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Sidebar 2: Review System
The Stax headphones were evaluated with their amplifiers driven directly from a Mark Levinson No.35 D/A converter. A Krell KPS-20i CD player was used as a transport, and alternately from its own analog outputs. The digital link, when used, was a Kimber AGDL coax; the analog interconnects were Cardas Hexlink Five Series.—Thomas J. Norton
This is the fifth year Stereophile has named a select few components as "Products of the Year." By doing so, we intend to give recognition to those components that have proved capable of giving musical pleasure beyond the formal review period.
There are six individual categories: Loudspeakers (including subwoofers); Amplification Components (preamplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.); Digital Sources (CD players, transports, processors); Analog Sources (phono cartridges, turntables, tonearms, FM tuners, etc.); Home Theater Components (other than video); and Accessories (everything else).…
Joint Loudspeakers of 1996
Aerial Acoustics 10T ($5500/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.19 No.4, April 1996 Review)
Dunlavy Audio Labs Signature SC-VI ($24,995/pair; reviewed by Steven Stone & John Atkinson, Vol.19 No.8, August 1996 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Acarian Systems Alón V ($4950/pair; reviewed by Russell Novak & Robert J. Reina, Vol.19 Nos.7, 8, & 9, July, August, & September 1996)
Audio Artistry Dvorak ($5990/system; reviewed by Shannon Dickson, Vol.19 No.4, April 1996)
Avalon Acoustics Radian HC ($13,995/pair;…
Amplification Component of 1996
Krell Audio Standard monoblock power amplifier ($35,000/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.19 No.10, October 1996 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audible Illusions Modulus 3A preamplifier ($1995; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.19 Nos.2 & 9, February & September 1996 Review)
Audio Research PH-3 phono preamplifier ($1495; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.19 No.9, September 1996)
Ayre V-3 power amplifier ($3450; reviewed by Sam Tellig & Wes Phillips, Vol.19 No.3, August 1996 Review)
Balanced Audio Technology VK-…
Digital Source of 1996
Nagra-D 4-channel open-reel digital recorder ($25,000–$35,000; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 No.1, January 1996 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Alchemy DDSPro CD transport ($1595; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.19 No.9, September 1996)
Audio Alchemy DTIPro 32 ($1595; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 Nos.3 & 7, March & July 1996 Review)
Audio Research CD-1 CD player ($2995; reviewed by Wes Phillips & Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.12, December 1995, Vol.19 No.11, November 1996 Review)
Genesis Technologies…
Analog Source of 1996
Naim ARO tonearm ($2000; reviewed by Markus Sauer & Wes Phillips, Vol.16 No.6, June 1993; Vol.19 No.2, February 1996 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
AudioQuest 7000 Fe5 phono cartridge ($2550; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.19 No.4, April 1996 Review)
Clearaudio Insider phono cartridge ($7500; reviewed by Jonathan Scull, Vol.19 No.5, May 1996)
Lyra Clavis Da Capo phono cartridge ($1895; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.19 No.4, April 1996 Review)
Rockport Series 6000 air-bearing tonearm ($4500; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.…
Joint Accessories of 1996
Acoustic Sciences Corporation Tube Traps ($189–$659; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Larry Archibald, Robert Harley, & Jack English, Vol.9 No.3, April 1986; Vol.15 No.2, February 1992; Vol.16 No.12, December 1993; & Vol.19 No.1, January 1996 Review)
Townshend Audio Seismic Sink ($150–$725; reviewed by Shannon Dickson & Michael Fremer, Vol.18 No.11, November 1995; Vol.19 No.1, January 1996)
VPI HW16.5 & HW-17 record-cleaning machines ($450 & $900, respectively; reviewed by Anthony H. Cordesman, Corey Greenberg, & Michael Fremer, Vol.8…
Home Theater Component of 1996
Lexicon DC-1 surround-sound processor ($1995–$4500; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.4, Winter 1996; Vol.19 No.12, December 1996)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Acarian Alón Trio C-1 surround loudspeaker system ($3975/system; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
Citation Model 7.0 surround-sound processor ($3950; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Denon AVP-8000 AC-3/THX surround-sound processor…
Joint Budget Components of 1996
McCormack Power Drive DNA-0.5 Special Edition amplifier
PSB New Stratus Mini loudspeake ($950/pair (matching stands add $179/pair); reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 No.6, June 1996 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Acarian Alón Petite loudspeaker ($995/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.19 No.1, January 1996; Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996 Review)
Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 HDCD D/A processor ($799; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 Nos.7 & 12, July & December 1995)
Audio Alchemy Digital Line…
1996 Component of the Year
Nagra-D 4-channel open-reel digital recorder Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Aerial Acoustics 10T loudspeaker
Audio Alchemy DTIPro 32 jitter attenuator
Audible Illusions Modulus 3/3A preamplifier
Dunlavy Audio Labs Signature SC-VI loudspeaker
Jadis Eurythmie II loudspeaker ($40,000/pair; reviewed by Jonathan Scull, Vol.19 No.3, March 1996 (footnote 1) Review)
JMlab Grand Utopia loudspeaker
Krell Audio Standard monoblock power amplifier
Lexicon DC-1 surround-sound processor
Mark Levinson No.331 power…