Warsaw Audio Video Show 2024

Bright, sunny days toward the end of October are not a common feature in Warsaw. It’s usually cold and gloomy. But Warsaw was pleasant T-shirt weather for most of Warsaw’s Audio Video Show 2024. That didn’t deter the crowds, and one of the most vibrant audio shows worldwide continued to pull in people of all kinds.

Warsaw Audio Video Show 2024 divides between three venues—two hotels and the country’s main stadium across town. It has grown to become virtually three events in one. The show has a more conventional hotel-room-based exhibition at the Radisson Blu Sobieski. This attracts smaller local brands and some international start-ups.

The Radisson Blu Sobieski and the nearby Golden Tulip Hotel also have larger conference room spaces. Higher-end brands and distributors occupy these, but often those with more of a traditional enthusiast vibe.

Meanwhile, many of the audio industry’s big names reside at the PGE Nardowy stadium. This is the place for home cinema demonstrations from brands such as Philips and JBL. It’s also home to a wealth of personal audio equipment. We concentrated on the new two-channel audio products because there was so much to see. However, we have not priced the products we saw. This is because we got prices in Polish Zloty, Euro, US Dollars and UK Pounds. Here are our highlights!

Aavik

A new state-of-the-art phono stage has just joined Aavik’s top-line amplifiers. The R-880 supports MM, MC, and even DS-Audio optical cartridges. It allows extensive on-the-fly cartridge setting adjustment. There is also technology that will filter down through the Aavik and Axxess ranges.

Arcam

Sickly orange light notwithstanding, Arcam’s new does-everything SA35 streaming integrated amp delivered a lovely sound. It was connected to Spendor Classic 2/3 loudspeakers and hooked up with Cardas Audio cable. The smaller of Arcam’s two new integrated amps, the SA35 still packs a healthy 120W punch. A matching streamer is also available.

Avantgarde

The latest version of Avantgarde’s flagship loudspeaker, the Trio G3 exploits the company’s ‘bionic’ horn system to the extreme. The new model extends the frequency range and reduces distortion over previous models. It is joined by the new SpaceHorn, a more modular replacement to the company’s BassHorn system. This was playing through a full Kondo system, from Ginga turntable to Kagura 2i mono power amps.

AVM

AVM’s new PC 5.3 and 3.3 power conditioners have individually filtered outlets: two high and four low power outlets on the 3.3 and double those figures on the 5.3. Both models actively monitor the incoming power to detect power fluctuations and changes in the AC phase and filter DC directly at the device input to reduce mechanical noise and crosstalk.

Audio Research

In one of the larger rooms shared with Wilson Audio (the Alexx V, shown for the first time in its new ‘fx’ livery), dCS Vivaldi, Shunyata Research and D’Agostino Audio, this was one of the first public outings of the new Reference 330M from Audio Research. These tube monoblocks represent the pinnacle of Audio Research amplifiers and sound great too!

Cambridge Audio

Launched just a few weeks ago, Cambridge Audio’s EX Series fills the gap between its CX and Edge ranges. The 100W Class AB EXA100 uses technology drawn from the company’s Edge M flagship mono power amps. It adds Bluetooth aptX HD and HDMI eARC connectivity and features an on-board ESS Sabre DAC. It’s joined by the EXN100 Network Player, which brings both locally stored and online streaming services to the party. The duo sounded great through a pair of Acoustic Energy Corinium loudspeakers.

Clarisys Audio

Played in the LampizatOr room (more on that later), the new Atrium is Clarisys Audio‘s flagship panel loudspeaker. Originally designed as a full repair service for Apogee loudspeakers, Clarisys speakers use the technology of the legendary Apogee ribbon speakers in their designs. Few are larger than the Atrium. With panels the size of surfboards, the high-impedance multi-panel loudspeaker is sensitive enough to be played by valve amplifiers.

DALI

The top model in a trio of new Epikore models from Danish speaker experts DALI, the Epikore 9 borrows much from the company’s Kore flagship. The four-way Epikore 9 uses the Evo-K dome tweeter/ribbon supertweeter arrangement found across the range, with a 165mm midrange and a pair of 200mm bass drivers. This was driven by Classé Delta pre and mono powers and delivered a sophisticated and powerful sound.

