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15 Cool New Speakers, Amps and Hi-Fi Gear to Keep on Your Wishlist

Including a bunch of vintage-inspired amps and loudspeakers from your favorite hi-fi brands.

Marantz Horizon speakerMarantz

By Tucker Bowe

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We’re in the business end of the year for new product releases. As such, a ton of new gadgets have been announced this fall — particularly in the realm of hi-fi and audio.

From a bunch of vintage-inspired amplifiers and loudspeakers, Sonos’s best-ever soundbar, a new portable speaker by Bose, and several audiophile turntables — there’s been a lot to keep track of.

Below, we’ve rounded up the coolest new hi-fi and audio gear announced since the school year started.

KEF Q Concerto Meta

The KEF Q Concerto Meta are three-way bookshelf speakers that are named after the company’s original 3-way bookshelf speakers from 1969. They boast many of the same technologies as the company’s new entry-level line of loudspeakers: the Q Series Meta. 

VPI Forever Model One

The American hi-fi manufacturer’s audiophile-grade turntable is the first in its new “Forever” series. It has a unique modular design that makes upgrading some key components — such as its tonarm, suspension system and motor drive and platter — quite streamlined. The idea is that when VPI releases new models in its Forever series, you can upgrade this Model One with newer components.

Grado Signature HP100 SE

The Grado Signature HP100 SE are contemporary versions of the New York-based audio company classic Signature HP1, its first-ever headphones released in the early 1990s. These new models share a similar 90s nostalgia, but have been re-engineered from the ground up with new drivers and modern design improvements.

Wharfedale Super Linton

The legendary British hi-fi maker revealed the latest addition to its Heritage Series. The Super Linton are modern versions of its 1975-released Linton loudspeakers — and updated versions of its 2019-released Linton heritage loudspeakers — featuring updated drivers, a dual-layer cabinet and a new crossover design. The result is a legendary vintage-looking speaker that promises vastly improved sound.

Pro-Ject The Classic Reference

Like the rest of Pro-Ject’s Classic line, The Classic Reference blends modern technologies with retro designs reminiscent of the 1960s and 70s. The difference is that the Austrian hi-fi maker decked this special-edition model with higher-quality components for an elevated look and sound. According to the brand, you can think of it as a “supremely upgraded” version of its Classic Evo ($1,999).

Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000

The Japanese audio company released its first pair of headphones, the AT-700 series, back in 1974. Fifty years later, it’s releasing these new audiophile wired headphones to celebrate its half-century in the headphone business.

Quad 33 and Quad 303 (2024)

The revered British hi-fi company released new-age versions of its 303 stereo amplifier and 33 preamplifier that were originally released in 1967. Both have a similar vintage look as their forbearers but have been modernized inside and out.

Ruark R-CD100 CD Player

Despite the name, the Ruark R-CD100 is more of a CD transport than a CD player. It lacks a built-in DAC and thus needs to be connected to a modern audio component. The British hi-fi recommends pairing it with its other Series 100 components, such as its R410 all-in-one speaker or R610 streaming amplifier, as they have the same vintage aesthetic.

Marantz Grand Horizon and Horizon

The Horizon and larger Grand Horizon are Marantz’s first-ever wireless speakers (and its first speakers in decades). Each speaker has a flat, spherical design that consists of high-frequency and midrange drive units and a central subwoofer. They support of both wired and wireless connections so that you can use them in a lot of different ways.

Sonos Arc Ultra

The Sonos Arc Ultra is the company’s new flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar. It’s essentially an upgraded version of the Arc, with more drivers (14 compared to the Arc’s 11) and a new woofer that harnesses “Sound Motion” transducer technology. Sonos claims that the Arc Ultra delivers double the bass, improved dialogue (thanks to an improved center channel) and a more immersive 9.1.4 surround sound. At $999, it’s $100 more expensive than the Arc.

Cambridge Audio EXA100

The Cambridge Audio EXA100 is an integrated amplifier that utilizes trickle-down technologies from the company’s $5,000 Edge M amplifier. It’s incredibly versatile, boasting many wired connections and wireless streaming capabilities. According to James Johnson-Flint, Cambridge Audio’s owner and CEO, it’s “pound for pound, the finest amplifier we’ve ever built.”

The Bose SoundLink Home is the company’s newest portable Bluetooth speaker. Unlike Bose, this new speaker has a distinctly old-school look thanks to a metal body and fabric grille. It lacks any app compatibility, so it should be straightforward to use. That said, it doesn’t have a water-resistance rating and is meant predominantly to be listened to indoors.

Goldring GR3

Best known for its high-quality phono cartridges, the British hi-fi maker revealed its first turntable in 20 years. The Goldring GR3 is a beautiful belt-drive turntable with the company’s award-winning Goldring E3 moving magnet cartridge. It also has a built-in phono preamp, thus promises to work well with powered and active speaker systems.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition

Bowers & Wilkins revealed its first Zeppelin, which was a glorified iPod speaker, back in 2007. In recent years, it’s released more modern versions of its signature speaker with wireless streaming capabilities. This Pro Edition is an upgraded version of its 2021-released Zeppelin, with improved drivers and tech, and promises more hi-fi sound.

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