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Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha V
($51,000/pair; reviewed by Sasha Matson in Vol.47 No.2, February 2024 review)

FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/baby
($5700/pair; reviewed by Ken Micallef in Vol.46 No.12, December 2023 review)
Focal Maestro Utopia EVO
($76,000/pair; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Klipsch The Nines
($1499/pair; reviewed by Tom Fine in Vol.47 No.2, February 2024 review)
Voxativ Ampeggio 2024
($13,900/pair; reviewed by Ken Micallef in…

Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amplifier
($1779; reviewed by Herb Reichert in Vol.47 No.10, October 2024 review)

FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Austin Audio Works Black Swan phono preamplifier
($1649; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
Eversolo DMP-A8 digital processor
($1980; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.47 No.7, July 2024 review)
Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition record player
($1695; reviewed by Michael Trei in Vol.46 No.11, November 2023 review)
Technics SL-1200GR2…

Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha V loudspeaker
($51,000/pair; reviewed by Sasha Matson in Vol.47 No.2, February 2024 review)

FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Accuphase A-300 monoblock power amplifier
($49,950/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.12, December 2023 review)
Dan D'Agostino Relentless preamplifier
($149,500; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.47 No.9, September 2024 review)
Grimm MU2 streaming preamplifier
($17,500; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson in Vol.47 No.8, August 2024 review)
…

Parasound JCA100 Tribute monoblock power amplifier
I reviewed some impressive-sounding products in this year's qualifying issues—the Weiss Helios D/A processor, the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 Signature, and GoldenEar T66 loudspeakers come to mind—but when it came down to the deadline, I had no hesitation in naming Parasound's JCA100 Tribute monoblock amplifier as my Editor's Choice. Intended to honor legendary engineer John Curl, who has been Parasound's amplifier designer for decades, each JCA100 starts life as a Parasound Halo JC 1+, which is then…

YG’s latest creations push the envelope for technical innovation—not to mention total heft. The three dual-layer cabinets of each speaker, machined in-house from aerospace-grade aluminum billet, have a total weight of 495 lb. And yes, they are as expensive as you might imagine: $146,800 a pair. YG also machines the aluminum drivers in-house.

In the mid-1980s, few bands were as loved, despised, and misunderstood as the Butthole Surfers. The impulse to tread in unexplored borderlands of noise, studio blathery, live excess, indulgent nonsensicalness, and the urge to reconnoiter unheard sonics were all…

Said setup included an Innuos Statement Music Server with Next-Gen Power Supply (4TB SSD–$26,200), Gary’s BorderPatrol S20EXD power amplifier (from $22,500) and BorderPatrol DAC SE-i (USB, from $1650). These drove the Living Voice R80 IBX Oak loudspeakers ($42,750–$54,250/pair, depending on finish), a two-way, ported, MTM loudspeaker with 92dB/…

Wyatt’s curated audio assemblage included a bespoke VPI HW-RA DD turntable ($17,995), with a Tzar DST V1 stereo phono cartridge ($10,000) mounted on a hai-Scandinavian Engineering Bird of Prey tonearm ($15,950). Amplification included the April Sound Pre head amp ($1875), into the popular Java HiFi Double Shot integrated amplifier ($15,995),…

Jason demonstrated the Theoretica Applied Physics Bacch-SP adio Stereo Purifier with DAC ($30,000) for me, and I was duly impressed, if a bit spooked. Who knew there was so much audio action happening behind my head?

Also in the room, a Roon…

"The core of Peak Consult’s designs are its cabinets, to which we apply crossover and driver technology," explained Sales and Marketing Manager Mike Picanza. Picanza should know. He formerly ran the UK branch of Dynaudio for 10 years and…