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Shock and Awe in California: Visiting MSB Technology

Details: Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider; Category: Monthly Column Monthly Column; Created: 01 March 2026 01 March 2026

I’ve been running SoundStage! for more than 30 years, and I believe that I’ve visited more hi‑fi companies than any other hi‑fi writer during that time. So, not surprisingly, it’s getting harder and harder to impress me. That might sound like I’m jaded, but I’m not, or at least I don’t think I am; it’s simply a byproduct of having seen so much. Still, MSB Technology did more than impress me on my recent visit—it blew my mind in a way I never thought a boutique-type hi‑fi company could. I also learned a few new things.

Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX Loudspeaker

Details: Written by George de Sa George de Sa; Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews; Created: 01 March 2026 01 March 2026

Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada’s National Research Council can be found through this link.

Reviewers' Choice With its imposing stature and clean, Nordic design, Arendal Sound’s 1723 Tower THX loudspeaker commands attention the moment you see it. Sitting before my review pair, I could visualize the hominids gazing at the monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and imagine these big floorstanders playing the opening fanfare from Richard Strauss’s Thus Spake Zarathustra. Nearly four feet tall, the 1723 Tower THX projects authority and sets the expectation of sonic mastery.

Hegel Music Systems H150 Streaming Integrated Amplifier

Details: Written by Roger Kanno Roger Kanno; Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews; Created: 15 February 2026 15 February 2026

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.

Reviewers' Choice These days, the inclusion of a DAC section is almost de rigueur for manufacturers of integrated amps. But Hegel Music Systems has been including DACs in their integrated amps for well over a decade—not just as an option, or only on certain models, but in nearly all of their designs. More recently, Hegel has introduced new integrated amplifiers with streaming functionality via ethernet. And unlike some manufacturers, they have continually improved upon their existing products by evolving them, rather than making radical changes to their circuit designs or even their cosmetics. So, it should come as no surprise that their latest integrated amp, the H150, is nearly identical in specifications and appearance to the model it replaces, the H120. Informally referred to as “the Prodigy” due to its high level of performance and versatility, this new integrated is priced at US$3600, CA$3800, £2750, or €2995, and offers several notable upgrades over its predecessor.

Recommended Reference Component: Rotel Michi Q5 CD Player–DAC

Details: Written by SoundStage! Hi-Fi Editors SoundStage! Hi-Fi Editors; Category: Components Components; Created: 15 February 2026 15 February 2026

Recommended Reference Component Rotel’s Michi Q5 CD player–DAC represents the culmination of the company’s renewed push into cost‑no‑object home audio under its Michi series, which debuted in the 1990s. Positioned at the top of Rotel’s lineup and the only CD player in the Michi range, the Q5 is a heavy, immaculately finished, top‑loading CD player that also functions as a transport and standalone DAC. George de Sa reviewed the Q5 on this site in November 2025.

Rabbit Holes and the Rise of SoundStage! Recordings—A New Era for Audiophile Sound

Details: Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider; Category: Monthly Column Monthly Column; Created: 01 February 2026 01 February 2026

Going down rabbit holes can be a colossal waste of time, particularly on the internet, where vast amounts of information are available and minutes can turn into hours. Before you know it, an entire day can disappear, with nothing to show for it. Fortunately, some rabbit holes I recently explored yielded a substantial benefit—and a new opportunity for SoundStage! and its readers.

Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition Loudspeaker

Details: Written by George de Sa George de Sa; Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews; Created: 01 February 2026 01 February 2026

Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada’s National Research Council can be found through this link.

Over the years, the Danish manufacturer Dynaudio has released many successful standmount loudspeakers. Recently, I had the pleasure of evaluating their Confidence 20A active speaker system. I absolutely loved these speakers, but I realize that few people are willing to invest US$24,000 in a stereo loudspeaker setup—even an active system with built-in amplification. Meanwhile, the passive design on which the Confidence 20A is based, the Confidence 20, sells for US$13,000 per pair, including matching stands.

Recommended Reference Component: Arendal Sound 1528 Monitor 8 Loudspeaker

Details: Written by SoundStage! Hi-Fi Editors SoundStage! Hi-Fi Editors; Category: Components Components; Created: 15 January 2026 15 January 2026

Recommended Reference Component Arendal Sound’s 1528 series of loudspeakers arrived in December 2024, marking an interesting moment for the Norwegian manufacturer. The company had already established a reputation for engineering-first designs with highly competitive prices, but the 1528 models represented a clear escalation: even larger cabinets, improved industrial design, higher output capability, and greater sonic refinement. When they arrived, the 1528 speakers were priced higher than any other Arendal Sound products. While that remains true today, the 1528 series is still less expensive than speakers they are intended to compete with.

A New Year’s Wake-Up Call for the Hi-Fi Industry

Details: Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider; Category: Monthly Column Monthly Column; Created: 01 January 2026 01 January 2026

If this article comes across a bit like a rant, that’s because it is. What I’m going to write about has been on my mind for about a year now, and it’s finally hit the boiling point.

Audiolab 9000Q Preamplifier-DAC

Details: Written by Roger Kanno Roger Kanno; Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews; Created: 01 January 2026 01 January 2026

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.

I still recall Audiolab’s first product, the 8000A integrated amplifier, from back in the 1980s and ’90s. It had a sleek, compact design and fine performance for the price of US$999, making it one of a handful of high-quality integrated amps within the reach of cost-conscious audio enthusiasts. I lost track of Audiolab in the years after they were acquired by TAG McLaren, and more recently by International Audio Group (IAG). Nonetheless, IAG has revitalized the brand, which now offers four comprehensive lines of components.

The 2025 SoundStage! Network Awards for Outstanding Achievements and Products of the Year

Details: Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider; Category: Monthly Column Monthly Column; Created: 15 December 2025 15 December 2025

Scope

Each year, the SoundStage! Network highlights audio components that wowed our reviewers and recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the audio industry. That long-standing tradition continues in 2025. As in past years, all product contenders have been drawn exclusively from components that earned a Reviewers’ Choice award on SoundStage! Hi-Fi, SoundStage! Access, SoundStage! Ultra, SoundStage! Simplifi, or SoundStage! Solo during the previous 12 months. This approach ensures that every winner has first passed through our established review process before being considered for year-end recognition. The resulting winners are our 2025 Products of the Year.