Displaying items by tag: amplifier - StereoLife Magazine

The cadence of new Roon Ready certifications has increased tenfold since the start of the pandemic. In 2020, just a handful of new products were certified each month, and in the first half of this year Roon Labs is already announcing over 100 new Roon Ready and Roon Tested devices. Forty new brands have submitted products for certification in that timeframe. This includes key product ranges and new launches from notable audio manufacturers, including Arcam, Astell & Kern, Cambridge Audio, and JBL.

The new Luxman L-595A Special Edition is a premium Class A integrated amplifier built to commemorate Luxman's 95th anniversary. The unique industrial design reimagines the highly regarded L-570 series inaugurated in 1989. "Not many consumer electronics companies can point to a 95-year heritage. The Luxman L-595ASE validates our ongoing commitment to sonic excellence, superb build quality, and timeless design." - said Jeff Sigmund, president of Luxman America.

The history of Norma Audio began in 1987 in Cremona - the hometown of famous composers, such as Ponchielli and Monteverdi, and great violin masters - Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri. It was a man with an equally Italian-sounding name - Enrico Rossi - who created the apparatus on which you can listen to such wonderful music in the comfort of your living room. The first device manufactured under the Norma Audio brand was the NS 123 amplifier. It was not a spectacular commercial success, but nobody expected that. A completely new chapter in the company's history began when it was acquired by Opal Electronics, a manufacturer of electronic measuring devices. In 1991, Norma's owner started a research project to understand how audio equipment can degrade sound and how this can be avoided. Seven years later, he found what he was looking for. It was certainly not one brilliant solution but rather a collection of rules and general guidelines. Unlike manufacturers who have built their reputation on a particular technical solution, Norma doesn't base its entire business on a single patent. But if you would like to know what you can expect from this gear, Enrico Rossi makes it clear - the sound should be natural, dynamic, and succinct with a very realistic midrange.

Chord Electronics has launched its first-ever small desktop integrated amplifier, Anni. Capable of driving both headphones and compact loudspeakers, the Qutest-sized Anni benefits from the company's proprietary Ultima circuit topology and is perfectly positioned to exploit the full potential of today's high-performance headphones, desktop monitors, and high-resolution audio sources. The new Anni desktop integrated amplifier forms part of the Qutest range and seamlessly complements the resolving abilities of the multi-award-winning Qutest standalone DAC and Huei phono stage. As a system, the Qutest components provide an unrivaled desktop audio solution, offering class-leading digital and analog technologies for the modern music lover. The company's compact QSS (Qutest Stand System) modular equipment rack provides the perfect support, too.

NAD Electronics announced the new and improved Masters M10 V2 BluOS Streaming Amplifier, which continues its "just add speakers" revolution of Hi-Fi. The M10 V2 features 100 watts per channel of amplification and BluOS streaming capabilities and adds the capability to expand with Dolby Digital Surround decoding, an enclosed IR remote control, and updated gain algorithms. "The original M10 caught the industry off-guard and made audiophiles and non-audiophiles reimagine what hi-fi can and should be. The M10 V2 continues where the first left off and adds even more versatility as a two-channel or potentially a wireless home theatre system." - stated Cas Oostvogel, Product Manager for NAD Electronics. 

Cyrus is delighted to announce a new rack system, the Hark III, designed for their new XR Series of uncompromising components (amplifiers, preamps, CD players, and more). The Hark III allows audiophiles to proudly display their coveted collection of Cyrus hi-fi gear in an elegant vertical column with built-in cable management. The Hark III features fully adjustable shelf heights, allowing multiple product configurations. Hark III is shipped complete with four shelving units but is able to accommodate up to 8 shelves per rack (additional pairs of shelves are available separately).

Bluesound, makers of the award-winning hi-res wireless multi-room line of audio players, has announced a new generation of its best-selling Node Wireless Hi-Res Multi-Room Music Streamer and Powernode Wireless Hi-Res Multi-Room Streaming Amplifier. The upgrades include new DAC designs, more powerful processors, and touch panel controls with presets and proximity sensors, while the Powernode also receives substantially more power. Both feature an easy-to-clean satin finish in either black or white. "Since the beginning, Bluesound has set out to provide a modern hi-res multi-room streaming experience for customers who care about audio quality. We have seen the Node and Powernode quickly become the go-to streaming components for discerning music lovers, because of our focus on high-quality listening and on the software features that make the products - all the way back to our first generation - even better over time. This latest generation, once again, sets the bar for performance and value in their respective categories." - says Matt Simmonds, Bluesound Product Manager.

British hi-fi specialist has launched Uniti Atom Headphone Edition - a headphone-optimized version of its multiple-award-winning Uniti Atom music streaming system, designed to be the ultimate solo listening source. Unlike traditional headphone amplifiers and DACs, which require a separate computer or streaming device, Uniti Atom Headphone Edition is a fully formed music-streaming system - just add headphones. Uniti Atom Headphone Edition features a completely new transformer design, dedicated to providing - in true Naim tradition - the very best power supply to the headphone amplification circuitry. The new discrete transistor circuit design enables Uniti Atom Headphone Edition to gain balanced headphone outputs, on both 4 pin XLR and Pentaconn, maximizing the performance of high-end headphones with those connections. The 6.3mm output is also there.

Hegel Music Systems is a perfect example of a company driven by good ideas, rational decisions, and putting the most important thing first - the sound. The Norwegians can boast of many interesting technical solutions, but neither care for selecting the right components for each model, nor hours spent on designing circuit boards or pursuit of functionality distracted them from that universal goal. Although it may seem improbable to those who know the hi-fi market very well, Hegel's team consists of only seven people. We can add professionals working for external subcontractors, but on a daily basis, you'll find four, maybe five people at the company's headquarters in Oslo. Nevertheless, we are talking about a brand that has won probably all the most important awards in the industry and whose actions have been watched closely for many years even by more successful and experienced competitors. What is so special about Hegel then? Maybe it is the simplicity typical for Scandinavian manufacturers? Maybe it's a specific mixture of proprietary technologies, love for music, and business sense, thanks to which the factory founded by Bent Holter got on a roll when all the others were hiding in corners, fearing economic crisis? Maybe the secret is the progressive approach of Norwegian designers, who were introduced to the subject of files and converters ten years ago, and today streaming and connecting audio equipment with smart home systems is something normal for them? Or maybe all these things come together during the listening session, when we place the gear on the table, turn it on, play our favorite music and...

Cambridge Audio has been at the forefront of British audio innovation for over 50 years and Evo represents an evolution in hi-fi - an all-in-one music player that combines timeless design, cutting edge technology, streaming smarts, and incredible audio performance into one streamlined and compact box. Designed in Cambridge Audio's London studio, Evo's minimal and timeless aesthetic will fit into any interior and lifestyle. Lead designer Ged Martin chose premium materials and used industrial design principles to create a product that champions simplicity and will endure for many years. Taking inspiration from the wood trims of the iconic P40, Cambridge Audio's first ever product from 1968, Evo has beautiful walnut wood side panels that complement the sleek, black anodised aluminium cabinet. Evo also comes with a choice of formed black side panels made from Richlite, an innovative new material made primarily from recycled paper. The side panels can be switched out according to each customer's style. Completing Evo's elegant design is a dual-concentric rotary dial and large 6.8in LCD display panel that shows off album artwork in full colour.