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Global Tariff Fears Cause Panic in Audiophile Industry at AXPONA 2025

The audiophile industry panicked at AXPONA 2025 as new global tariffs up to 145% hit. How will rising costs reshape the future of buying high-end audio gear? The impact may be bigger than you think.
Focal 302 On‑Wall Speaker Review

The Focal 302 On-Wall Speaker is a 2.5-way on-wall speaker engineered to deliver audiophile-level sound while maintaining a compact and elegant form factor.
Victrola Acquires KLH Audio

Turntable pioneer Victrola has bought loudspeaker manufacturer KLH Audio. KLH was a major HiFi player in the middle of the 20th century, and the company was relaunched in 2019. Read on to learn more.
WiiM’s $299 Vibelink Amp Offers Power Instead of Streaming

The new WiiM Vibelink Amp ($299) is the company’s first non-streaming product. The compact Vibelink offers 100 Watts of power and is designed to be used with the WiiM Ultra or other sources.
Samsung UWB May Revolutionize Lossless/Wireless Headphones: But For Who?

Samsung patents its plan for Ultra-WideBand headphones and earbuds. Could this be start of true lossless & hi-res portable audio streams? Or does Samsung have a different purpose in mind?
Orchard Audio Demos Active Speakers & New Headphone Amp at AXPONA 2025

At AXPONA 2025, Orchard Audio is demonstrating their Valencia Headphone Power Amp with 17W of power and an innovative active speaker electronics package, complete with an active/passive comparison.
Kaleidescape Introduces $2K Strato M Movie Player, But There’s A Catch

At $2K, the new Kaleidescape Strato M Movie Player is the brand’s least expensive device that can act as a standalone player or be part of a multi-zone Kaleidescape system but not in 4K resolution!
Klipsch Updates Klipschorn and La Scala Speakers w Active Option

Klipsch has launched new versions of its Klipschorn ($17,998/pair) and La Scala ($14,998/pair) speakers. Both feature new modified Tractrix midrange horns and updated compression drivers.
The Best Loudspeakers We Heard at AXPONA 2025

The 2025 Axpona show proved hi-fi is alive and well despite prognostications to the contrary . Check out our report on some of the most interesting and best-sounding loudspeakers.
Norway’s ‘Ø Audio’ Debuts Icon 12 Loudspeaker, Gains American Distribution

Norway’s Ø Audio debuted its 2nd-gen Icon 12 loudspeaker ($23,4k/pair) at the 2025 FAE Show, delivering a stunning demo. Now available in the USA, this brand aspires to be the next hot ticket in hi-fi.
Immersive Lunar Documentary By Tom Hanks Blasts Off At Space Center Houston

The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks is a new immersive documentary playing at Space Center Houston. Space Center Houston renovated and upgraded its IMAX theater to prepare for the new movie.
New Focal Bathys MG: High‑End Sound From a Bluetooth ANC Headphone?

Focal released a new and improved Bathys MG headphones featuring new ear cushions, digital microphones for improved noise cancellation and drivers using a magnesium M-shaped dome for better sound.
HARMAN Becomes NASCAR Technology Partner, Will Deliver Audio Upgrades at Racetracks

HARMAN is now an official NASCAR Technology Partner. The company will provide gear from JBL Professional and other iconic brands to deliver “best-in-class” sound at NASCAR racetracks.
Rotel’s New DX‑3 DAC/Headphone Amp Is The ‘Ultimate Desktop Companion’

Rotel’s DX-3 ($1,499)is a DAC, headphone amp, and preamp all in one. The compact DX-3 is designed to be the “ultimate desktop companion,” ready to drive your favorite headphones or powered speakers.
Simon Fraser University Acoustics Lab Features 128‑Channel Immersive System!

Canada’s Simon Fraser University has built a cutting-edge acoustics lab with a 128-channel system. The new lab is devoted to “immersive communication” and spatial acoustics processing.
Sigberg Audio Saranna Active Floor‑Standing Loudspeakers With Cardioid Bass!

