Laiv

31/05/2026

Christiaan Punter of HiFi-Advice has published his review of the Crescendo CHORUS, and it is one of the most thorough amplifier reviews we have seen. Christiaan tested the CHORUS across four different speakers, in both stereo and bridged mono modes, and compared it directly against our Harmony GaNM amplifiers.

His verdict? The CHORUS delivers a "remarkably sophisticated sound" with resolution, refinement, and fluid treble. In bridged mono mode, he describes the improvement as "1+1=3." Paired with the Crescendo Verse, the system performs at a level that he says would require at least twice the investment to significantly improve.

The CHORUS earns the HFA Highly Recommended award. We are deeply grateful for the care and rigour Christiaan brings to every review.

Read the full three-page review: https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/amplifier-reviews/power-amplifier-reviews/laiv-chorus-stereo-mono-power-amplifier/

The LAiV Crescendo Chorus is a GaN stereo power amplifier with bridge-mono capability. A trickled-down design from the Harmony GaNM, the Chorus saves costs in the right places to bring Gallium Nitride amplification technology to a Crescendo price point.

29/05/2026

Steve Huff of HiFi Huff just published his review of the Crescendo CHORUS, and his verdict gave us a lot to be grateful for. With 166K subscribers and a reputation for honest, real-world testing, Steve's opinion carries serious weight in the audio community.

He tested the CHORUS as a single stereo amplifier and as a pair of monoblocks, pairing them with the Crescendo Verse DAC for an under-$3,000 system. His take? The CHORUS delivers 90 to 94 percent of what amplifiers costing many times more can achieve, with a sound that is transparent, musical, and "eerily silent" in the background.

Steve was so impressed that the CHORUS earned the inaugural HiFi Huff Silver Award for superb value and performance. That kind of recognition from a reviewer who handles gear at every price point means the world to us.

Watch the full review: https://youtu.be/3wc0a4z07lA

Join this channel to help keep it alive. I do not do paid sponsored videos so this really helps me to continue: Itf you found something useful here, it's $5 ...

29/05/2026

Michael Lavorgna of Twittering Machines has published his review of the Crescendo Verse DAC, and we are honoured by his verdict. Michael has now reviewed three LAiV DACs, and he calls us "three for three" in delivering DACs that punch well above their price.

He tested the Verse on his desktop and in his reference listening room, finding it resolving, dynamic, and engaging with no etch or bite. His take on the value? "A lot of DAC goodness for the money. Remarkably so."

We are grateful to Michael for his thoughtful, music-driven approach to reviewing. If you enjoy hi-fi writing as much as hi-fi listening, this review is for you.

Read the full review: https://twitteringmachines.com/review-laiv-crescendo-verse-dac/

Michael Lavorgna's Twittering Machines: HiFi with a twist

24/05/2026

Sandu Vitalie from Soundnews just published his in-depth review of the Crescendo CHORUS, and it is one of the most thorough amplifier reviews we have seen. With 107K subscribers and hundreds of reviews under his belt, Sandu brings serious credibility to every test.

He tested the CHORUS both as a stereo amp and as dual monoblocks, using speakers that typically demand 500 to 1,000 watts. His verdict on the sound? Remarkably transparent, fast, and resolving, with micro-detail retrieval that gets close to his own ultra-high-end reference system.

Running two CHORUS units as monoblocks brought what he calls a "dramatic" improvement in dynamics, bass, and soundstage. No clipping. No compression. Just pure, uncolored music.
Thank you, Sandu, for the time and care you put into this review. Watch the full 23-minute deep dive here: https://youtu.be/vkt8kSoPPgU

Get the LAiV Crescendo CHORUS: https://www.laiv.audio/storeTimesta...

24/05/2026

Srajan Ebaen of 6moons has published his review of the Crescendo CHORUS, and we are honoured to share that the CHORUS has been awarded the 6moons Blue Moon Award.

