Munich High-End 2025: Digital

SHOW
Alan Sircom
May 23, 2025

The last-ever Munich High-End saw several significant launches in the digital domain. This is a crucial time for digital audio. The transition from physical disc to stored and streamed digital files gains greater momentum. This is part born out of necessity; the ongoing availability of magneto-optical mechanisms is becoming ‘patchy’ at best. However, it also comes down to significant improvements in both hardware and software, beyond physical digital media.

That’s not to say this is the end of disc replay. Reports of physical media’s death are greatly exaggerated. But, new disc player launchers were few and far between. On the other hand, the most significant launch at the show was Qobuz Connect. It was in dozens of rooms in Munich seconds after its launch.

This is not an exhaustive list of the new digital products at the show. There were many products that, despite my best efforts, I was unable to see. The most notable of these was the Brinkmann Audio Nyquist ONE. Nyquist ONE utilised technology developed in the company’s TraNt turntable power supply. This replaces the long-running Nyquist DAC. However, modules designed for the Nyquist ONE will be back-compatible with the original and Mk II Nyquist DACs.

APL

Alex Peychev’s APL brand is fast expanding. Moving from hot-rodding electronics to digital audio consultant to the big names, Peychev’s products have always been the ones to watch. This year, APL unveiled its €22,950 DSD-WR DAC, replacing the company’s popular DSD-SR SE. The latest DAC improves on its predecessor’s performance while retaining the distinctive, analogue-sounding presentation. It takes its design cues from the ‘Galactic Reference’ DSD-GR DAC from the brand. The DSD-based DAC is accompanied by an almost identical-looking RSE-GR Roon Server (bottom). This features two quad-core Intel-based computers. One serves as the Roon Core, while the other serves as the Roon Bridge, Endpoint, or Streamer. A preamp in the GR line is also coming soon.

AUDIOLAB

One of Audiolab’s most beloved products was the M-DAC, introduced in 2011. At Munich High-End 2025, the brand announced two new standalone direct descendants of that popular and affordable DAC; the £499 D7 and the £1,099 D9 (pictured here). Similar to Audiolab’s D9000 streamer (but with Bluetooth connectivity replacing networking), the D9 features USB, AES, and S/PDIF connections. It features balanced and single-ended outputs and utilises an ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip at its core.

AURALiC

AURALiC’s new AQUILA X3 is the company’s new Streaming Media Processor. It’s a modular platform with a multitude of streaming and music serving options. AQUILA X3 features a built-in CD player and ripper, an integrated LEO clock, and options for onboard DAC and phono stage. The two-box design features a large front panel display and interchangeable top plates. AQUILA X3 takes its name from the constellation Aquila on the Celestial Equator. Aquila is the Latin name for ‘eagle’. We believe this sophisticated digital front end will soar. Prices start at €14,499.

CH Precision

As the name suggests, the new C10 Conductor from Swiss high-end brand CH Precision acts as a baton-waver for the full C10 DAC. It acts as a digital nerve centre, managing source selection, analysing incoming signal phase and frequency, and performing synchronous upsampling through multiple DSP modules. By separating digital ‘processing’ from ‘conversion’, the Conductor allows the mono C10 DACs to concentrate on what they do best. The company’s new D10 Reference Transport joins the team. This is a top-loading design that uses only the basic elements of the donor CD/SACD mechanism. It features CH Precision’s own MORSE (Mechanically Optimised Reading and Stability Enhancement) transport design. This results in a disc reading ‘sled’ weighing in at an impressive 13kg. As you might expect from a €96,575 transport mechanism

With two DACs, Conductor, T10 Master Clock transport and all their attendant power supplies, the full CH Precision 10 Series digital source takes up a considerable amount of shelf space. However, the results speak for themselves.

dCS

There are two sides to the dCS Audio story at Munich High-End 2025. It’s the first public outing of the affordable LINA DAC X, demonstrated in several rooms. This show also saw the announcement of the CD/SACD transport for the brand’s new flagship, the Varèse digital front end. Although several rooms demonstrated dCS, including the company itself, it kept Varèse as a static display. The £32,500 dedicated CD/SACD transport mechanism eliminates all digital processing and moves it to the Varèse Core. This enables the transport to function purely as a polycarbonate bit-extraction device. Even the track display is transferred to the central system.

It’s worth mentioning Varèse first in this discussion. The £13,500 LINA DAC X uses many of Varèse’s techniques and technologies. This includes the main ‘flex rigid’ PCB and improvements made to the Ring DACs.

EMM Labs

The new $12,500 TXi from Canadian high-end digital brand EMM Labs completes the company’s current high-end line. It’s a hybrid drawer/top-loading CD transport, featuring the Meitner-designed X-Power switch-mode power supply system and sports EMM’s own ‘Optilink’ interface for direct connection to EMM Labs DA2i or DV2i DACs. The TXi is also field-programmable for updates, and uses a RS232 connection for both home automation control and performance monitoring.

Innuos

Last year, Innuos announced the new ZEN Next Gen line, representing a significant advancement over its original line. Now, with its Nazaré music streamer and server, it aims to establish the brand in the high-end market firmly. Named after the Portuguese submarine canyon, the new system uses an advanced ‘PerciseAudio’ main board, with dedicated PreciseUSB and PreciseNET cards, an enhanced power supply and up to 16TB of internal SSD storage. Nazaré represents a significant step up from the current Statement Next Gen flagship model. It’s also joined by two supplementary units: Nazaré Flow, a high-performance USB/I2S output stage, and the new Nazaré Net high-end network switch. Both will be finished in Nazaré casework, and prices are to be confirmed but expected to be in the £30,000-£40,000 range.

Lumin

The new flagship from Hong Kong-based Lumin, the £4,495 U2X network transport features its most advanced 10M clocking circuitry to date, an isolated USB output for DAC connections, and Lumin’s latest processor. Supporting DSD512 and PCM to 768kHz precision and allowing fibre connections, this represents a powerful new core to a networked home audio system, whether it’s all Lumin or uses a range of components.

Nordost

In just a few years, the network switch has evolved from being an afterthought to one of the most vital components for optimising the performance of streamed digital content. One of those championing this change in thought is Nordost. Its first model, QNET, is still available and is a five-port switch with uniquely spaced RJ45 connectors. This proved a challenge for many users, and the $5,499 QNETt7 is the response. As the name suggests, Nordost’s new switch features seven ports, with six supporting 10/100/1000BASE-T and one 1000BASE-LX/SX port via SFP. It’s powered by nine independent, low-noise power feeds, to isolate each connected component. It has no internal power supply, but is designed to work with Nordost’s QSOURCE linear power supply.

Wadax

Last year, Spanish digital expert Wadax announced the €36,800 Studio • Player one-box DAC, CD/SACD player and streamer, hinting at additional devices in the system. At Munich High-End 2025, these additional devices were realised, in the form of the €25,700 Studio Clock, the €26,900 Studio PSU, and the Acasa DC Studio cable (€6,500 for 1m). The Studio • Player on its own was used as a source in many rooms, but the complete system was demonstrated both in Wadax own room and in Magico’s room.

Munich High-End 2025: Analogue

Munich High-End 2025: Amplifiers

Munich High-End 2025: Loudspeakers

Munich High-End 2025: Systems and everything else!

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