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Drawn to the impressive sound and compact design of Ferrum's Polish-made, relatively affordable components, I was eager to visit the brand's booth and learn about the new 2.0.0 firmware update for the $2800 Wandla DAC. The update introduces Ferrum Streaming Control Technology (FSCT), which enables remote control of streamers and displays title and artist information on the DAC's touchscreen.

This room presented a delightful enigma: a system consisting of largely unfamiliar-to-me brands that eclipsed much of the established competition. It delivered intricate detail and clarity with a sense of wholeness.

Kenny Dorham: Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco; Freddie Hubbard: On Fire: Live from the Blue Morocco; Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner: The Music of Anthony Braxton; Adrian Galante: Introducing Adrian Galante; Vijay Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith: Defiant Life; Simón Willson: Bet.

György Ligeti: Violin, Piano & Românesc Concertos, Isabelle Faust, violin; Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, piano; Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth, cond.; Tcherepnin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky: Prelude to La Princesse Lointaine; Capriccio Espagnol; Orchestral Suite, NDR Radiophilharmonie/Stanislav Kochanovsky.

Valerio Cora (Acora Acoustics/Audio Research), Kevin Hayes (VAC), and Mat Weisfeld (VPI) worked the halls in Munich with the confidence of seasoned entrepreneurs, showcasing their US-made gear at the world's biggest high-end audio show.

T.H.E. Show is enjoyable for many reasons—friendly people, a good vibe, some great-sounding rooms, and new hi-fi gear. There are introductions of new products from known makers and from some showing unexpected things. An example of the latter: L.A.-based Desmond's Tiki Tube Amplifiers, shown on passive display in the Marketplace area. Proprietor Desmond Bowe said these are just intended as examples "to get a conversation started" with the customer.