2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2020 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: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Subwoofers
Price: $2995
Website: www.sonusfaber.com
Diego said: And for those lucky enough to own Sonus Faber Sonetto or Olympica speakers, not only is the Gravis III’s sound good enough to mate well with those models -- so are its beautiful finishes.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: If you own Sonus Faber mains then this is your sub.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Subwoofers
Price: $799.99
Website: www.svsound.com
Diego said: In my relatively small room, its sound came very close to that of my reference SB-4000 at nearly twice the price, giving up only a few dB to the much larger sub in the lowest synth-bass notes.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Challenges the company’s larger, more expensive offerings.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Prices: $859 per pair
Website: www.trianglehifi.com
Gordon said: The LN01A can be used to stream music in true stereo from a smart device, but can also serve as the core of a sound system including a turntable, a disc player, a game console, a TV, and other sources.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: The Abyss Blue and Eggplant finishes are inspired!
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $1400 per pair
Website: www.amphion.fi
Diego said: The Argon1 fulfills two of Amphion’s stated design goals: truthfulness of reproduction and timelessness of design.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: If you like what this Finnish bookshelf speaker offers, you can only get it from Amphion.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price (both): $4450 per pair
Website: www.buchardtaudio.com
Gordon said: They’re proof positive that you don’t need a big stack of components to get exciting and dynamic sound, high-impact bass, commendably accurate vocal and instrumental timbres, and precise aural images on big soundstages.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Active speaker package delivers it all . . . right to your door.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $1799 per pair
Website: www.dali-speakers.com
Diego said: Among its strengths are refined-sounding highs and a transparent, highly detailed, reach-out-and-touch-it midrange -- on all of those grounds, I was amazed how favorably it compared with Revel’s more expensive M126Be and Focal’s far more expensive Sopra No1, something I hadn’t thought possible when I first unboxed the DALIs.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: When you’re looking for small and special.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $4995 per pair including matching stands
Website: www.egglestonworks.com
Hans said: . . . the Nico Evolution hangs its hat on its hyper-defined midrange.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: Nice alternative to Wilson speakers.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2020 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2020) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $990 per pair
Website: www.focal.com
Diego said: Through the Chora 806, acoustic piano, acoustic or electric guitar, strings, and especially voices, all had a palpable, detailed, reach-out-and-touch-it presence that I found especially rewarding.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Amazingly good stand-mount for the money.