Vote

I'd like to see increased competition in the budget minded DACs so we have an assortment to pick from. I love my little DAC Magic but I'm sure it will be surpassed in the near future. That technology would have cost $4000 a few years ago instead of the $400 or so it goes for now. DACs, come on down.

Entry-level integrateds from the bigger players in hi-fi. A $1500 piece from McIntosh would be nice.

A universal software-storage/playback system with UHQ output DAC for high-end audio, without having to deal with all the combinations of codec, good-for-this-but-not-acceptable-for-that-style plethora of partial solutions hitting the market for server bases.

I would like to see subwoofer outputs on high-end two-channel preamplifiers. It sucks that you can't incorporate a subwoofer into the mix when using two-channel preamplifiers from some of the most highly reputable companies. I am trying to build a two-channel home theater/music system. I am trying to stay away from the usual A/V receivers and processors because they are not that musical and always keep updating constantly—it's almost like what you've invested in gets outdated. I think that with high-end preamplifiers like Audio Research Corporation, for instance, providing subwoofer outputs on their preamplifiers would be something even more special. The sources, Blu-ray players, CD players, etc, already have the processing capabilities.

How about components with real world prices? It's one thing when a system costs as much as a nice car, another altogether when each component costs that much. I would say that components that belong in systems ranging from $10-50,000 would cover up to the 99th percentile of the audiophile market, and not generate such hostility.

An affordable touch-screen music manager for the home, similar in function to the ones hanging on the walls of our local pubs. This is a product that is long overdue.

Multi-channel integrated amps. Multi-channel music needs to be served and not thrown into the pit of home theater sound from receivers.

Better D/A converters at lower prices.

True digital amplifiers at affordable prices (sub-$3000). Only two exist that I know of: the new NAD M2, and Tact Millennium. Also, I would like to see a trend towards a convergence of digital-sourced audio (WiFi music server + DAC + class-D or PWM amplification output). It would save on space, money, and headaches of matching interconnects and power cords.

What ever happened to less is more?

Rockport speakers and speakers in general. DACs & music rippers/servers like Olive 4HD. And all the extreme stuff—give it to me!

That the lead-free propaganda was a hoax to sell more poorly produced products! Come on folks, let's build something like we mean it! I'm sick and tired of working on today's electronics because of poor manufacturing decisions.

Wireless in-ear phones that are no bigger than my Sennheiser IEMs and that sound as good.

I would like to see a product that can receive hi-rez (all formats, actually) digital audio from Ethernet and USB and present state-of-the-art output, as good as it gets—S/PDIF and AES outputs. No apologies, no qualifications—the absolute best. (If they want to build a version with a DAC built in, fine. But I want a digital only version first.)

Affordable speakers with woofers bigger than 6" or 7". Remember the Advent with the 10" woofer or ADS with double 10" woofer? They moved air and sounded right. Even for $6k today you can't get a speaker with a woofer bigger than 7" (B&W 803S). Today's speakers just don't move enough air in the bottom end, specs be damned.

I'm hoping to see the new 800 series from B&W.

Please, more turntables, more SACD players, more nice DACs, more under-$1000 great components—the eternal fantasy of our hobby.

Totally graphic/touch/voice interfaces. Just like Sooloos, Sonos, B&O—plus voice recognition..

High-rez downloadable audio files. FLAC or WAV. For WAV, 24/176 preferred

A HDD/NAS solution with a very intuitive GUI (think iPhone) that can handle HD video and sound, with an output quality like the Oppo Blu-ray!

Tablets driving high-end DACs.

A lot more vinyl, carried in real stores at really great prices!

Purely digital integrated amps à la the new NAD amp that takes the digital signal out of the computer and drives the output transistors directly.

No consumers wasting manufacturers' or importers' time. Isn't it an industry show?

The new The Memory Player from Nova Physics/Laufer

I've seen enough.

Another $25,000USD priced CD player which has a boomerang-shaped razor-sharp remote controller (which eases the job when your wife throws something at your head after learning that you have spent $25,000 for just a CD player—throwing a 50-60lb unit at you is not so easy if she is not a weight lifter).

1) Radically lower prices, 2) Sound quality over looks, 3) A portable WAV player with digital out that could plug into a DAC via its USB plug.

Grab your favorite music, your favorite beverage, your favorite chair—and enjoy.

The truth about their products!