilogy Audio 915R preamplifier, and a pair of the new 994 mono power amplifiers, the entire system delivered exceptional control and detail while maintaining a strong sense of musical energy and enjoyment.

Paul Soor

Sennhieser 620S

I’m in the market for headphones. I recently realised I’ve had a world-class headphones system in front of me for the last ten years, and I have not inserted a single headphone. That was mainly because the system was miles away, but now it is next to me.

I went straight for the Sennheiser 820S (close back) and loved them from the first note—a delicate, considered sophisticated sound from the off. Nothing was exaggerated. I like that. I then tried the new, much cheaper 620S, also close back. It is engineered to be close to the characteristics of the 660s, which major on neutrality. Wow! It succeeds. Even straight after the 820S, I did not feel short-changed. At under £300, it is top VFM.

Lyngdorf Audio FR-2 with TDAI-1120 streaming amplifier

Thin speakers pressed hard against the wall? Like old Linn and Naim models? But the Lyngdorf sounded ‘correct’. I’d be intrigued to review this system. This £ 6,000 two-box system (comprising £2,000 TDAI-1120 streaming amplifier and £4,000 FR-2 loudspeakers, shown for the first time at Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025) offers a taste of high-end audio without the disadvantages of space, cables, racks, etc. I’d be interested in reviewing it. I’d use it as intended, with the little amplifier on an adjacent sideboard.

Fyne Audio Vintage Classic Gold VIII SP

Straight away, there was an engaging, sophisticated, top-end sound from Fyne Audio‘s Vintage Classic Gold VIII SP. First dips, please! The music was spacious and effortless. The voices weren’t exaggerated but very real. There was no sense of overbearing bass despite the size. I was captivated. That might work in a small or medium room… like mine! Fyne was also showing off the new F500S series, but more on that later!

Wiim audio – WiiM Vibelink Amp

I wasn’t expecting the new WiiM Vibelink (shown for the first time at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025) to be detailed yet quite sophisticated (at that price) and engaging at low volume—a whole system for around £1200, including nice speakers. I want to review this ‘simple’ system as a reality check in the high-end world I take for granted. It could be a great system for the next generation of Audiophiles.

Leema with Serhan Swift mµ2 Mk II speakers

The Leema room was impressive, with small Australian Speakers—Serhan Swift mµ2 Mk II. I love small speakers. These had an excellent leading edge yet a refined top end—not tizzy at all, which is what I’ve been hearing at the show. The speakers were reassuringly expensive! I want to review these, too!

Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025: Part Two

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