Latest news with #hi-fi
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Cambridge Audio Reveals Award-Winning Evo 150 Special Edition Streaming Amplifier
The new Cambridge Audio Evo 150SE is a special edition of the company's award-winning mini streaming ... More amplifier. It's been a busy month for the classic British brand Cambridge Audio. Not only has the company launched a brand-new pair of wireless earbuds and a smart corporate rebrand, but it's also announced a major update to its highly regarded Evo all-in-one streaming amplifier. The new and enhanced special edition of the award-winning Evo 150 has been designed and engineered in London. The Evo 150SE offers powerful amplification and runs on the StreamMagic platform. The whole caboodle is contained in an elegant and customizable case. All users need to do is add a pair of speakers. 'Evo 150 has been a very special product for Cambridge, merging true hi-fi sound with lifestyle-friendly aesthetics and convenience in a way that has really resonated with listeners. For this special edition, we've pushed the boundaries of what to expect from Class D amplification – an even more musical, emotive listening experience in a design that has been further refined,' says Matt Dore, Chief Technical Officer of Cambridge Audio. All the Cambridge Audio Evo 150SE needs is a pair of speakers. Half-Century Of Heritage Cambridge Audio started as a boutique audio business based in London. Its first product was the groundbreaking P40 amplifier, which was unveiled way back in 1968. Since then, Cambridge Audio has been making hi-fi separates and the Evo 150 SE is the latest to join the range. Designed, engineered at the company's London HQ, the Evo 150SE is tuned to deliver an emotive sound, with clarity, resolution and a sense of rhythm. To create the amplification, Cambridge Audio worked closely with Hypex to produce the NCOREx 'Tuned by Cambridge' Class D amplifier technology. The amplifier is highly efficient and compact, but still manages to maintain the signature sound that Cambridge Audio is known for. The new NCOREx 'Tuned by Cambridge' module delivers 150W per channel into 8Ω, which means it can drive all but the most demanding of speakers. The Evo 150SE from Cambridge Audio has Hypex NCOREx Class D amplification officially 'Tuned by ... More Cambridge" and offering 150W per channel into 8Ω. With this special edition, improvements have been made to the entire audio signal path to tweak the sound further. After hundreds of hours auditioning many different component variations, as well as improving the quality of the vital components, Cambridge Audio has made the Evo 150 SE sound more detailed, open and engaging. Comprehensive Connections The new Evo 150 SE is built around Cambridge Audio's 4th generation StreamMagic platform for seamless and stable streaming across a wide range of music streaming services, radio stations and digital audio file formats. The new StreamMagic can stream Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Roon Ready, UPnP and Internet Radio using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Cambridge owns and develops the StreamMagic platform and develops new features and services in-house so that the ecosystem is regularly improved with extended functionality. The Evo 150SE may be small, but it is bristling with inputs and outputs. For maximum wireless flexibility, the Evo 150 SE also has options to stream wirelessly with Bluetooth aptX HD, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. To share music across devices all around the home, the unit is fully compatible with Google Home, Apple AirPlay and Roon multi room systems. All The Right Connections As well as wireless connectivity, the Evo 150SE has plenty of wired inputs. There is HDMI ARC for connecting to a TV, a moving-magnet (MM) phono stage for a hi-fi turntable, plus RCA line input and balanced XLR inputs for handling the analog sources. In addition, there are two optical digital inputs, a coaxial digital input, USB Audio and USB Media sockets for further digital options that are passed to an ESS SABRE ES9018k2m DAC. Adding a subwoofer to the Evo 150Se is simple thanks to a dedicated sub out. There are also pre-outs for using the Evo 150 SE as a pre-amp to feed a power amp such as the Cambridge Audio Edge. Two pairs of speaker outputs enable the use of dual listening zones, for a secondary set of speakers in another room or even an outside area. There is a matching Evo CD transport to go with the Evo 150SE. The Evo 150 SE can be paired with the Evo CD, a dedicated compact disc