Bluesound

Based in Florence, Italy, Volumio is best known for its open-source music-management software, which has become very popular with DIYers looking to build a headless music streamer on the cheap. But Volumio also offers three domestically manufactured streaming products: the Rivo streamer, Primo streaming DAC, and Integro streaming integrated amplifier, the subject of this review. With a streamer, a DAC, and an amplifier combined in a single elegant chassis, the Integro needs just a pair of speakers, and it’s ready to play.

Read more: Volumio Integro Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Did this heading just make you do a double take? I wouldn’t be surprised if it did because Wi-Fi and turntable are two words you don’t expect to see back-to-back. Indeed, Pro-Ject Audio Systems’ T2 W ($1199; all prices in USD unless noted otherwise) is the first product of its kind: a turntable that can stream audio over a home network to multiple devices.

Read more: Pro-Ject Audio Systems T2 W Wi-Fi Turntable with Sumiko Rainier Cartridge

I think marketing geniuses can sometimes be too smart for the good of the companies they’re trying to promote. Consider the slogan that Klipsch Audio Technologies came up with in 2021 to celebrate the brand’s 75th anniversary: “Pissing off the neighbors since 1946.” The company even created a “Pissing Off the Neighbors” edition of its RB-81 MkII bookshelf loudspeaker (now discontinued).

Read more: Klipsch The Nines Active Loudspeaker System

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

From the perspective of a pre-teen in the late 1970s, it seemed as if hi-fi was everywhere, and separate components ruled. In our living room, we had shag-white carpet, a Dual turntable, and a Marantz cassette deck and receiver. I remember the receiver’s gorgeous blue front lighting and joy-to-use Gyro Wheel tuner. A pair of Pioneer speakers with lustrous woodgrain cabinets rounded out the system. But I envied neighbors who had flashier systems from JVC, Sansui, and Technics. One friend had a complete silver Pioneer system at home, including the stunning CT-F1000 cassette deck, which I lusted after but couldn’t possibly afford. So, I compromised. I saved $200 from my allowance and summer jobs and bought a Panasonic all-in-one, which included a turntable, receiver, cassette deck, and matching speakers—my first stereo system.

Read more: Bluesound Powernode Edge Streaming Integrated Amplifier

In early May, a curious factoid popped up in my news feed. According to a 2023 study by Los Angeles–based Luminate, a sales analysis company that specializes in entertainment and media, only half of those who bought vinyl records during the previous year actually owned a turntable. Weird!

Read more: Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 Turntable

When I told SoundStage! Network founder Doug Schneider about the NAD CS1, he asked a simple question: “Who’s this product for?” Lots of people, I responded. My brother, Ian, and his wife, Roberta. My sister-in-law, Petrea, and her husband, Paul. And a whole bunch of other folks. Priced at $349 (all prices in USD), the CS1 is aimed at listeners who want to stream music from their smart devices to a sound system that lacks network connectivity—without having to install special apps.

Read more: NAD CS1 Network Music Player

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.

Read more: Rotel S14 Streaming Integrated Amplifier

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.

Read more: Triangle Borea BR03 BT Powered Loudspeaker System

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.

Read more: iFi Audio Neo Stream Streaming DAC-Preamplifier

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.

Read more: PSB Alpha iQ Streaming Active Loudspeaker System

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.