Sigberg Audio's Saranna is a high-end active speaker with a coaxial tweeter/midrange and dual 8" subwoofers in a cardioid alignment, ensuring big performance and easy room placement in a sleek package.
10 Characteristics of Great Audiophile Sound

Gene's YouTube video explores 10 key characteristics of a great audiophile playback system. This article delves into those traits and discusses how to optimize your setup to achieve audio nirvana.
The Arendal Sound 1961 Loudspeaker Series Is Back!

The Arendal Sound 1961 Loudspeaker Series has returned to production after a two-year hiatus. The 1961 Series is perfect for smaller spaces and lower budgets, without sacrificing quality.
Epson Granted Default Judgement in Deceptive Advertising Lawsuit

Epson has been granted a default judgment in its lawsuit against projector brand Dr. J for misleading claims about brightness. Dr. J was ordered to pay damages and cease sales. Read on for more info.
DALI RUBIKORE 8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review

Dali's Rubikore 8 is a formidable tower speaker design with three 6.5" woofers, a 1" dome tweeter, and a 2" planar tweeter, with individual filters on every single driver. Read on.
Audiophile Directory Aims To Be The ‘Zillow’ Of The HiFi Industry

Audiophile Directory (AD) is a new website and search engine designed to be the go-to resource for HiFi shoppers. In essence, AD aims to do for audio enthusiasts what Zillow did for home-buyers.
Focal Unveils Utopia Cinema Range For High‑End Custom Installs

The new Focal Utopia Cinema range includes the Cinema LCR and the Cinema SUB. These new speakers feature Focal’s best driver technologies and can be used on-wall, in-wall, or in-room! Read on.
US Air Force Adopts Spatial Audio For F‑16 Headsets

Danish aerospace company Terma will supply proprietary 3D-Audio system to the USAF fleet of F-16 aircraft. The spatial audio system helps pilots make faster and better-informed decisions with sound.
JBL Tour ONE M3 Headphones and Horizon 3 Clock Radio

The JBL Tour ONE M3 headphones feature a unique transmitter for wireless audio from wired sources and the JBL Horizon 3 clock radio enhances sleep with sound and customizable ambient lighting.
Is Spatial Audio The Future Of Live Music?

Polygon is putting on the UK’s first spatial audio music festival on May 2nd in London. They designed a dome-shaped 12.1.4 outdoor concert venue to provide a true immersive experience to live events.
Avid Ingenium Turntable Review: Minimalism Meets High‑Performance Audio

The AVID Ingenium is a remarkable turntable that combines aesthetic appeal, solid engineering, and high-performance audio. Why did we rate it our #1 pick for new turntable aficionado's? Read on.
Sony’s Blu‑ray Exit Doesn’t Matter — Here’s Why

Sony is exiting the blank media business, but this doesn’t signal Blu-ray’s death. Reports claiming otherwise are misleading—Blu-ray remains relevant for AV enthusiasts despite Sony’s move.
Arendal Sound 1528 Monitor 8 Loudspeaker Review

We reviewed the Arendal Sound 1528 Monitor 8 ($5,900/pr), a 3-way standmount loudspeaker with dual 8" woofers, 5" mid, and a 1" dome. With subwoofer-like bass and high output, is it the best in its class?
Dirac Live Now Available on Select Bluesound Node Streamers!

The latest Bluesound Node and Node Icon streamers, are now officially Dirac Live Ready. Owners can buy a calibration kit from Bluesound and a device-specific license from Dirac’s website.
Focal 1000 Utopia IWLCR & IWSUB Speaker System Review

Focal's 1000 Utopia and Astral 16 deliver reference grade performance from an in-wall speaker. Check out our exclusive, in-depth, Focal 1000 Series Theater installation and a sneak peek at Dirac ART.
‘Purple Rain’ Returns To Theaters in Dolby Cinema

The 1984 Prince movie Purple Rain returns exclusively in Dolby Cinema theaters for one night only, on March 5th 2025. The newly-restored film features Dolby Vision picture and Dolby Atmos sound.