transport that's designed to match the build and sonic quality of the main unit. The Evo CD integrates with the Evo 150 SE, making it easy and convenient to breathe life back into a CD library. While all the functionality of the Evo 150SE can be accessed using the StreamMagic app and the HDMI ARC connection enables simple volume control through a TV remote, there is a dedicated remote control supplied for ease of use for anyone in the room. A Timeless Look The original Evo 150 won a Red Dot Design Award for its timeless look and clean lines, as well as its minimalist retro-modern look from designer Ged Martin. The Evo 150 SE refines the design with enhancements and an update. The Evo 150SE has the bold new Cambridge branding and ships with two swappable side panels including ... More the wood version shown here. The compact footprint of this all-in-one streaming amplifier is 12 inches square, which is the same size as the sleeve for a vinyl LP. However, despite its small size, the unit still manages to house a 6.8-inch color screen, which can be switched between a purely functional look or one with a dash of retro-chic style. Other options include a clock display, album artwork, info on the current track or even a pair of virtual VU meters. There are two side-panel designs with the Evo 150 SE and they magnetically attach to the casing and are easy to swap over. There's a choice of classic real wood or modern industrial chic, so users can switch things around to match their mood or décor. The Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE is available from July 2025 at as well as approved retailers. The price will be $3,299 / £1,999 / €2.399.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
Cambridge Audio's Melomania A100 Wireless Earbuds With Hi-Fi Sound Quality
The new Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 wireless earbuds are available now. One of the most popular British audio brands, Cambridge Audio, has been making waves on the British hi-fi scene for more than half a century. Today, the London-based brand celebrates its next 50 years with the launch of a new pair of true wireless earbuds: the all-new Melomania A100. These new wireless earbuds have been designed to deliver Cambridge Audio's award-winning signature sound in a compact and comfortable form factor. The A100 have been tuned and acoustically optimized by the brand's London-based engineers and they use the same Class AB amplification found in Cambridge Audio's award-winning CX and EX Series of amplifiers. The Melomania A100 uses 10mm diameter, precision-tuned, dynamic Neodymium drivers. Cambridge Audio says these latest drivers have been tuned to produce a deeper bass with richer mids and clear highs that meld together to deliver a high-fidelity listening experience. The Melomania A100 support the hi-res LDAC and aptX Lossless audio codecs over Bluetooth. They are also are the first to use Cambridge Audio's proprietary DynamEQ technology which ensures details remain intact and balanced even when the user is listening to music at low volume levels. The new A100 wireless earbuds from Cambridge Audio feature Class AB amplification and custom tuned ... More Neodymium drivers. A full charge of the A100 earbuds provides up to 11 hours of continuous listening time. The designers say that comfort is at the center of the physical design of the earbuds and the company claims it's made a lot of effort to ensure the shape of the earbuds makes them comfortable to wear, even after a lengthy listening session. Thanks to the use of lightweight and premium materials as well as a wide choice of silicone tip sizes, these earbuds are designed for long-lasting wearability and an ergonomic fit. The Melomania A100 stow away in their charging case when not in use and it holds extra power for topping up the earbud batteries. The case sports three white LEDs on its front panel giving instant feedback of battery level. To squeeze the Cambridge Audio signature soundscape into such as small pair of wireless earbuds, the company's engineers used hi-fi grade Class AB amplification to power the 10mm Neodymium drivers. The result is increased warmth and more musicality than would be available from off-the-shelf drivers using regular Class D amplification. To provide high-quality processing of the digital signals, Cambridge Audio chose Qualcomm's dual-core 240MHz Kalimba digital signal processor. This offers more refined sound processing and lower distortion levels as well as more clarity than most chipsets. There is support for LDAC, aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth