Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX Loudspeaker
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- 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.
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
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- 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.
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.
Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition Loudspeaker
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- 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.
Audiolab 9000Q Preamplifier-DAC
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- 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.
Arendal Sound 1528 Monitor 8 Loudspeaker
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- Written by Philip Beaudette Philip Beaudette
- Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews
- Created: 01 December 2025 01 December 2025
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada’s National Research Council can be found through this link.
I’d never heard of Arendal Sound prior to reviewing its 1723 Tower S loudspeaker early in 2024. I liked the pair, but I didn’t love them. They were solidly built and sounded remarkably smooth, even at high volumes. But they weren’t as detailed as some of the competition. Regardless, they performed well, and I concluded my review by remarking that I was eager to see and hear what the company did next.
Rotel Michi Q5 CD Player–DAC
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- Written by George de Sa George de Sa
- Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews
- Created: 15 November 2025 15 November 2025
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.
“Perfect sound forever”—that was the promise consumer-electronics and recording companies made back in 1982 when Sony’s CDP‑101 made its debut. The CDP‑101 was the first consumer CD player to hit the market. Although the validity of that initial claim has been hotly debated since the CD’s inception, it’s amazing that 40-plus years later, the format maintains a foothold. Not only do manufacturers continue to introduce new CD players, but some of these components represent continuing attempts to attain that elusive goal of perfect sound.
Focal Diva Utopia Streaming Active Loudspeaker System
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- Written by George de Sa George de Sa
- Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews
- Created: 01 November 2025 01 November 2025
Even with the huge variety of products available today, high-end loudspeakers with built-in network streamers are still few and far between. There are quite a few streaming active speaker systems that target mainstream buyers, including those from major brands such as JBL, KEF, PSB, and Technics. But truly aspirational wireless speaker systems are rarer. Bang & Olufsen’s Beolab 90 is one exception. There are a few others from the likes of Goldmund and Meridian—and more recently, Focal.
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2 Stereo Amplifier
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- Written by Philip Beaudette Philip Beaudette
- Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews
- Created: 01 October 2025 01 October 2025
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.
The recent heavy tariffs imposed on Canada by its neighbor to the south and the provocative rhetoric (annexation? seriously?) have sparked a surge of patriotic fervor among Canadians, many of whom now feel duty-bound to buy Canadian when possible. For those in the market for a power amplifier, Anthem’s MCA 225 Gen 2 (US$2299.99, CA$2699.99, £2295, €2550), which is designed and manufactured entirely in Canada, is an appealing choice.
QED Signature Supremus Zr Loudspeaker Cable
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- Written by George de Sa George de Sa
- Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews
- Created: 15 September 2025 15 September 2025
One question always seems to arise when audio enthusiasts get together: “Do cables matter?” This topic tends to elicit polarized responses; you, too, probably have a strong opinion on the matter. Nearly everyone agrees that for safety reasons, cables must, at a minimum, meet the criteria set by component manufacturers. However, when it comes to the sonic performance of aftermarket cables, the conversation can become heated. From firsthand experience I know that’s what you need—experience—to form an informed opinion. Some aftermarket cables I’ve tried had little impact, while others made a significant difference—often for the better, sometimes for the worse.
Cambridge Audio EXA100 Integrated Amplifier–DAC
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- Written by Roger Kanno Roger Kanno
- Category: Full-Length Equipment Reviews Full-Length Equipment Reviews
- Created: 01 September 2025 01 September 2025
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.
Cambridge Audio’s product offerings are diverse and extensive, encompassing nearly every type of audio product, including home-theater components, speakers (from in-ceiling speakers and subwoofers to an all-in-one, wireless streaming speaker), turntables, phono preamps, and headphones. When looking at the company’s integrated amplifiers, one finds a surprising disparity in both price and specified performance between the Edge- and CX-series amps. With the recent release of the EXA100 integrated amplifier, Cambridge Audio has bridged this gap, providing a high-quality, high-power integrated amplifier at a moderate price.
