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Pass Labs Aleph 0 monoblock power amplifier ($7000/pair; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Cary Audio Design CAD-300SEI integrated amplifier ($3395; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eight monoblock power amplifier ($15,990/pair; reviewed by Jack English, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven A power amplifier ($3495; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.8, August 1995; and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995…

Spectral SDR-2000 Professional HDCD D/A processor ($8895; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995; and Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.11, November 1995 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Alchemy DTI•Pro ($1295, since replaced by the Audio Alchemy DTI•Pro 32; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994, and Vol.18 No.3, March 1995 Review)
Krell KPS-20iL CD player/digital control center ($11,000; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.18 No.10, October 1995 Review)
Mark Levinson No.30.5 HDCD D/A processor ($15,950; reviewed…

Graham 1.5-T/C tonearm ($2900; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.14 No.3, March 1991; Thomas J. Norton, Vol.14 No.8, 1991; and Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.6, June 1995 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Stabi turntable and Stogi tonearm ($3150; reviewed by Guy Lemcoe, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995 Review)
Symphonic Line RG-8 Gold phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.2, February 1993; and Jack English and Jonathan Scull, Vol.18 No.2, February 1995)
van den Hul Grasshopper IV phono cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Jonathan Scull,…

Audio Power Industries Power Wedge 112 & 116 AC-line conditioners ($389 & $639, respectively; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994)
Stax SR-Omega headphones ($4000–$4500 with dedicated tube amplifier; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Dynaclear Postman Binding-Post Wrench ($7.95; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994)
Etymotic Research ER-4S headphones ($330; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
HeadRoom Traveler Bag ($129…

Audio Research SDP1 Multichannel Music Processor ($2995; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.8, August 1995 Review)
Meridian Digital Home Theatre ($16,325–$34,785/system; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt and Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.6, June 1995 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
B&W Cinema THX loudspeaker system ($7000/system; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.17 No.10, October 1994; and Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.1 No.1, December 1994)
Energy Reference Video Loudspeaker System ($2250/…

Audio Alchemy VAC-in-the-Box phono preamplifier ($259; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.18 No.8, August 1995; and Steven Stone, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995)
Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-I loudspeaker ($995–$1195/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994 Review)
The Parts Connection Assemblage DAC-1 D/A processor ($449; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.4, April 1995 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 HDCD D/A processor ($799; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 Nos.7 & 9, July &…

Wilson Audio Specialties X-1/Grand SLAMM loudspeaker

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eight monoblock power amplifier
Krell KPS-20iL CD player/digital control center
Mark Levinson No.30.5 HDCD D/A processor
Pass Labs Aleph 0 monoblock power amplifier
Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 preamplifier
Spectral SDR-2000 Professional HDCD D/A processor

The Wilson Audio Specialties X-1/Grand SLAMM dominated this category almost as resoundingly as it did the loudspeaker voting. There were some powerful contenders…

Wilson Audio Specialties X-1/Grand SLAMM

Usually this space is reserved for components that have stood the test of time, but this year I wanted to pay my own tribute to what may well be the best loudspeaker currently available.

I have now heard the Wilson X-1s at length in four very different systems and rooms. My first time was at Stereophile's 1994 High-End Hi-Fi Show in Miami. Retailer Peter McGrath's Sound Components was running a shuttle bus from the Doral Resort (where the Show was being held) out to his Coral Gables store, where he had the…

The Koss is handsome, well constructed, and apparently quite durable. Noise rejection is extremely high, but the PRO-4 is not quite as comfortable for long periods as the Sharpe HA-10 (because of a…

When auditioning headphones, take along a wide variety of program material. Try to include recordings that use different miking techniques (pan-potting, Blumlein, ORTF, etc.) The ear and brain hear headphones differently from speakers, which changes the way you perceive colorations.

What you hear depends not only on the hardware and software, but also on what's going on inside your head. Don't listen unless you're rested and relaxed. Start by auditioning one of the better 'phones (Class A, B, or top of C in Stereophile's "Recommended Components…