Warsaw’s Audio Video Show shakes up the audiophile scene.
Warsaw is young, colorful and has been the Eastern European boomtown for years. And what is true for Warsaw in general is even more true for the Warsaw Audio Video Show (AVS) 2024. Launched 26 years ago as a student project, the trade fair organized by Adam Mokrzycki attracts more and more interested parties every time. There is probably no other consumer audio trade fair in the whole of Europe that manages to attract well over 15,000 visitors over three days, spread across three locations.
Although a mild and sunny autumn weekend would actually have tempted visitors to spend the day chilling on the banks of the Vistula or strolling along the Nowy Swiat promenade, curious audio enthusiasts crowded through the small hotel rooms of the Sobieski Hotel, marveled at the glittering high-end in the giant halls of the “Golden Tulip” hotel diagonally across or enjoyed a wide variety of music, competitions and DJs in the inner circle of the new “PGE Narodowy” national stadium in the Praga district. It is not for nothing that AVS has enjoyed a reputation far beyond Poland for years as a trade fair that not only presents the latest audio and video equipment in a sophisticated way – headphones, televisions, projectors, loudspeakers, devices and audio systems in every price range (this year from 25 euros to just under the million mark), but also offers visitors the opportunity to actively participate in the trade fair.
Of course, Adam Mokrzycki now understands his business so well that AVS has placed some ultra-high-end devices such as the new Sonus Faber Suprema or the sonically and aesthetically exceptional Estelon Estelle Extreme Mk II right at the forefront in terms of marketing, but you can’t help but get the impression that AVS in Poland no longer needs such displays in animals-humans-sensations mode, but is by now a crowd-puller like IFA in Berlin used to be in the blissful 80s and 90s.
It’s especially on the inner floors of the PGE stadium where it became impressively clear what generally ails hi-fi and/or high-end trade fairs in Germany and what makes AVS so pleasantly different. Nerdy, know-it-all-looking men over 50 were few and far between; instead, the show proved fun for the whole family, encompassing all generations and genders, where nobody was bothered by the fact that gaudy JBL boomboxes were blaring away right next to rooms with Gryphon and Wilson Audio, while large Hisense screens were showing colorful entertainment programs.
In addition, the light-flooded corridors of the stadium were lined with a number of stands offering a fine selection of vinyl, which was gratefully received by droves of buyers, as the number of record stores in Warsaw is surprisingly low. The view from the rooms in the inner circle was also unique – where else do you get a chance to look past towering high-end loudspeakers onto the pitch and the stands of a national stadium?
Just like every year, the trade fair’s approach of connecting all buyer groups made it particularly likeable. The Polish distributors of international premium brands such as Gryphon, Wilson Audio, Chord or McIntosh take no issue at all with the contrasting Bluetooth speakers or all-in-one systems being presented right next door. Anything goes, provided the audience likes it. There were also no raised eyebrows nor any distrustful squinting at young people in hoodies and Air Max sneaking around sinfully expensive tube amps or shiny chrome tonearms, occasionally picking up arm-thick loudspeaker cables for a close examination. They clearly understand how to reel in a younger generation. This also shows in the huge headphone hall, which not only encouraged anyone to take a seat and try out all manner of headphones to their heart’s content, but also to have a chat with fellow visitors in lounge mode.
This relaxed approach was particularly evident in the choice of music, not only in the PGE Narodowy stadium, but also at the other two locations. Only occasionally were you force-treated to the usual high-end tunes ranging from “Hotel California” to “Take Five” to the inevitable Diana Krall. Instead, there you’d typically hear a wild mix that didn’t shy away from Polish folk music or high-end kitsch in the style of Frank Duval, while otherwise specifically appealing to a younger and broader audience with Billie Eilish, Eminem or Polish hip-hop. What was noticeable in quite a few of the performances, however, was the unmistakable presence of the bass range. I couldn’t really tell whether this was supposed to cater to the taste of the audience or a general trend in the R&D departments, especially as this trend was not only evident in the stadium, but could also be clearly heard in the noble halls of the Golden Tulip and the winding floors of the Sobieski Hotel.
In the latter, you were presented with the familiar format of a hotel trade fair, which nevertheless had a number of surprises in store. In addition to the internationally renowned brands that one also encounters at the various German HiFi Tage events or at the Munich HIGH END, a great number of Eastern European manufacturers presented themselves here, all of whom have not only learned their trade, but were also able to impress with sonic finesse and designs ranging from coherent to extraordinary. The digital devices from Ferrum, which are now also available from some German dealers via their Polish distributor, were particularly impressive. Even if many companies do not (yet) have a distributor in Germany, nothing stands in the way of direct imports thanks to the EU. When asked about this possibility, a surprising number of companies were quite open to doing business together.
So if you are thinking about which audio event you would like to attend next fall, I can highly recommend the Warsaw AVS. It’s an environmentally friendly five-hour train ride from Berlin or seven hours from Hanover or Hamburg to the Polish capital, which is definitely worth exploring for several days. After visiting the PGE stadium, why not take a detour to the former Koneser vodka factory, which is within walking distance, for a snack or a drink in the newly designed experience area? If you prefer something a little more traditional, head to the “Soul Kitchen” near the Palace of Culture after a day of listening in the “Sobieski” and “Golden Tulip”; the trendy place is known for its excellent balance of Polish and international cuisine. And if you’re feeling brave afterwards, visit one of the bars around Warsaw Central Station on a Saturday night, where people like to dance on the tables after 11pm. Warsaw is young, Warsaw is colorful – and the hub of the world when it comes to audio at the end of October.