2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2018 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 unless indicated otherwise.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Subwoofers
Price: AU$5300
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.net
Edgar said: The DB2D offers excellent build quality, superb driver engineering, generous high-tech features via comprehensive DSP and App control, a pedigree based on the world’s largest speaker manufacturer (alongside a high resale value) and, of course, extraordinary low frequency sound quality.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Complete subwoofer package from a giant in the industry.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Subwoofers
Price: $2499
Website: www.elac.com
Brent said: Elac’s Adante SUB3070 is a beautifully designed, technically sophisticated subwoofer with the most capable and friendly control app I’ve ever encountered in a sub. It has the smooth, well-defined sound a subwoofer needs to blend well with a high-end music system, and its app allows it to be tuned to near perfection, even in situations in which the optimal subwoofer position must be compromised for the sake of visual aesthetics.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Sub for you connoisseurs of fine bass.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Subwoofers
Price: $1299.98
Website: www.elac.us
Brent said: The Elac IW-S10EQ is a very well thought-out and reasonably priced solution for those who want deep bass but lack the space for a subwoofer -- or who don’t want to listen to complaints about their sub taking up too much space.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: The nifty app is the main selling point.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Subwoofers
Price: $1299.99
Website: www.monoprice.com
Brent said: If you value precise pitch and definition over toe-tapping groove, this is your sub. If you value awesome punch over couch shake, this is your sub.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Sub that puts bass quality before quantity.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Subwoofers
Price: AU$6499
Website: www.rel.net
Edgar said: Given the 212/SE’s powerful set of attributes, I have to say that I was rather smitten… and will indeed miss this most superbly engineered and thought-out product.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Getting this sub integrated properly is a key strength.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $3000 per pair
Website: www.aurender.com
Gordon said: In short, Aurender’s S5W is a beautifully made active wireless speaker that offers a unique mix of simplicity and versatility.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Great build, cool battery operation, with pretty good sound.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $968-$1474 per pair, depending on finish
Website: www.axiomaudio.com
Philip said: A speaker like Axiom’s M5HP is proof that you can get incredible sound, superb engineering, and fantastic build quality at a reasonable price.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Re-evaluate what you think great speakers cost.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $800 per pair
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.com
Diego said: In my room, the Bowers & Wilkins 606 provided clean, surprisingly ample bass for its size; a clean, extended top end; and a detailed, airy midrange -- all with very few cabinet colorations.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Incrementally better than its predecessors.
- Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2 Loudspeakers
- DALI Callisto 2 C Active Speaker System
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 Loudspeakers
- Definitive Technology Demand D9 Loudspeakers
- Dynaudio Special Forty Loudspeakers
- Edifier S350DB Loudspeaker System
- Harman/Kardon Invoke Voice-Controlled Wireless Loudspeaker
- KEF Q150 Loudspeakers and Kube12b Subwoofer
- KEF Q750 Loudspeakers
- MartinLogan Motion 20 Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Silver 200 Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Silver 300 Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Monitor SE Atom Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Prestige 15B Loudspeakers
- Studio Electric M4 Loudspeakers
- Technics Grand Class SB-G90 Loudspeakers
- Totem Acoustic Signature One Loudspeaker
- Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeaker
- Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 Loudspeakers
- Bryston Middle T Active Speakers
- Burmester Ambience BA71 Loudspeakers
- Kii Audio Three DSP-Controlled Active Loudspeakers
- Muraudio SP1 Loudspeakers
- Raidho Acoustics XT-5 Loudspeakers
- Tidal Piano G2 Loudspeakers
- Wilson Audio Specialties TuneTot Loudspeakers
- Yamaha NS-5000 Loudspeakers
- Devialet Gold Phantom Digital Loudspeaker System
- M8audio Sweet Maxwell Loudspeakers
- Rethm Maarga Loudspeakers
- Triangle Esprit Australe EZ Loudspeakers
- Absolare Signature Integrated Amplifier
- Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Cocktail Audio X35 Music System
