Looking for the latest components to upgrade your audio system? We’ve rounded up the hottest new gear for audiophiles on a budget.
Finding the best gear to fit your needs can be difficult if you’re an audiophile on a budget. But don’t despair! We’ve done the hard work and compiled a list of the hottest new gear that showcases the latest trends and technology.
So if you’re looking for the ultimate in sound without breaking the bank, look no further than our list of hottest new gear for audiophiles on a budget!
Mission launches the 778x, their first amp in (almost) forty years!
Back in 1983, six years after the company was formed, British speaker manufacturer Mission released their first integrated stereo amplifier called the 778. It was slimmer than usual hi-fi amps and was praised for its construction, circuitry, user-friendly controls, and multiple inputs. All this was offered at a fairly reasonable cost.
The following year, Mission created Cyrus, a sub-brand for their amplifiers, with Mission focusing only on speakers. In 2022, Mission is launching another integrated amplifier, the 778X (£549, about $675 US), which has numerous similarities to its predecessor. It is very slim and has a simplistically sophisticated design.
The sound it produces is said to be quite remarkable, considering its size. The new amp has been totally modernized to meet current standards (conservatively rated at 45W into eight ohms and 65W into four ohms), and its sound fits perfectly with Mission’s current range, just like the 778 was designed to do in its heyday.
Meet The S14, Rotel’s First Streaming Integrated Amp
Rotel has recently unveiled its S14 Integrated Network Streaming Amp ($3,249), providing audiophiles with an ideal product to access their digital music easily. Boasting 60 years of design experience, the S14 offers superior sound quality due to a 32-bit ESS Sabre digital-to-analog converter and high current output transistors that are driven by an oversized toroidal transformer, giving users greater precision and control. It’s capable of 150 Watts of Class AB power at 4 Ohms.
The S14 allows users to access music from different platforms like Spotify, Tidal, Podcasts, and multiple Internet Radio stations. Additionally, it is compatible with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and other source inputs, including Coaxial, Optical, aptX HD Bluetooth, Analog RCA, and PC-USB for older devices. It also supports MQA and MQA Studio decoding. Look for it at the end of December.
Ifi Audio is back with its tiniest and most affordable DAC/Amp yet!
iFi audio has expanded its GO series of ultra-portable DAC/headphone amps (the first product was the iFi GO Bar) with the iFi Audio GO link, which is a dongle for headphones that provides enhanced sound when linked to mobile phones, tablets, PCs, and Macs through a USB port.
This device serves two primary functions. Firstly, it allows wired earphones and headphones to link to digital gadgets that don’t have a 3.5 mm headphone output. Even if the device does have a headphone jack, the GO link still offers a massive sound upgrade since its DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter) and headphone amp circuitry is much more sophisticated than the audio technology found in mobile devices and computers.
Even though iFi is renowned for making top-notch audio devices at reasonable prices, the GO link is surprisingly inexpensive, with a retail price of only £59/€59/$59, which makes it their most affordable DAC/headphone amp ever. However, despite its low cost, the GO link is still a highly advanced product. PCM audio data is supported to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD is decoded up to 11.2MHz (DSD256), and MQA decoding is also onboard. Now Available For Pre-Order!
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