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KEF LS50 Meta loudspeaker ($1500/pair, reviewed by John Atkinson, November 2020, Vol.43 No.11 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Elac Alchemy DPA-2 power amplifier ($1495; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus, June 2021, Vol.44 No.6 Review)
Elekit TU-8600RS stereo power amplifier ($1785; reviewed by Herb Reichert, May & August 2021. Vol.44 Nos.5 & 8 Review)
NAD C 298 stereo power amplifier ($1999; reviewed by Kal Rubinson, Vol.44 No.6 Review).
Okto DAC8 stereo streaming D/A processor (€1203; reviewed by John…

Magico A5 loudspeaker ($24,800/pair; reviewed by Jim Austin, July 2021, Vol.44 No.7 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Degritter record-cleaning machine ($2990; reviewed by Michael Fremer, January 2021, Vol.44 No.1 Review)
Gryphon Essence mono power amplifier ($45,980/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus, December 2020, Vol.43 No.12 Review)
Okto DAC8 Stereo D/A processor (€1203; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.44 No.2 Review)
OMA K3 turntable ($363,000 including power supply, tonearm; reviewed by Michael Fremer, October 2021…

KEF LS50 Meta loudspeaker
There is no such animal as a "perfect loudspeaker." But within its limitations of limited maximum loudness—the LS50 Meta will work best in small or medium-sized rooms—and limited low-frequency extension (the reflex port is tuned to 51Hz), this immaculately finished minimonitor offers an almost complete absence of midrange coloration, a musically satisfying balance, and what I described in my review as a palpable "reach-out-and-touch" soundstage.

All this for just $1500/pair! Affordable almost perfection.—John Atkinson

With Michael Fremer of Stereophile and AnalogPlanet as headline guest, the event drew a…

The Riverside Church's Ambient Church presentation of Basinski's performance was scheduled for the evening of September 11, 2021—a Saturday. Saturday is my date night, which is sacred, so I was forced to decline.

Happily, though, my friend'…

One of my favorite recordings for these kinds of comparisons (as regular readers know) is "Buddy & Maria Elena Talking in Apartment (Undubbed Version)" from Buddy Holly's Down the Line Rarities (16/44.1 FLAC, Geffen/Qobuz). The component that…

Description: Stereo integrated amplifier with preamplifier, power amplifier, and class-A headphone amplifier with one 6.3mm jack. Analog inputs: 6 pairs RCA, one Tape. (Phono and digital inputs are optional.) Analog outputs: 2 pairs fixed (RCA), 1 variable (RCA), stereo pair of 3-way loudspeaker binding posts. Input impedance: 30k ohms. Input sensitivity: 1.16V for full output. Power output: 135Wpc into 8 ohms (21.3dBW), 180Wpc into 4 ohms (19.6dBW). Damping factor: at 20Hz into 8 ohms: >500. Power consumption: 500W at 135W into 8 ohms, 70W at idle, <1.0W…

Analog sources: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Schick 10.5" tonearm, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex, Zu Audio Denon Zu/DL-103 moving coil cartridges; Lundahl LL1931Ag SUT, Koetsu SUT, Sutherland Engineering Little Loco Mk2, Kitsuné KTE LCR-1 MK4, EAR Phono Classic phono preamplifier.
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ music server; HoloAudio May (Level 3) D/A processor; Mola Mola Tambaqui, dCS Bartók DAC/streamers.
Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-7.
Integrated amplifiers: Pass Labs INT-25, Rogue Audio…

I measured the Bryston B1353 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 As We See It). The review sample was not fitted with the optional phono and digital input modules. Before I performed the testing, I preconditioned the amplifier by running it at one-eighth its specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes, as recommended by the CEA. After preconditioning, the heatsinks on the amplifier's sides were too hot to touch, at 148.5°F (64.8°C). The top panel was also hot, at 106.4°F (41.4°C). This amplifier needs plenty of ventilation.

The…

Looking at the pictures, the products do look much more elegant, well made and ambitious than those from the usual hi-fi startup, but still, I'm thinking, I've heard a lot of clever and ambitious fluff like this before: a full-blown catalog of home theater–friendly speakers and,…