Displaying items by tag: floorstanding - StereoLife Magazine

In the world of loudspeakers, some designs command respect through advanced engineering, exotic materials and impressive specifications. Others do not look like spaceships, make no use of materials seemingly borrowed from z science-fiction film, and yet win people over with beautiful, musical sound and the simple fact that one can imagine living with them every day. Vienna Acoustics belongs firmly to the second group. The Austrian manufacturer has never built its identity around simulations, calculations and graphs alone, focusing instead on what makes its products appealing to the eye and the ear. The company was founded in 1989 by Peter Gansterer and Peter Haferl, whose goal was to bring together two worlds - solid engineering and the kind of aesthetics usually associated with fine furniture. Based in Rust, a small town in Austria's Burgenland region, the company now employs around 40 people. Among audiophiles, it is known for distinctive loudspeakers with exceptional cabinet work. Its catalog is dominated by models designed for stereo systems, and the names chosen for individual models will feel familiar to any music lover. Liszt Reference, Beethoven Concert Grand Reference, Haydn SE Signature, Mozart SE Signature - there is clearly a theme here. The last of these is the latest incarnation of one of the most important floorstanders in Vienna Acoustics' history, and also a very good example of just how differently hi-fi can be understood.

Ø Audio has introduced the Ymir, a new reference floorstanding loudspeaker that marks a decisive shift in the company's design direction and stands apart from earlier models such as the Icon 12 and Verdande. Described by the manufacturer as a clean-sheet development rather than an evolution of existing platforms, the Ymir combines a large-format compression-driver architecture with a newly engineered bass system and an unusually rigid cabinet structure intended to deliver high sensitivity and controlled directivity in real-world listening rooms rather than only optimized demonstration environments.

Ophidian has introduced the Skye, a new floorstanding loudspeaker that expands the British manufacturer's S-series with a model intended to combine full-range performance, compact domestic proportions, and a more traditional furniture-grade finish. Designed and assembled in the UK, the new speaker joins the standmount Seren as the second entry in this mid-priced range, giving Ophidian a floorstander for listeners who want deeper bass and greater scale without moving into the company's higher-tier Incanto and Voodoo lines.

Audio Pro, the award-winning Scandinavian audio brand known for redefining what compact speakers can do, is opening a new chapter in wireless sound for the US and international markets. Following the rollout of its W-Generation speaker range, the company is now introducing W-Generation versions of its most powerful models, Drumfire II W and Drumfire D-2 W, completing a family that refreshes almost every aspect of the Audio Pro experience, from the control app and streaming platform to the core sound signature and industrial design. Positioned as a complete evolution rather than a minor refresh, the W-Generation is designed to offer a smarter, more robust multiroom platform, a more powerful and refined acoustic performance and a cleaner, more unified aesthetic across the line.

DALI has unveiled Sonik, a new loudspeaker series created to redefine what accessible hi-fi can offer in living rooms and home cinemas. Positioned as the most significant evolution of the brand's mid-priced offerings since the award-winning Oberon range of 2018, Sonik is intended to bring high performance sound, contemporary design and broad usability to music and movie fans who want serious loudspeakers that still fit comfortably into everyday homes. The line is aimed at both seasoned audiophiles looking for strong value and design-focused newcomers taking their first step into higher fidelity systems, carrying forward the role Oberon has played in DALI's catalogue for almost a decade.

Piega has unveiled the Premium 801, a new floorstanding loudspeaker that takes its long running Premium Series into fresh territory between the existing Premium 701 and the Coax 611. Conceived as a reference model for the range, it is intended to combine Swiss precision engineering, meticulous craftsmanship and a more ambitious acoustic architecture in a slim, elegant enclosure that still integrates easily into domestic living spaces. The aim is to offer a speaker that raises performance standards in its category while remaining recognisably part of the Premium family in both sound and appearance.

Perlisten entered the hi-fi market in a way that surprised many - suddenly, yet with clear ambition. Its debut was far from accidental, led by seasoned engineers and managers with decades of experience in transducers, measurement systems, and loudspeaker design. Co-founder and president Dan Roemer brings over 25 years of industry expertise, including work with the NHT research group, MITek Corporation, and projects in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Lars Johansen, with more than 30 years in audio, has contributed to brands like JBL, Harman Kardon, Klipsch, and Jamo, and later served as partner and president of Miller & Kreisel, supplying solutions for recording studios and premium home theatres. Since its formal launch in 2016, Perlisten has aimed to deliver top-tier products, reflected in its pricing. The introduction of the more accessible A-Series marked a shift, opening the brand to a wider audience. Interest continues to grow, yet many enthusiasts remain unaware of the company's origins, the people behind it, and its long-term objectives. This is why I decided to speak with someone who has been with Perlisten from the start and understands every stage of its development - from early concepts and factory selection to launches and subsequent product lines. Erik Wiederholtz, Perlisten's Technical Director, is an acoustics specialist with experience in transducer modelling, dynamic speakers, MEMS digital microphones, hearing aids, headphones, and small speakers. Our conversation, I believe, will shed light on the company's foundations and help readers understand what Perlisten represents.

Wharfedale has unveiled the new Evo 5 Series - a comprehensive update to the multi-award-winning Evo 4 line that builds upon its success with a series of technical and acoustic refinements. The British manufacturer describes the new generation as a natural evolution rather than a reinvention, with changes to the cabinets, crossovers and drive units designed to deliver higher-end sound without higher-end pricing. As before, the series includes both standmount and floorstanding loudspeakers, with the larger models employing true three-way configurations featuring dedicated midrange domes. The familiar layout, however, conceals deeper engineering improvements. The cabinets are slightly larger to increase internal volume, while new crossover designs and upgraded components contribute to a more immersive soundstage and smoother frequency integration.

Monitor Audio announced the new Gold Series 6G. The all-new, totally redesigned series leaves no detail unrevealed, as Monitor Audio Group delivers the finest, most exhilarating loudspeaker range yet to carry the Gold Series name. A comprehensive, highly flexible and user-friendly range, Gold Series 6G comprises six distinctive loudspeakers. Each model addresses a clearly defined user requirement, adds innovative acoustic technologies, and is crafted to celebrate and exude the distinctiveness and quality customers expect from the Gold Series. Building on over three decades of heritage, Gold Series 6G represents the start of an epic new chapter - a new way to experience the joy of sensational sound.

Revival Audio, the French loudspeaker company born from almost four decades of expertise and know-how behind many top-tier speaker brands based in France, Denmark and the USA, announced the latest addition to its line-up - Sprint. Building upon the success of their Atalante speakers, Revival Audio's Sprint range comprises the Sprint 3 2-way bookshelf speaker, and Sprint 4 2.5-way floorstanding loudspeaker. Both the Sprint 3 and Sprint 4 deliver a precise and balanced sound, thanks to featuring an innovative Elytron baffle design.