High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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09 / 15 / 25

Lossy 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC Arrives For Spotify Premium
Spotify has begun rolling out better quality, though still lossy digital audio, to Premium subscribers in select markets, marking a big missed opportunity launch. Since virtually the beginning of digital recording for the compact disc format in the 1980s, Soundstream's 20-bit/48kHz digital recorder or DAT-like formats were the minimum, with rates of 24-bit/96kHz and higher for modern re-mastering of analog magnetic tape and top-level recording studios as offered on music services such as Qobuz. Spotify's Premium users will receive an in-app notification when their so-called "Lossless" (according to Spotify) becomes available, unlocking streaming in up to the 1990's digital audio standard of 24-bit and 1980's standard of 44.1 kHz for nearly every track in their catalog. Whether diving into new releases or rediscovering old favorites, listeners can experience a bit higher quality of recorded music's depth, clarity, and nuance across their playlists than Spotify offered previously. With French company Qobuz music streaming service offering up to 24-bit/192kHz FLAC, obviously those desiring the very best immersive Hi-Res Music experience will seek out high- quality online music services.

The new Spotify feature with compromised audio quality is met with user-friendly controls, allowing customers to switch between Low, Normal, High, Very High, and now "Lossless" streaming modes across Wi-Fi, cellular, and downloads. Up to 20-bit/48kHz lossy playback is supported on mobile, desktop, and tablet devices, as well as hardware compatible with Spotify Connect from brands such as Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser, with Sonos and Amazon integration arriving next month. Spotify's claimed "Lossless" is rolling out gradually to more than 50 markets through October. Premium subscribers in Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the US, and the UK have already started to get access.

09 / 12 / 25

Revox Group & National Audio Company Cassette Production
U.S.-based National Audio Company Inc. and Swiss Revox Group have joined forces to relaunch high-end audio cassette production in Villingen, Germany. Under the partnership, National Audio will install its original cassette tape production line at the Revox Manufacture, enabling on-site fabrication of both blank and pre-recorded cassettes. This facility aims to deliver studio-quality analog playback and recording for music enthusiasts worldwide. By combining National Audio's decades of expertise in professional tape manufacturing with Revox's legacy in premium audio systems and master tapes, the alliance will position Revox as Europe's market leader in empty and music cassettes. The Villingen plant is set to become one of the continent's largest magnetic tape within cassette casing production sites, offering three distinct formulations—including a Type II chrome-compatible version—and bespoke European-made cassette housings to ensure the highest analog fidelity.

The partners plan to launch their joint portfolio in Q4 2025, debuting 100% analog music releases under the REVOX | Horch House imprint alongside deluxe blank cassettes for labels, OEMs, and independent artists. National Audio, founded in 1969 and renowned for its pioneering "Audio Pro" series in the late 1980s, contributes its extensive production heritage, while Revox secures distribution and product rights outside North America. This collaboration marks a bold renaissance for the compact cassette format on both sides of the Atlantic.

09 / 11 / 25

Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression S350 Stereo Power Amplifier Review
The Dan D'Agostino S350 amplifier makes each musical selection sound spectacular!
Review By Tom Lyle
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio products are not the most expensive audio components on the market, but in my opinion, their audio products are some of the best sounding high-end audio components I've ever had the pleasure of auditioning. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review two D'Agostino Master Audio components in the past. In 2017, I reviewed the excellent-sounding Momentum Lifestyle integrated amplifier, which had an onboard DAC and could also be used as a streamer with its front-panel LCD metadata display. Also in 2017, I reviewed D'Agostino Master Audio System's Momentum phono stage, which I was highly impressed with its outstanding sound quality and very user-friendly front panel controls. The Progression S350 has a power output of 350 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, which doubles when used with a 4 Ohm load. The technology behind this large, very heavy amplifier is impressive, which is an understatement.
---> Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression S350 Stereo Power Amplifier Review.

Audience Hidden Treasure In-Wall AC PowerCable And High Definition Wall Receptacle Review
Like a buried treasure that pays huge dividends in musical enjoyment!
Review By Rick Becker
If you're reading this review, you're either considering the installation of a dedicated line in what is likely your dedicated listening room or perhaps your home theater...  or maybe the video rig in your family room if you're seriously into watching TV. Or possibly, you've already installed a line and are wondering if this new Audience cable might be a worthwhile upgrade. In any case, I suspect you're already convinced that "everything matters" in high-end audio, especially cables. Keep reading. Audience is one of the most respected cable manufacturers and my ears perked up when I saw the ad for their new In-Wall AC cable. It's been 20 years since I reviewed Joe Skubinski's JPS Labs Power AC In-Wall cable. He's sold miles of it and "Big Red" has remained my reference dedicated line ever since. What's taken so long for the competition to arise? Well, there is a company in Great Britain that has been around a while that sells one, but they are not a very big player in the US audio cable market.
---> Audience Hidden Treasure In-Wall AC PowerCable And High Definition Wall Receptacle Review.

