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.
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.
PSB Speakers announced the Alpha iQ, Streaming Powered Speakers with BluOS, an all-in-one audio system that sets a new benchmark for modern, tangle-free, audiophile-grade listening. Comprising two bookshelf speakers with built-in amplifiers and a network streamer based on the award-winning BluOS multi-room music platform, the Alpha iQ lets listeners enjoy PSB's acclaimed “True to Nature” sound with more than 20 streaming services and hundreds of Internet radio stations. The Alpha iQ has a wide array of inputs so users can connect source components such as a turntable, TV, disc player, or game console. Listeners can share their music over a home network with up to 63 other BluOS-enabled components.
Bryston is one of the companies that use a very logical naming scheme for their products. Thus, amplifier symbols usually contain the letter "B", DACs start with "BDA", network players - "BDP", home theater processors - "SP" and preamplifiers - "BP". They are supplemented with numbers, which may indicate their output power (the B135² integrated amplifier delivers 135W per channel into 8 ohms) or inform us which generation of a given model we are dealing with (the BHA-1 is the first headphone amplifier from the Canadian factory, and the BDP-3 already had two predecessors - BDP-1 and BDP-2). Devices that cannot be assigned to any of the existing categories are scarce. So when Bryston decided to break the current pattern and release a preamplifier that should have been called the BP-18³ (because it is the successor to the BP-17³) but was given the BR-20 symbol, it was clear that this was no accident. The reason for this sudden change turned out to be, unfortunately, very sad. The Canadians wanted to honor their colleague and long-time company president, Brian Russel, who died in his sleep of a heart attack last year. At the time, Bryston's team was putting the finishing touches on the device, which was to be named BP-18³. Members of the design team and executives knew that this model could be a real revelation to many audiophiles - even those using very elaborate, expensive stereo systems. Thus, at the end of 2020, Bryston revealed the new two-channel preamplifier - BR-20.
IsoAcoustics adds to their award-winning line of isolation products with the Aperta Sub, an isolation stand designed for subwoofers weighing up to 80 pounds (36.3 kg). The Aperta Sub allows the listener to discover greater bass definition from their subwoofer with fewer complaints from their neighbors. The manufacturer explains that we are hard-wired to pick up bass rhythms more than other tones, and low bass frequencies allow the listener to feel a deep syncopated connection to their favorite music or movies. The large pulsating driver produces energy and vibrations that travel through solid structures that create issues in the listening space and can often be disturbing to others. Room treatment can be costly and doesn't mitigate structure borne-noises. Enter the Aperta Sub isolation stand that not only reduces these disturbances but also delivers better-sounding audio.
Reliable, Canadian company making cleverly designed household appliances, introduced a smart desktop lamp that may appeal to audiophiles. While each of us has our favorite cleaning protocol, there has never been a reliable way to highlight the surface dust that's left on the record surface. Using the powerful and flexible UberLight, you can easily see all the dust that remains and remove it with a cleaning brush. You'll also be able to read the dead wax on the record, revealing useful information about the pressing and the history of the recording.
Bluesound, makers of the award-winning hi-res wireless multi-room line of audio players, has announced a new generation of its best-selling Node Wireless Hi-Res Multi-Room Music Streamer and Powernode Wireless Hi-Res Multi-Room Streaming Amplifier. The upgrades include new DAC designs, more powerful processors, and touch panel controls with presets and proximity sensors, while the Powernode also receives substantially more power. Both feature an easy-to-clean satin finish in either black or white. "Since the beginning, Bluesound has set out to provide a modern hi-res multi-room streaming experience for customers who care about audio quality. We have seen the Node and Powernode quickly become the go-to streaming components for discerning music lovers, because of our focus on high-quality listening and on the software features that make the products - all the way back to our first generation - even better over time. This latest generation, once again, sets the bar for performance and value in their respective categories." - says Matt Simmonds, Bluesound Product Manager.
Bryston has unveiled the BR-20 preamplifier, which combines a brand-new analog preamplifier with the company's flagship digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) platform and a high-performance streaming music player.
Bluesound, makers of the award-winning hi-res wireless multi-room line of audio players, announced the Pulse Sub+, an all-new subwoofer addition to the brand's high-performance ecosystem. The SUB+ adds deep bass to any wireless or wired Bluesound system and features the convenience of precision app control. The new Bluesound model builds on everything the original Pulse Sub offered and takes it to the next level.
The most recognizable brands in the world of audio equipment are usually the ones that can set trends and focus the attention of the audiophile community and sometimes shock with original ideas or products better and more expensive than anything we've seen before. However, there is a group of companies that do the same, often outperforming the achievements of famous brands, and directing their offer to dedicated music lovers. Classé is just such a manufacturer. The Canadian company has had to deal with many turbulences recently. It was acquired by a big corporation, and it showed the world three hi-end devices made in a completely different factory. It all sounds pretty weird, but when you look at the Delta series, it's hard not to smile. They are wonderful - beautiful, powerful, modern, and made in such a way that it is hard to improve anything in their design. That is why I decided to find out what is going on at Classé.