FiiO came to High End Vienna 2026 with three new desktop hi-fi products, and the most traffic-friendly one is almost certainly the Jade Audio LEVEL 1 desktop amplifier. Why? Because FiiO is claiming up to 2 x 300 watts of output from a compact desktop amp priced at $139.

That is either one of the more interesting budget hi-fi announcements of the show, or someone at FiiO found the “make forum threads explode” button and pressed it with both thumbs. Probably a little of both. Hopefully it came with schnitzel.

The new lineup also includes the FiiO JT9 open-back planar magnetic headphones and a fully discrete Class A headphone amplifier, giving FiiO a broader desktop ecosystem aimed at listeners who want more than another dongle DAC dangling from a laptop.

FiiO LEVEL 1: A $139 Desktop Amp With Real Ambition

The FiiO Jade Audio LEVEL 1 is a compact desktop stereo amplifier built around the Texas Instruments TPA3255 amplifier chip, which uses TI’s PurePath Ultra-HD technology. FiiO claims output up to 2 x 300 watts, but that number needs proper context: the headline rating is into 4 ohms at under 10% THD+N with a 53V/12A power supply.

That does not make the figure fake, but it does mean readers should not assume the LEVEL 1 will deliver 300 clean watts per channel into every speaker under normal conditions while also making espresso. FiiO’s own specifications also list 240W + 240W into 4 ohms and 135W + 135W into 8 ohms at under 1% THD+N, which are still very serious numbers for a compact amplifier at this price.

Can we also retire “giant killer” while we’re here? It gets tossed around far too often in hi-fi, usually before anyone has measured the thing, listened to it properly, or explained what giant was allegedly slain. And we’re not referring to some French kid playing basketball in Texas.

Connectivity Is the Real Story

Connectivity is stronger than expected for the money. The LEVEL 1 includes RCA line input, USB DAC input, coaxial digital input, and Bluetooth 6.0 reception with SBC and LDAC codec support. FiiO has also included a single-ended line output, subwoofer output, speaker outputs, physical bass and treble controls, and support through the FiiO Control app.

The USB DAC input supports up to 96kHz/24-bit playback, while the coaxial input supports up to 192kHz/24-bit. That gives the LEVEL 1 enough flexibility for desktop systems, small-room loudspeaker setups, CD transports, streamers, computers, and Bluetooth playback from a phone or tablet.

That matters because this is not being pitched as a minimalist purist amplifier. This is a compact, flexible desktop or small-room amplifier for listeners who want wired digital input, analog input, wireless playback, tone controls, subwoofer output, and enough claimed power to make people start arguing on Head-Fi and Audio Science Review before mother makes their breakfast.

Retro Styling, Modern Inputs, Very FiiO Pricing

The LEVEL 1 uses an aluminum alloy chassis with wood side panels, giving it the retro desktop look FiiO clearly wants. FiiO says the amplifier uses a six-layer immersion gold thick copper PCB and capacitors sourced from Germany and Japan.

The unit measures about 181 x 133 x 36mm, excluding feet, and weighs about 676g. It is available in black with walnut side panels or silver with maple side panels.

At $139, the LEVEL 1 lands directly in the value-fi combat zone where Fosi Audio, SMSL, Topping, Loxjie, WiiM, and Dayton Audio have been making life uncomfortable for traditional entry-level integrated amplifiers.

The big question is not whether the LEVEL 1 is inexpensive. It is. The question is whether it sounds composed, stable, and clean enough at real-world listening levels to be more than another spec-sheet stunt that ends up in the hi-fi dustbin of history.

FiiO JT9: Open-Back Planar Headphones Join the Desktop Push

FiiO also used High End Vienna 2026 to preview the JT9, an open-back planar magnetic headphone built around a custom 95 x 86mm planar driver and ultra-thin diaphragm. FiiO says the JT9 uses its dual-coating driver technology and a uniform magnetic field design, with the goal of improving transient response and tonal accuracy.

The JT9 is also designed to be more portable than its large planar driver might suggest. Current show information lists the headphones at a claimed 365 grams, with a foldable design for easier storage. Sensitivity is listed at 95dB/mW, and FiiO is including both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced cables.

Pricing has not been confirmed yet, and that matters. The JT9 enters a very crowded planar headphone category where FiiO already competes with models like the FT1 Pro and JT7, while brands such as HiFiMAN, Audeze, Moondrop, Sendy Audio, and others have made life rather interesting at multiple price points. If FiiO prices the JT9 aggressively, it could become one of the more interesting open-back planar headphones to watch. If not, it becomes another planar headphone looking for room at the Waffle House counter and we know how that usually ends up at 3 in the morning.

FiiO CLASS A Headphone Amplifier Rounds Out the Desktop System

The third product in FiiO’s High End Vienna 2026 desktop lineup is the FiiO CLASS A, which appears to be the actual product name. Subtle? Not exactly. Accurate? Apparently.

Current show information describes the CLASS A as a fully discrete pure Class A headphone amplifier rated at 1000mW + 1000mW. FiiO is also listing a 60W toroidal transformer, discrete regulated power supply, five selectable gain settings, bass and treble controls, and 12V trigger input/output.

