Celebrating Excellence: Varèse and Klimax Solo 500 Honor a Year of Innovation

At Definitive, we’ve always believed that great sound doesn’t just come from gear — it comes from ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible in music reproduction. That’s why we’re especially proud to carry two of the products recognized in the hi-fi+ Global 2026 Awards for Product of the Year and Innovation — the dCS Varèse and the Linn Klimax Solo 500.

These awards celebrate products that don’t merely raise the bar — they reinvent the framework.

Product of the Year: dCS Varèse — Redefining Digital Music Playback

Named Product of the Year in the 2026 hi-fi+ Awards, the dCS Varèse system represents a bold leap forward in digital audio design. According to hi-fi+, Varèse “sets a new standard in digital audio replay,” combining groundbreaking architecture with a level of musical insight and emotional engagement previously reserved for the very best analog systems.

Varèse isn’t just another streamer or DAC — it’s a complete platform engineered for total precision, with multiple linked components working in harmony to reveal every nuance of your music. In the words of reviewers, listening to Varèse is less about interpreting specifications and more about feeling the music itself. 

We were honored to host the Pacific Northwest debut of Varèse at Definitive in 2024, giving our clients a first look at this extraordinary system in an intimate listening environment. Since then, it has continued to captivate listeners, revealing new layers of detail and emotion with every session.

Innovation: Linn Klimax Solo 500 — Power Meets Precision

Also celebrated in the 2026 hi-fi+ Awards, the Linn Klimax Solo 500 was recognized for its innovative performance in the amplifier category. Despite its relatively compact footprint, the Solo 500 delivers extraordinary power and control, drawing on advanced technologies like Adaptive Bias Control and Utopik power supplies to provide dynamic, articulate performance across the musical spectrum. 

The Solo 500 is more than a technical achievement — it’s a musical one. Its refined design gives listeners both the scale for grand orchestral moments and the subtlety to reveal delicate passages with clarity and grace. We’ve had the pleasure of showcasing this amplifier alongside other Klimax components at Definitive release events, and each demonstration continues to remind us and our clients why Linn’s engineering tradition remains at the forefront of hi-fi innovation.

What These Recognitions Mean for You

Awards like those from hi-fi+ Global don’t just reflect industry admiration — they highlight products that truly transform how we listen. Both Varèse and the Klimax Solo 500 invite listeners into a deeper, more emotional relationship with music, and both align with Definitive’s commitment to bringing extraordinary experiences into your home.

Whether you’re exploring digital music at the highest level with Varèse or discovering new dimensions of power and control with Klimax Solo 500, these products represent the cutting edge of audio performance — tools that help music feel more alive, more present, and more meaningful.

Experience Them for Yourself

We’re proud to carry both dCS and Linn in our Experience Centers — and even more proud to share them with a community that loves music as much as we do.

Come hear these award-winning systems in person and discover what happens when brilliance in engineering becomes a living, breathing musical experience.