There were dozens of products in Vienna that we only mentioned in passing or simply overlooked, because it’s impossible to cover everything in depth.
To keep our coverage from becoming chaotic, we need to focus on the brands distributed by our sponsors and on others that, due to their quality, innovation, exclusivity, and—why not—extravagance, capture the attention of visitors and readers.
At HIGH END 2026 in Vienna, Westend Audio Systems showcased tube amplifiers made in Munich, but without the romantic nostalgia typically associated with them.
Honestly, I don’t recall ever mentioning Westend Audio Systems, even though this German brand has been present in Munich for at least 15 years. This time, I stopped by to take a photo, perhaps drawn in by the unusual blue colour of the tubes. Was the blue just for fun?
In Vienna, the brand was featured as part of a high-end system alongside Stenheim, Master Fidelity, and Thiele. The Stenheim Alumine Five SX speakers, supported by Alumine S10 subwoofers, were powered by Westend electronics, with Master Fidelity NADAC digital sources and Thiele/Westend analogue playback.
But in the Westend Audio Systems room, my attention turned to the Monaco Mk2, a 100 W per channel Class AB push-pull tube integrated amplifier capable of driving demanding speakers with an authority we normally associate only with solid-state amplification. Except that here, the power is illuminated by the warm glow of the E130L and ECC82 tubes, mounted in a polished aluminium chassis that transforms the amplifier into a mechanical sculpture.
A side note was the Ludwig turntable, presented by Westend in collaboration with Thiele. However, for Hificlube, the main story still remains with the amplification.
The Monaco Mk2 appeared chrome-plated, luminous, heavy, and almost theatrical in the blue hue of its tubes—but, technically, it seems to be a serious piece of equipment, while at the same time freeing tubes from the image of a fragile, limited, and nostalgic object.
The Monaco Mk2 epitomises this philosophy. It is not a “sweet” amplifier in the acoustic sense. Rather, it is an authoritative integrated amplifier that seeks to combine physical presence, bass control, harmonic density, and the organic breathing that only good tubes can offer when they are not used merely as acoustic embellishment.
Westend Audio Systems almost slipped by me unnoticed again in Vienna. However, this time it left me with the realisation that tube amplification can still surprise—not by looking back, but by refusing to stand still in time.