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A step-by-step guide to loudspeaker placement: room modes, SBIR, the equilateral triangle, toe-in, the 38 percent rule and treatment priorities.

The Accuphase DP-470 CD player has been unveiled, representing an evolutionary upgrade to the respected Japanese company's product lineup. True to tradition, the DP-470 employs a drive mechanism with a low center of gravity; a rubber damper is positioned between the laser pickup transport mechanism and the disc loader to suppress lens actuator resonance. An eight-pole neodymium magnet ensures secure disc clamping.

The latest Merason DAC 2 utilizes a pair of Burr-Brown PCM1794A chips in a true dual-mono configuration. According to the manufacturer, this setup increases dynamic range by 5 dB and results in a wider soundstage.

Cayin has released the Jazz 70 integrated tube amplifier, the smallest and most affordable model in the Jazz family, which also includes the Jazz 80, Jazz 90 and Jazz 100. The amplifier combines traditional tube circuitry with modern connectivity: three RCA inputs are provided for analog sources, while wireless playback is available via Bluetooth.

Kanto Audio has released an updated version of its popular turntable, the Kanto Audio Obi3 Gen 2. The model is available in five color options and is priced at $249.99. The slight price increase reflects several quality improvements to the design.

The new Atoll IN800 Evolution integrated amplifier combines a pair of AM400 Evolution monoblocks and a PR400 Evolution preamplifier within a single chassis. It delivers 2 x 350 W into 8 ohms and up to 2 x 550 W into 4 ohms. Each channel utilizes sixteen matched MOSFETs, while the driver stages employ Darlington transistors; the design features a symmetrical topology with low global negative feedback.

Vinnie Rossi is launching a new, more accessible equipment line called Canta, with the Canta Phono Preamplifier being the first device in the series. In the autumn of 2026, the lineup will expand to include the Canta Integrated Amplifier, Canta Preamplifier, and Canta Stereo Power Amplifier.

Vincent has updated its SV-737 hybrid integrated amplifier from the tubeLine series with the introduction of the new SV-737MK. While retaining the core circuitry of its predecessor, the manufacturer has significantly revised the connectivity options. The built-in Wi-Fi module has been replaced by HDMI ARC, allowing a TV to be connected directly to the stereo system, while network playback is now intended to be handled by an external streamer. The amplifier has also gained a Pre Out and a direct input to the power amplifier section.

Majority has introduced two new turntables, the Stylo and Folio, aimed at users looking for an affordable system that is easy to set up. The Stylo is designed for use with external speakers, while the Folio features built-in speakers and can operate as a standalone system without additional components.

Mexican company Margules has released a special edition of its U-280 SC tube power amplifier to celebrate the model’s 30th anniversary. The amplifier retains the key technical solutions of the original design, which the manufacturer has continued to refine over the past three decades, including pure Class A operation, selectable output-stage modes, and a proprietary automatic tube bias adjustment system.

What is the actual difference between an active and a passive loudspeaker? We are willing to bet you will get it wrong. The widespread belief that the difference lives in built-in amplification is simply not correct. Built-in amplification is a consequence, not a cause, and there are active systems on the market that use external amplifier packs. The real difference sits in the crossover: specifically, whether it does its work before amplification or after it.

Singapore-based LAiV has opened pre-orders for the second version of its acclaimed LAiV Harmony DAC. The Harmony DAC 2 is scheduled for release in September 2026, priced at $3,994 or €4,495. The unit employs a fully balanced R2R conversion circuit and now features a Class A output buffer, a 10 MHz master clock input, and a sample rate converter.

The eternal audiophile question: which amplification topology is better, tube or solid-state? The short answer is simple. If your loudspeakers hold a stable impedance no lower than 6 ohms and a sensitivity above 90 dB, a tube amplifier is worth considering. If your speakers show impedance dips below 3 ohms, that approach will only harm the system. Like it or not, tube and solid-state designs differ first of all in their nonlinear distortion spectrum and their output impedance, and every other parameter turns out to be a derivative of those two figures.

Goldmund has unveiled the Telos 9800, its new flagship monoblock amplifier and the most powerful unit in the company's history. The Goldmund Telos 9800 delivers 1,560 watts of continuous power into an 8-ohm load; the price for a single monoblock is 400,000 Swiss francs (or 430,000 euros).

The listening room accounts for more than half of what your system sounds like. Optimising the sound of a room you already live in is far harder than getting things right in a new one from the start, so we have put together a full guide and checklist for choosing a listening room. It will help if you are house-hunting: follow it, and even entry-level Hi-Fi will take an audible step up in quality.