High End Munich is turning High End Vienna

[VintageFlanker]

Saw this today in my news feed :

High End Munich Becoming High End Vienna

Starting in May, 2026, High End Munich is morphing into High End Vienna, with the first Vienna High End scheduled for May 28-31, 2026. The surprise move from Munich’s MOC to Vienna’s ACV (Austria Center Vienna) follows what is now understood as a trial run that drew 66 companies and...

www.stereophile.com

FAQ HIGH END VIENNA - HIGH END Society

Next show (May 2025) will remain in Munich. Then, High End will take place in Vienna for 2026, 2027 and 2028 editions.

 

[Purité Audio]

Interesting decision, why change do you suppose larger venue, cheaper venue?
Keith

 

[VintageFlanker]

Interesting decision, why change do you suppose larger venue, cheaper venue?
Keith

See the second link for official statement :

WHY VIENNA?
IDEAL EVENT CONDITIONS
AT THE AUSTRIA CENTER VIENNA

The perfect location to meet the HIGH END requirements

A known setting with positive experiences from the FINEST AUDIO SHOW

Excellent resonance among exhibitors, visitors and the media at the FINEST AUDIO SHOW

Completely refurnished building complex fitted

State-of-the-art technology and outstanding digital infrastructure

Several halls and 21 event room areas located on five levels

134 rooms of different sizes ranging from 13 to 124 sqm, ceiling height: 2.70 m

Winner of the „Austrian Event Award“ in the category „Best Event•Location“ 2023

Winner of the „Platinum Eventex Award 2024 polySTAGE” in the categories „Event Technology, New Event Technology and Immersive Technology“


INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS – MODERN, VIBRANT, COSMOPOLITAN

A melodious home for the HIGH END: Vienna is considered to be the world's music capital, home to both classical music and the latest beats - and therefore the perfect setting for the world's leading international audio show.

A breathtaking setting and Europe's treasure chest: Vienna impresses visitors and residents alike with its diverse culture, historic structures and monuments, multitude of museums, lifestyle and international flair.

Arrive and feel right at home: In Vienna, you can make the most of sights and attractions, culinary highlights, hotels in all price categories and plenty of green recreational areas.

Vienna's excellent accessibility, perfect hotel infrastructure and maximum safety have all earned it the title of the world's "most liveable city" on multiple occasions.


CENTRAL LOCATION WITH AN OUTSTANDING INFRASTRUCTURE

Vienna is located at the heart of Europe

Excellent accessibility via train, aeroplane, car and lorry

International airport with daily routs to 195 cities and 600 flight connections

16 minutes by train or 30 minutes via bus from the airport to the city centre

The ACV is situated in the central Donau•City, close to an underground station, bus station and taxi stands
– and right next door to the United Nations Office at Vienna

Underground connection every 3 to 5 minutes, with the journey from the city centre to the ACV (station Kaisermühlen/VIC) taking 7 minutes

A multitude of hotels with a total of 923 rooms und 1,843 beds located within walking distance of the ACV


WILL THE EVENT BE MORE EXPENSIVE?
No, our prices are remaining stable!

 

[Purité Audio]

Looks like the existing with “Vienna’ replacing ‘Munich’.
I suspect there is an underlying ( financial ) reason .
Keith

 

[boXem]

I suspect there is an underlying ( financial ) reason

Can't be, the High End Society is well known as a non profit /s

 

[Purité Audio]

That would be a first for the audio industry.
Keith

 

[VintageFlanker]

Can't be, the High End Society is well known as a non profit /s

That's for sure.

 

[jeffaegrim]

I always wanted to go to one of these things! I’ll swing by and let you guys know how it was in approx. 2 years

 

[napfkuchen]

I always wanted to go to one of these things! I’ll swing by and let you guys know how it was in approx. 2 years

Maybe it's due to the price trend in the hi-fi industry, a dwindling target group in favor of soundbars and headphones, or there are other reasons. In any case, it is clear that the concept of a hi-fi exhibitions is under a lot of pressure.
This year I will be attending the Frankfurt Hifi Days, which were initially canceled and are now being organized by another organizer. For me, that will be pretty much the only way to experience hi-fi outside of my own four walls.
As someone who prefers to be left alone with the products in a store and then approach the dealer if they have any questions, I don't think I'll have a positive experience in a typical hi-fi store. On the one hand, I put my system together based solely on the reviews here and don't want to waste the dealer's time if I don't end up buying anything. On the other hand, when I think of a hi-fi store, I can already see someone giving me a lecture about different speaker cables and the advantages of a power strip with a fuse in a gold housing.

