Focal
Focal
NAD
Lumin
Lumin

As I was taking a second pass through my rough draft of the intro for this review, it occurred to me that I was effectively aping the theme song for Cheers. It seems to me that the hardest part of making your way in today’s world of connected, streaming, networked, Bluetoothed, AirPlayed, Chromecasted audio—especially for a traditional hi-fi company—is figuring out how to spin what makes your thing different from any number of other things that do the same thing, not to mention how to compete with the Sonoses, BluOSes, and HEOSes of the world.

Making predictions is a risky business. You can look like a genius if things work out the way you say they will, or a doofus if they don’t. In my annual “State of Streaming” feature, which was published February 15 on Simplifi, I made four predictions: Spotify would finally launch its lossless music service; Apple would release its long-awaited classical-music app; Apple might introduce an enhanced version of AirPlay that supports hi-rez audio (and possibly spatial audio as well); and Tidal might make it easier for subscribers to listen to Atmos-encoded multichannel music. I was quite confident about the first two predictions, moderately confident about the third, and only mildly so for the last one.

Reviewers' ChoiceWhat would you expect to pay for a 60Wpc class-D amplifier with a built-in phono stage and Bluetooth receiver? $400? $500? $600? How about $170? That’s the difference in price between a pair of Triangle’s Borea BR03 standmount speakers, which were enthusiastically reviewed by Diego Estan on SoundStage! Access in May 2020, and the Borea BR03 BT, the subject of this review.

When I’m reviewing a hi-fi product, I sometimes ask: “Why do you need to spend more?” More and more these days, iFi Audio is the brand that prompts my rhetorical question. If you’re looking for a good DAC, why would you need to spend more than you’d pay for the brand’s Zen One Signature ($349, all prices in USD)? If you’re simply looking to add audiophile-quality Bluetooth reception to a system that lacks it and you don’t need crazy range or digital outputs, why would you spend a dime more than the cost of the Zen Air Blue? And if you’re looking for a good music streamer that supports everything from Roon and AirPlay to network-attached storage and connected solid-state drives—assuming you don’t mind a few operational quirks—what could you want that the $399 Zen Stream (reviewed last year by Gordon Brockhouse) doesn’t offer? Mind you, I’m not saying there aren’t valid answers to these questions. In fact, in many respects, the Neo Stream network audio streamer ($1299) seems to be iFi’s own answer to that last one.

Canada’s PSB Speakers was founded in 1972 by Paul Barton. PSB celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 1 (Canada Day) last year with the release of the Passif 50 ($2499/pair, all prices in USD): a retro-inspired design that evokes PSB’s Passif I and Passif II models from the 1970s.

Reviewers' ChoiceIn audio, as in other pursuits, looks are often deceiving. A case in point is PSB’s new Alpha iQ active loudspeaker system. Priced at $1499 (all prices in USD except where noted), the Alpha iQ looks a lot like PSB’s Alpha AM3 powered speaker system, which costs only $549. The Alpha iQ and Alpha AM3 even have the same driver complement for each speaker: a 4″ polypropylene midrange-woofer with a rubber surround and steel basket, mounted above a 0.75″ ferrofluid-damped, aluminum-dome tweeter with neodymium magnet.

Since COVID-19 arrived in North America three years ago, I’ve been to exactly two audio shows, both in my home city: the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Toronto Audiofest. Fellow SoundStagers Doug Schneider and Jason Thorpe also attended TAF 2022, and as Doug outlined in his show report on SoundStage!Global, they came upon some pretty exotic gear at the show.

Typically, articles predicting developments for the coming year come out in early January, or even late December. But here we are, two weeks into February, and Simplifi finally has a feature outlining what we can expect from music streaming in 2023. Do I feel badly about this delay? Not in the least. Because when it comes to lateness, I have nothing on Spotify and Apple Music. Those streaming giants have both missed self-imposed deadlines by well over a year. With that excuse out of the way, here are three streaming stories I’ll be watching in 2023.

To purists and zealots, compromise is a dirty word; but for most of us, compromising is how we get along in life. This is as true of audio as any other pursuit. We can daydream about our ultimate systems, but we have to reconcile those dreams with reality—with our budgets, our living spaces, and the people who share those spaces.

