CES 2026 Recap of New Products

Every January, CES sets the tempo for what the rest of the year will sound like — literally. From legacy loudspeaker makers redefining their craft to gaming headphone pioneers pushing planar magnetic boundaries and global electronics giants reimagining interconnected sound, CES 2026 was nothing short of excitement for audiophiles. If you care about fidelity, immersion, and the evolving way we experience sound, here’s our expert rundown of what matters most.

Klipsch: A Legacy Reawakened with Next-Gen Speakers & Concepts

This year, Klipsch didn’t just bring products — they brought intent. Celebrating its 80th anniversary, the brand showcased a visionary path forward with a series of powerful, easy-to-deploy powered speakers — The Fives II, Sevens II, and Nines II. These aren’t your average all-in-ones; they combine legendary horn-loaded acoustic character with modern DSP, Dirac Live room correction, Dolby Atmos decoding, and a wide suite of connectivity options including HDMI eARC and high-res wireless streaming — all built into each speaker.

Beyond this mainstage announcement, Klipsch’s invite-only showcase previewed a broader portfolio: premium headphones (the incoming Atlas series), tabletop Bluetooth speakers, outdoor audio concepts, and advanced Hi-Fi speaker visions — a clear signal that they’re serious about every listening context from portable to reference-class.

Why it matters: Klipsch’s approach bridges heritage acoustic tuning with contemporary platform tech — making high-impact sound easier to enjoy across devices and formats.

Audeze Maxwell 2: Planar Magnetic Meets Practicality

Few headphone brands enjoy the respect that Audeze’s planar magnetic line commands, and the Maxwell 2 lives up to that reputation. Building on the original Maxwell’s exceptional fidelity, this second generation introduces improved ergonomic comfort, magnetic ear pads, AI-assisted noise features, and versatile connectivity via USB-C dongle or Bluetooth 5.3 (with LDAC support).

Importantly, Audiophiles who also game — or listen casually between sessions — will appreciate the platform-agnostic nature of the headset: cross-platform support extends across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Mac, Switch, iOS, and Android. And with ~80+ hours of battery life and serious planar drivers, sonic performance doesn’t take a back seat to convenience.

Why it matters: Maxwell 2 proves that high-resolution planar tech can be both reference-worthy and everyday comfortable, removing a traditional trade-off between audiophile sound and user experience.

SVS R|Evolution: Bass Meets Home Theater Ambition

At CES 2026, SVS stepped out of its subwoofer-centric reputation to show it can do it all in immersive audio. The new 3000 R|Evolution series subwoofers bring deep, controlled low end down to the teens — with sealed and ported variants tuned for different listening environments.

Perhaps more telling of SVS’s intentions is its R|Evolution soundbar — a Dolby Atmos-ready platform that doesn’t treat bass as an afterthought. With discrete three-way LCR architecture, 9 onboard drivers, and an included wireless subwoofer, SVS is clearly positioning itself as a full home theater contender, not just a subwoofer specialist.

Why it matters: SVS’s leap into immersive bar systems and versatile sub designs signals growing demand for powerful, integrated solutions that don’t sacrifice room-filling dynamics or musicality.

Harman Kardon SoundSticks: Classic Form, Modern Streaming

Sometimes innovation isn’t about reinventing the wheel — it’s about remastering the icon. Harman Kardon’s refreshed SoundSticks 5 Wi-Fi and Aura Studio 5 add modern connectivity (Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Roon Ready), Bluetooth 6, Auracast speaker grouping, and customizable ambient lighting.

The radical improvement here is not just fidelity or design — it’s ecosystem integration. These updated classics now slot effortlessly into multi-room and high-res streaming environments, something countless audiophiles will love.

Why it matters: A beloved design gets a future-ready tech stack — proving that heritage and connectivity can coexist without compromise.

Samsung’s A Connected Audio Ecosystem and Ultra-Premium Visual Experience

Samsung’s presence at CES 2026 wasn’t limited to screens — it was about sound that works across your home and everywhere you watch it. The company expanded its audio ecosystem with a full lineup of next-generation soundbars and Wi-Fi speakers designed for seamless multi-device audio, while simultaneously unveiling one of the show’s most talked-about displays: a massive 130-inch Micro RGB TV that aims to redefine how we combine picture and sound. 

