Exhibition Guide 
📑 Table of Contents
🏭 Brand Background: A Slovak Craftsman’s Tribute to His Father
This year’s Start-Up Area at HIGH END Vienna 2026 has a name worth paying attention to: HOXIT AUDIO. Founded in 2024 by Slovak engineer Viliam Mlynek, this emerging brand specializes in handcrafted planar magnetic headphones — and the story behind it is genuinely moving.
Mlynek dedicates this whole project to his father, Vladislav Mlynek, who passed away in 2023. He personally developed and refined the planar driver from scratch, then built the brand from the ground up. Beyond manufacturing headphones, HOXIT AUDIO also offers a planar headphone repair service — “giving them a second life.” That philosophy runs through the entire brand.
What’s even more striking: Mlynek is simultaneously developing what he calls the world’s first glass planar magnetic driver, currently crowdfunding (target €20,000) with additional backing from EU and Slovak government grants. One person juggling headphone production, repair services, and cutting-edge R&D — this kind of artisan-entrepreneur energy is quietly taking root across the European audio scene.
⚙️ Product Positioning: The Modular Revolution at Mid-Tier Planar Pricing
The HOXIT V1 is positioned around the ~€500 price range (final pricing TBC), landing in the mid-tier entry segment of the planar market — comparable to the HiFiMAN Edition XS (~$500), Audeze MM-100 (~$400), and recent planar releases like the Dan Clark Audio AEON Core (US$899). But HOXIT’s core differentiation isn’t the price — it’s a much bolder proposition: headphones should be built to last, designed to be repaired, and engineered to be upgraded.
The V1 comes in both open-back and closed-back versions, expected at the same price. Both ship in a factory-default “closed baffle” acoustic configuration — front and rear chambers separated, yielding a tighter, more precise sound with prominent detail retrieval, though with a slightly narrower soundstage. The interesting twist: users can mod the headphones to “open baffle” mode themselves — by connecting the front and rear chambers with a small piece of tape, you gain a wider soundstage and stronger bass response, and the mod is completely reversible. This “here’s your baseline — now make it yours” design philosophy is the polar opposite of the traditional big-brand approach of “lock it down, don’t touch it.”
The product is still in active development, with sales currently paused (the official site notes “Sales are paused due to development”), but it’s still being exhibited at HIGH END Vienna 2026. Each pair is handmade to order with a 3–4 week build time — truly handmade to order.
🔧 Technical Breakdown: Five Modular Design Highlights
① Swappable Planar Driver
The V1’s heart is a 94mm-diameter, 6,940mm²-surface-area in-house planar magnetic driver, employing 9 N52-grade neodymium magnets (Ni-Cu-Ni-Epoxy coating) with a 24Ω impedance. The key point: this driver can be independently removed from the ear cup enclosure — just a few screws and it’s out. If it fails, swap it. If a new revision drops, upgrade it. You could even replace it with a completely different driver type down the line. The brand has tested it with gear ranging from a Samsung USB-C dongle to the HiFiMAN EF500 and Lehmann Class A headphone amplifier — 24Ω impedance makes it very source-friendly.
② Fully Modular Architecture
Nearly every component can be independently removed and replaced: the ear cups detach from the headband via a hinge mechanism, the earpads are swappable, and the headband / top pad / cable can all be separated. The brand has also committed to selling every part individually, so users can handle their own repairs and replacements. The official slogan says it plainly: “You own your headphones and you can do what you want with it, including modifying it.”
③ Dual Acoustic Mode Switching (Closed Baffle ↔ Open Baffle)
Factory default closed baffle: front and rear chambers isolated, producing tight, precise sound with standout detail retrieval. Users can switch to open baffle: connecting the front and rear chambers delivers a wider soundstage, stronger bass, and a more natural pressure balance. The switch requires nothing more than a small piece of tape — and it’s completely reversible. Both versions (Open and Closed) support this mod.
④ Spring-Steel Headband + Self-Adjusting Suspension Strap
The headband is made from spring steel, providing stable clamping force while retaining flexibility. A self-adjusting suspension strap distributes weight automatically — the brand emphasizes that long listening sessions shouldn’t produce any pressure points.
⑤ Hand-Braided Paracord Cable
The stock cable is a 2-meter hand-braided paracord cable with 22 AWG tinned copper conductors over silicone insulation, terminated with gold-plated connectors. Paracord hand-braiding is rare in the headphone world — it’s more durable and more flexible than typical braided cables, while delivering reliable signal transmission. This choice reflects the brand’s obsession with longevity.
