KEF Debuts New Finishes for Blade One Meta and Blade Two Meta

Sennheiser Drops HDB 630 Wireless Headphones

LATEST ADDITIONS

Budget Component Reviews Stand Loudspeaker Reviews

Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2 loudspeaker

Herb Reichert Sep 26, 2025

On the first page of the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2 Welcome Guide, Radiant Acoustics founder Peter Lyngdorf states, "The first thing you'll notice when listening to these speakers is the absence of distortion."

Audacious Audio Digital Processor Reviews

CH Precision C10 D/A processor

Jim Austin Sep 25, 2025

It takes audacity for a company that already builds one of the finest DACs on the planet, which is already expensive, to set out to build one that's so much better that it warrants an extra digit in the model number and a much higher price tag. But then CH Precision has never lacked audacity.

Re-Tales

Re-Tales #58: A Succession Story in Toronto

Julie Mullins Sep 24, 2025

This month's Re-Tales takes us to Toronto again—though it's quite a different story than the one we told last month, in a different part of Toronto.

Music and Recording Features

Sound Chaser #2: Ozzie Osbourne, the Prince of Dark Melody

Mike Mettler Sep 23, 2025

John Michael Osbourne was obsessed with the Beatles. Better known by the sobriquet "Ozzy," the cofounding lead singer of Black Sabbath who later turned uber-successful solo artist and still later became a reality TV star was deeply in love with the Fab Four. Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, at age 76.

News

Harman closes Sound United deal

Mark Henninger Sep 23, 2025

Today, Harman said that it has completed its acquisition of Sound United, adding Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Classé, Definitive Technology, Polk Audio, and Boston Acoustics to its portfolio.

News

UK Hi‑Fi Show Live Returns to Ascot This Weekend

Mark Henninger Sep 21, 2025

The UK Hi‑Fi Show Live is back at Ascot Racecourse’s Grandstand on September 27–28, 2025. Doors open 9:30am–5:30pm Saturday and 9:30am–5:00pm Sunday. The show website bills it as the UK’s longest‑running high‑end audio event.

My Back Pages T.H.E. Show SoCal 2025

A Poor Man's Audio Show Review

Roy Midyett Sep 18, 2025

My local audio dealer told me that neither of the two stereo mags would be reporting from the Costa Mesa audio show, which I attended in June, which is formally called T.H.E. (Total HiFi Experience) Show SoCal, so I thought I would step in and give it a quick-and-dirty review from the perspective of regular Joe Audiophile rather than that of the polished, professional reporters Stereophile usually sends.

News

TEAC PD-507T Expands Reference 500 Series with Transport-Only CD Playback

Mark Henninger Sep 18, 2025

TEAC announced the PD-507T, a next-generation CD transport for its Reference 500 Series, positioned as a digital-only companion for external DACs, including TEAC’s UD-507. The company says it employs an in-house, high-quality CD mechanism and focuses on “pristine digital output” rather than onboard D/A conversion. Availability is slated for Q4 2025. MSRP: $1699 (USA), €1299 (EU), £1299 (UK).

New Products

B.audio Adds Optional MM/MC Phono Stage for Alpha One and B.dpr

Mark Henninger Sep 17, 2025

Monarch Systems Ltd., B.audio’s distributor for the U.S. and Canada, announced an optional phono stage module from the French manufacturer. The add-in board adds a turntable input to select B.audio components.

News

Devialet Launches Phantom Ultimate: 108dB Flagship, 98dB Compact, Opéra de Paris Editions

Mark Henninger Sep 17, 2025

Devialet has launched Phantom Ultimate, a two-model update to its spherical wireless speaker line introduced in 2015. The collection comprises the flagship Phantom Ultimate 108dB at $3800 and the Phantom Ultimate 98dB at $1900, in Light Pearl and Deep Forest finishes, plus an Opéra de Paris edition with 22-karat gold detailing. Devialet says the 98dB is available now; the 108dB is open for preorders through Devialet stores, premium dealers, and online.