Inside Vienna’s Analog Revival And Ultra High End Audio - Part 2

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Vienna doesn’t look like a show that’s given up on “old school” hi‑fi. If anything, it doubles down on it. We’re back with a fast, focused Inside CI News Brief that takes you through the most interesting custom installation and high end audio talking points from the exhibition floor, where turntables still occupy pride of place and analogue replay feels more vibrant than the headlines suggest.

We dig into the gear that made people stop and stare, starting with turntables that range from resolutely minimalist to full blown mechanical art. Project turns heads with an unexpected Harley Davidson collaboration, using brushed aluminium, stainless steel and genuine leather to push vinyl firmly into lifestyle territory. Then we shift to the pure engineering end of the spectrum with Audio Technica’s ATMCD1 moving coil cartridge. We break down the design choices, from the synthetic CVD diamond structure aimed at better energy transfer and lower resonance to the Shibata stylus profile built for precise groove tracing and cleaner high frequency detail, plus why the oversized cutaway display is such a smart way to make micro engineering feel real.

From there, we scan the wider premium landscape: Technics expands its SL40 CBT line with new finishes and quietly hints at bigger hardware news later in the year. Loudspeakers go properly big, with Tannoy celebrating 100 years through tightly limited Centennial Editions and a memorable Westminster Royal GR demonstration. We also cover the return of Abingdon Music Research with the Lunar Series, and finish with Goldmund’s heritage showcase culminating in the ambition of the Gaia loudspeakers and what flagship products are really for: credibility, innovation, and ideas that eventually filter down.

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Transcript

News Brief Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Inside CI News Brief for Monday, 27 July 2026. The latest custom installation news in minutes for busy integrators and industry professionals, written by humans, voiced by AI for your convenience.

Vienna’s Love Affair With Turntables

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Despite the growing wave of streaming platforms and integrated wireless systems, high-end Vienna had lost none of its affection for traditional hi-fi. If anything, analog replay remains as vibrant as ever. Turntables occupied almost every corner of the exhibition. Some were resolutely minimalist. Others resembled precision engineering projects more than music players. There were belt drives, direct drives, skeletal plinths, suspended subchassis designs, and enough polished aluminium to keep a metal worker occupied for months. Project occupied one of the exhibition's largest spaces, presenting what felt like an almost endless catalogue of record players. Among them sat perhaps the show's most unexpected collaboration. Developed with Harley Davidson, the limited edition turntable combines brushed aluminium, stainless steel, and genuine leather to reflect the iconic American motorcycle mark.

Audio Technica’s £9,999 Cartridge Explained

SPEAKER_00 1:16

For vinyl enthusiasts seeking outright technical performance, however, Audio Technica delivered one of Vienna's most intriguing launches. Its new ATMCD1 moving coil cartridge follows last year's limited edition 60th anniversary, ATMC2022, and represents a further refinement of the company's cartridge engineering. Central to the design is a synthetic CVD diamond structure intended to maximize energy transfer while reducing unwanted resonance. The newly developed Shibata stylus profile promises exceptional groove tracing accuracy and improved high-frequency retrieval. The cartridge itself is beautifully engineered, but Audio Technica made the clever decision to display an oversized cutaway model alongside the finished product. It offered visitors an unusually clear appreciation of the construction techniques normally hidden within a cartridge no larger than a thumbnail. Retailing at £9,999, the ATMCD1 occupies the very highest end of the analog market. Few systems will ever justify such an investment. Yet products like this remain important because they continue pushing the boundaries of precision engineering within a mature technology.

Technics Adds New Finishes And Hints

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Technics arrived in Vienna with a notably quieter product story. Rather than unveiling new hardware, the Japanese manufacturer introduced two additional finishes for its popular SL40 CBT direct drive turntable. Blue and white versions joined the existing color palette from September, broadening the model's lifestyle appeal without altering its engineering. The absence of major announcements did little to diminish interest around the stand. During conversations at the show, company representatives hinted to Inside CI that more significant hardware developments are expected before the end of the year.

Tannoy’s Centenary Loudspeakers Take Centre Stage

SPEAKER_00 3:18

If Analog remains healthy, there is little doubt the ultra-premium loudspeaker sector is enjoying renewed confidence. Tannoy marked its centenary with a series of limited edition loudspeakers, celebrating 100 years of loudspeaker manufacturing. Production will be extremely restricted with just 19 pairs of the Westminster Royal GR Centennial Edition and 26 pairs of the Canterbury GR Centennial Edition planned. Visitors also had the opportunity to experience the formidable Westminster Royal GR itself. Weighing around 140 kg each and retailing for approximately 55,000 pounds, the loudspeakers were partnered with Esoteric Electronics and Montaudio Cabling in one of the exhibition's more memorable demonstrations.

AMR Returns With The Lunar Series

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Elsewhere, another respected name returned after years of relative silence. Abingdon Music Research formerly relaunched its brand with the Lunar Series, representing the culmination of seven years of development under celebrated analog designer John Curl. The range comprises the Lunar Ingenii digital to analog converter, Lunar MAIDI pre-amplifier, and Lunar ProSolarum monoblock power amplifiers. While each product serves a distinct role within the signal chain, collectively they demonstrate a singular engineering philosophy. Proprietary DAC architectures, fully balanced FET amplifier topologies, sophisticated power supply design, and carefully selected ultra-low noise components feature throughout. Production numbers will remain deliberately limited, positioning the Lunar Series firmly within the ultra-high-end category. The emphasis is less on novelty than meticulous execution.

Goldmund’s Heritage And The Gaia Statement

SPEAKER_00 5:08

That same philosophy also defines Goldmund. The Swiss manufacturer chose Vienna to celebrate its own engineering heritage, presenting an exhibition that charted the company's development from its earliest innovations through to its latest reference products. Historic exhibits included the pioneering T3 Tonearm, Goldman's very first commercial development, together with the celebrated Reference One turntable and Telos 8800 amplifier. Yet the greatest attraction remained unquestionably audible rather than visual. Demonstrations centered on the imposing Gaia loudspeakers, priced at around £800,000 per pair and partnered with the company's new Uranos Excellence Electronics and IDOS Streamer. Regardless of budget, they represented a fascinating demonstration of what becomes possible when engineering priorities are constrained only by ambition. For most attendees, the system exists well beyond commercial reality. But flagship products perform an important role. They establish engineering credibility, generate technological innovation, and often introduce ideas that eventually migrate into more accessible products. That principle would become even more evident elsewhere on the show floor, where two of the industry's most recognizable loudspeaker manufacturers unveiled significant new flagship ranges aimed at very different audiences.

Where To Get More Inside CI

SPEAKER_00 6:37

Be sure to pop over to the Inside CI website for all the latest news, reviews, and interviews. Also, be sure to listen to our sister podcast, The Integrator's Voice, for all the latest interviews, discussions, and reviews by our hosts Stuart Burgess and Simon Gregory.