Connectivity includes 3.5mm, 4.4mm balanced, and XLR headphone outputs, along with RCA input and RCA output connections.

The CLASS A also does not appear to include a built-in DAC, which fits the concept. This is being positioned as a standalone headphone amplifier for listeners who already have a DAC or desktop source and want FiiO’s take on pure Class A amplification, complete with the usual trade-offs: more heat, lower efficiency, and hopefully the smoother, richer presentation people expect from this type of circuit.

That suggests FiiO is not just throwing one inexpensive desktop amp at the wall. The company is building out a broader desktop ecosystem aimed at both loudspeaker and headphone listeners. Between the Jade Audio LEVEL 1, JT9 planar headphones, and CLASS A headphone amplifier, FiiO clearly wants more desk space. Given the pricing history, it may get it.

The Bottom Line

The FiiO Jade Audio LEVEL 1 is the key product here: a $139 desktop amplifier with TPA3255 amplification, USB DAC, coaxial, RCA, Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC, tone controls, pre-out, subwoofer output, and high claimed power output that needs independent testing. Alongside the JT9 planar headphones and FiiO CLASS A headphone amplifier, it shows FiiO expanding its desktop hi-fi lineup beyond portable DACs and headphone amps.

Readers should care because the LEVEL 1 offers an unusual mix of power, inputs, outputs, and price. If it performs well in real systems, it could be a useful option for desktop setups, small rooms, powered subwoofer integration, and affordable two-channel systems.

Where to buy:

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The 2026 World Cup kicks off next week across 16 cities in the US, Mexico, and Canada. It is the largest in history: 48 teams, 104 matches, 39 days. It is also the most technologically surveilled sporting event ever staged, with robot dogs, net-shooting hunter drones, and thousands of AI-powered cameras deployed across venues and fan zones.

“It’s 78 Super Bowls over 39 days,” said Andrew Giuliani, executive director of Trump’s World Cup task force. FEMA has distributed $625 million to the 11 US host cities, with an additional $250 million earmarked for tracking and neutralising suspect drones.

Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot dogs are patrolling AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of a “Security Spot” initiative by owner Hyundai. The company says it is deploying “its largest and most advanced mobility fleet to date,” making it the first official partner to provide robotics for the tournament. The robots will inspect suspicious packages and hazardous materials.

Sightings of the quadrupeds sparked immediate surveillance fears. Rumours spread on social media that the dogs were scanning faces. Boston Dynamics told Chron that the robots “do not have facial recognition capabilities.” But the optics of robotic security patrols at a sporting event drew comparisons to the Black Mirror episode “Metalhead.”

Mexico is deploying four robot dogs called K9-X across its three World Cup venues. Officials told Wired the robots will intervene in fights or drunken incidents to protect officers. Technical details and the manufacturer were not disclosed.

Drones are the top concern. “If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones,” said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Drones are banned over stadiums and fan zones. Counter-drone technology has become one of the fastest-growing segments in defence tech, and the FBI says it has a “full suite of options” to thwart incursions.

One of those options comes from Fortem, which claims to have signed a multimillion-dollar DHS contract for quadcopters that shoot nets at encroaching drones to trap them in midair. DHS declined to discuss the contract.

AI-generated misinformation is another concern. Officials warned that state actors could use deepfake videos to sow panic. The FBI will activate joint operations centres in each host city on match days. “If there’s a video that shows an explosion going off at a site, and it’s AI generated, we have people on the ground who can validate whether or not that’s true,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel.

In Dallas, a $120 million tech upgrade gives police body cameras with real-time translation, helping officers communicate with international visitors. Several drone detection startups are also joining federal efforts to secure the skies.

The security apparatus comes against a tense backdrop. The US-Israel war with Iran has changed the threat picture since planning began. Human rights groups have raised concerns about ICE presence at venues. And the Secret Service, in charge of protecting world leaders who attend, is understaffed by about 860 agents, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

“We’re as prepared as we can be,” Giuliani said. The unspoken bet is that the tech will make up the difference.

OpenAI has begun rolling out Lockdown Mode to ChatGPT, a new security setting designed to block attackers from stealing data through prompt injection attacks. The feature disables live web browsing, agent mode, deep research, image retrieval, Canvas networking, and file downloads. It is available to logged-in users across Free, Go, Plus, Pro, and self-serve ChatGPT Business plans.

Prompt injection remains what OpenAI calls a “frontier” problem affecting all large language models. The attack works by hiding malicious instructions in content the model processes, such as a webpage or uploaded file. If the model follows those instructions, it can be tricked into sending sensitive data to an attacker-controlled server.

Lockdown Mode does not stop injections from happening. A malicious payload embedded in a cached webpage or uploaded PDF can still influence the model’s behaviour. What it does is shut down the outbound pathways an attacker would use to exfiltrate the data. No live browsing means no network requests to external servers. No image retrieval means no pixel-based data channels.

“Lockdown Mode is designed to substantially reduce the risk of prompt injection-based data exfiltration, but it does not guarantee that data exfiltration cannot happen,” OpenAI said. “Risk may remain through enabled Apps, unforeseen combinations of capabilities, or newly discovered techniques.”

