Displaying items by tag: france - StereoLife Magazine

Focal presents its first wireless headphones with Active noise cancellation. Benefiting from the brand's savoir-faire in sound and high-end headphones prowess, Bathys delivers a pure hi-fi sound, via 5.1 Bluetooth multipoint or wired connection thanks to its USB-DAC mode. The headphones boast Focal speaker drivers made in France, high-performance noise cancelling technology, over 30 hours of battery life, high-grade materials and a number of attractive features. Bathys is the new must-have Bluetooth headphone set to enhance all your travels.

First launched in 2016, Focal's Utopia headphones rank amongst the best headphones in the world. Under constant renewal, the French brand with a unique savoir-faire in acoustics, has given its iconic product a new design while adding acoustic enhancements (new voice coil, 'M'-shaped grilles inside the earcups). All the exclusive, high-end technologies that make the Utopia headphones so successful are still to be found in this new edition, continuing to bring sensational listening experiences with even more sophistication and elegance.

Designed from the ground up, featuring several new audio innovations, the new range of speakers from the renowned French manufacturer is limited to 500 pairs per model. The Magellan 40th Anniversary range comprises two floor-standing speakers, the Quatuor 40th and Cello 40th, the Duetto 40th bookshelf speakers; and the Voce 40th center speaker. The new S08 and S08-C speaker stands compliment this new line-up.

Audiophiles love beautiful, original, and, unfortunately, very expensive electronic devices. Turntables made with incredible precision, powerful tube amplifiers, huge loudspeakers, thick cables - we associate all this with a sophisticated, engaging sound, but there is no doubt that above a certain level all this fun begins to smell of madness. This is perfectly evident at exhibitions, where one can taste the sound of stereo systems worth millions of dollars. Some visitors get the impression of participating in a sick experiment. The degree of complexity of such extreme systems, as well as their dimensions and prices, have a repulsive effect on music lovers. Besides, let's be honest, when visiting a showroom with such equipment, didn't you ever think to yourself that at such prices you'd better start looking elsewhere? Didn't you come to the conclusion that even if you got such a set for free, you wouldn't have anywhere to put it? Some companies have recognized this problem, but their solution is most often to put the dream of owning a decent stereo completely out of your head. Don't have lots of cash to spend on your hi-fi? Then get some small network speakers or a soundbar and sod off. And that's not exactly the point, is it?

French company Octavio has created a compact network amplifier built for audiophiles and music lovers who appreciate modern solutions at an affordable price. The founders of the young manufactory say they wanted to democratize hi-fi and simplify the stereo system and the process of using it. The company was born in two student apartments in Lille. Its founders, David and Victor, owned vintage audio systems whose sound they greatly appreciated, but which were not compatible with new formats, digital sources, or streaming services. So they both faced the same problem - how to preserve the quality of their hi-fi setup while easily taking advantage of the latest innovations? The idea of parting with their existing system was unimaginable to them. What if the solution was simply to upgrade it rather than replace it? After months of designing and testing, they created a device that made their dream come true. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, Octavio was born.

Boasting a worldwide success, the Borea range now includes two new active and connected models in bookshelf format. The Borea Active speakers are genuine high-fidelity systems. Compact and all-in-one, they provide a rich audio and video experience - stream your music in high resolution with Bluetooth aptX, reproduce the warm sound of a vinyl turntable, link your TV, or create a fuller experience with the addition of a subwoofer. The Borea Active BR02 BT and Borea Active BR03 BT speakers create a compact and powerful all-in-one Hi-Fi system with multiple features. These active speakers have been designed for modern and versatile use.

Focal is adding a bookshelf model and a center speaker to the Aria K2 family, allowing for a range of thrilling hi-fi and home cinema set-ups, alongside the Aria K2 936 floor-standing speaker launched last year. Aria K2 is a special edition of the original high-performance Aria 900 range, first launched by Focal in 2013. The Aria K2 906 and Aria K2 Center join the Aria K2 936 in offering an exceptional listening experience, enabled by a range of Focal innovations, including a next-generation K2 cone.

French manufacturer of digital audio brings new enhancements to its DACs, which benefit from a series of new features under the EX label. These include a network input giving access to streaming functionalities, as well as a USB slot for direct connection of storage media. Additionally, a DSP-based acoustic correction feature offers a wide range of possibilities for adjusting to the listening environment. Extended version of the B.dac, the B.dac EX is a response to many requests for network playback and D/A conversion functionalities in a single product.

Focal unveils a new reference - Clear Mg. In addition to their sophisticated finishes, the sound reproduction of these open-back headphones is even sharper than that of their Clear predecessor. The luxury of Focal products lies in their performance and the experience they offer, as well as in every detail that enhances the object to make it more than a set of headphones. After four years of research and development, the engineers at Focal have designed a Magnesium dome for the Clear Mg speaker drivers. This new alloy, combined with an M-shaped dome, contributes to even more lightness, rigidity, and damping, the three success factors for a speaker driver. The sound reproduction is fine, precise, and impactful, for a striking sound.

Since 2013, Aria has been a leading range among high-performing and expressive Hi-Fi loudspeakers. With its natural flax cone and sleek style, Aria marked a decisive point in Focal's history. And the story continues. As part of its process of constant renewal, the St. Étienne brand completes its line with the launch of Aria K2 936, a new edition of the Aria 936 model that features its iconic K2 cone and the Ash Grey exclusive finish.