News

Astell&Kern introduces its latest in-ear monitor, the AK ZERO1, featuring three different types of drivers to deliver a ground-breaking hybrid sound. Composed of a micro planar dynamic driver, dual balanced armature drivers, and a dynamic driver, this unique design combines the sonic characteristics of each driver to produce unprecedented natural audio. Astell&Kern has set new standards in IEM engineering to get the music fan closer to the original studio sound. The Micro Rectangular Planar Dynamic Driver is a specially developed, highly advanced driver that allows a planar driver design, normally difficult to scale down for headphones, to be applied to in-ear monitors. Adopting a sturdy and lightweight planar membrane to minimize frequency loss, this is combined with a vibration panel boasting a high-polymer and thin metal film to create crystal clear and dynamic high frequencies. The AK ZERO1's driver system also features dual BA drivers, using custom-designed coils to deliver transparent vocals with super-low distortion. Couple this with the single 5.6 mm dynamic driver to ensure rich, controlled and deep low frequencies, and the AK ZERO1 is poised to deliver its pioneering hybrid sound. To realize this new sound through the ideal frequency response, a Crossover Network design was generated…

Meze Audio, a high-end audio company based in Romania, continues its collaboration with Rinaro Isodynamics for the release of the new Elite Isodynamic Hybrid Array headphone, their most advanced planar magnetic headphone to date. A blend of innovative technology and acoustic engineering with outstanding mechanical design and ergonomics, Elite is the result of 3 years of research and development which opened the path for creating a powerful, lifelike sound experience.

The cadence of new Roon Ready certifications has increased tenfold since the start of the pandemic. In 2020, just a handful of new products were certified each month, and in the first half of this year Roon Labs is already announcing over 100 new Roon Ready and Roon Tested devices. Forty new brands have submitted products for certification in that timeframe. This includes key product ranges and new launches from notable audio manufacturers, including Arcam, Astell & Kern, Cambridge Audio, and JBL.

The new Luxman L-595A Special Edition is a premium Class A integrated amplifier built to commemorate Luxman's 95th anniversary. The unique industrial design reimagines the highly regarded L-570 series inaugurated in 1989. "Not many consumer electronics companies can point to a 95-year heritage. The Luxman L-595ASE validates our ongoing commitment to sonic excellence, superb build quality, and timeless design." - said Jeff Sigmund, president of Luxman America.

Klipsch is pleased to introduce two new true wireless earphones with best-in-class active noise cancellation technology and artificial intelligence while being designed for ultimate comfort and performance. The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earphones feature a frictionless experience powered by Bragi embedded AI and head moves. This innovative product is truly a first in many ways. Colour options include copper, gunmetal, or silver. A built-in Bragi operating system with embedded artificial intelligence allows for hands-free, advanced gesture-controlled experiences.

Grell, founded by renowned German headphone engineer Axel Grell, announces the debut of a brand-new line of true wireless headphones with the Grell TWS/1. The new in-ear headphones deliver audiophile-grade sound quality for consumers who crave crystal clear, transparent audio and a closer connection to their music, with a direct-to-consumer sales model designed to deliver a personalized, high-end listening experience to a new generation of users - so that the price reflects the Grell-designed sound-quality, alone.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, the world's largest guitar manufacturer, and foremost audio technology company, Mobile Fidelity Electronics, announced today a partnership to develop, produce, and release Fender's first-ever turntable. The Fender x MoFi PrecisionDeck, is a high-performance turntable in every way, with gorgeous looks that resonate with decades of music history. With a shape designed by Principal Master Builder Yuriy Shishkov of the Fender Custom Shop (FCS), the PrecisionDeck utilizes the same wood, swamp ash, as the famed Fender Precision Bass guitar.

Chord Electronics has launched its first-ever small desktop integrated amplifier, Anni. Capable of driving both headphones and compact loudspeakers, the Qutest-sized Anni benefits from the company's proprietary Ultima circuit topology and is perfectly positioned to exploit the full potential of today's high-performance headphones, desktop monitors, and high-resolution audio sources. The new Anni desktop integrated amplifier forms part of the Qutest range and seamlessly complements the resolving abilities of the multi-award-winning Qutest standalone DAC and Huei phono stage. As a system, the Qutest components provide an unrivaled desktop audio solution, offering class-leading digital and analog technologies for the modern music lover. The company's compact QSS (Qutest Stand System) modular equipment rack provides the perfect support, too.

Famed for its amplifiers and digital source components spanning four decades, Audiolab is now releasing its first product designed to improve the quality of AC electricity we feed our audio and AV systems - the dual-action DC Block. The company claims mains electricity has a fundamental influence on the audio signal as it passes through a system, from source to amp to speakers. In a typical dwelling, it is subject to interference induced by a range of issues, causing the AC waveform to distort before it reaches each component. This creates noise in the audio signal, which degrades sound quality - a situation that continues to worsen as the electrical devices we use in our homes proliferate.

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.