Latest news with #HiFi
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Four Years Later, Spotify HiFi May Finally Be Nearing Launch
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Four years is a long time to wait for any new functionality in a streaming service, but that's how long Spotify users have waited for its HiFi feature bringing 'CD-quality, lossless audio' to the streaming platform. New tweaks within the app's code may have hinted Spotify is making steps towards a launch. As spotted by TechCrunch, Chris Messina, a reverse engineer who digs into the code of apps to find unannounced features, found Spotify's latest update refers to 'lossless music' for the first time. There are multiple instances of the term in the desktop version of the app, with most appearing in places ready to be deployed in support menus. The code specifically says, "Lossless music, now in premium.' There's another reference that says, 'Introducing the best sound quality on Spotify: for music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz." The references aren't currently visible in the final version of Spotify. Another element in the code includes a new animation for a feature called 'Optimize," which may hint toward a calibration tool for high-end headphones. There's no mention in the code of a launch date, but it's likely this is Spotify's team readying support documentation for a future launch. That may mean a launch is imminent, but it doesn't confirm that Spotify has a clear plan to launch soon. One Reddit user also found mentions within the mobile app version of Spotify showing slightly different wording. It says, 'Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz." Reddit Spotify said in 2022 that the delay to its HiFi feature was because of issues with licensing around lossless audio. Ek said on an investor call at the time that the company was in a 'constant dialogue' with its partners to figure out a way forward. A report from earlier this year suggested that HiFi will be available through an additional tier called Music Pro that sits on top of a Premium subscription. This would cost an extra $5.99 a month to top up the $11.99 a month it costs to subscribe to Premium. The report said HiFi would be aiming to launch at some stage in 2025. The wait for Spotify HiFi has been long with many users looking for lossless audio turning to rivals like Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, or Tidal.
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Don't give me hope: Spotify's long-awaited lossless tier shows signs of life again
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Spotify's long-promised HiFi lossless audio tier is likely nearing release, as suggested by new asset file leaks. The upcoming tier will likely offer music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC files, consuming up to 1 GB of data per hour. This feature may be part of a 'Music Pro' tier, potentially costing an extra $5.99 monthly on top of your current subscription. Spotify announced its 'HiFi' lossless tier back in February 2021, but as you may already know, it's still not here. Over the years, we've seen plenty of leaks about the feature, indicating the company hasn't just abandoned its plans. More recently, Spotify's CEO did mention that the Spotify Super Premium plan would offer 'better sound quality,' once more indicating that it's not dead yet. New asset files have now leaked, suggesting that Spotify's 'HiFi' lossless tier is still in the works, possibly nearing launch. Reverse engineer Chris Messina spotted these strings within Spotify, which indicate that its Lossless tier is coming soon: Lossless music, now in premium Introducing the best sound quality on Spotify: for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz. Reddit user Ok_Improvement5956 spotted several graphics within the latest PC update of Spotify that give us more hope than they should after four years of excruciating wait: There are mentions of 'Lossless' across tracks that are served at the higher quality tier. Further, the Lossless tier will consume up to 1GB of data per hour of playback to serve FLAC files at up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz. The Reddit user mentioned in another comment that Dolby Atmos is not on board. From the graphics, we learn that you will need 'compatible headphones' to experience the lossless tier. The header for the tier also mentions 'wired connection,' which shouldn't come as a big surprise to anyone. A Bloomberg report earlier this year mentions that the company hopes to roll out its new Music Pro tier later in 2025, potentially costing an extra $5.99 a month, for higher quality audio, remixing tools, and access to concert tickets. Even though the writing is on the wall that Spotify's Lossless tier is coming, I wouldn't hold my breath on it. It's been years since the first announcement, and we've seen similar leaks a few times now, only for nothing to happen and our enthusiasm to fizzle out eventually. It will launch when it's ready. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Cambridge Audio's pretty, petite amp packs a powerful punch
