Audiophile

Looking to offer a little something extra for the audiophiles in the crowd, Spotify has announced a new streaming tier for high-quality lossless audio called Spotify HiFi, which will be available to Premium subscribers as an optional extra later this year.

Much of today's music consumption is digital, and most of that is streamed. Some folks still play CDs though, and McIntosh Labs has today launched a retro-cool player for those who want to rock the house with the help of spinning plastic discs.

After impressing with a succession of open-backed planar magnetic earphones in recent years, Audeze has introduced its first pair of closed-back in-ear monitors with Euclid, promising top-notch audio quality and a wide dynamic range.

A new audio gear manufacturer co-founded by a former lead acoustics engineer at Apple has announced its first product. The VZR Model One gaming headphones feature a proprietary technology designed to deliver accurate, realistic positional audio.

Even without that striking logo, audio gear from McIntosh Labs has a look all its own. The latest addition to the company's high-end catalog is a versatile 2-channel vacuum tube headphone amplifier named the MHA200.

The UK's Cambridge Audio has announced a new flagship digital-to-analog converter and headphone amplifier combo that promises a "thrilling performance that’s bigger than the box it comes in."

Many modern hi-fi amplifiers lack their own phono stage, so an external pre-amp will be needed to give a turntable's signal a boost. A new flagship device from Austria's Pro-Ject is due to go on sale from next month, and is designed for flexibility.

Slovenian high-end audio gear company Erzetich has just announced its second high-end headphone amplifier – the Medousa – which combines tube and balanced amplifier architecture for all of the sound quality benefits of both in a single unit.

Bugatti is a name associated with very fast cars and multi-million-dollar price tags, not home audio. But now luxury automotive design and premium audio components combine for the launch of the Royale loudspeakers from Bugatti and Tidal Audio.

UK audio gear maker iFi has launched a new mains-powered hi-res digital-to-analog converter/headphone amp that's promised to deliver "scintillating sonics with every audio format in a home environment."

French high-end speaker/amp manufacturer L-Acoustics has teamed up with US IEM maker JH Audio for the Contour XO in-ear monitors, which are described as the "perfect reference IEM on stage, at the mixing desk, in the studio, or on the move."

Epson has launched three new EpiqVision laser projectors with integrated audio – one ultra-short-throw model and two minis. The LS300 UST and EF12 mini models come with integrated Yamaha audio and are ready to stream.