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Listening #59

"Why can't I just buy . . . a bicycle?"

That's what I asked Steve Silberman, of Ayre Acoustics, the last time he came to visit. Steve, who approaches cycling with the zeal I reserve for clambakes and a good night's sleep, had flown east with his ride, and was giving me a tour of its various bits and pieces: Bianchi frame, Easton fork, Ritchey stem and seat post, Shimano components, Selle Italia saddle, Mavic wheels, Continental tires . . .

I haven't owned a bicycle since I was 14, but I'd like to buy one now so I can ride alongside my nine-year-old daughter from time to time. Her…

 

Listening #59 Page 2

In that room, with the speakers no less than 13' from one another, the full Aurum system sounded impressive. Superb bass extension and near-holographic imaging topped the list of its strengths, along with the kind of timbral neutrality and realism that are rare even among the most expensive high-end rigs. Voices on rock and folk recordings sounded wonderful: As with virtually every other single-ended 300B amp I've heard, the Aurum system imbued singers with an engaging presence that was beyond the more conventional aspects of stereo imaging. That quality extended to other soloists—such as…

 

Listening #59 Contacts

Sidebar: Contacts

Aurum Acoustics, 10 Minerals Road, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador A1W 5A1, Canada. Tel: (709) 834-8244. Fax: (709) 834-8246. Web: www.aurumacoustics.com. US distributor: Fidelis AV, 14 East Broadway (Route 102), Derry, NH 03038. Tel: (603) 437-4769. Fax: (603) 437-4790. Web: www.fidelisav.com.

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007

Well, ladies and gents, it's been a long year. As I write this, on an unusually humid and hazy October morning, I'm still feeling the lingering effects of my beloved Mets' sudden and tragic collapse from the top of the National League East. I sat there, at Flushing Meadows' Shea Stadium, covered in peanut shells and with tears in my hazel eyes as the scoreboard went cruelly blank and Coldplay's "The Scientist" wept over the stadium loudspeakers. It was brutal.

Here in the office, it hasn't been much better. Debunkers of all shapes, sizes, and levels of amazingness are, at this very moment…

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007 2007 Joint Loudspeakers

2007 Joint Loudspeakers

Dynaudio Confidence C4 ($18,000/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson & Wes Phillips, Vol.26 No.3 & Vol.30 No.3, March 2003 & March 2007 review)
Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 8 ($27,900/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.6, June 2007 review)

Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Focal Electra 1037 Be ($10,995/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.30 No.7, July 2007 review)
Harbeth HL-P3ES2 ($1895/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.30 No.4, April 2007 review)
JL Audio Fathom f113 subwoofer ($3400; reviewed by…

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007 2007 Digital Source Component

2007 Digital Source Component

Chord Choral Blu CD transport & Choral DAC64 D/A processor ($15,400; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.8, August 2007 review)

Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Esoteric SA60 SACD player ($4600; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.30 No.10, October 2007 review)
Logitech Slim Devices Transporter WiFi D/A processor ($1999; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.2, February 2007 review)
Marantz SA8001 SACD player ($1000; reviewed by Jim Austin, Vol.30 No.10, October 2007 review)
Muse Polyhymnia universal player ($7150;…

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007 2007 Analog Source Component

2007 Analog Source Component

Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Keel modifications ($7870; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.30 No.10, October 2007 review)
Lyra Skala phono cartridge ($3200; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.30 No.3, March 2007 review)
Kuzma Stabi XL turntable ($18,975; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.30 No.4, April 2007 review)

Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Air Tight PC-1 phono cartridge ($5500; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.30 No.6, June 2007)
Koetsu Black phono cartridge ($1600; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.30 No.7, July 2007 review)
…

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007 2007 Amplification Component

2007 Amplification Component

Ayre Acoustics MX-R monoblock power amplifier ($16,500/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.4, April 2007 review)

Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Ars-Sonum Filarmona integrated amplifier ($4000; reviewed by John Marks, Vol.30 No.10, October 2007 review)
Audio Research Reference 3 preamplifier ($9995; reviewed by Paul Bolin & Robert J. Reina, Vol.29 No.12 & Vol.30 No.6, December 2006 & June 2007 review)
Audio Research Reference 110 power amplifier ($9995; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.30 No.8, August 2007…

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007 2007 Joint Multichannel Music Components

2007 Joint Multichannel Music Components

Audio Research MP1 multichannel preamplifier ($7495; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.30 No.9, September 2007 review)
Cary Audio Design Cinema 11 preamplifier-processor ($3000; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.30 No.7, July 2007 review)

Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Bel Canto Design e.One Ref1000 and S300 power amplifiers (Ref1000, $3990/pair; S300, $1495; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.29 No.11, November 2006 review)
Classé Audio CA-3200 3-channel power amplifier ($6000; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.30…

 

<I>Stereophile</I>'s Products of 2007 2007 Accessory

2007 Accessory

RealTraps MondoTraps (MondoTrap, $300; Corner MondoTrap, $350; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson & Jim Austin, Vol.29 No.11 & Vol.30 No.8, November 2006 & August 2007 review)

Runners-up (in alphabetical order)
Audyssey Sound Equalizer ($2500; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.30 No.3, March 2007 review)
Ayre Acoustics L-5xe Power Filter ($1500; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.30 No.7, July 2007)
Cayin Audio HA-1A headphone amplifier ($795; reviewed by Sam Tellig & Wes Phillips, Vol.29 Nos.6 & 11, June & November 2006)
Furutech…

 

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