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Magico Q5 ($59,950/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.33 No.11, November 2010 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Atlantic Technology AT-1 ($2500/pair; reviewed by Erick Lichte, Vol.34 No.9 Review)
Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond ($24,000/pair; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.34 No.5 Review)
Focal Chorus 826W 30th Anniversary ($3495/pair; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Vol.33 No.11 Review)
Sony SS-AR1 ($27,000/pair; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.34 No.7 Review)
Vivid Audio B1 ($15,000/pair; reviewed by…

VPI Classic 3 turntable ($6000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 No.10 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Brinkmann Bardo turntable ($7990; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 No.5 Review)
Clearaudio Concept turntable ($1400; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 No.6 Review)
EMT TSD 15 phono cartridge ($1950; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.34 Nos. 5 & 9 Review)
Kuzma 4Point tonearm ($6500; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 Nos. 9 & 10 Review)
Linn Radikal Sondek LP12 motor upgrade ($…

dCS Debussy D/A processor ($11,499; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 No.1 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics DX-5 Blu-ray player ($9950; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Kal Rubinson, Vol.33 No.12 & Vol.34 No.1 Review)
Bricasti M1 D/A processor ($7995; reviewed by John Marks, Vol.34 No.8 Review)
Bryston BDP-1 digital audio player ($2150; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.34 No.6 Review)
Halide Design USB-S/PDIF Bridge ($395; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.33 No.12 Review)
HRT…

A Spotify advertisement interrupts my listening. The ad is invisible, embedded in between the lines of my play queue. As it begins, a modern crooner soars over a twinkling piano. This is not the 311 I was just listening to. A voice very politely interrupts: “Hi, this is Bruno Mars.”

I need my riffage! Not ads!

Seconds later, a reminder pops up in my Microsoft Outlook program: “Rdio”

What the heck is Rdio? Rdio is a sound salvation. Rdio is cleaning up the nation. Rdio? Rdio? Well for starters, its pronounced “ar-dee-oh,” not ray-dee-oh, and it is a totally ad-…

Classé CT-M600 & CA-M600 monoblock amplifiers ($13,000/pair, CT-M600; $14,000/pair, CA-M600; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.34 Nos. 3 & 9 Review)
Note: The CT-M600 and CA-M600 are essentially the same amplifier, the latter housed in Classé's traditional Delta-series enclosure, with its brushed-aluminum front panel curved around to form the side panels.)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics K-5xeMP line preamplifier ($3500; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.34 No.6 Review)
Musical Fidelity…

Ultimate Ears 18 Pro Custom Monitor in-ear headphones ($1350; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.33 No.12 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Antelope Audio Zodiac Gold D/A headphone amplifier ($4495 in configuration reviewed by John Marks, Vol.34 No.10 Review) JH Audio JH16 Pro in-ear headphones ($1149; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.34 No.8 Review)
Smyth SVS Realiser A8 system ($3670 in configuration reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.33 No.11 Review)

Here's how John Atkinson opened his December 2010…

Amarra music playback software ($695; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.34 No.7 Review)

2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Decibel music playback software ($33; reviewed by Art Dudley & John Atkinson, Vol.34 Nos. 7 & 9 Review)
Linn Majik DS-I networked integrated amplifier ($4200; reviewed by Art Dudley & Robert J. Reina, Vol.34 Nos. 3, 4 & 6 Review)
Micromega AirStream AS-400 integrated amplifier ($4594; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.34 No.7 Review)

In his July "Listening" column, Art…

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room-correction software (Reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.34 Nos. 7 & 9 Review)
Nitty Gritty 2.5Fi-XP LP-cleaning machine ($1025; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.34 No.5)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
AudioQuest Q Feet ($135/4; reviewed by Stephen Mejias, Vol.34 No.9 Review)
Ayre Acoustics Irrational, But Efficacious! System Enhancement Disc, Version 1.2 ($19.99; reviewed by Art Dudley & John Marks, Vol.33 No.12 & Vol.34 No.2 Review)
Nordost Silver Shadow S/PDIF digital…

Oppo BDP-95 universal Blu-ray player
Peachtree iDecco D/A integrated amplifier ($999; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.33 No.12 Review)

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Decibel music-playback software Direct Acoustics Silent Speaker II ($748/pair; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.34 Nos. 6 & 7 Review)
HRT Music Streamer II & II+ USB D/A processors
Peachtree iDac D/A processor
Pioneer SP-BS41-LR loudspeaker ($149/pair; reviewed by Robert J. Reina & Stephen Mejias, Vol.34 Nos.…

Voxativ Ampeggio loudspeaker

2011 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics DX-5 Blu-ray player
Ayre Acoustics K-5xeMP line preamplifier
Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond loudspeaker
Classé CT-M600 & CA-M600 monoblock power amplifiers
dCS Debussy D/A processor
Kuzma 4Point tonearm
Magico Q5 loudspeaker
Musical Fidelity AMS100 power amplifier
Sony SS-AR1 loudspeaker
Vivid Audio B1 loudspeaker
VPI Classic 3 turntable
Wilson Audio Specialties Sophia 3 loudspeaker

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