Displaying items by tag: wireless - StereoLife Magazine

JBL is refreshing its Live series with three new true wireless models designed to reflect the different ways people use in-ear and open-fit earbuds in everyday life. The Live Beam 4, Live Buds 4 and Live Flex 4 all follow the same general direction - Hi-Res Audio Wireless, True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, JBL Spatial Sound, Bluetooth 6.0 and a new Smart Charging Case with a larger display. The differences between the three models are still significant, however, covering not only the shape of the earbuds, but also the type of fit, driver size, water and dust resistance, and battery life. As a result, the Live 4 series is not a set of three nearly identical products, but a small family of models aimed at users with different expectations - from those looking for maximum isolation, through fans of compact in-ear designs, to listeners who prefer a more open earbud construction.

DALI introduced Vega, a wireless all-in-one audio system designed to combine the everyday convenience of a modern network speaker with the sonic ambitions of traditional hi-fi. The Danish manufacturer, best known for its loudspeakers, is clearly moving deeper into the category of products built for people who want serious sound without a complicated stack of components, separate speakers and visible cables running across the room. Vega follows that logic quite directly. It is a single, elegantly finished enclosure that can be placed on furniture or mounted on a wall, and then used as a complete music, TV and multiroom system. At the same time, DALI stresses that this is not simply a lifestyle speaker in the most basic sense of the term, but a project based on 43 years of loudspeaker engineering, in-house drive units, active crossover technology, Class D amplification and advanced DSP control.

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.

JBL is expanding its Live series with two new wireless headphone models - the Live 680 NC and Live 780 NC. Both belong to the Live 4 generation and have been designed for users who now expect everyday headphones to offer more than decent sound and comfort. Effective noise cancelling, long battery life, extensive personalization and the ability to handle several usage scenarios at once have become just as important. The new models open another chapter for a series that sits in JBL's catalog between simpler everyday headphones and more advanced designs focused on comfort, functionality and greater freedom to adapt the listening experience to individual needs. The higher model mainly adds a larger over-ear design, bigger ear cushions, a more advanced noise-cancelling system and the additional Low Volume Dynamic EQ and Personal Sound Amplification features. The common platform remains the same - 40-mm drivers, Hi-Res Audio, JBL Spatial Sound, Personi-Fi 3.0, Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, Auracast, multipoint connection, quick charging and very long battery life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FiiO is expanding its range of active desktop speakers with the SP5, a pair of nearfield monitors aimed at users looking for something more substantial than typical computer speakers. This is a product designed not only as a desk-based work tool, but also as a compact listening system for music in a domestic setting. Even the way FiiO presents the model makes it clear that this is not meant to be another basic speaker set placed next to a monitor, but an attempt to combine studio-style functionality with a sound that should appeal to demanding listeners.