Stereophile's Products of 2018 Analog Component of the Year

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)

218gram.promo_.jpg

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.

COMMENTS
Indydan's picture

"obese, intellectually dishonest, chronic masturbators" to "whiners,"

Hey Bogolu, make a song association with that! :-)

mmole's picture

There was a reviewer named Dudley
A bit slight but per his wife, “quite studly.”
Other minor audio sites’ many well known prevaricators,
He called “obese, intellectually dishonest, chronic masturbators”
Until JA said, “say whiners” instead, it’s less judgely.”

rschryer's picture

Audiophile poetry. Sweet!

Bogolu Haranath's picture

If 'Studly's' erection lasts for more than 4 hours (side effect of some ED medications), he needs to see a doctor ASAP :-) .............

Art Dudley's picture
I'm sorry I'm just now seeing this: That was brilliant!
Bogolu Haranath's picture

Ok, how about ......... "Hall of Fame (feat. will.i.am)" ................ The Script :-) ...........

"... you can be the greatest, you can be the best
you can be the King Kong banging on your chest" ............

Check out the entire lyrics of the song :-) ............

DH's picture

It's amazing how much you guys feel threatened by people at audio forums.
Most of them don't fit your description, and many are highly knowledgeable - some even moreso than some of the writers and editors at audio magazines.

Get used to it: there's a modern world out there: a small number of people at a few audio magazines can't dictate the ideas and agenda in the hobby anymore. Other opinion makers exist. Unlike some of the writers and editors, they aren't "captured" by the industry and have actual, honest, independent opinions.

JoeinNC's picture

Indeed.

Art takes himself so seriously, it's almost comical.

ken mac's picture

If readers of audio magazines, net and otherwise, knew who is truly "captured" by the "industry" in the shape of advertorial, pay to play, and other less then honest practices, your ignorant comment would be even more laughable...

invaderzim's picture

Isn't it pretty much everyone that wants their next big item to test sent to them for free?
I used to pour through reviews and videos and 'independent' tests until I got tired of reading about the 'most amazing speaker ever' in each progressive review. It became clear from my listening that some products had to sound bad or at least not perfect in some situations and yet few if any 'reviews' were mentioning that.
I nearly became one of the people chasing the more perfect system with the latest component that is receiving rave reviews. The amount of product that they must be moving by having people willing to sing their praises to be on the it list for product samples is likely staggering.

ken mac's picture

First, nothing is sent to a reviewer for "free." What, we're supposed to pay to review it? We don't keep the gear, we review, we sent it back. Reviewing is extremely hard work. Let's see you write a Stereophile worthy review. There is a small handful of writers who can do it, they work for Stereophile. We are the audio mag of record, game over.

Most reputable companies make very good gear. Take a look at the products in Recommended Components, for example, most of these companies have been in business for many many years. It may shock you or upset some idea that we're all "in on it," or some such BS, but most products backed up by extensive R&D, extensive listening tests and years of experience tend to sound pretty damn good. The stuff's not made in some guy's garage. I've reviewed gear for 30 years; that's a lot of gear stacked against my reference Shindo system, which I paid for.
So you can believe whatever you want and there's no denying a lot of gear is very expensive, some of it too expensive, and each reviewer has his own taste (I for one, can't stand giant robot speakers), but as in everything you get what you pay for.

invaderzim's picture

"First, nothing is sent to a reviewer for "free." What, we're supposed to pay to review it? We don't keep the gear, we review, we sent it back."

Well, obviously if the companies don't like a reviewer they won't send them the stuff on loan to review so one can't be much of a reviewer without product.

And, plenty of lower end (couple hundred dollars or so) products get sent to youtube 'reviewers' absolutely for free for them to plug. Some state it and others it is obvious because otherwise they wouldn't be able to give away or sell the items like many do. And I've seen at least one talk about being able to buy the items at a substantial discount after the review and even one quoted a friend who gave an amp a great spotless review after telling him it had some issues because he hoped they'd just let him keep it after... and they did. I'm not saying all reviewers just give good reviews to get access to products and gifts but some definitely do.

I just wish more reviewers would say negative things about products when there were negative things to say. I've seen several comment that if they don't like a product they won't review it. Imagine if movie reviewers only reviewed movies they liked. You would have to try to guess if they didn't like a movie or if they just hadn't had a chance to review it yet.

ok's picture

..any audio reviewer trading in some favorable presentation in exchange for hardware discount or permanent loan for one would have never accepted that kind of bribe in case of not actually liking the gear in question in the first place :-}

rt66indierock's picture

Stereophile isn't the audio publication of record, I don't write for it.

And Stereophile was swallowed up by a minnow. Hardly something that happens to a publication of record.

