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2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide

The 2012 SoundStage! Network Buying Guide features summaries of all stereo and home-theater products reviewed in the calendar year across all of our publications. The Buying Guide is subdivided by product and price, with each article including pricing details, a review summary, a full-review link, and product-award indicators.

All prices are in US dollars.

Paradigm Series 7 Monitor Sub 12 Subwoofer

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Subwoofers
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Great Buy

Paradigm Monitor Sub 12Price: $999

Website: www.paradigm.com

Vince said: On its own, without the Perfect Bass Kit or the PT-2 Wireless Transmitter, Paradigm’s Series 7 Monitor Sub 12 was a reasonably good subwoofer that performed as well as other subs in its price range; I have no reason to dissuade you from buying one. But two Sub 12s with PBK and PT-2 made an exceptional combo. The depth of bass, the transient performance, and all the features such as wireless transmission and room correction put it in a higher class, and that makes it one of the best options at the price available today.

Great Buy

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: A good sub made even better with great accessories.

Anthony Gallo Acoustics Classico CL-2 Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999

Gallo Classico CL-2Price: $795 per pair

Website: www.roundsound.com

Ron said: Anthony Gallo Acoustics’ Classico CL-2 is a reasonably priced, well-made bookshelf loudspeaker that, while requiring a bit more tweaking than I’m accustomed to, gave a very good account of itself, presenting a wide, spacious soundstage with very good to excellent imaging cues. Though not a detailmeister, it was quite pleasant to listen through, finding the “good” in even questionable recordings.

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: Classic round sound from a box speaker.

Aperion Audio Intimus 5T Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999

Aperion Audio Intimus 5TPrice: $790 per pair

Website: www.aperionaudio.com

Hans said: It’s an attractive and thoughtfully designed package that purports to be nothing other than what it is. It forgoes deep bass to focus on producing an expansive, evenhanded sound with admirable imaging. And with its ten-year warranty on drivers and 30-day guarantee, with free shipping both ways, the interested listener can sample a pair without risk. Bearing in mind Aperion’s return rate of less than 5%, the odds heavily favor the 5T making only a one-way trip.

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: Very nice little floorstander for the money.

Audioengine 5+ Active Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Great Buy

Audioengine 5+Price: $399 per pair

Website: www.audioengineusa.com

Hans said: In juggling many considerations in its 5+, Audioengine has contrived to not drop one. As well executed as it is well designed, this attractive bookshelf speaker is a thoroughly practical product that worked, and worked well, practically right out of the box. You could spend the same amount of money on a pair of passive bookshelf speakers and perhaps get better sound. You could invest in an identically priced pair of active speakers and get similar sound. But the 5+ combines quality sound with an attractiveness and remote-controlled, multiple-input convenience that separates it from its competitors. Emphatically recommended.

Great Buy

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: The powered monitor to beat at its price.

Definitive Technology BP-8080ST SuperTower Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice

Definitive Technology BP-8080STPrice: $2998 per pair

Website: www.definitivetech.com

Roger said: When I reviewed the Definitive Technology Mythos STS SuperTower loudspeaker, I was impressed by how good it sounded, especially considering its slim, good looks. I was even more impressed by the excellent performance of Definitive’s new BP-8080ST SuperTower. By any standard, both are exceptional speakers. Those who might dismiss the Mythos STS because of its “lifestyle” look will miss out on a great speaker. Those who might dismiss the BP-8080ST because of its bipolar design or other reasons will miss out on an even better one.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: Big speaker, big sound, not-so-big price.

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 45 Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Great Buy

Definitive Technology SM45Price: $398 per pair

Website: www.definitivetech.com

Roger said: The Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 45 is an excellent combination of performance and value in an entry-level loudspeaker. It offers a clean midrange, and smooth high frequencies that provide a high level of performance and musicality. It also has enough bass and power-handling capability to play loud enough when my listening sessions get a bit rowdy. All of this is packaged in an attractive bookshelf design at the ridiculously low price of $199 each.

Great Buy

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: Ridiculous value for money.

