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Naim unleashes second generation Mu-so wireless music system

Paul Ridden May 9, 2019

​Spin back to around this time in 2014, and you may remember the release of a gorgeous all-in-one wireless music system from British hi-fi veteran Naim Audio. The award-winning and pundit-pleasing Mu-so has now streamed into its second generation.​

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Music

Astell&Kern launches powerful flagship digital audio player for well-heeled music lovers

Paul Ridden May 13, 2019

​Astell&Kern has been striking fear into the wallets of mobile music lovers for a few years now, putting out high-spec portable audio gear with a hefty price tag. And so it is with the company's A&ultima SP2000 flagship, which was launched at High End Munich last week.​

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4th-gen Beoplay A9 upgrades include Google Assistant and AirPlay 2 multi-room

Matt Kennedy May 9, 2019

Bang & Olufsen has upgraded its wireless Beoplay A9 speaker (again), retaining the tried and true form, but building significantly upon the technology, including adding Google Assistant integration and Adaptive Room Compensation. Oh, and the power cable is now fabric coated.

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Pro-Ject spins out affordable audiophile X1 turntable

Paul Ridden April 12, 2019

Vinyl lovers at the audiophile end of the spectrum can pay a small fortune for a top notch turntable. But Austrian hi-fi manufacturer Pro-Ject has added a new turntable to its X line that promises true audiophile sounds at an affordable price.

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Home Entertainment

Thorens unveils new reel-to-reel tape machine ahead of Munich debut

Paul Ridden April 11, 2019

Responding to what it calls a phoenix-like rise in demand for quarter inch tapes, high-end audio brand Thorens has announced a new reel-to-reel developed with Germany's Ballfinger. The TM 1600 will make its public debut at the High End Show in Munich next month.

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Home Entertainment

Fluance courts budget audiophiles with Reference Series turntables

Paul Ridden December 17, 2018

Quality improvements in vinyl records are clearly not high quality enough for some listeners, as there are moves to introduce HD vinyl. Fluance has clearly seen the writing on the wall, and has today launched its brand new Reference Series High Fidelity Turntables.​

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Home Entertainment

McIntosh starts 70th birthday party early with commemorative system

Paul Ridden December 10, 2018

2019 marks 70 years in the high-end audio business for McIntosh Labs, and the firm is rolling out a limited edition commemorative system to celebrate. But you don't have to wait until next year to jump in and grab your anniversary edition tube amplifier and preamp, the order books are open now.

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McIntosh raids flagship tech for more accessible room-dominating speakers

Paul Ridden November 19, 2018

​Late last year, high-end audio brand McIntosh revealed a new flagship loudspeaker, the XRT2.1.K, priced at US$130,000. Now the company has announced a slightly less powerful version that's also less than half the price.​

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Music

Audiolab cuts the cord with Hi-Res Bluetooth DAC

Paul Ridden October 26, 2018

British maker of award-winning Digital-to-Analog Converters Audiolab has added a new mobile DAC/headphone amp to its range. The M-DAC Nano cuts down on a little cable clutter by leveraging the wireless streaming power of Bluetooth.

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Wearables

Grado cuts the cable for first open-backed Bluetooth headphones

Paul Ridden October 15, 2018

Family-run audiophile favorites Grado Labs isn't one to blindly follow fads and fashion. The rest of the audio world may have been pumping out wireless headphones for ages, but Grado has resisted the urge to join in. Until now. The company's first Bluetooth headphones are on sale now.

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