HIGH END 2026 Vienna: Global Audiophiles And Music Lovers Converge For A Landmark Luxury Hi-Fi Show
From vintage horns to billionaire scale rigs, Vienna's debut high-end audio event delivers variety and spectacle.
HIGH END 2026 Vienna Audiophile Show Report By Robert C. May

HIGH END 2026 Vienna Listening Notes
Below are photos from my day and a half of listening. Quite a few are of exhibitors that I have enjoyed in previous years in Munich, while others were new to me. I made sure to stop into the Silbatone room (above), with their (not for sale) early 20th-century speakers, and ESD, with their giant horns, a system, as they noted, for their billionaire customers!

Also, on the higher end of the price spectrum, the Aries Cerat system (shown off-site) was impressive, as was the Constellation room, with their gigantic Statement mono amps putting 1250 Watts into Wilson Sasha V speakers.

On the lower end of the price spectrum, Chesky Audio's LC-2 speakers, designed by Lucca Chesky (David Chesky's son), were impressive, sporting a 3D printed cabinet and driven by Benchmark electronics.

Other rooms in which I lingered featured equipment from Audia Flight, Wilson Benesch, Kharma, Zellaton, Magnepan, AlsyVox, Goebel, Prodigio (off-site) and Klipsch, (who were also providing haircuts).

A major highlight was a Saturday evening duet concert by Jerome Sabbagh on tenor sax and Danny Grissett on piano held at the Kaisersaal, on off-site venue. Jerome and Danny played a beautiful set for the enthusiastic audience that packed the house. The next day, a recording of the concert made by Frank Schroeder (of tonearm fame) was played back in the Stenheim room; it was an impressive rendition of what we had heard the previous evening.

For those of you who are not familiar with Jerome, aside from being a great musician, he also runs Analog Tone Factory, dedicated to producing all analog recordings, which are consistently among the most excellent recordings currently being produced. Aside from two of his own recordings – Heart and Stand Up! – the label has also released an album by Chris Cheek featuring Bill Frisell. Upcoming on the label is a drum recording featuring Andrew Cyrille, Billy Hart, Nasheet Watts and Bill Stewart, and a recording led by tenor saxophonist Mark Turner. Very much looking forward to them.

All in all, a fun few days in Vienna, listening to audio, spending time with great friends and making new ones, and taking in the vibrancy of Viennese life. Until next year. As always... enjoy the music!

---> Back to the main HIGH END 2026 Vienna show report homepage.