Then there are fake awards.
Let's say you're a hi-fi enthusiast…
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Since fake news is on everyone's minds these days—I would say it's been in the news a lot, but that kind of reasoning is too circular even for me—it's worth keeping in mind that there's also such a thing as fake praise. You see it every day, whether it's a fake Google review—an alarming number of businesses seem unaware that real people don't actually say things like "the team at New Hartford Chevrolet really listened to all of my needs"—or fake trophies handed out to all 20 co-captains of your child's soccer team.
Joint Loudspeakers of the Year
Sonus Faber Aida ($130,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, October 2018, Vol.41 No.10 review)
Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia Series 2 ($57,900/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson & Jason Victor Serinus, July & August 2018, Vol.41 Nos. 7 & 8 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93 ($8400/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Herb Reichert & Art Dudley, January 2014 & December 2015 & May 2018, Vol.37 No.1 & Vol.38 No.12 & Vol.41 No.5 review)
Dynaudio Special 40 ($2999/…
Joint Amplification Components of the Year
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…
Analog Component of the Year
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…
Joint Digital Components of the Year
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…
Headphone Product of the Year
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…
Accessory of the Year
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…
Budget Component of the Year
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.…
Joint Overall Components of the Year
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…
Editors' Choices of 2018
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…