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Polish manufacturer of unusual loudspeakers, Qualio, has introduced the Quanteen, its first bookshelf speaker and one of the more interesting attempts to bring the open-baffle concept into a format that is easier to integrate into a smaller listening room. The brand, previously associated mainly with unconventional open-baffle loudspeakers, has prepared a model for listeners looking for a spatial, natural and unforced presentation without having to place large floorstanding speakers in the room. The Quanteen is therefore a monitor only in name and size, because its architecture clearly departs from the usual two-way speaker enclosed in a conventional box. It is a compact semi-open design in which the midrange and treble section operates as a dipole, radiating sound both forward and backward. According to the manufacturer, this solution is responsible for the three-dimensional, holographic soundstage, the reduction of colorations introduced by traditional cabinets and the greater sense of freedom usually associated with larger open-baffle loudspeakers.

Fostex has introduced two new premium headphones, the TH810 and TH818. Both models are designed to bring technology and sound characteristics associated with the flagship TH910 and TH919 into a new, more standard product line. The Japanese brand has combined its familiar biodynamic driver technology with solid wood housings and lightweight magnesium mechanical components, creating two headphones aimed at slightly different listeners. The TH810 is a closed-back design intended for users who want greater isolation from the outside world and a more intimate connection with the music, while the TH818 is an open-back model designed to provide a freer soundstage, a more natural sense of space and long-term comfort during extended listening sessions.

REL Acoustics introduced a new line of active subwoofers designed for hi-fi and home theater systems in which a conventional floor-standing box can be awkward both acoustically and visually. The new range consists of two models, the PL-1 and PL-2, both of which can be mounted directly on the wall, much like a decorative panel or framed picture. This is not simply another variation on the familiar subwoofer placed in the corner of a room, but an attempt to rethink where low frequencies can come from in a domestic audio system. REL has built much of its reputation on subwoofers intended not only for home theater, but also for ambitious stereo systems, and Planar is aimed at a very specific set of needs - deeper bass, better integration with interior design, greater installation flexibility and less intrusion into everyday living space.

JPLAY has received a major update that expands the app with one of the most requested features in its recent history - full support for the HQPlayer library. For hi-fi users, this may be a more significant change than a simple feature list would suggest, because JPLAY has never positioned itself as just another app for playing music. From the beginning, it has functioned as a specialized control center for listeners using streamers, network DACs, services such as Qobuz, Tidal and HighResAudio, and local UPnP libraries. Now it adds the ability to browse and control an HQPlayer library directly from within JPLAY, alongside dynamic Smart Playlists, a completely new History screen with a calendar view and several refinements based on community feedback. The update is available in the latest version of the app as a free upgrade for existing users through the App Store.

Harman Kardon revealed the Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi, a new wireless speaker that develops one of the most recognizable lines in the company's catalog. The Aura Studio series has always stood apart from typical home speakers not only because of its sound, but also because of its form. Its transparent dome and lighting effects were never just decorative extras, but part of the product's identity from the beginning. In the latest version, Harman Kardon takes that idea further, combining the familiar design with Wi-Fi connectivity, support for popular streaming systems, multi-room operation, Bluetooth 6.0 and a more elaborate acoustic structure. The Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi is therefore intended not only as a striking object for the home, but also as a fully fledged network speaker for everyday music listening.

iFi Audio has refreshed one of its most accessible product families with three new ZEN Air 2 devices, each designed to solve a different and very common problem in everyday music listening. The ZEN Air DAC 2 is a compact digital-to-analog converter with a headphone amplifier, aimed primarily at people who listen from a computer, play games, watch movies or work at a laptop and want a clear upgrade over a standard audio output without building a large system. The ZEN Air Phono 2 is a phono preamplifier for MM and MC cartridges, allowing a turntable to be connected to an amplifier, active speakers or another component that lacks a suitable phono input. The ZEN Air Blue 2 serves a different purpose again. It is a Bluetooth receiver that allows a traditional amplifier, stereo system or pair of active speakers to gain wireless playback from a phone, tablet or computer. Together, the three models form a simple, affordable and compact route to upgrading an existing system without replacing its core components. In other words, iFi is not offering one universal box that tries to do everything, but three specialized tools - one for headphones, one for vinyl and one for…

FiiO has introduced the EH11, lightweight on-ear Bluetooth headphones that combine styling inspired by portable audio designs from the 1980s with features typical of contemporary mobile devices. It is an unusual proposition, because instead of pretending to be a miniature version of studio monitors or another wireless gadget in a minimalist shell, the EH11 openly plays the retro card. The headphones have a compact, slim structure, several colorful finish options and distinctive wooden control elements, while still offering Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC support, dual-device connection and up to 30 hours of battery life.

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.

Wharfedale expanded its Heritage Series with the introduction of the Heritage Centre, a dedicated centre-channel loudspeaker designed to integrate seamlessly with models such as the Linton, Super Linton, Super Denton, Dovedale and Aston in multichannel home cinema systems. Developed in response to growing demand from users building AV setups around Wharfedale's retro-inspired stereo speakers, the new model brings the tonal character and driver architecture of the Heritage range into the crucial dialogue channel position at the front of a surround system.

Buchardt Audio unveiled the S400 MK3, the latest generation of one of the company's most important loudspeakers and a model that has remained central to its lineup since the first S400 prototype appeared in 2016. What began as a compact standmount developed with the aid of the Klippel Near Field Scanner quickly became one of the most frequently recommended speakers in its class, largely because it combined a relatively small enclosure with unusually large-scale sound, generous bass weight, and a wide, room-friendly presentation. With the new S400 MK3, Buchardt is not presenting a mild refresh but what it describes as a complete redesign, retaining only a single part from the previous version - the binding posts.