This setup was completed with the latest iteration of the renowned BBC mini-monitor, Harbeth P3ESR XD Bookshelf Loudspeakers ($2990/pair) in oak, and Sbooster power supplies.
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Harmonia Distribution brought a respectable system to CAF, including a Grimm Audio MU2 Media Player Streamer Preamplifier ($17,500), PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Preamplifier ($4995), and a product I raved about at Stereophile and continue to use, the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power Amplifier ($7195).
This all-Infigo-meets-Alta room was bathed in Infigo Audio’s Hans Looman’s usual blue light glow, showering the room with the same mystical vibrations I heard from this room at some CAF long since past.
Loomans brought the whole Infigo megillah to the show, including his Infigo Audio Method DAC 4 ($35,000) and Infigo Audio IS-1 Cryo Streamer ($7000), with analog source duties relayed by a VPI Shyla MC Cartridge ($2000) mounted on a VPI Avenger Direct Statement turntable ($50,000).
Loomans’s amplification included his Infigo Audio Method 7 Preamplifier ($20,000) into Infigo Audio…
Angie Lisi of American Sound of Canada always presents desirable components—CAF2024 was no exception. This year, Lisi launched the North American debut of German-made Perpetuum Ebner turntables, the new Phasemation SA1500 integrated amp, new Avantgarde Colibri Series speakers and subwoofer, new Avantgarde Zero Itron speakers, and her exclusive line of Italian Synthesis Art in Music tube amplification.
In room 641, an Aurender N30 Streamer ($23,000) was paired with a tubed Synthesis Roma 117DC preamplifier ($5695) into Synthesis Roma 98DC SE tubed monoblocks ($9800/pair), driving…
Show attendees entered John Semrad and Dave Slagle’s room and let out an involuntary gasp. The components on display epitomized bespoke, handmade craftsmanship, of the highest quality, with purity and provenance their bywords.
The setup included a Garrard 301 turntable in a Semrad bocate wood plinth with a Sorane TA1L tonearm ($1875) mounted with a Mutech Hayabusa MC cartridge (4500€).
Slagle’s electronics included an EM/IA MC Trio SUT ($6000), and an EM/IA LR Phono Corrector phono stage ($33,750).
“The Trio SUT allows for up to three tonearms to be routed to…
When Stereophile's Product of the Year Awards were first published, in 1992 (footnote 1), we decided that unlike some other publications and their awards schemes, we would keep the number of categories to a minimum. That way, we would avoid what the late Art Dudley once described as the "every child in the class gets a prize" syndrome.
This decision led to some interesting contests. In Loudspeakers, for example, high-value minimonitors compete with cost-no-object floorstanders. In Analog Products, turntables compete with tonearms, phono cartridges, and phono preamplifiers. And in…
Amplification Component of the Year
Accuphase A-300 monoblock power amplifier
($49,950/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.12, December 2023 review)
FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Balanced Audio Technology REX 500 power amplifier
($25,000; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.47 No.6, June 2024 review)
Dan D'Agostino Relentless Master Audio Systems preamplifier
($149,500; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.47 No.9, September 2024 review)
Linn Klimax 800 monoblock power amplifier
($90,000/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor…
Analog Source Component of the Year
Well Tempered Lab Amadeus 254 GT record player
($8750 with tonearm; reviewed by Alex Halberstadt in Vol.47 No.6, June 2024 review)
FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Acoustic Signature Verona NEO turntable
($15,995; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.47 No.6, June 2024 review)
Austin Audio Works Black Swan phono preamplifier
($1649; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
EMT 928 II record player
($17,995 with tonearm and phono cartridge; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.47 No.9, September…
Joint Digital Source Components of the Year
Grimm MU2 streaming preamplifier
($17,500; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Weiss Engineering Helios D/A processor
($21,995; reviewed by John Atkinson in Vol.47 No.3, March 2024 review)
FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Cambridge Audio MXN10 streaming D/A processor
($499; reviewed by Tom Fine in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review)
dCS Lina D/A processor
($13,500; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review)
TEAC VRDS-701T CD transport
($2699.…
Headphone Product of the Year
Audeze LCD-5 headphones
($4500; reviewed by Julie Mullins in Vol.46 No.12, December 2023 review)
FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
dCS Lina headphone amplifier
($9750; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.3, March 2024 review)
Feliks Envy Performance Edition headphone amplifier
($8795; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.2, February 2024 review)
Focal Bathys wired/wireless headphones
($699; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.47 No.2, February 2024 review)
Meze Audio 109 Pro headphones
($799; reviewed…
Accessory of the Year
Degritter Mark II record cleaning machine
($3280; reviewed by Alex Halberstadt in Vol.47 No.5, May 2024 review)
FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
AudioQuest Yosemite tonearm cable
($549/1.2m pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Collaro Cloth Turntable Mat
(£99; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Ikigai Audio Kangai-level loudspeaker cable
($9400/2m pair; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.3, March 2024 review)
Silent Angel Bonn NX network switch
($3999…