Displaying items by tag: streamer - StereoLife Magazine

Ruark Audio has introduced two new products that fit neatly into the current move toward hi-fi systems combining several once-separate worlds - physical media, streaming, furniture-like design and a more integrated approach to home audio. The British company, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026, has presented the R710 Music Console and the Talisman-R floorstanding speakers. Together, they form a complete stereo system in which the listener gets amplification, streaming, CD playback, turntable support and a pair of passive speakers designed to match the electronics both technically and visually.

Cambridge Audio is expanding its Evo series, a range of all-in-one systems designed for listeners who want a real hi-fi setup without building a traditional stack of separate components. This approach has become one of the most interesting directions in modern home audio. More people now listen through streaming services, connect their systems to a TV, sometimes return to vinyl, and still want to keep passive loudspeakers and full-scale stereo sound. From the beginning, Evo was created for exactly that kind of user - connect speakers, configure the network, and use a single device that combines an amplifier, streamer, DAC, and a broad range of inputs. Now the British manufacturer is taking the concept further with the Evo 300, the most powerful and most advanced streaming amplifier in the history of the series.

Yamaha has introduced two new AV receivers, the RX500A and RX300A, designed to serve as modern hubs for home entertainment - from cinema and music to gaming. The manufacturer is clearly targeting users who want to build a system around conventional loudspeakers and an AV receiver, but also expect the convenience associated with modern TVs, consoles and streaming devices. The RX500A is a 7.2-channel design, while the RX300A is a 5.2-channel model, but both support Dolby Atmos, four HDMI inputs compatible with current video and gaming standards, Bluetooth Multipoint and automatic room correction. These are not AV receivers designed only for home cinema in the traditional sense, but rather versatile control units intended to bring films, series, sport, games and everyday music listening together in one relatively easy-to-use system.

Moon is expanding its Compass Collection with two new components that clearly move the series closer to technologies previously associated with the brand's higher-end reference designs. After the 371, a complete streaming amplifier, the company is now introducing a classic two-box system made up of the 491 network player and preamplifier, and the 461 power amplifier. It is an interesting move, because the Compass Collection was originally positioned as a more accessible, compact and practical answer to the flagship North Collection, but it is now becoming clear that the idea is not simply to simplify the range. The new components are designed to bring some of Moon's more advanced technologies into a more traditional two-unit system, where one device handles sources, digital-to-analog conversion, volume control, vinyl playback and headphones, while the other takes care of driving the loudspeakers.

Matrix Audio continues to develop its M Series, the company's most advanced line of digital sources, but its latest model is not simply another product aimed only at users looking for a full, no-compromise flagship. The MS-1c is intended as a more accessible entry point into this family, retaining many of the solutions known from the MS-1, but presenting them in the form of a network player that can work both as a standalone analog source and as a digital transport for an external DAC. In practice, this makes it a device for listeners who want to build a modern system based on streaming, a local file library and high-quality digital-to-analog conversion, but do not necessarily need the most elaborate model in the catalog. "The MS-1c is a response to the needs of audiophiles who are looking for the highest-quality digital source, but also value simplicity and functionality. Inheriting solutions from our flagship MS-1, the MS-1c offers the same level of precision and musicality while remaining a more accessible solution for those building their dream hi-fi system." - said Cao Yang, CEO of Matrix Audio.

Denon has introduced a new generation of X Series AV receivers, unveiling two models aimed at users who want to move clearly beyond entry-level home cinema. The AVR-X2900H DAB and AVC-X3900H are intended for systems where power, control, configuration flexibility and room correction matter more than simply adding surround sound to a living room. They also make sense for installers working on more complex home cinema and multiroom projects. That distinction is important, as Denon recently presented the AVR-S980H as a more accessible gateway into modern home theater, while the new X Series models sit higher in the range as more refined, scalable and configurable solutions, designed to be matched more precisely to the room, the loudspeakers and the listener's expectations.

iFi Audio is launching the iDSD Phantom as the most advanced product in its history, a single-box flagship that combines a reference DAC, network streamer and powerful headphone amplifier. The new model is aimed at listeners who want a system voiced as close as possible to studio monitoring, but wrapped in a form that integrates into a domestic setup. Rather than a minor upgrade to the earlier Pro iDSD, the Phantom is built on a substantially reworked platform that revisits everything from the digital core and streaming engine to the analogue output stages, power supply and user interface, with the stated goal of delivering the most refined listening experience the company has created so far.

Hegel has announced the launch of the H150 streaming amplifier - an all-in-one hi-fi solution designed to combine versatility, musical refinement and ease of use in a compact, elegantly built chassis. Positioned as the successor to the H120, the H150 bridges the gap between affordability and audiophile performance, offering much of the same technology found in Hegel's flagship models, including the company's advanced streaming platform, app control and patented SoundEngine 2 amplification. Nicknamed 'The Prodigy', the H150 embodies Hegel's philosophy that true excellence should be accessible. While sitting at the entry point of the Norwegian manufacturer's integrated range, it demonstrates the sonic maturity and control more often associated with far costlier components. Delivering 2 x 75 watts into 8 ohms, it is capable of driving demanding loudspeakers with confidence, combining precision, scale and authority that far exceed expectations for its size and price.

Lyngdorf Audio has announced the launch of its latest digital streaming amplifier, the TDAI-2210 - a model that bridges the gap between the compact TDAI-1120 and the flagship TDAI-3400, offering a balance of versatility, performance and refinement. The new amplifier features an elegant colour touchscreen interface, next-generation digital amplification, and the company's acclaimed RoomPerfect room calibration technology. The TDAI-2210 represents Lyngdorf's continuing evolution of digital amplification design. With multiple digital inputs, including USB-C and HDMI 2.1, analogue connections, optional modular expansion, and integrated music streaming, the amplifier is engineered to adapt to any system configuration. Delivering 2 x 210 watts into 4 ohms, it has the power and control to drive even the most demanding loudspeakers with ease.

Designing and building audio equipment can be so contagious that entire families get involved. Children raised in the spirit of musical passion often inherit the talent of their parents and relatives. One such case is the Serblin family. When audiophiles hear this name, the first association comes immediately - Franco, the legendary speaker designer. He was the son of a Croatian navy soldier who emigrated with his wife from Istria to Italy. His first recognisable work was so original that it simply had to attract the attention of music lovers. We are, of course, talking about the device known as the Snail Project, consisting of a subwoofer and satellite speakers protruding from it like the eyes of a snail. Three years later, Franco founded Sonus Faber - and here we could write a separate article. After years of creating speakers that became icons of Italian audio, he returned to even more boutique craftsmanship, creating equipment bearing his own name. The second thread of the family history leads to the Serblin & Son brand. And here's a surprise - it's not Franco's son behind it, but his nephew, Fabio. He was already familiar with electronics in the 1980s - he co-created, among other things, the Sonus Faber Quid integrated amplifier, and then went his own way, establishing a company called Fase Evoluzione Audio, making amplifiers, separate systems, and CD players. At some point, the trail goes cold, and Fase Evoluzione Audio disappears from the market for many years. Fabio Serblin returned to building amplifiers in 2019, founding Serblin & Son. Its first product was the Frankie amplifier, named in tribute to his uncle. And so the mystery is solved - the Serblin name continues to lead us towards sound, only this time it tells the story through electronics.