Displaying items by tag: stereo - StereoLife Magazine

Whenever I grumble about the fragmentation of the audio equipment market, which translates into a huge variety of equipment available in stores, but also problems for customers to sort it all out in their heads and make a choice, I get a press release about new speakers, amplifier, or wireless headphones. If only these were brands whose existence I was aware of, whose products caught my eye while browsing magazines or reports from exhibitions, but this is not always the case. Later it turns out that we are not at all dealing with a small factory founded by enthusiastic students, but with a company operating continuously for thirty years, boasting many successes, awards, and, of course, a large group of loyal fans. Such was the case with Lindemann.

In a twist that has tails wagging and audiophiles howling, the canine world has unleashed its unparalleled auditory prowess upon the high-end audio scene. In a market saturated with human opinions, dogs have emerged as the ultimate connoisseurs of sound, fetching accolades for their unparalleled ear for detail.

Marantz introduced two exceptional new products to its portfolio of high-performance hi-fi components. The first is the latest addition to the brand's long-established and widely celebrated heritage as the world leader in CD player design - the new CD 50n Networked CD Player. The CD 50n is perfectly partnered by the new Marantz Model 50 Integrated Amplifier, an all-analog design combining exceptional realism and transparency with a purist approach sure to find favor with vinyl devotees. The resulting combination is a harmoniously designed and contemporary hi-fi system blending timeless elegance and outstanding performance with all the flexibility and cutting-edge technology that redefines modern musical luxury at its price point.

Sonus Faber announced the launch of its new active wireless stereo speaker - Duetto, a wireless stereo speaker system featuring a multicomponent hi-fi system with distinct characteristics across design, sound quality, connectivity, and ease of use. The external design of Duetto follows the Sonus Faber decades-old philosophy of the most natural sound reproduction through the use of natural materials. The Duetto lute-shaped wood cabinet merged with an elegant and custom-designed heatsink guarantees stiffness and musicality while avoiding internal resonance, creating the Sonus Faber signature Natural Sound. It also has a leather top interface Senso which allows for the user to control and set up the speaker functions such as volume, input selection, and connections.

Bowers & Wilkins introduces the 800 Series Signature - the ultimate version of its acclaimed 800 Series Diamond loudspeaker range. The new 801 D4 Signature further refines and advances the already reference-standard 801 D4, introducing all-new levels of insight and realism that truly put it in a class of its own. The new range also introduces the 805 D4 Signature, designed to bring category-defining levels of transparency and accuracy to a more compact loudspeaker footprint, making it the perfect choice for discerning listeners in smaller spaces. Both models feature no-holds-barred performance upgrades based on unique, proprietary Signature technologies not found in other 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers. Combined with exclusive new finishes and luxurious detailing, the two new Signature loudspeakers are a level above the best.

Although Poland's most famous loudspeaker manufacturer started with budget speakers, its current catalog is dominated by mid- and high-end designs. The top position is occupied by the beautiful Jaspers, available in both passive and active versions. Then we have three series consisting of a single model - Amber, Jade, and Emerald. The bottom four is made up of the Ruby, Sapphire, Opal, and Pearl series. Right in the middle there's a series that has become a real market hit, combining minimalist design, high-quality workmanship, a rich color palette, and natural, balanced, and universal sound. The Diamonds were Pylon's flagships at the time of their launch. I remember how the bosses of the Jarocin-based manufacturer, still unsure of the rightness of their decision, wondered whether such loudspeakers would appeal to customers. Today, the company could probably produce only this series and would easily balance the books (especially considering that Pylon Audio is not only a manufacturer of equipment sold under its own brand but also a supplier of cabinets for leading foreign brands). However, since there was an opportunity to improve them, it was a shame not to take it. This is how the Diamonds mkII were born. To see what's what, I decided to review my favorite model from this series - the "twenty-fives".