audio codecs, as well as the more usual AAC and SBC. The Cambridge Audio A100 are available in white or black and come with a range of high-quality ear ... More tips for maximum acoustic isolation. The A100 are the fourth pair of Melomania earbuds from Cambridge Audio. The Melomania range is something of a personal quest adn challenge for the company's chairman, James Johnson Flint, who has been pursuing the Holy Grail of a perfect-sounding pair earbuds for half a decade now. The development of the A100 is the culmination of Johnson-Flint's efforts and the use DynamEQ technology to keep the music perfectly balanced, even at lower volume levels, is something he is particularly pleased with. By subtly adjusting bass and treble through the volume curve, the A100 ensure that every track can sound its best with a full and natural tone, no matter what the listening level. Like any good pair of wireless earbuds, the Melomania A100 have Active Noise Cancellation which uses a hybrid combination of Feed-Back and Feed-Forward ANC. There are external microphones for monitoring outside ambient sounds, plus interior microphones monitoring the ear canal to sweep up any noise making it through the acoustic seal of the ear tips. The result is more unwanted sound blocked out. Out of the box, the A100 earbuds are tuned to provide the classic Cambridge Audio sound signature. The A100's transparent and natural presentation is how Cambridge Audio believes music should be heard. However, people have personal preferences and hear music in different ways. For this reason, the A100 earbuds also offer a range of options for customizing the sound. A full charge of the A100's storage case and earbuds can provide up to 40 hours of continuous ... More playtime. Users can shape the sound signature of the A100 to suit their preferences using the new Melomania Connect smartphone app. It's possible to fine-tune the tone using a 7-band adjustable EQ. There are also six EQ presets tailored for different genres of music. Users can create their own EQ profiles and then save them for total control over the listening experience. To customize the A100 further, the Melomania Connect app includes a feature that can remap the touch controls on each earpiece to suit the user. When wireless earbuds first launched more than 10 years ago, they would often play for between and hour or two before they needed to be recharged. Today we expect much better and a full charge of the A100 provides up to 11 hours of continuous playback with the ANC turned off. That figure drops to 6.5 hours with ANC turned on, which is still long enough for a flight from London to New York. It's also sufficient juice for a 9-to-5 work shift and something spare for the commute home. The ultra-compact charging case can hold enough power for up to 28 hours of listening time. Incidentally, a fast-charging function means a quick 10-minute charge of the A100 can provide another three hours of playback time. This is a handy feature if you've not used the earbuds for a while and are just about to go out for a run. The new A100 earbuds are one of the first products to bear the new Cambridge Audio branding. The Melomania A100 are built around Bluetooth Version 5.4 and support Multipoint Connectivity so two devices can connect at the same time. Why would you want to do that? Well, you could be listening to music or watching a movie on your personal smartphone but need to take a phone call on your business phone. With Multipoint Connectivity you can instantly switch between devices without any interruption. For phone calls or video meetings, the A100 uses no fewer than six microphones for picking up the user's voice loud and clear. Advanced cVc noise isolation technology filters out unwanted and noisy background sounds to boost call clarity. The Melomania A100 earbuds mark a new era for Cambridge Audio because they bear the company's new branding and work with the redesigned Melomania Connect app. The A100 are also launching alongside the Cambridge Audio's new Evo 150 SE streamer amp which is also controlled by the refreshed StreamMagic app. Cambridge Audio's Melomania A100 earbuds are available from and Amazon across Europe and Asia. The price is $149.99 / £119 / €139 but the A100 won't be available in the U.S. until later in the year.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cambridge Audio's compact MXW70 power amplifier is the perfect partner to the five-star MXN10 streamer
