Displaying items by tag: player - StereoLife Magazine

Not that long ago, carrying a separate music player was perfectly normal. Then smartphones took over, streaming largely removed the need to keep a personal library of files in your pocket, and traditional MP3 players all but disappeared from everyday life. Curiously, they are now starting to make a comeback - not by trying to compete with phones on features, but by doing the exact opposite. In an age when one device serves as a music player, camera, messenger, payment terminal, entertainment hub, and a constant source of notifications, there is something increasingly appealing about a gadget designed to do one thing and do it well. FiiO is tapping into that idea with the Snowsky Echo Nano, a tiny portable player that looks as though it has arrived straight from the early 2000s, but hides thoroughly modern hardware inside and has no intention of being just a nostalgic toy.

Matrix Audio continues to develop its M Series, the company's most advanced line of digital sources, but its latest model is not simply another product aimed only at users looking for a full, no-compromise flagship. The MS-1c is intended as a more accessible entry point into this family, retaining many of the solutions known from the MS-1, but presenting them in the form of a network player that can work both as a standalone analog source and as a digital transport for an external DAC. In practice, this makes it a device for listeners who want to build a modern system based on streaming, a local file library and high-quality digital-to-analog conversion, but do not necessarily need the most elaborate model in the catalog. "The MS-1c is a response to the needs of audiophiles who are looking for the highest-quality digital source, but also value simplicity and functionality. Inheriting solutions from our flagship MS-1, the MS-1c offers the same level of precision and musicality while remaining a more accessible solution for those building their dream hi-fi system." - said Cao Yang, CEO of Matrix Audio.

Astell&Kern has introduced the PD20, a new premium portable audio player that combines the Korean brand's familiar idea of a self-contained high-end source with unusually advanced sound personalization. In an era in which many listeners use a smartphone as their main music device, such a product may seem like a niche proposition, but this is precisely the field in which Astell&Kern has built its reputation over the years. The PD20 is not another all-purpose gadget. It is a dedicated player for users who want a local hi-res music library, high-quality headphone outputs, a serious DAC section, support for high-resolution formats and the ability to adjust the behavior of the amplifier stage to suit different headphones.

Wilson Benesch announced the Greenwich Turntable, a new model within its GMT analogue platform that establishes the entry point into the company's latest reference-level record playback architecture. Rather than representing a simplified derivative of existing designs, the Greenwich Turntable is conceived as the foundation of a modular analogue ecosystem in which structural, damping and isolation strategies evolve progressively through the GMT range while preserving a common motor platform. This approach allows owners to enter the architecture at the Greenwich level and move upward toward Prime Meridian and ultimately the flagship GMT One without replacing the core drive system.

FiiO has expanded its lineup with the M33, a portable digital audio player built around the company's proprietary R2R ladder DAC architecture, a solution previously associated mainly with stationary designs. The new DAP combines this classic digital-to-analog conversion topology with an Android 13 platform and a fully developed headphone amplification stage, positioning the M33 as a mobile source for listeners seeking a more analog-leaning presentation without sacrificing modern functionality. "M33 represents our vision of bringing the magic of analog sound into the user's pocket. By implementing our proprietary R2R architecture, we achieved a level of naturalness and fluidity that cannot be replicated by conventional methods. This is a product for those who look for emotion and authenticity in music." - explains James Chung, Product Director at FiiO.

Astell&Kern is one of the most recognisable brands in the high-resolution portable player segment. The company built its reputation on advanced Android-based digital audio players designed to combine high sound quality with support for streaming services and a distinctive angular industrial design. The A&ultima line serves as the manufacturer's flagship series, where its most sophisticated technical solutions typically make their debut, including complex DAC configurations, elaborate headphone amplification stages and proprietary technologies intended to improve signal processing and reduce noise. Limited editions of these players have long attracted particular attention, and because copper is a material that carries strong positive associations in the hi-fi world, the standard A&ultima SP4000 is now joined by a special A&ultima SP4000 Copper version. According to the manufacturer, copper has been used not only for visual impact but also as a component intended to influence the sonic character directly. The new model is aimed at listeners who treat a portable player as a fully fledged high-end source in any listening environment.

We Are Rewind has announced an exclusive collaboration with Duran Duran for the WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition, a portable cassette player that pairs the band's distinctive visual world with a thoroughly modern take on the classic Walkman style. Finished in a look that echoes the chrome and shimmering tones associated with Duran Duran's Pop Trash era, the player is supplied with a special reissue of the album on cassette, turning the bundle into both a listening device and a collectible object that nods to the period when the band's tapes were a defining part of pop culture.

FiiO is expanding its line-up of advanced portable players with a new flagship model, the M27. The device has been designed as a portable-desktop crossover, combining the freedom of listening on the move with the performance and flexibility of a full-size desktop component. In practice the M27 can work both as a standalone player with a powerful headphone amplifier and as a high-quality digital source in an elaborate stereo system, which according to the manufacturer is intended to set a new benchmark in the high-end portable player segment.

FiiO launches the M11S hi-res portable music player. Featuring dual ES9038Q2M DACs, the M11S is able to decode up to 384kHz/DSD256 audio. The versatile M11S builds upon the success of previous award-winning portable audio players from FiiO. Alongside its 3.5mm single-ended and 2.5mm/4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, and dedicated line-out, the M11S also offers LDAC, aptX HD, and LHDC Hi-Res Bluetooth connectivity. Further wireless options are available thanks to the support for AirPlay and DLNA streaming.

Astell&Kern reveals the Kann Max portable digital audio player (DAP), the 4th model in its acclaimed Kann series. By applying advanced design and audio technology, this newfound power is also housed in a more compact and lightweight chassis. The result is an even wider variety of headphones, including sophisticated high impedance models, can be optimally driven without the need for additional amplification. Music fans can experience the original studio-quality sound without compromise - anywhere, anytime. As the power output increases, so does the noise level that adversely affects the audio performance. Through innovative integrated circuit design, Astell&Kern is able to achieve a low noise level while hitting the new 15Vrms 'Super' output setting.