Sometime last spring, it became clear to me that I’d be upgrading my hi-fi setup before the year was out. Not that I was dissatisfied with the gear I already owned—quite the contrary. I loved listening to that system, which comprised an NAD C 658 streaming DAC-preamp ($1999, all prices in USD), a pair of Elac Navis ARF-51 active floorstanding speakers ($3999.96/pair), and an SVS Micro 3000 subwoofer ($899.99). That system has provided countless hours of listening pleasure for me, my music-loving missus, and visitors to our home.

Inspired by a SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast episode, I posed a rhetorical question in a Simplifi feature published a few months ago: “Is Component Hi-Fi Dead?” During that podcast episode, Brent Butterworth, senior editor of SoundStage! Solo, had asked if we really need amplifiers anymore, given the growing acceptance of powered and active speakers with built-in amplification. “Amps are never going to die,” Brent opined, “but are amps kind of dead?” Dennis Burger, senior editor of SoundStage! Access, replied: “I don’t know if they’re dead. I just think they are unnecessary.”

Since the 1970s, record labels and audio manufacturers have been trying to convince music lovers to move beyond two-channel stereo. Music doesn’t just happen in front of us, argue proponents of surround music; it happens all around us. We could get a better experience if we added speakers beside and/or behind the listening position.

Reviewers' ChoiceI’ve had a soft spot for Dynaudio for many years. For one thing, the Danish brand practically invented high-performance Simplifi’d hi-fi. When Dynaudio launched its Xeo range of active speakers in 2012, there were many excellent tabletop music systems on the market. But Dynaudio’s Xeo 3 standmount and Xeo 5 floorstanding speaker systems were different: they delivered real stereo from two discrete enclosures. Other than two-prong power inlets, the enclosures had no connectors of any kind. Instead, they received 16-bit/48kHz PCM audio from a companion wireless transmitter, which had mini-USB, optical (TosLink) S/PDIF, and line-level analog inputs (RCA and 3.5mm). The Xeo speaker systems made it possible to get serious stereo sound in multipurpose living spaces without cluttering them up with gear and cables.

How would you rather spend a glorious Canadian autumn weekend? Walking in the park? Taking a drive in the country? Raking the leaves? Or roaming the halls of a generic suburban hotel?

Reviewers' ChoiceQuite often, when a manufacturer updates a popular product, the new model offers only incremental improvements over the one it replaces. But sometimes, the new product represents a major upgrade over the original; and that is the case with SVS’s Prime Wireless Pro active loudspeaker system ($899.99, all prices in USD). The Prime Wireless Pro costs 50% more than the company’s Prime Wireless active speaker system (discontinued, $599.99 when available), but it contains a host of improvements.

This year, Canada’s Totem Acoustic celebrates its 35th anniversary. Since its founding in 1987, Totem has released an impressive range of passive loudspeakers, including standmount and floorstanding models, soundbars, on-wall speakers, and in-wall and in-ceiling speakers aimed at the custom integration channel.

Life gets in the way of a lot of things, and sometimes it gets in the way of hi-fi. Audiophiles who have dedicated listening rooms are lucky in this respect; audiophiles who must set up their sound systems in multipurpose spaces can find their hobby conflicts with other activities that go on in those rooms. The speaker locations that might deliver the best tonal balance and soundstaging might be occupied by an armchair or end table. Freestanding speakers might present a tipping hazard for households with rambunctious toddlers or pets.

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click this link.

It’s almost ten years since Lenbrook Industries launched its Bluesound range of multiroom audio components. At the heart of those products is the BluOS software platform, developed in-house by the Canadian company. Lenbrook, which also owns the NAD and PSB brands, later added BluOS streaming capability to several NAD components. More recently, Lenbrook has licensed BluOS technology to several third-party brands, including Cyrus Audio, DALI, Peachtree Audio, Monitor Audio, and Roksan.

Reviewers' ChoiceNostalgia is huge in hi-fi right now. Just look at all those retro-styled speakers from brands like JBL, KLH, Klipsch, Mission, PSB, and Wharfedale. JBL, for instance, offers standmount speakers that evoke the legendary L100, which made its debut in 1970. Like the original L100, the L52 Classic ($1000/pair, all prices in USD unless noted otherwise), L82 Classic ($2750/pair), and L100 Classic ($4400/pair) all feature walnut veneer enclosures and JBL’s iconic Quadrex foam grilles.