📋 Technical Specifications
💡 Kaia’s Product Designer Take
💡 Kaia’s Quick Product Designer Take
“Modular” has been a buzzword in the headphone world for years, but a product that actually lets you swap out the driver yourself? Almost non-existent. The HOXIT V1’s design philosophy is fundamentally different from traditional headphone manufacturers. The big brands’ business model is “wear it out, buy a new one.” But Mlynek comes from a repair background — his product logic is “this pair should stay with you for a decade, and during that time you shouldn’t just be able to fix it; you should be able to upgrade it.”
The role of 3D printing here is critical — it lets a one-person brand skip the tooling costs and iterate fast. Structural parts that used to require injection molds can now be printed overnight. This is the key enabler that lets niche brands challenge the big players.
Of course, let’s stay grounded: the brand is brand-new, there’s zero track record, and the driver technology’s maturity is yet to be proven. The fact that sales are currently paused signals that development still has moving parts. But the guy is simultaneously running a repair service and developing a glass planar driver — this isn’t a one-off project. It’s a brand with long-term vision. While most brands are busy dropping “new annual color special editions,” someone chose to rethink what a long-term relationship between a product and its user should look like. That direction deserves respect.
✅❌ Pros & Cons
Pros
- Truly modular design — upgradeable and repairable, with parts sold individually
- Large 94mm planar driver, 9 × N52 magnets, 24Ω easy to drive
- Dual acoustic modes, user-switchable (closed/open baffle) with just tape — fully reversible
- Open and Closed versions expected at the same price — no premium for the closed-back
- Handcrafted build + 3D printing + hand-braided paracord cable — strong craft identity
- Founder developed the driver in-house — high technical autonomy
- CE + RoHS certified
Cons
- Brand-new (founded 2024), zero track record or community reputation
- Key specs (frequency response, sensitivity, weight) still unpublished
- Sales currently paused (“paused due to development”) — product still in flux
- No Hong Kong distributor; overseas orders require 3–4 week build time
- Long-term durability of the modular architecture remains to be proven
⚠️ The above pros and cons are based on currently available published information; final judgment awaits hands-on listening.
🏟 Show Information
🏁 Summary
HOXIT AUDIO may not be the ultimate sound-quality champion at HIGH END Vienna 2026 — the V1’s frequency response and sensitivity are still unpublished, and the product remains in active development. But this Slovak brand has charted a path that other manufacturers dare not take: headphones should be built to last, designed to be repaired, and engineered to be upgraded.
While most brands are busy rolling out “annual minor revisions” and “re-shelled special editions,” one engineer decided to start from zero — developing his own driver, 3D-printing his own parts, hand-braiding his own cables, and dedicating the entire project to his late father. That story, on its own, carries more weight than any spec sheet ever could.
HOXIT AUDIO isn’t trying to beat HiFiMAN or Audeze — it’s trying to prove that a headphone’s lifecycle can be defined by its user, not its manufacturer.
❓ FAQ
What is the HOXIT AUDIO V1?
The HOXIT AUDIO V1 is a handcrafted planar magnetic headphone from Slovak brand HOXIT AUDIO, built around a fully modular design philosophy — with a swappable planar driver, detachable ear cups, and detachable headband. Most components can be independently replaced and upgraded. It comes in both open-back and closed-back versions, expected at the same price.
How much does the HOXIT AUDIO V1 cost?
The HOXIT AUDIO V1 is currently indicated at around the €500 price range (approx. HK$4,200–4,500), but the product is still in development and official sales are paused (“Sales are paused due to development”). Final pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Who founded HOXIT AUDIO?
HOXIT AUDIO was founded in 2024 by Slovak engineer Viliam Mlynek. He personally developed and refined the planar driver and dedicated the entire project to his father, Vladislav Mlynek, who passed away in 2023. Beyond manufacturing headphones, the brand also offers planar headphone repair services.
What are the key technical highlights of the HOXIT AUDIO V1?
Key highlights include: (1) a swappable 94mm planar driver (9×N52 magnets, 24Ω), (2) fully modular architecture — ear cups, headband, earpads, and cable all independently removable and replaceable, (3) dual acoustic mode switching — closed baffle (tight and precise) and open baffle (wide soundstage, strong bass) switchable with just tape, (4) spring-steel headband with self-adjusting suspension strap, (5) 2m hand-braided paracord cable.
Where can I buy the HOXIT AUDIO V1? Is there a Hong Kong distributor?
HOXIT AUDIO currently sells via its official website hoxit.sk, with products built to order (3–4 weeks). The brand is still small-scale and does not yet have a global distribution network. Interested buyers should check the official website for the latest sales status and international ordering arrangements.
📖 Further Reading
🔗 More Information
🛒 Official Product Page: HoxitAudio — Hoxit V1 Headphones
📰 HIGH END Society Official Report: Headphones Handcrafted in Slovakia — HIGH END Society
📋 HIGH END Vienna 2026 Exhibitor Directory: HIGH END Society Exhibitor Directory 2026
