The Absolute Sound

The Absolute Sound is the world’s preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music.

The Absolute Sound

Letters

Celebrating Innovation

The 2025 High End Munich Show • A TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION SHOWCASE

Innovations Shaping the Industry • Our writers and editors bring you this comprehensive guide to the technical innovations that are transforming how we access and enjoy music.

The DAC and Server Revolution

DSP in Loudspeakers and Room Correction

Materials Technology for Loudspeaker Enclosures

Computational Modeling in Loudspeaker Design

Class D Amplification Comes of Age

High-Speed, High-Bandwidth Amplifiers

Turntable, Tonearm, and Phono Cartridge Advancements

DS Audio Optical Cartridges

Modern LP Mastering and Pressing

BACCH Crosstalk Cancellation

Multichannel and Immersive Audio

Technology of the Year Awards • In our inaugural Technology of the Year Awards issue, we’ve selected eight products that advance the art and science of music reproduction through cutting-edge technologies, innovative thinking, and heroic execution.

Wilson Benesch GMT One System Turntable

DS Audio Grand Master EX Optical Phono Cartridge

Wadax Reference System

dCS Varèse DAC

Soulution 757 Deemphasis Unit

AlsyVox Caravaggio XX Full-Range Ribbon

AudioQuest Mythical Creatures Thunderbird Speaker Cable and Interconnects and Dragon Interconnects

Shunyata Research Theta Cable, Altaira Grounding System

Innovator of the Year • In our inaugural Innovator of the Year Awards, we recognize eight individuals who have made the most significant contributions to high-end audio in the past year. These are the people working at the cutting-edge of music reproduction technology, pushing forward the state of the art through creative thinking and a passionate quest for greater musical realism.

Matthew Webster • CEO, YG Acoustics

Daniele Coen • Founder, AlsyVox

Javier Guadalajara • Founder, Wadax

dCS Engineering Team • David Steven, Managing Director

Craig Milnes • Design Director, Wilson Benesch

Tetsuaki Aoyagi • Founder, DS Audio

Cyrill Hammer • Founder and Chief Engineer, Soulution Audio

Edgar Choueiri • Founder, Theoretica Applied Physics

MUSIC ROCK ETC

MUSIC JAZZ

MUSIC CLASSICAL

Innovations Through the Decades