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Officially launched at the Munich High End Show at the beginning of May, Onkyo’s DP-X1 Digital Audio Player should cover all hi-res needs, thanks to its ability to handle 24-bit/384kHz FLAC/WAV files along with DSD 11. 2MHz and support for lossless MQA (via a free update). The portable player utilises an Android operating system (and so can download additional apps from Google Play, while the pre-loaded OnkyoMusic service allows music download without the use of a PC), boasts 32GB internal storage (of which 7GB is used by the system) and employs ESS Technology’s Sabre ES9018K2M DAC for conversion. There are two microSD card slots for adding extra memory (up to 432GB) and outputs for both 2.

Unveiled together with a fully featured NS-6130 sibling, the NS-6170 combines intuitive usability with a traditional twin-monaural circuit layout and unique wideband filtering technology to effectively exploit the untapped potential of 11. 2MHz DSD and 192kHz/24-bit PCM Hi-Res Audio. The NS-6170 network audio player (above) is equipped with Google Cast, AirPlay, Spotify, wi-fi and a HDD-ready USB input. It's based on a twin-monaural L/R channel layout with separate power supply paths, discrete custom capacitors for each channel, and dual-differential 768 kHz/32-bit AK4490 DACs to decode the positive and negative halves of the signal waveform.

The market for stereo receivers is hotting up and Onkyo has launched two new models in the form of the £250 TX-8220 and £530 TX-8250 (pictured). The networkable TX-8250 claims a power output of 2x 135W into 6ohm, six RCA inputs and a moving-magnet phono stage. It has a hefty selection of additional features and sports optical and coaxial digital inputs, a USB audio connection and supports DTS Play-Fi, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and TuneIn. All decoding is handled by an internal AKM DAC, with support for 24/192 and DSD128 files.

Floorstanding magic from the UK

There are global events that happen in our lifetime, unusual days where you receive news about something so earth shattering that it seems to make even time itself stand still as you slowly come to terms with the reality that the world you knew up until that moment has changed forever. For me, the announcement of David Bowie’s death on Monday 11 January is one of those moments where everything seemed to slow and an already grey winter morning felt just that little bit darker. Things around me appeared to take on a different look and feel as the news unfolded in a hushed and reverent tone from BBC Radio 6 Music and the story began to sink in. I was in the kitchen at the time making breakfast after an early start, and I imagine that I will always be able to recall the sinking feeling that washed over me and stopped me dead in my tracks as the news broke and I began to comprehend the magnitude of what was being revealed.

A brace of Bluetooth speakers from the ace amp manufacturer