Naim has previewed three new network players, which includes the ND 555, the first 500 series product in 12 years. The flagship ND 555 is joined by the new NDX 2 and ND 5 XS 2. Naim says it has waited until now as the company hasn't considered the performance of its network players to reach that of the CD 555 CD player. The company says that the ND 555 is its finest sounding source component to date.
Audioengine has announced the A5+ Wireless music system. It's an exciting evolution of the award-winning A5 speakers. After years of building professional powered studio monitor speakers, Audioengine has taken their experience and created unique powered consumer speakers for home and desktop. It was quite obvious that a wireless version of these monitors will be the next step for the company.
NAD Electronics announced a new affordable integrated amplifier the C328. Blending simplicity and outstanding performance with flexibility, the C328 is designed for the music lover searching for a superb sounding amplifier that can master music sources, past and present.
Dynaudio has announced Music - a family of four intelligent wireless speakers. Dynaudio Music provides one-touch simplicity. It adapts seamlessly (and automatically) to any room or position, and to surrounding noise levels - so music always sounds its best. It even gives personalized playlists featuring only the music its users love with Music Now. All at the touch of a button.
Leema Acoustics' new Pulse IV amplifier is the ideal hub for contemporary music-listening with its turntable connectivity, Bluetooth playback and seven digital inputs enabling a huge range of devices to connect. The Pulse IV is a highly versatile and powerful integrated amplifier that enables a world of music to be enjoyed with Leema Acoustics' sound quality thanks to a huge connectivity suite bringing together music playback in all its forms, whether on vinyl, streamed from smartphones and tablets via aptX Bluetooth, or stored on computers, laptops and more.
The new PX headphones from audio giant Bowers & Wilkins mark the company's first foray into the noise-canceling and wireless spaces. B&W's aim here was not only to encompass the benefits inherent to the noise-free headphone experience but to also incorporate some truly innovative features, class-leading audio performance, and the latest Bluetooth technology.
Following the recent launch of their new passive hi-fi loudspeakers, Elipson has teamed up with Google to announce two new powered wireless versions featuring Google's Chromecast Audio supplied for full multiroom streaming capability. Elipson's new bookshelf Prestige Facet 6BT and floor-standing Facet 14BT speakers are the company's new generation of connected speakers.
Mission, B&W, KEF, Castle, Celestion, Rogers, NAD, Acoustic Energy, Naim, Spendor, Harbeth or ProAc are only a few companies whose names all audiophiles should associate with what might be called the British school of sound. Absolutely, this does not mean that the products of all these brands sound the same. You can distinguish here, at least, a couple of trends, but there is no denying that in this part of the world a lot of audiophile legends were created. Recently, another British company reminded us about itself. So far Chord Electronics were mainly engaged in hi-end gear for home use, but thanks to a small, functional headphone DAC everyone heard about it. This DAC was of course the Hugo. Hugo TT is its bigger brother - a typical desktop model, with an expanded functionality. Since we didn't have a chance to review any of them, we took both and decided to compare them.
France is known not only for automobiles, excellent cuisine, high fashion and jammed streets of Paris. It is also one of the most important countries on the audiophile map of the world. It's the birthplace of brands such as Triangle, Lavardin, Lecontoure, Atoll, Devialet, Cabasse, Micromega, YBA, Fadel Art or Jadis. However, one of the most meaningful companies in the area of the speakers and accessories is Focal. And we are not talking only about the French, but worldwide market. Now this company, which a few years ago was known as JMLab, has several production centres. Collectively they occupy an area comparable to small refinery.
Chinese manufacturer of audio electronics, known for its tube components, introduces a small DSD player which can also be used in the car. Don Giovanni is equipped with a 12-V power supply with the option of connecting it to the car cigarette lighter. Customer can also use their mobile phone as a remote control through the Wi-Fi adapter. Photos by Opera Consonance.