A Golden Year for Two Audio Powerhouses
Two storied brands, Onkyo and Klipsch, are marking a significant milestone in 2026: 80 years of shaping hi-fi and home audio. At CES 2026, both brands rolled out fresh offerings that honor their heritage while pushing toward modern streaming, wireless convenience, and more refined sound fidelity. The joint celebration isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s a concrete signal that classic audio brands can evolve without losing their soul.
Onkyo Announces the Muse Streaming Amplifier Series
At the heart of Onkyo’s 80th anniversary showcase is the Muse streaming amplifier series. Designed to blend classic power with contemporary connectivity, Muse aims to deliver A/V performance with the ease of modern streaming services. The lineup is crafted for audiophiles who demand high-resolution playback, robust push-pull dynamics, and precise tonal balance across genres—from jazz to modern electronic.
Key features touted for Muse include: a versatile DAC array for high-res formats, multi-room streaming compatibility, and a user-friendly interface that simplifies setup for both newcomers and seasoned listeners. The design language nods to Onkyo’s traditional emphasis on reliable build quality, but with updated aesthetics and a compact footprint that suits contemporary living spaces. The Muse series is positioned as a flexible center for a modern hi-fi system, capable of feeding traditional speakers or driving a more expansive wireless home network.
As Onkyo leans into its 80th year, Muse represents more than a product line—it’s a statement that the brand remains committed to evolving audio technologies while preserving the performance ethic that fans associate with Onkyo. For listeners building a dedicated listening room or refining a multi-room setup, Muse promises clean power delivery, accurate soundstage, and a gateway to high-resolution streaming without sacrificing warmth and musicality.
Klipsch’s Second-Generation Powered Speakers
Parallel to Onkyo’s unveiling, Klipsch introduced its second-generation powered speakers, a natural progression for a brand famous for dynamic sound and efficiency. The new lineup focuses on improving driver integration, expanding wireless connectivity, and enhancing room calibration features to ensure that performance scales with room size and placement.
Klipsch emphasizes real-world listening improvements: tighter bass control, faster transient response, and a more neutral midrange that preserves vocal clarity across genres. The second-generation models are built to appeal to both tech enthusiasts who appreciate advanced streaming capabilities and casual listeners who want a straightforward, plug-and-play hi-fi experience. The speakers are designed to pair seamlessly with music streaming services, home theater ecosystems, and traditional amplification, giving Klipsch fans a flexible path to richer sound at home.
As with their earlier generations, Klipsch’s new powered speakers aim to deliver the brand’s signature efficiency and dynamic range. By refining cabinet geometry and crossover tuning, Klipsch seeks to maintain the clarity and punch that have long been synonymous with the brand, while making it easier to integrate into modern living spaces where space and aesthetics matter as much as sonic performance.
What This Means for 80th Anniversary Audiences
The dual launches underscore a broader industry trend: legacy brands are pairing nostalgic storytelling with practical, user-friendly tech. For 80th-anniversary celebrations, Onkyo and Klipsch are not merely resting on decades of heritage; they are signaling a forward-looking commitment to quality, connectivity, and adaptability. The Muse streaming amplifier series and Klipsch’s second-generation powered speakers together illustrate how classic listening experiences can coexist with contemporary streaming ecosystems, voice control, and multi-room audio.
For enthusiasts considering an upgrade, these launches offer a tangible pathway: choose Onkyo Muse for a robust, feature-rich amplifier that thrives in higher-fidelity streaming environments, or opt for Klipsch’s second-gen powered speakers when you want plug-and-play performance with room-optimized tuning. Either choice promises to honor the brands’ legacies while embracing the realities of 2026 listening habits.
Looking Ahead
As Onkyo and Klipsch celebrate eight decades, listeners can expect ongoing refinements that honor tradition without stifling innovation. The CES 2026 reveals suggest a future where premium sound remains accessible via familiar interfaces, zero-compromise sound quality, and smarter room integration. For those tracking high-fidelity trends, the Muse line and Klipsch’s updated powered speakers are essential benchmarks in the evolution of home audio.
In short, the 80th anniversary year is shaping up to be a landmark in practical hi-fi: devices that honor the past, embrace the present, and lay the groundwork for the next generation of listening experiences.