09 / 10 / 25

Edinburgh Hi-AV Show 2025 In November
Edinburgh's premier destination for audiophiles and AV enthusiasts returns this autumn with the second edition of the Edinburgh HI-AV Show, taking place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, 2025. Organized by the family-run Chester Group—whose pedigree includes popular events across England—the show makes its comeback after a 17-year hiatus, building on the success of last year's relaunch. The airport-side venue offers seamless access via Ingliston Park and Ride and two tram stops, ensuring visitors from across Scotland and beyond can arrive relaxed and ready to immerse themselves in cutting-edge audio experiences. Attendees can expect an expanded footprint this year, with dedicated demonstration zones showcasing a spectrum of high-performance systems—from the refined warmth of vacuum tube amplification to the precision of Hi-Res Audio DACs and room correction devices.

A markedly larger vinyl marketplace will stock both new and used vinyl LP records and reel-to-reel analog tape. Whether you're curious about entry-level streaming rigs or ultra-high-end, esoteric gear, every room is calibrated to reveal the true impact of masterful recordings on optimal hardware, promising ear-opening revelations at every turn. Tickets, priced at £20 for unlimited weekend access, are now available with complimentary admission for under-15 when accompanied by a paying adult. StereoNET returns plus The Scotsman are official media sponsors, and exclusive show-only offers will be on hand for those looking to upgrade their rigs. "We are delighted to host this very popular show once again," says Justin Bird of Chester Group, underscoring ambitious plans to broaden the event's appeal and introduce new interactive elements over the coming months.

09 / 09 / 25

SoundExchange Appeals $400M Underpayment By SiriusXM
SoundExchange filed a notice of appeal in September, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to overturn an August decision that dismissed its lawsuit against SiriusXM. In the original ruling, Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of the Southern District of New York concluded that Congress never granted SoundExchange the authority to litigate royalty disputes on behalf of recording artists and labels, effectively barring the performance rights organization from enforcing its members' claims in court. In its appeal, SoundExchange argues that the dismissal rests on a "flawed interpretation" of the Digital Performance in Sound Recordings Act of 1995 and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. The organization insists that Congress intended the statutory license's enforcement power to include litigation when digital music services underpay artists and rights holders.

SoundExchange maintains that SiriusXM's "faulty methodology" for allocating revenue between its satellite and streaming businesses has deprived creators of more than $400 million in royalties to date. SiriusXM has denied any wrongdoing, asserting its royalty calculations are "rigorous, tested and fair," and declined to comment further on the ongoing appeal. Industry observers say the Second Circuit's decision could reshape how performance royalties are enforced across all online and satellite broadcasters, potentially opening the door for future litigation by SoundExchange and similar organizations if the lower-court ruling is reversed.

09 / 08 / 25

BPI News About UK-US Trade And Tariffs
The BPI (British Phonographic Industry), a representative voice for the UK's record companies, music business, and label businesses to champion British music, has released details about U.S. tariffs. The U.S. introduced new tariffs on imported physical goods on April 5th (2025) to incentives on-shore manufacturing, and address "unfair" trade practices. Most UK exports now face a 10% baseline tariff in addition to existing duties, while countries deemed "worst offenders" encounter higher reciprocal rates—EU-origin goods, for example, are hit with 15%, with the Swiss experiencing a crushing 39% import duty. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection carved out an exemption for "informational materials," including phonograph records (vinyl LPs), CDs (compact discs), audio cassette tapes, and similar items under Exception 9903.01.31. Despite this, music-industry members report that merchandise and recording-equipment shipments have sometimes been wrongly classified and taxed, reflecting inconsistent application of the exemption.

On August 29th (2025), the U.S. removed the $800 de minimis threshold for low-value commercial shipments, subjecting all imports to standard duties and fees. Physical music products retained their exempt status as "information materials," but BPI members continue to face hurdles with certain carriers who have not updated their billing systems or classifications. The BPI is actively feeding these operational challenges back to the UK Government to help streamline customs processes and ensure that music exports remain cost-effective and predictable.