Art Dudley's picture
It. Was. A. Joke. JA didn't ask me to remove that line because, of course, I never put it there. It was self-deprecatory humor—making fun of an exaggerated version of my writing as much as it was a poke at people who might fit such a description.

That you whined about it is telling. :-)

DH's picture

Jokes often reveal what you really think. I’m not really aware of other businesses where they write, even jokingly, about their customers like that.
I’ve seen enough comments by you and other Stereophile writers to realize that you do actually have a sense of superiority to your readers, and feel threatened by the fact that some of the audience may be more knowledgeable than you, and now has a way to challenge you.
But keep denying it.

ok's picture

with fatty-styled, self-indulgent, grumbling-mumbling audio amateurs; “intellectually dishonest” is a little too much though :-)

Bogolu Haranath's picture

"Get Over It" .............. Eagles :-) ...........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Why is everything's so ......... "Heavy (feat. Kiiara)"? .................. LINKIN PARK :-) ..............

Bogolu Haranath's picture

There are several budget components of the year mentioned ............ Almost all of them are under $1,000 :-) .............

RH's picture

"obese, intellectually dishonest, chronic masturbators"

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Fascinating to see the Devore 0/93s continue to make these lists, and the Joseph Audio Pulsar. Both of those speaker brands impressed me most after a long time auditioning many of the latest, greatest around and above their price range.

I'm supposing the 0/93s keep getting the nod instead of the bigger 0/96 reviewed in Stereophile because more reviewers are intemitely familiar with the 0/93s. I can understand the appeal of the 93s given they seem to offer so much of the performance of the 96s at a more affordable price point.

JimAustin's picture

>>I'm supposing the 0/93s keep getting the nod instead of the bigger 0/96 reviewed in Stereophile because more reviewers are intemitely familiar with the 0/93s. I can understand the appeal of the 93s given they seem to offer so much of the performance of the 96s at a more affordable price point.<<

https://www.stereophile.com/content/stereophiles-products-2017-joint-loudspeakers-year

RH's picture

Oh yeah, forgot about that. Thought it was the 0/93s last year. Thanks.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

How about a 'Manhattan' made with an aged bourbon? :-) ............

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Some politicians fit that description ............ so, it can't be that bad :-) ...........

tonykaz's picture

Have Designs been improving?

Are transducers getting better ?

Are music creators presenting consistently better products ?

Are prices for quality gear dropping ( like Schiit ) or increasing ( like Wilson )?

I'd like to read the opinions of our experienced Panel on 2018's contribution to "Moving-the-Needle" of a typical Hobbyist's Audiophile music reproduction systems.

Is our Hobby and Love improving significantly or stagnant from stuck in 1980 syndrome ( or both ).

I remember how the little LS3/5a Monitor type speakers shook-up the Loudspeaker world in the late 1970s and how the Linn LP12 moved True NORTH on everyone's home stereo Compass.

Was 2018 a good year?, a dam good year?, one hell-of-a-year?

My take is that PS Audio & Schiit are the up&coming outfits and thank goodness that Magnapan still exists.

Tony in Michigan

ps. Feels like 5G will inspire an entirely new generation of Audiophiles ( or Stereophiles, as they say in Canada ). Stereophile will need another specialty writer to cover the Hand-Held devices as the Dominant Niche. Great Magazine Covers aplenty with pretty girls toting there audiophile phones in their cleavages. ( naughty covers sell Magazines on the Magazine Stands )

ps.2 We Stereophiles are in for an exciting 2019, even without our Tyll, I miss Tyll.

invaderzim's picture

"My take is that PS Audio & Schiit are the up&coming outfits"

I agree and my question is if that is more because of incredible quality or fabulous marketing.

tonykaz's picture

Marketing barely moves the purchasing needle for Audiophiles who can easily discover performance experienced by actual buyers and owners that can and do write things on Internet sites.

Besides, Good outfits have a Return Policy.

Some outfits make their stuff in China, which makes Service Doubtful when disaster strikes. ( like the unserviceable NAD 3020 or the Apple Loudspeaker thingy or even KEF which make some lovely loudspeakers ).

Outfits like Schiit & PS Audio provide Service for owners.

Schiit stuff sells used on Ebay for 80% of New Prices!!! Egads

There is barely any current PS Audio Stuff being sold USED, people tend to keep the PS Audio stuff they own.

Pass stuff is another Keeper Product, competitors think Pass is some sort of Audiophile god, for gods sake.

There is a Central Core Group of High Integrity Audiophile Manufacturers. All of them make gear priced for the Average Guy.

Used Krell is a darn good find but a person can own NEW PS Audio for less $$$$.

Some of the Chinese Stuff is remarkably good buuuuttttttt it only seems to have Salespeople here in the States. Send the Chinese stuff back to China for service ??? Which of the 5 Chinese languages do you need to use to talk to those people ( if you can find them ).

