August 2026

Interview: Maxim Liadov visits the Davai Zapishem channel

31 August 2026

ProSound iXBT editor-in-chief Maxim Liadov is the guest in a new episode on the popular Davai Zapishem YouTube channel.

In a direct conversation with Alexander Nikulshin, Maxim explains how his 26 years of reviewing and testing professional audio equipment began. He describes the history of the well-known RightMark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) test utility, explains quality differences between modern audio interfaces from MOTU to RME, and gives his views on the widespread use of DSP chips in current ADAM and Kali Audio monitors. The episode also discusses whether high-end headphones costing thousands of dollars can fully replace studio monitors. Maxim shares his experience of developing Russian Lisk Audio sound cards, names leading Russian brands and talks about his unusual hobby. Follow the link below to watch the full video and support the team with a like.

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xSTS — a gaming headset for streaming

28 August 2026

Audio-Technica has expanded its ATH range with an affordable full-size wired streaming headset based on the studio ATH-M20x model.

Photo: official website audio-technica

The new headset suits content monitoring, podcasting and gaming. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers provide full-range sound with enhanced bass. A cardioid electret condenser microphone on a flexible but sturdy boom delivers clear speech in the style of Audio-Technica's well-known 2020.

Photo: official website audio-technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xSTS specifications

Type: closed-back, dynamic
Headphone frequency range: 15 Hz–20 kHz
Microphone frequency range: 50 Hz–20 kHz
Maximum input power: 700 mW
Sensitivity: 96 dB/mW
Impedance: 47 ohms
Weight: 236 g without cable.

Photo: official website audio-technica

Moving the boom mutes the microphone, and the earpads are easy to replace. The package includes a detachable 2 m cable with a four-pole 3.5 mm plug for consoles, plus USB-C and USB-A adapters for plug-and-play connection to computers and mobile devices.

Photo: official website audio-technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xSTS will be available for $100.

Arturia Pure SUB — a bass VST synthesizer

27 August 2026

Arturia has released a bass-focused software synthesizer for creating 808s, Reese basses and other low-frequency sounds.

Photo: official website arturia

The monophonic software instrument has three sections: Sub, Harmonics and Texture. Sub provides the fundamental frequency, with independent processing and routing control. Harmonics offers a choice of two engines, additive or wavetable, for shaping, detuning and widening harmonics. It also controls how much signal is sent to the pitch envelope. Texture adds noise that can be shaped in relation to the fundamental using ring modulation, AM or distortion.

Photo: official website arturia

The modulation section uses the same drag-and-drop assignment approach as Arturia's flagship software synthesizer Pigments. Effects include a Sub Processor with 33 modes and an FX Rack with 12 slots and 18 effects: Reverb, Delay, Tape Echo, Pitch Delay, Compressor, Multiband, Filters, Param EQ, Distortion, Bitcrusher, Trans Gate, Super Unison, Chorus, Chorus JUN-6, Flanger, Flanger BL-20, Phaser and Panner.

Photo: official website arturia

Arturia Pure SUB is available for $50. More information is available on the official website Arturia.

Fostex T50RP-BT — a full-size wireless Bluetooth headset

27 August 2026

For the first time in more than 50 years, Fostex has expanded its RP range with a wireless headset.

Photo: official website fostex

The headphones use the same fourth-generation planar magnetic drivers as the T50RPmk4. These have a wider diaphragm vibration range, larger magnets and a new printed coil pattern. The drivers provide precise, detailed sound and a wide soundstage. Battery life during playback is 48 hours.

Photo: official website fostex

Fostex T50RP-BT specifications

Frequency range: 20 Hz–20 kHz
Supported profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, LE Audio
Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
LE Audio codec: LC3
Weight: 342 g without microphone.

Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound provides aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive support. The included USB-C transceiver offers low latency of 20 ms with a computer. The headset has both a built-in microphone and a detachable microphone. Slow-recovery earpads surround the ears. Together with the traditional semi-open enclosure and its ventilation, the earpads provide comfort during long listening and gaming sessions. Optional Toray Ultrasuede earpads are also available (EX-EP-RP-SUEDE).

