Latest News – page 4

SMSL has expanded its premium VMV series with the new VMV P2 MK2 desktop headphone amplifier. The new model was introduced alongside the flagship VMV D2R MK2 DAC, which was previously covered, and belongs to the updated MK2 generation of devices. SMSL positions this pairing as one of the brand’s most advanced solutions for desktop Hi-Fi systems, aimed at audiophiles and professional users.

Scottish company Fyne Audio has introduced the Cubitt 5 – its first active wireless speaker system with built-in streaming capabilities. For the brand, this model marks an important step toward a more accessible and convenient format: the Cubitt 5 is designed for those who want to enjoy Fyne Audio’s signature sound without a separate amplifier, complex cabling, or a traditional multi-component Hi-Fi system.

French brand YBA will present its new Design One SACD player at High End Vienna 2026. It is a compact battery-powered model designed not only for traditional Hi-Fi systems, but also for desktop and portable use. According to the company, the Design One is the first YBA device created specifically for the portable/desktop audio segment. The unit combines an SACD/CD transport, a digital-to-analogue converter and a headphone amplifier in a single chassis. The player measures 188 × 166 × 40 mm and weighs 1.34 kg.

Wharfedale is expanding its Heritage series with the new compact Denton 1S loudspeaker. The new model looks back to the brand’s history and is directly inspired by the Denton 1, introduced in 1974. At the time, that speaker was an unusual experiment for Wharfedale: compared with the company’s classic wooden models, it stood out with a more modern appearance, flexible placement options and an unconventional engineering approach.

Lotoo has introduced two new components for desktop audio systems: the Lotoo Gungnir DAC with headphone amplifier and the Lotoo LPX-01 external power supply, designed specifically to work with it, but not exclusively. The company will showcase both devices at High End 2026 Vienna in early June, as well as in the World of Headphones area in Vienna.

German company Econik has introduced the active loudspeaker system Econik 1851 – a two-way model with an unusual suspended design and an enclosure made from quartz sand. For a brand that only began releasing its first loudspeaker systems in 2023, the new model marks a noticeable step toward a more experimental design language and a less conventional engineering philosophy.

British company Exposure Electronics has introduced its flagship preamplifier, the Exposure 5510 Preamp. Designed for serious stereo audio systems, the model emphasizes engineering, ease of use, and thoughtful connectivity, rather than flashy interface solutions, touchscreens, or apps.

Danish company Jamo has introduced its new Concert Legacy series of passive loudspeakers, with which the brand brings the Concert name back to the high-end classic Hi-Fi segment. The line-up includes three models: the standmount Concert Legacy 8, the floorstanding Concert Legacy 9 and the top-of-the-range Concert Legacy 11. The new models are inspired by Jamo Concert loudspeakers from the 1990s, but are built around modern drivers, an updated engineering platform and a more refined cabinet design.

British company dCS has introduced the MCD 16 – a new digital-to-analog converter and the brand’s first model developed from the outset for multichannel audio formats. The device will make its public debut at High End Vienna 2026, which will take place in Vienna from June 4 to 7. Deliveries of the dCS MCD 16 are scheduled for autumn 2026; closer to that date, the manufacturer promises to reveal the full technical specifications and recommended price.

British company iFi Audio has expanded its affordable ZEN Air line with three new second-generation components. The series now includes the ZEN Air Blue 2 Bluetooth receiver, the ZEN Air Phono 2 phono stage, and the ZEN Air DAC 2 USB DAC with headphone amplifier. All three devices are aimed at users who want to upgrade a compact desktop or home Hi-Fi system without moving into a more expensive segment.

German audio manufacturer Lindemann has expanded its Woodnote series with the introduction of the third model in the line – the Woodnote Bridge network transport. The device follows a minimalist concept and is designed exclusively to transmit a digital audio signal to an external DAC or an amplifier with digital inputs.

Japanese brand Air Tight has updated its current product lineup with the new ATC-6 tube preamplifier. The model succeeds the ATC-3 roughly twenty years after the latter’s release and is positioned as the most accessible preamplifier in the company’s catalogue.

Lorenzo Audio has introduced its new Bravo Collection loudspeaker series, marking the company’s next stage of development. The series incorporates the expertise, technologies and engineering experience accumulated in the brand’s previous models, as well as a new methodology called Resonance Optimization System, or ROS. The Lorenzo Audio catalogue now consists of two series: the Classic Collection, which includes the existing models, and the Bravo Collection, debuting with The Essence stand-mount loudspeakers.

American company YG Acoustics has introduced Titan, its new flagship floorstanding loudspeaker system, which joins the Ultimate series. The model has become the brand’s largest and most ambitious project: each speaker stands more than two meters tall, weighs over 450 kg, and is aimed at the ultra-premium High End audio segment.

British company Audio Note has announced Izvor, a new discrete digital-to-analog conversion module based on a resistor ladder. According to the manufacturer, this is the brand’s first development of its kind, built not with typical miniature SMD components, but with high-grade analog elements close in quality to those Audio Note uses in its higher-end audio products.

German company Ballfinger, best known for its reel-to-reel tape recorders, has expanded its High End audio portfolio and introduced its first vinyl turntable – the Ballfinger T 002 B. For the brand, the new model marks an entry into a new segment, while visually and conceptually continuing Ballfinger’s signature design language: strict minimalism, industrial aesthetics and an emphasis on functionality.

Danish company Audiovector has expanded its R Series lineup with the new R 5 Arreté floorstanding loudspeakers. The model was developed over approximately five years, with engineers carrying out more than 2,000 hours of listening sessions during the tuning stage. The new product sits between the R 3 and R 6 Arreté models, while becoming the first loudspeaker system in the R Series to use technologies derived directly from the flagship Audiovector R 10 Arreté.

Japanese company Accuphase is expanding its digital lineup with two new components: the DC-500 audio processor and the DG-78 digital equaliser. Formally, a full global release has not yet taken place: the Japanese manufacturer’s official website still lists the flagship DC-1000 processor and the previous DG-68 digital voicing equaliser.

FiiO has announced the K17 R2R Pro, a compact all-in-one desktop component that combines a digital-to-analog converter, network streamer and headphone amplifier in a single chassis. The new model continues the brand’s desktop lineup and follows the design philosophy of the K15 and K19. The first public showing of the FiiO K17 R2R Pro is scheduled for the High End Vienna 2026, which will take place in June.

Linn has introduced an update to its flagship Linn 360 loudspeakers. The key change is the brand’s first-ever in-house low-frequency drivers, built around a new Pistonik motor system. Until now, the Linn 360 loudspeakers used bass drivers from third-party manufacturers. These have now been replaced with proprietary 6-inch upper-bass units and 8-inch woofers. Development of the new drivers took approximately three years.