2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2015 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: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Subwoofers
Price: $1699.99
Website: www.kef.com
Roger said: The KEF R400b subwoofer’s agility and musicality should nicely complement the sound of high-quality speaker systems, and its modern look and small size will easily blend with the furnishings of fashionably decorated rooms -- not something that can be said of most subs.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: The perfect complement to your KEF R-series speakers.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $3990 per pair
Website: www.ascendo.de
Sid said: the Ascendo C6 proved that pleasing appearance, placement flexibility, and great sound need not be mutually exclusive. If you’re looking for a loudspeaker for your family or living room, and need great sound without worrying too much about front-wall proximity, the Ascendo C6 should be at the top of your must-audition list.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: Slimline German speaker with some unique design traits.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $999
Website: www.bluesound.com
Kevin said: The Powernode and Duo are simply a dedicated combo of receiver and speakers -- but this “receiver” is a dedicated streaming tuner, and the speakers are three diminutive wonders from Paul Barton. They are elegant reinventions of tried-and-true audio products.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Barton-designed 2.1-channel speaker system is compact and attractive.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1200 per pair
Website: www.bryston.com
Philip said: The no-frills Mini A gets on with the business of producing superb sound at a price within the reach of many. Add to this Bryston’s 20-year warranty, and the Mini A seems not only a good investment, but a sensible one.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Gets all the basic speaker stuff right at an affordable price.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1500 per pair
Website: www.cambridgeaudio.com
Vince said: The cohesiveness of voices and piano through the Aeromax 6 is unmatched in my experience in the price range of $1500-$3000/pair. If you’re looking in that range, and value imaging and soundstaging above all else, look no further: the Aeromax 6 is your answer. It’s pure gold.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: The Balanced Mode Radiator really delivers vocals just right.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1490 per pair
Website: www.eclipse-td.net
Wes said: Would I be happy with the Eclipse TD508MK3s as the main speakers of my nearfield system? Absolutely yes. Try a pair. I think you’ll be happy too.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: These tiny desktop speakers are imaging champs.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1999.98 per pair
Website: www.goldenear.com
Roger said: At $1999.98/pair, the GoldenEar Triton Five is a fantastic performer -- a true high-end speaker at a true entry-level price. It receives my highest recommendation.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: All of these GoldenEar speakers seem like winners.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2015 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2015) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $4999.98 per pair
Website: www.goldenear.com
Doug said: The Triton One’s performance across the board is exceptional. I’m sure you can’t find another speaker that offers all it does -- in short, full-range, reference-grade sound -- for a price that any serious audiophile with a decent job can afford: $4999.98/pair. The hi-fi world needs more products like this. That’s why GoldenEar’s Triton One gets my highest recommendation.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Bass: get 20Hz for the price of 40Hz.
- KEF R100 Loudspeakers
- MartinLogan Motion 35XT Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Bronze 6 Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Gold 200 Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Reference Prestige 95F Loudspeakers
- PSB Imagine X2T Loudspeakers
- Revel Performa3 M106 Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Chameleon B Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Chameleon T Loudspeakers
- Spatial Audio Hologram M1 Turbo Loudspeakers
- SVS Prime Satellite Loudspeakers and SB-1000 Subwoofer
- SVS Prime Tower Loudspeakers
- System Audio SA Saxo 5 Powered Loudspeakers
- Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Loudspeakers
- Focal Sopra No2 Loudspeakers
- Focus Audio Prestige FP90 BE Loudspeakers
- Magico Q7 Mk II Loudspeakers
- Muraudio Domain Omni PX1 Loudspeakers
- Vienna Acoustics Imperial Liszt Loudspeakers
- Bryston Middle T Loudspeakers
- PSB Imagine T3 Loudspeakers
- Reference 3A Nefes Loudspeakers
- Hegel Music Systems H160 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Linn Majik DSM Integrated Amplifier-Network Music Player
- Luxman L-550AX Integrated Amplifier
- Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- NuPrime Audio IDA-8 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- NuPrime IDA-16 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Octave Audio V 110 Integrated Amplifier
- Optoma NuForce DDA120 Direct Digital Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Pathos Acoustics Lògos MKII Integrated Amplifier
- Aqua - Acoustic Quality La Voce S2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Ayre Acoustics QB-9DSD Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Bluesound Powernode Streaming Receiver
- Calyx M Portable Media Player
- Cambridge Audio Azur 851N Network Music Player-DAC-Digital Preamplifier
- Cocktail Audio X40 Music Server
- DigiBit Aria Music Server
- Esoteric Grandioso P1 SACD/CD Transport and D1 Mono Digital-to-Analog Converters
- Exogal Comet Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Hegel Music Systems HD12 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Hegel Music Systems HD30 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Moon by Simaudio Neo 260D CD Transport-DAC
- Moon by Simaudio Neo 280D Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Stanford Research Systems PERF10 Rubidium Audio Clock
- Wadia di322 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Cambridge Audio Azur 651P Phono Stage
- Moon by Simaudio Evolution 610LP Phono Stage
- Octave Audio Phono EQ.2 Phono Stage
- Onkyo CP-1050 Turntable with OC-105 Cartridge
- Pro-Ject Classic Xtension 10 Evolution Turntable
- Audio Research Reference 10 Preamplifier
- Ayre Acoustics KX-5 Preamplifier
- Ayre Acoustics KX-5 Twenty Preamplifier
- Cary Audio SL-100 Preamplifier
- JE Audio Reference 1 Preamplifier
- NAD C 510 Direct Digital Preamplifier-DAC
- NAD Masters Series M12 Preamplifier-DAC
- Rogue Audio RP-5 Preamplifier
- Blue Circle Audio BC60X1 Power Conditioner
- Nordost Norse 2 Tyr 2 Power Cord
- Ayre Acoustics MX-R Twenty Mono Amplifiers
- Benchmark Media Systems AHB2 Stereo/Mono Amplifier
- Cyrus Audio Stereo 200 Stereo Amplifier
- Hegel Music Systems H30 Mono/Stereo Amplifier
- Luxman M-900u Stereo/Mono Amplifier
- Moon by Simaudio Evolution 760A Stereo Amplifier
- NAD C 275BEE Stereo/Mono Amplifier
- NAD Masters Series M22 Stereo Amplifier
- Soulution 711 Stereo Amplifier
- Bluesound Pulse Wireless Loudspeaker System
- Cabasse Stream 1 Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Clip Bluetooth Speaker
- Koss BTS1 Bluetooth Speaker
- Outdoor Tech Buckshot Pro Bluetooth Speaker-Powerbank-Flashlight
- Philips BT3500B Bluetooth Speaker
- AudioQuest Cinnamon Ethernet Cable
- Nordost Norse 2 Tyr 2 Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- NAD Masters Series M17 Surround-Sound Processor
- NAD Masters Series M27 Seven-Channel Amplifier
- Onkyo TX-NR838 Network Audio/Video Receiver
- Parasound Halo A 31 Three-Channel Power Amplifier
- Astell&Kern AK Jr Portable Media Player
- Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Headphones
- AudioQuest NightHawk Headphones
- Aurender Flow Headphone Amplifier-DAC
- Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2 Headphones
- Definitive Technology Symphony 1 Headphones
- HiFiMan HE1000 Headphones
- Jabra Move Bluetooth Headphones
- Jam Transit Bluetooth Headphones
- Koss BT540i Bluetooth Headphones
- M2Tech Marley Headphone Amplifier
- Marshall Headphones Mode EQ Earphones
- Monoprice 10585 Bluetooth Headphones
- Moon by Simaudio Neo 430HA Headphone Amplifier
- NAD Viso HP30 Headphones
- Oppo Digital HA-2 Headphone DAC-Amplifier
- Oppo Digital PM-2 Headphones
- Oppo Digital PM-3 Headphones
- Outdoor Tech. Tuis Bluetooth Headphones
- Phiaton MS 100 BA Earphones
- Polk Audio Hinge Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
- PSB M4U 4 Earphones
- RBH Sound EP3 Earphones
- Torque Audio t402v Headphones
- Devialet Ensemble System
- AudioQuest JitterBug USB Noise Filter
- Bluesound Vault CD Ripper and Storage Device
- Highend-AudioPC AudiophileOptimizer Computer Audio Software
- IsoAcoustics ISO-L8R200 Speaker Stands
- JL Audio CR-1 Active Subwoofer Crossover