Products of the Year

Stereophile's Products of 2020 Accessory of the Year

Accessory of the Year

CAD Ground Control Grounding Boxes ($1999–$4500; reviewed by Michael Fremer, July 2020, Vol.43 No.7 Review)

820anac.cad

Finalists (in alphabetical order)
DS Audio Vinyl Ionizer-001 ($1795; reviewed by Michael Fremer, July 2020, Vol.43 No.7 Review)
Grand Prix Audio Monza Equipment Supports ($19,000 as equipped; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus, November 2019, Vol.42 No.11 Review)
Ifi Audio Intona Nano Igalvanic3.0 USB Galvanic Isolator ($379; reviewed by Herb Reichert, August 2020, Vol.43 No.8 Review)
Stylustimer ($19.95; reviewed by Michael Fremer, September 2020, Vol.43 No.9 Review)
Wallytractor Universal Phono Cartridge Alignment Tool ($395; reviewed by Michael Fremer, September 2020, Vol.43 No.9 Review)

I first experienced the Ground Control boxes, from the company Computer Audio Design, aka CAD, at 2019's AXPONA. What made that system sound so good? Was it the Verity loudspeakers? The Trilogy amplification? The CAD digital front-end and odd-looking custom USB cable? I can't answer that question, but the sound in that room was among the best—perhaps the best—I heard at that large show. So, when Michael Fremer took an interest in the CAD Ground Control boxes—well, I was already interested.

"This passive system," Mikey wrote in his column, "is designed to greatly reduce a broad range of high-frequency noise picked up by and created by electronics, and also noise that gets into connecting cables via radiation and into components from the AC mains. In these Wi-Fi/Bluetooth days, there can be a lot of noise." As you might expect based on the name, the Ground Control boxes concern themselves with noise on the signal ground. They do that by utilizing a component's unused inputs. Figuring out how best to utilize the various types of connecting cables required some creativity and sounded like fun.

The morning after Mikey did this work, his system "sounded fundamentally different: more delicate (but the attack was still well-articulated) and against a blacker background. The strings had more luster. Lieberman's voice was smoother; the sibilants were more cleanly expressed so that it sounded more 'there' and less recorded."

Mikey decided he couldn't live without them. He bought 'em.

About the Vote
Due, I'm guessing, to Mikey's rave review in our July issue, this was another landslide. Only the WallyTractor Universal, a distant second, got more than a handful of votes.

COMMENTS

M33 -- exceptional product but missing features

Submitted by mtrot on November 20, 2020 - 4:13pm

No doubt an exceptional product but lacks both a USB-B port and a true home theater bypass, which makes it a no-go for me.

Update for USB in the

Submitted by Kal Rubinson on November 21, 2020 - 6:41am

Update for USB in the pipeline. It will be in the form of an MDC module.

Excellent! Good to know.

Submitted by mtrot on November 20, 2020 - 5:44pm

Excellent! Good to know.

M33 sub output

Submitted by pvasseur on September 6, 2021 - 10:44am

I purchased an M33 recently and unfortunately it had to be returned because it would not output enough to power my subs (JLA fathoms).
The sub output on this unit is 1.1v, truly pitiful. Did you hook up sub(s) to your unit? This is apparently a widespread issue, the same problem existed with the M10 and it was quickly "revised" to a v2 version with better output voltage. I got stuck with a 15% restock fee for what I feel is a faulty design.

I used the output with 3 JL

Submitted by Kal Rubinson on September 6, 2021 - 11:58am

I used the output with 3 JL subs via the JL CR-1 Active Subwoofer Crossover. I had not noticed the low output spec but it was not an issue in my application.

sub outs

Submitted by pvasseur on September 7, 2021 - 11:19am

thanks Kal. i thought i might have a defective unit but there are too many folks out there with the same issue. the M10 had the same problem and has been updated with a v2, likely the same will happen with the M33.
all the best

NAD M33

Submitted by Anotherbob on December 5, 2020 - 6:48pm

It’s not designed for a home theatre application, at least not yet. There are two expansion ports so who knows what may come in the future. Yes, if you must have a shitty sounding USB cable, this is not for you. I love mine and use it almost exclusively for streaming Qobuz, amazing sound.

Ending the entertainment

Submitted by BlackH20 on November 21, 2020 - 9:16pm

A whole article on cost, you have already lost generations by arguing over the wire and can't let a young working man get into the basic hobby or even understand the value in it.

Mr.BlackH20

Submitted by tonykaz on November 22, 2020 - 9:08am

If you were young again, which of today's gear choices would you invest in?

I'm thinking Schiit & PS Audio probably.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Tony in Venice

Yes on Schiit and PS. Let's

Submitted by PeterG on November 23, 2020 - 7:38am

Yes on Schiit and PS. Let's add in NAD, Bluesound, and lower priced B&W

Stereophile seems

Submitted by tonykaz on November 23, 2020 - 4:43am

like a ultra-niche watering hole for eclectics ( something like me ) featuring artistic writing on rather intellectual subjects like 'transparency'. This might be an out-of-the-way Bar where the Audiophile Junta meet in semi-secret. hmm.

and yet,

The group's nominated Product of the Year is a Chinesium , of all things.

