Displaying items by tag: poland - StereoLife Magazine

In the age of streaming and digital audio files, one might think that listening to music has never been simpler. In practice, however, especially for more demanding users, it remains a surprisingly complicated business, particularly when we want to combine the convenience of using a smartphone with the capabilities of more advanced audio equipment. When it comes to managing music playback, we usually have two options. The first is to use the app provided by the streaming service itself - quick and intuitive, but offering only basic functionality. Better control over sound or more advanced options are out of the question, and on top of that our player must be compatible with a given app and hold the right certification for it to appear on the list of available output devices at all. The second option is to turn to external software such as Audirvana, Roon or apps supplied by hardware manufacturers such as BluOS, Lumin or Auralic. This is where the trouble begins as well. Either something important is missing, or the app turns out to be clumsy and unstable, or it is excellent, refined and versatile, but expensive. What is missing is a single standard and a common language. Every company goes its own way - some build their own closed ecosystems, others support already existing platforms, and some seem to be waiting, although it is not entirely clear for what. As a result, the user has to improvise and navigate between all these options, which often ends with the use of several different apps. One streamer appears in the streaming service app, another does not. One supports all the popular standards, while with another the wait for certification has already dragged on for a year, and nobody knows whether customers will ever get it. One proprietary app turns out to be polished, another is irritating at every turn. And yet it was all supposed to be so elegant... Streamers, DACs and all-in-one systems are still evolving relatively quickly, but when it comes to apps, the last real breakthrough was Roon, which arrived on the scene ten years ago. That software has also continued to evolve, though perhaps not as quickly as some would like. Meanwhile, a very serious rival has emerged right under our noses. Meet JPLAY.

JPLAY has added HighResAudio as its third integrated streaming service alongside TIDAL and Qobuz, further strengthening its position as a playback application focused on high-quality audio and multi-source library management within a single interface. The new partner service specialises in studio-quality hi-resolution recordings, offering lossless streaming up to 24-bit/192 kHz together with access to a virtual storage space for purchased music. This combination may be particularly appealing to listeners who treat high-resolution files as a primary listening format rather than simply an extension of conventional streaming. Integration with HighResAudio is already available in the latest version of the JPLAY app. After signing in to a HighResAudio account from within JPLAY, users gain access to the platform's full streaming catalogue and can browse it in the same unified environment used for other supported services.

When Fezz Audio, then a small, unknown domestic manufacturer, unveiled its first amplifier ten years ago, very few people believed it stood a chance. Yes, the company was connected to a respected producer of transformers used by prestigious audio brands, but as its own label it simply did not exist in the consciousness of audiophiles. At launch, Fezz brought only a single product to market. It was not a compact digital-to-analog converter, not a lavishly equipped solid-state integrated, but a modest tube integrated that, from the customer's perspective, distinguished itself mainly with its reasonable price and a handful of available color finishes. How was this oddity ever supposed to shake up the tightly sealed hi-fi world? And yet, within just a few months, Silver Luna was on everyone's lips. Reviewers and music lovers quickly took to it, drawn by its honest, fully tube-based sound and its raw, minimalist, slightly industrial styling. It was a straightforward, sensible piece of gear with no gimmicks, no cosmetic frills, no wooden ornaments - just engineering focused on doing one job well. It turned out you really could build tube amplifiers in Europe that didn't cost as much as a new car.

Melodika expands its Sky Blue range with a new power cable, the SBP, designed for users who value clean, stable power delivery in audio and video systems. As the company explains, high-quality power supply is often a crucial yet underestimated element influencing the final sound performance. The SBP has therefore been engineered as a solid, technically sound solution for demanding hi-fi enthusiasts seeking to minimise electrical interference and ensure long-term reliability.

Melodika is a Polish manufacturer of cables and hi-fi loudspeakers, established in 2010. The company follows a pragmatic, no-nonsense design philosophy focused on real engineering and audible results rather than marketing gimmicks. Its product portfolio includes speaker, signal and power cables, as well as installation wiring and accessories, all developed and assembled in Poland. Melodika's mission is to deliver high-quality sound at reasonable prices - a goal consistently recognised by numerous awards and positive reviews from both Polish and international audio experts.

At its core, the SBP uses three 2.5 mm² conductors made from high-purity, oxygen-free copper (OFC) of 4N grade (99.99 % purity). This material guarantees excellent conductivity, low resistance (around 7.75 Ω/km) and minimal oxidation over time. The cable features a double-shielded design - an 85 % coverage OFC braid combined with a Mylar foil - effectively suppressing electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference from neighbouring devices or cables. This makes the SBP suitable not only for advanced home hi-fi systems but also for professional or industrial environments where power stability and noise suppression are critical.

To ensure durability and safety, the SBP incorporates a triple-layer insulation system. Its inner dielectric layers provide a high insulation resistance of over 200 MΩ/km, while the outer jacket, made of modified PVC, offers enhanced mechanical, thermal and chemical protection. Such construction allows for flexible use, including in-wall installations and demanding operating conditions. New, gold-plated connectors further improve contact stability and corrosion resistance, ensuring a secure connection and long-term performance. The cable has successfully passed a 4000 V voltage test, confirming its robust insulation and high safety margin.

