JBL announces the return of the L100, the iconic 1970 loudspeaker best known for appearing in the iconic Maxell cassette tape adverts from the 1980s, not to mention being the best selling loudspeaker in JBL history.

The new version features the same retro walnut veneer design of the original, with a vintage Quadrex foam grille available in black, blue or orange. The L100 Classic is internally braced, and has a 25mm-thick baffle.

No less than 11 products from high-end US audio brand McIntosh have received Roon Tested designation, meaning all devices can receive optimised audio from Roon straight out of the box.

The products in question are the C47, C52, C2600 and D1100 preamplifiers, MA5300, MA7200, MA8900 and MA9000 integrated amplifiers, MAC7200 receiver, MHA150 headphone amplifier and MXA80 integrated audio system. All models feature an 8-channel 32-bit DAC used in quad balanced mode, with coax and digital optical inputs able to decode up to 24-bit/192kHz. Also included are USB inputs able to handle PCM signals up to 32-bit/384kHz and support up to DSD 256 and DXD 384kHz.

French hifi specialist Focal celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2019-- and plans to celebrate with the launch of a limited edition range of special "40 year" products at the upcoming Munich High-End Show.

The company is still to detail the actual products making the range, but it says it will include consumer sound solutions, in-car and professional products, all “combining heritage and modernity, to continue to bring music, design and emotions to life.” Or so the company claims, at any rate.

The ultra-slim Artison Backpack surround sound processor/amplifier is in production and is now available in EMEA, starting with the UK before arriving in the rest of the region.

The Backpack measures just 190 x 203 x 228mm, yet promises to deliver 5.1 surround sound while acting discreetly as a home cinema hub. It carries 5 internal Class D amplifiers (three 75W and two 30W at 4 Ohms), and powers any passive LCR and surround channels using Continuous Stigma technology. Construction is in anodised aluminium, and installers can either attach the chassis on the back of a flat-panel display or mount it on- or in-wall.

T+A announces a trio of additions to the high-end HV series-- the SD 3100 HV DAC and streamer, the SDV 3100 HV DAC, streamer and analogue volume control, and the PDT 3100 HV SD/SACD transport.

The SD 3100 HVD/A converter with streamer converts PCM signals at a maximum of 32-bit resolution and 768kHz, one the True 1-bit converter achieves DSD 1024 (49.2MHz). Meanwhile the SD 3100 HV includes a UAC3 USB receiver, making it capable of transferring sample rates up to PCM32 768 and native DSD 1024.

Sonos launches a gen 2 version of the One wireless speaker-- one featuring improvements including Bluetooth Low Energy, a faster processor and more memory, all within an external design identical to the first generation model.

The updates Sonos One does not appear to have exclusive features, and sound performance should be the same. The company is also still to detail how the gen 2 One benefits from the processor and memory update, even if it previously stated some older speakers lack the horsepower to support AirPlay 2. Then again, the gen one Sonos One will be getting AirPlay 2 support.