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January 22, 2026 Audio News

2026/01/21
5 min read
Dan D'Agostino iFi audio Austrian Audio Marantz PILIUM miniDSP High-End Audio Power Amplifier DAC Headphones

New product announcements continue from various manufacturers following CES 2026. The highlight is Dan D’Agostino’s new-generation “Momentum Z Monoblock” commemorating their 15th anniversary, featuring the company’s first JFET input stage and Ethernet connectivity for real-time monitoring. iFi audio announces flagship DAC/headphone amp “iDSD Phantom” with DSD2048 remastering and tube/solid-state switching. Austrian Audio brings flagship “The Composer” technology to a more accessible price point with “The Arranger.”

1. New Product Releases (Official Announcements)

  • Momentum Z Monoblock Amplifier — Dan D’Agostino (Monoblock Power Amplifier)

    • Main Specifications: 500W (8Ω) / 1,000W (4Ω) / 2,000W (2Ω) output. Dual 1,200VA linear toroidal transformer array power supply. Company’s first JFET input stage. Proprietary “Kinetic Drive Regulator” maintains constant voltage rails under all load conditions. 5-axis CNC-machined 42-pound copper heatsink.
    • Price: TBD
    • Release/Pre-order: Announced January 2026, release date TBD
    • Highlight: Features company’s first Ethernet connectivity (RJ45) for real-time performance monitoring. 3.5-inch high-resolution LCD displays analog meter. Launched as 15th anniversary model with “every element redesigned.”

  • iDSD Phantom — iFi audio (DAC/Headphone Amplifier)

    • Main Specifications: Quad Burr-Brown DSD1793 DACs in custom interleaved configuration. PCM 768kHz, DSD512 native support. Proprietary “Chrysopoeia” FPGA engine enables real-time DSD2048 remastering. Discrete pure Class-A amp, headphone output up to 7,747mW.
    • Price: £4,499 / $4,499 / €4,695
    • Release/Pre-order: Announced January 2026
    • Highlight: Features solid-state/tube/tube+ 3-mode output switching. JVC Kenwood co-developed “K2HD” harmonic restoration technology, XBass Pro/XSpace Pro. Built-in streaming with Qobuz/TIDAL/Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2.

  • The Arranger — Austrian Audio (Open-Back Headphones)

    • Main Specifications: 44mm dynamic driver with DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coated diaphragm. 25Ω impedance, 110dB SPL/V sensitivity, 5Hz–30kHz frequency response. Ring magnet system for fast transient response and low distortion. 310g weight.
    • Price: £899 / €999 / $1,099
    • Release/Pre-order: February 2026
    • Highlight: Positioned between flagship “The Composer” and Hi-X series. 4-pin symmetrical socket supports TRS/4.4mm Pentaconn/5-pin XLR cables. Folding design, replaceable earpads and headband.

  • AV 30 / AMP 30 — Marantz (AV Preamplifier/Power Amplifier)

    • Main Specifications:
      • AV 30: 11.4-channel AV preamplifier. Analog Devices SHARC dual-core DSP, 32-bit DAC, discrete HDAM SA-2 preamplifier. HDMI 2.1 × 7 inputs (8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz).
      • AMP 30: 6-channel power amplifier. 200W × 6 (8Ω), expandable to 400W × 3 in BTL configuration.
    • Price: $4,000 / €4,000 / £3,500 each
    • Release/Pre-order: January 2026
    • Highlight: Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X, AURO-3D support. Audyssey MultEQ XT32 standard, optional Dirac Live/Bass Control/ART. Roon Ready, HEOS integration.

  • Cronus — PILIUM (Monoblock Power Amplifier)

    • Main Specifications: 350W (8Ω) / 700W (4Ω) / 1,400W (2Ω) output. 28 discrete transistors in parallel bridge output stage. Dual 1.2kVA transformers. 132.5dB S/N ratio, 0.00259% THD+N (1kHz/50W). 0.1Hz–125kHz (-3dB) frequency response. 0.1mΩ output impedance.
    • Price: ¥24,200,000 (incl. tax)
    • Release/Pre-order: February 10, 2026
    • Highlight: Core model of PILIUM’s “Divine Master” series. 4 years of development. 320,000 custom hybrid IC suppressor circuits. 121kg weight. Microcomputer-controlled auto DC bias adjustment and DC offset clipping protection.

  • Tide16 — miniDSP (AV Processor)

    • Main Specifications: 16-channel output. 1.8GHz quad-core A53 ARM processor, 32-bit/48kHz processing. HDMI × 3 + eARC, 16 XLR balanced outputs. USB, Bluetooth (LDAC/aptX HD), RCA/XLR/S/PDIF inputs. 127dB SNR, -118dB THD+N (0.0001%).
    • Price: $3,500
    • Release/Pre-order: January 2026
    • Highlight: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master support. Dirac Live (Room Correction, Bass Control, ART) licenses included as standard. Matrix mixer and advanced bass management. Suitable for home theater, studio, and pure audio applications.

2. References / Sources