Melodika offers the SBP in eight lengths ranging from 0.5 m to 5 m, priced between €132 and €239. Each version comes with a 5-year manufacturer's warranty. Thanks to its solid construction, wide compatibility and noise-reducing properties, the SBP can be used not only in audio and home cinema systems but also in measurement, laboratory or medical equipment where clean and stable power is essential. Info and photos by Melodika.

The official history of Audiomica Laboratory brand began in 2005, but its founder, Łukasz Mika, had planned this step several years earlier. As someone who always loved music and was fascinated by the equipment used to reproduce it, he eventually decided to explore the topic of cabling and its impact on the sound of his stereo system. What initially seemed like a harmless curiosity completely captivated him. The differences were clear, and observing them brought Łukasz immense joy. However, what intrigued him even more was the question of why this happened - what factors and design aspects made one cable produce phenomenal sound while another lacked that magic?

The Audiomica 4-all-in-1 cable set is a unique proposition for a comprehensive connection solution for all-in-one audio systems (integrated amplifiers with network streamers). The dedicated set is a response to the growing popularity of such equipment and the demand of customers who recognize the need to optimize and improve their listening experiences. The cables have been constructed based on high-quality materials, refined details, and the use of proven company processes and technologies. Their conducting base is made of high-purity, oxygen-free tinned copper.

Manufacturers of hi-fi equipment like to brag about their peak performance, but in any company's product lineup, the key role is played by the models that simply sell best. They are the ones that provide funds for further development and indicate what ideas appeal most to customers. Recently, Pylon Audio has been working hard on high-end loudspeakers. Over the past few years, the Polish manufacturer's catalog has included speakers from the Jasper series, including six models, the powerful Amber mkIIs, the old-school Jade 20s, which just got a bigger brother, and the Emeralds 25s. However, diamonds dominate the sales statistics, and I'm not surprised at all. The models in this series offer everything music lovers seek - a discreet and modest design, high-quality craftsmanship, versatile sound, seamless compatibility with a wide range of electronics, a rich variety of color options, and an affordable price. It may not be a piece of equipment that relies on exceptional technical solutions and surprises its owner daily, but it is hard to identify any clear drawbacks. If only we do not save too much on electronics and choose a model that fits the size and acoustics of our listening room, we will get speakers that can do everything. Will the new generation of the Diamond series continue the story? For this to happen, the Polish designers had to meet only one condition - not to spoil anything. And they claim to have even improved this and that. Is it true?

The latest cable from the Polish brand Melodika is now available for sale. The high-quality USB cable enables a secure and reliable connection between two devices equipped with USB A and USB C sockets. By replacing the factory-supplied cable of your audio equipment, such as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with the Melodika MDUAC cable, you can easily and quickly improve the quality of the transmitted signal. Correct impedance results in low jitter, eliminates timing faults, and distortions in digital signal that might otherwise have occurred.

Although Poland's most famous loudspeaker manufacturer started with budget speakers, its current catalog is dominated by mid- and high-end designs. The top position is occupied by the beautiful Jaspers, available in both passive and active versions. Then we have three series consisting of a single model - Amber, Jade, and Emerald. The bottom four is made up of the Ruby, Sapphire, Opal, and Pearl series. Right in the middle there's a series that has become a real market hit, combining minimalist design, high-quality workmanship, a rich color palette, and natural, balanced, and universal sound. The Diamonds were Pylon's flagships at the time of their launch. I remember how the bosses of the Jarocin-based manufacturer, still unsure of the rightness of their decision, wondered whether such loudspeakers would appeal to customers. Today, the company could probably produce only this series and would easily balance the books (especially considering that Pylon Audio is not only a manufacturer of equipment sold under its own brand but also a supplier of cabinets for leading foreign brands). However, since there was an opportunity to improve them, it was a shame not to take it. This is how the Diamonds mkII were born. To see what's what, I decided to review my favorite model from this series - the "twenty-fives".

If I didn't know what Fezz Audio and Pylon Audio have in common, I would think they share the same owner. The two brands openly support each other, exhibit together at major industry events, hold joint photo shoots, and have the same distributor in some countries. In reality, however, these companies only share what one would call a path to success. Not easy, bumpy, risky, based on ingenuity, diligence, and young energy drawing on the experience of the older generation. Pylon Audio began as a small carpentry shop making loudspeaker cabinets. Later, it began producing its own loudspeakers, raising the bar pretty much every year. Fezz Audio, on the other hand, is a side project of a family-owned company specializing in manufacturing toroidal transformers, or at least that's how it began. Many experts say that toroids are moderately suitable for tube amplifiers, but the Lachowski brothers had a different opinion on the subject. They developed a transformer that performed brilliantly, and since it was a successful project, they decided to follow suit and build a complete amplifier around such transformers.