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Cambridge Audio has added a power amplifier to its half-width MX range. It joins the five-star and multiple Award-winning MXN10 music streamer. The new MXW70 power stereo amplifier has the same compact dimensions as the MXN10 streamer, meaning they can be stacked together to create a rather sleek hi-fi system that's ideal for smaller spaces. The MXW70 features Class-D amplification with Hypex NCore technology (similar to that used in the five-star Evo 75 and Evo 150 streaming amps) and delivers 70 watts per channel into 8 ohms. The power amplifier aims to deliver 'high efficiency and a compact form without compromising the rich, musical sound quality Cambridge Audio is known for'. Cambridge Audio claims this dinky powerhouse is capable of driving more demanding speakers, too. You can also turn the stereo amplifier into mono mode, which gives you 250 watts of bridgeable power when using two MXW70s in your system. Around the back, you'll find a set of speaker terminals, a choice of balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo line level inputs, and switches for choosing between these two inputs and mono/stereo mode. The MXW70 can be paired with the MXN10 streamer when the latter is in preamplifier mode, allowing the streamer to handle all volume and source duties. The system can be controlled by Cambridge Audio's StreamMagic app. The MXW70 is encased in an all-metal casework in Cambridge Audio's customary Lunar Grey finish, with a very minimal styling. The Cambridge Audio MXW70 power amplifier will be available in the summer, costing £499 / $599 / €599. The MXN10 streamer/preamplifier is yours for £349 / $499 / €399 at the time of writing, so together, this duo will cost you £848 / £1098 / €998 – assuming there is no bundle discount. That's quite an appealing price point for this compact combo; here's hoping the MXN70 sounds just as good as the hugely engaging and capable MXN10. MORE: Read our five-star Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer review The rise of small, complete hi-fi systems that are more accessible for newcomers is a great direction for the industry Check out our guide to the best music streamers
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
We're bringing you the latest hi-fi news and product launches from the High End Munich show 2025
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Today marks Day 2 of the High End Munich show! It's the last time Europe's biggest hi-fi trade show takes place in Munich (the show moves to Vienna next year), and it's going out with a splash. There are over 500 exhibitors and 1000 brands showcasing the latest and greatest audio products throughout the week. The show started on Thursday, 15th May and ends on Sunday 18th. The What Hi-Fi? team are on the ground at the MOC Event Center Messe München to bring you all the latest hi-fi news and launches, while raising a stein (or two!) to the venue's last hurrah. High End Munich 2025 info When: Thursday 15th & Friday 16th May (10am-6pm) – trade visitors only; Saturday 17th (10am-6pm) & Sunday 18th (10am-4pm) – open to the public Where: MOC Event Center Messe München, Lilienthalallee 40, 80939, Munich, Germany Tickets: €10 Saturday, €10 Sunday. Buy tickets here We've already seen multiple launches from some of the biggest hi-fi brands out there, including high-end amplifiers from Mark Levinson, Audiolab's new DACs, a high-end streamer from dCS, a new phono stage from Chord Electronics, and a special Charlie Brown turntable from Pro-Ject. Scroll down for all the key news and highlights. We'll be bringing you exclusive product news, hands-on images, first impressions and more insights from the event, so keep an eye on the website, our Instagram and Facebook channels for exclusive photos and videos from the show floor. AudiolabAudiolab has started things off with a bang, announcing two new standalone DACs – the D7 (£499) and pricier D9 (£1099) – that are descendants of the much-loved, well-regarded Audiolab M-DAC. The D7 (pictured above) and D9 are packed with new technologies and the full Audiolab D7 and D9 story AudiovectorThe Danish speaker company will be demoing its new flagship R10 Arreté floorstanders, which cost a cool £127,5000 / $165,000 / €147,500 per pair. We've already had a first look and listen to these new floorstanders, and you'll get a chance to hear them yourselves at the show.I listened to Audiovector's flagship floorstanders, and they're an incredibly fun way to spend a small fortune AuralicAuralic will be unveiling its new Aquila X3 streaming media processor at Munich, which promises "a cutting-edge feature set and true modular