HMS Elektronik is proud to share a comprehensive review published by LowBeats Magazine (DE), in which three XLR interconnects from the renewed HMS portfolio were subjected to an in-depth comparative test: Concertato, Armonia Carbon, and the anniversary model Gran Finale 50.
In his extensive report, reviewer Holger Biermann places the test in the context of HMS’s 50-year history, reflecting on the brand’s engineering legacy under founder Hans Manfred Strassner and its continued development under International Audio Holding (IAH).
„Vom Charakter her gehen sie in die gleiche Richtung, werden aber mit mehr Aufwand (und mehr Geld) Schritt für Schritt nachvollziehbar besser.“
“In terms of character, they all move in the same direction — but with greater effort (and higher cost), they become audibly and comprehensibly better step by step.”
— Holger Biermann, LowBeats, December 2025
LowBeats highlights that the fundamental HMS philosophy remains intact: copper-based designs, physics-driven engineering, and absolute technical honesty. At the same time, the IAH engineering team has refined conductor geometry, shielding concepts, and production quality using more advanced measurement tools and manufacturing processes.
The review makes clear that the three XLR cables form a coherent and well-judged progression. While sharing a common sonic DNA, each step upwards delivers audibly greater refinement, body, and musical expressiveness.
During the listening tests, the Concertato XLR already exceeded expectations in its class, outperforming a well-known reference cable by delivering more substance, clearer contours, and a more harmonious presentation.
The Armonia Carbon XLR advanced this further, offering increased physicality, richer tonal colors, and a notably refined mid- and high-frequency resolution. LowBeats repeatedly emphasizes its exceptional price-to-performance ratio, calling it a particularly compelling choice within the range.
At the top of the comparison, the Gran Finale 50 XLR demonstrated what LowBeats describes as the current pinnacle of HMS cable engineering. In direct comparison, it even challenged established reference cables from significantly higher-priced competitors, a rare achievement in this category.
LowBeats concludes that the new HMS interconnects are more musically engaging than previous generations, while remaining faithful to the brand’s core values of clarity, balance, and engineering discipline.
We sincerely thank Holger Biermann and the LowBeats team for their thorough evaluation and continued appreciation of HMS engineering.
Read the full review (DE):
https://www.lowbeats.de/3-xlr-kabel-im-test-hms-concertato-hms-armonia-carbon-hms-gran-finale-50/
Discover the HMS XLR Interconnects:
Concertato XLR
Armonia Carbon XLR
Gran Finale 50 XLR
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