Displaying items by tag: hdmi - StereoLife Magazine

In the world of high-end audio, there has always been a fairly clear division of labor. If you want to listen to music seriously, you buy an amplifier, a network player, and a decent pair of speakers. If movie sound is the priority, you put together a home theater system with an AV receiver, a subwoofer, and speakers dotted around the couch. And if convenience, good looks, and a minimum of boxes matter more than anything else, you buy a soundbar or a wireless speaker and accept that you're making a compromise on sound quality. Or at least that's how the thinking went for years. The trouble is, audio manufacturers seem to have stopped playing by those rules. Increasingly, they're offering products that refuse to stay in their designated categories, promising to take the place of several components in a home entertainment system. Most of the time, the promise is more impressive than the result. It's easy enough to give a soundbar streaming capabilities or add an HDMI socket to a Bluetooth speaker. Getting that same box to sound like a proper stereo system is another matter entirely. Occasionally, though, engineers approach the challenge with rather more ambition. They're not content to assume that powerful bass, clear dialogue, and the ability to stream a playlist from a phone are all anyone could possibly want. That's when things get interesting, and even die-hard audiophiles may find themselves questioning a few long-held beliefs. Suddenly, we have compact wireless speakers that can hold their own against imposing floorstanders, or a beautiful amplifier slim enough to hang on a wall that can embarrass high-end integrated amps and 100-pound power amplifiers. Could the new Naim Muso Utopia be another of these rule-breakers?

There's something rather appealing about a hi-fi system that doesn't demand an entire equipment rack, half a dozen power outlets, and a weekend spent figuring out which cable goes where. Compact all-in-one systems have been part of Marantz's catalog for years, but the Japanese manufacturer has never treated them as little more than glorified mini stereos destined for a bedroom shelf. The Melody X M-CR612 was a perfect example. Despite its modest dimensions, it combined a CD player, radio tuner, HEOS streaming platform, and an unusual four-channel amplifier that could drive two pairs of speakers or operate in a bi-amping configuration. It remained on the market for years, becoming something of a favorite among listeners who wanted proper hi-fi functionality without the usual collection of separate components. Replacing it was never going to be easy. With the new MCR 60n DAB, Marantz has kept the things that made the Melody X so appealing while bringing almost everything else up to date. HDMI eARC, a dedicated phono input, a substantially upgraded streaming platform, and even optional Dirac Live room correction have joined the party. What was already a remarkably versatile little stereo system has become something considerably more ambitious.

Not every stereo receiver needs to be a miniature computer. Over the past few years, even relatively inexpensive hi-fi components have acquired features that were once reserved for considerably more sophisticated equipment. Built-in streaming platforms, wireless networking, HDMI connections, music services, smartphone apps, and increasingly elaborate digital processing have become almost standard. There's nothing wrong with any of that, of course, but it does raise an interesting question. What if someone simply wants to build a conventional stereo system, connect a turntable or CD player, and listen to music without having to configure another device on their home network? Yamaha's new R200A is designed for precisely that kind of listener. It's a full-size, two-channel stereo receiver offering 100 watts per channel, a dedicated phono input, several analog connections, conventional radio tuners, and Bluetooth. There is no Wi-Fi, no MusicCast, no HDMI, and not a single digital audio input. Even the USB port on the rear panel is reserved exclusively for firmware updates. In other words, this is a stereo receiver in the traditional sense of the term: an integrated amplifier with a built-in radio tuner, intended to form the foundation of a straightforward hi-fi system.

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.

Fyne Audio has spent almost a decade building its reputation around conventional passive loudspeakers, from relatively affordable bookshelf models to imposing high-end designs made in Scotland. Cubitt 5 marks a rather important change of direction. It is the company's first fully active loudspeaker system, combining amplification, digital processing, wireless connectivity and a phono stage with one of Fyne's most recognizable technologies - the IsoFlare point-source driver. First shown publicly at the Shanghai AV Show in May and subsequently presented in Europe at High End Vienna, Cubitt 5 has now made its North American debut.

Marantz has introduced the second generation of its Cinema Series AV receivers. The new family consists of the Cinema 50 Series 2, Cinema 60 DAB Series 2 and slimline Cinema 70s Series 2. The company has not opted for a major visual overhaul, as the distinctive styling of the current range has proved to be one of its strongest features. Instead, the most important changes have been made inside the receivers and within their software. Marantz promises improved sound quality, wider access to Dirac Live room correction, new installation tools, expanded streaming capabilities and additional features designed for modern gaming PCs and consoles.

Klipsch is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a major overhaul of one of the most recognizable parts of its powered-speaker lineup. The Fives II, The Sevens II and The Nines II retain the familiar three-step hierarchy of the previous generation, but little else has simply been carried over. All three models combine Klipsch's horn-loaded acoustic design with a completely new electronics platform developed by Onkyo engineers in Osaka, while adding built-in network streaming, HDMI 2.1, Dolby Atmos and a much broader range of system functions. The new generation was first shown at CES 2026 and has since reached stores in the US, UK and Europe.

Marantz is refreshing the entry point to its traditional hi-fi range with two full-size components - the Model 70 integrated amplifier and the matching CD 70 player. The new duo follows in the footsteps of the popular PM6007 and CD6007, but the transition involves considerably more than a change of model numbers. Both products adopt the visual language previously associated with more expensive Marantz components, while the amplifier gains HDMI ARC, two-way Bluetooth connectivity and a revised amplification section. The CD player, meanwhile, combines conventional disc playback with high-resolution files from USB storage.

Denon unveiled the AVR-S980H, a new 7.2-channel AV receiver designed as a central hub for contemporary home entertainment systems combining surround sound, streaming, and gaming functionality in a single chassis. Positioned as a step-up solution for users moving beyond soundbars and entry-level audio setups, the new model is intended to deliver a more immersive listening experience while remaining approachable in everyday installation and operation. According to Denon, the receiver reflects a broader shift toward flexible systems that adapt to modern households where television viewing, music streaming, and gaming increasingly share the same platform.

Marantz introduced two exceptional new products to its portfolio of high-performance hi-fi components. The first is the latest addition to the brand's long-established and widely celebrated heritage as the world leader in CD player design - the new CD 50n Networked CD Player. The CD 50n is perfectly partnered by the new Marantz Model 50 Integrated Amplifier, an all-analog design combining exceptional realism and transparency with a purist approach sure to find favor with vinyl devotees. The resulting combination is a harmoniously designed and contemporary hi-fi system blending timeless elegance and outstanding performance with all the flexibility and cutting-edge technology that redefines modern musical luxury at its price point.