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 55 Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice

Definitive Technology SM55Price: $598 per pair

Website: www.definitivetech.com

Philip said: If you like solid bass, clear-cut imaging, and a clean, open midrange, but don’t have the room and/or the money for bigger speakers, Definitive Technology’s StudioMonitor 55 could be what you’ve been waiting for. It does many things well for the audiophile on a budget, and doesn’t take a back seat to speakers costing even multiples of its price.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: Sound quality unheard of at this price just a few years ago.

Dynaudio Focus 110 A Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2012 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999

Dynaudio Focus 110 APrice: $2450 per pair

Website: www.dynaudio.com

Brooke said: I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Dynaudio Focus 110 A. It offered a beguiling combination of smoothness, accuracy, and transient speed with low-end extension and dynamic capabilities that belied its small size. The price of $2450/pair is reasonable for what the Focus 110 A does, but the fact that the speaker includes four channels of amplification tailor-made for the drive-units they’re connected to makes them a relative bargain.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: Very good all-around powered monitor from a speaker-making powerhouse.

  1. Dynaudio Focus 260 Loudspeakers
  2. Dynaudio Xeo 3 Wireless Powered Loudspeakers
  3. Elemental Designs EL8.3t Floorstanding Loudspeakers
  4. Fluance XL7F Loudspeakers
  5. Focal Chorus 807 W Prestige Loudspeakers
  6. Focal Chorus 836 W Prestige Loudspeakers
  7. GoldenEar Technology Aon 3 Loudspeakers
  8. GoldenEar Technology Triton Three Loudspeakers
  9. KEF R500 Loudspeakers
  10. MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL Loudspeakers
  11. MartinLogan Motion 40 Loudspeakers
  12. Monitor Audio Gold GX100 Loudspeakers
  13. Orb Audio Mod1 Loudspeakers
  14. Paradigm Millenia CT Powered 2.1-Channel Loudspeaker System
  15. Polk Audio LSiM703 Loudspeakers
  16. Polk Audio LSiM705 Loudspeakers
  17. PSB Imagine Mini Loudspeakers
  18. PSB Imagine T2 Loudspeakers
  19. Silverline Audio Minuet Supreme Plus Loudspeakers
  20. Tyler Acoustics Decade D4M Loudspeakers
  21. Artos Audio Sunrise Loudspeakers
  22. Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond Loudspeakers
  23. Crystal Cable Arabesque Mini Loudspeakers
  24. Dynaudio Confidence C2 Signature Loudspeakers
  25. Magico Q1 Loudspeakers
  26. Magico Q7 Loudspeakers
  27. Raidho Acoustics C2.1 Loudspeakers
  28. Vivid Audio Giya G2 Loudspeakers
  29. YG Acoustics Kipod II Signature Loudspeakers
  30. EgglestonWorks Fontaine Signature Loudspeakers
  31. Monitor Audio Gold GX300 Loudspeakers
  32. PMC twenty.24 Loudspeakers
  33. Vandersteen Audio Treo Loudspeakers
  34. Von Schweikert Audio VR-35 Export Deluxe Loudspeakers
  35. Arcam FMJ D33 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  36. Audio Research DSPre Preamplifier-DAC
  37. Audioengine D2 Wireless Digital-to-Analog Converter
  38. Calyx Audio Femto Digital-to-Analog Converter
  39. Calyx DAC 24/192 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  40. Cambridge Audio Azur DacMagic Plus Digital-to-Analog Converter
  41. Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 Network Music Player
  42. Hegel Music Systems HD20 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  43. High Resolution Technologies Music Streamer II+
  44. Meitner Audio MA-1 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  45. Musical Fidelity M1DAC Digital-to-Analog Converter
  46. NAD Masters M51 Direct Digital Digital-to-Analog Converter
  47. NuForce DAC-9 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  48. NuForce Icon uDAC-2 Digital-to-Analog Converter/Headphone Amplifier
  49. Resonessence Labs Invicta Digital-to-Analog Converter
