HiFi Weekly
March 26, 2026
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This week brings a fascinating mix of the future and the past. Yamaha is challenging the very concept of the rectangular speaker cabinet with mind-bending new designs, while Astell&Kern's sub-brand drops an unbelievable five-driver IEM for under $150. Plus, we've got major updates from Denon, Rega, and Weiss Engineering.
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Top Stories
Yamaha Design Laboratory Unveils Four Radical Speaker Concepts
Yamaha's Design Laboratory is throwing out the rulebook with four non-rectangular speaker concepts. From tensioned aerospace foam strings to bidirectional horns, these experimental designs aim to physically interact with the room and eliminate traditional cabinet diffraction.
Weiss Engineering DAC204 Mk 2 & DAC205 Mk 2
Swiss masters Weiss Engineering have overhauled their DAC204 and DAC205 units. The new Mk 2 versions boast the formidable ES9028PRO chip and four parallel DAC cores per channel to obliterate distortion.
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New Releases
Rega Planar 6 RS Edition Turntable
Rega's acclaimed Planar 6 gets the RS treatment, adopting the ultra-precise RB880 tonearm from the flagship Planar 8 alongside a factory-fitted Nd9 Reference MM cartridge for exceptional vinyl tracking.
Emotiva BasX TA2+ Stereo Receiver
Emotiva's latest stereo receiver packs a serious punch with a 135W Class A/B amplifier while modernizing its connectivity suite by adding HDMI ARC and balanced XLR outputs.
Leak TruStream Network Player
Marrying gorgeous mid-century walnut aesthetics with cutting-edge digital performance, Leak's new streamer features custom architecture co-developed with Silent Angel and a premium ESS DAC.
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Best Value Pick
Activo Scoop Five-Driver Wired Earbuds
Astell&Kern's sub-brand Activo just dropped the "Scoop" wired earbuds, packing an incredible five-driver array (three dynamic, two balanced armature) into a beautifully ergonomic shell. For just £99, this level of driver density and premium cabling is an absolute steal for budget-conscious audiophiles.
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Community Question
Yamaha's new non-rectangular concepts are wildly unconventional—do you prefer the classic wooden box look for your speakers, or are you ready for avant-garde acoustic sculptures in your listening room?
Reply to this email to share your answer!
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