Budget Component Reviews
Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date
Acoustic Energy Aegis One loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Stand Loudspeaker Reviews
John Atkinson • May 11, 2000 • 0 comments
In this issue's "Letters" column, you will find comments from readers who are bothered by what they perceive to be this magazine's emphasis on reviewing very expensive technology. Yes, we do cover a lot of cutting-edge technology, and it is, of necessity, expensive. But our experience has been that that technology invariably trickles down to products that real people can actually afford.
Continue Reading »
Acurus DIA 100 integrated amplifier
Budget Component Reviews, Integrated Amp Reviews
Corey Greenberg • Jul 13, 2008 • Published: Nov 13, 1993 • 0 comments
Stereophile should start a "Personals" section in the back of the mag—maybe stick 'em in with the classifieds:
Continue Reading »
Adcom GFA-535 power amplifier
Budget Component Reviews, Solid State Power Amp Reviews
Sam Tellig, Corey Greenberg • Aug 31, 2009 • Published: Dec 31, 1987 • 0 comments
Sometimes products are too cheap for their own good, and people don't take them seriously: the Superphon Revelation Basic Dual Mono preamp, Rega RB300 arm, AR ES-1 turntable, Shure V15-V MR cartridge, and the B&K ST-140 power amp. They can't be any good because they cost so little, right?
Continue Reading »
Adcom GFA-565 monoblock power amplifier
Budget Component Reviews, Solid State Power Amp Reviews
Thomas J. Norton, Sam Tellig • Aug 31, 2009 • Published: Apr 01, 1991 • 0 comments
"Hello, it is I, C. Victor Campos."
Continue Reading »
Adcom GFP-565 preamplifier
Budget Component Reviews, Solid State Preamp Reviews
Gary A. Galo • Nov 21, 2011 • Published: Feb 01, 1990 • 2 comments
In recent years, Adcom has carved an enviable niche for themselves in the entry-level category of high-end audio. Their excellent GTP-400 tuner/preamplifier, which I reviewed in September 1989 (Vol.12 No.9), has further enhanced their reputation for musically satisfying sound at affordable prices. The GFP-565 is Adcom's newest preamplifier and their most expensive to date. The GFP-565 was designed to offer more than simply excellent performance for the price asked. This new arrival is Adcom's attempt at manufacturing a preamplifier which can compare favorably to the most expensive state-of-the-art products offered by other high-end manufacturers. As such, its $798 price tag is still reasonable, especially when the 565 is compared with other preamps in the under-$1000 price range.
Continue Reading »
Almarro M0A loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Floor Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina • Sep 17, 2005 • 0 comments
One of my favorite parts of attending Stereophile's Home Entertainment shows—aside from seeking out the sexy new gear and pressing the flesh of readers—is the "Ask the Editors" panel discussions. What begins as a Q&A session usually turns into a free-for-all, as the outspoken and opinionated likes of Sam Tellig, Michael Fremer, Ken Kessler, and John Marks barely give room for wallflowers such as Art Dudley and yours truly to express our opinions—except when editor John Atkinson asks each of us, in turn, to cast our votes for the "most interesting rooms to visit." At both the HE2004 and HE2005 "Ask the Editors" panels, one company was recommended by a number of Stereophile writers, me included: Almarro Products.
Continue Reading »
Alpha-Core Micro-Purl & TQ2 interconnect, Python MI2 speaker cable
Budget Component Reviews, Cable Reviews
Brian Damkroger • Mar 03, 2009 • Published: Oct 03, 2001 • 0 comments
Everyone loves a bargain. Everyone loves finding an undiscovered gem. But for audiophiles on a budget, finding good, reasonably priced cables isn't a luxury but a necessity. In a $1000 or $2500 system, there simply isn't money for $500 interconnects or $1000 speaker cables. Even a $5000 system—which most of my well-educated, music-loving, affluent friends view as pretty extravagant, by the way—can't accommodate premium cables like the Nirvana, Synergistic Research, or Nordost models that we reviewers rave about as "critical to getting the most out of your system."
Continue Reading »
Altec Lansing 301 loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Historical, J. Gordon Holt, Stand Loudspeaker Reviews
J. Gordon Holt • May 14, 2013 • Published: Nov 01, 1986 • 1 comments
One of the oldest names in US audio, Altec Lansing was building speakers for theaters and recording studios long before the introduction of the microgroove LP in 1948 (which date many see as marking the inception of high fidelity). Started in 1931 under the name All-Technical Services ~Corp., the firm later purchased another audio firm called Lansing Engineering, and merged the names. Altec's Model 604, one of the first true coaxial speakers, was adopted for home use by many early hi-fi buffs and, several permutations later, is still widely used for monitoring in disc-cutting rooms.