Lately, I’ve been enjoying the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, which is hosted by Brent Butterworth, senior editor of SoundStage! Solo, and Dennis Burger, senior editor of SoundStage! Access. Brent and Dennis tackle a wide range of topics and do a ton of preparation for each episode. The production is polished, the discussions are well-informed and thought-provoking, and the presentation is casual and inviting.

Reviewers' ChoiceIn 2012, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, KEF introduced the LS50 two-way minimonitor ($1499.99/pair at launch, all prices in USD), which went on to become one of the landmark audio products of the 2010s. When he reviewed the LS50 on SoundStage! Hi-Fi in 2013, Doug Schneider concluded: “The LS50 is nothing short of a masterpiece of a minimonitor, priced so that anyone serious about audio can buy a pair.” The LS50 later won a 2013 SoundStage! Network Product of the Year award. Four years later, KEF launched an active speaker employing the same Uni-Q driver array as its passive cousin. The LS50 Wireless ($2499.99/system at launch) was named a SoundStage! Network Product of the Year for 2017.

I never wanted to purchase new speakers. I never wanted to go digital. It all happened by accident.

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click this link.

With network entertainment now solidly in the mainstream, we’re seeing more and more products that depart from the traditional source-amp-speaker paradigm. We’ve reviewed scores of such products on Simplifi: active speaker systems with built-in network streamers such as KEF’s LS50 Wireless II and Bang & Olufsen’s Beolab 28, streaming DAC-preamps such as NAD’s C 658 and Bryston’s BR-20, and streaming integrated amplifiers such as Bluesound’s Powernode and Naim Audio’s Uniti Atom.

The greatest audio show on earth is back. After a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, the 2022 Munich High End show took place from May 19 to 22. The SoundStage! Network sent a four-person editorial team to Bavaria: founder and publisher Doug Schneider; editor-in-chief Jeff Fritz; Edward Kramer, editor of SoundStage! Australia; and Jonathan Gorse, a UK-based contributor to SoundStage! Ultra. Together, they filed 18 dispatches from Munich, which you can find on SoundStage! Global.

Q Acoustics, founded in the UK in 2006, produces loudspeakers that range from the inexpensive 3010i compact bookshelf model ($299 per pair, all prices in USD) to the Concept 500 floorstander ($6499/pair), with a plethora of choices in between. These include a myriad of home-theater options, including several subwoofers and an active soundbar.

When it comes to consuming music, you can split the SoundStage! team into a few broad categories: those who are big into physical media, those who have fully embraced streaming, those who rely on downloaded and ripped music, and those with feet in all these camps.

The Italian brand Sonus Faber is known for beautifully crafted passive loudspeakers that use luxurious materials, including exotic wood finishes and front baffles with leather inserts. Earlier this year, Sonus Faber announced its Omnia Wireless Music System ($1999, all prices in USD unless noted otherwise). With flowing lines, five-layer veneered walnut top panel, sculpted base, and textured fabric grilles, the Omnia shares the design aesthetic of Sonus Faber’s passive speakers.

Across the SoundStage! Network, you’ll find coverage of all kinds of audio products: high-end gear on SoundStage! Ultra, affordable components on SoundStage! Access, headphones and accessories on SoundStage! Solo, lifestyle audio here on SoundStage! Simplifi, portable Bluetooth speakers on SoundStage! Xperience, news and events on SoundStage! Global, and all manner of gear on the mothership—SoundStage! Hi-Fi.

If I had to name two products that laid the groundwork for Simplifi’d hi-fi, they’d be Apple’s iPod and Bowers & Wilkins’s Zeppelin iPod speaker. Before Apple launched the iPod in 2001, most people listened to their own music on physical media, one disc or tape at a time. The iPod let them store an entire music library on one pocketable device and play tracks at random.

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click this link.

The original NAD Masters M10 streaming amplifier, introduced in January 2019, is a compact, versatile unit that can form the heart of a modern high-fidelity system. It has everything you can imagine you’d want in an integrated amplifier: NAD’s BluOS streaming function, a two-channel amplifier, Dirac Live room correction, a DAC, digital and analog inputs, and more. The M10 fits NAD’s “just add speakers” philosophy perfectly. Gordon Brockhouse reviewed the M10 on this site in May 2019—it received a Reviewers’ Choice award and was subsequently named a SoundStage! Network Product of the Year.

