2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Stereo Integrated Amplifiers and Receivers
Price: AU$46,650
Website: www.absolare.com
Josh said: While it may be considered for some to be expensive, its performance capabilities in so many areas frankly exceed what could be achieved in preamplifier-amplifier separate combinations at far loftier price points, therefore making it an attractive proposition as a statement amplifier for those slightly short of space or for those demanding electronics capable of the very highest standards.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Sound that is said to strike a near perfect balance between tube and solid state.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Headphones and Related
Price: $249.99
Website: www.acousticresearch-hifi.com
Brent said: The industrial design is great, the sound is very good, and the ergonomics are excellent. I wish more of the products I review were this well executed.
Read the SoundStage! Solo review.
The gist: All the features you want and great sound too.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Headphones and Related
Price: $599.99
Website: www.acousticresearch-hifi.com
Brent said: What I love about them is that there’s nothing spectacular or exaggerated about their sound -- just as there’s nothing spectacular or exaggerated about the sound of a great violin, tenor saxophone, or singer. If you want something spectacular, that’s fine -- but if you want headphones you can enjoy day after day with all kinds of music, I strongly recommend the AR-H1s.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: One of an elite group according to Brent.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Headphones and Related
Price: $299.95
Website: www.akg.com
Rad said: The more I listened, the less I liked AKG’s N60 NC Wireless noise-canceling headphones.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: These pretty much sucked.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Headphones and Related
Price: $199.99
Website: www.akoustyx.com
Brent said: Most of the focus with the R-220s is on the mids and treble, which are clear and largely uncolored. There is some bass -- and it’s precise, well-defined bass -- but it’s low in level relative to the rest of the sonic spectrum.
Read the SoundStage! Solo review.
The gist: Treble-heavy and bass-shy pretty well sums it up.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Interconnects and Speaker Cables
Prices: $1750 per 4’ pair for speaker cables and 766 per 0.5m pair for interconnects
Website: www.analysis-plus.com
Roger said: You could spend even more on cables from some other manufacturers, but in my system, Analysis Plus’s Silver Apexes provided absolutely stellar sound.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Competes with the best for less.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Stereo Integrated Amplifiers and Receivers
Price: $4499
Website: www.anthemav.com
Roger said: I can’t overstate how impressed I was by the execution of its overall design. In my years as an audio reviewer, the STR Integrated is one of the most impressive examples of a fully fledged audio product I’ve come across.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Anthem Room Correction puts this powerful integrated over the top.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2018 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2018) Headphones and Related
Price: $899
Website: www.audeze.com
Brent said: They have a full, natural tonality, lots of detail, and a gorgeous, enveloping sense of space.
Read the SoundStage! Solo review.
The gist: Heavy and bulky is the only real drawback in an otherwise stellar product.
- Audience Au24 SX powerChord Power Cord
- Audio-Technica ATH-ADX5000 Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-ANC-700BT Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones
- Aurender S5W Battery-Powered Wireless Active Loudspeakers
- AVM Ovation SD 6.2 Preamplifier-DAC-Streamer
- Axiom Audio M5HP Loudspeakers
- B&O Play Beoplay H9i Bluetooth NC Headphones
- Balanced Audio Technology VK-255SE Stereo Amplifier
- Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE Preamplifier
- Base Audio G12 Headphones
- Benjie BJ-T6HD Digital Music Player
- Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Headphones
- Bowers & Wilkins 606 Loudspeakers
- Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2 Loudspeakers
- Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 Loudspeakers
- Bowers & Wilkins DB2 Active Subwoofer
- Bowers & Wilkins PX Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones
- Bryston Middle T Active Speakers
- Burmester Ambience BA71 Loudspeakers
- Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) Network Streamer
- Cambridge Audio Duo Phono Stage-Headphone Amplifier
- Cambridge Audio Yoyo (L) Wireless Speaker
- Campfire Audio Comet Earphones
- Campfire Audio Solaris Earphones
- Chord Electronics Qutest DAC
- Cocktail Audio X35 Music System
- Constellation Audio Revelation Pictor Preamplifier and Optional DC Filter
- Control4 Triad One Streaming Amplifier
- DALI Callisto 2 C Active Speaker System