Continue Reading »
AMC CVT-3030 integrated amplifier
Budget Component Reviews, Integrated Amp Reviews
Jack English • Mar 07, 2008 • Published: Jun 07, 1993 • 0 comments
All right, class. Your assignment is to write a paper persuading people to do something good for themselves that they really don't want to do.
Continue Reading »
Amphion Helium2 loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Stand Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina • Jan 18, 2005 • 0 comments
My normal practice in seeking out contenders for Affordable Speaker Nirvana is to pursue speakers I stumble across at our Home Entertainment shows, and to keep tabs on new designs from manufacturers whose wares have impressed me in the past. This time, however, editor John Atkinson called me out of the blue: "How would you like to review the Amphion Helium2 loudspeaker? It's the entry-level speaker in a Scandinavian speaker line distributed by Stirling Trayle of Quartet Marketing."
Continue Reading »
Aperion Audio Intimus 533-T loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Floor Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina • Apr 15, 2007 • 0 comments
Home Entertainment 2006 in L.A. The weather is fine. The restaurants are cool. The company is très neat. I can't wait to schmooze with manufacturers, writers, dealers, and meet, for the first time, writers of letters to the editor of Stereophile. Play some jazz with John Atkinson and Immedia's Allen Perkins—one smokin' drummer since he's been studying with Peter Erskine (Joni Mitchell, Weather Report, Diana Krall). Of course, my prime objective at the Show is to seek out the best-sounding affordable loudspeakers, to keep my review hopper full for the next year.
Continue Reading »
Aperion Audio Intimus 6T loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Floor Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina • Jan 25, 2009 • 0 comments
I got a call a while back from Stephen Mejias (Stereophile('s Sancho Panza to John Atkinson's Don Quixote), who informed me that Aperion Audio had redesigned their entire line of loudspeakers, and suggested that I check them out. I had responded very favorably to Aperion's Intimus 533-T, which I reviewed in the April 2007 issue. I loved the speaker's sound, the sexy appearance, and felt it was good value at $750/pair. And I thought Aperion's 30-day free trial with free shipping each way was a deal that few could resist. So when this factory-direct, Oregon-based company informed me that they'd updated the drivers and crossovers across their entire speaker line, I decided to give a listen to their new flagship, the Intimus 6T ($1390/pair).
Continue Reading »
Aperion Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeaker
Budget Component Reviews, Stand Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina • Jan 03, 2013 • 4 comments
I received a call from Aperion Audio, who wanted to know if was interested in reviewing their Verus Grand Bookshelf loudspeaker ($598/pair). I've had good experiences with speakers from this Oregon-based, Internet-only company. I reviewed their Intimus 6T (January 2009) and Intimus 533-T (April 2007), and felt both provided overall good sound and great value for the money. I was also impressed with the speakers' quality of construction and physical appearance. But those models were floorstanders—what excites me more is finding new bookshelf speakers at low prices. I was anxious to hear the Verus Grand.
Continue Reading »
Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi Hub-D/A processor
Budget Component Reviews, Computer Audio Reviews, Digital Processor Reviews
John Atkinson • May 08, 2005 • 4 comments
Usually, a Stereophile "Follow-Up" follows up (duh!) a full review of the component in question. This review, however, is intended to flesh out a cryptic comment made by Wes Phillips in April's "As We See It": "When Apple introduced its AirPort Express wireless multimedia link," Wes wrote, "it even included a digital port so that an audiophile—such as Stereophile's editor—could network his system, using the AE to feed his Mark Levinson No.30.6 outboard D/A converter. 'Sounds okay,' deadpans JA."
Continue Reading »
Apple iPod portable music player
Budget Component Reviews, Media Server Reviews
Wes Phillips • Oct 05, 2003 • 0 comments
It was John Atkinson, that legendary ornithologist, who first pointed it out: "Have you noticed how frequently you see women using the iPod?"
Continue Reading »
Site Map / Direct Links
Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources Analog Sources Accessories Featured Music Columns Features Show Reports Show Reports Recommended
Components Blogs Latest News Community 		Shop Resources Subscriptions