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Not the best-in-class, not perfect — yet the FiiO K13 R2R is my favorite sub-$400 DAC
I think Fiio is openly aiming to create a more warmer, more musical experience with their devices. We can see that with this DAC, we can see that with their headphones like FT13, with also new DAC called Warmer, believe it or not. Same thing creating R2R DAP with M33. Fiio building their own personal sonic signature Fiio wants to develop kinda like a brand sonic image, same thing like Rega, when you think about their products, you think about brighter detailed sound. I guess
ducurguz
Feb 59 min read


Tresound Mini: When a Desktop Speaker Becomes a Design Object
Sometimes the best tech isn’t the loudest. It’s the kind that makes you stop for a second and actually look at it before you press play. That’s exactly what designers Yong Cao and Jianfeng Lv have achieved with the Tresound Mini — a desktop Bluetooth speaker that refuses to blend into the usual sea of anonymous black boxes. At first glance, the Tresound Mini feels more like something you’d expect to find in a modern art gallery than on an office desk. Its cone-shaped, archi
ducurguz
Feb 33 min read


Arcam Finally Unleashes Radia AV – And It Might Be the Most Serious Home Cinema Line the Brand Has Ever Built
Three new AV receivers, a flagship processor/power combo, and a wall-mountable add-on amp — Arcam’s Radia AV range is all about cinematic muscle without sacrificing audiophile DNA. After months of teasing its Radia stereo gear, Arcam has finally done what home cinema fans have been waiting for: it’s gone big on AV again. The new Radia AV line brings three full-fat AV receivers , a separates-based flagship system , and even a compact expansion amp — all designed to put Arcam
ducurguz
Feb 33 min read


Sonos’ Boldest Amp Yet Is Designed to Disappear – But It Lives and Dies by the App
The new Sonos Amp Multi is built to be hidden inside your walls, run entirely from software, and power your whole home — assuming the app finally behaves. Sonos has spent the last year unusually quiet. No flashy soundbars, no headline-grabbing speakers — just a slow, careful effort to repair the damage caused by its much-criticised app overhaul. Now, it’s back with something radically different. Meet the Sonos Amp Multi : a multi-zone, installer-grade amplifier designed to be
ducurguz
Feb 33 min read


I have never seen DAC like this Ampapa Q1 review
I have already reviewed the first two products from Ampapa, the A1 preamp and D1 amp. Both solid and great products, that had distinguished style and regarding the D1 amp, great sonics that can rival all the best products in that price range. In the description of this video, I will link to my reviews of these products. Ampapa D1 review: https://www.hifidaydreaming.com/post/finally-stylish-cheap-and-good-amp-douk-audio-x-ampapa-d1-review-vs-fosi-and-ayima Ampapa A1 review: .
ducurguz
Feb 28 min read


JBL Revives the L100 Once Again – And This Time It’s a True 80th Anniversary Collectible
Limited to 800 pairs worldwide, the L100 Classic 80 blends 1970s studio DNA with modern driver tech, premium finishes, and serious collector appeal. Some speakers refuse to fade into history. The JBL L100 is one of them. First launched in the early 1970s, the L100 became one of the most recognizable loudspeakers ever made — big, bold, unapologetically American, and responsible for defining what “fun hi-fi” sounded like for an entire generation. Now, to celebrate its 80th ann
ducurguz
Jan 302 min read


Ruark’s 40th Anniversary R810 Is a Handcrafted Radiogram for the Ultra-Luxury Age
Made in England, limited to just 100 units worldwide, and priced like a piece of furniture art – the R810 MiE is Ruark’s most exclusive creation yet. In an era dominated by black boxes, wireless earbuds and invisible streaming, Ruark Audio has chosen a radically different way to celebrate its 40th birthday: by doubling down on craft, furniture-grade design and old-school luxury . The result is the Ruark Audio R810 MiE — a special, anniversary edition of its flagship all-in-o
ducurguz
Jan 302 min read


These Speakers made me Rethink my Entire Hi-Fi System Fiio SP5 Speakers review
While there is a preconception in the audiophile world, that if you want great gear and utmost quality you should go with passive speakers and separate components. While that might be true, it is a more expensive road to travel, even though it is more flexible and allows for experimentation. Destroying preconceptions But more and more we see active speakers “actively” knocking on the door of that perception and blurring the line between just monitors and great audiophile hi-f
ducurguz
Jan 2911 min read


Ikea’s Most Popular Shelf Just Got Its Perfect Speaker Match
Eversolo enters the passive speaker world with the SE100 – square bookshelf speakers designed to slide straight into Ikea’s iconic Kallax system. Eversolo is best known for its sleek, touchscreen-heavy streaming DACs and amplifiers, but the brand is now stepping into more traditional hi-fi territory. Its latest product, the Eversolo SE100 , marks the company’s first-ever passive bookshelf speakers — and they come with a twist that’s as much about interior design as it is abou
ducurguz
Jan 293 min read


Roksan Goes All-In on High-End Streaming: Meet the Caspian 4G Pre/Power Duo
BluOS brains, British engineering, and a promise of “breathtaking musicality” – Roksan’s new flagship separates aim straight at the modern audiophile sweet spot. Roksan is turning up the heat in the high-end amplifier market with the launch of two new reference components: the Caspian 4G Streaming Pre-Amplifier and the Caspian 4G Power Amplifier . Together, they complete the top tier of the brand’s latest Caspian Series 4G lineup and signal Roksan’s clearest statement yet in
ducurguz
Jan 293 min read


