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Rotel RC-1590MKII and RC-1572MKII preamps benefit from raft of upgrades

Home News (Image credit: Rotel) Following the recent announcement of its second-generation 14 and 15 Series amplifiers, Rotel has now taken two of its preamplifiers into their next generation. The new RC-1590MKII (pictured top) and RC-1572MKII (below) replace the original, 2015- and 2017-released models, elevating the designs with performance upgrades that include “over 75 critical”… Read more

HomePod and HomePod Mini will support Apple Music Lossless

Home News (Image credit: Apple) Last week, Apple announced that lossless audio was coming to Apple Music, but it was also revealed that not all Apple devices would be compatible. We now know that the HomePod and HomePod Mini will in fact support these higher-quality music streams. We just don’t know when. All Apple has… Read more

McIntosh MB20 transceiver brings two-way Bluetooth to any hi-fi system

Home News (Image credit: McIntosh) Recognising the convenience of Bluetooth and the fact that not every hi-fi system – especially those of the vintage variety – has it integrated, McIntosh has launched a device that brings it onboard any home audio set-up. The MB20 Bluetooth transceiver is a two-way device that can both receive and… Read more

Apple says HomePod and HomePod Mini will support lossless audio after future update

In a new support document on its website, Apple dives a little deeper into the details around the upcoming launch of lossless audio on Apple Music. Apple now says that both the HomePod and HomePod Mini will support lossless audio after a future software update. That’ll be good news to people who’ve invested in one… Read more

LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 true wireless review: Comfortable and clean

(Pocket-lint) – Make a list of things the world is crying out for. How far up your list does ‘another pair of true wireless in-ear headphones’ come? The answer may well be ‘not very’. However, at least LG’s Tone Free HBS-FN7 aren’t just another ‘me-too!’ by-the-numbers attempt to steal market share from the likes of… Read more

Spotify expands into audiobooks with Storytel partnership

Home News (Image credit: Spotify) After launching its paid podcast platform last month, Spotify has announced it has teamed up with audiobook service Storytel to let subscribers listen to books in-app. This partnership will allow users of both services to link their accounts and access a library of 500,000 titles from within Spotify’s platform. However, listeners… Read more

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus

Our Verdict Cambridge’s Award-winning recipe has been refined to include app support and extra sonic clarity and detail For Extra ounce of dynamic expression Great clarity for the level Slick app support Against No noise-cancelling When Cambridge Audio announced a new model in its inaugural and two-time What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Melomania line-up, we heaved a… Read more

Deezer

Our Verdict Its ambition is to be applauded, but Deezer falls between the two stools of Spotify and Tidal and struggles to justify itself over either For Vast catalogue and device support CD-quality HiFi tier Envelope-pushing 3D audio Against No hi-res streaming Spotify does discovery better Tidal does hi-fi better Deezer appears to be stuck… Read more

Sony WF-1000XM4 render leak gives best look yet at new wireless earbuds

Home News (Image credit: Evan Blass) If you were in any doubt that Sony’s next premium true wireless earbuds are nearly here, this latest leak should settle it. Reliable leaker Evan Blass has posted a series of very official-looking renders of the highly rumoured Sony WF-1000XM4 true wireless earbuds. Following leaks earlier this month and… Read more

Leaked renders give the best look yet at Sony’s next wireless earbuds

Sony’s unannounced WF-1000XM4 true wireless earbuds have leaked once again in a series of official-looking renders from Evan Blass, giving us our clearest look yet at the successors to 2019’s excellent WF-1000XM3 earbuds. We already had a decent idea of what the earbuds will look like thanks to leaks from February and earlier this month,… Read more

IFA 2021, scheduled for September, has been cancelled

Home News (Image credit: IFA) Despite insisting in April that the IFA 2021 technology fair would be, “a full-scale, real-life event”, organisers of the show have announced it will now be cancelled due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Berlin-based show, which was due to take place from 3rd-7th September, is Europe’s… Read more

With Apple and Amazon offering lossless streaming for no extra charge, what now for their rivals?

Home Features (Image credit: Apple) When Tidal began offering hi-res audio streaming in 2017, becoming only the second streaming service to do so after Qobuz broke that ground the year before, we didn’t expect hi-res streaming to be a two-player game for quite so long. Now though, not only have their rivals caught up but… Read more

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2021: all the dates and details

Home News (Image credit: Future) The What Hi-Fi? Awards are back once again and we are looking forward to announcing a wealth of winning products – and hosting an in-person event to celebrate! 2021 will be the 39th annual What Hi-Fi? Awards and is set to feature 31 categories and, based on previous years, more… Read more

‘HiFi’ icon spotted in Spotify’s iOS app suggests a Spotify HiFi launch is imminent

Home News (Image credit: TheMonarc/Reddit (Spotify) ) Hot on the heels of Apple announcing Apple Music lossless and Spatial Audio earlier this week, we have a new clue that suggests the previously announced Spotify HiFi lossless tier could be with us soon. One Reddit user, TheMonarc, has apparently been able to find the Spotify HiFi… Read more

Apple Music lossless supported devices: what will (and won’t) play lossless and Spatial Audio, and why

Home Advice (Image credit: Apple Music) Apple Music is being upgraded in a big, big way. From June, the music streaming service will support CD-quality and hi-res lossless audio as well as Dolby Atmos-powered Spatial Audio, offering subscribers much higher quality, immersive playback. Both lossless and Spatial Audio will be available to Apple Music users… Read more