The Future of Sound is Here: Nothing and KEF Announce a Landmark Partnership

In the fast-paced world of technology and audio, it’s rare to see two companies from different corners of the industry come together for a truly groundbreaking collaboration. But that’s exactly what has happened with the newly announced partnership between the innovative tech brand Nothing and the legendary British audio pioneer KEF. This is a team-up that has the entire audio world talking, and for good reason

Nothing & Kef Partnership

This isn't just a simple branding exercise; it's a deep, strategic partnership that aims to redefine what we expect from our audio products. Nothing, known for its minimalist, transparent design aesthetic and user-centric approach to technology, is joining forces with KEF, a company with over 60 years of expertise in high-fidelity audio engineering.

The first product to emerge from this collaboration is the Headphone (1), Nothing's debut over-ear headphone. With "Sound by KEF," this product is a clear statement of intent. It combines Nothing’s unique design language with KEF’s commitment to acoustic precision, promising a listening experience that is both immersive and beautifully crafted.

Nothing Headphone 1

So, what can we expect from this exciting collaboration?

• A Fusion of Design and Sound: Nothing has always been about making technology feel more expressive and human. By integrating KEF's six decades of audio knowledge, we can expect products that not only look stunning but also deliver a level of sound quality that is natural, balanced, and precise.

• Innovation in Every Detail: The Headphone (1) is a prime example of this. It features a custom-built 40mm dynamic driver and offers advanced features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), on-device spatialization with head-tracking, and support for high-resolution audio formats like LDAC.

• Tactile and Intuitive Controls: In a world of touch-sensitive everything, Nothing and KEF have made a deliberate choice to use tactile controls on the Headphone (1). A roller, paddle, and button provide a more precise and reliable way to manage your music and calls without the guesswork of touch interfaces.

Exciting Collaboration

This partnership is a long-term commitment, with several co-developed products already in the works. For Nothing, it’s a chance to expand into new audio categories with the backing of a true industry legend. For KEF, it's an opportunity to bring its high-fidelity sound to a new generation of listeners through a fresh, design-led lens.

The future of audio is looking, and sounding, very exciting.

A Piece of Music History: The Bowers & Wilkins 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition

For audiophiles and music lovers, some names resonate with a certain magic. "Bowers & Wilkins" and "Abbey Road Studios" are two such names. For 45 years, these two titans of the audio world have shared a unique and enduring partnership. Now, to celebrate this incredible legacy, they've collaborated on something truly special: the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition loudspeaker.

The Limited Edition Abbey Road 801’s

Since 1980, when Abbey Road's engineers first adopted the original 801 as their reference monitor, successive generations of the 800 Series have been a mainstay in the legendary studio's control rooms. This new limited-edition speaker is a celebration of that history.

Where it all started.

So, what makes this limited edition so special?

• A Historic Design: The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition is a bespoke version of the flagship 801 D4 Signature. It features a stunning Vintage Walnut cabinet, inspired by the classic instruments that have graced Abbey Road's studios. The design is complemented by a rich red Connolly leather trim, a nod to the chairs in the famous Studio Two control room.

Stunning attention to detail.

• Unrivaled Sound: At its heart, this speaker is all about "True Sound." It boasts a Diamond Dome tweeter, a Continuum™ cone FST™ midrange, and two Aerofoil™ Profile bass cones. This combination delivers a sound that's as close to the original recording as you can get, with breathtaking clarity, detail, and realism.

• An Exclusive Collectible: This is a truly limited-edition release, with only 140 pairs being produced worldwide. Each pair comes with a unique identifying plate and a specially commissioned book that chronicles the history of the Bowers & Wilkins and Abbey Road partnership, complete with rare photographs.

Historical Speakers

The 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition is more than just a loudspeaker: it's a piece of music history. It's a chance to experience your favorite music with the same fidelity and precision as the artists and engineers who created it.

Whether you're a dedicated audiophile, a music historian, or simply someone who appreciates the finest in craftsmanship and sound, this is a release you won't want to miss.