On the audio side, Samsung’s 2026 sound device portfolio brings enhanced Q-Symphony integration — the feature that syncs TV and speaker drivers for more immersive playback — to a wider range of products. The expanded lineup includes next-gen Q-Series soundbars and new Music Studio Wi-Fi speakers engineered for richer, clearer, and more expressive sound throughout the home. This multi-device approach lets users connect and control playback across TVs, wireless speakers, and other Samsung devices via the SmartThings app, making room-wide audio both simpler and more dynamic.

Samsung’s new Music Studio speakers stand out with sleek, gallery-inspired designs and spatial audio profiles that fill a room without overwhelming it — a clear nod toward both aesthetic and acoustic refinement. The Q-Series soundbars continue to build on Samsung’s leadership in the category with expanded channel support and technologies tuned to enhance clarity and immersion. 

Complementing this audio evolution is Samsung’s world’s first 130-inch Micro RGB TV (R95H). Positioned at the ultra-premium end of the home entertainment spectrum, this colossal display uses individually controlled red, green, and blue Micro RGB illumination backed by advanced AI-driven picture processing. The result is a combination of vibrant color performance, deep contrast, and integrated audio tuned to match the scale of the screen — blurring the lines between cinema-level visuals and expansive sound. 

Why it matters: Samsung’s CES strategy for 2026 shows an audio ecosystem that’s designed to interact — not just with itself, but with the very screens you watch. Whether you’re pairing an immersive Q-Series soundbar with the new Micro RGB flagship, streaming to Wi-Fi speakers around your home, or switching devices on the fly through SmartThings, Samsung is pushing toward a unified, intelligent sound experience that pairs beautifully with its cutting-edge display innovations.

Onkyo Muse Series: The Return of the Streaming Integrated Amp

Onkyo used CES 2026 to remind the hi-fi world why its name still carries weight, unveiling the Muse Series Network Integrated Amplifiers — a modern, streaming-first take on the classic two-channel amp. Designed to be the centerpiece of a contemporary hi-fi system, the Muse Series blends serious power, wide-open connectivity, and a tactile, enthusiast-friendly design that feels unmistakably Onkyo.

The lineup centers around two models, the Muse Y-40 and Muse Y-50, both delivering high-current Class-D amplification, full network streaming, HDMI ARC, and traditional analog inputs — including a built-in phono stage for vinyl lovers. A large color front display showing album art and VU-style meters adds a welcome nod to classic hi-fi, while modern platform support (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and more) ensures these amps slot effortlessly into today’s streaming ecosystems.

Power output scales to system needs, with the Y-50 aimed at driving larger, more demanding speakers, while the Y-40 offers a slightly leaner footprint for more compact setups — without sacrificing the core feature set. The result is an amplifier that’s less about complexity and more about centralization: one box that can handle music, TV audio, and legacy sources without feeling compromised.

Why it matters: The Muse Series reflects a growing shift back toward high-quality, two-channel systems that don’t feel disconnected from modern life. For audiophiles who want fewer boxes, fewer apps, and more listening — without giving up power or polish — Onkyo’s Muse amps hit a very timely sweet spot.

Final Thoughts: CES 2026’s Sonic Narrative

From Klipsch’s ambitious speaker series to Audeze’s refined planar experience, SVS’s immersive audio systems, Harman Kardon’s streaming-ready classics, and Samsung’s connected ecosystem — CES 2026 wasn’t just about new hardware. It showcased a philosophy shift:

• Integration over isolation — audio devices working together is now high priority.

• Performance and practicality — high-end fidelity no longer needs to be a niche, impractical pursuit.

• Accessible immersion — Dolby Atmos, room correction, and multi-device sound are reaching wider audiences.

For audiophiles hungry for innovation that sounds as good as it feels, this year’s lineup delivers both breadth and depth. Stay tuned — the soundscapes of 2026 are just beginning.