Amazing Design, DAC and Power Output at 399$ D&A Alpha Review /vs Topping, Fiio, Ifi
I don't remember a device that was a company's first device creating that many ripples in the sea of audiophiles. Their Alpha Pro DAC was received pretty well among both subjective and objective reviewers, which to me is always such a surprise for a device like this. Amazing Design And not just that, its looks are so modern and, let's say, unique that it left an impression on me. It reminds me of another Chinese company called Nothing, which makes mobile phones, etc. This fee
ducurguz
Jan 2511 min read


This is what your first DAP should look like Fiio M21 review
*Lot more images and videos of product in the video review above. What Fiio did with M21 is should be understand as company providing no corners cut, to give DAP that gives outmost value at this price range. This is something that money you gives, does not have that big diminishing value. In that I can see many, many audiophiles be completely satisfied with this device for long time. And that is why I think this should in perfect world be a first device for anyone wanting, no
ducurguz
Jan 208 min read


Onix XM2 Tocata Finally solves one of my biggest issues with DAPs.
*A lot more pictures and videos of product and use cases in video. Solving a real problem I love DAPs, they remind me of my childhood of carrying MP3 players wherever I went. That small pill-shaped device was my dream box. I loved it more than anything, carried it everywhere, my isolation from the world, my deeper connection to music. Well, it was like that until phones became good enough to have their own internal MP3 players, and until I got deeper into audiophile addiction
ducurguz
Jan 1414 min read


DALI Sonik Lands: A New Budget Speaker Line Promises Big Sound — but at the Cost of a Modern Classic
Seven new speakers, trickle-down tech from DALI’s flagships, and the quiet retirement of the beloved Oberon range A Bold New Chapter for DALI — and the End of an Era DALI is on a roll. Fresh off the launch of its ultra-affordable, five-star Kupid bookshelf speakers, the Danish loudspeaker specialist has unveiled something far more consequential: the Sonik series , a brand-new, budget-focused speaker lineup that quietly replaces the much-loved Oberon range . For many audiophi
ducurguz
Jan 74 min read


Cambridge Audio Rewrites the Rulebook: The L/R Series Brings High-End Active Speakers Into the Streaming Age
Three active standmount loudspeakers. Built-in streaming. Serious power. Cambridge’s boldest move yet lands in 2026. A Surprise Move from a Very Familiar Name Cambridge Audio has started 2026 with an unexpected pivot—one that could reshape how many listeners build their hi-fi systems. Known primarily for amplifiers, DACs and streamers, the British brand has now stepped decisively into active loudspeakers with the launch of its new L/R Series . The lineup consists of three mo
ducurguz
Jan 74 min read


Onkyo Turns 80—and Reinvents Itself: The Muse Streaming Amplifiers Blend Retro Soul with Modern Hi-Fi Power
Launched at CES 2026, the new Muse Y-50 and Y-40 mark a bold new chapter for Onkyo, capped by a stunning limited-edition anniversary flagship. Eight Decades In, Onkyo Starts a New Era Onkyo is entering 2026 with confidence—and ambition. As the legendary Japanese audio brand celebrates its 80th anniversary , it has unveiled an entirely new product line at CES that signals not just a celebration of the past, but a clear vision for the future. Meet the Onkyo Muse series : a pair
ducurguz
Jan 73 min read


The KEF Speaker That Finally Changed My Mind - Q Concerto Meta review / w. 5 alternatives
I think KEF is one of those companies that you either really like their products, or you think they are overrated. And I think that is more about the philosophy of KEF, that they are always sticking to their guns. It is very transparent, clean, and insightful performance. Fixing one of the biggest KEF weaknesses If you like that, it certainly brings a lot of value, as they do that amazingly for an affordable price. They created shockwaves around the globe with LS50 and LS50 M
ducurguz
Jan 510 min read


SMSL PS200 PRO is a tiny HIFI miracle that cares about sonics and your budget
At first glance, the SMSL PS200 barely registers as a serious hi-fi component. Its extremely compact form factor and understated design suggest convenience rather than ambition. Yet once integrated into a proper system, the PS200 reveals itself as a surprisingly disciplined and capable digital-to-analog converter, one that places transparency and control above coloration and spectacle. Built around ESS Technology’s latest 9039Q2M DAC chip, the PS200 is designed to deliver ext
ducurguz
Dec 23, 20256 min read


SMSL D200 Review: A Bold Experiment and Gamble That Redefined Value in DACs
I have waited ever since first hearing this DAC in Shenzhen a few months ago to truly listen to it at home. It is a new age, an SMSL 2.0 for this company. And they are realizing an underdog in an industry, a Japanese technology company Rohm, to be the heart of their new generation of DACs. SMSLs Gamble and experiment For now, it is known that AKM and ESS are pretty much rulers of the DAC market, with Burr Brown following behind them. At majority of DACs that use delta-sigma D
ducurguz
Dec 18, 202510 min read


Douk Audio x Ampapa A1 brings outstanding versatility and quality at 129$ preamp review vs. Fosi and Aiyima
I recommend that you look at my review of Ampapa D1 for a more fuller picture of collaboration of Douk Audio and Ampapa. But here we have a really great product. Why you need preamp A product that on its own is a bit hard sell, but as a supplementary product is a must have, ofc I speak about A1 preamp, to your amp. And as with every Class D amps, these tube preamps just go so well just like butter on a jelly. Its warmth and emphasis on lower spectrum of dynamics scale, helps
ducurguz
Dec 8, 20256 min read
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