Non-switching Continuum Processing – Hifi buzz word detectives could be stumped by Aavik's description of their new €67'000 SD-880 streaming DAC's MO. The 22MHz upsampling frequency rather points at on-the-fly resampling to DSD512, a well-established FPGA solution practiced by APL Hifi, Cen.Grand, iFi, Koch, Marantz, Meitner and PS Audio for a few examples. It can also be done in player software like Audirvana or HQPlayer if a DAC can process native DSD. The SD-800 builds it in. Input connections are 2/ea. BNC and Toslink plus USB, RJ45 and dual USB host ports. Outputs are digital BNC and analogue RCA. The power supply is switching and the machine weighs a solid 33kg. Its industrial styling is by Gryphon founder Flemming Rasmussen who now collaborates with Michael Børresen on cosmetics. The Aavik streaming app embeds Tidal, Quobz, vTuner and MQA. Ansuz Darkz Z2 Signature roller-ball decoupling feet are included. Data support is up to 32-bit PCM384 and 256 for native DSD. Because my press release didn't specify/show that Aavik's display renders cover art, it's probably exclusive to the app.

Pending name change? – MrSpeakers became Dan Clark Audio. DigitalAudioReview is now darko.audio. Both did other work or soon more than their original name packed. One could argue that so does Vincent Brian of TotalDAC. His new Amp-1 sublime certainly isn't a DAC or anything digital but a new power amp with 240V rails, 33dB voltage gain, 400kHz bandwidth and 1Ω drive thanks to a 25kg/2'500VA transformer. The stereo version does 150wpc/8Ω and 500 into 2Ω. The mono version packs 600W into 8Ω, 1kW into 4Ω. Also new from the French hifi house is an uprated version of their d1-driver intended to sit between DAC and power amp.

420w/8Ω – If that and 70'000 Swiss frankonians are your desire and ability, the Telos 1800 monos from Goldmund beckon. With 35dB of voltage gain and claimed noise of just 3µV across the full bandwidth, these designs promise high damping factor, 110dB dynamic range and low distortion.

tX-USBx10G – This spoon full of alphabet soup from SOtM is now available in a Xmas Edition for special pricing. Refer to their website for the details on this 'audio-grade' USB card upgrade for your computer.

Act ATC – If you're subbing, the Brits heard your call with the new C4 Sub Mk2 [£3'990], a 300-watt class AB Mosfet 12" sealed bass solution. With its underhung voice coil, 30mm long gap and 150mm N48M neodymium motor, long-throw surround and optimized spider, everything about the SS75-314SC woofer is new and purpose-designed for this use. So is the amplifier with dual XLR inputs of 20kΩ input impedance, analog 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley low-pass filters at 50, 60, 80 and 320Hz, 180° phase, +6/10dB gain switch in conjunction with a stepped attenuator for 21dB of precision adjustment range. Finish options are cherry, oak, walnut and black ash veneers as well as satin black or white finishes. For a surcharge, premium options include rarer veneers, high-gloss skins, even black or white piano lacquers. The sub weighs a substantial 42kg and measures 568 x 465 x 519mm HxWxD.

Going nano i mano – You can with Mutec's new Ref10 Nano clock [€1'999] and its 2/each 50/75Ω BNC outputs to distribute a shared 10MHz square-wave clock signal to multiple digital kit. Each of the four clock outputs is individually selectable and all four can run concurrently. Finish options of the black steel chassis are black or silver face plates, size matches the firm's existing half-width components. A 16VDC input allows bypassing the built-in universal switching supply with an external linear power supply. Warm-up time for the oven-controlled oscillator is less than five minutes with 20°C ambient temps.

Scoring a Nelson – Team Harbeth are with their new Nelson bass-extender stand [€3'998/pr] for their LS3/5 models. It reportedly stretches their response to -3dB/35Hz. This is achieved with a 5" bandpass woofer and 50-watt class D amplifier with transformer-balanced input and there's a 24V/2A DC input and level control on each circular plinth.

2023 Ampeggio – The seminal loudspeaker which put Voxativ on the map has been reissued for 2023. The changes include a new horn geometry optimized for less coloration and a bigger horn mouth for extra punch. The back legs are stronger. The enclosure is now MDF to lower the price to €12'900/pr when fitted with the AC-1.9 ferrite driver whose underhung voice coil never leaves the gap. This driver is available with Washi paper or wood membrane, the latter for more bass. For still more resolution but then less bass to require the addition of the €10K Z-Bass subwoofer is the AC-4B neodymium driver option.

Golden Mouth – It's the new Mimesis Signature [CHF 20'000] from Swiss brand Goldmund. It's a remote-controlled analog preamp with 3 x RCA and 1 x XLR inputs plus ESS9028Q2M DAC for 32-bit 384PCM and DSD512 support. For ultra low noise the specs claim 80dB power-supply noise rejection for just 18µV of operational noise floor or better than 120dB S/NR. The new 'screwless' chassis uses a 12mm fascia. Digital inputs are 2 x S/PDIF, Toslink and USB. Analog outputs are one each RCA and XLR. Bandwidth is 10Hz – 200kHz ±3dB. Dimensions are 44 x 40 x 13.2cm WxDxH, weight is 15kg.

