Displaying items by tag: stereo - StereoLife Magazine

Created for the dedicated music lover, the new integrated amplifier by Copland is designed to provide exceptional audio performance that belies its power rating and price. The CSA70 provides four digital inputs, three analog inputs, a line-out function, as well as a pre-out terminal, a front-facing 6.3mm headphone output, and a 70 Watts per channel power amplifier that will surprise users who thought their speakers were power-hungry. For the vinyl enthusiast, we have included an excellent phono preamplifier.

Many manufacturers of high-end cables try to convince us that we are paying for advanced technical solutions, incredibly precise engineering, exotic materials, and details worked out to perfection, such as patented connectors coated with silver, gold, rhodium, or all those expensive metals altogether. To some extent, this is true, for it is difficult to achieve great sound when trying to build such cables from cheap conductors, the worst quality dielectrics and connectors worth two dollars. It's easy to imagine that when all these components are the best money can buy, the price of such cable goes through the roof. Is this madness? Probably yes, but it doesn't change the fact that there is no shortage of people willing to buy high-end cables, as well as companies ready to provide them with what they want. What is shocking for a novice audiophile does not seem so strange to someone who has been building their system for many years, and has already spent tens of thousands of dollars on speakers, amplifiers, sources, and anti-vibration racks.

Astell&Kern has redefined the headphone amplifier with the introduction of the ACRO CA1000. Expertly combining high-performance amplifiers with digital audio player (DAP) capabilities in an incredibly compact desktop and carriable-friendly form, the powerful ACRO CA1000 delivers the optimal performance from any type of wired headphone. An array of digital/analog inputs and outputs also ensures the ACRO CA1000 can be at the heart of any hi-fi set-up and become the ultimate system for head-fi fans. This system represents Astell&Kern's fundamental philosophy of delivering as close to the original sound as possible and enriching the listening experience.

New generations of iconic Audio Physic loudspeakers become smaller but more technically advanced, and each design equipped with a certain number of drivers is replaced by a new one. Some speakers, such as the Tempo, have resisted this trend, while others are now significantly smaller than before - the Avanti floorstanders being a case in point. Fans of Audio Physic's compact loudspeakers couldn't wait for the next incarnation of the Spark model. For a long time, the manufacturer argued that this function is fulfilled by the Classic 8 and Classic 15 models. It seemed that we would never see the new Spark again, but the Germans surprised us, and doubly so. Firstly, they have just announced the introduction of the new Spark, and secondly, they have made significant changes in its design. Yes, the new one is a three-way monitor.

Gryphon Audio Designs announced its most advanced preamplifier available. Since Gryphon's founding nearly 40 years ago, our philosophy has remained constant - the relentless pursuit of sonic perfection without commercial compromises in design, construction, or cost. All Gryphon products have been conceived in this same perfectionist spirit: uncompromising engineering in the service of music, impeccable build quality complemented by our original, "Nordic Noir" aesthetic sensibility and simplicity of use. The culmination of Gryphon's four decades of philosophies, design goals, and engineering expertise are fully realized in Commander.

Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, Klipsch announces the release of the new Forte IV loudspeaker, one of its best-selling speakers of all time. The Forte IV is a member of the legendary Klipsch Heritage series and the loudspeaker cabinet is meticulously handcrafted in the USA. The original Forte is an American classic that made its debut in 1985 to much fanfare, but was out of production from 1996 until its third iteration was introduced in 2017. The new Klipsch Forte IV speakers feature updated cosmetics and the latest advancements in acoustic engineering, while maintaining the elegant design and powerful performance that have made them so popular.

I am completely biased when it comes to Hegel gear. I like the brand, I like most of the equipment it offers, I use an H20 power amplifier in my reference system, and I've drunk a lot of beer with the Norwegians, talking about music and hi-fi equipment in general. Most of all, I like the way they think about their work. They're professional but pretty laid back. On the one hand, we are dealing with a company known to everyone in the industry. A company that has dozens of distributors and hundreds of dealers around the world. A company that has won all the most important awards. On the other hand, it's not a corporation with three marketing specialists, two product managers, and four directors per one engineer. It is precisely the opposite. The fact that Hegel's products can compete with the equipment of the big players, often winning this competition when it comes to listening, doesn't mean that it's a cold and calculating machine that only cares about increasing sales numbers. Yes, it does care, but not to the extent that someone sits in spreadsheets at night. Although they have been very successful, the Norwegians remain true to their ideals and manage to maintain a spirit of a small, modest company founded by Bent Holter back when he studied at the Technical University in Trondheim.

Questyle Audio Engineering is proud to commemorate their achievement with the release of their evolution flagship product, the CMA Fifteen. Questyle's patented Current Mode Amplification uses current, instead of voltage, to amplify audio signals, leading to tremendous performance differences when compared to traditional audio amplifiers. The CMA Fifteen takes the already popular CMA Twelve to new heights, becoming the first Questyle headphone amp and DAC to feature the ESS SABER ES9038PRO, the world's highest performance 32-bit DAC available. Featuring unparalleled audio reproduction, brilliantly clear transparency, and massively open sound, the CMA Fifteen chases extreme performance to achieve system-level lossless purity.

Award-winning artist Jacob Collier and Shure have joined forces to launch the all-new Aonic Free True Wireless Sound Isolating Earphones in Crimson Chrome Red and Graphite Gray. Shure, a leading global audio electronics company with nearly 100 years of history-shaping audio, has been a go-to brand for Jacob since he received an SM58 vocal microphone for his 11th birthday. During live performances and in the studio, Jacob trusts Shure gear, including microphones, in-ear monitors, and digital wireless systems. This next evolution of Shure and Jacob's collaboration brings technology from the studio to the street, providing the same high-quality Shure audio for consumers that so many artists and creators, like Jacob, rely on to record and perform. Announced earlier this month in Graphite Gray, Aonic Free have earned editorial praise from prominent consumer technology and audio reviewers. And with the holidays around the corner, a great-sounding pair of sound-isolating earphones are at the top of many wish lists this year. The eye-catching Crimson Chrome Red and classic Graphite Gray Aonic Free fuses style with function.

Choosing a loudspeaker is a task that requires matching many factors at the same time - size, construction type, finish, performance, and, of course, price. When we have solved this puzzle, all we need to do is to carefully remove the new equipment from the box, connect the cables, and arrange speakers in such a way as to get the best possible sound out of them. However, the latter turns out to be quite complicated. Finding the optimal positioning of loudspeakers in the listening room costs pretty much nothing and can surely give a lot of satisfaction. All it takes is a little experience, intuition, and commitment to turn this "problem" into an exciting adventure.