New Marantz hi-fi, a tiny vinyl update, a key moment for Sonos and more

(Image credit: Marantz/What Hi-Fi?)

New Marantz hi-fi; Sonos launching the beta version of its new app; something about a football tournament – there was a lot to deal with last week.

Which is why we have taken the time to write a fresh entry of our regular Rewind column, detailing all the top stories any discerning home cinema or hi-fi enthusiast should be aware of.

Without further ado…

Marantz launches some new hi-fi

Check out Marantz new stereo amp!
A photo posted by on

If you’re a Marantz hi-fi fan, then we have good and bad news. The bad news is that last week the firm retired two classic products: the Award-winning PM6007 stereo amplifier and CD6007 CD player.

The good news is that it has replaced them with the new entry-level Model 70 integrated amplifier and CD 70 compact disc player.

The two feature a wealth of upgrades, designed to help them offer “much improved” audio over their predecessors. Highlights include everything from new optimised circuit layouts to improved “vibration-resistant” chassis. And if that wasn’t enough to get you excited, we have even better news: we have both products in our listening rooms right now and hope to publish our definitive reviews shortly. Watch this space.

Read the full story: End of an era as Marantz waves goodbye to two hi-fi classics and unveils new entry-level Model 70 integrated amplifier and CD 70 compact disc player

Sonos releases the beta version of its new app

Sonos Era 300 speaker with new Sonos app in hand — (Image credit: Sonos)

Two years ago, Sonos released a “redesigned” app, which was so hated by customers that the firm’s then CEO stepped down. So last week, when the multi-room audio specialist launched the beta version of another new version of its app, it caught our attention.

Will it be enough to win back customer trust? It’s too early to tell; but the firm has worked hard to learn from its mistakes, promising the new version has been designed based on learnings gathered after its engineers spent “hundreds of hours” watching and learning from its users’ habits.

Read the full story: The new Sonos app hits its public beta phase – but will it be enough to win back fans?

We had a chat with Tiny Vinyl about its new turntable

A hand fanning out Tiny Vinyl 4-inch records between the Tiny Vinyl Player turntable and Crate storage unit. — (Image credit: Tiny Vinyl)

Tiny Vinyl is an interesting company that created a new four-inch record format last year. Now, 12 months on, it has also launched a new Tiny Vinyl Player, bespoke-designed for said format. Eager to find out more, our intrepid contributor, Joe Svetlik, had a chat with co-founders Jesse Mann and Neil Kohler to discuss the firm’s journey to launch and future plans.

Read the full story: How Tiny Vinyl made the world’s smallest turntable

MORE:

These are the best turntables we have reviewed

We rank the best hi-fi systems

Our picks of the best stereo amps

Alastair is What Hi-Fi?’s editor in chief. He has well over a decade’s experience as a journalist working in both B2C and B2B press. During this time he’s covered everything from the launch of the first Amazon Echo to government cyber security policy. Prior to joining What Hi-Fi? he served as Trusted Reviews’ editor-in-chief. Outside of tech, he has a Masters from King’s College London in Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion, is an enthusiastic, but untalented, guitar player and runs a webcomic in his spare time.