Photo: official website fostex

Fostex T50RP-BT will be available for around $300.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 — wireless in-ear headphones

26 August 2026

Sennheiser has released the fifth generation of its flagship true wireless earbuds, with updated adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation.

Photo: official website sennheiser

The main additions are batteries that users can replace with a screwdriver, and 7 mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers for detailed sound with full bass. Bluetooth 6.0 and aptX Adaptive work with Snapdragon Sound to provide stable high-resolution wireless audio, including aptX Lossless. Eight sensors support clear voice transmission: six microphones and two voice bone-conduction accelerometers work with an AI speech-extraction algorithm to separate speech from busy surroundings.

Photo: official website sennheiser

Other features include updated adaptive hybrid ANC and transparency mode using four microphones, automatic wind protection and redesigned eartips. Dolby Atmos and spatial audio support interactive head tracking. Playback time is 12 hours per charge, with more than two additional charges from the Qi-compatible wireless charging case. The earbuds have IP54 protection, a low-latency mode and Smart Control Plus integration. The app provides an eight-band equalizer, guided interactive sound personalisation and detailed settings.

Photo: official website sennheiser

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 will be available on 3 September 2026 in lavender, copper, graphite, cream and blue for $300.

Yamaha CXR12 mk3 — a passive live sound speaker

25 August 2026

Following the 10-inch model , Yamaha has expanded the third-generation CXR range with a 12-inch two-way speaker.

Photo: official website yamaha

Like the compact version, the speaker handles a maximum power of 1,100 W. It suits musicians, mobile DJs, rental companies and corporate events. The new model has Yamaha's 12-inch woofer and a 1.75-inch compression tweeter with a polyimide diaphragm. Symmetrical cone movement provides linear bass reproduction, while the high-frequency design eliminates audible distortion. A key feature is software integration: connecting Yamaha PX power amplifiers with firmware V1.66 or later activates precise factory presets. These improve clarity, headroom and the efficiency of the whole speaker system.

Photo: official website yamaha

Yamaha CXR12 mk3 specifications

Maximum sound pressure level: 124 dB
Frequency range: 51 Hz–20 kHz
Sensitivity: 94 dB
Impedance: 8 ohms
Dimensions: 36.6 × 60 × 35 cm
Weight: 15.4 kg.

Photo: official website yamaha

The lightweight, strong cabinet has carefully positioned bass-reflex ports to minimise internal standing waves and even out bass response. A large horn controls dispersion across a wide frequency range. The symmetrical cabinet allows mirrored placement as floor monitors on stage. A dual-angle pole socket supports level mounting or a 7° downward tilt for directing sound towards the audience. Built-in suspension points accept standard eyebolts, and rubber-coated handles help with transport. Optional accessories include a U-bracket for wall or ceiling mounting and a multipurpose protective cover.

Photo: official website yamaha

Yamaha CXR12 mk3 is available for $750.

Haken Audio Slim 21 Continuum 21s8x — a compact USB/MIDI keyboard and synthesizer

24 August 2026

Haken Audio has released a portable MPE+ instrument in its Slim Continuum range.

Photo: official website hakenaudio

The new model spans 21 semitones, almost two octaves, on a neoprene touch surface. Twelve independent sensors track each finger, responding to pressure, pitch and movement. The controller has a sturdy metal enclosure and a built-in EaganMatrix digital synthesis engine. The engine offers subtractive synthesis, physical modelling with modal filters, FM synthesis and more than 500 presets.

Photo: official website hakenaudio

The included Haken Editor software programs the engine directly on macOS or Windows. The 21s8x is assembled and calibrated by hand, with close attention to both hardware and software. Connections include USB-C, two 6.3 mm TRS stereo outputs, a 6.3 mm TRS stereo headphone output, S/PDIF input and output on RCA, a 3.5 mm I2C port for an optional voltage converter, 3.5 mm MIDI I/O and two 6.3 mm pedal inputs.

Photo: official website hakenaudio

Haken Audio Slim 21 Continuum 21s8x will be available for $1,800.

Registration continues for the 30th-anniversary Hi-Fi & High End Show Moscow 2026

23 August 2026

The 30th-anniversary Hi-Fi & High End Show Moscow 2026 takes place from 23 to 25 October at Moscow's Borodino Congress Hotel. Visitor registration is open on the official event website.

