SoundStage!

If reader feedback is any indication, one of our most popular reviews of 2006 was that of the Energy Reference Connoisseur RC-10 speakers. Maybe we'll get even more feedback now that the RC-10s have earned the SoundStage! Budget Leader award. Ben Burko (right) of Energy accepts the award from Doug Schneider. [www.energyspeakers.com]

Marc Mickelson called Einstein's The Tube "the alpha male of line-state preamps." There is no specific award for this (from us, anyway), but there is for Innovation in Design, which the The Tube is all about with its unique, and very quiet, circuit. Volker Bohlmeier (left), managing director of Einstein, and Brian Ackerman, US distributor of Einstein equipment, accept the award.

Beauty is what Verity Audio speakers are about -- beautiful looks and beautiful sound. Julien Pelchat (left) and Bruno Bouchard accept the Aesthetics & Sound award for their Sarastro, which Frank Peraino called "A balanced, honest, stunningly beautiful performer." [www.verityaudio.com]

We first heard the Aurum Acoustics audio system at the Montreal audio show in 2003, and here it is a few years later and the same system has won the SoundStage! Edge of the Art award. Derrick Moss (left), who designed the CD player/preamp, amplifier and speakers that comprise this system, poses with Doug Schneider, who called Derrick's products "...the most resolving, revealing, and pleasing stereo system I’ve ever heard." [www.aurumacoustics.com]

Marc Mickelson presents Gabi van der Kley, president of Crystal Cable, with the Best Product Debut award for her Ultra interconnects and speaker cables. That flash of light in their hands is an award. [www.crystalcable.com]

Here Marc poses with Mark O'Brien of Rogue Audio, who accepts the Exceptional Value award for his Metis preamp. Shown in the picture is Rogue Audio's newest preamp, the two-box Hera ($7500).

While the Thiel CS3.7 may be getting all of the attention, the CS7.2 earned the SoundStage! Hall of Fame award for its seven-year reign at the top of Thiel Audio's product line. Jim Thiel and Kathy Gornik accept the award. [www.thielaudio.com]