Vienna Hi-End 2026

[User211]

That copper really does punch you in the eyes.

Latest D'Aggy stuff.

[Tim]

The Luxman has to be one of the best looking integrated amps on the planet.

[rigger67]

Really interesting post, this - thank you for taking the time to share your amazing photos.

Given the last time I went to a show was in Bristol in about 1988, I'm not really up with modern trends in hi-fi, especially high-end, but it's all fantasy-land for most of us anyway.

I had a pair of Rega Juras a few years back and they sounded so good two of my oldest friends bought a pair off eBay. I'd actually sold mine by then, but them buying a pair each made me buy a second pair, which I now use in my gaming system.
It's all about levels, isn't it ?
For them, my super-budget set-up blew their own systems away.
For a few pounds, they massively improved them.

This is a whole new system of economics where the law of diminishing returns is very much in evidence.


As Marco said earlier, you don't need to spend that much to get a really great sound .. but it's fun to be a voyeur.

[User211]

I was a bit dumbstruck when I saw these.

Just sat there. Nobody even noticing them, really.

Connected to nothing.

With some STC 4242 valves that looked as though they had never been used. I know that by looking at the filaments and other obvious clues when you've been using valves for decades.

They probably have been powered up a few times. But Jesus, these suckers are rare and in superb condition.

It doesn't look as though the chassis they are in can deliver what they could do on terms of power output.

Interesting, nonetheless. And they aren't going to be cheap. Love to hear these on something efficient.

But I'd much rather see such valves able to deliver what they are capable of in a high power design.

That said, I haven't even attempted to look up the spec. So don't take me too seriously. And also, I am fairly sure I have seen these in the flesh elsewhere in the past. Which doesn't really have any inherent meaning apart from the fact they exist.

Whatever. They just seem worth a post.

[User211]

Zellatron Plural Eco.

Introduced by an ultra skinny Japanese lady from planet alien who was extremely into the harp.

After hearing a lot of Zellatrons over the years, I like the silver coned cheaper versions better.

They are good albeit expensive speakers.

Would I buy a pair?

No.

That amp might be insane.

But in the land of expensive stuff, the speakers are OK.

[Macca]

Zellatron Plural Eco.

Introduced by an ultra skinny Japanese lady from planet alien who was extremely into the harp.

After hearing a lot of Zellatrons over the years, I like the silver coned cheaper versions better.

They are good albeit expensive speakers.

Would I buy a pair?

No.

That amp might be insane.

But in the land of expensive stuff, the speakers are OK.

What are those stands at the back, are they some bizarre tweak?

[User211]

Ich weiss nicht.

Strange omni weirdness.

Followed by full range stats that remind me of the Burj Al Arab.

[User211]

So I get back from all of this.

And I am 100% convinced I didn't hear anything as highly resolved as my system.

Or ultimately one I liked better.

Take me to a normal doctor.

Give me a psychological assessment.

Inspect my lug holes.

Put me on a lie detector.

That said, my faves were the Luxman/Marten and Emm Labs / Neolith systems this year.

Both cost too much money. The first one does cost a lot less and has decent resolution.

The second I will call out for what I already said about it. But it is good.

[User211]

The third award is to that Quad thingie that costs > 100K list. See above.

£10K would be a fantastic retail price for them.

Quad would go out of business very quickly.

Or at least the speaker making division.

Ain't gonna happen, unfortunately.

And I did mean the Quad ESL section going out of business.

They should buy a pair and check them out.

[Pigmy Pony]

So I get back from all of this.

And I am 100% convinced I didn't hear anything as highly resolved as my system.

Or ultimately one I liked better.

Take me to a normal doctor.

Give me a psychological assessment.

Inspect my lug holes.

Put me on a lie detector.

That said, my faves were the Luxman/Marten and Emm Labs / Neolith systems this year.

Both cost too much money. The first one does cost a lot less and has decent resolution.

The second I will call out for what I already said about it. But it is good.

No need for any of that - what you have is what most of us are striving for Though the manufacturers won't want to hear that, chronic dissatisfaction with your set up is what pays their wages

The Luxman/Marten system would be my choice - oozes quality without being ostentatious.