Over 30 years, the exhibition has become a major audio industry meeting place, bringing together market leaders, setting trends and introducing new names. The anniversary event will have the largest display in its history, featuring flagship audio systems, important new products and recent technological developments. The business programme includes talks by experts, international specialists and specialist bloggers. Interactive zones and other activities complete the programme.

Photo: official website midexpo

The Hi-Fi & High End Show 2026 anniversary programme includes:

Russia's largest display of premium audiovisual equipment, across ten hotel floors;
More than 120 rooms and seven halls showing new advanced equipment;
Over 400 brands from leading international and Russian manufacturers;
A HI-FI Vinyl zone with a wide selection of collectible records;
Intimate concerts by well-known musicians and rock performers;
Meetings with industry professionals, partners and fellow enthusiasts;
New themed events in the business and entertainment programmes;
Original presentations by industry experts and leading bloggers;
Results of the TOP HIGH END awards;
Exclusive prize draws marking the anniversary.

The organisers have also announced a new Hi-Fi & High End Show Spring season. It continues the project's 30-year history and responds to current market needs. The spring event will cover the rapidly growing portable audio sector and attract installers, interior designers and a younger generation of audiophiles. Equipment developers, industry experts and commentators will discuss key technology trends and share practical examples.

The exhibition's main focus:

Hi-Fi & High End equipment
An expanded Portable & Desktop Audio display
The Top High End Portable awards
An extensive business programme and a wide-ranging educational programme on home cinema.

Photo: official website midexpo

The exhibition takes place from 9 to 11 April 2027 at the Borodino Congress Hotel.

Yamaha PSR-SX620 — an arranger workstation

21 August 2026

Yamaha has expanded the PSR range with the SX620, replacing the SX600. The new model adds features and a completely redesigned control layout drawn from the range's larger flagship workstations.

Photo: official website yamaha

The sound engine uses AWM stereo sampling and offers 128-note polyphony. The library contains 1,002 instrument voices, including 137 S.Articulation! voices, 51 drum/SFX kits and 480 XG voices. There are 450 dynamic styles, with Style Section Reset for instantly realigning the rhythm to the downbeat. The main additions are a joystick replacing the pitch and modulation wheels, and a built-in Chord Looper.

Photo: official website yamaha

The instrument has a redesigned control panel with a new ergonomic layout and a bright 4.3-inch colour TFT display at 480 × 272 pixels. The 30 W speaker system, with two 15 W speakers, has a larger internal acoustic chamber and patented BassPort bass ports for deep, full bass. USB-A and a modern USB-C port connect external storage and computers.

Photo: official website yamaha

The PSR-SX620 has built-in Bluetooth and supports the Expansion Explorer mobile app for loading custom expansion packs. Internal sample memory is 380 MB. The 61 full-size organ-style keys have adjustable velocity sensitivity. Other additions include nine effects blocks with 322 presets and 30 user settings, supplementing send and master effects such as reverb, chorus, DSP, master compression, master EQ and part EQ. A separate microphone effects processor provides noise reduction, compression and EQ. The headphone output is now on the front panel. Connections also include two pedal sockets, a microphone input and an AUX input.

Photo: official website yamaha

Yamaha PSR-SX620 will be available for $1,300.

FiiO Jade Audio JT9 — full-size open-back planar headphones

20 August 2026

FiiO has released affordable open-back audiophile headphones.

Photo: official website fiio

The new model uses 95 × 86 mm planar magnetic drivers with an ultra-thin PET diaphragm just 1 μm thick. A combined two-layer aluminium and sapphire coating provides efficient voice coil conductivity and greater structural rigidity to reduce unwanted distortion.

Photo: official website fiio

FiiO Jade Audio JT9 specifications

Type: full-size, open-back, planar
Frequency range: 7 Hz–40 kHz
Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW
Impedance: 20 ohms
Weight: 365 g.

A patented magnet system creates an even magnetic field to minimise uneven diaphragm movement. The headband has a multi-axis folding design, and the earcups rotate up to 90°. This allows the 365 g headphones to fit compactly in the included rigid waterproof case. Asymmetrical ergonomic earpads provide an even, comfortable fit.

