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McIntosh Laboratory MTI100 Integrated Turntable

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 June 2019

When most people think of audio components from McIntosh Laboratory, they think of serious high-end separates: preamps and big, powerful amplifiers. But there’s another side to this iconic brand, which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary. McIntosh now offers several lifestyle audio products, including integrated music systems, streamers, headphone amplifiers, and the subject of this review: what they call an integrated turntable.

Read more: McIntosh Laboratory MTI100 Integrated Turntable

Yamaha WXA-50 MusicCast Streaming Amplifier

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 June 2019

For people who want to enjoy their music in real-world living spaces, two of the most welcome developments of recent years have been the integration of streaming capability into integrated amplifiers, and the downsizing of these components. With a streaming amplifier and good pair of speakers, you have everything you need to enjoy a vast range of music, in sound quality far beyond that of most all-in-one tabletop speakers. And you can do this without breaking the bank, or cluttering up your living area with audio gear.

Read more: Yamaha WXA-50 MusicCast Streaming Amplifier

NAD Masters M10 BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 May 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceIn the Toronto home I share with my infinitely better half, the hi-fi lives in the living room. Of course, I want it to sound great -- and it does -- but it also has to look as if it belongs. We’ve put a lot of effort into the design and décor of our home: If the hi-fi is to occupy a public space, it must be suitable for civilized company.

Read more: NAD Masters M10 BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Primare SC15 Prisma Streaming DAC-Preamp

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 May 2019

One thing that differentiates enthusiast audio from other areas of consumer electronics is the amazing proliferation of brands. Most CE categories are dominated by a few big names -- think TVs (LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Vizio), or smartphones (Apple, Huawei, Samsung again). But audiophiles shopping for speakers, amplifiers, source components, or cables can choose from among literally hundreds of brands.

Read more: Primare SC15 Prisma Streaming DAC-Preamp

Naim Uniti Core CD Ripper/Music Server

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 April 2019

Is the Compact Disc on its deathbed? Not yet, but there’s cause for concern. According to the 2019 Global Music Report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), worldwide sales of physical media declined 10.1% in 2018. Vinyl sales grew 6%, and now account for 3.6% of worldwide music-industry revenues. So based on a little back-of-the-envelope math, it looks like global CD sales declined by around 12% last year.

Read more: Naim Uniti Core CD Ripper/Music Server

Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 April 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceThe German hi-fi brand Elac dates back to the 1920s, but has lately undergone a renaissance. Following a business reorganization in 2014, Elac established an American subsidiary charged with developing affordable, high-performance loudspeakers. That task was assigned to Andrew Jones, who in 2015 joined Elac as vice-president of engineering, following gigs at KEF, Infinity, TAD, and Pioneer.

Read more: Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeakers

Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Speaker

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 March 2019

Last October, Lenbrook International announced a comprehensive upgrade of its Bluesound lineup of whole-house audio products. Bluesound’s 2i series offers such new features as Apple AirPlay 2 support, improved Bluetooth capability, Amazon Alexa voice control, and updated Wi-Fi connectivity.

Read more: Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Speaker

SVS Prime Wireless Active Speakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 March 2019

Over the past several years, Ohio-based SVS has earned a reputation for making affordable, high-performance loudspeakers and subwoofers. Its subs, of course, are active, but until recently, all of its full-range speakers were passive designs. Last year, SVS introduced the fully active, two-way Prime Wireless speakers ($599.99/pair; all prices USD).

Read more: SVS Prime Wireless Active Speakers

Totem Acoustic Kin Play Powered Speakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 February 2019

I’ve never thought of myself as having sharp elbows. But here I am, the new guy in the SoundStage! neighborhood, and I keep muscling in on my colleagues’ territories. For my first review on Simplifi, I tackled LG’s G7 ThinQ MQA-compatible smartphone, a product that would fit nicely on SoundStage! Solo. More recently, I opined that the Kii Audio Three DSP-controlled active speakers would be right at home on SoundStage! Hi-Fi or Ultra.

Read more: Totem Acoustic Kin Play Powered Speakers

KEF LSX Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 February 2019

KEF’s little LSX active speakers ($1099 USD per pair) would seem to contain everything you need for high-resolution stereo sound. Each enclosure houses a KEF Uni-Q driver array comprising a 0.75” aluminum-dome tweeter mounted at the acoustic center of a 4.5” magnesium-aluminum midrange-woofer, each powered by its own amplifier. The LSXes are small enough to virtually disappear into your room, but if you look their way they’ll grab your eye. They’re available in five colors: white, green, red, blue, and black. Speakers in all colors but white are covered on four sides with a matching industrial textile. The white version, which I reviewed, has a high-gloss finish on all surfaces, and the driver is in complementary silver-gray. It’s gorgeous. The red and blue models have drivers of the same color as the cabinet; the others have drivers of a complementary color.

Read more: KEF LSX Active Loudspeakers

Bluesound Vault 2i CD Ripper-Server-Streamer

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 January 2019

Despite what the illuminati say about our brave new world “moving at Internet speed,” sometimes we just have to hurry up and wait. This review is a case in point.

Read more: Bluesound Vault 2i CD Ripper-Server-Streamer

  1. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Stream Box S2 Ultra Music Streamer
  2. Kii Audio Three DSP-Controlled Active Loudspeakers
  3. Aurender S5W Battery-Powered Wireless Active Loudspeakers
  4. Cambridge Audio Yoyo (L) Wireless Speaker
  5. DALI Callisto 2 C Active Speaker System
  6. Kanto SYD Bluetooth Speaker
  7. LG G7 ThinQ Smartphone
  8. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Juke Box E Turntable-Integrated Amplifier
  9. NAD D 3020 V2 Bluetooth Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  10. Polk Assist Wi-Fi Smart Speaker
  11. MartinLogan Unison Wireless Preamplifier
  12. Dynaudio Music 7 Wi-Fi Speaker
  13. Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225 Music System
  14. Cocktail Audio X35 Music System
  15. Peachtree Audio decco125 Sky Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  16. Technics Ottava f SC-C70 Music System
  17. JBL Link 500 Wi-Fi Speaker
  18. Trinnov Amethyst DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
  19. Control4 Triad One Streaming Amplifier
  20. Elac Discovery Z3 Wi-Fi Speaker
  21. Klipsch Heritage Wireless Three Wi-Fi Speaker
  22. Paradigm PW 300 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  23. Thiel Audio Aurora Home Wi-Fi Speaker
  24. Hegel Music Systems H190 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  25. Yamaha R-N803 Network Stereo Receiver
  26. Onkyo TX-8270 Network Stereo Receiver
  27. Dynaudio Focus 20 XD Active Loudspeakers
  28. Riva Audio Festival Wi-Fi Speaker
  29. Naim Audio Uniti Atom Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  30. NAD Masters Series M50.2 Digital Music Player
  31. Bryston BryFi BW-1 Wi-Fi Speaker
  32. Arcam rPlay Music Streamer
  33. Auralic Polaris Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  34. Simaudio Moon Neo ACE DAC-Streamer-Integrated Amplifier
  35. NAD C 368 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  36. Lumin M1 Integrated Amplifier-Network Music Player
  37. Arcam Solo Music DAC-Integrated Amplifier-Universal Player
  38. McIntosh Laboratory RS100 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  39. Hegel Music Systems Röst Integrated Amplifier
  40. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb Wi-Fi Speaker
  41. Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2 Wi-Fi Speaker

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Axiom
Axiom

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