The trade-off is significant. With Lockdown Mode on, ChatGPT loses most of what makes its agent and research features useful. Live browsing drops to cached content only. Agent mode is gone entirely. Deep research is disabled. It is, as OpenAI acknowledges, “not intended for everyone.”

The feature arrives as prompt injection attacks on AI agents have become a growing concern. Security researchers have demonstrated hijacks against agents from Anthropic, Google, and Microsoft via their GitHub Actions integrations. All three paid bug bounties but published no public advisories. The underlying weakness is fundamental: LLMs cannot reliably separate data from instructions.

Lockdown Mode and Developer Mode cannot be used simultaneously. Turning one on disables the other. OpenAI also launched a separate session management feature that lets users review active ChatGPT sessions and log out of individual devices if they spot unauthorised activity.

The feature is a pragmatic concession. OpenAI is not claiming to have solved prompt injection. It is accepting that the problem persists and offering users a way to reduce their exposure by giving up functionality. For anyone handling sensitive data in ChatGPT, that trade-off is worth making. For everyone else, the expanding agent ecosystem and its growing attack surface mean the risk is only increasing.

A data breach at the dental benefits administrator DentaQuest has reportedly exposed the sensitive data of 2.6 million accounts.

The security incident came to light last month, when the infamous extortion group ShinyHunters listed the company on its data leak site and claimed to have stolen more than 234 GB of data.

Following what the threat actor describes as a failure to reach an agreement with the company, the data was publicly leaked.

DentaQuest, part of Sun Life, is one of the largest dental benefits administrators in the United States. It manages dental insurance plans and provider networks for Medicaid programs, Medicare Advantage plans, employers, health plans, and individual customers.

The company says it serves 35 million customers, operates programs in 50 states, and has a network of 140,000 dentists and dental specialists.

On June 2, DentaQuest confirmed on its website that its networks had been breached and the incident caused “limited disruption” in customer service.

“DentaQuest is actively managing a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to a limited portion of our network,” reads the statement.

“Upon discovery of the initial incident, we took immediate action to secure our environment, contain the attack, and mitigate the threat.”

“Our systems remain fully operational, and we continue to serve our clients with limited disruption.”

The firm also stated that it engaged external experts to help with the investigation and determine the data that was compromised.

Yesterday, data breach alerting service Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) analyzed the leaked information and found that it contained records for 2.6 million accounts. Specifically, the following was exposed in the leaked dataset:

• Email addresses
• Full names
• Phone numbers
• Government-issued IDs
• Health insurance information
• Genders
• Dates of birth

Although DentaQuest’s statement did not confirm that the data breach affected its clients, HIBP is known to validate leaked datasets using multiple verification methods.

HIBP also stated that roughly 66% of the exposed records were present in its database from past incidents affecting other organizations and services.

People who may have had their information exposed in this incident should be cautious about all incoming communications, as the leaked data increases the risk of social engineering and phishing attacks.

Security teams log 54% of successful attacks and alert on just 14%. The rest move through your environment unseen.

The Picus whitepaper shows how breach and attack simulation tests your SIEM and EDR rules so threats stop slipping by detection.

Get the whitepaper

from the say-it-again dept

This week, our first place winner on the insightful side is an anonymous comment offering a theory about ICE’s addiction to masks:

Let me suggest a different reason…

Let’s say that all of those J6 dumbfucks who livestreamed their crimes, and who now have received pardons for acting like trailer trash are looking to start rebuilding their pathetic lives.

Let’s also say that they feel burned by the Trump administration for letting them hang out to dry for 4 years instead of pardoning them in 2020. I’m assuming he thought of them as ‘contractors.’

I’m suggesting that ICE has a hardon for masks because that’s the reward for the J6’ers who got fucked for 4 years – ICE just let them apply, and blam! You have an ICE agency chock full of the garbage of America who have a boner for revenge, but if anyone compares them to J6 footage, they’d be fucked 6 ways to Sunday.

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It’s not like security clearances make any difference to this clown car of fuckups.

Unmask those pieces of shit and let’s start comparing faces. I’ll bet once you dig a little, you’ll start to smell the white trash like the Proud Boys, OathKeepers, and all those other MAGAs with ‘small dick syndrome.’

In second place, it’s Stephen T. Stone hammering home the most important point about the Bricks and Minifigs saga:

Dear everyone involved with this story:

This could have been a few emails between lawyers.

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For editor’s choice on the insightful side, we start out with a reply from dfbomb to the first place winning comment above:

This lines up with my observations that ICE’s behaviors with license plates, car stealing and general fuckery matches the patterns of the Boogaloo and Proud Boys that came to Minneapolis during George Floyd to start a race war.

They even target the same neighborhoods.

Next, it’s Nathan F with a comment about the Supreme Court’s transparently racist double standard on voting rights:

And Roberts still wonders why no one likes the SCOTUS or believes they make good, resonable, well thought out decisions?

Over on the funny side, our first place winner is j with a reaction to our piece on the LEGO dispute:

Wowsers…. There needs to be a length of story warning at the beginning.
I’m used to the normal two to five paragraphs on here. But eighteen page down presses later… just a heads up would be nice.

