2004 Joint Loudspeakers
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T (review) ($23,500-$28,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Focal-JMlab Nova Utopia Be (review)($37,500/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Harbeth Compact 7ES-2 ($2495/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
mbl Radialstrahler 101E (review) ($44,900/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.10, October 2004)
Sonus Faber Cremona (review) ($7995/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.1 & Vol.27…
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2004 Amplification Component
McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($8200/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE preamplifier (review) ($8500; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.4, November 2003 & April 2004)
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
EAR 890 power amplifier (review) ($5495; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Halcro dm38 power amplifier (review…
McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($8200/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE preamplifier (review) ($8500; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.4, November 2003 & April 2004)
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
EAR 890 power amplifier (review) ($5495; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Halcro dm38 power amplifier (review…
2004 Digital Source Component
Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Arcam FMJ CD33 CD player (review) ($2499; reviewed by John Atkinson & Art Dudley, Vol.27 Nos.7 & 11, July & November 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
Burmester 001 CD player (review) ($14,995; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.26 No.12, December…
Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Arcam FMJ CD33 CD player (review) ($2499; reviewed by John Atkinson & Art Dudley, Vol.27 Nos.7 & 11, July & November 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
Burmester 001 CD player (review) ($14,995; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.26 No.12, December…
2004 Analog Source Component
Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo turntable & Ekos tonearm (review) ($6295; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.11, November 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Reference turntable & Air Line tonearm (review) ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 Nos.8 & 9, August & September 2004)
Linn Akiva MC phono cartridge (review) ($2995; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.10, November 2003 & October 2004)
Musical Fidelity M1 turntable & SME M2 tonearm ($5600; reviewed by Michael…
Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo turntable & Ekos tonearm (review) ($6295; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.11, November 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Reference turntable & Air Line tonearm (review) ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 Nos.8 & 9, August & September 2004)
Linn Akiva MC phono cartridge (review) ($2995; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.10, November 2003 & October 2004)
Musical Fidelity M1 turntable & SME M2 tonearm ($5600; reviewed by Michael…
2004 Multichannel Music Component
Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier-processor (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Fosgate FAP V1 multichannel preamplifier-processor (review) ($13,000; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Krell SACD Standard multichannel SACD player (review) ($4000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Magnepan…
Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier-processor (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Fosgate FAP V1 multichannel preamplifier-processor (review) ($13,000; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Krell SACD Standard multichannel SACD player (review) ($4000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Magnepan…
2004 Accessory
Shure E3c in-ear headphones (review) ($179; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.5, May 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Acoustic Sciences Corp. SubTrap (review) ($438; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
AudioQuest Kilimanjaro speaker cable (review) ($6400/8' pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.1, January 2004)
PS Audio Power Port (review) ($50; reviewed by Art Dudley & Robert J. Reina, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.3, November 2003 & March 2004)
Shunyata Hydra Model 8 AC conditioner (review) ($1995;…
Shure E3c in-ear headphones (review) ($179; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.5, May 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Acoustic Sciences Corp. SubTrap (review) ($438; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
AudioQuest Kilimanjaro speaker cable (review) ($6400/8' pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.1, January 2004)
PS Audio Power Port (review) ($50; reviewed by Art Dudley & Robert J. Reina, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.3, November 2003 & March 2004)
Shunyata Hydra Model 8 AC conditioner (review) ($1995;…
2004 Editor's Choice
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review)
It was more than a decade ago that D/A processors were the "hot" product category in high-end audio. In the early 1990s, hardly an issue of Stereophile hit the streets without a new contender for "DAC of the Year" gracing our pages. By contrast, as you'll see if you peruse the paucity of the DAC listings in the 2005 Stereophile Buyer's Guide—available this month at a newsstand near you—the world of high-end audio appears to have passed the standalone D/A converter by. (The irony is that, with a few notable…
2004 Joint Budget Products of the Year
Magnepan CC3 center & MGMC1 surround loudspeaker system (review) ($2490/system; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Spendor S5e loudspeaker (review) ($1649/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
B&W 705 loudspeaker (review) ($1500/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.2, February 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
…
Magnepan CC3 center & MGMC1 surround loudspeaker system (review) ($2490/system; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Spendor S5e loudspeaker (review) ($1649/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
B&W 705 loudspeaker (review) ($1500/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.2, February 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
…
2004 Joint Products of the Year
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T loudspeaker
Focal-JMlab Nova Utopia Be loudspeaker
Linn Unidisk 1.1 universal disc player
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Halcro dm38 power amplifier
Lamm ML2.1 monoblock power amplifier
MBL Radialstrahler 101E loudspeaker
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista kW power amplifier
Sony SCD-XA9000ES multichannel SACD player
Velodyne Digital Drive DD-18 subwoofer
VTL MB450 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($10,000/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Wilson Benesch A.C.T.…
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T loudspeaker
Focal-JMlab Nova Utopia Be loudspeaker
Linn Unidisk 1.1 universal disc player
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Halcro dm38 power amplifier
Lamm ML2.1 monoblock power amplifier
MBL Radialstrahler 101E loudspeaker
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista kW power amplifier
Sony SCD-XA9000ES multichannel SACD player
Velodyne Digital Drive DD-18 subwoofer
VTL MB450 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($10,000/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Wilson Benesch A.C.T.…
Sidebar: Previous Awards:
Stereophile's Products of 2003
Product of the Year: Quad ESL-989 loudspeaker (review)
Budget Component: Apple iPod (review)
Loudspeaker: Quad ESL-989 (review)
Joint Amplification Components:
Linn Klimax Twin power amplifier (review)
Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblock power amplifier (review)
VTL TL-7.5 Reference preamplifier (review)
Digital Source: dCS Verdi-Purcell-Elgar Plus SACD/CD playback system (review)
Analog Source: SME 30/2 turntable (review)
Joint Accessories:
Echo Busters Decorative Room Treatments (review)
Rives…