Conversely all the European outfits speak English ( even LINN in Scotland kinda speaks something like English ).

China has a language barrier that they use free labor to break thru.

Tony in Michigan

nomaslarge's picture

[personal insults deleted] keep trying to convince yourself that your venerable (aged-out) "magazine" (two full-time employees? three?) is that much more important than any other audio blog out there. [personal insults deleted]

nomaslarge's picture

The phenomenon of fake news is one characterized by people passing off blatantly untrue stories as fact on the internet. It is not at any point a question of opinion. The phenomenon of "fake awards" as I imagine it is being put forth by Mr. Dudley boils down to this - the opinions of others that he, from his Olympian mount, deems beneath his own opinions. It is actually a very Trumpian use of the notion - whatever I disagree with is fake. Throw in some schoolyard 'fat" insults for good measure and you are cribbing right from the President's playbook. To put it mildly, the mind that equates these two ideas - fake news and "fake awards" - is not a mind to be admired and in my opinion calls into question the soundness of any other ideas that mind would conjure, on matters of audio or anything else. (Is that gentle enough to be allowed to stand, or do I have to call someone an obese masturbator to have my words not deleted?)

tonykaz's picture

exciting read, Mr.nomas.

Stereophile allows commentary. ( might I suggest tolerates? )

You're definitely Click-bait for me, we need your Opinionating POV to colorize the empty spaces about things left un-said.

I hope you don't turn ugly with angry mud slinging.

Tony in Michigan

ps. am I encouraging you ?

ps. why aim at Mr.Dudley? he's one of the nicer & milder Vinyl people and he seems rather genuine. Can you widen out to include some of the $30,000+ Vinyl support staff and their "jiggle-cam" workings? jus ask'n

rschryer's picture

...until you appended that 2nd postscript to obliquely attack MF. Why, Tony? Why??

tonykaz's picture

Of course I admire your workings and your points of view.

Thanks for writing.

Plugging in a specific set of initials to my description is a result the reader creates from his own vivid/accurate imagination.

The initials you quote has sent me an insulting email that I can show to anyone. ( and have to my peerage )

Our 21st. Century Audio has progressed to the point where 3.2 Billion People now have nearly unlimited access to wonderful Music, we can ( and should ) easily build a Gigantic Audiophile ( Stereophile ) Group of enthusiasts. We Manufacturers and Publications should be presenting access for all, not favoring a tiny elite minority living in the 1970s, semi-actively engaged in collecting Antique Music Formats. All GM Cars now have wonderful Stereo multi speaker Systems.

Are we Stereophile readership relegating ourselves to be the water carrying support for $30,000 VPI record players ?, while the entire World is comparing Audiophile SmartPhones from LG, Samsung, Apple and all the rest.

Should we be embracing 5G ( 5th Generation Mobile connectivity ) or VPI rim drives for gods sake?

I'm look'n to Stereophile for well written Opinions like the explanation that Kal Robinson presented at RMAF. Phew.

Tony in Michigan

ps. Image stabilization in affordable Vlog Cameras have been around for a decade. Geez, blurry image jiggle cameras are quaint as 33.3 itself. ( why not use analog film ? )

ps. I once was a stocking VPI Dealer/Retailer. VPI made my all time favorite Turntable. I miss Sheila

rschryer's picture

...set of initials to my description is a result the reader creates from his own vivid/accurate imagination." I had to re-read this one. It's funny.

"The initials you quote has sent me an insulting email that I can show to anyone. ( and have to my peerage )" I'm sorry to hear this, but I'm sure my "outing" of the initials had nothing to do with it.

As for the rest of your comment, Tony, I don't disagree, but I think Stereophile does a good job of reviewing products, regardless of the technology they're built on, that interest audiophiles.

If Stereophile ventures too far into "smart devices" territory, I would expect a high-pitched backlash from its readership along with a call for JA's head.

À la prochaine, mon ami.

tonykaz's picture

Stereophile does a better job of servicing the USA based Audiophile than any group of Poets has ever done. We can ( I do ) thank Mr.JA for that. I've admired JA since his HFNRR days when I was Importing that Mag. and selling USA Subscriptions ( to it ) because of it's valuable Editorial Content. I'm a long standing JA fan!

I do not approve of Stereophile needing to join an Obese Planet to shore up it's Analog Contents. There are only a few Joe Bussard type Record collectors with entire basements devoted to Archival purposes. Endorsing that sort of hobby in a Tidal Roon World sends an entirely Wrong message to our next Generation of Music Lovers : Audiophiles are fat old geezers that collect musty jacketed memories of their glory days of smoking Wacky-Tobacy at Grateful Dead Concerts while their Mother chides them for buying another record with their father's hard earned money! It's an insulting embarrassment.