McIntosh premieres the all-new MSA5500 2-Channel Streaming Integrated Amplifier.

The MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier is both a full featured music streamer and powerful integrated amplifier in one. It can serve as the cornerstone of your audio setup, whether it be your first venture into high-fidelity audio, an addition to your existing system, or to use at your office or vacation home. Crafted to perfection and compact in size, the MSA5500 is tailor-made for modern living spaces, making it an ideal choice for those seeking premium audio in more confined environments.

The MSA5500 is compatible with a multitude of leading streaming technologies and platforms including Apple® AirPlay®; Bluetooth®; Google Cast™ (formerly Chromecast); Spotify® Connect; and TIDAL® Connect (including TIDAL HiFi Lossless Quality). No special control app or technical skills are needed; the easy-to-use MSA5500 invites you to simply stream your music directly from your smart device.1 If you've been using a lower quality wireless home sound system, then listening to your favorite tracks through the MSA5500 will be like hearing them again for the first time.

In addition to all its streaming capabilities, the MSA5500 also comes 7 digital and 5 analog audio inputs to connect audio components, such as a CD player or tuner, plus a Moving Magnet phono input to connect a turntable. The digital inputs support high resolution digital audio playback; the USB input supports native playback of DSD512 and DXD up to 384kHz, while the coax and optical inputs can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz. 

As your audio needs evolve, the MSA5500 can grow with you. Someday you may move into a bigger space or add a larger set of speakers and find that you need more power. If that happens, you could bypass the internal amplifier and connect a bigger external amplifier – all while continuing to use the MSA5500's familiar streaming and preamplifier sections. You can rest assured that the MSA5500 can accommodate your changing needs and be a lifelong partner in your audio pursuits.

Bowers & Wilkins introduce Pi8 and Pi6 earbuds

Pi8 and Pi6 are our category-leading True Wireless earbuds. A new benchmark in earbud excellence, both models are engineered for the modern music lover and deliver unforgettable sound – true to the artist’s intent – wherever you go.

Pi8

Born from decades of engineering expertise and inspired by our flagship Px8 
over-ear wireless headphones, our new Pi8 earbuds provide all the outstanding performance, carefully crafted design and premium comfort your listening experiences deserve.

Pi6

An earbud that defines excellence in its True Wireless category. Class-leading audio performance, bespoke ANC and crystal-clear call quality with the comfort and elegance of a highly considered earbud design.

Check out the refreshed Sonus Faber Sonetto G2 collection!

The Sonetto G2 collection stands out for its bespoke approach to design, particularly in the custom engineering of each individual driver. Every driver in the Sonetto G2 series is meticulously crafted specifically for this collection – the first to incorporate acoustic technologies specifically developed for Sonus faber’s groundbreaking Suprema system, which was introduced earlier this year.

The Sonetto G2 collection includes a complete range of speakers, including stand-mount, floor- standing, and wall-mount options, designed to meet the needs of every listener, whether a music enthusiast or a professional audiophile. Each speaker has been constructed with high-quality materials and finished with the utmost attention to detail, embodying the very essence of Italian craftsmanship.

Acoustics Highlights

• The lute shape of the speakers, an iconic design feature of Sonus faber, not only adds a touch of elegance but also optimizes sound dispersion for an immersive listening experience.

• The high-quality wood cabinet has been further enhanced with a new concrete base, providing superior stability and better vibration management for impeccable sound performance.

• The woofer features a paper pulp sandwich cone for precise and dynamic bass response, paired with an organic basket for optimal air flow. Motors include aluminum demodulation rings to improve linearity.

• The tweeter in the Sonetto G2 collection features state-of-the-art Silk Dome DADTM (Damped Apex Dome) technology. With a response extending beyond 30kHz thanks to the incorporation of a copper cup, the tweeter reproduces the finest nuances in the audio spectrum, ensuring exceptional clarity and detail in sound reproduction.

