Displaying items by tag: subwoofer - StereoLife Magazine

You don't have to be a hi-fi enthusiast to know Harman Kardon. In fact, there's a good chance you've encountered the brand without ever setting foot in an audio store. Its logo has adorned the speaker grilles of countless cars over the years, with BMW being perhaps the most recognizable example of a partnership that has lasted more than three decades. Harman Kardon systems can also be found in vehicles from Mini, Volvo, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, and several brands belonging to the Stellantis group. For most drivers, however, getting that distinctive badge on their speaker grilles has traditionally involved one important decision: ordering the appropriate audio package when buying the car. Miss that opportunity, and upgrading the sound system usually meant turning to a completely different manufacturer. Harman Kardon is now making that choice a little less permanent. Its expanding aftermarket car audio lineup includes two speaker families, Fit and Flow, along with the compact Flow 80 and Feel 700 subwoofers. Together, they offer everything from relatively straightforward replacements for factory speakers to the components needed for a more ambitious custom installation.

Compact bookshelf speakers and small streaming amplifiers have become enormously popular in recent years, but there are some laws of physics that even the cleverest engineers cannot completely overcome. A stereo system that fits comfortably on a sideboard, shelf, or small media cabinet can deliver surprisingly mature and sophisticated sound, but when it comes to the lowest frequencies, it will usually have to concede some ground to larger designs. One way to address this limitation is to add an active subwoofer, extending the system's bass response without immediately replacing everything with a pair of large floorstanding speakers. This is precisely the idea behind DALI's new Basik Sub, a compact model designed primarily to complement smaller stereo systems while remaining equally suitable for home theater applications.

Argon Audio has introduced two new subwoofers, the Berlin Sub 10 and Berlin Sub 12, both designed around the same fundamental concept. They combine sealed enclosures, downward-firing woofers, powerful 500-watt Class D amplifiers, and sophisticated DSP processing. The main difference between the two comes down to driver and cabinet size - the smaller model uses a 10-inch woofer, while its larger sibling features a 12-inch unit. What makes these subwoofers particularly interesting, however, is that Argon Audio has not approached them simply as a way of adding more low-frequency energy to a system. Considerable attention has also been paid to something that often proves more challenging than generating powerful bass in the first place - integrating a subwoofer properly with the main speakers and the listening room. This explains the presence of technologies such as Real Time Bass and Speakermatch, adjustable delay and phase settings, and a three-band notch filter. Both models also support wireless signal transmission through the Matrix Wireless system, making the Berlin Sub 10 and Sub 12 not only powerful but also relatively easy to position and fine-tune for a particular setup.

Jamo has announced two new loudspeaker families, Concert Legacy and Concert Element, marking a major step in the brand's 2026 direction and a clear attempt to re-establish its presence in Scandinavian hi-fi. Both ranges will be available from August 2026, with Concert Legacy positioned as the company's premium passive speaker family and Concert Element developed as a more contemporary expression of Danish functional design. The launch is not just about adding new models to the catalog. In different ways, both series return to ideas that have long been associated with Jamo - clean Scandinavian aesthetics, practical room integration and loudspeakers designed to fit into real homes rather than exist only as technical objects.

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.

REL Acoustics introduced a new line of active subwoofers designed for hi-fi and home theater systems in which a conventional floor-standing box can be awkward both acoustically and visually. The new range consists of two models, the PL-1 and PL-2, both of which can be mounted directly on the wall, much like a decorative panel or framed picture. This is not simply another variation on the familiar subwoofer placed in the corner of a room, but an attempt to rethink where low frequencies can come from in a domestic audio system. REL has built much of its reputation on subwoofers intended not only for home theater, but also for ambitious stereo systems, and Planar is aimed at a very specific set of needs - deeper bass, better integration with interior design, greater installation flexibility and less intrusion into everyday living space.

SVS has expanded its compact subwoofer lineup with the introduction of the SVS 3000 Micro R|Evolution, a new sealed-cabinet model designed to deliver reference-grade low-frequency performance from an enclosure measuring just 11 inches across. Positioned as a successor to the earlier 3000 Micro, the new version brings updated drivers, a more powerful amplifier platform, and significantly increased DSP capability while maintaining the lifestyle-friendly form factor that made the original model popular in space-constrained listening rooms.

Krix has introduced a new design focused evolution of two of its most successful Hi-Fi models with the launch of the Evara range, a compact loudspeaker line created for modern living spaces where sound quality needs to coexist with décor, limited space and everyday use. The Evara family debuts with the Equinox Evara bookshelf speaker and the Seismix 1 Evara subwoofer, combining the established acoustic performance of their predecessors with a more contemporary visual identity intended to make it easier to integrate a serious stereo or TV system into apartments, shared homes and lifestyle oriented listening areas.

Perlisten entered the hi-fi market in a way that surprised many - suddenly, yet with clear ambition. Its debut was far from accidental, led by seasoned engineers and managers with decades of experience in transducers, measurement systems, and loudspeaker design. Co-founder and president Dan Roemer brings over 25 years of industry expertise, including work with the NHT research group, MITek Corporation, and projects in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Lars Johansen, with more than 30 years in audio, has contributed to brands like JBL, Harman Kardon, Klipsch, and Jamo, and later served as partner and president of Miller & Kreisel, supplying solutions for recording studios and premium home theatres. Since its formal launch in 2016, Perlisten has aimed to deliver top-tier products, reflected in its pricing. The introduction of the more accessible A-Series marked a shift, opening the brand to a wider audience. Interest continues to grow, yet many enthusiasts remain unaware of the company's origins, the people behind it, and its long-term objectives. This is why I decided to speak with someone who has been with Perlisten from the start and understands every stage of its development - from early concepts and factory selection to launches and subsequent product lines. Erik Wiederholtz, Perlisten's Technical Director, is an acoustics specialist with experience in transducer modelling, dynamic speakers, MEMS digital microphones, hearing aids, headphones, and small speakers. Our conversation, I believe, will shed light on the company's foundations and help readers understand what Perlisten represents.

British audio specialist, Q Acoustics, introduces its new trio of high-performance active subwoofers, Q SUB series. Whether as part of a Q Acoustics home cinema set-up, adding effortless bass extension to your existing 7.2, 5.1, or 2.1 system, or intensifying the low end on your powered and active speakers, these new models will deliver the drama to movies and music. Whatever the size of your home cinema room or the power of your system, Q Acoustics has the right-sized model to fill your space with powerful, impactful, but nuanced and controlled bass. The new subwoofer family consists of the 8-inch Q SUB80, the 10-inch Q SUB100, and a 12-inch model, Q SUB120. On board Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology ensures easy but comprehensive system and room integration and setting optimisation for a class-leading, distortion-free performance.