Displaying items by tag: airplay - StereoLife Magazine

For years, KEF has been steadily developing the concept of a complete stereo system contained within a pair of active speakers. The history of this part of the company's lineup goes back much further than the rise of music streaming. Its symbolic starting point is the LS3/5a monitor, developed by the BBC in the 1970s using KEF drivers. The company returned to that tradition for its 50th anniversary with the passive LS50, followed several years later by the active LS50 Wireless. Subsequent generations of the LS50 Wireless, the smaller LSX systems and the slim LS60 Wireless floorstanders established an entire family of products in which the amplification, digital-to-analog conversion, streamer and digital crossover are designed from the outset as a single system. The latest and most luxurious expression of this idea is the LS Luxe, an active stand-mounted system positioned above the LS50 Wireless II while remaining considerably more compact than the floorstanding LS60 Wireless.

Ferrum has spent the last few years building a compact ecosystem around digital conversion, headphone amplification and power management, but one obvious piece has been missing - a network transport of its own. That gap is now filled by Broen, the Polish company's first dedicated streaming product and a natural partner for the Wandla DAC family and Hypsos power supply. The model was previewed at the Audio Video Show in Warsaw and the Paris Audio Video Show in late 2025, but has now reached its final production form. Its name means "bridge" in Danish, which neatly summarizes the concept - Broen is designed as a digital gateway between streaming services, local music libraries and an external DAC rather than another all-in-one streamer with conversion and analog circuitry squeezed into the same chassis.

Cambridge Audio is expanding its Evo series, a range of all-in-one systems designed for listeners who want a real hi-fi setup without building a traditional stack of separate components. This approach has become one of the most interesting directions in modern home audio. More people now listen through streaming services, connect their systems to a TV, sometimes return to vinyl, and still want to keep passive loudspeakers and full-scale stereo sound. From the beginning, Evo was created for exactly that kind of user - connect speakers, configure the network, and use a single device that combines an amplifier, streamer, DAC, and a broad range of inputs. Now the British manufacturer is taking the concept further with the Evo 300, the most powerful and most advanced streaming amplifier in the history of the series.

Yamaha has introduced two new AV receivers, the RX500A and RX300A, designed to serve as modern hubs for home entertainment - from cinema and music to gaming. The manufacturer is clearly targeting users who want to build a system around conventional loudspeakers and an AV receiver, but also expect the convenience associated with modern TVs, consoles and streaming devices. The RX500A is a 7.2-channel design, while the RX300A is a 5.2-channel model, but both support Dolby Atmos, four HDMI inputs compatible with current video and gaming standards, Bluetooth Multipoint and automatic room correction. These are not AV receivers designed only for home cinema in the traditional sense, but rather versatile control units intended to bring films, series, sport, games and everyday music listening together in one relatively easy-to-use system.

Harman Kardon has refreshed one of the most recognizable products in its catalog. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi is a new version of the transparent speaker system that, for many years, was associated mainly with computers, desktops and its distinctive, almost sculptural form. This time, however, the emphasis shifts clearly toward a modern wireless system for everyday music listening. The transparent subwoofer and slim satellite speakers remain, but they are now joined by Wi-Fi connectivity, support for popular streaming platforms, Bluetooth 6.0, app-based control and lighting effects that react to the music. The SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi is therefore not just another variation of a familiar design. It is an attempt to adapt this idea to the way music is used at home today - without signal cables, without a traditional source and, in most cases, without the need to connect anything apart from power.

