Born from the million-selling ATH-M50x professional studio monitoring headphones, the critically acclaimed ATH-MSR7 combined Hi-Res Audio compatibility with an ultra-comfortable design for studio-quality music-on-the-move. Audio-Technica is announcing the next generation model of this premium landmark headphone, the ATH-MSR7b, further enhancing the sonic performance and introducing a lighter, more portable design.
Over the course of its 35 year history, Sonus Faber has evolved greatly, but the original spirit of the brand remains unchanged. Its goal is and has always been, to draw upon a timeless tradition of Italian culture and craftsmanship and combine it with current technological innovation in order to render creations that immerse the listeners in pure, natural sound, emotionally connecting them to their favorite music.
The sixth iteration of Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series dramatically improves the range's legendary combination of outstanding value and audio performance. The new 600 Series brings high-end sound quality within reach, applying Bowers & Wilkins' cutting-edge technologies and leading design.
After two years in development, the all-new Reference 160M (REF160M) monoblock power amplifier is built like no other, yet it is unmistakably Audio Research. It features a refined audio topology with fewer and better components in the signal-path than in previous designs, switchable ultralinear/triode operation, proprietary auto-bias, output tube monitoring and protection, an advanced power meter, and much more. This array of features has never been offered before in an Audio Research amplifier.
Danish loudspeaker legend Dynaudio has rebooted its Xeo active wireless hi-fi speaker family. The new Xeo 20 and Xeo 30 speakers replace the Xeo 4 and 6, and join the multi-award-winning Xeo 2 in the company's range. As well as getting a new look, the Xeo 20 and Xeo 30 now have updated tunings for even better performance, plus direct inputs for analogue and digital sources, upgraded DSP (digital signal processing) capabilities, full 24-bit/96kHz hi-res support and built-in high-quality aptX Bluetooth.
In 2016, Audio Analogue celebrated its twentieth birthday with two bang-up-to-date 'Anniversary' editions of the company's earlier classic integrated amplifiers, the Puccini and Maestro. Now, the Italian brand has launched its 'PureAA' line of products, drawing key ideas from the Anniversary amps and adding a raft of further features. Second in the line, following the AAcento amplifier, is the new AAphono.
Davone launched the Twist floorstanding loudspeaker. Named after its uniquely twisted side panels, the Twist is an elegant High-End floor stander featured with Davone's new high-resolution crossover and drivers. The baffle can be covered with any cloth of your liking, the twist packs good value, unique looks and exceptional sound quality into one.
Focal rounds off its Utopia III Evo line with the emblematic Grande Utopia EM Evo and Stella Utopia EM Evo loudspeakers. In 2017, Utopia III Evo unveiled the new edition in the flagship line of loudspeakers from Focal, integrating the company's latest innovations. Today, at the opening of the 2018 High End trade fair in Munich, the French brand introduces the most emblematic high-fidelity loudspeakers of all its Collections - Grande Utopia EM Evo and Stella Utopia EM Evo.
Watching the development of companies representing the audio industry can be very interesting. With time, you can make predictions of certain trends, and after many years check whether they turned out to be true. Today's review is not just another description of an interesting product, but also the continuation of my adventure with Auris Audio, which four years ago provided us with one of the first amplifiers in their history - the Adagio 300B. We didn't expect it to be perfect, but in many ways it was. Considering that the company was founded just a year earlier, it was hard to believe. This elegant and very refined amplifier using famous directly heated triodes wasn't made by accident. In the following years, the Serbian company proved it wants to continue making hi-end gear for true audiophiles, or even go a bit further. The latest Fortissimo integrated amplifier is a good case in point.
Naim has previewed three new network players, which includes the ND 555, the first 500 series product in 12 years. The flagship ND 555 is joined by the new NDX 2 and ND 5 XS 2. Naim says it has waited until now as the company hasn't considered the performance of its network players to reach that of the CD 555 CD player. The company says that the ND 555 is its finest sounding source component to date.