Displaying items by tag: tidal - StereoLife Magazine

In 1997, Radiohead released their album OK Computer. It was a record that not only startled the band's loyal followers but also anyone who happened to hear it. It explored themes of technology, alienation, and social unrest in a rapidly shifting world, and it's often read as a darkly prophetic commentary on the dehumanizing influence of the digital age - a message that, almost thirty years later, still feels unnervingly precise. The lyrics, often delivered in a weary, detached voice, paint a grim, inevitable future where people lose themselves in virtual realities. They trace the moment when tools meant to serve us quietly begin to own us, turning convenience into dependence. The album became legendary for its unorthodox production and haunting, atmospheric sound, both of which heightened its sense of unease and disorientation.

Primare has unveiled its new all-in-one audio system, the Allt-i-Ett - a complete high-end solution combining a network player, amplifier and loudspeakers within a single elegant enclosure. Designed to deliver premium performance with Scandinavian simplicity, the Allt-i-Ett embodies the Swedish manufacturer's minimalist approach to audio engineering. Its name, meaning 'all-in-one' in Swedish, reflects both the concept and the company's philosophy of bringing outstanding sound quality to as many listeners as possible, without the need for multiple components. At its core, the Allt-i-Ett delivers a powerful 300-watt peak output supported by advanced digital signal processing and a versatile range of connection options. The system is designed for both convenience and fidelity, offering easy integration into any modern living space. It caters equally to those who want a refined, plug-and-play system and to experienced audiophiles seeking a high-performance secondary setup.

In Norse mythology, Thor is known as the god of thunder, lightning, marriage, vitality, agriculture, and the home hearth. He was said to be more sympathetic to humans than his father, Odin, though equally violent. He traveled in a chariot harnessed to goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. Furthermore, he was usually depicted as a mighty man with a red beard and three key attributes - a belt doubling his power, iron gauntlets, and a great battle hammer called Mjolnir (Mjølner). Whenever Thor hurled his hammer, it would unfailingly come back to him, crushing the target of his master's attack ("Mjøl" in modern Norwegian literally means "flour" or "powder," so "Mjølner" can be understood as "a tool for grinding to powder"). The impact of this unusual weapon was to be accompanied by lightning. How valuable this hammer was to Thor can be seen in the song telling the story of what he went to when a giant named Thrym stole Mjolnir, demanding the hand of the goddess Freya for its return. According to this legend, Thor, at the instigation of Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard, was to disguise himself as Freya, shielding himself with a veil. Thinking that the plan had succeeded, Thrym and his companions held a wedding, during which the rightful owner of Mjolnir seems to have forgotten his mission for a while and got carried away by his emotions. He ate eight salmon and an ox, which caused concern among the giants, but Loki explained the phenomenon by saying that the "bride" had not eaten for a week in anticipation of her nuptials with Thrym. At the end of the feast, when, according to tradition, Mjolnir was laid in the bosom of "Freya" to seal the marriage, Thor grabbed his hammer and slaughtered the giants. Not surprisingly, Mjolnir became the most popular symbol used by Scandinavians not only in the Middle Ages but even today, if only in coats of arms and emblems. And what does this have to do with the H600? Let me explain...

Naim unveils Uniti Nova Power Edition, an all-in-one player that drives Hi-Fi loudspeakers with power and musical resonance Uniti Nova Power Edition is the new all-in-one player from Naim, the British brand that excels in the creation of high-end Hi-Fi systems. With 150 W of power, this high-resolution audio player and stereo amplifier is the ideal all-round solution to combine with a pair of powerful, Hi-Fi loudspeakers. It complements Naim's Uniti range, which is hailed worldwide as the range that includes the best all-in-one players on the market.

Sonus Faber announced the launch of its new active wireless stereo speaker - Duetto, a wireless stereo speaker system featuring a multicomponent hi-fi system with distinct characteristics across design, sound quality, connectivity, and ease of use. The external design of Duetto follows the Sonus Faber decades-old philosophy of the most natural sound reproduction through the use of natural materials. The Duetto lute-shaped wood cabinet merged with an elegant and custom-designed heatsink guarantees stiffness and musicality while avoiding internal resonance, creating the Sonus Faber signature Natural Sound. It also has a leather top interface Senso which allows for the user to control and set up the speaker functions such as volume, input selection, and connections.

NAD Electronics launched the C3050 stereophonic amplifier. The unit draws upon aesthetic cues from the 1970's while boasting class-leading amplification - a HybridDigital UcD output stage and high-performance Texas Instruments PCM5242 differential DAC work together to deliver wonderful detail, immersive three-dimensionality, and thrilling dynamics. The C3050 also features NAD's MDC2 future proofing technology. By installing an optional module into the MDC2 expansion slot on the rear panel, listeners can add exciting new capabilities like BluOS high-resolution multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction.

It's not surprising that more and more people are interested in hi-fi equipment that is luxurious, beautiful, and offers excellent performance, but at the same time is as simple to use as a network speaker. Some audiophiles believe that increasing the comfort of our music experience automatically reduces the sound quality. If we have a pile of sources and amplifiers connected with expensive cables, if our living room has been transformed into an anechoic chamber, if before each listening session, we carry out an elaborate procedure of warming up the system while checking the humidity of the air and the voltage in the socket, we deserve great sound, and if we buy easy-to-use active loudspeakers, we don't. Is it true? Manufacturers of audio electronics have already discovered that it can all be simplified. Almost every new all-in-one system is an instant sales hit because all you have to do is add a pair of decent speakers and your home stereo is ready. But what if you could go one step further and eliminate the need to buy any electronics? This mission has already been undertaken by many companies, as the idea itself is not new or revolutionary. However, it has usually involved rebuilding budget boxes so that, with additional electronics inside, they don't cost a fortune. The result was cheap speakers powered by poor electronics, meaning lots of compromises and a sound far from ideal. Now Pylon Audio introduced its first series of wireless speakers. And it has done it quite differently.

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio-video components, today announced the NAD CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer, a compact, minimalist design that makes it easy to add streaming capability to any music system. Employing audiophile-grade components, the NAD CS1 can play high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. It features Bluetooth, Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi and supports the most popular streaming and casting protocols, including Apple AirPlay 2, GoogleCast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Roon. Certification for network sharing via DNLA/UPnP protocols expected to be complete with retail available of CS1 in March 2023. That means listeners don't have to install a dedicated app to use the CS1; they can control playback with the music apps they use every day.

On the occasion of the 2023 edition of the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, Octavio, the Lille-based start-up specializing in the democratization of audio systems, announces Maestro, its connected speaker, at the cutting edge of innovation. Thanks to the Wi-Fi sound technology developed by Octavio, this new speaker offers a high-fidelity soundstage, without any coloration, for daily listening without auditory fatigue. Octavio Maestro completes Octavio's Hi-Fi offer, already composed of the Octavio Stream, the high-fidelity audio streamer, and the Octavio AMP, the compact and connected amplifier.

Auralic announced an update for its Aries G1 and Altair G1 to the G1.1 version. Reflecting company's drive to innovate and lead the music streaming market, this update provides exciting improvements for both models. Engineered to exacting standards, the Aries G1.1 and Altair G1.1 excel in today's demanding environment of high-resolution music streaming. Designed and consistently updated in-house, the Lightning streaming platform has led the industry since its release in 2014.