NAMM Show 2025: The most surprising innovations from the Pro Audio hall

The NAMM Show 2025, the annual international trade show dedicated to music and music products, has just ended, once again confirming itself as the most important event for music and audio professionals.

As a first thing, we confirm how overseas the brand new immersive audio format of Dolby Atmos is now well established.

In addition to PMC, which for years now has been offering a listening room set up with a stunning 9.1.4 system consisting of PMC 8-2 XBD and Ci Series loudspeakers, Audient, AMS Neve, Barefoot, Dynaudio and many others had also set up their booth with an immersive setup.

But which products stole the show at the Namm Show 2025?

Among the hundreds of products presented at NAMM Show 2025, some particularly caught our attention for their potential impact on the world of music production, let's find out which ones...

Gainlab Audio continues to amaze by finally unveiling Wizard and Lieutenant

Gainlab Audio at the Namm Show 2025 previews the two new products announced earlier this year, thus confirming, for the second year in a row, that it is a company that can innovate and amaze!

Gainlab Audio Wizard, stereo tube saturator

In response to the ever-increasing search for outboards that can give an analog warmth to In The Box productions, Gainlab Audio offers Wizard, a saturator rich in options and with a distinctive sound.

The tube saturator obviously allows control of Bias and saturation level, but it also adds plenty of controls for controlling tone, through a three-band eq, and dynamics through a built-in Vari-Mu compressor

Gainlab Audio Lieutenant, the perfect control room for 2025

Gainlab over the years has made us realize that innovating is the key to success.

In fact, we could not expect simply a control room... Full of expectation we discovered a state-of-the-art Control Room complete with 4 sources, two analog, one S/PDif and one... guess what? ... Bluetooth!

Three pairs of speakers and two headphones can be connected on Lieutenant.

Special features include the Focus function, which allows you to isolate and monitor specific frequency ranges, and a power sequencer that allows you to sequence the studio's power on (and off) in three steps.

Audient ramps up its line of sound cards with everyone in mind: Audient iD48

Audient returns to amaze us by introducing a new interface in the iD series, the iD48. Dubbed by them as "The Ultimate iD interface," this new USB interface is the largest in the series being able to handle 24 input channels and 32 output channels.

Equipped with 8 preamplifiers derived from the prestigious ASP8024 console, the iD48 can be expanded by being able to handle up to 24 input channels thanks to the ADAT inputs.

Thanks to the excellent management software, the iD48 introduces the ability to choose which source to send to the AD converter, preamplifiers with XLR connection or line inputs on DSub connector, thus allowing flexible use of the outboards without the need to redo dedicated wiring each time.

SSL 18 and Alpha 8 at Namm Show 2025 - Solid State Logic continues to "climb" the heights of digital audio

Solid State Logic's SSL 18 and Alpha 8 represent the epitome, and one of the best results, of the incredible research work done in recent years by the Oxford-based company.

Solid State Logic, an iconic company that has led the record industry market since 1979 and famous for the incredible quality of its analog instrumentation, has succeeded in creating two products that are perfect for modern productions: the SSL 18 and Alpha 8.

SSL 18 is a USB-C sound card that mounts inside a portable studio consisting of 8 SSL microphone preamplifiers, two headphone outputs, a complete control room with two monitor outputs and as many as 10 balanced analog outs.

Alpha 8 on the other hand is an 8-channel AD/DA converter perfect for expanding inputs and outputs of the SSL 18 or any other sound card with ADAT connections.

The incredible routing flexibility and USB-C port also allow the Alpha 8 to be used as a standalone sound card.

The API Summing Mixer, an unparalleled reference for quality, definition, and warmth, returns: API Audio ASM164 Summing Mixer

API fills the void left by the now discontinuous 8200, presenting the new ASM164 at the Namm Show 2025. This time the U.S. company breaks out of the modular summing mixer concept and launches a 16-channel (actually 18 thanks to the External Input Stereo) summing mixer complete with everything you would expect from a company of API Audio's caliber.

Based on the summing section of their acclaimed console The Box, the new ASM164 summing unit is designed to deliver the legendary API sound in an efficient and affordable package.

The API ASM164 is complete with balanced insert points on each of the 16 channels of two mix buses that can also be cascaded together, with a different insert for each.

A pair of illuminated VU Meters complete the American Dream.

Barefoot and the missing piece for immersive audio: FootPrint 03 C

Barefoot Sound reconfirms its desire to be a spokesperson for Dolby Atmos Music by introducing the Footprint FP-03 C, the center speaker missing from the FP-03 series.

