2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2014 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.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Subwoofers
Price: $3999 (Perfect Bass Kit, add $100)
Website: www.martinlogan.com
Kevin said: The BalancedForce 212 is in a class with the best subs available to the home-audio enthusiast. The BF212 is one for the short list -- it’s required listening for anyone who’s dead serious about the low end. Highly recommended.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Very capable subwoofer in every important parameter.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $995 per pair
Website: www.audience-av.com
Ian said: If you’re looking for a pair of high-resolution loudspeakers for a desktop, credenza, or wall unit in the den, the Audience ClairAudient One offers great sound and excellent build quality, and it unassumingly vanishes into its surroundings.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Add one more computer-oriented mini to the crowded field.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $2790-$4167.60 per pair
Website: www.axiomaudio.com
Oliver said: Axiom deserves a gold medal -- or, better still, a Reviewers’ Choice award -- for how much sonic goodness they’ve packed into the wonderful M100. That they’re able to do so for a starting price of only $2790/pair is wondrous indeed. The Axiom M100 stands as one of the best-balanced reasonably priced speakers I’ve heard.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Driver-packed large floorstander that costs less than you’d think.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1150 per pair
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.com
Doug said: All told, B&W offers high value with the 684 S2 -- the reason shoppers have long gravitated toward the company’s various 600 series. But I recommend that prospective buyers first listen to this new model with familiar music, to determine if it’s the right speaker for them.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Pretty good, just not great like you would hope.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $2695 per pair
Website: www.bryston.com
Philip said: While the Mini T’s appearance is so-so, its sound is anything but. The Mini Ts’ unerring neutrality, great soundstaging, and ability to play ridiculously loudly without breaking up and distorting will tick all the right boxes for many music lovers, and will likely attract new customers to the brand.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Plays loud and clean -- the perfect rock speaker.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $549 per pair
Website: www.cambridgeaudio.com
Doug said: I highly recommend Cambridge Audio’s Aero 2. For its combination of high performance and value, it’s a frontrunner for one of our Product of the Year awards, to be announced at the end of this year.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Innovative driver design delivers in this perky little speaker.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $399 per pair
Website: www.definitivetech.com
Vince said: I have no hesitation in recommending the Inclines to anyone who wants a high-quality computer speaker system, or as the main system for a small bedroom or apartment. You won’t be disappointed.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Bipolar sound for your desktop.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2014 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2014) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $4999.90 per pair
Website: www.definitivetech.com
Roger said: Definitive Technology’s Mythos ST-L SuperTower elevates “lifestyle” speaker design to a new level of performance with its high resolution, clear and neutral midrange, and incredible dynamics. A true high-end design in every respect, it should hold its own against any speaker near its price, and even against some that cost considerably more.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: What a looker, with great sound to match.
- Focal Aria 906 Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Gold GX50 Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Silver 6 Loudspeakers
- Reference 3A MM de Capo BE Loudspeakers
- Revel Performa3 F206 Loudspeakers
- EgglestonWorks Nine Signature Loudspeakers
- Grimm Audio LS1 Loudspeakers and LS1s Subwoofers
- Magico S3 Loudspeakers
- Polymer Audio Research MKS Loudspeakers
- Rockport Technologies Atria Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Olympica III Loudspeakers
- Triangle Magellan Cello Loudspeakers
- Vivid Audio Giya G4 Loudspeakers
- Amphion Argon7L Loudspeakers
- Eclipse TD510ZMK2 Loudspeakers
- Joseph Audio Pulsar Loudspeakers
- KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Olympica I Loudspeakers
- Vivid Audio Oval V1.5 Loudspeakers
- Audio Research VSi75 Integrated Amplifier
- Aura Note V2 Music Center
- Ayre AX-5 Integrated Amplifier
- Devialet 120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Devialet 400 Mono Integrated Amplifier-DACs
- Hegel Music Systems H80 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Line Magnetic Audio 216IA Integrated Amplifier
- Monitor Audio Airstream A100 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Musical Fidelity V90-AMP DAC-Integrated Amplifier
- NAD D 7050 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Norma Audio Revo IPA-140 Integrated Amplifier
- Simaudio Moon Neo 340i Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Wadia Digital Intuition 01 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Wyred 4 Sound mINT Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Arcam airDAC Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Aurender W20 Music Server
- Aurender X100L Music Server
- Bel Canto Design e.One uLink USB Digital Converter
- Luxman DA-06 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- M2Tech Young DSD Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Meridian Explorer USB Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Musical Fidelity V90-DAC Digital-to-Analog Converter
- NAD D 1050 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Prism Sound Lyra 2 USB Audio Interface
- Resonessence Labs Invicta Mirus Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Simaudio Moon 180 MiND Music Streamer
- Sony HAP-Z1ES Digital Music Player
- T+A Elektroakustik DAC 8 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Graham Slee Revelation M Phono Stage
- Rega Research Limited RP8 Turntable
- Transfiguration Phoenix S Phono Cartridge
- U-Turn Audio Orbit Plus Turntable
- VPI Industries Classic 2 Turntable and Classic 2 Tonearm
- Zanden Audio Systems 120 Phono Stage
- Audio Research SP20 Preamplifier
- Ayre Acoustics KX-R Twenty Preamplifier
- Luxman C-900u Preamplifier
- Parasound Halo P 5 Preamplifier-DAC
- Rotel RC-1570 Preamplifier-DAC
- Audience Au24 SE powerChords
- Blue Circle Audio BC60X1 Power Conditioner
- Blue Circle Audio PLC Thingee FX-2 Six-Outlet Powerline Conditioner with X0e Low-Frequency Filter Module
- Clarity Cable Vortex Power Cord
- Nordost Frey 2 Power Cord
- Ayre Acoustics VX-5 Stereo Amplifier
- David Berning Company ZH-230 Stereo Amplifier
- Liberty Audio B2B-100 Stereo Amplifier
- Parasound Halo A 23 Stereo Amplifier
- Rotel RB-1582 MkII Stereo Power Amplifier
- Simaudio Moon Evolution 870A Stereo Amplifier
- 808 Hex SL Bluetooth Speaker
- Boston Acoustics MC100 Blue Bluetooth Speaker
- Definitive Technology Cube Bluetooth Speaker
- Denon Envaya DSB-200BK Bluetooth Speaker
- Grace Digital EcoxGear EcoRox Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- Grace Digital Encore Wi-Fi Music Player and Internet Radio
- Jabra Solemate Mini Bluetooth Speaker
- Logitech UE Mini Boom Bluetooth Speaker
- Philips SBT300 Bluetooth Speaker
- Wharfedale Cobalt Bluetooth Speaker
- Revel Performa3 F208 / C208 / M106 / B112 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Anthem Performance MRX 510 A/V Receiver
- Anthem Performance MRX 710 A/V Receiver
- BenQ W7500 DLP Projector
- NuForce AVP-18 Surround-Sound Processor
- Sherwood R-807 Audio/Video Receiver
- Alpha Design Labs A1 USB DAC-Headphone Amplifier
- Alpha Design Labs EH008 Earphones
- Alpha Design Labs X1 USB DAC-Headphone Amplifier
- Astell&Kern AK240 Portable Media Player
- Audeze LCD-3 Headphones
- Audeze LCD-X Headphones
- Audio-Technica SonicFuel ATH-AX5iS Headphones
- Audiofly Performance AF140 Earphones
- Bowers & Wilkins P7 Headphones
- Brainwavz S5 Earphones
- Focal Spirit Classic Headphones
- JBL Synchros E50BT Bluetooth Headphones
- KEF M200 Earphones
- Motorola S11-HD Bluetooth Earphones
- NAD Viso HP20 Earphones
- NAD Viso HP50 Headphones
- NuForce Primo 8 Earphones
- Oppo Digital HA-1 Headphone Amplifier-Preamplifier-DAC
- Oppo Digital PM-1 Headphones
- Outdoor Tech. Privates Bluetooth Headphones
- Pathos Acoustics Aurium Headphone Amplifier
- Samsung Level In Earphones
- Sony XBA-H1 Earphones
- fo.Q Damping Products and AB-4045 Audio Board Isolation Platform
- Logitech Harmony Ultimate Universal Remote Control with Harmony Hub
- Outdoor Tech Turtle Shell 2.0 Bluetooth Speaker
- Synergistic Research High Frequency Transducer (HFT) and Frequency Equalizer (FEQ) Room Treatments and XOT Crossover Transducer
- Audience Au24 SE Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- Clarity Cable Organic Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- Clarus Crimson Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- Light Harmonic LightSpeed USB Cable
- Nordost Frey 2 Speaker Cables and Interconnects