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Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 January 2022

Reviewers' ChoiceIs there an audio manufacturer whose products exemplify Simplifi’d hi-fi more than Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen? I doubt it. Formed in 1925, B&O started offering “convenient, lifestyle-oriented hi-fi” components not long after the word “lifestyle” had been coined.

Read more: Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 Active Loudspeakers

KEF KC62 Powered Subwoofer

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 December 2021

Reviewers' ChoiceHere’s a bit of audio trivia for your holiday enjoyment: Who was J.A. Hofmann? If you’ve been into audio as long as I have, you’ll know him as the H in the loudspeaker brand KLH. Along with Henry Kloss and Malcolm S. Low, Hofmann was a founding partner of KLH Research and Development Corporation, which was formed in 1957, and has recently been revived as KLH Audio.

Read more: KEF KC62 Powered Subwoofer

NAD C 700 Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 December 2021

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click this link.

The fall of 2021 has been a busy time for NAD Electronics. In the past few months, the Pickering, Canada–based company has announced three new integrated amplifiers, all of them with intriguing feature sets.

Read more: NAD C 700 Streaming Integrated Amplifier

iFi Audio Zen Stream Wi-Fi Streamer

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 November 2021

In the past few years, UK-based iFi Audio has introduced an impressive series of compact, affordable components under its Zen sub-brand. These include the Zen Blue V2 Bluetooth DAC ($189, all prices in USD unless noted otherwise), Zen DAC V2 DAC-headphone amp ($189), Zen Phono MM/MC phono stage ($199), and Zen Can balanced headphone amp ($199).

Read more: iFi Audio Zen Stream Wi-Fi Streamer

System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 November 2021

Sometimes, I envy reviewers on other sites of the SoundStage! Network. Most of the time, they’re reviewing single-purpose products like passive loudspeakers, amplifiers, DACs, turntables, and headphones, so they can focus mainly on how the component sounds.

Read more: System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter

Bluesound Node Streaming DAC-Preamplifier

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 October 2021

Reviewers' ChoiceI don’t know how many stereo systems are sitting unused in people’s basements and attics; but I’d guess a gazillion or so, give or take a million. That’s a pity, because it wouldn’t take much to update them. Just connect a streaming DAC like the new Bluesound Node ($549, all prices in USD), and that old system is ready to stream music from the internet, play digital music from an external drive, play soundtracks from a connected HDTV, and perform other 21st-century audio tricks.

Read more: Bluesound Node Streaming DAC-Preamplifier

Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 September 2021

Almost all of the products reviewed here on Simplifi, and on other corners of the SoundStage! Network, are fairly new to market—in most cases, less than one year old. And quite often, our reviews are of products that are brand new to market.

Read more: Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers

Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 August 2021

At first glance, Q Acoustics’ Q Active 200 ($1999/pair, all prices in USD except where noted) doesn’t look much like a loudspeaker. It could be an appliance of some kind, or maybe a minitower desktop PC. After setting up the speakers on the matching Q FS75 stands ($499/pair) in my living room, I sent close-up pix to a few friends and family members, and asked them what kind of product the pictures showed. Those were some of their guesses.

Read more: Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Active Loudspeakers

Bluesound Powernode Multiroom Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 August 2021

One of the hottest product categories in hi-fi right now is the streaming integrated amplifier—an amp with a built-in network streamer and Wi-Fi connectivity. Just add a pair of loudspeakers, connect the amp to your home network, log on to your favorite streaming service, and you have everything you need to play just about all the music in the world. Of course, these products also have digital and analog inputs to accommodate components like disc players, game consoles, and TVs.

Read more: Bluesound Powernode Multiroom Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Edifier Airpulse A300Pro Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 15 July 2021

During my three years on Simplifi, I’ve reviewed 27 different powered and active loudspeakers—more than any other product category. There’s a reason for this. Because of their all-in-one designs, speakers with built-in amplifiers work wonderfully for Simplifi’d hi-fi.

Read more: Edifier Airpulse A300Pro Active Loudspeakers

KEF LS50 Wireless II Active Loudspeakers

Written by: Gordon Brockhouse
Created: 01 July 2021

Reviewers' ChoiceIn the 21st century, has there been a more successful, more important bookshelf loudspeaker than KEF’s LS50? I doubt it. Just look at how the LS50 and its progeny have fared on the SoundStage! Network.