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary At just 21.5cm wide, Cambridge Audio's new MXW70 power amp is made small, but it delivers big audio. The amp is spec'ed to provide up to 125W of power in stereo, 250W in mono. To paraphrase Douglas Adams, power amplifiers are big. You won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big they are. But Cambridge Audio begs to differ. Its new MXW70 power amp delivers a lot of power from an extremely small footprint. The MXW70 has been designed to sit with the equally compact MXN10 Music Streamer to make a complete Hi-Fi stack, although you can of course use it with whatever audio source you wish. It puts out 70W to 125W per channel in stereo mode, and it's bridgeable in mono mode to deliver 250W. T3 reviewed the Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer some time ago and really loved it: we gave it the full five stars and praised its "deeply enjoyable" performance. This new amp looks like it's the perfect partner. The chassis is just 215mm wide by 215mm deep and 57mm high, and it's all-metal with a minimalist design and Cambridge Audio's familiar Lunar Grey finish. It's even more minimalist than the music streamer, in fact. That has a Wi-Fi indicator and four buttons in addition to its power switch, while the MXW70 has a power button and little else. The amplification is Hypex NCORE Class D which, according to Hypex, delivers "the ultimate in clarity, resolution and musicality". The MXW70 also comes with premium XLR inputs as well as the obligatory stereo RCA. There's a 12V trigger with pass-through too. Frequency response is 10Hz to 30kHz (-1dB) and power output is 2 x 70W to 8 ohms stereo, 2 x 125W to 4 ohms stereo, and 250W to 8 ohms in mono mode. The Cambridge Audio MWX70 will be available this summer from the firm's website and the usual approved retailers. Its recommended selling price is £499 / €599 / $599 (about AU$1,033).
Gizmodo
13-06-2025
- Gizmodo
These AirPods-Style Earbuds Are Nearly Free, Amazon Slashes Prices by 86% Just Before Prime Day
These wireless earphones may look very much like AirPods or Galaxy Buds at first glance, but they're obviously distinct products. But with a record low price tag of just $21, currently discounted by 86% from a typical $160 price on Amazon, these represent a compelling trade-off for whoever is willing to sacrifice wireless audio quality but without a huge expense outlay. While you should not expect the premium finish or advanced features of higher-priced companies, these earbuds have been highly rated with a 4.7 out of 5-star rating and nearly 10,000 units sold in a single month. For this price, it is hard to find a better bargain in the market today. See at Amazon Up to 40 Hours of Playtime On the technical front, these wireless earbuds are powered by Bluetooth 5.4 technology which offers seamless pairing, reduced latency and a steadier connection over a range of 15 meters. While this latest version of Bluetooth enhances the experience itself, it also extends battery life which is a crucial aspect for a user who uses earbuds throughout the day. The earbuds themselves deliver up to 8 hours of playback at 80% volume and the charging case provides an impressive total of 40 hours of playtime. These earbuds feature a 13mm vibration diaphragm and AAC/SBC audio codec for deep bass and clear, detailed sound. They also have their Hi-Fi stereo sound boosted by ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) technology that uses four microphones to eliminate background noise and wind noise when making calls. They thus qualify as suitable bets for hands-free calling in even louder environments or while outdoors. The earbuds come with uncomplicated touch controls so that you can play/pause music, answer/terminate a call, skip songs and even activate voice assistants like Siri without putting your hands on your phone. The charging case features a dual LED display that shows the remaining battery level for both the earbuds and the case, so you're never caught off guard by a dead battery. They also have the IP7 certification for water resistance which means they can withstand immersion into water one meter deep for 30 minutes. This implies that they can be used while exercising, running, or even in the rain. They have an ergonomic shape that forms a snug, secure fit on most ears, and the light material that they are made of makes them tolerable for extended use. The fit is tight enough for active wear so you don't need to worry about them coming off while you work out or make your daily commutes. If you're searching for a reliable pair of wireless earbuds at a decent price point, don't miss this deal. See at Amazon
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Forbes
Marantz Unveils Two New Reference-Quality Home Theater Components