Photo: official website fiio

Cables connect through standard 3.5 mm TS sockets on both earcups. The package includes a 6.35 mm adapter and two detachable 1.5 m oxygen-free copper cables: an unbalanced 3.5 mm cable and a balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn cable.

Photo: official website fiio

FiiO Jade Audio JT9 will be available in black and dark brown for around $200.

Harrison Audio Flex-10 — a USB audio interface

19 August 2026

Harrison Audio has released its first desktop audio interface, a 10 × 12 model styled like a mixing console.

Photo: official website harrisonaudio

The device has two Harrison microphone preamplifiers with H-DRIVE transformer saturation. Its sturdy metal enclosure includes authentic VU meters that switch between the main and alternate outputs. The Flex-10 also has classic Harrison high-pass and low-pass filters taken from the original 32-series consoles.

Photo: official website harrisonaudio

Connections include two separate 6.3 mm TRS instrument inputs, two 6.3 mm TRS line inputs, two XLR microphone inputs and eight channels of ADAT I/O. Flexible monitoring uses 6.3 mm TRS outputs: two independent headphone outputs, a main left/right pair and alternate outputs 1 and 3. Other connections include two 6.3 mm TRS Send and Return sockets, 3.5 mm MIDI I/O and USB-C.

Photo: official website harrisonaudio

The interface includes Harrison Creator Pack, a collection of virtual instruments, plugins, loops and samples from partners including Solid State Logic, Slate Digital, Sonible, Loopcloud, AAS, Native Instruments and IK Multimedia. A full Harrison Mixbus 12 DAW licence is also included.

Photo: official website harrisonaudio

Harrison Audio Flex-10 will be available for around $650.

Manley Labs Dual Mid Band EQ — a two-channel passive equalizer

18 August 2026

Following the release of the Dual Main Band EQ, Manley Labs has introduced an equalizer for processing vocals, guitars, strings and midrange frequencies during mixing and mastering.

Photo: official website manley

Unlike the Main, which mainly uses shelving filters, the Mid Band version focuses entirely on high-inductance bell filters. Each channel has two midrange bands, covering lower and upper midrange, with stepped selection of ten fixed frequencies from 200 Hz to 7 kHz. The circuitry uses passive inductors, input and output tube gain stages with 5751 and 12BH7 tubes, and Manley Iron transformers.

Photo: official website manley

The new model supports Left/Right and Mid/Side operation, but has no internal matrix. Specifications include a total frequency range of 10 Hz to 70 kHz, a signal-to-noise ratio of 89 dB, an output level of +30 dBu and THD+N below 0.01%. The sturdy metal 2U enclosure fits a standard 19-inch rack. Connections include two XLR/TRS combo inputs and two pairs of separate XLR and 6.35 mm TRS outputs.

Photo: official website manley

Manley Labs Dual Mid Band EQ will be available for around $5,500.

Yamaha CXR10 mk3 — a passive live sound speaker

17 August 2026

Yamaha has introduced a two-way speaker system, the most compact model in the third-generation CXR range.

Photo: official website yamaha

The new model handles a maximum power of 1,100 W. It suits mobile use by musicians and DJs, as well as fixed installations in different venues. The speaker uses Yamaha's 10-inch woofer and a 1.75-inch compression tweeter with a polyimide diaphragm. Symmetrical cone movement provides linear bass reproduction, while the high-frequency design eliminates audible distortion. A key feature is software integration: Yamaha PX-series power amplifiers with firmware V1.66 or later provide precise presets that improve clarity, headroom and overall system efficiency.

Photo: official website yamaha

Yamaha CXR10 mk3 specifications

Maximum sound pressure level: 123 dB
Frequency range: 54 Hz–20 kHz
Sensitivity: 93 dB
Impedance: 8 ohms
Dimensions: 31 × 50.2 × 31 cm
Weight: 12.2 kg.

The lightweight, strong cabinet has carefully positioned bass-reflex ports to reduce standing waves and even out bass response. A large horn controls dispersion across a wide frequency range. The symmetrical design allows mirrored placement as floor monitors on stage. A dual-angle pole socket supports level mounting or a 7° downward tilt towards the audience. Built-in suspension points accept standard eyebolts. Optional accessories include a U-bracket for wall or ceiling mounting and a multipurpose protective cover. Rubber-coated handles help with transport.