Rather than retaliate with tariffs, the UK opted to negotiate the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), announced on May 8th (2025). This non-binding agreement focuses narrowly on sectors like automobiles, steel, aluminum, and agriculture, with future talks slated to cover high-tech, intellectual property protections, labor standards, and environmental policies. While the 10% baseline tariff on most UK goods stays in place, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled a desire to push for further tariff reductions. The deal also seeks closer economic-security alignment between the two countries. BPI remains engaged in monitoring these negotiations—particularly any commitments on IP and technology—and continues to gather member feedback to share with the UK Government.

09 / 05 / 25

Hi-Fi+ September 2025 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: Making Great Strides In Audio Equipment
dCS Lina DAC X Digital-To-Analog Converter
PMC prophecy9 Floorstanding Loudspeaker 
Chord Electronics Ultima 3 Pre And Ultima 3
Master Fidelity NADAC Digital-To-Analog Converter
Linn Klimax Solo 500 Mono Power Amplifier
Innuos ZENith NG Music Server
Wattson Audio Madison LE Streaming DAC/Headamp
Gold Note HP-10 Deluxe Headphone Amplifier
Chord Company ARAY RF-Controlling Range
Seismion Reactio 2 Anti-Vibration Platform
...And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "Audio may be the most mature consumer electronics field, but that doesn't mean if's stagnant. Development in audio has been continual, with improvements in all aspects of performance. Even the most cursory overview of the audio world shows why this should be the case. If you compare a modern low-power solid-state integrated amplifier with one sold even at the turn of the century, the level of precision in circuit design, component integrity and reliability is considerably better. That's just the start, however. While there are many companies that tread a successful path free from innovation, others consider each new project a chance to start afresh, creating a synthesis of existing technologies and new concepts to add to the canon of audio engineering. We've made – and continue to make great strides in all branches of audio, and not simply by pushing the price-point envelope. The difficulty, however, often comes down to imparting that new technology. Reviewers have a range of skills, but one thing most of us are extremely capable of is reducing a concept down too far. Again, this is understandable for the sake of brevity and delivering information to the widest number of people."
---> Hi-Fi+'s September 2025 High-End Audio Magazine.

09 / 04 / 25

IFA 2025 To Feature Immersive Music Experiences
With an impressive 215,000 attendees from 138 countries and featuring ~1800 exhibitors plus 187 conference speakers, the 101st edition of IFA is scheduled from September 5th through 9th in Berlin. Berlin's popular Messe Berlin conference center will transform into the world's consumer-tech showcase as IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) features consumer electronics and home audio. While other events may feature legacy devices, now in its 101st edition, IFA offers attendees every facet of tomorrow's lifestyle: from smart home music distribution and automation to AI-driven voice-activated audio connectivity, digital gear, mobile hi-fi solutions, and much more! Attendees navigate themed show areas that unite global brands, innovative startups, and reseller forums under one sprawling roof, ensuring that buyers, press, and enthusiasts all find their niche. Building on its century-long legacy, today's modern IFA 2025 introduces immersive experience zones designed to spark creativity and community. The IFA Creator Hub offers influencers and storytellers live-stream studios, podcast booths, and VIP lounges.

Beyond hands-on demos and immersive listening spaces, IFA 2025's Innovation, Dream, and Creator stages deliver four days of deep-dive programming on Future of Intelligence, Smart Society, Connectivity, and Sustainability. Highlights include keynote addresses by Electrolux's CEO on resource-efficient manufacturing and by Dr. Markus Miele on AI in home appliances, plus expert panels on AI-driven wellness, next-gen networks, and circular-economy strategies. High-level networking unfolds at the invite-only Retail Leaders Summit, while ShowStoppers on September 4 gives media early access to product launches. Trade visitors secure business conferences, exclusive previews, and guided sector tours, and general-public tickets unlock live demos, e-sports competitions, Summer Garden music concerts, and celebrity autograph sessions—all bookable now via the IFA portal, which also offers travel planning, accommodation deals, and interactive venue maps.

09 / 03 / 25

CEDIA 2025 Luxury Audio / Video And Integrator Event
CEDIA Expo/CIX returns to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from September 3rd through 6th, co-located with Commercial Integrator Expo for the third consecutive year. Attendees will explore ~300 exhibitors showcasing smart home and commercial AV technologies—spanning luxury audio, immersive home theater, integrated lighting, outdoor living, and Work-From-Home solutions. The show floor will feature an immersive Smart Stage thought-leadership sessions, interactive demos, and the Launchpad area, where emerging brands unveil pioneering products that elevate sound, display, and control systems. This unified event enables integrators, designers, architects, and manufacturers to discover cutting-edge innovation, compare solutions side-by-side, and gain insights from industry experts. This year's expo spotlights strong category growth with more than 50 new-to-show companies joining established brands and mid-sized enterprises. In audio, many innovative companies will deliver premium listening experiences, while continued advances in immersive audio and video integration take their rightful place within modern homes and office spaces.