In second place, it’s Thad raising an eyebrow about one word in a line we wrote about Lindsey Halligan:

Lindsey Halligan — managed to set fire to pretty much everything she touched before deciding to exit to the DOJ.

“deciding”

For editor’s choice on the funny side, we start out with an anonymous reply to a commenter who spotted a “Luigi” bumper sticker:

Glad that Mario’s brother is finally getting some recognition for helping to take down the evil boss in the mushroom kingdom.

Finally, it’s an anonymous comment about Greg Bovino’s not-so-subtle Nazi salute:

I think there is an innocent explanation for that gesture: Bovino was trying to make himself look taller.

That’s all for this week, folks!

Smartphone and laptop speakers often leave music sounding thin and uninspiring, especially when you want to share a track or enjoy it outdoors. The JBL Go 3, priced at $29.95 (was $40), offers a straightforward fix that fits easily into daily routines or weekend escapes. Compact enough to slip into a jacket pocket or clip onto a backpack strap, the speaker measures about 3.4 inches long, 2.7 inches tall, and 1.6 inches deep. It weighs just 0.46 pounds. A sturdy fabric loop on one end turns carrying into a simple clip-on task.

Build quality is all about real-world dependability, or how well it can endure the stresses of daily life. With an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, you can spend the day at the beach without having to worry about sand or pool splashes. Owners routinely travel with these speakers from the city streets to the beach without regard for durability.

Sale

JBL Go 3 – Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker, big audio and punchy bass, IP67 waterproof and dustproof…

• RICH JBL ORIGINAL PRO SOUND: The legendary JBL signature sound delivers surprisingly big audio and punchy bass from Go 3’s small size.
• ULTRA-PORTABLE DESIGN: JBL Go 3’s ultra-portable design goes great with the latest styles, and its colorful fabrics and expressive details make it…
• 5 HOURS OF PLAYTIME: Don’t sweat the small stuff like charging your battery. Go 3 gives you up to 5 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Inside, a single 1.5-inch driver generates 4.2 watts of power, which is more than you’d think from such a little speaker. The vocals and lead instruments are crisp and clear, and the overall sound is just intense enough to get the party started. This thing has it all, whether you prefer rock, pop, electronics, or any other style. The volume can be loud enough to fill a picnic area or a small gathering; however, pushing it too far may cause strain, although at moderate volumes, the ride is relatively smooth.

The battery life is rated at five hours, but in reality, at normal volumes, you can get 8 to 10 hours without having to recharge. In a nutshell, this is what many tests and owner reports have revealed. USB-C charging is quick and efficient, taking about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and you also get a handy little cable for topping up your battery on the go. Bluetooth 5.1 manages the connection nicely, with simple pairing and a reasonable range. Up top, there are buttons for basic playback, volume, power, and other functions.

Ever since Tim Cook announced in April that he’d be stepping down as CEO, the countdown to his planned exit in September began, ahead of the expected iPhone 18 launch. What became Cook’s last year coincided with Apple’s 50th anniversary (which, in hindsight, doesn’t seem like a coincidence), complete with celebrations like a private concert with Paul McCartney.

Given those revelries, we can expect some send-offs at WWDC lauding Cook’s 15 years steering the ship. Apple’s mid-year developer show is always about looking ahead to the next big software updates, but we’d expect some looks back at Cook’s legacy. It’s easy to forget the uncertainty surrounding Cook’s ascension, which coincided with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ passing, but the logistics master leaves the company a multi-trillion-dollar success, with a limited but steady embrace of AI in its software and new products like the iPhone Fold on the horizon. 

With that legacy of stability, we don’t expect much to change at Cook’s last WWDC: more software focused on incremental, continued refinement of the company’s operating systems. For the modest Cook, one last wave as the Apple juggernaut steams ahead seems fitting.

There have been a huge number of new products announced at the High-End audio show, with the world’s largest audio event now coming to end of its first stay in Vienna.

But it remains the same old High-End, showcasing the latest in extravagant hi-fi as well as more affordable kit looking to attract attention.

With plenty of brands launching new kit at the show, we’ve rounded up all the biggest and most important news from the event. Keeping reading for all the latest news from High-End Vienna 2026.

Astell&Kern

Korean audio brand Astell&Kern debuted two new products at High-End Vienna, and as per usual, they’re both expensive and high-specc’d.

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The SP4000T continues where the SP3000T left off and goes even further. It’s an industry-first by being the first digital audio player to have Raytheon Jan6418 MIL-Spec vintage vacuum tubes in a Quad configuration. We’re not sure what that means but it does sound fancy.

It also marks A&K’s first dual Wi-Fi antenna design, delivering faster and more stable wireless performance. That is something we can definitely get behind.

Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins took the wraps off its flagship 800 Series loudspeakers, which it says are its most “advanced” loudspeakers yet.

The new D5 range marks the fifth generation of Bowers’ 800 series, describing the new 800 Series Diamond as fusing “acoustic and mechanical excellence with elegant and meaningful design”. The design has been optimised with a new top plate, spine,and plinth, as well as revised drive unit, pods, tweeter body, trim rings and grilles.

The new 800 Series loudspeakers are due to go on sale in September of this year.

