Alpha Audio is all about the readers, the interaction AND the transfer of knowledge. This has been true from day one, and it will never change. To do this successfully, it is sometimes necessary to look critically at the tools you use. And that is what we have done. Welcome to our new website!
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Kestrel Audio KT-100 turntable
With the Kestrel Audio KT-100, you get a relatively affordable turntable that will take your vinyl hobby to the next level.
Disney Plus gets DTS:X
Disney Plus is the first video streamer to support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. So you can go either way, in terms of spatial sound.
Apple Music: The Seven Sonic Wonders
Dolby Laboratories has released their own and first album The Seven Sonic Wonders at Apple Music. Listen to all-encompassing extraordinary sounds of nature!
Cayin HA-2A tube headphone amplifier
What is special about the Cayin HA-2A tube amplifier for headphones is that only NOS matched tubes are used in it.
Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II
The new Cambridge Audio CXA81 Mk II is set up as a class AB amplifier and features numerous extras.
LG WebOS has serious leak
It’s important to update your TV with LG WebOS as soon as possible. Because of a serious leak in WebOS that can have nasty consequences.
ATC SCM20ASL Limited Edition
You can be part of the manufacturer’s 50th anniversary with their limited edition ATC SCM20ASL.
Totem Acoustics Loon
The Totem Acoustics Loon is a compact speaker freshly launched at Axpona 2024, a well-known audio show in the US.
Audirvāna announces a Linux beta program
French company Audirvāna creates software for playing music files and from streaming services Qobuz, Tidal and HighResAudio. The latter service is a German music shop with a streaming service.
Audirvāna is installed on a Mac or Windows machine, and nice apps for the phone or tablet are available to control the software from the couch. Audirvāna streams using UPnP, Chromecast or an USB connection between the computer and the DAC or streamer. We are enamoured by Audirvāna’s sound quality, see our review.
The company has been making headway with their ‘Plays with Audirvāna’ certification programme, which is joined by more and more manufacturers. Now they are taking the next step and have announced a Linux version of their software.
Unlike the Windows and Mac version, this Linux version is without an interface. The software is operated through a new version of the app for phone or tablet. Besides Linux, the software can also be installed on a QNAP NAS. This step opens the door to using Audirvāna on Raspberry Pi-based streamers, like Volumio and the open source software Ropieee XL also offer. Ropieee XL is widely used to make a Roon endpoint of a streamer.
We expect to see Audirvāna Linux added as a choice in due course, currently the software is still in beta testing. Great fun for computer audio enthusiasts, you can test the software by navigating to Audirvāna’s Linux forum.
Tidal started its lower subscription prices
Where Spotify is desperately trying to become profitable by increasing subscriptions, Tidal subscribers now enjoy a lower price.