Australian HiFi

When streaming services came along and changed how many of us consumed music, hi-fi electronics brands had to adapt; they had to accommodate. And they have done spectacularly. It’s been a rather long road, but in recent years we have reached a supreme moment where hi-fi and streaming go together like cops and doughnuts. Today, we have music streamers, streaming amps and streaming-savvy all-in-one systems, from the affordable to the aspirational, that sound good and offer intuitive user experiences consistent with other parts of our technological lives. Hi-fi manufacturers of such components have created software teams to a) develop their own control apps — apps that meet the high standards we have become accustomed to in today’s app-driven world; b) grapple with audio transmission standards and protocols that can differ…

Grado has added a second model to its nascent Signature headphones series, the Signature S950, which follow the Signature HP100 SE ($3,999) released last year. Grado has used wood extensively across several of its most recognisable headphones, including the GS1000X Statement, RS1x and RS2E Reference cans, so its incorporation of Brazilian walnut for the new S950’s ear cups is a return to familiar territory and presents a balance in the series, with the existing Signature pair sporting aluminium housings for an equally traditional Grado look. The Brooklyn-based manufacturer says this wood material not only makes for a lighter construction (just 395g) but also offers what it describes as a “relaxed musical presentation”. The Signature S950 use an incarnation of Grado’s 52mm S driver, originally designed for the first Signature model.…

What do you prioritise: sound quality or convenience? You may well have pledged your allegiance to the former as soon as your brain computed that question, and with good reason. But for many, the ideal set-up prioritises both performance and practicality. That certainly isn’t a given, even in today’s streaming-savvy hi-fi world, but McIntosh claims that its new DS200 streaming DAC majors on both. This source component is aimed at owners of higher-end systems (McIntosh-branded or otherwise) who are looking for a suitably skilled streaming component to complete it. For them, the DS200 could be the final link in the chain. While it’s instantly recognisable as a McIntosh product thanks to its black glass front face plate, rotary control knobs, illuminated logo and custom-machined aluminium end caps, it functions like…

While the convenience of online streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal are hugely attractive to everyday listeners, they aren't without their problems. The lack of hi-res streaming on Spotify aside, many mainstream services have come under fire for how little they tend to pay their artists — not such a problem for Taylor Swift, but a bigger issue for artists who don't pull in millions of streams per year. That’s where Presto Music comes in. The streaming platform, which launched in 2023 and is now an established albeit niche force, focuses predominantly on classical and jazz music, with around 200,000 albums currently listed alongside over 70,000 digital booklets. With many tracks available to stream in 24-bit/192kHz, the catalogue is accessible via the Presto Music app (desktop and…

Sennheiser has been one of the leading lights in the affordable open-back headphone market for decades, and its latest pair looks to further lock down that legacy. The HD 505 are new additions to the company’s 500 Series, which has previously included acclaimed models such as the HD 599 and HD 560S, and which sits below the 600 Series of HD 600 fame. The HD 505 cost $449.95, putting them in the firing line of established competition such as the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X. They also sit between Grado’s acclaimed SR80x and SR325x in price. So while wired headphones may not be as popular in the affordable headphones sphere as they once were, there is still plenty of competition for the new Sennheisers here. Bidding to overcome those challengers,…

Swiss loudspeaker manufacturer Piega has launched its Premium Gen 2 loudspeaker range, comprising the Premium 301 Gen 2 standmounts alongside the floorstanding Premium 701 Gen 2. The 301 Gen 2 is more compact than its predecessor but, despite having less volume, supposedly delivers the same bass response while offering “significantly improved” acoustics. Meanwhile, the 701 Gen 2 has evolved from a 2.5 to a fully fledged 3-way design here, offering a dedicated midrange driver and two bass drivers. The new models have been designed to fit into modern living spaces while delivering uncompromising performance levels. The headline is arguably the company’s specially developed ‘magnetostatic’ ribbon tweeter, the RM 01-24, which Piega’s Head of Development, Roger Kessler, describes as the “Rolls Royce of tweeters”. ‘Our ribbon specialist Mario and our chief…