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Yamaha

Yamaha has returned to the wireless speaker market for the first time in over a decade with the NX-70A.

It’s active wireless speaker full to the brim with Yamaha’s proprietary tech that includes YPAO that adjusts the sound based on the acoustics of the room the speakers are in, the Synergistic Drive that minimises distortion in the audio signal, and drive units made from ZYLON and spruce wood to help reproduce vocals and instruments naturally.

Wirelessly, there’s Spotify Connect, Google Cast, AirPlay 2 and Roon functionality to count on, and there’s HDMI eARC port to connect to a TV.

FiiO

FiiO has launched three new products, but who knows, considering their track record, there could be more.

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At the forefront is the JT9 planar magnetic headphones with an open-backed design for desktop listening. The Level 1 is a a desktop amplifier with 300W of power at its disposal, as well as LDAC Bluetooth for streaming; while lastly, there’s the Class A headphone amplifier that’s designed for high-end headphones in mind.

Kanto

Announced back in April after it made its debut at AXPONA, Kanto is previewing its new Tuk Grand speakers at High-End Vienna.

The Tuk Grand sits at the top of Kanto’s latest range and features a larger cabinet than the previous model, with a 6-inch aluminium concave woofer to handle the lows and an Air Motion Transformer tweeter for treble. Peak power output is rated at 320W, and the Tuk Grand comes with Bluetooth connectivity with aptX HD and aptX Adaptive streaming.

Also on show will be redesigned, active speaker versions of Tuk, Yu6, and Yu4, alongside passive versions of the same speakers.

JBL

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JBL took the wraps off its most ambitious loudspeakers yet with the unveiling of its next-generation Summit Everest and Summit K2.

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The Summit Everest sits at the top of the stack, carrying forward the legacy of four previous Everest generations. It uses a redesigned mid and high-frequency system built around JBL compression drivers and a large-format HDI horn.

Slightly lower in the range, the Summit K2 follows a similar design philosophy, useing JBL’s compression driver system and HDI horn design, paired with a 15-inch woofer and 10-inch mid-bass driver. This approach aims to deliver the same sense of scale and clarity as the Summit Everest, but in a smaller footprint.

KLH Audio

The Model 4 joins the Model 3 and Model 5 speakers from the American heritage loudspeaker brand, and makes its debut at High-End.

It’s a loudspeaker that combines attributes of the Model 3 and 5 into one speaker enclosure, utilising the smaller footprint of the Model 3 and sonic architecture of the Model 5 to create a speaker for rooms where there’s not as much space but high fidelity is still paramount when it comes to listening sessions.

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Arcam

Another company marking an anniversary this year is Arcam, and its celebrating the occasion with two new high-end audio launches in the A50 Signature integrated amplifier and the CD25 CD player.

Arcam has positioned both devices as a continuation of its current Radia Series, with a clear focus on modern system flexibility, refined engineering, and high-end performance.

The A50 Signature is the new flagship integrated amplifier, and the most advanced Class G model Arcam has released to date. The CD25 is the first Arcam CD player since the FMJ D33 DAC to use a dual-mono DAC architecture, with ESS Hyperstream 4 technology onboard to improve channel separation and deliver more controlled dynamics in standard CD playback.

iFi Audio

It wouldn’t be an High-End event without iFi Audio launching yet another product, and in Vienna it’ll be previewing the iDSD GR2, which replaces the five-star xDSD Gryphon.

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The iDSD GR2 has been rebuilt from the ground up from the Gryphon, with iFi describing it as its most capable true-portable DAC/amp so far.

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Upgrades include new DAC architecture, a fully balanced amplification stage, support for lossless Bluetooth audio, and a new colour OLED touchscreen interface for making adjustments to settings.

Also announced at the show was the Go Link 2 Max, a USB-C dongle that can transform “your phone, laptop, or PC into a powerful high-resolution audio source”.

Topping

Topping is a brand you may not have heard of but it’s having an impact with hi-fi kit that offers more value than the price point suggests. The E50 II brings higher-end features to a more affordable price.

It’s a DAC rather than a headphone amplifier, supports hi-res audio up to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512, and Bluetooth support with LDAC and aptX Adaptive onboard. All that for just £199.

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Onkyo

Marking 80 years since founder Takeshi Godai established the company in 1946, Onkyo has introduced two anniversary product lines.

The anniversary edition of the Muse Y-50(G) Network Integrated Amplifier takes its visual cues from the Integra M-588, carrying Bordeaux walnut side panels, a Champagne gold aluminium front panel, and a ventilated top plate patterned on the Japanese San Kuzushi motif.

The Muse delivers 250 watts into 4-ohm speakers through an Axign Class D amplifier with MOS FET output. A 5.46-inch colour LCD displaying track information and analogue-style VU meters alongside support for AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect.

The Creator Series features the GX-30ARC and GX-10DB powered monitors. Each uses Class D amplification with bi-amplification technology that powers the tweeter and woofer independently, with the GX-30ARC featuring Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI ARC, optical, RCA/Phono, Subwoofer Pre-Out, and USB-C connectivity for integration with desktop, gaming, and home theatre setups.