Photo: official website yamaha

Yamaha CXR10 mk3 is available for around $700.

Softube Reference EQs — emulations of vintage passive equalizers

15 August 2026

Softube has released two separate VST plugins that closely emulate rare vintage tube devices. Designed for mastering, the plugins provide analogue colour and density without phase distortion.

Photo: official website softube

Reference 1998 Equalizer uses a DSP engine to provide four passive parallel EQ bands for two channels. A high-headroom tube stage emulation adds subtle saturation. Shelving filters produce broad, smooth or more coloured curves and support the classic low-end mixing trick.

Photo: official website softube

Reference 1956 Equalizer is modelled on a rare stereo version of the original hardware, with additional fixed frequency choices. Its advanced panel adds modern digital features: a built-in Mid/Side encoder/decoder, separate gain controls for left/right or M/S channels, and a Headroom knob.

Photo: official website softube

Reference 1998 and Reference 1956 cost $100 each. The Reference Equalizers Bundle costs $150. Both equalizers support Console 1 Ready and can load directly into Softube Equalizers. They run on Windows and macOS in VST3, AU and AAX formats.

KRK V8S5 — an active studio monitor

14 August 2026

Following the 6-inch model, KRK has introduced the flagship two-way model in its V Series Five range. The range combines established acoustic designs with advanced digital technology for precise monitoring in small studios, broadcast rooms and immersive Dolby Atmos systems.

Photo: official website krkmusic

The new model has an 8-inch yellow woven Kevlar woofer, a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter and a front bass-reflex port. The V Series Five range uses a built-in two-channel Class D amplifier delivering 455 W in total. KRK Mesh wireless technology allows remote adjustment of individual monitors or groups through the KRK Control App. The monitor's digital section uses premium ESS converters and Analog Devices DSP processors.

Photo: official website krkmusic

KRK V8S5 specifications

Maximum sound pressure level: 121 dB
Frequency range: 32 Hz–40 kHz (-10 dB)
Amplifier power: 280 W (bass), 175 W (treble)
Signal-to-noise ratio: >100 dB
Crossover frequency: 1.3 kHz
Dimensions: 43.9 × 28.5 × 35.8 cm
Weight: 14.7 kg.

Room calibration uses 25 fixed Boundary EQ preset combinations plus seven professional parametric equalizers. Connections include a Neutrik XLR/TRS combo analogue input, AES3 digital audio with AES3 Thru and USB-C. The cabinet combines a solid MDF base with PVC vinyl finish and a die-cast aluminium front panel, plus a removable protective grille.

Photo: official website krkmusic

KRK V8S5 is available for $1,000.

Triton Audio Tilt EQ — an equalizer for ribbon, dynamic and tube microphones

13 August 2026

Triton Audio has expanded its portable product range with a compact phantom-powered equalizer.

Photo: official website tritonaudio

The device combines a built-in +22 dB preamplifier and a simple one-knob equalizer. Turning the knob clockwise boosts treble and cuts bass; turning it anticlockwise does the opposite. Tilt EQ uses standard 48 V phantom power but does not pass it to the connected microphone. Like the Kompressor, the new model has XLR input and output.

Photo: official website tritonaudio

Triton Audio Tilt EQ will be available for around $100.

Manley Labs Dual Main Band EQ — a two-channel passive equalizer

12 August 2026

Manley Labs has released the Dual Main Band EQ passive inductor equalizer for demanding studio recording, mixing and mastering tasks.

Photo: official website manley

The equalizer provides full bass, clear and expressive treble, and a deep, spacious sound. It offers a signal-to-noise ratio of 96 dB and tube amplification with custom Manley Iron transformers. Passive inductor circuits replace active gain stages in the EQ section. Output level exceeds +30 dBu, with 26 dB output headroom above +4 dBu.

Photo: official website manley

Main Band EQ supports Left/Right and Mid/Side operation, but has no internal matrix. The 2U rack unit offers THD+N below 0.01%. The specified frequency response is flat within ±0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 22 kHz, with a total frequency range of 10 Hz to 70 kHz. Connections include two XLR/TRS combo inputs and two pairs of separate XLR and 6.35 mm TRS outputs.

