'I wouldn't even be able to afford the speaker stands' — two big-name audiophile brands just went head-to-head to release the best elite hi-fi tower speaker

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  • Focal unveils yet another floor-standing speaker
  • Sonus faber reveals a series of speakers, including a floor-stander...
  • ...and several more-affordable options

While country-versus-country derbies are playing out on pitches across North America, a certain France vs Italy rivalry is taking center stage... or should that be soundstage?

Sonus faber, of Italy, and Focal, of France, have both lined up in the tunnel to bring out new floor-standing speakers; the overlapping timing means that we'd be remiss not to show them at the same time. It really is like Italy vs France… if Italy had qualified.

These are all premium hi-fi offerings that are far out of reach for the average speaker buyer — I wouldn't even be able to afford the speaker stands — but one series does, at least, have a more reasonable alternative.

The Focal Scala Utopia Evo M

Let's start with the speaker of the country which actually...

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Our favorite budget audiophile brand launches new flagship planar magnetic headphones that aren't so budget — but a next-gen 86% thinner diaphragm with 'full-face diamond coating' could make them worth the price for head-fi fans

* Fiio launches FT15 planar headphones with bigger, thinner diaphragm and a lighter weight * They're open-back successors to the five-star Fiio FT5 * They cost $499 / £499 (about AU$999) — but that's not bad for planars Breakout affordable audiophile brand Fiio has been riding high with its debut