In a chassis which is the same size as the CD Box S3 and Tuner Box S3, Pro-Ject releases the Uni Box S3 all-in-one.
An integrated amplifier with Class D power of 23 watts per channel at 8 ohms or 40 watts at 4 ohms, the new device uses a Texas Instruments TPA3221DDV amplifier chip, combined with a Cirrus Logic CS4344 digital-to-analog conversion chip capable of decoding files up to PCM 192 kHz/24 bits. Headphones can be connected to the front panel via a 6.35mm jack, and a pair of speakers can be connected via the rear terminals, alongside which are an RCA variable output and three analog RCA unbalanced inputs, the first of which is also MM phono.
The DAC can be integrated directly via optical Toslink (x 2), coaxial or HDMI eArc digital inputs, but can also be used to support dematerialized files via a Bluetooth connection and a wifi streaming module under WiiM OS functionality, with which the WiiM App is obviously compatible. Spotify, Qobuz, Amazon or Tidal Connect are available, so you can enjoy all music services in addition to a turntable or TV sound, all with the Uni Box S3 at the center of the system. Price : 800 €.
After the Diva Utopia presented at the end of 2024, Focal persists in luxury connected loudspeakers with the Diva Mezza Utopia.
Based on the same principles as the first speaker, whose new dresses have just been discovered after six months, the Mezza is boosted by several amplifiers developed with Naim to achieve 500 watts of power per speaker. Its ultra-wideband technology enables the primary speaker to communicate with the other without connection, as long as the music files are up to 96 kHz / 24 bit. To upgrade to Hi-Res files at 192 kHz / 24 bits, you have to connect the Mezze speakers to each other via a cable, and plug them into the mains to operate them, as they have no batteries. Also from Naim, Intelligent Dynamics Clocking controls the clocks to ensure perfect synchronization, while ADAPT, for Adaptative Acoustic Personal Tuning, comes from Focal and enables the Mezza to adapt to room acoustics and listener preferences.
Connected and active like the Diva Utopia, the Diva Mezza Utopia expands to include four push-pull side-mount woofers, each 20.5 cm (8’’) diameter, compared with 16.5 cm on the smallest. With Focal “W” diaphragms, as on the passive Utopia, the woofers are combined with a front-midrange driver of the same structure, while the Beryllium tweeter has an inverted M profile. For its release, the Mezza, like the Diva at the beginning, is fitted exclusively with a felt surround – not gray, but a very flattering ivory color. The price is almost double that of the Diva (35 000 €), rising to 65 000 € for the pair.
Chord Company has added two subwoofer cables to its catalog, in Shawline and Epic series.
Developed and extensively tested with a large number of subwoofers, these new cables are handmade at Chord Company’s headquarters in England. They feature three individual shielded runs of heavy-gauge stranded copper wire (14 AWG for the Shawline and 12 AWG for the Epic), silver-plated to ensure optimum signal transfer and high interference immunity. Both models feature PTFE dielectric and braided shielding, to deliver tight, controlled bass while enhancing the system’s overall musical performance and clarity.
ChordOhmic’s Choralloy® plated spikes and Neutrik Speakon connectors ensure a high-conductivity link for reliable integration and compatibility with the vast majority of subwoofers.
Naim Audio version to be released
To perfectly match Naim amplifiers, a compatible subwoofer cable will be available in September. It includes built-in resistors to reduce buzz when pairing certain subwoofers with Naim Audio amplifiers, often caused by mismatched speaker cables that affect impedance stability. These resistors guarantee a clean, interference-free signal, combined with a cable fitted with stackable banana plugs adapted to Naim Audio amplifier sockets, to make connections without adapters easy and reliable.
Acclaimed DAC since its release (Best DAC EISA 2023) and further expanded in its possibilities on the GoldenSound Edition (VU#55 test; Remarkable), Ferrum’s WANDLA has no streamer function, and no network player yet exists in the dynamic Polish manufacturer’s catalog.
So, to allow users to wait a little longer, while remaining as much part of the Ferrum environment as possible, the engineers have developed a new proprietary technology for managing dematerialized music playback, directly from the WANDLA. All you need to do is download firmware to Windows or MacOS-based computers, or use a Volumio or Volumio OS-compatible network player.
From there, FSCT (Ferrum Streaming Control Technology) can be integrated into all versions of WANDLA – including the WANDLA HP with headphone socket – enabling the device to directly manage track changes or the volume of the streaming application. These settings can also be adjusted by the remote control. To note: this technology also works for I2S-connected devices, enabling all information relating to the track currently playing to be displayed on the screen.
Already featured in our magazine at the time of its launch, Focal’s high-end active loudspeaker was until recently only available with a specific gray felt finish, intended to give the product a modern look, but inevitably limited in relation to certain interiors and the tastes of certain music lovers.
To offer other proposals, the French brand recently presented three new cheek frames, this time no longer in felt, but with gloss finishes to great effect. Off White High Gloss, Black High Gloss and Dune High Gloss have been added to the original gray ; they are available since the beginning of June.
On top of this, a special series has appeared to seal the partnership with the DS flagship – the presidential DS N°8 – with blue cheeks this time, covered with straw marquetry pieces from the Lison de Caunes workshops.
Technically, the Diva Utopia remains a very high-end Focal Beryllium tweeter loudspeaker, with a large 16.5 cm “W” midrange driver on the front and four “W” diaphragm woofers on the sides, active and connected thanks to the French manufacturer’s partnership with Naim. We don’t know yet how much the blue cheeks will cost, but the Gloss versions will nevertheless push the bill up by 7 000 € to 42 000 €, compared with 35 000 € for the felt.
