Analog Component of the Year
MoFi Electronics UltraDeck turntable ($1799, including tonearm; reviewed by Herb Reichert, February 2018, Vol.41 No.2 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Audio-Technica ART-1000 phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, October 2016 & May 2018, Vol.39 No.10 & Vol.41 No.5 review)
CH Precision P1/X1 phono preamplifier ($31,000 for P1, $17,000 for X1; reviewed by Michael Fremer, April & June 2017, August 2018, Vol.40 Nos. 4 & 6, Vol.41 No.8)
Hana SL phono cartridge ($750; reviewed by Herb Reichert, October 2018, Vol.41 No.10 review)
Koetsu Rosewood Standard phono cartridge ($3495; reviewed by Herb Reichert, April 2018, Vol.41 No.4 review)
Miyajima Laboratory Saboten L phono cartridge ($4875; reviewed by Art Dudley, June 2018, Vol.41 No.6 review)
Ortofon MC Century phono cartridge ($12,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, September 2018, Vol.41 No.9)
Rega Research RP10 turntable ($5495, including tonearm; reviewed by Michael Fremer, February 2018, Vol.41 No.2)
Zu Audio DL-103 phono cartridge ($559–$999, depending on level; reviewed by Art Dudley, April 2018, Vol.41 No.4 review)
Who among us doesn't smile when a relatively affordable product takes top honors in a field other than Budget Component of the Year?
Designed with input from Spiral Groove's Allen Perkins, the MoFi UltraDeck packs a lot of performance for $1799—or $2198 when purchased with MoFi's MasterTracker MM cartridge—and impressed Herb Reichert with its "infectious, easy-flowing, liquid vitality." Herb wasn't the only one impressed: Votes from seven different Stereophile reviewers propelled this US-made product to the top.
Notes on the Votes
Another close race: Only two points separated the second-place Hana SL phono cartridge—another affordable product!—from the top dog, and there was a difference of only one point between the Hana SL and third-place finalist, Rega's Research RP10 turntable-tonearm combo. That said, one could infer a bit more passion behind the votes for the Hana, which won a full three first-place votes; the Rega got just one of those, but took up the slack with two second-place and three third-place votes.
CH Precision P1/X1 phono preamplifier ($31,000 for P1, $17,000 for X1; reviewed by Michael Fremer, April & June 2017, August 2018, Vol.40 Nos. 4 & 6, Vol.41 No.8)
Hana SL phono cartridge ($750; reviewed by Herb Reichert, October 2018, Vol.41 No.10 review)
Koetsu Rosewood Standard phono cartridge ($3495; reviewed by Herb Reichert, April 2018, Vol.41 No.4 review)
Miyajima Laboratory Saboten L phono cartridge ($4875; reviewed by Art Dudley, June 2018, Vol.41 No.6 review)
Ortofon MC Century phono cartridge ($12,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, September 2018, Vol.41 No.9)
Rega Research RP10 turntable ($5495, including tonearm; reviewed by Michael Fremer, February 2018, Vol.41 No.2)
Zu Audio DL-103 phono cartridge ($559–$999, depending on level; reviewed by Art Dudley, April 2018, Vol.41 No.4 review)
Who among us doesn't smile when a relatively affordable product takes top honors in a field other than Budget Component of the Year?
Designed with input from Spiral Groove's Allen Perkins, the MoFi UltraDeck packs a lot of performance for $1799—or $2198 when purchased with MoFi's MasterTracker MM cartridge—and impressed Herb Reichert with its "infectious, easy-flowing, liquid vitality." Herb wasn't the only one impressed: Votes from seven different Stereophile reviewers propelled this US-made product to the top.
Another close race: Only two points separated the second-place Hana SL phono cartridge—another affordable product!—from the top dog, and there was a difference of only one point between the Hana SL and third-place finalist, Rega's Research RP10 turntable-tonearm combo. That said, one could infer a bit more passion behind the votes for the Hana, which won a full three first-place votes; the Rega got just one of those, but took up the slack with two second-place and three third-place votes.