design, offering users unmatched flexibility and upgradability." The X3 will be on demo to showcase Auralic's LightningCast technology that is said to be "revolutionising high-resolution streaming". Audio-TechnicaThere's a new flagship turntable in town. Audio-Technica has launched the AT-LPA2 (pictured above), with chassis and platter made of clear acrylic to achieve that striking transparent look. It comes fitted with the AT-OC9XEN dual moving coil cartridge, has a separate power supply unit, and is yours for £1699 / €1999. Read the Audio-Technica LPA2 story Advance ParisThe French brand will be launching a number of new products at the show, details of which are under wraps for now. But if you like the look of the beefy A12 Classic integrated with VU meters, keep an eye out for its new releases. Astell & KernA&K has a brand new flagship portable music player – the A&ultima SP4000 – which is packed with more ways of playing high-resolution music than you would think was possible from a portable device. We don't have official pricing yet, but the previous five-star SP3000 flagship cost £3799 / $3699 / AU$5499, so expect a similarly lofty price. BurmesterNot content with one product launch at High End Munich, Burmester has refreshed its entire Reference line of products. This sees the arrival of the 257 turntable, 249 preamplifier and 259 stereo power amplifier, which are all brand new designs and share nothing from their the Burmester story Chord ElectronicsChord teased a new flagship product for its Ultima Reference range, and we now know it's the company's flagship Ultima Phonostage (pictured above). We don't have a price at this stage, but it was on display at Munich High End together with some initial the Chord Ultima Phonostage story Cyrus AudioCyrus has dropped some huge news at High End 2025 with the launch of its first-ever full-width products. The new 80 Series features casework which, according to Cyrus, is simply an extension of that used for its 40 Series. Besides giving its rengineers more room to work in, the new chassis also allows the company to accommodate its external power supply (the 40PSU) in 80 Series the Cyrus Audio story DaliDali has brought the bass to High End 2025 with the V-15F, its most powerful subwoofer yet. Weighing over 50kg, it's a bit of a beast with a huge 16-inch driver and no fewer than four continuous flare reflex ports. A serious speaker for stereo and AV the Dali V-15F story dCSThe new Lina DAC X music streamer launched earlier this month and we hope to have a peek of the new £13,500 / $15,500 player at the show. We were impressed with the Lina DAC (five stars), so have high hopes for this evolved step the dCS Lina DAC X story ElectrocompanietElectrocompaniet will be launching a new product called the EC 5.0, a fully analogue preamplifier, at the show on Friday 16th May. ElipsonThe French brand will be showing off three very different speakers at High End Munich. First up are the eye-catching, globular Planet L Performance speakers, which will be on demo. Also on show are a new version of the Prestige Facet II bookshelf speakers and an updated Legacy range of speakers. EversoloThe Eversolo Play streaming amplifier is a new product from the brand that we're keen to see first-hand. It combines extensive streaming features with a Class D amplifier in its compact box, yours for €699. There's also a version with a CD player built-in for €799 – that's a potent combination of talents for a modern do-it-all system!Read the full Eversolo Play story Fyne AudioA new addition to its F700SP line-up will be unveiled at Munich. The F704SP gets the 'Special Production" treatment, with IsoFlare driver technology and innovations drawn from the brand's flagship F1 Series. Price? £20,000 / $26,000 / €24,000 per the Fyne F704SP story GenelecFinnish audio brand Genelec will have its mammoth five-way 8381A speakers on demo at the show in a piano black finish. Alongside that are smaller Genelec The One three-way bookshelf speakers that come in a variety of colourful finishes. Gryphon Audio2025 marks the 30th year of Gryphon's Antileon Series power amplifier and at High End Munich 2025 the company has launched its fifth-generation version: Antileon Revelation. As with all Gryphon power amps, both stereo and mono versions are available, delivering 160 and 180 watts per channel (RMS) of Class A power, respectively. Read the Gryphon Audio story IsoAcousticsKnown for its isolation products, IsoAcoustics will be showcasing two new product ranges: the GAIA Neo and GAIA Titan Neo acoustic isolation feet. Designed to be more