Alongside the expo floor, the CEDIA Education Conference runs September 3rd through 5th, offering expert-led tracks on business growth, future-ready technologies, and integration best practices. On Wednesday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. MDT, the CEDIA Expo 2025 Town Hall welcomes Daryl Friedman (CEDIA) and Bill Darcy (NKBA | KBIS) to unveil joint research on the evolving collaboration between smart home integrators and design-build professionals, providing first access to key study findings at no additional cost. L-Acoustics plans to debuts their HYRISS (Hyperreal Immersive Sound Space) demo room, featuring a 360° spherical loudspeaker system powered by Soka, SB10i, and X4i models, L-ISA Anima spatialization, and full Milan-AVB connectivity—offering attendees a glimpse of professional-grade audio for true luxury residences and magnificent yachts.

09 / 01 / 25

Editorial: Best Of 2025 Blue Note Equipment Awards
Celebrating the best high fidelity / high-end audiophile gear of 2025!
High-End Audio Awards By Enjoy the Music.com
Enjoy the Music.com's Best Of 2025 Blue Note Awards celebrates the many great achievements by audiophile manufacturers within the high-end audio and Hi-Res Audio industry. Our 2025 Blue Note Awards is a three decade culmination of reviewing luxurious high-end audio equipment and carefully choosing what products have earned special recognition for our annual awards. Our Best Of 2025 Blue Note Award celebrates the finest products we have reviewed during the previous 12 months. Recipients have been carefully chosen after much debate and consideration by our staff of reviewers. With each passing year our industry has experienced great advancements in technology including analog circuitry, vinyl LP and analog playback, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), loudspeaker design, personal media players, and more. While there are many great pieces of premium high fidelity audio equipment now available within the marketplace, Enjoy the Music.com's Best Of 2025 Blue Note Awards is compiled from products we have reviewed within the past 12 months that have earned extra special attention.
---> Editorial: Best Of 2025 Blue Note Equipment Awards.

Star Trek And Enjoy the Music.com Are In Another Universe
Roger writes to 360 completely different degrees of immersive high-end audio.
Article By Roger Skoff
This month, Enjoy the Music.com celebrates their very special 30th Anniversary in bring joy to both music lovers and audiophiles. For decades, we helps our loyal readers realize their sound system's dream and true potential! The number 360 is Highly Composite: It has 24 divisors, more than any smaller positive integer. That makes it extremely useful in measurement and in geometry, where, for example, a circle is described as having an immersive 360 degrees, a convention dating back to Babylonian astronomy, which used base-60 (sexagesimal) math. Ancient calendars often used 360-day years, with 5 extra days added later to remain astronomically accurate. The sound we hear reaches us in a full 360-degrees. The number's divisibility was what made it practical for early astronomy. 360 also has rotational Symmetry: In trigonometry and polar coordinates, 360° represents a full rotation—returning to the starting point.
---> Star Trek And Enjoy the Music.com Are In Another Universe.

World Premiere Review!
The Amazing Audionet Mach Linestage And Schrödinger Monoblock Amplifier Review
A more affordable slice of World-Class performance.
Review By Senior Editor Greg Weaver
If you are unfamiliar with the brand Audionet, one of today's premier audio electronics manufacturers located in Berlin, Germany, it's time to correct that oversight. Founded in 1994, after nearly a decade of developing sensors and measurement electronics, all of which produced extraordinarily weak signals, and the essential need to build highly reliable, high-resolution analog amplifiers for this entirely new breed of measurement electronics at Ruhr University in Bochum, western Germany, that same research team, who were also music lovers, created what would become Audionet. Armed with the invaluable experience gained building these low-noise, highly resolving amplifiers, they began building some of the most refined and precise audio electronics available, and now, more than thirty years later, they have grown to offer a full line of some of the finest linestages, stereo, mono, and integrated amplifiers.
---> The Amazing Audionet Mach Linestage And Schrödinger Monoblock Amplifier Review.