Conversely, Chad Kassem is Brilliant and delightfully honest. I've felt inspired by him every time he speaks. A no nonsense, no bullshit guy. Annnnnnnddddd he has the largest Record Collection in the USA. Even I have a Record Colleciton with Wilson Vinyls.

High pitched backlash might be drowned out by LG V30 Quad Dac Full Page Adverts and pictures of pretty gals wearing designer ear transducers by Shure.

Millennials are doing YouTube Videos about Collecting Mid-Century Household items ( none of which are Vinyl 33.3 based ).

Post-Millennials are walking around staring at their Mobile device, watching YouTube Videos, gaming and panicking when they run out of Battery or signal strength.

China is coming up behind us, we need to extrapolate ourselves into the Future ( if we want a future ).

Tony in Michigan

tonykaz's picture

You're man is toothless.

I'm part of a Organization able to do Full Page Adverts, egads, my CEO is an Audiophile.

Acid spitting is.....

Tony in Michigan

Anton's picture

I had a long day at work. Came home tired and feeling hang dog.

It’s nice to sit down, have a sip of wine, and read some “real” awards for a change.

None of those bullshit “fake” awards, but the real stuff, with bonafide real world definitive legitimacy, like Billboard Awards, or ESPY awards. Maybe even People’s Choice Awards or Dancing With the Stars Awards!

You know, “objective stuff,” like Recommended Components, or Records To Die For.

I love Stereophile, Art, Onanism, all of it. But when a periodical has to stake its own claim to “award legitimacy,” I picture Arthur Fonzarelli jumping a tank of sharks on his motorbike.

I would vote to end the madness.

rschryer's picture

...but onanism? Not sure that one is going to come in handy. Well, you know what I mean.

Onanism also sounds too close to "onerous" and "aneurysm" to sound like any fun.

But, wait, your word did just come in handy, didn't it?

Thanks, Anton. Have a great weekend.

ok's picture

that Onan himself was not even an onanist.

Anton's picture

If he had only gone with "Falstaffian, unabatingly onanistic, mendacious bluestockings" in lieu of "obese, intellectually dishonest, chronic masturbators," he may have 'pulled it off,' so to speak.

;-D

I do admit to having an anti-establishment bias when it comes to self proclaimed legitimacy. Remember when 'Kramer vs. Kramer' beat out 'Breaking Away,' 'All That Jazz', and 'Apocalypse, Now!' for best film in 1980?

That's the place where someone taking his/her own 'legitimacy' seriously will take you!

Cheers, and all in good spirit!

rschryer's picture

...JA is intimately familiar with onanism.

After all, as both an excellent writer and editor, he is very literate.

(hehe — your word is turning out to be a lot more handy than I expected, Anton)

tonykaz's picture

Tony in Michigan

rschryer's picture

...but the word wanker is not allowed on this site.

The acceptable term for someone playing with oneself is Audiophile. :-)

(And the onanism thread has gone on long enough. Sorry, John. It's Anton's fault.)

tonykaz's picture

I would never use that word in a sentence or try to suggest it's meaning could be part of some sort of discussion.

I acknowledge & embrace the notion of keeping Stereophile at the very highest Standards for Prose.

I'd love to See writers like Michael Connelly contributing 5,000 words, from time to time.

Stereophile already has the foundation for a Remarkable Publication. Imagine a P.J. O'Rourke story about Wire

All Writers have some sort of feeling or love of music, let em write something.

Tony in Michigan

ps. Stereophile could make writing for them a Status Symbol type achievement. I certainly would

ps.2 annndddd, Stereophile could begin by presenting HR with their "Writer of the Year" Award! ( it would turn Steve G's hair green with envy, who wouldn't love to see that? )

tonykaz's picture

One more thing:

Steve G, just today, proclaimed our time ( 2018 ) to be a Great Time for Audio but not quite having that Golden Glow around it that it had from 1977-1987 ( the years I was in the High End of the Audio Business ) .

I present that we are NOW in the greatest of all times for personal High quality audio annnnnndddd it's getting better and better.

Outfits like Schiit and PS Audio are the Engine powering all. ( along with the digital people )

Tony in Michigan

ps. I recognize that Schiit & PS Audio were the very first outfits to make Digital Audio Converters! i.e. Paul McGowan, Mike Moffat -- way back in the day!

rschryer's picture

...if we take into consideration a) the improvements made in audio parts and measuring instruments, b) the advancements made in digital and solid state sound, c) the sheer quantity of audio products on the market at all price points, and, d) the extent to which better sound reproduction can now be had in more mainstream products, especially in the portable audio arena, I'd say there's never been a better time than now to be an audiophile, or become one.

Ali's picture

The number of nominee for power are more than pre because maybe these days people more connecting DAC directly to power and it sounds most of the time better in my case,. Also many people including me, don't have another sources than a good DAC to need an input selector.

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