There be power in zee haus – It's the Chord Company's new PowerHAUS 6 [£600], an AC distributor with six UK/EU sockets. "We use heavy-gauge internal cabling and high-quality sockets chosen for their sound performance. We avoid serial filters, switches and neon power indicators which can generate noise. We minimize the interaction between internal live, neutral and earth legs to maintain, wherever possible, a clean earth supply based on experience gained from developing our proprietary noise-reducing ARAY technology."

BT lossless on the go – It's iFi's new iDSD Diablo 2 pocket rocket [€1'299] promising a satanic 5wpc/32Ω output that is 3-stage scalable from IEM to max 19.2V hard-of-hearing loads. Twin-core Burr Brown converters support 768 PCM and DSD 512 via discrete paths plus full MQA unfold. An angled desktop stand invites stationary use. Two USB-C ports cover audio and charging. To take advantage of the onboard Snapdragon aptX Lossless processor requires a matching Android smartphone with the same processor since Apple and Qualcomm aren't bed fellas. The 4'800mAh lithium-ion battery promises at least six hours of run time and a new volume-lock feature protects against accidental in-pocket jumps. For the full specs, see the linked webpage.

Mark Levinson gets UK citizenship – Kinda. His Swiss/Italian company Daniel Hertz just signed a UK/Irish agent in Feel Flows, parent company of VAL Hifi and Whole Note. "Adopting a new approach for a paradigm shift in digital playback via propriety tech developed by Mark Levinson, the Mighty Cat chip and C-Wave are what Levinson proclaims to be his finest work yet. Systems comprising the Maria amp and a pair of speakers offer a digital input for a transport, PC, Mac or Roon core server as well as Bluetooth and Airplay. Said Greg Chapman, MD of Feel Flows: 'When I discovered Daniel Hertz, I knew I had to hear a system. Mark is a legend in the industry and his bold claims caught my attention. I'm glad I took note. He's created something very special indeed'. David Graham, head of sales, added that 'when I set up our first demo system, I struggled not to think our reference turntable was playing. It's that good. The best part is that this isn't achieved with shifting pitch or smoothing the high frequencies. This is completely new tech created by extensive research'."' The software-configurable Daniel Hertz class D Maria amplifier with SMPS, Perspex chassis and active DSP crossovers starts at £12K while complete systems with speakers—just add digital signal—span from £19K to £200K. More here.

Piano etude N°5? – Just about. It's the Etude 5 [€13K/pr for the first four pairs] painted by Shackleford Piano in classic piano-gloss black, white or any RAL colour. The 85dB speaker marries a line array of 4 x 3.35" flat-diaphragm drivers with a 5kHz+ auxiliary ring-radiator tweeter and dual force-cancelling 8" Morel woofers below 100Hz. Those share the BMR array's curved transmission line with frontal exit for time-coincident loading. Filter components are by Falcon, Jantzen and Mundorf. A solderless swappable resistor allows some response tuning. The cabinet combines 15mm MDF panels with a 36mm front baffle plus machined aluminium sub baffle and laser-cut forged steel plinth.

A new emperor? – It's Meze's new Empyrean II [€2'999], the next-gen flagship planar from Romania. The design brief asked for more detail and neutrality whilst remaining an easy listen. "The all-new Duo earpads have leather form the base half, Alcanta cover the rest. For classic audiophiles, the angled earpads excel at intricate detail and nuance. The angled shape creates more interior space which means an airier sound with cleaner bass and improved midrange presence. Empyrean II retains all the elements of its predecessor with an added touch of sculptural elegance. Crafted with precision CNC milling, the frame features a sleek matte black finish with silver accents and a redesigned art deco grill. So the primary points of distinction between Empyrean I and II are the newly styled grille and updated finishing; the new earpads; enhancements in driver tech; and new acoustic damping at the driver's back which includes a new complementary acoustic mesh on the front. Technical improvements in driver design and construction focused specifically on enhanced durability under extreme conditions. The key driver change is our new membrane treatment. Tech specs are 8Hz-110kHz, 32Ω, 105dB/1kHz/1V, sub 0.1% THD at 1kHz/1V and 385g weight without earpads."

Dance of the Nagra – It's the famous Swiss firm's HD Phono [$87'500] which represents a solid four years of R&D. It's the intended mate for their Reference turntable and Reference MC cartridge. It's a dual-mono pure tube class A design with creature features like remote-controlled 5-390Ω loading in up to 5Ω increments. The new 4th-gen input transformers generate 26dB of passive voltage gain. Their cobalt cores are cryogenically treated in-house over several weeks. The outboard power supply uses banks of super capacitors for beyond-battery charge speeds, current load and cycle stability. The tube complement consists of 4 x EF806S and 2 x E88CC. Total gain is up to 68.5dB. Supported EQ curves beyond the classic RIAA curve are Teldec, NAB 100µS, Victor Europe and Victor USA. MC gets two RCA inputs, MM one. An option bay anticipates future custom transformers. First production units are shipping now.