Photo: official website manley

Manley Labs Dual Main Band EQ will be available for around $5,000.

GC Audio Total Recall Producer Channel — an analogue channel strip

11 August 2026

GC Audio has released the first device in its Total Recall range. The 2U unit is designed for both studio and live work.

Photo: official website gc-audio

The device combines a fully analogue sound with remote control and recall through a plugin. The input section has a Class A microphone preamplifier with a Lundahl transformer. In addition to microphone and line signals, it accepts instruments through a front-panel input. Controls include switchable phantom power, a pad, an 80 Hz high-pass filter and polarity inversion. A four-band optically controlled parametric equalizer follows, with independent gain, frequency and Q settings for each band.

Photo: official website gc-audio

The dynamics section has a VCA compressor with an independent de-esser. The compressor can sit before or after the equalizer. A Warmth control adjusts tube saturation. Producer Channel settings can be saved and recalled instantly, with motorised controls moving automatically when settings load. The companion plugin connects through USB and saves settings with the DAW session. Users can also save and load settings directly on the device through its display and menus.

Photo: official website gc-audio

GC Audio Total Recall Producer Channel is available for around $2,000.

Arturia Pigments Play — a free virtual synthesizer

10 August 2026

Arturia has released a virtual instrument offering the basic features of its flagship software synthesizer. It supports Windows 10 or later and macOS 11 or later in VST, AAX and AU formats, and as a standalone application.

Photo: official website arturia

The new instrument is a reduced version of Pigments , Arturia's flagship virtual synthesizer. Play has 100 presets covering a wide range of sounds for pop, R&B, garage, house, drum and bass, trap, ambient and other genres. Users can buy additional sound banks. The built-in Pigments engine supports six synthesis methods, 68 filter types and 20 effects.

Photo: official website arturia

Pigments Play does not allow full sound editing, but provides basic controls for two synthesis engines, two filters, an amplitude envelope and four effects. Four macro controls offer quick one-knob adjustment: Timbre, Character, Time and FX.

Photo: official website arturia

More information and the synthesizer download are available on the official website Arturia.

KRK V6S5 — an active studio monitor

6 August 2026

Following the V4 , KRK has expanded its V Series Five range with a six-inch two-way nearfield studio monitor.

Photo: official website krkmusic

The new model has a 6.5-inch yellow woven Kevlar woofer, a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter and a front bass-reflex port. A built-in two-channel Class D amplifier delivers 455 W in total. Like the four-inch version, the V6 supports KRK Mesh wireless technology. Users can adjust individual monitors or groups remotely over Bluetooth through the KRK Control App. The monitor uses high-quality ESS DACs and an Analog Devices DSP processor.

Photo: official website krkmusic

KRK V6S5 specifications

Maximum sound pressure level: 118 dB
Frequency range: 40 Hz–40 kHz (-10 dB)
Amplifier power: 280 W (bass), 175 W (treble)
Signal-to-noise ratio: >100 dB
Crossover frequency: 1.3 kHz
Dimensions: 35.6 × 23 × 29.5 cm
Weight: 9.3 kg.

Photo: official website krkmusic

Room calibration uses 25 Boundary EQ combinations plus seven professional parametric equalizers. Connections include a Neutrik XLR/TRS combo analogue input, AES3 digital audio with AES3 Thru and USB-C. The MDF cabinet has a PVC vinyl finish, a strong die-cast aluminium front panel and a removable protective grille.

Photo: official website krkmusic

KRK V6S5 is available for $850.

reFX Rippler — a hybrid software synthesizer

4 August 2026

reFX has released a hybrid virtual instrument combining physical modelling and classic subtractive synthesis. It can reproduce the sound of acoustic instruments.

Photo: official website refx

The plugin has two layers, Layer A and Layer B, with independent routing. Its sound engine uses advanced physical modelling with resonator blocks to reproduce instrument sounds without samples. Twelve basic models are available: String, Drumhead, Beam, Djembe, Squared, Vibraphone, Bell, Marimba, Membrane, Open Tube, Plate and Closed Tube.