- Control4 Triad One Streaming Amplifier
- Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Hegel Music Systems H590 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Hegel Music Systems H90 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- McIntosh Laboratory MA9000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225 Music System
- NAD C 316BEE V2 Integrated Amplifier
- NAD C 328 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- NAD D 3020 V2 Bluetooth Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- NAD T777 V3 A/V Receiver
- Peachtree Audio decco125 Sky Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Simaudio Moon 240i Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Soulution 330 Integrated Amplifier
- T+A Elektroakustik PA 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier
- Technics Ottava f SC-C70 Music System
- Vinnie Rossi LIO Integrated Amplifier
- Vitus Audio RI-101 Integrated Amplifier
- Vitus Audio RI-101 Integrated Amplifier
- AVM Ovation SD 6.2 Preamplifier-DAC-Streamer
- Benjie BJ-T6HD Digital Music Player
- Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) Network Streamer
- Chord Electronics Qutest DAC
- Esoteric Grandioso G1 Master Clock Generator
- Linnenberg Elektronik Telemann DAC-Preamplifier
- Lumin T1 Network Player
- Redgum Audio RGDAC8 Digital-to-Analogue Converter and RGMP8 Media Player
- Schiit Audio Yggdrasil Digital-to-Analog Converter with Analog 2 Upgrade
- Schiit Audio Yggdrasil Digital-to-Analog Converter with Analog 2 Upgrade
- T+A Elektroakustik DAC 8 DSD D/A Converter
- Waversa Systems WDAC3 Mk.II Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Cambridge Audio Duo Phono Stage-Headphone Amplifier
- DS Audio DS-W2 Phono Cartridge & Equaliser
- European Audio Team E-Glo S Phono Stage
- JE Audio HP20 Phono Stage
- MAG-LEV Audio ML1 Magnetic Levitation Turntable
- NAD C 558 Turntable with Ortofon OM Super 10 Cartridge
- Nagaoka MP-110H Moving-Iron Phono Cartridge
- Pro-Ject Audio Systems Classic SB Turntable
- Shelter Audio Harmony Moving Coil Cartridge
- Simaudio Moon 110LP v2 Phono Stage
- Sumiko Oyster Moonstone Moving-Magnet Phono Cartridge
- Sumiko Oyster Rainier Moving-Magnet Phono Cartridge
- Sumiko Reference Starling Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge
- Top Wing Blue Dragon Phono Cartridge
- VPI Prime Signature Turntable
- ZYX Ultimate 4D-X MC Phono Cartridge
- Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE Preamplifier
- Constellation Audio Revelation Pictor Preamplifier and Optional DC Filter
- MartinLogan Unison Wireless Preamplifier
- Trinnov Amethyst DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
- Audience Au24 SX powerChord Power Cord
- Faber’s Power AC Products
- Nordost QKore1 Grounding Unit
- Shunyata Research Denali D6000/S Power Distributor
- Shunyata Research Hydra Typhon QR Power Distributor
- Synergistic Research SR25 Limited Edition Power Cord
- Balanced Audio Technology VK-255SE Stereo Amplifier
- PS Audio Stellar M700 Mono Power Amplifiers
- Simaudio Moon 888 Mono Amplifiers
- Cambridge Audio Yoyo (L) Wireless Speaker
- Dynaudio Music 7 Wi-Fi Speaker
- Elac Discovery Z3 Wi-Fi Speaker
- Grace Digital Mondo+ Wi-Fi Radio
- JBL Link 500 Wi-Fi Speaker
- Klipsch Heritage Wireless Three Wi-Fi Speaker
- Analysis Plus Silver Apex Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- in-akustik Referenz LS-4004 AIR Loudspeaker Cable
- sILENzIO Cable Loom
- TARA Labs The Muse Interconnects and Speaker Cables
- Tellurium Q Silver Diamond Speaker Cable
- SVS Prime Bookshelf / Elevation / Center / Satellite / SB-2000 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Acoustic Research AR-E010 Earphones
- Acoustic Research AR-H1 Headphones
- AKG N60 NC Wireless Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones
- Akoustyx R-220 Earphones
- Audeze LCD2 Closed-Back Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-ADX5000 Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-ANC-700BT Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones
- B&O Play Beoplay H9i Bluetooth NC Headphones
- Base Audio G12 Headphones
- Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Headphones
- Bowers & Wilkins PX Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones
- Campfire Audio Comet Earphones
- Campfire Audio Solaris Earphones
- Fidue A85 Virgo Earphones
- Focal Clear Headphones
- Focal Elegia Headphones
- Fostex TH909 Headphones
- HiFiMan Ananda Headphones
- iFi xDSD DAC-Headphone Amplifier
- Klipsch Heritage HP-3 Headphones
- Marshall Headphones Mid A.N.C. Bluetooth Headphones
- Massdrop x NuForce EDC3 Earphones
- Monoprice Monolith M650 Headphones
- NAD Viso HP70 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones
- PSB M4U 8 Headphones
- PSB M4U TW1 Bluetooth Earphones
- Sennheiser HD 660 S Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 820 Headphones
- Sonarworks True-Fi Headphone EQ Software
- Tribit Audio XFree Tune Headphones
- Furutech NCF Booster Cable Holder
- GIK Acoustics 2A Alpha Diffusor/Absorber Acoustic Panel
- Nordost Sort Kone BC Resonance Control System
- Redgum Audio RGPH2ENR Phono Stage
- SGR Audio Model V Statement Hi-Fi Equipment Rack
- VPI MW-1 Cyclone Record-Cleaning Machine