July/August 2025
ertonline.co.uk
Bowers & Wilkin Pi8 earbuds.
The Kanto REN is a compact active speaker system, specifically designed to challenge soundbars. With built-in amplification, advanced DSP tuning and a comprehensive suite of connectivity options, the REN is pitched squarely at audio-savvy consumers looking for an upgrade in sound, be it for music, movies, or gaming.
buyers. This new edition features a handcrafted wooden cabinet with finely bevelled front edges and new Slate Grey grille fabric. Two finishes will be available at launch: Rich Walnut and Charcoal Lacquer. Inside the reworked enclosure is a reimagined NS+ bass/midrange driver, paired with Ruark’s 20mm silk dome tweeters, all powered by an upgraded Class D power plant. Together, they promise deeper bass, a cleaner midrange, and crisp treble.
Audience appeal is wide. Enhanced Bluetooth and USB Audio inputs ensure the MR1 Mk3 is ready to serve across multiple use cases, from desktop hi-fi and casual TV audio, to high-resolution playback direct from a PC or USB source.
New arrivals
One new name worth keeping an ear out for is Kanto. The company, which seeks to blend high-performance audio with an overt, lifestyle design, recently announced the arrival of its REN active loudspeaker system in the UK, following a new distribution partnership with Richer Sounds.
At the heart of the system are a pair of custom-designed 4-inch drivers with Class D amplification. Typical applications include streaming from a smartphone, spinning vinyl, or playing high-res audio from a laptop. In a first for the brand, the REN includes HDMI ARC, making it a novel alternative for TV audio. Unlike a traditional soundbar, which blends left and right channels into a single horizontal unit, the REN offers true stereo separation.
Kanto Audio’s Brett Smalley says: “We’re confident REN delivers a truly immersive audio experience, combining the superior sound quality our customers expect from Kanto Audio, together with seamless connectivity.” Not that the soundbar market is standing still. Just when you think the sector is looking moribund, in comes a disruptor, in this case, Marshall - not just an amplifier brand, but a cultural icon.
Marshall has successfully migrated its brand
from live music events to headphones and Bluetooth speakers, but soundbars might seem a step too far. However, the Heston 120 proves the naysayers wrong. Not only does it bring its own unique aesthetic to the category, but it does it with flair and conviction.
The Heston 120 Dolby Atmos soundbar
features a 11-strong driver array, each with cool running Class D amplification. Not only does it sound great with multi-channel sources,but it makes full use of its extensive driver array for two-channel content. It also offers two HDMI ports, one with eARC the other pass-through with full 4K 120Hz support for games consoles. If your customers insist they’re not in the market for a new soundbar, maybe a demo of the Marshall Heston 120 will change their mind? Of course, the high-end of the soundbar market continues to attract buyers looking to upgrade their older speakers, and Samsung has turned to radical new tech to steal a march with its Q-Series HW-Q990F and HW-QS700Fmodels. The HW-Q990F is the brand’s top offering, and ships with a pair of rear channel wireless speakers and a separate, completely redesigned compact subwoofer, with 8-inch dual active driver. The channel configuration is 11.1.4. >>
23
Ruark Audio’s MR1 Mk3 desktop loudspeakers. The Heston 120 Dolby Atmos soundbar.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
