Displaying items by tag: hiend - StereoLife Magazine

Ø Audio has introduced the Ymir, a new reference floorstanding loudspeaker that marks a decisive shift in the company's design direction and stands apart from earlier models such as the Icon 12 and Verdande. Described by the manufacturer as a clean-sheet development rather than an evolution of existing platforms, the Ymir combines a large-format compression-driver architecture with a newly engineered bass system and an unusually rigid cabinet structure intended to deliver high sensitivity and controlled directivity in real-world listening rooms rather than only optimized demonstration environments.

Matrix Audio has introduced the NA-1, a flagship headphone amplifier from the company's new N Series, designed as the central element of ambitious desktop and stationary systems for demanding users of both dynamic and planar headphones. The unit is a fully analog design operating in pure Class A and built entirely from discrete components. According to the manufacturer, it combines high output power with low noise and precise signal control. The amplifier delivers up to 20 W in balanced mode, making it suitable not only for low-sensitivity planar headphones but also for highly sensitive in-ear monitors. As Cao Yang, CEO of Matrix Audio, explains, "NA-1 represents the culmination of our efforts to create the ideal amplifier. We focused on removing every barrier between the listener and the music. With its fully balanced Class A architecture and powerful power supply, NA-1 handles the most demanding loads with the ease and refinement expected by serious audiophiles."

If someone were to say that the headquarters of one of the most interesting and fastest-growing manufacturers of tube amplifiers and hi-fi components was based not in Munich, Glasgow, or Tokyo, but in a tiny village near Białystok, Poland, many audiophiles would probably raise an eyebrow. This is, after all, the heart of Podlasie - a region that Poles themselves tend to see as beautiful, picturesque, and somewhat removed from the country's main industrial centers and, at least in popular jokes, a little behind the curve of modern life. Internet memes reinforce the stereotype - people are supposedly still discovering electricity there, throwing spears at airplanes, and rolling up the asphalt from the roads at night. A quick search brings up images of R2D2 and C3PO turned into a moonshine still, a long sausage wrapped around a cable reel labeled "Podlasie Fiber Optic", and Fred Flintstone's car presented as a local taxi. And yet it is precisely here, among forests, lakes, and open countryside, that a company emerged, first with small, simple, affordable tube amplifiers, and now delivers beautifully engineered, thoughtfully designed, thoroughly modern components to music lovers in more than thirty countries worldwide.

Marantz is expanding its portfolio of reference class home theatre components with two new models aimed at demanding users who build their systems around separate AV electronics. The AV 30 is an 11.4 channel AV preamplifier and the AMP 30 is a 6 channel power amplifier that can be tailored to a wide variety of loudspeaker layouts, from compact media rooms to substantial dedicated home theatres. The new units slot in beneath the flagship AV 10/AMP 10 and AV 20/AMP 20 combinations and support a modular approach in which customers can grow their systems over time without abandoning existing components. As with the higher tier models, all key elements of the audio path have been tuned by the Marantz Sound Master and both products are designed and manufactured at the Shirakawa Audio Works facility in Japan.

Piega has unveiled the Premium 801, a new floorstanding loudspeaker that takes its long running Premium Series into fresh territory between the existing Premium 701 and the Coax 611. Conceived as a reference model for the range, it is intended to combine Swiss precision engineering, meticulous craftsmanship and a more ambitious acoustic architecture in a slim, elegant enclosure that still integrates easily into domestic living spaces. The aim is to offer a speaker that raises performance standards in its category while remaining recognisably part of the Premium family in both sound and appearance.

Noble Audio introduced a new flagship addition to its true wireless line with the FoKus Prestige Encore, a model that refines rather than reinvents the original Prestige concept. The new earphones are positioned as Noble's most advanced true wireless design to date, with greater detail, longer battery life, improved ergonomics and smarter personalisation, while preserving the lively, engaging character that made their predecessor popular with demanding listeners. The FoKus Prestige Encore is intended to bridge Noble's high-end in-ear know-how with the flexibility expected from modern wireless listening.