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WiiM

WiiM has launched its first ever soundbar and it’s got Sonos in its sights with the WiiM Bar.

We had a sneak peak of this in its prototype form at Bristol Hi-Fi Show, and the finished product is functionally the same as we saw it earlier in the year. It transfers the porthole display from the WiiM Sound speaker with a 2.1-inch effort that is also a touch screen for adjust settings.

It’s a 3.0.2 configuration, and when partnered with the Sound/Sound Lite speakers and the WiiM Sub, can be used in a full 5.1.2 immersive home cinema set-up. Audio support includes both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Majority Audio

Majority Audio aims to make modern streaming audio more accessible with its new Link Series.

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The entry point is the Link Mini, a small streamer designed to plug into existing speakers, radios, or hi-fi systems. The step up is the Link View, which introduces a 2.1-inch circular touchscreen paired with a rotary control dial.

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Above the Link View is the Link Pro, with streaming support, DAB/DAB+ radio, internet radio and HDMI ARC. At the top of the range is the Link Pro Amp that can deliver up to 300W of Class-D power, combining streaming, amplification and radio features in a single unit.

Audio Technica

Audio-Technica has expanded its flagship cartridge line with the AT-MCD1. It’s a moving-coil design built around a one-piece CVD diamond cantilever and stylus construction.

The AT-MCD1 is priced at £9,999 and is available on to buy now.

Jamo

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The Jamo name has lain dormant for several years but it’s back and it’s launching several new products in Vienna.

For now, we’re concentrating on its two new speaker series in the Concert Legacy and Concert Element, an evolution of its Concert models from the 1990s.

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Developed in Denmark, with the drivers co-designed with Scan-Speak and SEAS; the Concert Legacy zeroes in on performance, while the Concert Element focuses on design. Both series launch in August but you can preview them at High-End.

Cambridge Audio

Cambridge launched the Evo 300, a streaming amplifier “engineered for music lovers who want serious, high-end hi-fi performance and effortless power” All you need to do is add speakers to it.

With Evo 300 300W per channel from its Hypex NCOREx Class D amplification configured in a dual-mono layout, there’s an ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M with audio support up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM, along with DSD512.

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Also announced by Cambridge is the availability of a black version of its Evo One wireless speaker.

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Meze Audio

Meze Audio is known for its expensive wired headphones, but with the ARTA, it’s pushed the boat out even more in terms of price.

Rinaro has developed a new MZ5 HΩ planar magnetic driver that Meze claims is the highest-impedance planar magnetic headphone driver yet, operating at 225 ohms. Other specs include a frequency response of 3Hz to 115kHz, with distortion below 0.05%. Users can also replace every major part of the headphones to keep them lasting for as long as possible.

The price for the headphones is a stonking £6000 / $6000 / €6000.

Klipsch

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Klipsch has two new notable products to note at High End and both speak to its past.

It marks its 80th anniversary by bringing out the Limited Edition 80th Anniversary of the Klipschorn, a modern take on founder Paul W. Klipsch’s original 1946 loudspeaker design. Only 280 pairs will be made.

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The second loudspeaker is the Rebellion, the brand’s first compact entry in the Heritage line and directly inspired by Paul W. Klipsch’s original 1958 H8 design. It is a two-way speaker built around a high-efficiency design that Klipsch says it delivers deep bass and crisp, low-distortion highs from a relatively compact cabinet.

Moon

Moon will be showcasing the latest additions to its Compass Collection at High-End.

The Moon 491, in typical Moon fashion, is a Swiss Army knife of hi-fi, taking in network player, preamplifier, DAC, phono stage and headphone amplifier” skills so it can act as the hub “of a high-performance audio system”.

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The Moon 461 power amplifier can act as a partner for the 491 network player, pumping out 150W per channel for low distortion and stable performance across a “wide range” of loudspeaker loads. They’ll both be on sale in the UK from July onwards.

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Ruark Audio

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Ruark Audio has revealed its R710 Music Console and Talisman-R floor-standing speakers.

The R710 delivers a “clean power output” of up to 200W per channel, and it supports Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Internet Radio and aptX HD Bluetooth.

The Talisman-R is a two-way, bass reflex design, retaining Ruark’s preference for natural driver materials with a 165mm low throw treated fibre NS+ woofer, plus a 27mm silk dome tweeter.

The R710 Music Console comes in a choice of Fused Walnut or Satin Charcoal Finishes with a suggested retail price of £2199 / €2699. The Talisman-R floostanding speakers are available in the same finishes with an SRP of £1499 / €1799.

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DALI

DALI is attending this year’s High-End with a preview of its interesting, upcoming all-in-one speaker system.

The Vega can be placed on a desktop of hung from a wall, with 10 drivers inside to produce sound, plus various streaming inputs and HDMI ARC for those who wish to connect to a TV. With plenty of style and grace, it’s an system that looks like it might give the Focal Hekla Muso some competition.

Clearaudio

Clearaudio unveiled its biggest product line-ups in recent years at High-End, introducing everything from customisable turntables and limited-edition collector models to a new phono stage, power supply and cartridge.

Leading the announcements is the new Elevation Series, comprised of the Elevation 45 and Elevation 55 turntables. Considering the number of products Clearaudio announced, you’re advised to have a look at our write up of everything it launched.