Bluesound announced the launch of a special limited-run Anniversary Edition Node X streamer created in celebration of its 10th anniversary. The Node X, in a unique silver finish, takes the brand's iconic Node hi-res player and, yet again, sets a new standard for audio performance and functionality with upgraded componentry. With the venerable ESS 9028Q2M Sabre DAC, a favorite of audiophiles for its amazing musicality, near-zero levels of clock jitter, ultra-low noise, and a wide dynamic range. A truly high-end headphone amplifier is driven by cutting edge THX AAA (Achromatic Audio Amplifier) technology with patented feed-forward error correction resulting in infinitesimally low levels of noise, distortion, and power consumption. Along with the headphone jack, the Node X delivers a no-compromise headphone listening experience.

Launching in Copenhagen, Treble Clef Audio is deeply rooted in Danish design traditions of function and form, and the TCA-M loudspeakers are exquisitely crafted with this in mind. Sound by design consciously sculpt these loudspeakers to optimally support acoustic function at every bend of its slender visual signature. Far from conventional, but close to perfection. Pushing the boundaries of sound experiences whilst highlighting the possibilities of a beautifully elevated space, with the TCA-M loudspeaker as an integral part of the interior. The organic, elegant and slender shape of the TCA-M loudspeaker not only looks like a piece of art carved out of the most beautiful wood with metal and glass detailing, but by having no flat surfaces or edges to interfere with sound dispersion, the active loudspeaker performs with superior sound quality, bringing you closer to live musical performances, in the comfort of your own living room.

If I didn't know what Fezz Audio and Pylon Audio have in common, I would think they share the same owner. The two brands openly support each other, exhibit together at major industry events, hold joint photo shoots, and have the same distributor in some countries. In reality, however, these companies only share what one would call a path to success. Not easy, bumpy, risky, based on ingenuity, diligence, and young energy drawing on the experience of the older generation. Pylon Audio began as a small carpentry shop making loudspeaker cabinets. Later, it began producing its own loudspeakers, raising the bar pretty much every year. Fezz Audio, on the other hand, is a side project of a family-owned company specializing in manufacturing toroidal transformers, or at least that's how it began. Many experts say that toroids are moderately suitable for tube amplifiers, but the Lachowski brothers had a different opinion on the subject. They developed a transformer that performed brilliantly, and since it was a successful project, they decided to follow suit and build a complete amplifier around such transformers.

In jazz, as in most other forms of popular music, it's women who are bringing the new and much needed energies to the cause of keeping the music relevant and important. Three recent releases, all of which vaguely fit under the moniker of jazz, are striking examples of the artistry and ideas that women are bringing to music today. In 1979, singer songwriter Joni Mitchell famously collaborated with jazz-bass visionary Charles Mingus just prior to his death on a record she called simply: Mingus. Filled with compositions written by Mingus for Mitchell, it remains a highlight of the more experimental phase of her long career. Mitchell herself has long been a frequent source of material for female jazz singers, including Diana Krall, Jane Monheit, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, and Holly Cole. The genesis of Both Sides of Joni began in rehearsals in the late Janiece Jaffe's barn in southern Indiana between the singer and her longtime friend, Monika Herzig, both faculty members at Indiana University's world renown music school. After sufficient time to work on the new arrangements by Herzig, the pair played the material live in March 2021 before heading into Airtime Studios in Bloomington, Indiana, to cut these by then well-honed tracks. Given the amount of Mitchell covers already recorded and out there, most singers will try and find a more obscure tune by the prodigious Canadian singer/songwriter to put their stamp on. But Jaffe and Herzig confidently wade right into a Mitchell Best-Of with upbeat versions of "Help Me," "Both Sides Now" and "River", all becoming an unqualified success in their respectful hands. The opener "Both Sides Now" is taken at a leisurely pace with saxophonist Greg Ward, another IU faculty member who has played with Prefuse 73, Tortoise, and William Parker, adding haunting sax solos while Herzig stretches out on piano. Ward returns on "Help Me," providing the mournful opening solo, before a stately, almost marching tempo by Herzig takes over. Jaffe carries the melody, aided by overdubs of her singing trio harmonies. This all adds up to a refreshingly different take on Mitchell's biggest hit.