Why wasn't it Chad Kassem's Company and thier work in accessible High Quality Music ? It could've be a No.1 choice.

the Schiit Company for making Audiophile gear available to anyone that can afford cigarettes.

Stereophile has a higher calling than a normal glossy Mag.

Stereophile is the Carrier/Keeper/Curator & Documentor of a beautiful Music Culture where, I'm hoping, rising prices won't be the measure of raising the Bar.

The Audiophiliac remains my nomination for Audiophile of the Year.

Tony in Venice

And Poster of the Year...

Submitted by Glotz on November 23, 2020 - 2:48pm

Goes to YOU, Tony!

Kudos.

What is great about Stereophile are its people

Submitted by monetschemist on November 23, 2020 - 9:53am

This comment:

"Best of all, readers who bought one because of the review emailed me to say they were thrilled.—Michael Fremer

Here we have a reviewer, who has been "doing this" for a long time, who is at the top of his game, who impresses both manufacturers and readers for his efforts, who has the reputation and technical chops to review 6 figure audio equipment.

And here, where we might therefore expect to see swagger and an "I told you so" attitude, we see instead his delight in readers who are pleased by his recommendations.

Thank you, Mr. Fremer, for sharing your wisdom and experience and for maintaining your humanity.

Thank you to Stereophile!

Submitted by Glotz on November 23, 2020 - 2:44pm

For giving me incredible, accurate recommendations every year!
I put my money where their mouths are!

Despite Corona virus whupping the world economy's ass, I bought in 2020:

PS Audio Stellar phono preamp (Stereophile- MF)
Benchmark HPA4 line/headphone amp (KR)
Hana ML cartridge (HR)
NAD C427 tuner
Schiit Modius DAC (Analog Planet- ML)
Magneplanar 1.7i speakers
REL T5i subwoofers -2
HiFi Man He-400i headphones
AudioQuest Colorado XLR & RCA interconnects
AudioQuest Carbon Coax and USB interconnects
Shunyata Defender
Audio Reference LP Carbonmat record mat
Aesthetics ABCD-1 Demagnetizer
Belles 150a Hot Rod amp re-chip (ST)
Soundsmith Carmen 1 cartridge re-tip (HR).

All of the parenthesis show which reviewer recommended it, and I feel their perceptions on every product were spot-on accurate. The rest of the equipment were also well reviewed and recommended by other magazines.

I truly thank them for reporting on their observations, insights, and thoroughness when reviewing. My trust is shown by purchasing this gear!

I also thank them all for fun and truly superlative writing! And to JA for his measurements and insights...

The take-away is great sound isn't by accident. We need great writers who adhere to truth and art, and understand the fine line between both and make salient recommendations for the audience they believe it fits.

And thank you to Stereophile and its web presence (and the AP), where real audio debate and discovery are available to everyone.

Audio Gear

Submitted by davemill on November 23, 2020 - 4:34pm

I'll second Sterophile's gear advice with one notable exception. Gear that is manufactured and designed in China is a definite no go for me. This includes such companies as Holoaudio and Denafrips. I will not support communists. My wife grew up under communism in Romania. I also avoid gear that is manufactured in China although if I wasn't fortunate to have funds for a higher budget I might be tempted to buy the lower end B&W and NAD equipment. That being said I am very happy with the following purchases I made over the past 12 months.

Revel PerformaBe F228 (KR)
Parasound Halo A21+ (KR)
Shunyata Research Denali 6000/S v2 power distributor
Shunyata Research Sigma XC and 2 Alpha NR v2 power cords
Shunyata Research CopperConn duplex outlet

The impact of the Shunyata products was mind-blowing to me. I will likely replace my Synergistic Research interconnects and speaker cables with Shunyata's new v2 products in 2021.

YRMV

Good on you...

Submitted by Glotz on November 23, 2020 - 5:22pm

Killer speakers and amp!

I do love Shunyata's approach to their entire line. While I don't like the Venom interconnects, I do love and use the speaker cables. But I will be looking to the V2 line next year, probably the Deltas.

Not expensive?

Submitted by DougM on November 29, 2020 - 1:31pm

I'm glad you're all so wealthy that you think a piece of gear that costs $3k or more isn't expensive. Looking at the list of all winners and runners-up, to my mind the only two items that I wouldn't call expensive are the Audioquest Cobalt DAC, and the Stylustimer, and the Cobalt is still a serious amount of money to the average American. In these times of covid, when millions are out of work or underemployed and are just trying to pay the rent and put food on the table, try taking 100 random people off the street and show them these prices and ask them if they think any of them aren't expensive. You're clueless about what goes on in the real world outside of your bubble where a writer for a stupid audio magazine can afford to buy turntables and speakers that cost $100k. You should change the name of Stereophile to Hedge Fund Audio Times, or Toys for the One Percent.