Apple AirPods Pro 3: First Impressions

Hegel H150 Integrated Amplifier Officially Announced

Sonus faber Announces Amati Supreme Speaker

FiiO M27 Headphone DAC Amplifier Released

Audio Advice Acquires The Sound Room

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CES 2015

Audioengine's BlueTooth Speaker

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

I am a sucker for the new breed of desktop "wireless" loudspeakerswhen they look and sound as natural and dynamic as the new Audioengine B2 Premium Bluetooth loudspeaker, I can dance around, sing, dream on Bartok, or play air guitar while streaming Tidal or WFMU. You are invited!

CES 2015

Roksan's K3 Integrated Amp

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

The newly styled Roksan K3 integrated amp ($2500 with aptX streaming), the K3 CD player ($2500, which I am dying to review), and the soon-to-be-released K3 DAC ($2500) are so art-deco cool and artfully streamlined in their appearance that I was both gob-smacked and envious of the person who drew the lines that created these elegant faceplates.

CES 2015

Morel Octave 6 loudspeaker

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

Morel's new Octave 6 bookshelf loudspeakers ($2500/pair) employ the kinds of new technologies I believe are leading today's audiophiles into some fresh, open, and I would say newly transparent realms of musical enjoyment. Driven by Hegel H300 amplifiers ($5500), the Morel Octave 6s played with a strength and precision that speakers of even the recent past could not achieve.

CES 2015

In the Rounded Sound

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

I liked the sound of the music in this room. Driven by a Calyx M series music player and a Virtue Audio, "Virtue One" class-T integrated amp ($499), the Well Rounded Sound EXP loudspeakers ($1599/pair) and the WRS SUBST sub ($799) played the joyous hell out a variety of musical selections.

CES 2015

Bryston BDA-3 DAC and BOT-1 CD Transport

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2015

Bryston's latest DAC was on hand, and yes all of those buttons on the front represent the number of input options! In addition to the normal SPDIF, optical and USB inputs are four HDMI inputs for hooking up computer-based, SACD, Blu-ray and other "modern digital sources".

CES 2015

Hegel H160 AirPlay Integrated Amp

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2015

You can use this one just for headphones or hook up a pair of speakers to the 150 wpc amp. In addition to a handful of analog inputs, the H160 accepts SPDIF, USB, optical and ethernet connections for digital audio. But that's not all: Hegel has done some tweaking in software to improve wireless playback from any Apple AirPlay or DLNA device. Available now for $3,500

CES 2015

Hegel HD12 Preamp/DAC/Headphone Amp

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2015

There are four digital inputs on the back including USB and both PCM and DSD files are processed natively before reaching the analog section. In addition to a headphone jack, both balanced and unbalanced outputs are available and the $1,400 HD12 includes a remote control for use as a preamp. Available now.

CES 2015

Furutech ADL GT40α USB DAC/Headphone Amp w/Phono Stage

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2015

Though the basic package is still the same, Furutech says it has completely redesigned the insides of the GT40α which now handles 24/192 PCM. The company claims that they've added some "serious shielding" inside to protect noise from getting into the built-in MM/MC phono preamp. There is also a USB output for recording your discs to computer. MSRP is $529 in the US.

CES 2015

Cyrus Streamline2 and Xa Streamers Getting Reboot

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2015

These aren't new products to CES, but I thought it was worth throwing a photo up since Kevro International says they plan to reboot the line in the US this year. The Streamline2 retails for $2399 with the Xa going for $2499. Potential dealers take note.

CES 2015

Chord Hugo TT Preamp/DAC/Headphone Amp

Jon Iverson Jan 14, 2015

The TT ("Table Top") is the new larger sibling to the hand-sized Hugo DAC released last year, which the company says expands connectivity options and improves performance. There are two 1/4 inch headphone jacks on the front panel and a bevy of inputs outputs on the back: SPDIF, USB (up to 32/384 PCM) and optical in, and balanced and unbalanced analog out. DSD64 is available on all inputs and DSD128 via SPDIF or USB. Chord's Rob Watts encourages users to connect with the USB input if possible.