Premium AV and Hi-Fi audio brand Marantz has today taken the wraps off a pair of new additions to its 'reference-quality' component range in the shape of the AV 20 AV pre-amp and AMP 20 power amplifier. Designed to join and complement the award-winning AV 10 pre-amp, AMP 10 power amp and CINEMA 30 AVR product family, the AV 20 and AMP 20 expand the variety of system configurations Marantz's high-end product range can support. Both new units are manufactured at the brand's premium factory, the Shirakawa Audio Works in Japan, and have been meticulously honed and refined by a Marantz Sound Master (a select group of experts within Marantz who are considered to have a particularly high level of listening expertise and judgment they can apply to tuning premium products). The AV 20 Pre-Amp and AMP 20 power amp. Photo: Marantz The AV 20 and AMP 20 both sport the latest iteration of Marantz's iconic 'porthole display' design, together with selectable side illumination, applied to an uncompromising build quality based on a multi-layer, copper-heavy chassis. The new devices' remote controls are made from aluminium, too, as well as offering button backlighting to make them easy to use in dark rooms. Let's get next into the specifics of each model. The AV 20 carries the latest and most powerful Analog Devices SHARC Dual-core DSP chipset, partnered with uncompromising 32-bit two-channel DACs with dedicated jitter reduction. This ensures that the AV 20 can precisely decode and process every possible form of incoming audio technology, including the most high-resolution stereo formats and every current form of immersive audio, including Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X Pro and AURO-3D. The AV 20's premium processing system has been combined with the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimization system, which automatically calibrates sound to take into account your sound system's speaker sizes, speaker distances, level adjustment and many more factors besides. All with a focus, of course, on making sure the AV 20 is able to adapt its audio mastery to as wide a range of speakers and listening environments as possible. Detail of the Marantz AV 20 Pre-Amp. Photo: Marantz Marantz has also equipped the AV 20 with Dirac Live Room Correction plus the Dirac Live Bass Control, enabling you to integrate up to four separated and fully optimized subwoofers into your sound system. Plus, for the first time in a Marantz product, the AV 20 will eventually (following an upcoming firmware update) carry the Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ARC) technology that's claimed to create an unprecedentedly cohesive and tonally consistent listening experience. The AV 20 carries seven HDMI inputs all capable of supporting video feeds up to 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz, as well as multiple analog and digital inputs and an expansive range of custom installation-optimized features that enable it to adapt to pretty much any scale of set up, from relatively small media rooms to large home theater installations. The AV 20's discrete HDAM SA-3 preamplifier stage feeds up to 13.4 channels using either RCA or XLR outputs and, finally, the AV 20 supports the latest HEOS multi-room platform, making it as easy as possible to access content streamed through Roon, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth. Finally, the AV 20 uses a fold-down front panel on its fascia to hide its relatively less-used controls, to retain that distinctive premium Marantz porthole look. Summary of key features: * SHARC dual-core DSP with 32-bit two-channel DACs * Timeless design with the iconic Marantz porthole display and modern high-definition on-screen display * 8K support for x7 HDMI inputs with x3 HDMI outputs * Support for Dolby Atmos™, IMAX Enhanced™, DTS:X Pro™ and AURO 3D™ * Audyssey MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimization included, plus Dirac Live calibration, including Bass Control and Active Room Treatment options, available at extra cost * Access to streaming services via HEOS®, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and more, all built-in * 12 x 200W Power Amplifier, with bi-amping and 400W BTL mode available Detail of the Marantz AMP 20. Photo: Marantz The AMP 20 is configured to deliver up to 12 channels of power with 200W per channel (8ohms, 1kHz, THD 0.05% with two channels driven). It also allows users to reconfigure pairs of 200W amp channels into bridged-tied-load (BTL) outputs, delivering up to six channels of 400W if you're lucky enough to have a speaker system that might benefit from that. Or you can opt to bi-amp up to six speakers, with both XLR and RCA inputs available. Other examples of how the AMP 20 might be used are as a powerful amplifier upgrade for owners of Marantz's CINEMA 30 AVR, or as a complement to AV 10 preamplifiers, where fewer channels of power are required. (Similarly, AV 20 buyers could, say, opt to buy the 16-channel AMP 10 Power Amplifier instead of the AMP 20 if they require more than the 12 channels of power offered by the AMP 20.) The Marantz AV20 and AMP 20 are both available to buy from today from selected retailers, with each product available for $6,500 in the U.S., €5,500 in Europe and £4,750 in the U.K. —— Related reading Kaleidescape Launches New Entry-Level Movie Player Samsung Adds New 3D Sound Technology To 2025 TV And Soundbar Range Hisense Unveils New Home Theater Audio System Specifically Designed For King-Sized TVs