user-friendly and flexible than before, thanks to height adjustment and simplified installation. iFi AudioiFi has launched the UP Travel Bluetooth DAC – a compact transmitter and receiver that offers hi-res Bluetooth from in-car audio and in-flight entertainment systems to your devices, removing the need for cables and adapters. A 3.5mm connector, 10-hour battery and support for aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs. JBL JBL's flagship, high-end Summit series of loudspeakers has gained three new models, all named after mountains. Joining the giant Everest and K2 models are the smaller-but-still-quite-large Makalu and Pumori floorstanders and Ama standmounter. They start at £14,998 / $19,995 per pair. Ambitious. Read the JBL Summit speakers story KlipschThe American speaker brand will have one of its latest flagship horn speakers – the La Scala AL6 – on demo throughout the show, alongside its Klipsch Ojas collaboration speakers. Over at the Motorworld hotel next door, Klipsch's Flexus 300 (the first ever soundbar with Dirac Live) and Reference Premiere speakers will be on the Klipschorn AK7 & La Scala AL6 story LuxmanCelebrating a monumental 100 years, high-end Japanese brand Luxman has launched the P-100 Centennial headphone amplifier and E-07 phono preamp, both of which we expect will be on the Luxman Centennial story Mark LevinsonMark Levinson has unveiled a whole new range of high-end amplifiers. Its 600 series comprises the No. 626 preamplifier, No. 632 two-channel power amplifier and No. 631 monoblock tower. With prices starting at £24,000 / €28,000 / $25,000 for the No. 626 this is a trio made for serious hi-fi the Mark Levinson 600 series story Meze AudioMeze Audio will be showcasing its open-back POET headphones at the show, which launched earlier this year at £1850 / $2000 / €2000. Also making their debut at the show are the new open-back 105 Silva – official price and launch later in the year. Read the Meze 105 Silva story Musical FidelityWe first saw Musical Fidelity's new midrange B1 series of hi-fi separates at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show earlier this year. The B1 xi integrated amplifier and B1c CD player are both on display at Munich, the Musical Fidelity B1 range story NADNAD has taken the wraps off two new amps for its Master Series range: the M33 V2 BluOS Streaming Amplifier (£4999 / $5999) and M23 V2 Stereo Power Amplifier (£3499 / $3999).Read the NAD story NagaokaThe Japanese cartridge brand is celebrating its 85th anniversary with a brand new flagship cartridge. The Nagaoka MP-700 promises "exceptional detail retrieval from vinyl grooves" and is yours for £1149 / $ the Nagaoka MP-700 story OnkyoWe're excited to see Onkyo's Icon series at the show, which marks the brand's return to hi-fi after many years of absence. The Icon includes a streaming integrated amplifier, a network preamplifier and a power amplifier, and they certainly look smart from the pictures we've seen so far. PMCPMC has confirmed that it will be demoing its new Prophecy range of speakers, which includes one pair of standmounters, three pairs of floorstanders and a centre speaker, with prices ranging from £2275 / €2775 to £8975 / €10,945. Pro-JectPro-Ject has unveiled a Peanuts-themed record player – to coincide with comic strip's 75th anniversary – and Charlie Brown's round head on the platter just looks adorable. Previous years saw the launch of the ultra-cool Metallica turntable, the beautiful Pink Floyd one, and the lovely Yellow Submarine the Pro-Ject Peanuts record player story QobuzFinally, the long-awaited Qobuz Connect feature has launched at High End 2025. In line with Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, Qobuz's version will hopefully bring a more seamless streaming experience to your hi-fi system and a simpler way of controlling your Qobuz music library across the Qobuz Connect story SennheiserHead to the Sennheiser booth and try out its "immersive mirror box", which offers a short "multi-sensory light and sound experience, followed by visual snippets with behind-the-scenes insights." We're excited to find out what this experience entails. T+AA new streaming integrated amplifier called Symphonia will be on demo, paired with the Talis S 330 floorstanding speakers. Visitors will also get their first look at a new E Series receiver concept running the latest T+A OS user interface – both are currently in development. TADThe high-end Japanese brand will be showcasing its ultra high-end TAD-ME1TX standmount speakers, which boast "meticulous engineering and superior