High End Vienna 2026 review: Riding the new audio wave

For more than two decades, High End Munich was one of the constants of the international audio calendar. This year, that changed. After 21 years in Bavaria, Europe's leading Hi-Fi exhibition moved east to Vienna, giving one of the industry's most established events an entirely new setting.

Whenever a major trade show relocates, uncertainty inevitably follows. Exhibitors wonder whether visitors will come. Distributors question logistics. Manufacturers hope a new venue won't dilute years of momentum. Walking through the Austria Center Vienna during the opening trade days, those concerns appeared largely unfounded.

The Austria Center offers a broader mix of demonstration environments than its predecessor. Large presentation rooms comfortably accommodated statement loudspeaker systems capable of moving serious amounts of air, while smaller rooms created intimate listening spaces better suited to compact products and focused demonstrations. For exhibitors, the flexibility felt like a genuine advantage.
Attendance during the trade-only days was strong. Manufacturers, distributors, retailers and press filled the halls from the moment the doors opened, and conversations throughout the exhibition suggested confidence that Vienna could establish itself as the show's long-term home.

More importantly, the exhibition itself reflected an industry that continues to evolve.

There remains, of course, a healthy appetite for ultra-premium separates. Six-figure loudspeaker systems continue to attract crowds. Turntables remain as fashionable as ever. But increasingly, manufacturers appear less interested in selling individual components and more focused on complete listening ecosystems.

Streaming platforms, active loudspeakers, integrated music systems and wireless technologies have redefined the high-end landscape.
For CI, that shift has practical implications. Integrated amplification, sophisticated DSP, automatic room correction and app-based configuration continue to reduce installation complexity while broadening the appeal of premium audio beyond the traditional enthusiast.
One trend proved impossible to ignore.

Chinese manufacturers continue to reshape perceptions of premium audio engineering.

Companies such as WiiM, Questyle and Shanling are investing heavily in industrial design, software development and proprietary engineering. They are no longer competing purely on price. Instead, they are challenging long-established manufacturers on features, aesthetics and performance.

Perhaps the clearest example came from WiiM.

Having established itself through affordable yet capable network streamers, the company used High End Vienna to the WiiM Bar, a 3.0.2-channel soundbar with upward-firing drivers dedicated to Dolby Atmos height effects. Expected to retail at £449, it represents an ambitious move into the increasingly competitive television audio market.

Unlike many products in this category, the WiiM Bar places considerable emphasis on user interaction. A circular 2.1-inch touchscreen integrated into the cabinet displays album artwork, playback information and system settings, while seamless integration with the wider WiiM ecosystem enables multi-room playback.

Nearby, Shenzhen-based Questyle made its High End debut with the Oceanic Blue wireless Hi-Fi speaker system, developed in partnership with Norwegian drive unit specialist SEAS.

The collaboration combines Questyle's proprietary Current Mode Amplification technology with Wi-Fi 6E networking, AirPlay 2, Huawei HiPlay compatibility and Roon Ready certification. Inside, premium SEAS Excel drive units deliver the acoustic performance, while the striking cabinet design ensured the system attracted attention even before a note was played.

Wireless audio has sometimes struggled to convince traditional audiophiles. Products like Oceanic Blue suggest that conversation is beginning to change.

Another familiar name also returned with a new identity.

Jamo, now owned by Chinese audio distribution company Cinemaster together with engineering specialist Rayleigh Lab, used Vienna to demonstrate how the Danish loudspeaker brand intends to evolve under its new ownership. Development remains rooted in Denmark, while manufacturing spans both Europe and Asia, preserving the company's Scandinavian design language while broadening its engineering resources.

Particularly interesting was the new HYG range, named after the Scandinavian concept of hygge. Rather than pursuing outright performance above all else, these products focus on integrating naturally into everyday living spaces.

The HYG Flex is designed as an all-in-one home speaker, featuring dual angled tweeters and a dedicated five-inch woofer beneath a soft fabric exterior. HYG Flow takes the concept outdoors with an IPX7-rated enclosure, Auracast compatibility and a substantial 72-hour battery life. Completing the range, HYG Reflect combines wireless audio with an integrated charging surface, making it equally suited to bedside tables and compact living spaces.

None of these products attempt to compete with traditional high-end separates - and that’s the point.

If the opening halls of High End Vienna revealed anything, it was that premium audio is becoming increasingly diverse. Traditional Hi-Fi remains healthy, but it now shares the spotlight with technologies designed for broader audiences and more integrated homes.

That diversity may prove to be one of the exhibition's most significant takeaways.

Read part two of our High End Vienna show report here