  50. Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D DAC-Transport
  51. TEAC UD-H01 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  52. WideaLab Aurender S10 Music Server
  53. Wyred 4 Sound MS-1 Music Server
  54. Densen Audio Technologies DP-Drive Phono Stage
  55. Musical Fidelity M1ViNL Phono Stage
  56. Parasound Zphono.USB Phono Stage/Analog-to-Digital Converter
  57. Simaudio Moon Evolution 810LP Phono Stage
  58. Blue Circle Audio BC109 Preamplifier
  59. SMc Audio VRE-1C Reference Preamplifier
  60. Audience aR12-TS Power Conditioner
  61. Audience aR6-TS Power Conditioner
  62. DH Labs Encore Power Cord
  63. ESP MusicCord-Pro ES Power Cord and Power Conditioner
  64. Hemingway Audio Prime Reference Mk.II Power Cord
  65. Siltech Ruby Hill II and SPX-800 Power Cords / Octopus Signature Eight Power Distributor
  66. Audio Research Reference 250 Mono Amplifiers
  67. Ayre Acoustics VX-R Stereo Amplifier
  68. Blue Circle Audio NSL Stereo Amplifier
  69. Boulder Amplifiers 1060 Stereo Amplifier
  70. Esoteric A-02 Stereo Amplifier
  71. Eximus S1 Stereo/Mono Amplifier
  72. First Watt J2 Stereo Amplifier
  73. JE Audio VS70.1 Stereo Amplifier
  74. Jones Audio PA-M300 Series 2 Mono Amplifiers
  75. McIntosh Laboratory MC452 Stereo Amplifier
  76. Rogue Audio Medusa Stereo Amplifier
  77. Vitus Audio Signature SM-010 Mono Amplifiers
  78. AudioQuest Diamond and Carbon FireWire 800 Cables
  79. DH Labs Odyssey Speaker Cables, White Lightning Interconnects, and Silversonic USB Digital Interconnect
  80. Hemingway Audio Prime Reference Mk.II Speaker Cables and Interconnects
  81. Synergistic Research Element Copper, Tungsten, and Copper-Tungsten-Silver Interconnects and Speaker Cables
  82. Bel Canto Design e.One C5i Digital-to-Analog Converter/Integrated Amplifier
  83. Esoteric I-03 Integrated Amplifier
  84. Hegel Music Systems H300 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  85. Musical Fidelity M6 500i Integrated Amplifier
  86. NAD C 375DAC Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  87. T+A Elektroakustik E-Series Music Receiver
  88. Axiom Audio Epic 60•500 Home-Theater Speaker System
  89. Fluance SXHTB+ Home-Theater Speaker System
  90. Paradigm Series 7 Monitor 11 / Center 3 / Surround 3 / Sub 12 Home-Theater Speaker System
  91. Anthem AVM 50v 3D Audio/Video Processor
  92. NAD T 787 A/V Receiver
  93. Onkyo TX-NR5010 A/V Receiver
  94. Beyerdynamic Tesla T 70 Headphones
  95. Bowers & Wilkins P3 Headphones
  96. HiFiMAN Express HM-601 Portable Audio Player
  97. HiFiMAN HE-400 Headphones
  98. Kinivo BTH220 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
  99. Logitech UE 9000 Wireless Headphones
  100. MartinLogan Mikros 70 Earphones
  101. Polk Audio UltraFit 2000 Sports Headphones
  102. Polk Audio UltraFocus 8000 Active Noise-Canceling Headphones
  103. PSB M4U 2 Active Noise-Canceling Headphones
  104. RHA SA950i Headphones
  105. SMS Audio Sync by 50 Wireless Headphones
  106. Stax SR-507 Lambda Signature Earspeaker Headphones
  107. Trends Audio PA-10.1D Headphone Amplifier/Preamplifier
  108. WooAudio GES Headphone Amplifier
  109. BSG Technologies qøl Signal Completion Stage
  110. NAD Viso 1 iPod Dock
  111. NuForce Cube Compact Portable Loudspeaker
  112. Spin-Clean Record Washer Mk.II
  113. Zoom H1 Handy Recorder

Subcategories

(2012) Subwoofers

(2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999

(2012) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000

(2012) Stereo Loudspeakers $5,000-$10,000

(2012) Stereo Integrated Amplifiers and Receivers

(2012) Stereo Digital Source Components

(2012) Stereo Analog Source Components

(2012) Preamplifiers

(2012) Power Conditioners and Cords

(2012) Power Amplifiers

(2012) Interconnects and Speaker Cables

(2012) Home-Theater Loudspeakers

(2012) Home-Theater Components

(2012) Headphones and Related

(2012) Accessories, Stands and Other Products

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