Advance Paris has introduced the Nova series, a new flagship platform of hybrid integrated amplifiers designed to function as complete control centers for modern stereo systems while preserving the company's established tube-assisted analog architecture. Positioned above the Classic and Apex ranges in the manufacturer's lineup, the Nova platform represents Advance Paris's most ambitious integrated amplifier concept to date. The series includes two amplifiers - the A-i130 and A-i190 - together with optional streaming and Bluetooth expansion modules and a dedicated rotary remote controller. First previewed at High End Munich 2025, the lineup is scheduled to make its North American debut at AXPONA 2026, with global availability expected from May 2026.

iFi Audio is continuing to develop its compact ZEN line with the introduction of the ZEN Stream 3, a dedicated network transport designed for users who already own a DAC and want the cleanest, most stable possible digital signal to bring high-resolution streaming into an existing hi-fi system. The new model builds on the original ZEN Stream concept, but combines updated hardware with a newer streaming engine and expanded software support, while remaining firmly focused on one job only - delivering music from the network to an external DAC.

Primare has unveiled its new all-in-one audio system, the Allt-i-Ett - a complete high-end solution combining a network player, amplifier and loudspeakers within a single elegant enclosure. Designed to deliver premium performance with Scandinavian simplicity, the Allt-i-Ett embodies the Swedish manufacturer's minimalist approach to audio engineering. Its name, meaning 'all-in-one' in Swedish, reflects both the concept and the company's philosophy of bringing outstanding sound quality to as many listeners as possible, without the need for multiple components. At its core, the Allt-i-Ett delivers a powerful 300-watt peak output supported by advanced digital signal processing and a versatile range of connection options. The system is designed for both convenience and fidelity, offering easy integration into any modern living space. It caters equally to those who want a refined, plug-and-play system and to experienced audiophiles seeking a high-performance secondary setup.

Hegel has announced the launch of the H150 streaming amplifier - an all-in-one hi-fi solution designed to combine versatility, musical refinement and ease of use in a compact, elegantly built chassis. Positioned as the successor to the H120, the H150 bridges the gap between affordability and audiophile performance, offering much of the same technology found in Hegel's flagship models, including the company's advanced streaming platform, app control and patented SoundEngine 2 amplification. Nicknamed 'The Prodigy', the H150 embodies Hegel's philosophy that true excellence should be accessible. While sitting at the entry point of the Norwegian manufacturer's integrated range, it demonstrates the sonic maturity and control more often associated with far costlier components. Delivering 2 x 75 watts into 8 ohms, it is capable of driving demanding loudspeakers with confidence, combining precision, scale and authority that far exceed expectations for its size and price.

In Norse mythology, Thor is known as the god of thunder, lightning, marriage, vitality, agriculture, and the home hearth. He was said to be more sympathetic to humans than his father, Odin, though equally violent. He traveled in a chariot harnessed to goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. Furthermore, he was usually depicted as a mighty man with a red beard and three key attributes - a belt doubling his power, iron gauntlets, and a great battle hammer called Mjolnir (Mjølner). Whenever Thor hurled his hammer, it would unfailingly come back to him, crushing the target of his master's attack ("Mjøl" in modern Norwegian literally means "flour" or "powder," so "Mjølner" can be understood as "a tool for grinding to powder"). The impact of this unusual weapon was to be accompanied by lightning. How valuable this hammer was to Thor can be seen in the song telling the story of what he went to when a giant named Thrym stole Mjolnir, demanding the hand of the goddess Freya for its return. According to this legend, Thor, at the instigation of Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, was to disguise himself as Freya, shielding himself with a veil. Thinking that the plan had succeeded, Thrym and his companions held a wedding, during which the rightful owner of Mjolnir seems to have forgotten his mission for a while and got carried away by his emotions. He ate eight salmon and an ox, which caused concern among the giants, but Loki explained the phenomenon by saying that the "bride" had not eaten for a week in anticipation of her nuptials with Thrym. At the end of the feast, when, according to tradition, Mjolnir was laid in the bosom of "Freya" to seal the marriage, Thor grabbed his hammer and slaughtered the giants. Not surprisingly, Mjolnir became the most popular symbol used by Scandinavians not only in the Middle Ages but even today, if only in coats of arms and emblems. And what does this have to do with the H600? Let me explain...