Traditionally, we have awarded components in five primary…
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Since 1992, Stereophile has named a few choice components as its "Products of the Year." In doing so, we happily recognize those products that are capable of providing musical pleasure far beyond our formal review period. If one of our reviewers raved in Stereophile about a component, that component is mentioned here. These are products that not only define the current audio landscape, but that we hope will someday be seen as classics—products to be handed down to future generations of audiophiles and music lovers.
2010 LOUDSPEAKER OF THE YEAR
Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha W/P ($26,900/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.33 No.7, July 2010 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Acapella High Violoncello II ($80,000/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.33 Nos. 9 & 10 review)
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T V2 ($32,000/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.32 No.11 review)
JL Audio Fathom f212 subwoofer ($6000; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.33 No.4 review)
DeVore Fidelity Gibbon 3XL ($3700/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.33 No.6)
Dynaudio Excite X12 ($1200/pair;…
2010 JOINT ANALOG SOURCE COMPONENTS OF THE YEAR
Bauer Audio dps turntable ($9250; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.33 No.4 review)
Spiral Groove SG2 turntable with Centroid tonearm ($15,000; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.33 No.6 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Lyra Delos phono cartridge ($1500; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.33 No.8)
Miyajima Shilabe MC phono cartridge ($2800; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.33 No.10 review)
Oracle Delphi Mk.VI turntable ($13,300, as reviewed; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.33 No.3)
Ortofon MC A90 phono cartridge…
2010 DIGITAL COMPONENT OF THE YEAR
dCS Puccini SACD playback system ($17,999; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.32 No.12 & Vol.33 No.10 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Benchmark DAC1 HDR USB D/A preamplifier ($1895; reviewed by Erick Lichte, Vol.33 No.9 review)
Bryston BDA-1 D/A processor ($3150; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.33 No.2 review)
HRT Music Streamer+ USB D/A processor ($299; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.32 No.11 review)
Musical Fidelity V-DAC D/A processor ($299; reviewed by John Atkinson & Jon Iverson, Vol.32 No.12 & Vol.33…
2010 AMPLIFICATION COMPONENT OF THE YEAR
Audio Research VSi60 integrated amplifier ($3995; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.33 No.9 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Aesthetix Saturn Calypso Signature preamplifier ($6999; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.33 No.7 review)
Balanced Audio Technology VK-55SE power amplifier ($5995; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.33 No.4 review)
Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Renaissance preamplifier ($7995; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Vol.32 No.11 review)
Classé CT-SSP preamplifier-processor ($9000; reviewed by Kal Rubinson…
2010 HEADPHONE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Benchmark DAC1 HDR USB D/A headphone amplifier ($1895; reviewed by Erick Lichte, Vol.33 No.9 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
CEntrance DACport 24/96 USB headphone amplifier ($399.95; reviewed by John Atkinson & Erick Lichte, Vol.33 Nos.6 & 10 review)
Etymotic Research hf2/hf5 in-ear headphones (hf2, $179; hf5, $149; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.33 No.8 review)
Grado SR60i headphones ($79; reviewed by Jim Austin, Vol.33 No.4 review)
Music Hall dac25.2 D/A headphone amplifier ($599; reviewed by Sam Tellig…
2010 JOINT COMPUTER AUDIO PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR
Logitech Squeezebox Touch network player ($299; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.33 No.10 review)
Channel D Pure Vinyl LP ripping & playback program ($299; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.33 No.8 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
CEntrance DACport USB headphone amplifier ($399.95; reviewed by John Atkinson & Erick Lichte, Vol.33 Nos.6 & 10 review)
Channel D Pure Music iTunes front-end program ($129; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.33 No.8 review)
dCS Puccini U-Clock ($4999; reviewed by John…
2010 ACCESSORY OF THE YEAR
DB Systems DBP-10 alignment protractor ($49; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.33 No.6 review)
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Audience Au24e interconnects & loudspeaker cables (interconnect: $857.20/1m pair, unbalanced; $1352.50/1m pair, balanced; speaker cables: $1493.50/2m pair; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.33 No.6 review)
Audyssey Sub Equalizer ($799; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.33 No.1 review)
Musical Surroundings Fozgometer azimuth alignment device ($250; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.33 No.5)
Paradigm Perfect Bass…
2010 JOINT BUDGET COMPONENTS OF THE YEAR
Dynaudio Excite X12 loudspeaker
Logitech Squeezebox Touch network player
Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray player
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
ASUS Xonar Essence ST/STX soundcards ($199.95; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.33 Nos. 1 & 9 review)
Audio-Technica AT-PEQ3 phono preamplifier ($119; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.32 No.12)
Benchmark DAC1 HDR USB D/A headphone amplifier
CEntrance DACport USB headphone amplifier
Channel D Pure Music iTunes front-end program
Grado SR60i headphones
HRT Music…
2010 OVERALL PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha W/P loudspeaker
2010 RUNNERS-UP (in alphabetical order)
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T V2 loudspeaker
Audio Research VSi60 integrated amplifier
Bauer Audio dps turntable
Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Renaissance preamplifier
dCS Puccini SACD playback system
Logitech Squeezebox Touch network player
NAD Masters Series M2 "Direct Digital" integrated amplifier
Spiral Groove SG2 turntable with Centroid tonearm
Vivid G1Giya loudspeaker
This was an extremely close and hard…