Active Power, Pure 1-Bit Digital, and Major Launches: June So Far at HiFi and Music Source.
Summer is officially in full swing, and we have a lot to share in this month’s wrap-up. From exciting behind-the-scenes updates to a look at what we’re tracking in the months ahead, we’re keeping things moving.
Here is a quick look at what we’ve been up to, what we’re loving right now, and what you won’t want to miss.
Simon Wilce
Editor, HiFi and Music Source
We may only be a few weeks into June, but the listening room has been operating at maximum capacity. From cutting-edge active wireless speakers to absolute purist digital conversion, we’ve been deep-testing some phenomenal hardware.
🎧 New Reviews this Month
Click on the pictures for the full review.
Triangle Capella 2 Active Loudspeakers (18 June 2026) – Review by Simon Wilce
Reviewed by Simon Wilce, this detailed look at these active, Wi-Fi-enabled standmounts explores their built-in streaming capabilities and overall wireless performance.
Triangle Capella 2 Active Highlights
Topping D900 DAC (10 June 2026) – Review by Simon Wilce
Also reviewed by The Editor, this piece is an evaluation of this pure, discrete 1-bit DAC-only unit, focusing solely on its digital processing and performance, without pre-amp features.
Topping D900 DAC Highlights
Node Audio SS-1 Support System (1 June 2026) – Review by Simon Wilce
A comprehensive look at this all-in-one streaming DAC and pre-amplifier, testing its digital processing, interface usability, and sonic presentation.
Node Audio SS-1 Support System Highlights
📰 New News
Click on the pictures for more details.
Dan Clark Audio (23 June 2026)
Dan Clark unveiled the new Aeon Core planar magnetic headphones.
Triangle (23 June 2026)
Triangle announced their brand-new Solstice passive speaker range, featuring the 3-way floorstanding Solstice 8, the Solstice 3 bookshelf, and a matching centre channel.
Focal (17 June 2026)
News coverage of Focal’s highly anticipated Diva Alta Utopia wireless active loudspeakers.
Eversolo (11 June 2026)
News coverage of Eversolo’s Vienna debut of the DMP-A8 Gen 2 Series alongside the T10 Transport.
AVID Hifi (17 June 2026)
AVID Hifi introduced two new upgraded phono stages to their lineup: the Pellar II and Pulsus II.
iFi Audio (4 June 2026)
News coverage of iFi’s portable iDSD GR 2 DAC/amp
Meze Audio (4 June 2026)
Meze Audio announced their new ARTA Reference Headphones.
Astell&Kern (2 June 2026)
Astell&Kern news on their new luxury SP4000T Tube Digital Player.
KLH (2 June 2026)
News coverage of KLH’s new retro-styled Model Four
✨Coming Up on HF&MS
This month, we will review the Trilogy Audio 921 integrated amplifier, the Elipson Planet L loudspeakers and the Naim Upgrade piece will be completed. The key upgrade here has been the introduction of a PAIR of REL Planar 1s, which are sensational. We have previously trailed the Rega Nd9 cartridge for review, and the Unitra WSH805 integrated amplifier. Watch this space this summer.
Ian will be reviewing the Canor Virtus I4S, Integrated Solid-State Amplifier, which has some of the best casework I have experienced at this level. Ian has the Canor Verto D4S Solid-State DAC with the I4S.
🎵 New Music
There is some good new music about at the moment. However, my ears were turned by an official release from Ryan Adams of a bootleg recording I have had on my older iPod and various phones for many years, called The Suicide Handbook. The Suicide Handbook is a legendary, previously bootlegged acoustic album by Ryan Adams, praised by fans and others. It is a raw, intimate collection of unguarded tracks centred on heartbreak and isolation. It features a few early tracks from his second album Gold, released just days after 9/11.
Two of the standout performances at the Isle of Wight Festival for me were from the amazing Shed Seven and, as headliners, The Cure.
Other notable album releases this month include Joe Webb’s new jazz album, Neath Beat. This month, I have been listening to the Hoodies, Kacey Musgraves, with a track called Dry Spell and Stevie Wonder, in particular, the summer vibe track Living for the City. Lana Del Rey’s Bond-related track First Light is a great track, too.
Further Reading