  1. Listen While You Work
  2. Mission LX Connect Wireless Active Speakers and Hub
  3. The State of Streaming—2022
  4. Linn Series 3 Active Loudspeakers
  5. Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 Active Loudspeakers
  6. Why "Simplifi"—Five Years Later
  7. KEF KC62 Powered Subwoofer
  8. The Evolution of BluOS: An Interview with Lenbrook's Andrew Haines
  9. NAD C 700 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  10. iFi Audio Zen Stream Wi-Fi Streamer
  11. Dolby Atmos Music in Your Home
  12. System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  13. The Big Switch
  14. Bluesound Node Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  15. I'm Only in It for the Money
  16. Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers
  17. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Active Loudspeakers
  18. Encore! Encore! An Interview with Patricia Barber, Jim Anderson, and Ulrike Schwarz
  19. Bluesound Powernode Multiroom Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  20. Edifier Airpulse A300Pro Active Loudspeakers
  21. KEF LS50 Wireless II Active Loudspeakers
  22. The New Apple Music
  23. Bryston BR-20 Streaming Preamplifier-DAC
  24. HEDD Type 05 MK2 Active Speakers and Bass 08 Subwoofer
  25. Moving Forward with Formation: An Interview with Andy Kerr of Bowers & Wilkins
  26. Glory Days
  27. SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer
  28. Sony SA-Z1 Active Nearfield Loudspeakers
  29. Heavenly Soundworks FIVE17 Active Loudspeakers
  30. Spotify Goes Lossless
  31. In Defense of Streaming
  32. Marantz SACD 30n SACD/CD Player and Streaming DAC-Preamp
  33. DALI Oberon 1 C Active Loudspeakers and Sound Hub Wireless Transmitter
  34. PSB Alpha AM3 Powered Loudspeakers
  35. Tinkering Simplifi'd
  36. iFi Audio Neo iDSD DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier
  37. Bluesound Pulse Sub+ Wireless Subwoofer
  38. Simplifi Defined
  39. Going Deep with Artison
  40. PSB Alpha AM5 Powered Loudspeakers
  41. A Simplifi Yearbook
  42. SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  43. Focal Solo6 Be Active Loudspeakers
  44. A Perfect Pair
  45. Buchardt Audio A500 Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  46. Klipsch The Fives Active Loudspeakers
  47. The Critical Component
  48. Has the Time Come for Surround Music?
  49. Triangle Elara LN01A Powered Loudspeakers
  50. Volumio Primo Community Edition and Hi-Fi Edition Streaming DACs
  51. System Audio Legend 5 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  52. My Top Ten Products of the Last Two Years
  53. Andover Audio Model-One Turntable Music System
  54. Elac Alchemy DDP-2 Streaming DAC-Preamp
  55. Turning Pro
  56. Focal Shape 65 Analog Active Loudspeakers
  57. All About That Bass
  58. HEDD Type 07 Analog Active Loudspeakers
  59. exaSound Audio Design Delta Music Server M100
  60. Bryston BDA-3.14 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  61. Gently Down the Stream
  62. Big Events
  63. iFi Audio Pro iDSD Streaming DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier
  64. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
  65. DALI Rubicon 6 C Hybrid Active Loudspeakers
  66. Rules of the Game
  67. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Pre Box RS2 Digital DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amp
  68. Klipsch RW-51M Wireless Powered Loudspeakers
  69. The Name Game
  70. iFi Audio Aurora Wireless Music System
  71. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation Wireless Music System
  72. January 1, 2020: The State of Streaming
  73. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  74. Warsaw’s Audio Video Show 2019, Simplifi’d
  75. Hegel Music Systems H120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  76. DALI Katch One Soundbar
  77. NAD Classic C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC
  78. Toronto Audiofest 2019, Simplifi'd
  79. Kanto Audio Tuk Powered Loudspeakers
  80. Hi-Rez à-Go-Go
  81. Lumin T2 Network Music Player
  82. Naim Audio ND5 XS 2 Network Music Player
  83. Elac Navis ARF-51 Active Loudspeakers
  84. Streaming the Classics
  85. Devialet Phantom Reactor 900 Active Loudspeakers
  86. Play Nice Together -- An Interview with Rob Darling of Roon Labs