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Audeze

Audeze has updated its Manny Marroquin Signature Series with the introduction of the MM-520.

Developed in collaboration with 18-time Grammy-winning mix engineer Manny Marroquin, the MM-520 are at audio professionals for monitoring across different playback systems.

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This latest update comes with Audeze’s SLAM technology, short for Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator, which it claims optimises the air pressure inside the earcups to improve low-frequency performance and spatial presentation without altering the neutral character of the sound.

Noble Audio

In a surprise for a premium brand such as Noble Audio, it’s launched a pair of true wireless at what some might describe as ‘normal’ prices.

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The Osprey is a true wireless that brings Noble’s high-tech approach down to more affordable levels, with support for ANC, LDAC Bluetooth, and a hybrid driver design that cover the frequency range and deliver the precise and balanced sound that the brand is known for.

You won’t need to be at Vienna to sample them, though, as they’re on sale now.

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Also featuring from Noble Audio is its FoKus Artemis over-ear headphones, which rather relying on a single full-range drive unit for sound, the Artemis combines three: a dynamic driver for bass, a balanced armature driver for midrange, and a planar magnetic driver for speed and detail.

Pricing is $899 / £799 / €949 with shipping expected to start in July 2026

Fyne Audio

Fyne Audio is presenting its recently announced Cubitt 5 active speaker at High-End Vienna.

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The Cubitt 5 is an active stereo system with 240W of amplification, a built-in phono stage, and HDMI eARC to connect to a TV. There’s no Wi-Fi but there is Bluetooth 5 connectivity with AAC and aptX HD supported for streaming.

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Sound is delivered through Fyne’s 5-inch IsoFlare point-source driver, a coaxial design that it says can radiate sound from a single point in space to produce a stereo image that’s consistent across a wide listening area.

The FyneFlute surround technology reduces colouration to improve midrange clarity, and there’s a front-firing bass port also allowing close-to-wall placement without reducing bass loss.

Canor Audio

Canor Audio expanded its Performance series with the introduction two of its Verto D3 DAC and Asterion V3 phono preamplifier.

The Verto D3 is a tube-based digital-to-analogue converter, using a fully balanced dual-mono design and factoring in support for PCM files up to 768kHz and native DSD512 playback.

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The Asterion V3 is a new tube phono preamplifier aimed at vinyl enthusiasts, and features support for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, with extensive adjustment options allowing users to tailor performance to different turntable setups.

President Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum on Friday ordering the US military and intelligence agencies to accelerate their adoption of cutting-edge AI. The directive, NSPM-11, establishes a framework for “rapid onboarding of the most advanced AI models from multiple vendors.” It also bars any company from disabling, degrading, or modifying an AI system that warfighters depend on without prior government approval.

That vendor restriction is the most striking provision. It means an AI company cannot pull a deployed model from military use unilaterally, even if the company has safety concerns about how it is being used. The clause lands directly in the context of the Pentagon’s ongoing feud with Anthropic, which was blacklisted as a supply chain risk after refusing to allow its Claude models to be used for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance.

“The men and women who defend our nation deserve the best, most secure and most reliable AI in the world,” said Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The memo also directs Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to issue an updated directive on autonomous weapon systems within 90 days. That update would revise DoD Directive 3000.09, the foundational Pentagon policy governing when and how autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons can be used, including requirements for human judgment before lethal force is applied.

There are stated limits. The memo prohibits defence agencies from creating or releasing AI models designed to “censor free speech, embed ideological bias or conduct unlawful surveillance against the American people.” But it does not define those terms or explain how compliance would be enforced.

The directive follows Tuesday’s executive order that established a voluntary 30-day review window for frontier AI models before public release. Together, the two documents outline a dual approach: light-touch regulation for the commercial sector and aggressive adoption for the military.

The “multiple vendors” language signals a shift away from single-provider dependency. Until recently, Anthropic was the only AI vendor approved for classified military use. After the Pentagon signed classified deals with Nvidia, Microsoft, and AWS, the administration is now formalising a multi-vendor approach.

The memo makes accountability central. Commanders, directors, and agency heads remain responsible for ensuring AI is used in line with its stated obligations. Annual reviews of key guidance across the national security enterprise are required to keep pace with the AI frontier. Whether those reviews will be meaningful or performative remains an open question.

WWDC’s keynote will celebrate macOS 27, but it will also be a funeral for Intel Macs. The final countdown for their apps starts tomorrow.

The introduction of Apple Silicon immediately put a timer on the Intel Mac experience. Apple Silicon was the company’s new direction, and that everyone should migrate that way or be left behind.

Evolve or die. Except less morbid and that it really dealt with software and hardware support.

As the years have progressed, the migration to an Apple Silicon existence has marched onward. There’s no signs of it stopping until it reaches the end, when Apple no longer actually supports any Intel Mac at all with its operating systems and software.

Cupertino’s multi-year impression of the Terminator crossed with the Borg has already claimed some scalps. In 2025’s WWDC Platforms State of the Union address, Apple confirmed macOS 26 Tahoe will be the last major release to include native support for Intel Macs.