World Premiere Review!
Genesis Advanced Technologies Premium Platinum Phono Preamplifier Review
Immersing yourself within the sensational sound of spectacular music.
Review By Senior Editor Tom Lyle
Within the July 2025 issue of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine, I reviewed the Genesis Advanced Technologies G7 Samba floorstanding loudspeakers. Even though my reference speakers were priced considerably higher than the Sambas, it was relatively easy to overlook this fact due to the Genesis' outstanding sound quality, not to mention their good looks. After this Genesis speaker's review was published, I had a chat with Genesis dealer Larry Borden of Distinctive Stereo when he came over to pick up the speakers. We didn't discuss the speakers as much as we talked about high-end audio in general, and of course, music. This led us to the topic of analog reproduction, and it was then that he mentioned the Genesis Premium Platinum phono preamp. This caught me off guard. I had always thought that Genesis only designed and manufactured loudspeakers. When I was speaking with Genesis's Chief Designer and CEO Gary Koh he shared with me some specifics about the various phono preamplifiers he owned over the years, but had never been wholly satisfied with.
---> Genesis Advanced Technologies Premium Platinum Phono Preamplifier Review.

iSonic Cleaner 6.2-PRO Ultrasonic Vinyl LP Cleaner Review
Ultrasonic deep cleaning and spin drying 10 LP records in 30 minutes.
Review By Bob Grossman
The iSonic Pro 6.2-PRO is the latest variation and upgraded record cleaner design from a company that specializes in commercial ultrasonic cleaning machines. They have styles and sizes for various products with personal and industrial applications. The iSonic company has dozens of cleaner models for medical applications, jewelry, and personal items used in the home. Jerry Fan of iSonic said, "Over the past six years, we have made a lot of progress with cleaners for audio systems." Jerry modestly told me he "doesn't know too much about anything else, but we do know about ultrasonic cleaners!" They started with processing 5 to 10 records for cleaning only, then added the PRO accessory kit for spin drying with an in-water filter two years ago. Those developments were with the model P4875II+MVR10-PRO which was an upgrade to the early model P4875II+MVR5 or MVR10....
---> iSonic Cleaner 6.2-PRO Ultrasonic Vinyl LP Cleaner Review.

Note: There are more Best Of 2025 Blue Note Awards within this issue.

FiiO's Fantastic CP13 Cassette Player, RR11 Radio, And SA1 Desktop Speakers Review
Three musical treats for the road less traveled.
Review By Paul Schumann
When I started grad school, I had to make the trek from Austin, TX, to Knoxville, TN, in my 1980 Toyota Celica. Since space would be limited, I had to figure out how to bring some of my music with me so I could retain my sanity during my first semester of graduate studies. That's when I decided to plunge into portable audio and bought my first Walkman. I already had most of my albums recorded on tape, so I wouldn't be missing out on much. Plus, this Walkman included a tuner, so I could listen to anything new coming out. Sure, the sound wasn't the best, but I had music until I could haul my system and records later on. The flaw in my plan was that I didn't anticipate how quickly that little Walkman ate batteries. I was a poor grad student, so I used the Sears card my parents gave me "for emergencies" and bought a couple of sets of rechargeables. After that, I was set. That old Walkman and those tapes are long gone, but I have fond memories of how that technological marvel provided me with music during those stressful times.
---> FiiO Fantastic CP13 Cassette Player, RR11 Radio, And SA1 Desktop Speakers Review.

Nordost Cables – Complete Nordost System Approach
Nordost cables leaves me speechless.
Review By Brett Rudolph
Several years ago, at the beginning of my career as a reviewer, I had the opportunity to work with audio and video cables almost exclusively. At the time, it felt like regardless how amazing a cable sounded there was always another to take its place. Very few of them really stood out within my mind. Even those that stood out rarely became part of my reference system because there was always another one with different characteristics. The Nordost cables were different. Back then I reviewed both the Red Dawn and Blue Heaven ranges of cables. Since my reviews centered around home theater systems, my evaluation consisted of nearly all their offerings within these families. Their flat design was unique and their performance inspired. Though they were never the least expensive, their design and abilities, remained on of my favorites. In fact, the Red Dawn audio interconnect are one of the few cables that have remained in my reference system since those early days.
---> Nordost Cables – Complete Nordost System Approach.