Photo: official website refx

The Exciter section accepts built-in impulses, 32 included samples, imported user sounds or an external sidechain signal. A noise generator can also feed the resonators, together with the exciter or separately. Manual resonator control replaces the physical model with a user-defined series of partial resonances drawn by hand. Resonator configurations can be saved as snapshots, with smooth transitions between them in real time.

Photo: official website refx

Rippler has two oscillators with Phase, Fold and Asymmetry controls. They can be layered with the physically modelled output to blend, strengthen or thicken the sound. Both the oscillators and the physical modelling engine feed two filters. There are 27 filter types, including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, vintage-style and ladder filters, plus a Vowel filter with formant shifting.

Photo: official website refx

reFX Rippler is available at a temporary price of $100. The regular price is $130.

Modular Audio Tools MAT 16X8 — a portable USB audio interface

3 August 2026

Modular Audio has released its first compact portable audio interface with 16 inputs and eight outputs.

Photo: official website modularaudiotools

Weighing just 135 g, the interface has eight 3.5 mm TRS line input sockets for up to 16 independent channels, or eight stereo pairs. There are no microphone preamplifiers or gain controls. This helps reduce noise and provides a clean signal path for external synthesizers, drum machines and grooveboxes. Four 3.5 mm TRS stereo output sockets provide eight analogue output channels.

Photo: official website modularaudiotools

High-quality converters offer a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB. Specified latency is 3.7 ms. A built-in headphone amplifier has a dedicated volume control and cue monitoring for outputs 1/2 or 3/4. MIDI connections include one automatically detected TRS-A/B input and two independent TRS-A outputs. USB-C provides data and power over USB 2.0 High Speed, with maximum power consumption of 2 W. The cable is not included. The slim enclosure measures 222 × 60 × 11 mm, and a branded case is included.

Photo: official website modularaudiotools

Modular Audio Tools MAT 16X8 is available for around $500.

Tascam LA-80 MKII — an eight-channel line-level converter

3 August 2026

Following the four-channel LA-40, Tascam has introduced an eight-channel model in the second generation of its LA line-level converter range.

Photo: official website tascam

Like the LA-40, the converter has a sturdy metal 1U enclosure and a built-in universal power supply. The main difference is one-way conversion from unbalanced to balanced audio across eight independent channels, with RCA inputs and XLR outputs. The RCA inputs accept the consumer line level of -10 dBV. Each XLR output switches between nominal levels of +4 dBu and -20 dBu. Every channel has a signal LED and a trim potentiometer with a ±12 dB adjustment range for precise level calibration.

Photo: official website tascam

Audio Distribution Amplifier (ADA) technology also makes the LA-80 MKII an active signal splitter. An Input Link switch matrix routes one input signal to several outputs at once. Possible configurations include one input to eight outputs for multichannel recorders, or two groups of one input to four outputs for multizone routing. Individual channel Ground Lift switches, an All Lift switch and a dedicated ground terminal help reduce mains interference.

Photo: official website tascam

Tascam LA-80 MKII is available for $500.

Yamaha CXS18 mk3 — a passive band-pass subwoofer

1 August 2026

Following the release of the CXS15, Yamaha has expanded its third-generation CXS subwoofer range with an 18-inch model. It is designed to work with CXR mk3 speakers and PX/PC-D amplifiers.

Photo: official website yamaha

The new model has an 18-inch woofer with a 4-inch voice coil. The entire CXS mk3 range uses a band-pass design to minimise noise and resonance. Power handling is 500 W Noise, 1,000 W Program and 2,000 W Peak at 4 ohms. The frequency range is 35–150 Hz in passive mode, or 32–120 Hz in Extended mode. Maximum peak sound pressure level is 129 dB SPL.

Photo: official website yamaha

Like the rest of the CXS mk3 range, the CXS18 has a multilayer acoustic plywood cabinet with a protective polyurea coating. Connections use Neutrik speakON NL4MP input and output sockets. Other features include cardioid mode support, two side handles and a dual 35 mm/M20 pole socket. Optional accessories are the SPCVR-DXS183 cover and SPW-1 transport wheels.

Photo: official website yamaha

Yamaha CXS18 mk3 is available for around $1,500.