Devialet

Replacing Devialet’s entire Expert line of amplifiers at a stroke, Astra combines a new version of the company’s ADH amplifier technology with greater integration with wired, wireless and online music providers. This is the most radical redesign of the platform since the original D-Premier of 2010. The 300W Astra has a standard light bronze finish and a gold-leaf Opéra de Paris version. It can also run in twin-amp mode or multi-amp mode for active loudspeakers.

Dynaudio

First shown in prototype form at Munich earlier this year, the Dynaudio Contour Legacy exceeds expectations. This homage to Dynaudio’s classic floorstanders combines the best of the company’s history with its latest drive unit technology. These loudspeakers might be designed to sit in regular-sized listening rooms, but they worked very well even in an ample conference space in the Golden Tulip hotel.

EllaSonika

One of my finds of the show is the Korean company EllaSonika, which makes a range of full-digital amps that sound decidedly tube-like and have loudspeakers that match. The Ella Power Slim is a small digital amp with balanced and unbalanced inputs as well as USB and S/PDIF digital inputs. It includes a range of EQ settings to recreate a tube, ‘cool’ and ‘bass’ mode. It’s joined by the three-way Ella Speak floorstander which has an two-inch dome midrange and eight-inch bass. These two products were high in value stakes and sounded lovely. They were hooked together by another show discover; Athena muse cable, also from Korea. Distributors… beat a path to these Korean company’s doors, now!

Ferrum Audio

Like any overnight sensation, Ferrum Audio took decades to become what it is today. Its parent company, HEM, has been in business for over twenty years, building OEM digital audio products for others. In the 2020s, HEM boss Marcin Hamerla fully implemented his Ferrum designs. Best known in the personal audio space, the WANDLA DAC/Preamp (in standard or Golden Sound Edition guise) and HYPSOS power supply also represent a powerful digital hub and front-end for traditional two-channel enthusiasts, as evidenced by their use with an ATC power amp and loudspeaker system playing effortless sound in the stadium.

Ken Kessler/TechDAS

In the RCM Audio room—which held several turntable gems, including the new TechDAS Air Force 10 combination air/conventional bearing tonearm—legendary reviewer Ken Kessler extolled the virtues of open-reel tape.

With pre-recorded tapes from the mid-50s onwards, he made a strong case that everything else was an audio misstep. A commercial tape of the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper was truly stunning, sounding through a Studer open reel, Vitus audio electronics, and Gauder Acoustics loudspeakers.

LampizatOr

The LampizatOr Horizon360 replaces the top-of-the-line Horizon and has a record-breaking DSD 1024 and 32-bit, 1520kHz PCM conversion on board (but is not currently activated). It also supports an XDMI link for Taiko Olympus users, has one extra transformer and a new remote, and unlocks the company’s next 20 years of upgrades. Owners of existing Horizon DACs can also upgrade to the new Horizon360.

Magico

The Magico M7 doesn’t come out to play that often because it’s a physically imposing loudspeaker that needs a good, big room and careful system matching to show what it’s capable of. However, it can redefine your expectations of what good audio can do. In most shows, companies try to impress by playing music at ear-splitting volumes, but one of the M7’s strengths is playing at more real-world and even low levels. The M7, helped by a Taiko streamer feeding EMM and MSB digital, an Acoustic Signature turntable, Pilium amplification all on finite elemente Carbo platforms, produced a ‘none more black’ appeal.

Marantz

The urge to come up with a ‘New Horizons’ line for the two new Marantz products is irresistible. Marantz Horizon and Grand Horizon are wireless active loudspeakers, using the company’s Rise amplifier system, DSP system, transducer system, and even wireless module are all proprietary. Sadly, they were ‘showing’ rather than ‘playing’, but they show promise.

McIntosh Labs

McIntosh Labs has been in business for 75 years. To celebrate, the company’s new Mc2.1kW Anniversary flagship mono amplifier has two power supplies and an amplifier module per chassis. As the name suggests, this 180kg amp delivers over 2kW of continuous power. It was shown with the MCD12000 Anniversary CD/SACD player, the C12000 Anniversary preamp, and Rockport Orion loudspeakers in the stadium’s ‘millionaire’s row’ of brands!