Srajan tested the CHORUS across three systems and in both stereo and bridged mono configurations, pairing it with everything from desktop monitors to demanding floorstanding speakers. The review runs across multiple pages and is one of the most thorough evaluations the CHORUS has received.

Thank you, Srajan, for the depth, honesty, and care you bring to every review. It means a great deal to us.

Read the full review: https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/laiv-crescendo-chorus/

14/05/2026

🎧 Shanghai, we're coming for you!

We will be exhibiting at TAS Shanghai 2026. Come find us at Room 342.

We'd love to share what we've been working on and hear what you think.

Bring your ears, bring a friend, bring your favourite track. See you there!

11/05/2026

Steve just dropped his review of the Crescendo Verse on Z Reviews, and we are grateful for every minute of it. With 286K subscribers and one of the most candid voices in the audio community, when Zeos says he loves the way something sounds, you know it is real.

He tested the Verse as a DAC, headphone amp, and preamp across multiple headphones and a full speaker setup. His verdict: the Verse "sounds high-end," and the sound quality alone makes it worth the price. He called it a genuine step up from other R2R options and kept coming back to how natural and engaging the presentation is.

Steve also gave us honest feedback on areas where we can improve, and we appreciate that just as much. That kind of directness is what helps us get better.

Thank you, Steve, for going deep and telling it like it is. It means a great deal to us.

Watch the full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbieojIwecI

90 likes, 23 comments. "I want to SHOOT the LAiV Crecendo Verse, But I love it!"

08/05/2026

Wojciech Pacuła of High Fidelity, one of Poland's most respected audiophile publications and a founding member of AIAP, has just published his review of the Crescendo Verse. He tested it as a DAC, preamp, and headphone amplifier in a serious reference system, and his verdict speaks for itself: "a real gem."

What impressed Wojciech most was the versatility. As a standalone DAC, the Verse delivered dynamics he described as "almost explosive." As a preamp, the sound shifted to something warmer and more grounded. Through headphones, it became "creamy and rich" and "tangible, even silky." Three distinct modes, each one coherent and musically satisfying.

One line we will not forget: against other products in this price range, the Verse "appears like a visitor from another planet."

Thank you, Wojciech, for the thoroughness and care you bring to every review. It means the world to us.

Read the full review: https://highfidelity.pl/-1589&lang=en

08/05/2026

An honest update from LAiV: starting 1 June 2026, the retail price of several of our products will be adjusted.

We have absorbed these cost increases for as long as possible, but to keep manufacturing at the standard our products demand, this adjustment is necessary.

Affected products: Harmony DAC, Harmony HP2A, Harmony µDDC, Harmony µDAC, and Harmony GaNM.

If you have been considering any of these, you have until 31 May 2026 to order at current pricing, through laiv.audio or your local LAiV dealer.

One bright note: from 1 June, the Harmony µDAC will offer a new bundle option that includes a pair of LAiV XTR (XLR to RCA converters) and the Crescendo remote control. For most listeners, that is the combination they would build anyway.

Read the full update at the link below.

Keep listening.

LAiV: Designing Dreams, Yours Specifically

👉 https://laiv.audio/post/laiv-pricing-update-june-2026

23/04/2026

Steve Guttenberg just dropped his review of the Crescendo CHORUS on the Audiophiliac channel, and we could not be more grateful. With 276K subscribers and nearly 1,500 videos, Steve is one of the most respected voices in the audiophile community.

He tested the CHORUS with four very different speakers, from easy-to-drive open baffles to notoriously difficult 40-year-old Magnepan planar magnetics, in both stereo and mono configurations. His verdict: "definitely smitten."

What stood out to Steve was how something this small could sound this big. He praised the clarity, resolution, and low-level detail across every speaker pairing, and noted that the mono configuration took the soundstage to another level entirely.

Thank you, Steve, for the thoroughness and honesty you bring to every review. It means a great deal to us.

Watch the full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DoY09FPQ4g

107 likes, 9 comments. "LAIV's Stunning CHORUS Stereo/Momo Amp FIRST REVIEW"