Search

The Stereophile's 33rd Annual Product of the Year Awards for 2024 featured a range of audio products competing in various categories such as Amplification, Analog Source, Digital Source, Headphone, Accessory, Loudspeaker, and Budget. The winners were selected through two rounds of voting by audio-equipment reviewers, with products like the Accuphase A-300 Monoblock Power Amplifier, Well Tempered Amadeus 254 GT Record Player, and Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha V Loudspeaker receiving top honors. The awards highlighted a diverse selection of high-quality audio equipment that catered to different preferences and budgets, showcasing innovation and excellence in the industry. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Avantgarde Duo SD iTRON G3, a fully active horn speaker system with integrated DSP. The system utilizes a current drive approach, which allows for better control over the diaphragm's motion and reduces distortion. The speakers also incorporate novel technologies such as SphericLowCut and AirGate, which eliminate the need for capacitors and inductors in the crossover. The article describes the setup process and highlights the visual appeal of the speakers. The author shares their positive experience with the speakers, noting their remarkable dynamic performance, low distortion, and ability to reproduce spatial cues of live performances. The article also provides a detailed analysis and measurements of the speaker's response at different frequencies and positions. Overall, the author recommends listening to the Avantgarde Duo SD iTRON G3 speakers. [Extracted from the article]

Many companies in high-end audio and elsewhere use a trickle-down approach to advance their products. The process begins with the development of a suite of new technologies, capabilities, components, or [...]

The T+A Solitaire S 530 loudspeakers are highly regarded for their unique design and advanced technology. They utilize a waveguide baffle to shape the dispersion patterns of the drivers, creating a cylindrical wavefront for optimal sound quality. The speakers excel in imaging, soundstage, and recreating the ambience of a performance space. They also offer adjustable tonal balance and come with a five-year warranty. Overall, the Solitaire S 530s are considered outstanding speakers for those seeking a high-quality listening experience. [Extracted from the article]

Shunyata Research is the brainchild of Caelin Gabriel, whose resume includes stints at NSA, in military R&D, and in the computer industry, first digging weak signals out of noise then [...]

The article discusses Stereophile's annual feature called "Records to Die For," which has been renamed "Records to Live For" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The feature asks writers to name their favorite albums of all time, regardless of musical or sonic merit, as long as they hold special meaning for the writer. This year's feature includes works by various artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, André Previn, Kirsty MacColl, The Mountain Goats, Jimmie Lunceford, Cesaria Evora, En Attendant Ana, The Human League, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, and Todd Rundgren. Each writer shares their personal connection to the chosen albums and highlights their musical qualities. The text provides brief summaries of various music albums, highlighting the unique qualities and significance of each album, providing a glimpse into the artist's style and the impact of their work. [Extracted from the article]

Descriptions of the sounds of products from Sutherland Engineering nearly always include 'refined.' While that word is certainly justified, it would be more apt to use it as a verb: [...]

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of afternoons listening to a system built around the late David Wilson's magnum opus, the Wilson Audio WAMM Master [...]

Wilson Audio Specialties considers the Yvette ($25,500/pair) to be the replacement model for the Sophia Series 3. (1) I would argue that the Yvette is an entirely different animal. There [...]

'Saying that Sutherland Engineering builds a nice line of phono stages is like saying that the Porsche 911 Carrera is a nice line of sports cars.' So began my review [...]

It would be an understatement to say that in 2001, when Nordost introduced their original Valhalla cables, they were a revelation for me. Their focus and resolution of detail were [...]

Audiophiles spend a lot of time thinking about the law of diminishing returns. We'd all agree that spending $1000 to replace an iPhone and generic earbuds with one of Stephen [...]

When I reviewed Simaudio's Moon Evolution 880M monoblock amplifier for the June 2013 issue, I communicated via phone and e-mail with the company's VP of marketing, Lionel Goodfield. When the [...]

Saying that Sutherland Engineering builds a nice line of phono stages is like saying that the Porsche 911 Carrera is a nice line of sports car. The Sutherlands all share [...]

Back in 2003, the Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblock power amplifier ($9000/pair) drew raves across the industry and seta new standard for design, construction quality, and performance at a reasonable [...]

It seems the obvious way to build a loudspeaker: one driver, no crossover, full range. Instead, most speakers work this way: Complicated electronics split the audio signal into pieces, adding [...]

Should an audio component accurately reproduce the signal it's fed, or should it evoke the sound and feel of live music? Accuracy or musicality? This question has been at the [...]

Why no batteries? It seemed a simple and obvious question, but I couldn't get an answer out of Ron Sutherland. Why did his new 20/20 phono preamp use an AC [...]

High-end audio exists at the intersection of art and science. Either discipline can produce a good product, but it takes both to create the very best. The Sonic Frontiers gear [...]

A reader once noted that I tend to stick with the same reference gear longer than most reviewers. In addition to Audience's Au24e interconnect, I've been using Nordost's Valhalla, Nirvana's [...]

Call me shallow, but what first attracted me to Audience's Au24 cables when I reviewed them in August 2002 (see www.stereophile.com/ cables/802audience) was their looks. In contrast to superstiff cables [...]

The article evaluates the Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic loudspeaker from Wilson Audio.

The article evaluates audio equipment from audio related equipment manufacturers including the Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier, Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier, and the Grado Labs Lineage Epoch Phono Cartridge.

My first exposure to high-end audio involved Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark played through a pair of the original Rogers LS3/5a mini-monitors. Like many encountering an iteration of the BBC's [...]

On February 19 and 20, 2011, patrons and guests of the American Philharmonic of Sonoma County were treated to a program. Canticles of Time, consisting of Brahms's Tragic Overture, Debussy's [...]

The article offers information on several musical instruments which include Alex headphones from Wilson Audio Specialities; 2150 monoblock power amplifier from Boulder Amplifiers; and Duo Phono Preamplifier from Sutherland Engineering.

In my review of Audience's new Au24 SE interconnect in the December 2013 issue, a miscommunication with Audience's president, John McDonald, led me to report that their RCA-fitted Au24 interconnect, [...]

The article presents the review of the phonograph preamplifier Duo created by the audio equipment manufacturer Sutherland Engineering.

When I reviewed Audience's original Adept Response power conditioner, in the April 2007 issue (see www.stereophile. com/powerlineaccessories/407aud/index.html), I was impressed. Audience's approach of combining filtering, power-factor correction, and isolation made [...]

As a diehard vinyl junkie, I have assembled or built a pretty comprehensive set of accessories over the years, ranging from all of Wally's Tools to a homemade switchbox and [...]

The article offers a review of CD32 CD player from Primare.

The article evaluates the SG2 turntable from Spiral Groove.

The article evaluates the Pass Labs XA30.5 power amplifier from Pass Laboratories.

The article evaluates the Sonics Allegra loudspeakers from Sonics by Joachim Gerhard. INSET: ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

The article evaluates the Au24e interconnect and speaker cable from Audience.

The article evaluates the Tri-Planar Precision Mk. VII Tonearm phono cartridge platform from Tri-Planar.

The article evaluates the PS Audio Sprout integrated amplifier.

The article evaluates the Au24 SE interconnectors from Audience Systems.

The article reviews the pop music release "A Wasteland Companion," by M. Ward.