Read more: KEF LS50 Wireless II Active Loudspeakers

  1. Bryston BR-20 Streaming Preamplifier-DAC
  2. HEDD Type 05 MK2 Active Speakers and Bass 08 Subwoofer
  3. SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer
  4. Sony SA-Z1 Active Nearfield Loudspeakers
  5. Heavenly Soundworks FIVE17 Active Loudspeakers
  6. Marantz SACD 30n SACD/CD Player and Streaming DAC-Preamp
  7. DALI Oberon 1 C Active Loudspeakers and Sound Hub Wireless Transmitter
  8. PSB Alpha AM3 Powered Loudspeakers
  9. iFi Audio Neo iDSD DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier
  10. Bluesound Pulse Sub+ Wireless Subwoofer
  11. PSB Alpha AM5 Powered Loudspeakers
  12. SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  13. Focal Solo6 Be Active Loudspeakers
  14. Buchardt Audio A500 Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  15. Klipsch The Fives Active Loudspeakers
  16. Triangle Elara LN01A Powered Loudspeakers
  17. Volumio Primo Community Edition and Hi-Fi Edition Streaming DACs
  18. System Audio Legend 5 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  19. Andover Audio Model-One Turntable Music System
  20. Elac Alchemy DDP-2 Streaming DAC-Preamp
  21. Focal Shape 65 Analog Active Loudspeakers
  22. HEDD Type 07 Analog Active Loudspeakers
  23. exaSound Audio Design Delta Music Server M100
  24. Bryston BDA-3.14 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  25. iFi Audio Pro iDSD Streaming DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier
  26. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
  27. DALI Rubicon 6 C Hybrid Active Loudspeakers
  28. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Pre Box RS2 Digital DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amp
  29. Klipsch RW-51M Wireless Powered Loudspeakers
  30. iFi Audio Aurora Wireless Music System
  31. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation Wireless Music System
  32. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  33. Hegel Music Systems H120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  34. DALI Katch One Soundbar
  35. NAD Classic C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC
  36. Kanto Audio Tuk Powered Loudspeakers
  37. Lumin T2 Network Music Player
  38. Naim Audio ND5 XS 2 Network Music Player
  39. Elac Navis ARF-51 Active Loudspeakers
  40. Devialet Phantom Reactor 900 Active Loudspeakers
  41. PMC result6 Active Loudspeakers
  42. Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo Active Loudspeakers
  43. Naim Audio Mu-so 2nd Generation Wireless Music System
  44. McIntosh Laboratory MTI100 Integrated Turntable
  45. Yamaha WXA-50 MusicCast Streaming Amplifier
  46. NAD Masters M10 BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  47. Primare SC15 Prisma Streaming DAC-Preamp
  48. Naim Uniti Core CD Ripper/Music Server
  49. Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeakers
  50. Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Speaker
  51. SVS Prime Wireless Active Speakers
  52. Totem Acoustic Kin Play Powered Speakers
  53. KEF LSX Active Loudspeakers
  54. Bluesound Vault 2i CD Ripper-Server-Streamer
  55. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Stream Box S2 Ultra Music Streamer
  56. Kii Audio Three DSP-Controlled Active Loudspeakers
  57. Aurender S5W Battery-Powered Wireless Active Loudspeakers
  58. Cambridge Audio Yoyo (L) Wireless Speaker
  59. DALI Callisto 2 C Active Speaker System
  60. Kanto SYD Bluetooth Speaker
  61. LG G7 ThinQ Smartphone
  62. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Juke Box E Turntable-Integrated Amplifier
  63. NAD D 3020 V2 Bluetooth Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  64. Polk Assist Wi-Fi Smart Speaker
  65. MartinLogan Unison Wireless Preamplifier
  66. Dynaudio Music 7 Wi-Fi Speaker
  67. Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225 Music System
  68. Cocktail Audio X35 Music System
  69. Peachtree Audio decco125 Sky Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  70. Technics Ottava f SC-C70 Music System
  71. JBL Link 500 Wi-Fi Speaker
  72. Trinnov Amethyst DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
  73. Control4 Triad One Streaming Amplifier
  74. Elac Discovery Z3 Wi-Fi Speaker
  75. Klipsch Heritage Wireless Three Wi-Fi Speaker
  76. Paradigm PW 300 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  77. Thiel Audio Aurora Home Wi-Fi Speaker
  78. Hegel Music Systems H190 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  79. Yamaha R-N803 Network Stereo Receiver
  80. Onkyo TX-8270 Network Stereo Receiver
  81. Dynaudio Focus 20 XD Active Loudspeakers
  82. Riva Audio Festival Wi-Fi Speaker
  83. Naim Audio Uniti Atom Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  84. NAD Masters Series M50.2 Digital Music Player
  85. Bryston BryFi BW-1 Wi-Fi Speaker
  86. Arcam rPlay Music Streamer
  87. Auralic Polaris Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  88. Simaudio Moon Neo ACE DAC-Streamer-Integrated Amplifier
  89. NAD C 368 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  90. Lumin M1 Integrated Amplifier-Network Music Player
  91. Arcam Solo Music DAC-Integrated Amplifier-Universal Player
  92. McIntosh Laboratory RS100 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  93. Hegel Music Systems Röst Integrated Amplifier
  94. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb Wi-Fi Speaker
  95. Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2 Wi-Fi Speaker

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