Spotify has introduced yet another fresh feature in an attempt to entice new users. The Party feature lets you choose DJ-style mixed playlists, from chilled parties to something more upbeat. Each song in a playlist is beat-matched and mixed to make sure your party passes without a hitch (or any silence between tracks). DJ and producer Diplo has delivered his own Party mix of 120 tracks.
Source: Spotify
Horch House
Horch House has made it its mission to bring the magic of analogue master tapes to life for the 21st century. The company, based in Austria, is bringing the sound of the master tapes to a variety of formats, including reel-to-reel tapes, audiophile-grade vinyl records and hi-res audio formats: 24-bit/96kHz and 24-bit/192kHz, each in WAV, DSD in DFF.
Tapes are converted using a “soft refurbishing” process as opposed to “remastering” to retain the original sound quality.
For more information and to buy copies, head to Horch House's website.
ADL Stratos
Alpha Design Labs (ADL) has launched the Stratos, which packs a whole raft of features into a compact box. It's been designed to take everything that was good about the GT40 - which we awarded five stars - and make it even better. The Stratos is a USB DAC, A/D converter, preamplifier, MC/MM phono stage and a headphone amp. It supports PCM playback up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD. Three two-channel headphone amplifiers are on board, two power the XLR balance output while the other powers a 6.3mm output.
MORE: Furutech ADL GT40 review
MORE: Turn your vinyl into hi-res files with the Furutech GT40a
DALI Phantom H-120 in-wall speaker
DALI has launched a new custom installation speaker: the Phantom H-120. It’s designed to be used when space won’t allow for floorstanding speakers and external subwoofers. The H-120 features a 5.25in midrange driver, 28mm soft dome tweeter and a 12in bass driver.
DALI has carried its wood fibre cone technology over to the H-120 and it's powered by a double-magnet motor system to start and stop the assembly at speed.
The Phantom H-120 in-wall speaker is available now for £579.
Plex on PlayStation, Xbox and Apple TV
Media library and streaming app Plex is now available for free on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. The app previously required you to buy a pass but now a basic version is available for free on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4. A paid for pass is still available and this provides extra features such as premium music libraries, mobile sync and preview releases.
A Plex app is also now available for Apple TV. It's the first time Plex has been able to run a native app on the device.
Source: Plex
Qobuz Android app
Qobuz has updated its Android app, with particular focus paid to the current playback screen, which should now be easier to navigate and feature more information.
Qobuz has recently gone into receivership, but says there are interested buyers. Two offers have been made to the Commercial Court in Paris, with a final decision to be made on 29th December 2015.
