This year, fate had a peculiar sense of humor. The 2025 Shanghai International High-End Hi-Fi Show (SIAV) once again collided with AXPONA in Chicago both held over the same weekend, April 10โ13. Even the Kaohsiung Hi-End Audio Show in Taiwan decided to join the fray. With three major events vying for attention, brands worldwide faced a tough decision: which show to attend?
Reflecting on Last Yearโs Choice
Last year, I opted for AXPONA and missed SIAV, which I later heard had been exceptionally lively. With the current economic climate in mind, I chose to stay local this time saving on airfare and hotel and immersed myself in the heartbeat of Shanghaiโs hi-fi scene.
A Multi-Venue Experience
Now in its 32nd edition since its inception in 1993, SIAV 2025 was held across three venues in central Shanghai: Jinjiang Tower, Jinjiang Hotel, and the Garden Hotel. If this multi-venue setup feels familiar, itโs because similar formats exist elsewhere take the Warsaw Audio Show in Poland, for example. The key difference here is that SIAVโs three locations are within walking distance, eliminating the need for shuttle buses.
Fragmentation vs. Innovation
That said, some attendees did grumble about the eventโs โspread-outโ nature. Each venue only featured a single floor of exhibits, making it feel fragmented. Wouldnโt it be better to concentrate the show across three floors of a single venue? Perhaps. But the fragmented layout reflects todayโs market reality: the high-end two-channel audio scene isnโt exactly booming. Aging demographics and a lack of new blood have stifled growth, and large audio equipment imposes logistical burdens on venues. From a business standpoint, itโs understandable that organizers would favor a more flexible, commercially viable layout.
A Call to Cherish Hi-Fi Shows
So, hereโs a word of advice to all audiophiles: cherish these shows while we still have them. Even the mighty High End Munich will relocate to Vienna starting next year.
Highlights from the Show
As with most international shows, the spotlight naturally fell on the larger rooms those exceeding 40 square meters. Big systems need big space: full-range loudspeakers with large cabinets and multiple drivers, driven by heavyweight amplification, and complex source components in multi-box configurations. Brands like Magico, MBL, Zellaton, and Cosvox did deliver impactful sound but many rooms, in their bid to attract foot traffic, cranked up the volume to tank-level proportions. The result? Less nuance, more fatigue.
Standout Moments
Still, there were some standout moments. Grimm Audioโs active speakers continued to impress with their all-in-one elegance and consistency. French newcomer Davis Acoustics, known for manufacturing its own drivers, challenged stereotypes by pairing with Jadis to show that large baffle speakers can deliver soundstage and transparency. Ironically, mismatched brand pairings in some rooms led to surprising results smaller systems sometimes outperformed the โbig boys,โ proving once again that synergy trumps scale.
A New Era of Chinese Manufacturers
One refreshing trend was the strong showing from Chinese manufacturers. Cosvox turned heads with its modular, all-aluminum designs that offer both upgrade flexibility and a premium European aesthetic. Digital playback veteran Eversolo expanded into amplification, with sound quality matching its well-known streamers. And then there were ambitious one-man studio creations like Clover Audio whose two-piece source and three-piece amp system retails for ยฅ250,000 RMB, entirely self-developed. They even humorously claim to raise prices each year to protect existing customersโ investment!
A Win for Two-Channel Purists
Finally, a bit of good news for traditional hi-fi fans: home theater and AV room presence was noticeably down this year. Whether thatโs a win for the organizers is up for debate but for two-channel purists, it felt like a long-awaited victory.
A Celebration of Passion
In short, SIAV 2025 wasnโt just a showcase of sound it was a reminder of the passion that drives this niche industry. Despite the challenges, the community spirit was strong, and for that alone, it was worth attending.
