Displaying items by tag: bluetooth - StereoLife Magazine

Topping has built much of its reputation on DACs and headphone amplifiers that combine ambitious engineering with unusually strong measured performance. The DX9 Discrete takes that formula into a more premium and more distinctive direction. It is a fully balanced DAC, preamplifier and headphone amplifier in one compact chassis, but its main point of interest is not the number of functions it combines. The real story is the conversion architecture. Instead of relying on an off-the-shelf DAC chip, Topping has used its own discrete 1-bit PSRM technology, bringing one of the company's most advanced digital designs into an all-in-one component for headphones, active speakers and conventional hi-fi systems.

Pro-Ject's smallest components have always had a practical mission - to add a specific hi-fi function without forcing the user to rebuild the whole system around it. The Stream Box E follows that logic in the streaming era. It is an entry-level multi-room streamer and preamplifier designed to bring network playback, app control, wireless multi-room functions and analog integration to existing amplifiers, power amps or active speakers, all in a compact metal enclosure. The Stream Box E continues Pro-Ject's long-running Micro Hi-Fi tradition, which began in the 1990s with compact components intended to deliver proper hi-fi performance without the size, complexity or cost of full-width equipment. In this case, the idea is not to create another large streamer for an already elaborate system, but to offer a small and affordable device that can modernize an older amplifier, form the control center of a minimalist setup or add streaming functionality to active loudspeakers.

JBL is refreshing its Live series with three new true wireless models designed to reflect the different ways people use in-ear and open-fit earbuds in everyday life. The Live Beam 4, Live Buds 4 and Live Flex 4 all follow the same general direction - Hi-Res Audio Wireless, True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, JBL Spatial Sound, Bluetooth 6.0 and a new Smart Charging Case with a larger display. The differences between the three models are still significant, however, covering not only the shape of the earbuds, but also the type of fit, driver size, water and dust resistance, and battery life. As a result, the Live 4 series is not a set of three nearly identical products, but a small family of models aimed at users with different expectations - from those looking for maximum isolation, through fans of compact in-ear designs, to listeners who prefer a more open earbud construction.

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.

Sennheiser has introduced the fifth generation of its most important consumer wireless headphones. The new Momentum 5 Wireless is not an attempt to rewrite the story from the beginning, but rather to refine a formula that has become one of the most recognizable reference points in the premium segment over the years. The manufacturer has kept what is essential to the series - large over-ear earcups, extensive wireless connectivity, a characteristic sound and very long battery life - while introducing changes to noise cancellation, sound personalization, codec support, sustainability, packaging and product longevity. The result is a headphone that should be not only more technically advanced, but also more convenient in everyday use and better prepared for several more years of service. "When designing Momentum 5 Wireless, we focused on refining the entire user experience without moving away from the formula that made the previous generation successful. The new improvements increase the functionality of the headphones while preserving that special magic you feel every time you press play." - said Sreenath "Sri" Unnikrishnan, Product Manager at Sennheiser.

JBL is expanding its Live series with two new wireless headphone models - the Live 680 NC and Live 780 NC. Both belong to the Live 4 generation and have been designed for users who now expect everyday headphones to offer more than decent sound and comfort. Effective noise cancelling, long battery life, extensive personalization and the ability to handle several usage scenarios at once have become just as important. The new models open another chapter for a series that sits in JBL's catalog between simpler everyday headphones and more advanced designs focused on comfort, functionality and greater freedom to adapt the listening experience to individual needs. The higher model mainly adds a larger over-ear design, bigger ear cushions, a more advanced noise-cancelling system and the additional Low Volume Dynamic EQ and Personal Sound Amplification features. The common platform remains the same - 40-mm drivers, Hi-Res Audio, JBL Spatial Sound, Personi-Fi 3.0, Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, Auracast, multipoint connection, quick charging and very long battery life.

iFi Audio has refreshed one of its most accessible product families with three new ZEN Air 2 devices, each designed to solve a different and very common problem in everyday music listening. The ZEN Air DAC 2 is a compact digital-to-analog converter with a headphone amplifier, aimed primarily at people who listen from a computer, play games, watch movies or work at a laptop and want a clear upgrade over a standard audio output without building a large system. The ZEN Air Phono 2 is a phono preamplifier for MM and MC cartridges, allowing a turntable to be connected to an amplifier, active speakers or another component that lacks a suitable phono input. The ZEN Air Blue 2 serves a different purpose again. It is a Bluetooth receiver that allows a traditional amplifier, stereo system or pair of active speakers to gain wireless playback from a phone, tablet or computer. Together, the three models form a simple, affordable and compact route to upgrading an existing system without replacing its core components. In other words, iFi is not offering one universal box that tries to do everything, but three specialized tools - one for headphones, one for vinyl and one for Bluetooth streaming - each aimed at one of the most familiar weak points in home audio.

Denon unveiled the AVR-S980H, a new 7.2-channel AV receiver designed as a central hub for contemporary home entertainment systems combining surround sound, streaming, and gaming functionality in a single chassis. Positioned as a step-up solution for users moving beyond soundbars and entry-level audio setups, the new model is intended to deliver a more immersive listening experience while remaining approachable in everyday installation and operation. According to Denon, the receiver reflects a broader shift toward flexible systems that adapt to modern households where television viewing, music streaming, and gaming increasingly share the same platform.

Advance Paris has introduced the Nova series, a new flagship platform of hybrid integrated amplifiers designed to function as complete control centers for modern stereo systems while preserving the company's established tube-assisted analog architecture. Positioned above the Classic and Apex ranges in the manufacturer's lineup, the Nova platform represents Advance Paris's most ambitious integrated amplifier concept to date. The series includes two amplifiers - the A-i130 and A-i190 - together with optional streaming and Bluetooth expansion modules and a dedicated rotary remote controller. First previewed at High End Munich 2025, the lineup is scheduled to make its North American debut at AXPONA 2026, with global availability expected from May 2026.

Harman Kardon has introduced the Luna 2, a compact wireless speaker that continues the brand's familiar way of approaching the lifestyle audio segment. Instead of presenting another purely technical Bluetooth speaker built around ruggedness or raw output figures, the company is clearly aiming at a product that can function as part of the home environment first and as a portable speaker second. The new model is intended for everyday listening in spaces such as the living room, kitchen, terrace or garden, combining a small footprint with a more refined visual identity and a feature set that goes beyond simple Bluetooth playback.