Displaying items by tag: stereo - StereoLife Magazine

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.

Sivga has introduced the SV021 Pro, a new closed-back headphone that builds on one of the company's better-known dynamic designs while aiming to improve resolution, comfort, and material quality without abandoning the easygoing character that helped the original model find an audience among home listeners. Positioned as the successor to the SV021, the new version appears to focus less on reinventing the formula than on refining it, with a newly developed 50 mm driver, updated construction, and a continued emphasis on natural materials and long-session usability.

Écoute Audio has introduced the TH1, a pair of high-end wireless headphones built around a signal architecture more typical of a compact hi-fi system than a conventional Bluetooth design. Instead of relying on an integrated system-on-chip solution that combines decoding, processing and amplification in a single platform, the TH1 use a discrete dual-mono topology with a dedicated DAC stage, a tube preamplifier and separate Class A/B amplification for each channel. The result is a product positioned not simply as another premium portable headset but as a wearable extension of traditional hi-fi design logic.

Mission has expanded its compact 778 Series with the introduction of the 778CDT, a dedicated CD transport designed to complete the lineup alongside the 778X integrated amplifier and the recently announced 778S music streamer. The new model is aimed at listeners who still rely on physical digital media and want a purpose-built transport that can make the most of an external DAC or an amplifier with digital inputs, rather than a conventional all-in-one CD player. In that sense, the 778CDT is not just a matching accessory for the rest of the series, but a sign that Mission sees continued value in CD playback as part of a modern hi-fi system.

Ferrum has introduced the Wandla GoldenSound Edition Gen 2, an updated version of its DAC and preamplifier platform developed in collaboration with GoldenSound. Building on the EISA award-winning Wandla architecture and the earlier GoldenSound Edition variant, the new model focuses on expanded user control over tonal balance, spatial presentation and harmonic character through redesigned versions of three key processing tools - Impact+, Tube Mode and Spatial Enhancement - all refined using Ferrum's Sweet Spot Tuning approach.

Sheraton Stockholm is preparing to reopen in May after an extensive renovation programme that has already transformed all 463 guest rooms and is now moving into its final stage in the hotel's shared spaces. As part of that overhaul, the property has chosen to equip every room with Audio Pro C5 MkII wireless speakers, integrating the Swedish brand's compact multi-room model into a broader interior concept built around local design, craftsmanship and long-term quality. Opened in 1971, the hotel has long been one of the Swedish capital's landmark hospitality addresses, and the current refurbishment is intended not simply as a technical update, but as a repositioning towards a more lifestyle-oriented, boutique character while retaining the standards associated with the Sheraton name.

Matrix Audio has introduced the ND-1, a new digital-to-analogue converter in the company's N Series, conceived as a dedicated source component for advanced stereo systems and headphone-based desktop setups. Rather than treating the DAC as one function inside a wider all-in-one platform, Matrix Audio is positioning the ND-1 as a focused, purist design built around one core objective - high-performance digital decoding with a degree of tonal flexibility that remains relatively unusual in this category. Officially unveiled as part of the complete N Series line-up in March 2026, the ND-1 joins the NT-1 digital audio transport and the NA-1 headphone amplifier to form what Matrix describes as a premium desktop separates system.

HiFi Rose has introduced Rose One, a new control application designed to become the central interface for the company's entire product ecosystem and, at the same time, a clear departure from the earlier strategy of developing successive variations of its existing software platform. Rather than a conventional update, Rose One is presented as a completely new environment built from the ground up as a unified hybrid application for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. According to the manufacturer, the app was launched globally on April 1 and from the outset was intended to deliver a consistent user experience regardless of the device used to control the system.

Harman Kardon has introduced the Luna 2, a compact wireless speaker that continues the brand's familiar way of approaching the lifestyle audio segment. Instead of presenting another purely technical Bluetooth speaker built around ruggedness or raw output figures, the company is clearly aiming at a product that can function as part of the home environment first and as a portable speaker second. The new model is intended for everyday listening in spaces such as the living room, kitchen, terrace or garden, combining a small footprint with a more refined visual identity and a feature set that goes beyond simple Bluetooth playback.

Fezz Audio has refreshed its Evolution series with three updated tube amplifiers - the Titania MK2 integrated amplifier, the Titania Power Amplifier MK2 stereo power amplifier and the Mira Ceti MK2 single-ended Class A design - marking a broader technical step forward rather than a routine generational update. Based in Poland and closely linked to transformer specialist Toroidy, the company has built its reputation on combining traditional tube topologies with modern usability, and the latest MK2 versions clearly continue that approach. All three amplifiers introduce redesigned signal paths, revised driver stages and upgraded operating stability, while sharing a common set of practical improvements including automatic bias control, electronic tube protection systems, optimized warm-up sequences and support for FEBS expansion modules. Together, these changes position the new Evolution models as more mature and more system-flexible successors intended to retain the musical character of classic tube amplifiers while reducing the complexity typically associated with everyday ownership.