Displaying items by tag: streaming - StereoLife Magazine

One of the traditional arguments against active loudspeakers is that their electronics age faster than their cabinets and drivers. An amplifier module can become outdated, streaming standards change and DSP platforms improve, while the acoustic part of a well-designed speaker may remain perfectly capable for decades. Buchardt Audio has been thinking about this problem since developing its first active models, and its latest product tackles it unusually directly. Rather than asking owners of A500, A500SE, A700, A700 Limited Edition or Anniversary 10 speakers to replace them with an entirely new generation, the Danish manufacturer has created the Mk2 Upgrade Kit - a user-installable package that replaces the complete amplifier, DSP and power-supply platform inside the existing cabinets. Selected models receive a new tweeter as well.

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.

The Wireless Box E is one of those small Pro-Ject components whose purpose becomes clear the moment you see where it is meant to sit - not on a hi-fi rack, but directly on the back of a loudspeaker. Instead of adding streaming to an existing amplifier, as the Stream Box E does, the Wireless Box E takes the idea further by turning a passive speaker into a wireless active audio system. It is a compact mono streaming amplifier that connects directly to speaker terminals, removing the need for a separate amplifier and allowing users to build a flexible, app-controlled stereo or multi-room setup with traditional passive loudspeakers.

Jamo has unveiled Hyg, a new series of wireless speakers inspired by the Scandinavian idea of "hygge" - warmth, comfort, ease and a sense of connection. After announcing its new Concert Legacy and Concert Element loudspeakers, the brand is also entering a more lifestyle-oriented part of the market, but without abandoning the design values that have long been associated with Scandinavian audio. The Hyg series launches with three models - Hyg Flex, Hyg Flow and Hyg Reflect - each built around a different listening situation, from room-filling sound at home to portable outdoor use and quieter bedside listening.

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.

JPLAY has received a major update that expands the app with one of the most requested features in its recent history - full support for the HQPlayer library. For hi-fi users, this may be a more significant change than a simple feature list would suggest, because JPLAY has never positioned itself as just another app for playing music. From the beginning, it has functioned as a specialized control center for listeners using streamers, network DACs, services such as Qobuz, Tidal and HighResAudio, and local UPnP libraries. Now it adds the ability to browse and control an HQPlayer library directly from within JPLAY, alongside dynamic Smart Playlists, a completely new History screen with a calendar view and several refinements based on community feedback. The update is available in the latest version of the app as a free upgrade for existing users through the App Store.

Harman Kardon revealed the Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi, a new wireless speaker that develops one of the most recognizable lines in the company's catalog. The Aura Studio series has always stood apart from typical home speakers not only because of its sound, but also because of its form. Its transparent dome and lighting effects were never just decorative extras, but part of the product's identity from the beginning. In the latest version, Harman Kardon takes that idea further, combining the familiar design with Wi-Fi connectivity, support for popular streaming systems, multi-room operation, Bluetooth 6.0 and a more elaborate acoustic structure. The Aura Studio 5 Wi-Fi is therefore intended not only as a striking object for the home, but also as a fully fledged network speaker for everyday music listening.

iFi Audio has refreshed one of its most accessible product families with three new ZEN Air 2 devices, each designed to solve a different and very common problem in everyday music listening. The ZEN Air DAC 2 is a compact digital-to-analog converter with a headphone amplifier, aimed primarily at people who listen from a computer, play games, watch movies or work at a laptop and want a clear upgrade over a standard audio output without building a large system. The ZEN Air Phono 2 is a phono preamplifier for MM and MC cartridges, allowing a turntable to be connected to an amplifier, active speakers or another component that lacks a suitable phono input. The ZEN Air Blue 2 serves a different purpose again. It is a Bluetooth receiver that allows a traditional amplifier, stereo system or pair of active speakers to gain wireless playback from a phone, tablet or computer. Together, the three models form a simple, affordable and compact route to upgrading an existing system without replacing its core components. In other words, iFi is not offering one universal box that tries to do everything, but three specialized tools - one for headphones, one for vinyl and one for Bluetooth streaming - each aimed at one of the most familiar weak points in home audio.