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When we introduced Stereophile's Product of the Year awards in 1992 (footnote 1), we decided that, unlike some other publications' awards schemes, we would avoid what the late Art Dudley once described as the "every child in the class gets a prize" syndrome. We decided to keep the number of categories to the minimum. That way, in Loudspeakers, for example, high-value minimonitors would compete with cost-no-object floorstanders. In Analog Products, turntables would compete with tonearms, phono cartridges, and phono preamplifiers. And in Amplification, single-box integrated amplifiers would go…
Amplification Component of the Year
Audio Note Meishu 300B Tonmeister Phono Integrated Amplifier
($15,740; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.46 No.2 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Ayre VX-8 Power Amplifier ($6800; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.46 No.10 review)
Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier ($3499; reviewed by John Atkinson In Vol.46 No.1 review)
Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV Monoblock Amplifier ($79,500/Pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.6 review)
HiFi Rose RS520 Streaming Integrated Amplifier ($3695; reviewed by Rogier…
Analog Component of the Year
SME Model 60 Turntable W/Series VA Tonearm
($71,900–$85,900; reviewed By Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.8 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
AMG Giro Mk II Turntable w/9W2 Tonearm ($12,300; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.45 No.12 review)
TW-Acustic Raven GT Turntable w/12" Raven Tonearm ($19,000; reviewed by Alex Halberstadt in Vol.46 No.7 review)
VPI Avenger Direct Turntable w/12" Fatboy Tonearm ($36,000; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.46 No.6 review)
SME's new flagship record player is based on 1990's Model 30…
Digital Source Component of the Year
dCS Bartók Apex D/A Processor
($20,950–$22,950; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.8 review)
Finalists (In alphabetical order)
Benchmark DAC3 B D/A Processor ($1890; reviewed by John Atkinson in Vol.46 No.3 review)
CH Precision C1.2 D/A Processor ($36,000–$43,500; reviewed by Jim Austin in Vol.46 No.2 review)
dCS Vivaldi Apex D/A Processor ($46,500; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.3 review)
HiFi Rose RS250A Streaming D/A Processor ($2695; reviewed by John Atkinson in Vol.46 No.10 review)
…
Headphone Product of the Year
Abyss Diana TC Headphones
($4495–$5995; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.5 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Apple Airpod Pro 2 In-Ear Headphones ($249/pair; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.46 No.3 review)
Focal Utopia Headphones ($5000; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.5 review)
HiFiMan HE-R10P Headphones ($5499; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.8 review)
Naim Uniti Atom HE Headphone Amplifier ($3799; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.5 review)
The stock, fourth-generation Abyss…
Accessory of the Year
Shaknspin2
($280; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.6 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Benchmark Studio&Stage Loudspeaker Cable ($188/pair; reviewed By John Atkinson in Vol.46 No.3 review)
Herbie's Way Excellent II Turntable Mat ($88; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.45 No.12 & Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.9 review)
Nessie VinylCleaner Pro Plus+ Record-Cleaning Machine ($2495; reviewed by Julie Mullins in Vol.46 No.4 review)
Timerette Stylus Timer ($130; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.9 review)
As…
Loudspeaker of the Year
Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia V
($67,500/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.1 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Harbeth Super Hl5plus XD ($7995/pair, plus stands; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.46 No.9 review)
KEF LS60 Wireless ($6999.99/pair; reviewed by Kal Rubinson in Vol.46 No.3 review)
Klipsch La Scala AL5 ($13,198/pair; reviewed by Alex Halberstadt in Vol.46 No.4 review)
MoFi Electronics Sourcepoint 10 ($3699/pair, plus stands; reviewed by John Atkinson in Vol.46 No.2 & Ken Micallef in Vol.…
Joint Budget Components of the Year
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II Loudspeaker
($749/pair, plus stands; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.8 review)
NAD C 3050 LE Integrated Amplifier
($1972; reviewed by john Atkinson in Vol.46 No.4 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Benchmark DAC3 B D/A Processor ($1890; reviewed by John Atkinson in Vol.46 No.3 review)
Elekit TU-8600S Power Amplifier ($1880, plus tubes; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.1 review)
iFi Neo Stream Streaming D/A Processor ($1299; reviewed by Sasha…
Joint Overall Products of the Year
dCS Vivaldi Apex D/A Processor
($46,500; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.3 review)
Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia V Loudspeaker
($67,500/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.1 review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Abyss Diana TC Headphones ($4495–$5995; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.46 No.5)
AudioNote Meishu Phono 300B Tonmeister Integrated Amplifier ($15,740; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.46 No.2 review)
dCS Bartók Apex D/A Processor ($20,950–$22,950; reviewed…
Editors' Choice
MoFi Electronics Sourcepoint 10 Loudspeaker
I have had so many loudspeakers pass through my listening room in the past 40 years that it is rare for one to stick in my mind for more than a couple of months after it had been returned to the manufacturer or distributor. But my memories of this relatively affordable standmount—it costs $3699/pair, plus stands—which was designed by veteran speaker engineer Andrew Jones, have outlasted those of many much more expensive speakers. As I wrote in my review: "When you consider the clean, superbly well-defined low…