Products of the Year

Stereophile's Products of 2016 Joint Digital Components of the Year

Joint Digital Components of the Year

AudioQuest DragonFly Red & Black D/A headphone amplifiers ($199 & $99; reviewed by Art Dudley, September 2016, Vol.39 No.9 Review) Like our Analog Product of the Year, AudioQuest's two new DragonFly DACs are evolutionary—which is forgivable, given the originality, even audacity, of the first DragonFly, our Computer Audio Product of the Year for 2012. This year's models are no bigger but are considerably more sophisticated—both have new microcontrollers and new DAC chips, and both use less power—while the Red has higher output voltage and the additional distinction of being shinier. In my review, I found both to offer sound superior to their pioneering predecessor—greater musical nuance and openness, in particular. Both also offered very good value, the Black more than the Red, especially in settings where loudspeakers are favored over headphones. And I haven't even mentioned their upgradable firmware!

1216poty.digital.jpg

Notes on the vote: Second place was earned by the Chord Hugo TT D/A processor—and here's where the details of voting are especially telling: Although the AudioQuests received a considerably higher number of points, the Chord received a greater number of first-place votes. One could conclude that the Chord succeeded by generating, among its supporters, a greater measure of passion, while the DragonFlys triumphed on the basis of greater familiarity. The third-place product, which also received more first-place votes than the DragonFlys—and which, by the time you read this, I will have heard for myself at Michael Lavorgna's house—was the handmade TotalDAC d1-tube-mk2 D/A processor.

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Ayre Acoustics Codex D/A headphone amplifier ($1795; reviewed by Jon Iverson & John Atkinson, June, July, September & October 2016, Vol.39 Nos. 6, 7, 9 & 10 Review)
Chord Hugo TT D/A processor ($4795; reviewed by Jon Iverson, November 2015, Vol.38 No.11 Review)
Chord Mojo D/A headphone amplifier ($599; reviewed by John Atkinson, February 2016, Vol.39 No.2 Review)
Luxman DA-06 D/A processor ($4990; reviewed by Jon Iverson, November 2015, Vol.38 No.11 Review)
Meridian Explorer2 USB D/A headphone amplifier ($299; reviewed by Jim Austin, June 2016, Vol.39 No.6 Review)
PS Audio NuWave DSD D/A processor ($1299; reviewed by Jim Austin, May 2016, Vol.39 No.5 Review)
Simaudio Moon Evolution 780D DSD D/A processor ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, August 2016, Vol.39 No.8 Review)
TotalDAC d1-tube-mk2 D/A processor (€9100; reviewed by Michael Lavorgna, January 2016, Vol.39 No.1 Review)

COMMENTS
Staxguy's picture
Submitted by Staxguy on November 24, 2016 - 5:52am

While the Devialet Expert 1000 (1000 watts at 6 ohms) didn't hit my mind while thinking huh to ...

"The Mark Levinson No.585 integrated stereo amplifier's 200Wpc into 8 ohms—more powerful than any integrated amp other than the 300Wpc Bel Canto Black"

Jeff Rowlands Daemon (1500 watts at 8 ohms) Integrated Amplifier certainly did.

http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/us/daemon-integrated.html

Looking, I see that indeed Stereophile has covered it (I seem to remember it)...

http://www.stereophile.com/content/trade-day%C2%97lets-go-show#FKRbtL4Shc8PJS5K.97

200 watts is certainly power-amp power-amp territory, and no slouch, but is not knocking on the Analogue Domain Apollo (4000 watt at 8 ohms) power amplifier territory, or the mind-numbing 160,000 watts of Pievetta Opera Only, which one could consider an integrated amplifier.

http://newatlas.com/pivetta-opera-only/29824/

Or Music-in-The-Round (Kal) amplifier at least.

It's nice to see a number of excellent products this year.

Did you try driving loudspeakers (high efficiency) with the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red's headphone out?

Many headphone enthusiasts use the Devialet Expert 1000's speaker outputs to drive their headphones, as an aside. :)

Love to see coverage of the Daemon.

