Joint Accessories of 1995
Audio Power Industries Power Wedge 112 & 116 AC-line conditioners ($389 & $639, respectively; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994)
Stax SR-Omega headphones ($4000–$4500 with dedicated tube amplifier; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995) Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Dynaclear Postman Binding-Post Wrench ($7.95; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994)
Etymotic Research ER-4S headphones ($330; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
HeadRoom Traveler Bag ($129; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.10, October 1995 Review)
Sennheiser HD580 Precision headphones ($349; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994; and Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.10, October 1995 Review) A tie. Audio Power Industries' 112 and 116 Power Wedges feature RF-filtering and isolation transformers with dual secondaries feeding six (116) or two (112) source outlets, as well as voltage-spike–absorbing MOVs on the AC line. Zen master JA finds they make the "silences more silent," which indeed they do, since they don't allow RF-generating components to foul the power lines with their spuriae. CD playback benefits significantly—layers of sonic hash are removed, and imaging information shines through with greater focus.
Powered by their dedicated tube amplifier, the Stax SR-Omega headphones redefine transparency and clarity, period. They also, it must be noted, rank among the most comfortable headsets designed to date. It is possible to make them burp with extreme LF, but their freedom from distortion and seductive midrange balance come closer to the real thing than almost anything else we could name. "Nothing less than stunning," quoth TJN—and the long line of Stereophile reviewers impatiently awaiting their turn on these phenomenal transducers bears him out.
Stax SR-Omega headphones ($4000–$4500 with dedicated tube amplifier; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995) Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Dynaclear Postman Binding-Post Wrench ($7.95; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994)
Etymotic Research ER-4S headphones ($330; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
HeadRoom Traveler Bag ($129; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.10, October 1995 Review)
Sennheiser HD580 Precision headphones ($349; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994; and Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.10, October 1995 Review) A tie. Audio Power Industries' 112 and 116 Power Wedges feature RF-filtering and isolation transformers with dual secondaries feeding six (116) or two (112) source outlets, as well as voltage-spike–absorbing MOVs on the AC line. Zen master JA finds they make the "silences more silent," which indeed they do, since they don't allow RF-generating components to foul the power lines with their spuriae. CD playback benefits significantly—layers of sonic hash are removed, and imaging information shines through with greater focus.
