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Editor: Upon receiving the critique by John Atkinson, a laboratory examination of the specific compact disc in question was made by Lou Dorren. Lou's comments are as follows:

1) The original PCM-1 digital master is clean, with no distortion as described by JA.

2) When the PCM-1 to Colossus transfer was made, the digital medium was truly exercised with regard to program level.

3) This push of the medium may cause the kinds of distortions referred to by JA. The levels on this disc were recorded within 8 bits [LSBs] (…

Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX Series 3 ($68,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.9, September 2009 Review)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Aerial Acoustics Model 5B ($2200/pair; reviewed by John Marks, Vol.32 No.6, June 2009 Review)
DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Nine ($6500/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley & Jim Austin, Vol.30 No.12 & Vol.32 No.5, December 2007 & May 2009 Review)
Dynaudio Sapphire ($16,500/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.32 No.1, January 2009 Review)
Hansen Prince V2 ($39,000/pair; reviewed by…

Ayre Acoustics QB-9 USB D/A converter ($2500; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.32 No.10, October 2009 Review)
dCS Scarlatti SACD playback system ($79,996; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.8, August 2009 Review)
Meridian 808i.2 CD player ($16,995; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.32 No.4, April 2009 Review)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics CX7-eMP CD player ($3500; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Vol.32 No.10, October 2009 Review)
Bel Canto USB Link 24/96 digital processor ($495;…

VPI Super Scoutmaster Reference rim-drive turntable ($8200; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.2, February 2009)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Benz Micro ACE phono cartridge ($700; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.6, June 2009)
Koetsu Coralstone Platinum Mono phono cartridge ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.5, May 2009)
Miyabi monophonic phono cartridge ($2800; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.31 No.12, December 2008 Review)
Ortofon SPU Synergy A pickup head ($1850; reviewed by Art Dudley,…

Ayre KX-R preamplifier ($18,500; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.31 No.11, November 2008 Review)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Benchmark DAC1 USB Pre D/A preamplifier ($1595; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.32 No.3, March 2009 Review)
Boulder 865 integrated amplifier ($12,000; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.32 Nos.4 & 8, April & August 2009 Review)
Conrad-Johnson Classic SE preamplifier ($1750; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.32 Nos.2 & 7, February & July 2009)
Nagra BPS phono preamplifier ($2399;…

Sennheiser HD800 headphones ($1400; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.32 No.7, July 2009 Review)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Channel D Pure-Vinyl LP-ripping program ($229; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.3, March 2009)
Keith Monks Audio Works Omni record-cleaning machine ($6495; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.32 No.5, May 2009 Review)
PS Audio Power Plant Premier AC regenerator ($2195; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Vol.32 No.2, February 2009 Review)
Shure SE310 earphones ($300; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.32 No.9,…

John Atkinson: Two solid-state preamplifiers, the Ayre KX-R ($18,500, November 2008) and the Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8 ($15,000, September 2009), both which proved that it is possible to design an active component that lets through more of the music than a straight piece of wire can!

Jim Austin: DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Nine loudspeaker ($6500/pair, December 2007 & May 2009). Art Dudley got it precisely right when he spoke of the Gibbon Nine's "sheer humanity." This loudspeaker may be named for a nonhuman ape, but communicating human emotion, and the deep…

Peachtree Nova D/A integrated amplifier

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Bel Canto USB Link 24/96
Benchmark DAC1 USB Pre D/A processor
Cambridge Audio DacMagic D/A processor
Musical Fidelity V-DAC D/A processor ($299; reviewed by Sam Tellig and John Atkinson, Vol.32 Nos.5 & 12, May & December 2009 Review)
Oppo BDP-83 universal player
PSB Imagine B loudspeaker ($1000/pair; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.32 Nos.2, 4, 6, 8, & 10, February, April, June, August, and October 2009 Review)…

Ayre Acoustics QB-9 USB D/A converter

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics KX-R preamplifier
Boulder 1021 disc player
Cambridge Audio DacMagic D/A processor
dCS Scarlatti SACD playback system
Meridian 808i.2 CD player
Peachtree Nova D/A integrated amplifier
Sennheiser HD800 headphones
Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX Series 3 loudspeaker
YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Professional loudspeaker

Though Wilson Audio's big MAXX 3 loudspeaker earned more first-place votes (four) than any other…