Lucidear's picture
Submitted by Lucidear on January 4, 2017 - 7:47am

@Staxguy,

A little shortsightedness, on the part of staff perhaps, in copying Larry Greenfield's actual comments from his review of the 585:

"...Mark Levinson's No.585 is the most expensive integrated amplifier I have reviewed. At 200Wpc, it's more powerful than all but one of the integrateds listed in our "Recommended Components"—the Bel Canto Black."
---
Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no585-integrated-amplifier-page-2#ecOjReEIsHSm19Su.99

And I think as of his writting's date the Musical fidelity 800, with a tad more power, was not on the RC list yet...
***Now if someone could comment whether this (the 585 or even the MF800) has enough juice to drive a pair of larger Maggies ie 3.7i or 20.7, it'd be much appreciated...

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on November 24, 2016 - 3:25pm

I have to hand it to you lads, well done!!!

Seems like $5,000 builds a pretty darn good system ( digital, of course ).

Back in 1985 it would've taken well over $10,000, if I remember correctly.

Conrad-Johnson MV-45a & Electrocompaniet Ampliwire ( 50 watts ) were my all time favorite Amps, I no longer own either. Maybe I should arrange for a First Watt. You lads are part of a large group that love these Amps.

It seems, after 30 years of digital we have a tiny little device ( $200 ) to replace our record players, hmm. ----- Of course, it's not as good as a $10,000 Phono cart., $10,000 VPI, $??,??? Arm plus cabling and a "proper Pre-amp with a nice RIAA"

Nice cheap speakers ( costing less than LS3/5a in 1980 dollars ), get-outa-here. more hmmmmmms. And Wilsons for less than the price of a KIA Soul? get-outa-here sum-more

I love your work, OK, I'll subscribe to the print version ( if you still have one ).

Tony in Michigan

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on November 24, 2016 - 4:11pm
tonykaz wrote:
I have to hand it to you lads, well done!!!

Thank you.

tonykaz wrote:
OK, I'll subscribe to the print version ( if you still have one).

Yes we do!

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on November 24, 2016 - 4:14pm

About $13, seems a bargain.

Tony in Michigan

AaronGarrett's picture
Submitted by AaronGarrett on November 25, 2016 - 5:00am

Just subscribed as well. Had lapsed for quite a few years. This has become a lot more than a hifi mag. It's clear that the love of music is what really drives Stereophile and its reviewers.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on November 25, 2016 - 1:19pm

I've found some interesting music through the reviews here - music I would have otherwise missed.

jporter's picture
Submitted by jporter on November 28, 2016 - 11:07am

Dale, I finally agree with you on something...Cheers!

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on November 28, 2016 - 2:45pm

You may occasionally read where I say that I agree with what someone said, but you won't read where I say that "I agree with you."

Allen Fant's picture
Submitted by Allen Fant on November 25, 2016 - 4:42am

The ML No. 585 integrated amp is on my short-list as well.

Atlet's picture
Submitted by Atlet on November 26, 2016 - 9:05am

My impressions of the latest magazin review of the new PL300 II was Deutsch new reference. Shouldn't that make the PL300 II loudspeaker of the year and not the Wilson Sabrina?
Just confused..

rschryer's picture
Submitted by rschryer on November 26, 2016 - 10:29am

Products for POTY consideration had to have been "covered in our November 2015 through October 2016 issues". The PL300 appeared in November's edition.

Atlet's picture
Submitted by Atlet on November 26, 2016 - 11:15am

I guess the PL300 II would have become the winner if it had been reviewed before November if I have red and understood the review in the latest(Nov) issued Stereophile magazine..

rschryer's picture
Submitted by rschryer on November 26, 2016 - 4:13pm

Perhaps the more pertinent question is: How will the PL300 fare in 2017's POTY? *insert suspenseful music*

rschryer's picture
Submitted by rschryer on November 27, 2016 - 9:31am

Keep in mind: The POTY system is consensus-based. RD's is but one opinion, as trustworthy as it may be.

mrvco's picture
Submitted by mrvco on November 29, 2016 - 7:56pm

Thank you for validating my recent J2 purchase. LOL. It's a great pairing w/ my single-driver Omegas. And yes, I'm a print subscriber. Can I get a badge?

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