materials", with the price tag starting at a wallet-busting £17,500 / $18,200 / €17,300 per pair. TechnicsWhile we don't have any indication that Technics will be unveiling something brand new at the show, the legendary Japanese brand is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, so expect to see their latest launches – SL-1300G turntable and EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds (both five stars) – on display. WharfedaleWe've seen a new range of speakers from Wharfedale at High End 2025. Evo 5 replaces the well-received Evo 4 line and boasts five different models with updated cabinets, drivers and crossovers and new damping technology. Prices start at £549 / €699 / AU$ the Wharfedale Evo 5 story WiiM WiiM had a big High End Munich last year, launching the WiiM Ultra (five stars) and WiiM Amp Pro (currently being tested). Munich 2025 will be similarly significant thanks to the launch two new product types: the HomePod-looking WiiM Sound smart speaker and the WiiM Sub Pro subwoofer. We're also excited to see the new WiiM Amp Ultra streaming amplifier (pictured above), which combines the Ultra's touchscreen display unit with 100W of amplification, along with plenty of streaming features and the WiiM Sound storyRead the WiiM Amp Ultra story You can see the full list of brands exhibiting this year. MORE: Revisit the highlights from last year's High End Munich 2024 8 tracks we've been using to test in the What Hi-Fi? listening rooms this month The rise of small, complete hi-fi systems that are more accessible for newcomers is a great direction for the industry The best music streamers across all budgets
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
High-end hi-fi ahoy! Mark Levinson takes the wraps off its new 600 Series amplifiers
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. You're always guaranteed to see some tasty high-end hi-fi being exhibited by Mark Levinson at the High End Munich show, and this year is no different. Say hello to the company's brand new 600 series of amplifiers. The range consists of three models: the No. 626 preamplifier, No. 632 two-channel power amplifier (both pictured above) and, for those who want power delivered to each of their speakers by a dedicated box, the No. 631 monoblock. Each amplifier is built on Mark Levinson's Pure Path circuit philosophy and showcases the brand's trademark Tectonic industrial design, which blends a machined aluminium chassis, anodised in black, with silver controls. Glass panels on each amp and signature red accents and lighting complete the striking, trademark aesthetics. The No. 626 dual-mono preamplifier is priced at £24,000 / €28,000 / $25,000 and features Mark Levinson's fully balanced Pure Path architecture for the analogue section. The digital number-crunching is powered by its Precision Link III DAC, which supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD through six digital inputs – AES/EBU, two coaxial digital, two optical digital, and USB-C. Analogue connectivity comes in the shape of two balanced (XLR) and three single-ended (RCA) stereo inputs, a Pure Phono MM/MC phono stage for your turntable and a Main Drive Class A headphone amplifier for connecting a premium pair of audiophile headphones. Inside, the No. 626 has been designed with modular isolation in mind and includes special shielding of the power supply circuit and digital source circuit from the analogue and phono circuitry. It also uses twin power supplies and comes fitted with vibration-damped feet to keep the amp isolated. Both the No. 632 power amplifier £30,000 / €34,000 / $30,000 and No. 631 monoblock £38,000 / €44,000 / $40,000 (pictured above) feature Class A/AB amplification, Pure Path fully balanced signal paths, and meaty toroidal power supplies. The No. 631 uses an eye-catching floorstanding chassis which stands just under 53cm (21 inches) tall. In keeping with the rest of the series, its chassis has also been machined from aluminium and is anodised in black, featuring a silver plinth as its base. You'll find a glass centre panel on the front with red lighting on either side, while the top panel of the amp has a glass Core element with red accent lighting. The Mark Levinson No. 626, No. 632 and No. 631 amplifiers will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2025. MORE: High End Munich 2025 live: news and pictures direct from the high-end hi-fi show Wharfedale's Evo 5 speaker series promises "heavenly high-end sound at refreshingly down-to-earth prices" JBL aims high with three high-end speakers joining its flagship Summit Series
