Displaying items by tag: streaming - StereoLife Magazine

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.

Astell&Kern has introduced the PD20, a new premium portable audio player that combines the Korean brand's familiar idea of a self-contained high-end source with unusually advanced sound personalization. In an era in which many listeners use a smartphone as their main music device, such a product may seem like a niche proposition, but this is precisely the field in which Astell&Kern has built its reputation over the years. The PD20 is not another all-purpose gadget. It is a dedicated player for users who want a local hi-res music library, high-quality headphone outputs, a serious DAC section, support for high-resolution formats and the ability to adjust the behavior of the amplifier stage to suit different headphones.

Kanto Audio has introduced a redesigned generation of its speaker lineup, led by the new Tuk Grand flagship and accompanied by updated versions of the company's Yu4, Yu6, and Tuk models. The refreshed range represents a broader acoustic and industrial design revision across both powered and passive variants. Originally launched in 2014, the Yu series helped establish Kanto Audio's reputation for compact, accessible loudspeakers combining integrated amplification with modern connectivity. The Tuk followed in 2019 as a more performance-oriented model positioned closer to the hi-fi segment. With the introduction of the Tuk Grand and the redesign of the existing families, the company is now extending that concept with larger enclosures, revised driver integration, updated electronics, and a new visual direction intended to align more closely with contemporary interiors.

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.

Advance Paris has introduced the Nova series, a new flagship platform of hybrid integrated amplifiers designed to function as complete control centers for modern stereo systems while preserving the company's established tube-assisted analog architecture. Positioned above the Classic and Apex ranges in the manufacturer's lineup, the Nova platform represents Advance Paris's most ambitious integrated amplifier concept to date. The series includes two amplifiers - the A-i130 and A-i190 - together with optional streaming and Bluetooth expansion modules and a dedicated rotary remote controller. First previewed at High End Munich 2025, the lineup is scheduled to make its North American debut at AXPONA 2026, with global availability expected from May 2026.

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.

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.

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.