Displaying items by tag: hiend - StereoLife Magazine

Wilson Benesch announced the Greenwich Turntable, a new model within its GMT analogue platform that establishes the entry point into the company's latest reference-level record playback architecture. Rather than representing a simplified derivative of existing designs, the Greenwich Turntable is conceived as the foundation of a modular analogue ecosystem in which structural, damping and isolation strategies evolve progressively through the GMT range while preserving a common motor platform. This approach allows owners to enter the architecture at the Greenwich level and move upward toward Prime Meridian and ultimately the flagship GMT One without replacing the core drive system.

Ø Audio has introduced the Ymir, a new reference floorstanding loudspeaker that marks a decisive shift in the company's design direction and stands apart from earlier models such as the Icon 12 and Verdande. Described by the manufacturer as a clean-sheet development rather than an evolution of existing platforms, the Ymir combines a large-format compression-driver architecture with a newly engineered bass system and an unusually rigid cabinet structure intended to deliver high sensitivity and controlled directivity in real-world listening rooms rather than only optimized demonstration environments.

Matrix Audio has introduced the NA-1, a flagship headphone amplifier from the company's new N Series, designed as the central element of ambitious desktop and stationary systems for demanding users of both dynamic and planar headphones. The unit is a fully analog design operating in pure Class A and built entirely from discrete components. According to the manufacturer, it combines high output power with low noise and precise signal control. The amplifier delivers up to 20 W in balanced mode, making it suitable not only for low-sensitivity planar headphones but also for highly sensitive in-ear monitors. As Cao Yang, CEO of Matrix Audio, explains, "NA-1 represents the culmination of our efforts to create the ideal amplifier. We focused on removing every barrier between the listener and the music. With its fully balanced Class A architecture and powerful power supply, NA-1 handles the most demanding loads with the ease and refinement expected by serious audiophiles."

If someone were to say that the headquarters of one of the most interesting and fastest-growing manufacturers of tube amplifiers and hi-fi components was based not in Munich, Glasgow, or Tokyo, but in a tiny village near Białystok, Poland, many audiophiles would probably raise an eyebrow. This is, after all, the heart of Podlasie - a region that Poles themselves tend to see as beautiful, picturesque, and somewhat removed from the country's main industrial centers and, at least in popular jokes, a little behind the curve of modern life. Internet memes reinforce the stereotype - people are supposedly still discovering electricity there, throwing spears at airplanes, and rolling up the asphalt from the roads at night. A quick search brings up images of R2D2 and C3PO turned into a moonshine still, a long sausage wrapped around a cable reel labeled "Podlasie Fiber Optic", and Fred Flintstone's car presented as a local taxi. And yet it is precisely here, among forests, lakes, and open countryside, that a company emerged, first with small, simple, affordable tube amplifiers, and now delivers beautifully engineered, thoughtfully designed, thoroughly modern components to music lovers in more than thirty countries worldwide.

Marantz is expanding its portfolio of reference class home theatre components with two new models aimed at demanding users who build their systems around separate AV electronics. The AV 30 is an 11.4 channel AV preamplifier and the AMP 30 is a 6 channel power amplifier that can be tailored to a wide variety of loudspeaker layouts, from compact media rooms to substantial dedicated home theatres. The new units slot in beneath the flagship AV 10/AMP 10 and AV 20/AMP 20 combinations and support a modular approach in which customers can grow their systems over time without abandoning existing components. As with the higher tier models, all key elements of the audio path have been tuned by the Marantz Sound Master and both products are designed and manufactured at the Shirakawa Audio Works facility in Japan.

Piega has unveiled the Premium 801, a new floorstanding loudspeaker that takes its long running Premium Series into fresh territory between the existing Premium 701 and the Coax 611. Conceived as a reference model for the range, it is intended to combine Swiss precision engineering, meticulous craftsmanship and a more ambitious acoustic architecture in a slim, elegant enclosure that still integrates easily into domestic living spaces. The aim is to offer a speaker that raises performance standards in its category while remaining recognisably part of the Premium family in both sound and appearance.

Noble Audio introduced a new flagship addition to its true wireless line with the FoKus Prestige Encore, a model that refines rather than reinvents the original Prestige concept. The new earphones are positioned as Noble's most advanced true wireless design to date, with greater detail, longer battery life, improved ergonomics and smarter personalisation, while preserving the lively, engaging character that made their predecessor popular with demanding listeners. The FoKus Prestige Encore is intended to bridge Noble's high-end in-ear know-how with the flexibility expected from modern wireless listening.

Perlisten entered the hi-fi market in a way that surprised many - suddenly, yet with clear ambition. Its debut was far from accidental, led by seasoned engineers and managers with decades of experience in transducers, measurement systems, and loudspeaker design. Co-founder and president Dan Roemer brings over 25 years of industry expertise, including work with the NHT research group, MITek Corporation, and projects in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Lars Johansen, with more than 30 years in audio, has contributed to brands like JBL, Harman Kardon, Klipsch, and Jamo, and later served as partner and president of Miller & Kreisel, supplying solutions for recording studios and premium home theatres. Since its formal launch in 2016, Perlisten has aimed to deliver top-tier products, reflected in its pricing. The introduction of the more accessible A-Series marked a shift, opening the brand to a wider audience. Interest continues to grow, yet many enthusiasts remain unaware of the company's origins, the people behind it, and its long-term objectives. This is why I decided to speak with someone who has been with Perlisten from the start and understands every stage of its development - from early concepts and factory selection to launches and subsequent product lines. Erik Wiederholtz, Perlisten's Technical Director, is an acoustics specialist with experience in transducer modelling, dynamic speakers, MEMS digital microphones, hearing aids, headphones, and small speakers. Our conversation, I believe, will shed light on the company's foundations and help readers understand what Perlisten represents.

Final Audio Design has unveiled its next-generation flagship headphones, the D8000 DC and D8000 DC Pro, marking a new chapter in the Japanese manufacturer's fifty-year legacy of innovation. Known for its meticulous engineering and in-house technology, Final has redefined planar magnetic performance once again with a complete reworking of its pioneering Air Film Damping System (AFDS) and a renewed focus on acoustic precision. The 'DC' designation stands for 'Da Capo', meaning 'from the beginning' - a fitting name for headphones that represent a total reconstruction of Final's reference model. First introduced seven years ago, the original D8000 set a benchmark for planar magnetic design, introducing AFDS as a revolutionary solution to low-frequency distortion and limited diaphragm control. By using air pressure to regulate diaphragm movement, the system achieved deeper, more accurate bass and a broader soundstage. The new D8000 DC and DC Pro models take this principle further, with redesigned metal mesh structures, new airflow patterns, and an evolved acoustic chassis that unlocks even greater transparency and realism.

Sonus Faber has unveiled the Amati Supreme, a new floorstanding loudspeaker that represents the pinnacle of the Italian brand's acoustic innovation and design philosophy. Drawing inspiration from the flagship Suprema, the Amati Supreme combines reference-level performance with refined craftsmanship in a more compact and elegant form, reaffirming Sonus Faber's mastery of the union between engineering precision and artistic expression.