High End Vienna Puts Amplifier Diversity in the Spotlight
High End Vienna 2026’s premium amplifier launches highlight how modern power amps now span streaming integrators, compact monoblock amplifier designs, and specialized Class G amplifier solutions for both home and professional installs, reflecting a shift toward modular, application‑specific architectures instead of one‑size‑fits‑all boxes. Across the show floor, five new models illustrated this trend from very different angles. Cambridge Audio pushed its Evo platform into heavyweight streaming amplifier territory. Chord Electronics previewed new ULTIMA technology and a rack‑friendly Class G GaN Blade amp aimed at custom installation. Grimm Audio entered the standalone power market with a compact but weighty monoblock. FiiO’s Jade Audio LEVEL 1 desktop amp added high claimed wattage at a budget price, signaling how far entry‑level power has come. Together, these debuts suggest the most interesting amplifiers now target clear use cases rather than chasing specs in isolation.
Cambridge Audio Evo 300: Streaming Muscle with 300W and NCOREx
Cambridge Audio’s Evo 300 is the most ambitious Evo yet, a streaming amplifier rated at 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms from Hypex NCOREx Class D modules in a dual‑mono layout. That power, combined with a switch‑mode supply, is aimed at larger rooms and demanding speakers without turning the unit into a bulky furnace. According to Cambridge Audio, the balanced preamplifier stage and dedicated analog volume controls for each channel are designed to preserve imaging, dynamic range, and low‑level detail as volume changes. On the network side, StreamMagic Gen 4 carries over from earlier Evo models, supporting popular services such as Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Deezer, UPnP and internet radio, plus HDMI eARC for direct TV integration. The result is a premium streaming hub that combines serious power with modern connectivity in one chassis rather than a stack of separates.
Chord ULTIMA 7 and Blade: From Full‑Width Power to Skinny Class G GaN
Chord Electronics used the event to preview two stereo power amplifiers built around its ULTIMA amplifier technology: the ULTIMA 7 and the slimline Blade. The ULTIMA 7 is designed as the most affordable full‑width power amplifier in Chord’s range and visually matches the ULTIMA PRE 3 preamp, which should appeal to system builders who care about a coherent rack layout. Chord states that the ULTIMA 7 will deliver 135 watts per channel into 8 ohms, positioning it as a flexible partner for many high‑end speakers. The Blade moves in another direction, using a 0.5U Class G GaN topology aimed squarely at custom installation racks and architectural systems where space and thermal management matter. While full specifications and pricing are due in September, these previews underline how Class G amplifier designs and compact GaN‑based stages are moving from theory to real CI hardware.
Grimm Audio PA1: Compact Class A/B Monoblock with Studio Priorities
Grimm Audio’s PA1 marks its entry into standalone power amplification with a compact monoblock amplifier that still feels substantial at 33 pounds. The cube‑like chassis measures 9.8 x 9.8 x 9.4 inches and houses a Class A/B design rated at 200 watts into 4 ohms and 150 watts into 8 ohms, dedicated to a single channel. Grimm highlights a wide‑bandwidth circuit intended to cut phase modulation, thermal distortion, and residual crossover distortion. Inside, an Amplimo toroidal transformer and 90,000 µF current buffer give the PA1 reserves beyond its modest footprint, while symmetrical circuitry and 96 power transistors mounted on an aluminium PCB help maintain stable thermal conditions under load. For listeners already using Grimm loudspeakers or streamers, the PA1 offers a matching monoblock amplifier option; for others, it is a compact premium alternative to more traditional, bulkier monoblocks.
FiiO Jade Audio LEVEL 1: 300W Desktop Ambition and Democratized Power
At the opposite end of the premium amplifier launches, FiiO’s Jade Audio LEVEL 1 made noise by promising up to 2 x 300 watts of desktop power at USD 139 (approx. RM650). Built around Texas Instruments’ TPA3255 chip and PurePath Ultra‑HD technology, the amp’s headline figure refers to 4‑ohm output at under 10% THD+N with a 53V/12A supply. FiiO’s own data also lists 240W + 240W into 4 ohms and 135W + 135W into 8 ohms at under 1% THD+N, which is still serious output for a compact chassis. Connectivity is another strength, with RCA line input, USB DAC, coaxial digital, and Bluetooth 6.0 reception, plus subwoofer output for simple 2.1 systems. By pairing aggressive pricing with meaningful wattage and flexible inputs, the LEVEL 1 shows how desktop and entry‑level systems now access power once reserved for far more expensive amplifiers.