Design Highlights

The Sonetto G2 series features a host of classic Sonus faber design highlights, including:

• Mid-High unity flange wrapped in leather (inspired by Olympica Nova and Stradivari)

• 45° angle top wood finish

• Metal finished rings around all drivers

• Single driver dust grills

The series also features design highlights that are new to Sonus faber products, including:

• The inclusion of a concrete base, which not only enhances stability and minimizes vibrations but also adds a modern and industrial aesthetic element to the speakers, complementing the classic wood and leather finishes. Concrete bases came with rubber feet, with optional spikes.

• The round binding post cover, adorned with the Sonus faber logo, serves both a functional and decorative purpose. Designed specifically for bi-wiring binding posts, it ensures the integrity of connections while adding a touch of refinement to the rear panel of the speakers.

Introducing the new BlueSound Node Family!

The Bluesound Node is getting a refresh along with two brand new models, the Bluesound Nano and the Bluesound Icon. The Nano is a more compact version of the Node, while the Icon includes a brand new display as well as many more inputs and outputs.

Here is a look at the new Nano next to an NAD integrated amplifier.

For the Audio Obsessed: From carefully built audio circuitry and components, to its breakthrough processing power and measurements, the NODE NANO is all about design and engineering. At its very core is an industry-leading ESS SABRE® DAC with Hyperstream® IV technology to deliver music (up to 24-bit/192kHz) with breathtaking dynamics and ultra-low distortion.

Built for Any Streaming Source: NODE NANO is powered by BluOS and natively supports many popular music streaming services including Amazon Music, Pandora, Qobuz, SiriusXM, Tidal, and more. It also features Apple AirPlay 2, aptX™ Adaptive Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect—perfect for listeners and users who want to stream all their favorite music, apps, and services with one device.

Simple and Easy: NODE NANO features a simple set of digital/analog outputs for connecting to existing audio components via RCA, Coax, Optical, and USB. It also features a backlit front touch panel for quick control and access up to two (2) programmable presets.

Our Best Streamer Ever Built: With carefully selected componentry, and a masterfully engineered Dual-Mono DAC design, the NODE ICON sets a new benchmark for wireless music streamers. It uses two ESS SABRE® ES9039Q2M DACs and a low-noise power supply to deliver superior dynamic range, ultra-low distortion, and the highest possible resolution ever heard. DAC performance is further enhanced by MQA Labs’ revolutionary technology, QRONO d2a, which corrects any timing errors in the digital-to-analogue conversion process and realigns the timing response to the original recording.

Beautifully Designed for Audiophiles: NODE ICON features a high-quality aluminum chassis and a stunning 5” full-colour HD display. Its sleek gloss black finish integrates seamlessly into any home or system, while its balanced XLR outputs are directly connected to the Dual-Mono DACs for exceptionally clear audio. It also features THX AAA™ headphone technology and supports DSD playback for studio-quality recordings.

High-Performance ADC: The NODE ICON is equipped with the latest two-channel ES9826 SABRE® ADC to power the conversion of analog audio to digital, adding virtually no noise or distortion to the signal path. The result is true-to-source analog audio with the convenience and versatility of digital.

Pricing and Availability

The NODE NANO is available now at $299 USD ($399 CAD, €349 EUR, £299 GBP) on bluesound.com and in authorized Bluesound dealers around the world. It will begin arriving to customers and available at dealer locations starting today.

The NODE is available for pre-order now at $549 USD ($749 CAD, €599 EUR, £499 GBP) in both Black and White finishes on bluesound.com and at participating Bluesound dealers globally. It will begin shipping to customers and available at dealer locations starting September 24, 2024.

The NODE ICON will be available for pre-order at $999 USD ($1399 CAD, €1099 EUR, £899 GBP) starting October 17, 2024, on bluesound.com and at Bluesound dealers. It will begin shipping to customers and dealer locations worldwide on November 15, 2024.

If you are interested come into the store or give us a call at (323) 931-8873.