search

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The name Desert Fires paints images of a…

Some people&#151people who hadn’t even seen or heard the RP-1&#151were quick to criticize its price. A fifty dollar increase over the P1 was just too much, they said. In…

To refresh memories: In my August 2010 column I asked readers to submit lists of those albums or tracks that contained their personal "mystic chords of memory." My own list was:

1) Linda Ronstadt: "Long, Long Time" (by Gary B. White); from Silk Purse (1970) and The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt (CD, Rhino 76109).

2) Roberta Flack: "Jesse" (by Janis Ian); from Killing Me Softly (1973; CD, Atlantic SD 19154).

3) Gordon Lightfoot: "If You Could Read My Mind," from If You Could Read My Mind (1970; CD, Reprise 6392-2) and…

1) Elgar: Nimrod from Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra, Op. 36 ("Enigma"), Pierre Monteux.

The "burning bush" of music—three minutes of inspirational music that can last a lifetime.

2) Beethoven: 6th Symphony, 4th movement, Norrington.

This movement follows the "storm," and reminds us there is light following the storm.

3) Enya: "On Your Shore" from Watermark speaks to the mystical power of love.

4) Joni Mitchell: "A Case of You" from Blue speaks to love and its power over us.

5) Jennifer Warnes: "…

Hi John,

These are my favorites that bring back the best memories for me.

Here goes:

1) Steely Dan: Aja.

This one jumps out because at first I really could not stand it—it felt kind of jarring and almost atonal to me, so I put it away. After hearing "Black Cow" on the radio some months later, and realizing that it came from Aja, I gave it another spin, and the light went on! It's been one of my favorites ever since.

2) Doobie Brothers: What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits.

Not only was the rock and roll great, more…