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 Loudspeakers
- Definitive Technology Demand D9 Loudspeakers
- Devialet Gold Phantom Digital Loudspeaker System
- DS Audio DS-W2 Phono Cartridge & Equaliser
- Dynaudio Music 7 Wi-Fi Speaker
- Dynaudio Special Forty Loudspeakers
- Edifier S350DB Loudspeaker System
- Elac Adante SUB3070 Subwoofer
- Elac Discovery Z3 Wi-Fi Speaker
- Elac IW-S10EQ In-Wall Subwoofer
- Esoteric Grandioso G1 Master Clock Generator
- European Audio Team E-Glo S Phono Stage
- Faber’s Power AC Products
- Fidue A85 Virgo Earphones
- Focal Clear Headphones
- Focal Elegia Headphones
- Fostex TH909 Headphones
- Furutech NCF Booster Cable Holder
- GIK Acoustics 2A Alpha Diffusor/Absorber Acoustic Panel
- Grace Digital Mondo+ Wi-Fi Radio
- Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Harman/Kardon Invoke Voice-Controlled Wireless Loudspeaker
- Hegel Music Systems H590 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Hegel Music Systems H90 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- HiFiMan Ananda Headphones
- iFi xDSD DAC-Headphone Amplifier
- in-akustik Referenz LS-4004 AIR Loudspeaker Cable
- JBL Link 500 Wi-Fi Speaker
- JE Audio HP20 Phono Stage
- KEF Q150 Loudspeakers and Kube12b Subwoofer
- KEF Q750 Loudspeakers
- Kii Audio Three DSP-Controlled Active Loudspeakers
- Klipsch Heritage HP-3 Headphones
- Klipsch Heritage Wireless Three Wi-Fi Speaker
- Linnenberg Elektronik Telemann DAC-Preamplifier
- Lumin T1 Network Player
- M8audio Sweet Maxwell Loudspeakers
- MAG-LEV Audio ML1 Magnetic Levitation Turntable
- Marshall Headphones Mid A.N.C. Bluetooth Headphones
- MartinLogan Motion 20 Loudspeakers
- MartinLogan Unison Wireless Preamplifier
- Massdrop x NuForce EDC3 Earphones
- McIntosh Laboratory MA9000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Monitor Audio Silver 200 Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Silver 300 Loudspeakers
- Monoprice Monolith M650 Headphones
- Monoprice Monolith THX Ultra 15” Subwoofer
- Muraudio SP1 Loudspeakers
- Musical Fidelity M6 Encore 225 Music System
- NAD C 316BEE V2 Integrated Amplifier
- NAD C 328 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- NAD C 558 Turntable with Ortofon OM Super 10 Cartridge
- NAD D 3020 V2 Bluetooth Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- NAD T777 V3 A/V Receiver
- NAD Viso HP70 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones
- Nagaoka MP-110H Moving-Iron Phono Cartridge
- Nordost QKore1 Grounding Unit
- Nordost Sort Kone BC Resonance Control System
- Paradigm Monitor SE Atom Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Prestige 15B Loudspeakers
- Peachtree Audio decco125 Sky Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Pro-Ject Audio Systems Classic SB Turntable
- PS Audio Stellar M700 Mono Power Amplifiers
- PSB M4U 8 Headphones
- PSB M4U TW1 Bluetooth Earphones
- Raidho Acoustics XT-5 Loudspeakers
- Redgum Audio RGDAC8 Digital-to-Analogue Converter and RGMP8 Media Player
- Redgum Audio RGPH2ENR Phono Stage
- REL Acoustics 212/SE Active Subwoofer
- Rethm Maarga Loudspeakers
- Schiit Audio Yggdrasil Digital-to-Analog Converter with Analog 2 Upgrade
- Schiit Audio Yggdrasil Digital-to-Analog Converter with Analog 2 Upgrade
- Sennheiser HD 660 S Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 820 Headphones
- SGR Audio Model V Statement Hi-Fi Equipment Rack
- Shelter Audio Harmony Moving Coil Cartridge
- Shunyata Research Denali D6000/S Power Distributor
- Shunyata Research Hydra Typhon QR Power Distributor
- sILENzIO Cable Loom
- Simaudio Moon 110LP v2 Phono Stage
- Simaudio Moon 240i Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Simaudio Moon 888 Mono Amplifiers
- Sonarworks True-Fi Headphone EQ Software
- Soulution 330 Integrated Amplifier
- Studio Electric M4 Loudspeakers
- Sumiko Oyster Moonstone Moving-Magnet Phono Cartridge
- Sumiko Oyster Rainier Moving-Magnet Phono Cartridge
- Sumiko Reference Starling Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge
- SVS Prime Bookshelf / Elevation / Center / Satellite / SB-2000 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Synergistic Research SR25 Limited Edition Power Cord
- T+A Elektroakustik DAC 8 DSD D/A Converter
- T+A Elektroakustik PA 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier
- TARA Labs The Muse Interconnects and Speaker Cables
- Technics Grand Class SB-G90 Loudspeakers
- Technics Ottava f SC-C70 Music System
- Tellurium Q Silver Diamond Speaker Cable
- Tidal Piano G2 Loudspeakers
- Top Wing Blue Dragon Phono Cartridge
- Totem Acoustic Signature One Loudspeaker
- Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeaker
- Triangle Esprit Australe EZ Loudspeakers
- Tribit Audio XFree Tune Headphones
- Trinnov Amethyst DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
- Vinnie Rossi LIO Integrated Amplifier
- Vitus Audio RI-101 Integrated Amplifier
- Vitus Audio RI-101 Integrated Amplifier
- VPI MW-1 Cyclone Record-Cleaning Machine
- VPI Prime Signature Turntable
- Waversa Systems WDAC3 Mk.II Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Wilson Audio Specialties TuneTot Loudspeakers
- Yamaha NS-5000 Loudspeakers
- ZYX Ultimate 4D-X MC Phono Cartridge