 

[Salt]

Reminding the words of Jürgen Egger (missing his statements still today) HIFI Industry is celebrating it's own funeral along these shows.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

A friend and I are off to Ascot, this next Sunday, for UK HiFi show.
I'll try to get some pictures and post them. Some big names are attending.
Krell, Kef, Lyngdorf, B&W etc. If they are expensive, they are going to be there!

Home | UK Hi-Fi Show Live

hifishowlive.com

 

[Soniclife]

A friend and I are off to Ascot, this Sunday, for UK HiFi show.
I'll try to get some pictures and post them. Some big names are attending.
Krell, Kef, Lyngdorf, B&W etc. If they are expensive, they are going to be there!

Home | UK Hi-Fi Show Live

hifishowlive.com

I have a medical appointment in Ascot when this is on, I wonder which will be more fun.

PS Considering going, but I cannot think why.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

I have a medical appointment in Ascot when this is on, I wonder which will be more fun.

PS Considering going, but I cannot think why.

Beats church!

 

[Somafunk]

Beats church!

High end hifi needs suspension of rational thought so meets my definition of religion

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Chord Electronics is not attending, but Mola Mola is.
Bowers & Wilkins, Wilson Audio and Magico are attending but Sonus Faber nor Ravel are attending.
So not all expensive people are going to be there, but a lot are! Is Munich any different?

 

[KU713]

It is very welcome, close to Vienna for me. I don't see many reasons for moving from Munich, but the Austria Center Wien building is definitely a very large and very representative building. Look at the photos from the last hifi show in these areas..

THE HI-FI SHOW IN AUSTRIA

THE HI-FI SHOW IN AUSTRIA In Austria, hi-fi shows can look back on many years of tradition, which are now being continued by the FINEST AUDIO SHOW Vienna, organised by the makers behind the HIGH END show. The city of Vienna is located at the heart of Europe and can be easily accessed from its...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[KMM]

Probably there is more stupid money in Vienna than in Munich.

 

[KU713]

Probably there is more stupid money in Vienna than in Munich.

In Austria, there are still mostly conservative people who base themselves on distinguished style and quality. Although in Germany it is certainly the same..

 

[KU713]

As for the speaker. However, I would certainly welcome the representation of all quality brands, including listening to their products in lower price ranges and not only their most expensive and at the same time most expensive product. Rack speakers are useful, and they are only placed somewhere out of sight at exhibitions and not even connected.
Sorry for the translation, I use google translator, I speak Czech and German.

 

[jeffaegrim]

Maybe it's due to the price trend in the hi-fi industry, a dwindling target group in favor of soundbars and headphones, or there are other reasons. In any case, it is clear that the concept of a hi-fi exhibitions is under a lot of pressure.
This year I will be attending the Frankfurt Hifi Days, which were initially canceled and are now being organized by another organizer. For me, that will be pretty much the only way to experience hi-fi outside of my own four walls.
As someone who prefers to be left alone with the products in a store and then approach the dealer if they have any questions, I don't think I'll have a positive experience in a typical hi-fi store. On the one hand, I put my system together based solely on the reviews here and don't want to waste the dealer's time if I don't end up buying anything. On the other hand, when I think of a hi-fi store, I can already see someone giving me a lecture about different speaker cables and the advantages of a power strip with a fuse in a gold housing.

Same here @ experiencing high end hi-fi, so I honestly hope they remain afloat for a while longer, even if only for all of us to have a good laugh. And, I’ll admit, I also enjoy just looking at equipment - this will mostly be the value-building aspect of the visit for me.

Following the tenets of this site really cures you from most if not all „temptation“ you might have had at such a place.

Would really love to hear some Magicos though - or an active JBL M2, as well as some Genelec products.