Oephi

Oephi usually demonstrates its smaller loudspeakers, showing people what’s possible from a stand-mount loudspeaker when appropriately made. At Warsaw, however, Oephi showed its flagship Reference 3.5 towers, this time demonstrating that a big speaker in a smaller room can work well. With a large ribbon tweeter coupled to a Purifi midrange and two Purifi woofers, all hooked up with a point-to-point crossover, this gently back-swept bass-reflex floorstander held all the sonic aces. They sounded especially good through hARt Lab amplification from Greece. I have the feeling we are going to hear more from hARt…

Opera Loudspeakers

Opera Loudspeakers premiered the new versions of its popular Prima bookshelf loudspeakers and Quinta floorstanders. These v2 versions change practically everything from the 2015 versions, while retaining and improving on the elegant looks and refined sonics of the originals. They are joined by the equally elegant Black Edition amplifiers of the company’s sister brand, Unison Research

Peak (Consult)

Peak (also known as Peak Consult) has been having something of a renaissance. Per Kristoffersen range of loudspeakers combines traditional high-end design values with excellent performance. The new version of Peak’s El Diablo goes more than some way to explain why the brand is back! It was playing with Extraudio electronics from Holland.

Silent Pound

We saw the first Challenger loudspeaker from Lithuania’s Silent Pound at the 2022 Warsaw show. The Challenger II is a slight evolution of the original, but the Bloom three-way stand-mount is all new. The 40kg loudspeaker with integrated stand focuses on constant directivity, and balances a coaxial midrange and high-frequency driver with a pair of dipole bass units. Both Challenger and Bloom are designed to be untroubled by room acoustics, and are exciting designs we hope to see more of.

Sonus faber

Sonus faber’s new Suprema flagship is a four-box design with two main units, twin subwoofers, and an external electronic crossover. Used with a lot of top-end Classé amplification in one of the stadium’s larger rooms, this wasn’t just muscular high-end audio; it was almost steroidal! Sonus faber wanted to show just what high-end can do, and the company wanted to impress. It certainly did just that.

SoundClub

This Polish high-end distributor, SoundClub, wasn’t content with just one system. They changed amps and speakers for each day of the show. The Wadax digital and Brinkmann analogue front-ends and Air-Tight preamplification remained constant. However, the room had Boulder and EgglestonWorks one day, Halcro and Marten the next, and Göbel loudspeakers on the third. It was an ambitious plan!

Storgaard & Vestskov

A new name on the loudspeaker scene, this Danish family-run company has three excellent loudspeakers the Storgaard & Vestskov line-up: the two-way Frida stand-mount, the two-way Gro floorstander and the (too large for the room) top of the range Fenja three-way tower. These loudspeakers are built to exacting standards using five-layer solid tiger bamboo cabinets with aircraft-grade CNC-milled aluminium front baffles. With custom-made drivers, high-grade components in the crossover and shock-absorbing feet as just part of the deal, this start-up hits the ground running!

Wilson Audio

One of the show’s highlights was the combination of Gryphon electronics and the recently reborn Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy loudspeakers. Fed by the new Gryphon Apollo turntable (itself heard for the first time in Europe since its Munich 2024 launch), this was the first public outing for the WATT/Puppy at a European show. The combination had a ‘play anything’ stance… I even got to play some drum ‘n’ bass! While there was a general move toward the audiophile standards across the show, hearing Grant Green was a rare jazz find, and it sounded excellent!

WK Audio

We’ve been following WK Audio‘s cable designs for some time. The Polish brand’s TheRed line of cables is one of the best… but it doesn’t come cheap. TheRay, WK Audio’s new line, streamlines much of the technology used in TheRed, houses the cable in a single light blue braid, and delivers much of the performance for half the price. We’ve long said WK Audio is the secret sauce of European high-end; with TheRay, maybe more people will find out just what we mean!

Zellaton

We missed the launch of the Zellaton Plural EVO floorstanding loudspeaker at the Munich show, but it was on display, coupled with a Goldmund Eidos front-end, Mimesis Excellence preamp and Telos 800 power amp. The Plural EVO uses a unique rigid-foam membrane developed decades ago and has been completely redefined for a new generation for the last five years.

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