Hegel H160 Solid-State Stereo Integrated Amplifier With DAC Review
Not another boring Bose burger.
Review By A. Colin Flood
Ever heard a Naim amplifier? Hegel reminds me of amplifiers by Naim and the Roksan Caspian. But does that mean this charming amplifier with all sorts of modern connections is nothing more than high-end, boring Bose sound? Is the Hegel H160 stereo integrated amplifier with DAC merely a loaded McDonald's burger? The $3500 Hegel H160 amplifier is the typical black box electronic component. It has elegantly simple black knobs and an oodle of possible connections on the back. The H160 is a flat black case, with smooth matte rounded edge on its face. The amplifier came double-boxed, with a plastic moisture-barrier bag. It also came with the requisite 1.5 to 3 inches of Styrofoam necessary to survive a UPS bounce. The foam however was strawberry pink, like Owens Corning fiberglass, or the cartoon Pink Panther! Inexplicably, the power switch is located on the bottom of the amplifier. Perhaps this is some form of security measure, as only owners will know where it is.
---> Hegel H160 Solid-State Stereo Integrated Amplifier With DAC Review.

My Brief History And Why D.I.Y?
Editor Steven Rochlin's father chimes in!
Article By Eli Rochlin
Do It Yourself (DIY) has never really gone away... it was not even resting! A newer, younger group just moved into town to claim the process as their own. Not so fast, you guys! It was we older guys who adopted it and nurtured it as our own. The main drivers were lack of money, desire and inquisitiveness, coupled with the love of music. The world came out of the Great Depression and World War II was over. So many young kids mustered out of the service with new skills in radio technology, which the field greatly expanded with ideas. Television, short wave radio, FM and Ham radios, wire recorders all wanted a piece of the market. Wartime shortages were over, and everything was looking better. Better, that is, if you had a job. Many people had a lot of time on their hands, and DIY became a hit. Stores and Catalog houses had lots of parts and kits. You could select many items "assembled" or in kit form. Radio Shack, Allied Radio, Lafayette Radio, and Heathkit, were all active in the DIY field.
---> My Brief History And Why D.I.Y?

Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

08 / 29 / 25

This Weekend: StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Expo Melbourne 2025
The StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Expo is the largest annual luxury high-end audio and video event in Australia. This event will bring together audiophiles, home-cinema videophile buffs, modern immersivephiles, and connected-lifestyle enthusiasts from August 29th through 31st at the Pullman Mercure Hotel & Events Centre in Albert Park, Victoria. As the largest show of its type in Australia, it transforms many hotel rooms across multiple floors into immersive demo environments, showcasing everything from compact streaming devices and video screens to colossal floor-standing loudspeakers. Visitors can explore the world's top audio/visual brands alongside up-and-coming innovators, with smart-home integration, gaming setups, and entertainment technologies on display. The addition of a new Level 3 exhibition area underscores the expo's commitment to crafting a truly expansive, hands-on experience for every kind of listener and viewer. Building on its rapid growth, the 2025 edition expands to cover four full floors of the Pullman Convention Centre, featuring over 200 international brands.

Show organizer StereoNET emphasizes the event's evolution into a must-attend on the global hi-fi calendar, attracting company heads, product designers, and engineers from around the world. Attendees can expect bespoke multi-channel home-cinema rooms, live product launches, and expert-led seminars that delve into the latest in acoustic optimization and AV integration. Exhibition highlights include Australia's largest headphone and personal-audio zone, where Headzones curates an extensive selection of flagship cans in dedicated listening suites. The Home Cinema segment dazzles with cutting-edge immersivephile systems, and showgoers have the chance to win coveted prizes. Vinyl aficionados and reel-to-reel enthusiasts will flock to the Vinyl Record Fair hosted by Vinylrules Music, which offers original pressings alongside rare second-hand finds. Expert panel discussions, hands-on demos of modern smarthome technology, and interactive installations round out the schedule, ensuring the StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Expo Melbourne 2025 is a multi-sensory celebration of sight and sound.

08 / 28 / 25

Marantz CD60 CD (Compact Disc) Player Review
The Marantz CD60 CD Player has me very impressed out of the gate but will it seal the deal with pricier amplification and loudspeakers? Stay tuned.
Review By Ian White
Back in February, I spent some time with Marantz so I could experience the new Marantz 40n Network Integrated Amplifier. The $2500 amplifier drove multiple pairs of Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers in the hotel space with relative ease and I left after two hours of listening thinking that Marantz needed to introduce something less expensive to match it. There were other CD players on display in the room but they were priced well above what I was thinking. I was hoping to see the 40n connected to something like the brand new Marantz CD60 that was just introduced at HIGH END in Munich for $999. There are plenty of people who will shake their head at something like the Marantz CD60 in 2022 with streaming owning 85% of the market right now — but I'm not part of that group. Not even remotely. I started buying CDs in 1984 when my father brought home a new Yamaha CD player from Bay Bloor Radio and after almost 38 years of purchases, my collection approaches almost 2000 CDs.
---> Marantz CD60 CD (Compact Disc) Player Review.

