The Article
HiFi NEWS: THE STONES, FLOYD & MORE! : 9 AUGUST 2026 (TEXT & VIDEO)
11th August 2026
New from Marantz, Qobuz, Technics, Quad & The Stones!—plus a limited Pink Floyd cassette player
MARANTZ MODEL 70 & CD 70
Marantz is looking towards entry-level components with its Model 70 Integrated Amplifier priced at £749 or €850 and the CD 70 player priced at £499, $750 or €600.
At the heart of the Model 70 – which I hear is out 15 August – is Class A/B amplification delivering 50W of power.
Backed by a large toroidal transformer, a MM phono amplifier is included, HDMI ARC for TV, Bluetooth supports aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC and SBC codecs.
The CD 70 (also out on 15 August) includes a front-panel USB-A input for audio playback. You get an upgraded power supply, double-layered chassis base, rigid isolation feet and copper hardware inside to reduce noise.
Contact: www.marantz.com
WE ARE REWIND PINK FLOYD CASSETTE PLAYER
We Are Rewind has released the limited-edition Pink Floyd edition of its WE-001 portable cassette player. Features include a 3.5mm socket to access the built-in headphone amplifier, Bluetooth 5.1 is included while the rechargeable battery offers 12 hours of playback with the included USB-C cable. Line-in recording is included. A compatible microphone is required to record personal material. Price is $199, €179 or £159.
Contact: www.wearerewind.com
QOBUZ NEW PLAYER
Qobuz, the music streaming service, has announced a redesigned player. Both interface and interactions have been updated. The mini-player remains visible at all times during navigation. On tablets, the split-screen mode lets you listen while exploring the rest of the application. Also lyrics now scroll line-by-line in real time, complete with translations. The Explore section offers a wide range of recommended music, all based on one track. The new credits layout improves access to information about a recording or an artist. There’s an improved queue and autoplay and a Customizable Mini-Player.
TECHNICS & THE STONES
There’s a limited edition version of the Technics IEMS, the EAH-AZ100, out and about launched to coincide with the LP Foreign Tongues by The Rolling Stones. Powered by the Magnetic Fluid Driver, each set is presented in a specially designed gift box, housing the EAH-AZ100 in its signature black finish alongside an exclusive rubber case embossed with the band’s legendary ‘Lips & Tongue’ logo. Available as a limited edition of 5,000 units worldwide, the back of the protective case features a laser-engraved serial number from 0001 to 5000 on the reverse. Prices are €299 or £259.
Contact: therollingstonesshop.co.uk
QUAD ELEGAN 1 & 2 LOUDSPEAKERS
Available in black and walnut and priced at £749 and £1,499, respectively, the Elegan speakers are built around woven Kevlar driver technology. The cones themselves are formed from lattice-woven Kevlar, impregnated with a self-damping resin to further minimise distortion. The Elegan 1 is a classic two-way design, pairing a 165mm Kevlar mid/bass driver with a 25mm fabric-dome treble unit. The Elegan 2 floorstander is founded on a three-way architecture. Dual 165mm bass drivers, a 125mm midrange driver and 25mm fabric-dome tweeter from a cabinet featuring high-density cabinet walls, internal bracing and damping materials. Bass loading is managed via the Quad Airflow port system.
Contact: quad-hifi.co.uk
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By Paul Rigby — Hi-Fi journalist and editor for over 38 years