For this speaker, Barefoot chooses air suspension technology and a dual woofer to ensure sonic coherence and linearity when paired with the FP-03s.

Like the FP-03s , the new FP-03Chas a reinforced structure on the back panel with dedicated holes for installing a wall or ceiling mounting plate.

Phoenix Audio's latest Ascent series exhibited at the Namm Show 2025.

Although it was not quite a Namm 2025 preview, we were able to admire the Ascent 500 module that had been released about five months ago by Phoenix Audio.

Ascent-500 completes the Ascent series preamplifier offering, which, like every Phoenix Audio product has the characteristic of being unique and different from other brands.

The preamplifier incorporates a special tone control that can be selected on three frequencies in both attenuation and gain: 10KHz, 15 KHz and the "sheen frequency," a Phoenix audio selection that gives breath and incredible naturalness to every recording.

Flock Audio, the undisputed leader in digitally controlled patches, presents Switch and Patch LV

Listening to the needs of production studios Flock introduces Switch, a true switch that lets you choose in style between 8 mono or stereo sources.

Particularly suitable for those who use numerous synths and drum machines but have a sound card with few inputs (which is very common), the Switch allows customization of the graphics on the selection potentiometer for each of the eight sources, thus not sacrificing aesthetics capable of satisfying the most demanding.

At the Namm Show 2025 Flock also introduces Patch LV, the first digitally controlled analog patch designed for live performances.

In fact, the Dante connection is introduced to be able to send (and receive) up to 8 channels to the Patch LV and to take advantage of its 24 analog insert channels via DSub connections. All of this is controlled by the related PatchApp software that allows insert chains to be created with a click of the mouse.

Designed more for live use, the Patch LV could be a product we will also find in the future in studios that, particularly in the case of Dolby Atmos Music, are making increasing use of connectivity via Dante.

The multiband sound processor with punch, cleanliness and elegance: Elysia xmax

According to most visitors to the 2025 NAMM Show, Elysia xmax is an outstanding-sounding multiband compressor in M/S configuration, made easy to use and extremely intuitive.

The few controls (only the ones you need), make Elysia's Masterbus Processor the perfect multiband compressor for any studio or live use.

Available in Rack, 500 Series and Qube versions.

AMS Neve 88c, the historic quality of Neve compressors in a pocket-sized module

Following the success of the 88M interface, AMS Neve introduces a new product in the same desktop format, the VCA 88C compressor, derived from the compression section of the renowned 88R console.

The 88C proves to be a versatile and precise compressor with its Dual Mono sidechain signal and attack, release, and ratio controls, allowing the iconic sound of the Neve 88R console to be carried in a backpack or small home studio thanks to its very compact desktop format.

It is designed to be paired with the AMS Neve 88M audio interface or used standalone.

Quagliardi Audio makes its way into the top brands by introducing R1002+, a stylish and characterful stereo preamplifier

Quagliardi Audio, is an Argentinian company that entered the market only two years ago and is being recognized for the build and sound quality of its products.

After the release, at NAMM 2024, of the R501 module, a microphone preamplifier for 500 series, it announces the release of a stereo version in a rack unit.. The R1002+, a preamplifier that impresses with its purity of sound and elegance of construction.

We strongly believe that Quagliardi Audio will have much to say in the near future.

AEA introduces the N28, heir ribbon microphone to R88A, and its first VCA compressor, the 1029 VCA

The American brand is presenting a new stereophonic ribbon microphone model, the N28, at Namm 2025.

Although similar to its "daddy" AEA R88A, the N28 has an increase on the midrange for better sound presence and faster attack.

It is also distinguished by its compact size for unprecedented maneuverability and ease of use.

Like the R88A, the AEA N28 is an active stereo microphone with a Blumlein configuration that captures the stereo landscape with rich, extremely natural sound.

At the Namm Show 2025 also AEA surprised everyone with the unveiling of its very first compressor, the 1029 Stereo VCA Compressor.

With transparent compression, the 1029 turns out to be an extremely versatile VCA with an adjustable ratio from 1:1 to limiter.

Designed to be paired with AEA's RPQ or TRP series preamplifiers, the new 1029 is perfect for recording and/or mixing stereo microphones such as the N28.

The Namm Show 2025, an event not to be missed

The NAMM Show 2025 proved to be a must-attend event for anyone who is passionate about music and technology.

The abundance of innovative products and the infectious energy of the participants made this edition a memorable experience.We can't wait to see what NAMM Show 2026 has in store for us!