LATEST ADDITIONS

While the upgrades that Unison Research made to its Triode 25 integrated amp were sufficient to warrant a ‘Black Edition’ suffix [HFN Jul ’25], the Italian brand’s decision to label its new pre/power amplifiers as merely ‘v2’ is to underestimate the uptick in performance. The Pre v2 (£5500) and DM v2 (£7750) are not only the flagship separates of its Unico range but are markedly different from what has come before, both outside and in.

All things are relative, I guess, but in the realm of high-end audio, the Børresen X3 looks like a lot of loudspeaker for the money. Moreover, a recent price cut – just about unheard of in the modern hi-fi market – has brought the speaker down from £10,000 to £8000 a pair. Described as an ‘entry-level into the Børresen universe’, the X3 draws on technology created for the Danish company’s higher-end models [HFN Sep ’25], from the drivers to the enclosures.

It was only a decade ago that greys and whites were all the rage in interior design, which consequently led to a surge in minimalist, monochrome speaker finishes. However, just as avocado bathroom suites are apparently mounting a comeback, so too are loudspeakers in dark wood colourways. And Bowers & Wilkins knows this, choosing to dress its new 707 S3 Prestige standmount model in a luxurious-looking Santos Gloss.

Here’s one in the eye for anyone still convinced that hi-fi is being taken over by unknown brands bringing in cut-priced equipment. Not only is Lumin very well-established, having launched its range back in 2012, it’s been expanding that lineup ever since to cover a wide range of market sectors. Lumin now has a half-dozen network players, three music transports, two dedicated music servers and an all-in-one player/amp system – while continually developing its in-house technologies.