Perlisten entered the hi-fi market in a way that surprised many - suddenly, yet with clear ambition. Its debut was far from accidental, led by seasoned engineers and managers with decades of experience in transducers, measurement systems, and loudspeaker design. Co-founder and president Dan Roemer brings over 25 years of industry expertise, including work with the NHT research group, MITek Corporation, and projects in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Lars Johansen, with more than 30 years in audio, has contributed to brands like JBL, Harman Kardon, Klipsch, and Jamo, and later served as partner and president of Miller & Kreisel, supplying solutions for recording studios and premium home theatres. Since its formal launch in 2016, Perlisten has aimed to deliver top-tier products, reflected in its pricing. The introduction of the more accessible A-Series marked a shift, opening the brand to a wider audience. Interest continues to grow, yet many enthusiasts remain unaware of the company's origins, the people behind it, and its long-term objectives. This is why I decided to speak with someone who has been with Perlisten from the start and understands every stage of its development - from early concepts and factory selection to launches and subsequent product lines. Erik Wiederholtz, Perlisten's Technical Director, is an acoustics specialist with experience in transducer modelling, dynamic speakers, MEMS digital microphones, hearing aids, headphones, and small speakers. Our conversation, I believe, will shed light on the company's foundations and help readers understand what Perlisten represents.

Final Audio Design has unveiled its next-generation flagship headphones, the D8000 DC and D8000 DC Pro, marking a new chapter in the Japanese manufacturer's fifty-year legacy of innovation. Known for its meticulous engineering and in-house technology, Final has redefined planar magnetic performance once again with a complete reworking of its pioneering Air Film Damping System (AFDS) and a renewed focus on acoustic precision. The 'DC' designation stands for 'Da Capo', meaning 'from the beginning' - a fitting name for headphones that represent a total reconstruction of Final's reference model. First introduced seven years ago, the original D8000 set a benchmark for planar magnetic design, introducing AFDS as a revolutionary solution to low-frequency distortion and limited diaphragm control. By using air pressure to regulate diaphragm movement, the system achieved deeper, more accurate bass and a broader soundstage. The new D8000 DC and DC Pro models take this principle further, with redesigned metal mesh structures, new airflow patterns, and an evolved acoustic chassis that unlocks even greater transparency and realism.

Sonus Faber has unveiled the Amati Supreme, a new floorstanding loudspeaker that represents the pinnacle of the Italian brand's acoustic innovation and design philosophy. Drawing inspiration from the flagship Suprema, the Amati Supreme combines reference-level performance with refined craftsmanship in a more compact and elegant form, reaffirming Sonus Faber's mastery of the union between engineering precision and artistic expression.

Marantz, one of the most revered names in audio for over 70 years, introduced the new 10 Series Collection of three reference-quality stereo products. Comprising the Model 10 Reference Integrated Amplifier, the SACD 10 Reference SACD player and the Link 10n Reference Network Audio Player, the 10 Series Collection represents a new statement in high-end audio design and performance for Marantz, and is the first time the brand has released a new range reference high-end stereo components since 2016.

Developed over five years of extensive collaboration between all departments of the engineering team at the renowned Shirakawa Audio Works in Japan, the new 10 Series components embody unparalleled heritage, performance and contemporary luxury design. Built to the most demanding of standards, the design of each product is inspired by some of the most iconic hi-fi components in Marantz's storied history - yet at the same time, the engineering inside ensures that each component is both truly contemporary and ready to make the most of hi-fi's digital future.

The first product to be released from the new 10 Series Collection is the Model 10 Reference Integrated Amplifier, the most powerful one-box amplifier Marantz has ever made. Model 10 is built around a newly designed dual-mono symmetrical amplifier topology and uses a completely new copper-plated, triple-layered chassis with a compartmentalized design structure designed to provide complete engineering separation of each critical internal function. Two internal compartments plus strategically placed shields isolate high and low power circuits from each other and prevent internal interference from limiting performance.