That means macOS Tahoe is the last Apple-created operating system you can install on Macs using an Intel chip.

Hardware communities such as OpenCore and Hackintosh users have braced for the end for over a year already. They all know that, hardware-wise, the time has come.

Intel hardware won’t be making the move to macOS 27. Software that uses it, though, will.

Rosetta 2 goes on, for now

Reusing a trick from a previous architecture transition, Rosetta 2 is a macOS feature that translates Intel-based Mac apps to run on Apple Silicon Macs. This is handled automatically, and without modifying the source code of the app itself.

There’s a small performance hit, but otherwise the app runs fine.

The whole point of Rosetta 2 was to buy some time for both app developers and Mac users. The users get to keep running their existing collection of Intel macOS apps, while developers update them to work on Apple Silicon.

Back in the day, you were asked to install Rosetta 2 if you ran an Intel app on an Apple Silicon Mac. – Image Credit: Apple

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Developers also benefited from a universal app, namely an app package that contained both Intel and Apple Silicon versions. To users, they wouldn’t have to remember whether they were using an Intel or Apple Silicon Mac, as they’d just install one app.

While you can expect universal apps to hang around for a few more years, Rosetta 2 won’t last as long.

During the same Platforms State of the Union address, Apple told developers that they need to get their apps supporting Apple Silicon in time for macOS 28.

This doesn’t mean that Rosetta 2 will be killed off entirely. Really, it’s only being scaled back to only support legacy apps that won’t get updated again, like really old games.

Don’t worry, your game saves are probably going to be playable for a while longer. To developers, this means embracing Apple Silicon if they haven’t already done so, assuming they care about their game.

Developers don’t have to go full Apple Silicon either, as they can still service Intel Mac users with the universal app package. This is especially good for apps that have a very large user base, who may be more likely to hold onto their older hardware.

They just can’t expect to produce just Intel-only apps and expect to build their audience.

Update your damned apps, people

While developers have their marching orders from Apple, it’s only half of the audience that should pay attention. End users should, too.

Like many other long-time users of Apple’s ecosystem, AppleInsider is a collection of digital packrats. We have excessive software collections, including apps and tools that are probably old enough to vote.

However, many users will be thinking that their existing apps are already fine, because they run on their Apple Silicon hardware. But, if they’re Intel-only apps, they’re running through Rosetta 2, which makes them a ticking timebomb of annoyance.

Universal apps support both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Updating the apps is a pretty straightforward way to migrate, but there’s no guarantee that the apps will switch to an Apple Silicon version. It’s easy to check your own Mac app collection for compatibility, too.

Many developers have already made the jump, with DoesItARM.com listing 52.2% of apps as running natively on Apple Silicon. If we factor out the 38.4% of questionable listings that “need info,” that works out to be a massive 84.7% of apps on the site being Apple Silicon-native.

That is a very encouraging sign, but there’s also 7.4% that work on Rosetta, or 12% if we ignore the “need info” group. While the current “unsupported” group is 2%, that will raise significantly if these Rosetta-needing apps don’t get an Apple Silicon alternative.

There’s also the issue of trusting a developer or a company leaving it late to bring out an Apple Silicon-supporting version of an app. If they’re this late to the party already, there may be other things to worry about on the horizon.

You may have a year to still comfortably use your apps, but seriously consider giving your library a check-through for any Intel-only apps. You’ll have plenty of time to either nag the developers to see sense, or to replace the stragglers with an alternative.

To be fair, you should act like a digital Marie Kondo and get rid of apps that don’t spark “joy” anyway.

Hardware hangups

This is, of course, discussed from the angle of users who have already moved to Apple Silicon. I do have to acknowledge that there are some who are still using Intel Macs, and don’t really intend to make the upgrade.

For computer archivists and historians, and those into retro computing in general, it’s completely understandable to use the older hardware. There’s no argument about that at all.

But, for those who have paid a lot for their Intel Mac and feel it still suits them fine, I implore you to check out Apple Silicon.

The last Intel Mac was the Mac Pro sold in 2023

The claims during the launch of it being much faster than Intel were true. Years and multiple chip generations later, things have only become faster and better.

Sure, there’s the sunk-cost fallacy to deal with, in that you want to get your money’s worth from spending thousands on a Mac Pro.

Yes, we understand that the Mac Pro has its place as an upgradable computer for specialized applications. But really, it was a status symbol that can now be outpaced by a suitably kitted-out MacBook Pro.

The performance gains, even from models that aren’t top-of-the-line, is very real and should be considered. You’ll get over what you spent on your previous Mac, eventually.

Even if your Intel Mac is a mission-critical system for your business, seriously think about making the change. At some point, the metaphorical wheels will come off that wagon, and preventative upgrades are better than dealing with a potentially expensive cure, accompanied by severe downtime.

Monday’s WWDC keynote and Platforms State of the Union will introduce many new shiny features and a massive amount of AI news. What it also brings is the end of Intel hardware updates, and Apple’s preparation to sound the death knell for Intel apps.

It’s two messages that users may miss, but really should listen out for.

Last week’s Sunday Reboot asked Craig Federighi to make the WWDC announcements a little less AI-focused, and to make AI actually matter for once.