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Traditionally, as Stereophile's longtime Editor, I have reserved this section to myself. But it seemed more democratic in this election year to allow all of the magazine's review team the opportunity to be involved. I asked each to name the component that had provided him with the most musical pleasure this past year, and to sum up in a single sentence the reasons why.— John Atkinson

John Atkinson: Revel Ultima Salon2 loudspeaker ($22,000/pair; Vol.31 No.6, June 2008). "If it hadn't been for the Revel, the big KEF '207/2 would have got the nod this year. But…

Paradigm Atom v.5 loudspeaker ($298/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips & Robert J. Reina, Vol.30 No.9 & Vol.31 No.2, November 2007 & February 2008 Review)
Rega Planar 3-24 turntable & RB-301 tonearm

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Cayin A-50T integrated amplifier ($1395; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.31 No.3, March 2008 Review)
Denon DL-103 MC phono cartridge
Soundsmith SMCC1 phono cartridge
Wadia Digital 170iTransport iPod Dock
Zu DL-103 MC phono cartridge

This is very important:…

Sooloos music server system

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2 preamplifier
Continuum Audio Labs Criterion turntable & Copperhead tonearm
Hansen Prince V2 loudspeaker
KEF Reference 207/2 loudspeaker
Linn Klimax DS network D/A processor
Magico V3 loudspeaker
Parasound Halo JC 2 preamplifier
PSB Synchrony One loudspeaker
Revel Ultima Salon2 loudspeaker
VTL MB-450 Series II Signature monoblock power amplifier

With four first-place votes and 16 votes overall, the Sooloos…

Stereophile's Products of 2007
Product of the Year: Ayre Acoustics MX-R monoblock power amplifier (review)
Budget Product of the Year: PSB Alpha B1 loudspeaker (review)
Joint Loudspeakers:
Dynaudio Confidence C4 (review)
Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 8 (review)
Amplification Component: Ayre Acoustics MX-R monoblock power amplifier (review)
Digital Source: Chord Choral Blu CD transport & Choral DAC64 D/A processor (review)
Joint Analog Sources:
Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Keel modifications (review)
Lyra…

Describing the music of 30-year-old British composer Tarik O'Regan, one must mention Renaissance polyphony and other contemporary composers of choral music, then put them aside. Yes, O'…

So the anecdotal news of a decline in hardware sales in the home-theater industry—a very real segment of the consumer-…

I also suspect that they're Jim Thiel's favorites, although he'd probably never admit it. When he spoke to me about the new CS3.7 at the Consumer Electronics Show a few years ago, he almost choked up when he said, "I've wanted to revisit the 3s for a while now..." I could almost see him…

The '3.7s needed to be played hard—a lot—before they settled down. At first I found the sound opaque and borderland irritating, so before heading down to my office each day, I'd cue a CD, set the Ayre C-5xe universal player to Repeat, crank the…

Description: Three-way, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) aluminum-dome tweeter mounted coincidentally within 4.5" flat aluminum midrange driver, 10" (254mm) flat aluminum woofer, 10" (254mm) flat aluminum passive radiator. Crossover slopes: acoustic first-order. Frequency response: 33Hz–26kHz, ±2dB. Phase response: ±10° minimum. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 2.8 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 90 dB/2.83V/m. Recommended power: 100–600W.
Dimensions: 44.9" (1140mm) H by 12.6" (320mm) W by 21.3" (540mm) D. Weight: 91 lbs (41.5kg).
Finishes: Walnut,…

Digital Source: Ayre C-5xe universal player.
Preamplifiers: Ayre KX-R, Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2.
Power Amplifiers: Ayre MX-R monoblocks, Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Avalon Indra, Wilson Audio Systems WATT/Puppy 8.
Cables: Interconnect: Shunyata Research Aries & Antares, Stealth Indra & Nanofiber. Speaker: Shunyata Research Anaconda & Orion, Stealth Dream.
Accessories: Ayre L-5xe AC filter, Furutech eTP-609 distribution box; OSAR equipment stand; Furutech RDP panels, RealTraps Mini & Mondo Traps.—Wes…