JPS Labs Superconductor V Interconnects, Loudspeaker Cable, And USB Cable Review
Connecting to the Soul of Music.
Review By Paul Schumann
There has been quite a bit of discussion, lately, in this publication and other forums, about the current direction of the music industry. One of the hot topics is how popular music is recorded and produced. Many argue that the use of software, like ProTools, to snap everything to a grid and correct any "flaws" is robbing the music of its soul. Many times the result is music that, while initially appealing, quickly loses the interest of the listener. It is soulless music. The question is, what is this soul and how do we recognize it? I think most of the time, this occurs at a subconscious level. Why do we want to go see an artist in concert when we've already heard all of their songs multiple times in studio perfection? Because we want to connect to the soul of the music, warts and all. Now, I'm not saying some audio processing tricks aren't going on at these concerts, but there is only so much that can be done live. In the end, it's about the artists connecting with the audience.
---> JPS Labs Superconductor V Interconnects, Loudspeaker Cable, And USB Cable Review.

08 / 25 / 25

Tencent Music Achieves A Standout Q2 2025
Tencent Music Entertainment Group, a leading online music entertainment platform with 124.4 million paying users and 553 million total monthly active users, delivered a standout second quarter in 2025, with total revenues climbing 17.9% year-over-year to RMB 8.44 billion (U.S. $1.18 billion). Online music services drove much of that growth—up 26.4% to RMB 6.85 billion—while music subscription revenue alone rose 17.1% to RMB 4.38 billion. Strong unit economics lifted monthly ARPPU from RMB 10.7 to RMB 11.7, fueling a 43.2% jump in net profit attributable to equity holders to RMB 2.41 billion (US $336 million) and a non-IFRS net profit increase of 37.4%. At quarter end, cash, cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments totaled RMB 34.92 billion, underpinning the company's robust balance sheet. On the user front, Tencent Music's ecosystem remains vast and engaged. Monthly active users for online music stood at 553 million, with paying subscribers rising 6.3% to 124.4 million and SVIP members surpassing 15 million thanks to premium sound quality and exclusive artist perks. The company deepened its content arsenal through partnerships with K-pop labels like The Black Label and SM Entertainment, Chinese superstars such as Wang Feng, and broadcasters including Zhejiang Satellite TV.

Offline initiatives included G-DRAGON's sold-out Macau show, stadium tours for Fiona Sit, TIA RAY and rapper GAI, plus 300+ performances by emerging artists under proprietary IPs like CITY LIVE and BUFF LIVE. Innovation continues to be a growth lever. Kugou Music rolled out VIPER HiFi sound and One-Click Audio Enhancement 2.0, while QQ Music introduced an AI Chorus feature for concert singalongs and launched the Bubble community to deepen fan-artist interactions. In-car partnerships with Geely and Xiaomi broadened distribution, and a new ad-supported membership tier and refined ad formats lifted advertising revenues. On the ESG front, the "Hearing Guizhou" AI project creates immersive instrument-based soundscapes for relaxation. Through these efforts, Tencent Music is sharpening user engagement, diversifying monetization and scaling its one-stop music ecosystem for lasting value.

08 / 21 / 25

Audio Note UK M2 Linestage / Preamplifier And Conqueror Power Amplifier Review
Taking the road less traveled.
Review By Paul Schumann
Hi-fi audio emerged in the 1950s with the introduction of the LP record. As the business evolved and stereo became the norm, acoustic suspension speakers gained popularity due to their smaller footprint in the family room. What followed after that can be called an arms race between audio manufacturers to build more powerful amplifiers. This continued as hi-fi became high-end audio. It was not uncommon to see on the pages of print magazines reviewing amplifiers rated at 400 Watts per channel or more. But not all music lovers were following this path. While the audio business was trending towards the more powerful tube and solid-state amps, an underground movement in Japan was extolling the virtues of the old low-powered Western Electric amps when paired with speakers of the same vintage.
---> Audio Note UK M2 Linestage / Preamplifier And Conqueror Power Amplifier Review.

FiiO M15S Desktop / Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player Review
FiiO's M15S and FH9 have incredible synergy and represent an ideal portable listening experience.
Review By Gary Alan Barker
Until I received my FiiO R7 Music Server my go-to player to burn in headphones or to act as a digital source for DAC reviews (computers tend to be noisy over USB) has been my trusty FiiO M11 DAP (while the FiiO M11 Plus LTD offers some advantages, it also sucks up a lot of power), but FiiO is not a company to rest long, always pushing the envelope and developing new and better players, and in this vein is their new FiiO M15S Desktop/Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player. Slightly larger and with an almost half-inch larger display, the M15S boasts an eight-channel DAC and over twice the power output and includes a desktop dock with a built-in cooling fan. Some of the things that set the FiiO M15S Desktop/Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player apart from the pack beyond the FiiO DK3S dock, are the Dual Power Supply Mode, the Five Gain Levels, Six Operating Modes....
---> FiiO M15S Desktop / Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player Review.

