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Audio Research Reference 160M monoblock power amplifier ($30,000/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus, October 2018, Vol.41 No.10 review)
Pass Laboratories XA60.8 mono power amplifier ($13,500/pair; reviewed by Jim Austin, December 2017, Vol.40 No.12 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

ASR Emitter II Exclusive integrated amplifier ($30,000; reviewed by Art Dudley, August 2018, Vol.41 No.8 review)
Ayre Acoustics KX-5 Twenty preamplifier ($9950; reviewed by Art Dudley & Jim Austin, March & June…

MoFi Electronics UltraDeck turntable ($1799, including tonearm; reviewed by Herb Reichert, February 2018, Vol.41 No.2 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Audio-Technica ART-1000 phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, October 2016 & May 2018, Vol.39 No.10 & Vol.41 No.5 review)
CH Precision P1/X1 phono preamplifier ($31,000 for P1, $17,000 for X1; reviewed by Michael Fremer, April & June 2017, August 2018, Vol.40 Nos. 4 & 6, Vol.41 No.8)
Hana SL phono cartridge ($750; reviewed by Herb…

Benchmark DAC3 HGC D/A processor/headphone amplifier ($2195; reviewed by Jim Austin & Herb Reichert, November 2017, September & October 2018, Vol.40 No.11, Vol.41 Nos. 9 & 10 review)
dCS Vivaldi D/A processor ($35,999; reviewed by Michael Fremer, John Atkinson & Jason Victor Serinus, January 2014 & December 2017, Vol.37 No.1 & Vol.40 No.12 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Aqua Acoustic Quality Formula xHD D/A processor ($17,000; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus, June 2018, Vol.41 No.6…

Audeze LCDi4 in-ear headphones ($2495; reviewed by John Atkinson, December 2017, Vol.40 No.12 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Benchmark DAC3 HGC DAC/headphone amplifier ($2195; reviewed by Jim Austin & Herb Reichert, November 2017, September & October 2018, Vol.40 No.11, Vol.41 Nos. 9 & 10 review)
Focal Clear headphones ($1500; reviewed by Herb Reichert, June 2018, Vol.41 No.6 review)
Focal Utopia headphones ($3999; reviewed by Herb Reichert, October 2016 & June 2018, Vol.39 No.10 & Vol.41 No.6…

JRiver Media Center, 64-bit version ($49.98, single platform; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, January 2018, Vol.41 No.1 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Acoustical Systems Arché headshell ($695; reviewed by Art Dudley, May 2018, Vol.41 No.5 review)
AudioQuest Dragon AC cord ($4200/1m Source and $5200/1m High-Current; reviewed by Michael Fremer, May 2018, Vol.41 No.5)
AudioQuest Tornado AC cord ($949.95/1m; reviewed by Herb Reichert, August 2018, Vol.41 No.8 review)
Shindo Laboratory Mr. T isolation transformer ($2200; reviewed…

KEF Q350 loudspeaker ($649.99/pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert, March 2018, Vol.41 No.3 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Akitika GT-102 power amplifier ($488 assembled, $314 kit; reviewed by Herb Reichert, July 2018, Vol.41 No.7 review)
Apple HomePod smart speaker ($349; reviewed by Jim Austin, August & September 2018, Vol.41 Nos. 8 & 9 review)
Focal Elear headphones ($999; reviewed by Herb Reichert, June 2018, Vol.41 No.6 review)
Hana SL phono cartridge ($750; reviewed by Herb Reichert, October 2018, Vol.…

Benchmark DAC3 HGC DAC/headphone amplifier ($2195; reviewed by Jim Austin & Herb Reichert, November 2017, September & October 2018, Vol.40 No.11, Vol.41 Nos. 9 & 10 review)
Sonus Faber Aida loudspeaker ($130,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, October 2018, Vol.41 No.10 review)
Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia Series 2 loudspeaker ($57,900/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson & Jason Victor Serinus, July & August 2018, Vol.41 Nos. 7 & 8 review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Audeze LCDi4 in-ear…

Anthem STR integrated amplifier ($4499, reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, July 2018, Vol.41 No.7 review)
The Anthem STR offers superb basic performance. Its Anthem Room Correction can help clear up the room/speaker interactions that can compromise the bass performance of even the best loudspeakers, and do so without compromising the midrange and high-frequency balance that drew you to those speakers in the first place.—Thomas J. Norton

Benchmark AHB2 power amplifier ($2995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson & Jim Austin, November 2015…

Although my praise…

The Suncoast Audio event on Wednesday features Peter MacKay from Magico, Aldo Filippelli from Audio Research and Jay Rein, the North American distributor of Chord, will be demonstrating…