Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
Sony's new ES DVD/SACD player!!!!
It's the season when <I>Stereophile</I> salutes the Products of the Year. You can read about our picks in print this month's (December) issue, or on the Web next week. But in the meantime, what is your choice for this year's best?
Ikea multi-purpose cart. Get this: $34.95 in Beech, Cherry, Black, or Blue; casters, an adjustable shelf, satin finish. Did I mention it's only $35 bucks? I defy you to show me any other A/V thingy that offers as much bang for the buck. $35, man. Those crafty Scandinavians, God love 'em.
Adcom GFP-750 Preamp. My previous preamp was a home-built passive stepped attenuator with silver switches, silver wire, and film resisters. Yes, it sounds better than the Adcom, but by such a small margin that the environmental noise swamps the difference in normal use. And then there
The PS Audio Power Plant. While many consumers sit back and wait for the format wars to be settled (DVD, SACD, Surround, etc.), it is a revelation to have access to a product that defies purchase indecision by being an asset to almost every audio product you own now or in the future. It is only a slight exaggeration to say you'll wonder, "How did I ever listen to music without this thing!!!"
Although this product has been in existence since late 1997, I feel it and its 'little brother' (debut in late 1999) are unparralelled in loudspeaker performance. I'm talking about the Avalon Eidolon and Avalon Opus loudspeakers. Although these speakers are quite expensive, I've directly compared their performance in numerous different categories to loudpseakers five times their price. They are unbeatable, and beleive it or not, a bargain in high-end audio. If you like you music with a very wide, three dimensional soundstage, individual images with a three dimensional quality, smooth top end, tons of air, excellent detail, good macro and micro dynamics and accurate bass then these are the loudspeakers for you.