PSB Imagine Series

In mid-February, SoundStage! editor-in-chief Jeff Fritz e-mailed to ask if I’d be willing to put together a “virtual system” as part of a series he was writing for SoundStage! Ultra: “If you had an unlimited budget and wanted the best performance money could buy on the desktop, what would you pick?”

Read more: Sony SA-Z1 Active Nearfield Loudspeakers

Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link.

Three years ago, when Kevin and Jonathan Couch formed Heavenly Soundworks, the father-and-son team planned to make only conventional passive loudspeakers—active speakers weren’t on the agenda. “My dad has been into audio as long as I can remember—since before I was born,” Jonathan told me in a phone interview, “which is why I’m into it too.”

Read more: Heavenly Soundworks FIVE17 Active Loudspeakers

Is the Compact Disc on its last legs? It sure looks that way. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), US sales of CDs fell 45.2% (units) and 47.6% (dollars) in the first half of 2020, compared to the same period a year earlier. In that same period, revenues from streaming grew 12%, to $4.8 billion—85% of recording-industry revenues in the US.

Read more: Marantz SACD 30n SACD/CD Player and Streaming DAC-Preamp

In the last three years, Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries (DALI) has introduced active versions of models from three of its speaker series:

Read more: DALI Oberon 1 C Active Loudspeakers and Sound Hub Wireless Transmitter

Reviewers' ChoiceIntroduced in 1991, PSB’s affordable Alpha series of loudspeakers have since earned a reputation for performance and value, and received many awards. PSB’s Alpha P5 two-way minimonitor ($399/pair, all prices USD except as noted) received a Reviewers’ Choice Award when it was reviewed on SoundStage! Access by Hans Wetzel in March 2019, and was subsequently named a SoundStage! Network Product of the Year for Exceptional Value.

Read more: PSB Alpha AM3 Powered Loudspeakers

When he visited my home last summer, SoundStage! founder and publisher Doug Schneider asked what I thought was a strange question. Which am I into more, music or sound? Am I first and foremost an audiophile or a music lover?

Read more: iFi Audio Neo iDSD DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier

In no other area do audiophile aspirations collide more forcefully with the laws of physics than in the reproduction of deep bass. That’s especially true with audio systems installed in multipurpose living areas, as opposed to dedicated media rooms. There are two main reasons for this, one quantitative, the other qualitative.

Read more: Bluesound Pulse Sub+ Wireless Subwoofer

Reviewers' ChoiceI didn’t expect to be writing this review -- at least, not now. As I mentioned a month ago, in my feature article “A Perfect Pair,” when I read PSB’s announcement of their new Alpha AM3 and Alpha AM5 powered speakers, I immediately requested for review a pair of AM5s. I was told that samples would be shipped to me that very week -- only to hear, a few days later, that review samples weren’t available, due to robust initial orders and pandemic-related product shortages. When PSB offered to supply the smaller AM3s, I gladly accepted.

Read more: PSB Alpha AM5 Powered Loudspeakers

Most audiophiles know SV Sound (SVS) as a manufacturer of high-performance, high-value speakers and subwoofers. The Ohio-based company’s catalog also includes one electronic component: the Prime Wireless SoundBase ($499.99, all prices USD), which combines a powerful integrated amplifier and network streamer in one compact case.

Read more: SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase Streaming Integrated Amplifier

One of the best-kept secrets of home audio is the possibility of building a hi-fi system around a pair of professional studio monitors. As I discussed in my July 1 feature, “Turning Pro,” studio monitors offer more bang for the buck than most conventional systems comprising separate electronics and passive speakers.

Read more: Focal Solo6 Be Active Loudspeakers

Reviewers' ChoiceWith apologies to William Shakespeare, there’s something rockin’ in the state of Denmark, audiowise. When it comes to active speakers that include digital signal processing (DSP) -- in my opinion, now the most exciting segment of audio -- the Danes are on the leading edge. During my two-years-plus at SoundStage! Simplifi, I’ve written about active speakers from several Danish brands, including DALI, Dynaudio, and System Audio, and I’ve loved them all.

Read more: Buchardt Audio A500 Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter

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

Page 7 of 15