Chordito Berttolini? – Not quite. It's actually Chord's new Ultima-tech BerTTi amplifier [£3'995], a fully balanced 75wpc design with "advanced dual-feed-forward error correction". It's envisioned as the perfect partner for the Hugo TT 2 DAC/pre/headamp and Hugo M Scaler. Colour options are black and silver. "It's the first time our Ultima technology is available in a table-top format". Hence the nomenclature's rakish TT for table top not twin towers. Are Chord now getting a little too cute with their naming conventions?

Pontificus Magnificus? – Denafrips think so about their new Pontus II 12th-1 DAC [$2'499]. The upgrades include "gold-plated copper screws and conductors for the power transfer between PSU and motherboard; and fine-tuning of the PSU at the component level with uprated AC/DC rectifiers and DC regulators".

Klub Utopnik – It sounds vaguely Soviet Underground but spelled correctly becomes Linn's Utopik "all-new power supply technology which comfortably outputs maximum power whilst retaining speed, responsiveness and consummate efficiency". First debuted in their Select DSM, it's now available as an upgrade for many legacy and current products and comes standard with new Klimax DSM, Selekt DSM and Kustom DSM units.

FiT5? – Eliminate the almighty 'i' et voilà, FiiO's new FT5 [$499], an open-backed planarmagnetic with 90mm drivers, 3.5/4.4/6.3mm + XLR4 interchangeable plugs, suede or leather swappable earpads and 1.5m silver-plated mono-crystal copper cabling. There's "nano-scale diaphragm coating". There's a motor of 20 x N52 neodymium magnets so the most powerful kind. 11 place on the inside, 9 on the outside of the driver. The claimed 1.5T force in the gap nets 96dB/mW sensitivity. Bandwidth specs as 7Hz – 40kHz and impedance is a mobile-friendly 36Ω. Already rumoured to be next is the R9 with HDMI ARC to present as an either bigger or higher-spec mate of the existing €699 R7 streamer, server, head- and preamp running Android 10.

Goldberg – Not the famous J.S.Bach variations but a new monitor from the Italian design studio that keeps the faith with the original founder of Sonus faber, Franco Serblin. The formal reveal seems just around the bend. For now FaceBook only has teaser images so ours is a basic proof-of-life post: Goldberg. It lives!

Quantum of Qualio – It's not the latest James Bond flick—after all, he died in the last one—but Qualio's new 2.5-way floorstander [starting at €5'990/pr]. The Quantum combines an open-baffle Mundorf AMT with SB Acoustics Satori 6" mid/woofer and 6" NRX woofer. Intended to already work in smaller rooms of 10-25m², claimed bandwidth is 35Hz-31kHz and "they can amaze and amuse at the same level as IQ". Sensitivity is 88dB and there are a variety of finish options.

Carbon-dated cuppa – If you don't like yesterday's coffee, Java Hifi's newest Carbon Edition might have you covered. Its dress code is 9mm thick carbon fibre. Fringe benefits are said to be superior damping and noise-shielding properties. Other tweaks are silver ETA connectors and Kryo terminals plus IsoAcoustics Gaia IV footers. The rest is the familiar combo of light-dependent resistor attenuation and GanFet switching outputs in an integrated amplifier platforms that delivers from 200 – 400wpc and includes a 6.3mm headfi output.

Caladan – From Dune to done for $2'950/pr will be Clayton Shaw's newest open-baffle speaker after his departure from Spatial Audio. To enter the site currently still under construction, the password is the company name. That already gets you at a promotional video of the Caladan, a dual mid/woofer 2-way with paper-cone drivers and soft-dome tweeter crossed at ~1kHz all mounted to a solid-wood baffle of surprisingly manageable proportions.

LAN luv – It's English Electric's new EE1 [£250] network noise isolator from Chord Company's sister brand. It applies galvanic and common-mode noise reduction to minimize interference riding on the digital network signal between router/modem and server/computer.

Audio art. Framed. – It's Fram's new Arte [€12K/pr] premiering in final production guise at the upcoming Warsaw show. "Audio is an art form, an engineering art of making the perfect sound to create the being-there illusion while sitting in an armchair at home. Audio is also an art of creating forms that are beautiful regardless of function. After all, you only listen to a hifi for a few hours but look at them all day long. Launched in 2017, Fram speakers combine beautiful sound and looks. Our first range was active and very well received. Now we have Arte, a passive design styled like classic cinema spotlights. The sound of the speakers reflects their appearance. Tuned by Ancient Audio, the speakers fill the entire room with a huge soundstage while illuminating all the details. The cabinet's vertical reinforcements not only add stiffness but act as an acoustic comb filter. The internal volume is a combination of three tubes which further improves overall cabinet rigidity." The drivers are from SB Acoustics' Satori range with huge neodymium motors and a unique dimpled ring-dome tweeter all at 91dB to be easy to drive. The 16-part Jantzen xover corrects both amplitude and phase of this classic ported 9½" 2-way design. Dimensions without stand are 462 x 534 x 420mm WxHxD. The wooden or metal stands are 870mm tall. See our slightly longer feature here.