  87. PMC result6 Active Loudspeakers
  88. Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo Active Loudspeakers
  89. Active Voices, Part Three: KEF's Jack Oclee-Brown
  90. Naim Audio Mu-so 2nd Generation Wireless Music System
  91. McIntosh Laboratory MTI100 Integrated Turntable
  92. High End 2019, Simplifi'd
  93. Yamaha WXA-50 MusicCast Streaming Amplifier
  94. NAD Masters M10 BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  95. Active Voices, Part Two: Axiom Audio's Andrew Welker
  96. Primare SC15 Prisma Streaming DAC-Preamp
  97. Montréal Audio Fest Simplifi'd
  98. Naim Uniti Core CD Ripper/Music Server
  99. Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeakers
  100. Active Voices, Part One: Elac's Andrew Jones
  101. Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Speaker
  102. SVS Prime Wireless Active Speakers
  103. Let's Keep it Simple
  104. Totem Acoustic Kin Play Powered Speakers
  105. A Roon of One's Own
  106. KEF LSX Active Loudspeakers
  107. Bluesound Vault 2i CD Ripper-Server-Streamer
  108. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Stream Box S2 Ultra Music Streamer
  109. How I Simplifi'd My Wi-Fi
  110. Kii Audio Three DSP-Controlled Active Loudspeakers
  111. Aurender S5W Battery-Powered Wireless Active Loudspeakers
  112. Are Downloads Dead?
  113. Cambridge Audio Yoyo (L) Wireless Speaker
  114. Hi-Rez Streaming: Tidal vs. Qobuz
  115. DALI Callisto 2 C Active Speaker System
  116. Toronto Audiofest 2018 Simplifi'd
  117. Kanto SYD Bluetooth Speaker
  118. LG G7 ThinQ Smartphone
  119. How I Simplifi'd My Hi-Fi
  120. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Juke Box E Turntable-Integrated Amplifier
  121. Time to Celebrate: Five Years of Google Chromecast
  122. NAD D 3020 V2 Bluetooth Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  123. How Good Can Voice Recognition Get?
  124. Polk Assist Wi-Fi Smart Speaker
  125. Are Smart Speakers Any Good for Audiophiles?
  126. MartinLogan Unison Wireless Preamplifier
  127. High End 2018, Simplifi'd
  128. Dynaudio Music 7 Wi-Fi Speaker
  129. Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225 Music System
  130. Cocktail Audio X35 Music System
  131. Is the Smart Speaker a Dumb Idea?
  132. Peachtree Audio decco125 Sky Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  133. Technics Ottava f SC-C70 Music System
  134. What's Up with Apple AirPlay 2?
  135. JBL Link 500 Wi-Fi Speaker
  136. The Spotify Dilemma
  137. Trinnov Amethyst DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
  138. Control4 Triad One Streaming Amplifier
  139. Elac Discovery Z3 Wi-Fi Speaker
  140. CES 2018, Simplifi’d
  141. Klipsch Heritage Wireless Three Wi-Fi Speaker
  142. Farewell, CES
  143. Paradigm PW 300 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  144. Thiel Audio Aurora Home Wi-Fi Speaker
  145. Room Tunes
  146. Hegel Music Systems H190 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  147. Social Streaming
  148. Yamaha R-N803 Network Stereo Receiver
  149. Onkyo TX-8270 Network Stereo Receiver
  150. CEDIA 2017, Simplifi’d
  151. Dynaudio Focus 20 XD Active Loudspeakers
  152. Riva Audio Festival Wi-Fi Speaker
  153. Naim Audio Uniti Atom Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  154. Classical Prime Time
  155. NAD Masters Series M50.2 Digital Music Player
  156. Bryston BryFi BW-1 Wi-Fi Speaker
  157. The Röst Reconsidered
  158. Arcam rPlay Music Streamer
  159. Auralic Polaris Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  160. High End 2017, Simplifi'd
  161. Simaudio Moon Neo ACE DAC-Streamer-Integrated Amplifier
  162. Vinyl: There's an App for That
  163. Metadata: Life with Roon
  164. NAD C 368 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  165. The Internet and Audio: The Good, the Bad, and the Impossible
  166. Lumin M1 Integrated Amplifier-Network Music Player
  167. Arcam Solo Music DAC-Integrated Amplifier-Universal Player
  168. McIntosh Laboratory RS100 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  169. The State of Streaming
  170. Hegel Music Systems Röst Integrated Amplifier
  171. CES 2017, Simplifi'd
  172. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb Wi-Fi Speaker
  173. Why "Simplifi"
  174. Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2 Wi-Fi Speaker