08 / 20 / 25

Great News! SWAF And PAF 2026 Show Updates
Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) listens to vendors and attendees. "For years the audio industry has talked about how slow Sundays are," says Lou Hinkley and Gary Gill of SWAF. "We at SWAF have listened and are dropping Sundays and adding Thursday to generate more traffic, while leaving you more time on Sundays for your families. Our experience at the Southwest Audio Fest seems like Dallas would be a perfect candidate to try the Thursday – Friday - Saturday experience. Thursday's show hours will be 2pm to 8pm, providing more options for attendees with busy schedules. Friday and Saturday will remain 10am to 6pm with many rooms having evening and after hours listening events. See you all in July 2026 at SWAF!

The latest news from Pacific Audiofest (PAF): "In 2024 we considered making PAF a biennial event, and scheduled the next show for 2026," says PAF. "Turns out everyone wants it to be an annual event. So beginning in 2026 it will continue every year. Most of the exhibitors from 2024 will be returning with many new faces as well, bringing the best in cutting edge audio. We are already booking great live music, informative seminars, tons of vinyl for sale and great fun for all." Enjoy the Music.com looks forward to seeing you at the SWAF and PAF in 2026. See Enjoy the Music.com's SWAF 2025 show report and PAF 2025 show reports.

08 / 19 / 25

Zurich's Finest Audio Show 2025 By High End Society
The Finest Audio Show Zurich returns on 1 and 2 November 2025 at the Mövenpick Hotel Zurich Regensdorf, riding high on the momentum generated by its successful comeback last fall. Bringing together national and international sound expertise under one roof, it reinforces the Swiss hi-fi tradition that has been decades in the making. Over two days, exhibitors and visitors alike will tap into fresh new ideas—from modular, space-saving systems to cutting-edge high-end installations—affirming the show's role as the driving force behind Switzerland's vibrant hi-fi market. Under the banner of quality, regional character and brand diversity, the event showcases a curated lineup of products across the full spectrum of audio excellence.

Attendees can experience intelligent streaming platforms, state-of-the-art turntables, classic tube amplifiers, high-fidelity headphones and proven two-channel systems in a home-like setting designed for optimal sound. Live, hands-on demonstrations and in-depth presentations on audio technology and innovation offer both audiophiles and trade professionals unparalleled insights into the latest developments. More than a product fair, The Finest Audio Show Zurich is a rendezvous point for music lovers of all stripes. Whether you're a seasoned hi-fi aficionado or a curious newcomer, one-on-one meetings and open exchanges create fertile ground for discovery, collaboration and inspiration. By bridging Swiss quality consciousness with global sound innovation, the show cements its status as the must-attend gathering for anyone passionate about listening to music at its finest.

08 / 18 / 25

audioXpress' September 2025 Issue
Editorial: Different Perspectives In Music And Sound Reproduction
An Image Model Theory For Stereophonic Sound
Audinate Dante Virtual Soundcard
Audio-Speech Processing And Microphone Arrays
Phase Delay, Group Delay, And Circuit Sensitivity Basics
A Power Supply Filter
Connected Home Audio And Home Theater
High End Munich 2025
Build Your Own Guitar Amp
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "Opinion is the ideas expressed by a person. Perspective is the point of view from which they view a situation.* The lines between the two don't seem to be well understood. Perspective helps raise awareness of new ideas and methods. I welcome a writer's specific judgment or belief about an issue, as long as it is based on evidence and analysis. I believe in the value of perspective as a way to shape methods, sometimes the whole foundation of an entire approach. That always helps to inspire valid research efforts—even if to prove otherwise. In audioXpress December 2017, we published an interesting article about a different approach to provide the best listening environment for dipolar and multi-directional speakers (omnidirectional), and even directed radiation patterns for specific purposes. In "Educated Reflections," Gary Eickmeier explained why eliminating reflections is not the best approach in a listening room, and how he developed a completely different approach, enhancing the results with "speakers that are renowned for their spaciousness, depth, and 3D imaging."
---> audioXpress September 2025 Issue.

Previous High-End Audio News
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