The Model 10 powerplant is newly engineered. In partnership with Purifi, Marantz developed a new amplifier, two of which are used to achieve dual-mono operation. It operates as a fully balanced amplifier from input to output, with individual power supplies for each amplifier channel and all line-level input circuitry powered by a separate linear power supply unit. Distortion is astonishingly low - 0.05% THD across the entire audio band at full power and an order of magnitude better at half-rated power - while up to 30A of peak current means exceptional dynamic range, plus frequency response that is immune to load impedance.

Driving the novel amplifier section is an all-new preamplifier design based around the latest generation of Marantz's HDAM analogue circuitry. Designed to deliver the optimum combination of speed of response and transparency of signal, HDAM is a proprietary Marantz technology first introduced in the PM-99SE amplifier of 1992. The latest incarnation is the highest performing yet, ensuring the Model 10 has all the musicality for which Marantz amplifiers are rightly renowned.

Of course, as a reference-class integrated amplifier, Model 10 has a commensurately substantial power output, with 250W into 8 ohm speaker loads, rising to 500W with 4 ohm designs. If even more power is required, owners can opt to add a second Model 10 to create a superlative biamplified stereo system using Marantz's proprietary F.C.B.S (Floating Control Bus System) to link and control two amplifiers seamlessly. Up to four Model 10s can be connected together if needed.

Even the smallest details of Model 10's design have been engineered with the utmost care and attention. Its porthole-style OLED display screen references the form of classic Marantz products of the past yet its thoroughly contemporary specification can switch from displaying volume level to selected input to a VU Meter mode, if desired. Brightness and display timeout options can also be adjusted. For those that prefer tactile interaction with their hi-fi, the Model 10 features CNC machined spun-finished aluminum control knobs for volume and input selection, each with individual bearings for a smooth feel. Even the remote handset is unique to Model 10, featuring a teal-colored aluminum top surface for added heft and premium feel.

Internal detailing is every bit as quality-focused. Model 10's exquisite design features a unique mesh-covered grille section rippled with Marantz's iconic rhythmic design pattern and illuminated from within. The result is an amplifier like no other, one ready to invite the listener in with the warmth of both its design and its musical sound. The end result, in terms of attention to detail and clarity of layout, is every bit as exquisite as it sounds.

This distinct top section is complemented by lavish componentry elsewhere in the construction of Model 10. Its solid aluminum side panels are almost 16mm thick, providing an ultra-low-resonance structure. At the front of the amplifier, the special hairline finish on the extruded aluminum control surface is perfectly complemented by discreet LED lighting embedded around the assembly complete with 20 steps of adjustment over its levels of illumination.

Model 10 includes an extensive array of analogue inputs, including two XLR balanced ins, three RCA analogue ins and a high-quality phono stage, complete with both MM and three impedance options for broad MC compatibility. Preamplifier outputs are also provided, again in both XLR and RCA. Uniquely, Model 10 can also be configured to run solely as a power amplifier, bypassing its internal preamplifier, when partnered with its sibling in the new 10 Series Collection, the Link 10n Reference Network Audio Player. Naturally, selectable speaker A/B outputs are also included, alongside a very high-quality headphone output.

Shortly after Model 10 launches, it will be joined by first the SACD 10, a statement-quality SACD player built to the same exacting standards as its amplifier sibling, and then the Link 10n Reference Network Audio Player. At the heart of Link 10n is HEOS - a powerful and versatile digital audio engine that equips this reference model with an unusually comprehensive feature complement. Discerning listeners can stream high resolution from Tidal at up to the highest provided resolution of 192 kHz/24 bit. Music stored locally on USB or network servers can be played back at up to 384 kHz/32 bit and DSD 4X bit-perfect with no down sampling or conversion. An ever-growing list of other services and technologies are supported as well including AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Bluetooth, TuneIn, Deezer, Pandora and more meaning HEOS makes it simple to find what you love to listen to. Further, Link 10n can play with up to 32 other HEOS Built-In devices including home theater and stereo electronics, powered speakers, and sound bars in a home to create a diverse and entertaining whole-home audio system in which devices can be grouped to stream your favorite playlist in sync, or played separately. Introducing the first product in the new 10 Series Collection, the Model 10 integrated amplifier will be available soon from selected retailers at $15,000. Info and photos by Marantz.