What news in 2023 struck you?


Gang,

It seems the audio press seems to have no end of press releases to hype, but I'm curious looking back for the year what news regarding the audio industry has most struck you?

For instance, the sale of ARC, and Roon, and B&W (or was that last year) seemed pretty significant.  Class D amps with GaN transistors created a lot of buzz and claims of Class D finally reaching it's promised potential.  Textreme drivers have appeared here and there, as has the Purifi woofer...

I also recall a Monitor Audio prototype that struck me as really innovative. 

What else has stuck in your mind longer than ten minutes this year?

erik_squires

Some of the more "relatively" affordable trickle down Borresen speakers hitting the scene..holy crap!

Here's a nitpick that a non-ocd non-musician shouldn’t concern himself with. But, it is perhaps not as tonally accurate or produce as realistic a soundfield as my current TAD or the Yamaha ns5000 i got to audit..but, it is indeed very special at this kind of pricing...There is just a level of clarity, detail, resolution that doesn't exist in the other high end "big names" at any price!! (stagnant innovation/rinse/rehash/marketing of the same sht).  The latter better spend more on marketing and pay their pied pipers more.

(Currently in talks with the spouse to put the X6 or X3 on order so there's no future marital problems. I wish I could get both the Yamaha and Borresen together, but, well,..one at a time/need to play it safe. The Borresen and Yamaha may be the greatest bargains in recent times.)

 

Clayton Shaw's return with a new company, and a new open baffle speaker. I've always wanted to audition Spatial or Pure Audio Projects in my system, but the price kept me at bay. Bought Clayton's Caladans on reputation, the second I could I placed my order. Patiently waiting now

Mmm, the sale of Ohm which considering the death of Strohbeen was a no-brainer but unobvious to me at the time....still wishing for a major Lotto win...😏🤷‍♂️

Guess it falls to the few and tinker-types like yours unruly to flounder on...

The (grudging?) acceptance of Class D as a means of amplification...."....getting better all the time..." to snag a line... *S*

'Chi-Fi', the 'threat of'...Well, considering the size of their market, the love of good music repro and the fans of, everywhere in general....and the growth of the electronics' industry in Asia....*fingers crossed*....

A return of the Technics' SL-10, a 'mass-market' linear-tracking TT that came Standard with a moving-coil cart?  Did what it did without being a fuss 'bout it?

(Yes, 'you' may have a major $ one with a cart (or 4) to 'match', but....)

..some of us live in a 'fi' desert...