Read more: Elac Debut ConneX DCB41 Powered Loudspeaker System

  1. Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 Soundbar
  2. JBL 4305P Active Loudspeaker System
  3. Dynaudio Focus 30 Active Loudspeaker System
  4. SVS Prime Wireless Pro Active Loudspeaker System
  5. Totem Acoustic Kin Play Tower Powered Loudspeaker System
  6. System Audio Legend 7.2 Silverback Active On-Wall Speaker and Stereo Hub
  7. Roksan Attessa Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  8. JBL L75ms Integrated Music System
  9. KEF LS60 Wireless Active Speaker System
  10. Zidoo Neo S 4K UHD Media Player
  11. Q Acoustics M20 HD Powered Wireless Music System
  12. Sonus Faber Omnia Wireless Music System
  13. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Speaker
  14. NAD Masters M10 V2 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  15. Mission LX Connect Wireless Active Speakers and Hub
  16. Linn Series 3 Active Loudspeakers
  17. Bang & Olufsen Beolab 28 Active Loudspeakers
  18. KEF KC62 Powered Subwoofer
  19. NAD C 700 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  20. iFi Audio Zen Stream Wi-Fi Streamer
  21. System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  22. Bluesound Node Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  23. Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers
  24. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Active Loudspeakers
  25. Bluesound Powernode Multiroom Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  26. Edifier Airpulse A300Pro Active Loudspeakers
  27. KEF LS50 Wireless II Active Loudspeakers
  28. Bryston BR-20 Streaming Preamplifier-DAC
  29. HEDD Type 05 MK2 Active Speakers and Bass 08 Subwoofer
  30. SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer
  31. Sony SA-Z1 Active Nearfield Loudspeakers
  32. Heavenly Soundworks FIVE17 Active Loudspeakers
  33. Marantz SACD 30n SACD/CD Player and Streaming DAC-Preamp
  34. DALI Oberon 1 C Active Loudspeakers and Sound Hub Wireless Transmitter
  35. PSB Alpha AM3 Powered Loudspeakers
  36. iFi Audio Neo iDSD DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier
  37. Bluesound Pulse Sub+ Wireless Subwoofer
  38. PSB Alpha AM5 Powered Loudspeakers
  39. SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  40. Focal Solo6 Be Active Loudspeakers
  41. Buchardt Audio A500 Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  42. Klipsch The Fives Active Loudspeakers
  43. Triangle Elara LN01A Powered Loudspeakers
  44. Volumio Primo Community Edition and Hi-Fi Edition Streaming DACs
  45. System Audio Legend 5 Silverback Active Loudspeakers and Stereo Hub WiSA Transmitter
  46. Andover Audio Model-One Turntable Music System
  47. Elac Alchemy DDP-2 Streaming DAC-Preamp
  48. Focal Shape 65 Analog Active Loudspeakers
  49. HEDD Type 07 Analog Active Loudspeakers
  50. exaSound Audio Design Delta Music Server M100
  51. Bryston BDA-3.14 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  52. iFi Audio Pro iDSD Streaming DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amplifier
  53. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
  54. DALI Rubicon 6 C Hybrid Active Loudspeakers
  55. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Pre Box RS2 Digital DAC-Preamp-Headphone Amp
  56. Klipsch RW-51M Wireless Powered Loudspeakers
  57. iFi Audio Aurora Wireless Music System
  58. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation Wireless Music System
  59. Cambridge Audio CXA81 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  60. Hegel Music Systems H120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  61. DALI Katch One Soundbar
  62. NAD Classic C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC
  63. Kanto Audio Tuk Powered Loudspeakers
  64. Lumin T2 Network Music Player
  65. Naim Audio ND5 XS 2 Network Music Player
  66. Elac Navis ARF-51 Active Loudspeakers
  67. Devialet Phantom Reactor 900 Active Loudspeakers
  68. PMC result6 Active Loudspeakers
  69. Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo Active Loudspeakers
  70. Naim Audio Mu-so 2nd Generation Wireless Music System
  71. McIntosh Laboratory MTI100 Integrated Turntable
  72. Yamaha WXA-50 MusicCast Streaming Amplifier
  73. NAD Masters M10 BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  74. Primare SC15 Prisma Streaming DAC-Preamp
  75. Naim Uniti Core CD Ripper/Music Server
  76. Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeakers
  77. Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Speaker
  78. SVS Prime Wireless Active Speakers
  79. Totem Acoustic Kin Play Powered Speakers
  80. KEF LSX Active Loudspeakers
  81. Bluesound Vault 2i CD Ripper-Server-Streamer
  82. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Stream Box S2 Ultra Music Streamer
  83. Kii Audio Three DSP-Controlled Active Loudspeakers
  84. Aurender S5W Battery-Powered Wireless Active Loudspeakers
  85. Cambridge Audio Yoyo (L) Wireless Speaker
  86. DALI Callisto 2 C Active Speaker System
  87. Kanto SYD Bluetooth Speaker
  88. LG G7 ThinQ Smartphone
  89. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Juke Box E Turntable-Integrated Amplifier
  90. NAD D 3020 V2 Bluetooth Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  91. Polk Assist Wi-Fi Smart Speaker
  92. MartinLogan Unison Wireless Preamplifier
  93. Dynaudio Music 7 Wi-Fi Speaker
  94. Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225 Music System
  95. Cocktail Audio X35 Music System
  96. Peachtree Audio decco125 Sky Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  97. Technics Ottava f SC-C70 Music System
  98. JBL Link 500 Wi-Fi Speaker
  99. Trinnov Amethyst DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
  100. Control4 Triad One Streaming Amplifier
  101. Elac Discovery Z3 Wi-Fi Speaker
  102. Klipsch Heritage Wireless Three Wi-Fi Speaker
  103. Paradigm PW 300 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  104. Thiel Audio Aurora Home Wi-Fi Speaker
  105. Hegel Music Systems H190 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  106. Yamaha R-N803 Network Stereo Receiver
  107. Onkyo TX-8270 Network Stereo Receiver
  108. Dynaudio Focus 20 XD Active Loudspeakers
  109. Riva Audio Festival Wi-Fi Speaker
  110. Naim Audio Uniti Atom Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  111. NAD Masters Series M50.2 Digital Music Player
  112. Bryston BryFi BW-1 Wi-Fi Speaker
  113. Arcam rPlay Music Streamer
  114. Auralic Polaris Wireless Streaming DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  115. Simaudio Moon Neo ACE DAC-Streamer-Integrated Amplifier
  116. NAD C 368 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
  117. Lumin M1 Integrated Amplifier-Network Music Player
  118. Arcam Solo Music DAC-Integrated Amplifier-Universal Player
  119. McIntosh Laboratory RS100 Wi-Fi Loudspeakers
  120. Hegel Music Systems Röst Integrated Amplifier
  121. Naim Audio Mu-so Qb Wi-Fi Speaker
  122. Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2 Wi-Fi Speaker

Page 1 of 13