Budget Component Reviews

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Benchmark DAC1 USB D/A processor & headphone amplifier

John Atkinson Jan 18, 2008 First Published: Jan 18, 2008 0 comments

In his July 2003 "The Fifth Element" column, John Marks enthusiastically wrote about the Benchmark Media Systems DAC1 D/A processor and headphone amplifier. Comparing its sound playing CDs with that of a three-times-more-expensive Marantz SA-14 SACD player, he concluded that the DAC 1's "Red Book" performance was at least as good as that of the Marantz, being "slightly more articulate in the musical line, and slightly more detailed in spatial nuances, particularly the localization of individual images in space, and in soundstage depth."

Budget Component Reviews Phono Cartridge Reviews

Zu Audio DL-103 MC phono cartridge

Art Dudley Dec 23, 2007 First Published: Dec 23, 2007 0 comments

In 1962, when tennis rackets were made of wood, newspeople were known for challenging the government, and the off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks was in its second year (the show closed in 2002), Nippon Columbia's Denki Onkyo (or Den-On) division introduced to the professional audio world a brand-new moving-coil phono cartridge. Developed in cooperation with the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, the DL-103 was one of the first attempts at making a truly wide-bandwidth stereo cartridge that nonetheless could withstand the rigors of back-cueing. The DL-103 was a nearly instant success with broadcasters, and its popularity spilled over into the world of domestic audio.

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Audioengine 2 powered loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Dec 23, 2007 First Published: Dec 23, 2007 0 comments

In nearly 25 years, it's been rare that I've reviewed an exciting breakthrough product. The Audioengine 2 is such a product—not because it performs at an extraordinary level (though it does), and not because it's such an incredible value for money (though it is), but because it creates a new market, a new application for high-end audio, and a chance for audiophiles to enjoy music in ways they may have never considered before.

Budget Component Reviews Integrated Amp Reviews

Musical Fidelity X-T100 integrated amplifier

Art Dudley Nov 15, 2007 First Published: Nov 15, 2007 0 comments

Specialization seems to be an inevitable consequence of progress: As the products of man and God become more and more complex, they're called on to do fewer things in more focused ways.

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Focal Chorus 807V loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Nov 10, 2007 First Published: Nov 10, 2007 0 comments

Readers often ask how I choose components for review. My method is simple: Ninety percent of what I review is gear that has impressed me at one of our Home Entertainment Shows, or new designs from manufacturers whose products I've liked in the past. The remainder are assigned by John Atkinson.

Hi-Rez Disc Player/Transport Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Marantz SA8001 SACD player

Jim Austin Oct 20, 2007 First Published: Oct 20, 2007 0 comments

Most people are familiar, at least in outline, with the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." In the story, the Queen decides that it's time for her son to marry, and the Prince—apparently a very fussy young man—decides that he can marry only a true princess, as measured by her sensitivity to small discomforts. It's like being an audiophile, but with peas.

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Infinity Primus P162 loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Oct 20, 2007 First Published: Oct 20, 2007 0 comments

Home">http://blog.stereophile.com/he2007">Home Entertainment 2007 was a blast for me, as it is every year. Not only did I get to perform with two jazz bands, Attention">http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/907att">Attention Screen and the John Atkinson Trio, but I enjoyed good to extraordinary sound in every room I visited. I've been attending hi-fi shows more than 20 years, so I'm rarely surprised, but HE2007 had two big surprises in store. First, the percentage of rooms sporting analog front-ends—vinyl and open-reel tape—was the highest I've seen at a show in over a decade. Second, there was a surprising number of very expensive loudspeakers. In fact, I counted more speakers costing over $50,000/pair than I did costing under $500/pair.

Budget Component Reviews Phono Cartridge Reviews

Benz-Micro MC20E2-L MC phono cartridge

Art Dudley Sep 22, 2007 First Published: Sep 22, 2007 0 comments

The ceiling remains, but the floor has changed: Benz-Micro continues to offer a selection of rather expensive phono cartridges, including their well-established LP Ebony ($4700) and Ruby 3 ($3000) models. But in recent years, my attention has been drawn by the succession of budget Benzes: first, the Gliders ($795), then the ACEs ($550), and now the MC20E2-L ($199).

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Paradigm Atom Monitor v.5 loudspeaker

Wes Phillips Sep 22, 2007 First Published: Sep 22, 2007 0 comments

When folks visit from out of town, they frequently remark that my Brooklyn neighborhood reminds them of "a real neighborhood" from their neck of the woods. "Except that we know all our neighbors and talk to them when we're cutting the grass, watering the lawn, and walking the dog. You probably don't even know the names of any of yours."

Budget Component Reviews Integrated Amp Reviews

Onkyo A-9555 integrated amplifier

Robert Deutsch Sep 16, 2007 First Published: Sep 16, 2007 0 comments

"Onkyo Returns to its Stereo Roots to Debut New Digital Amplifier Technology." This heading of the press release for Onkyo's A-9555 digital integrated amplifier was surely intended to warm the cockles of the two-channel audiophile's heart. Some of us remember the Onkyo Grand Integra amplifiers of the 1980s, which were considered competitive with the big Krells and Mark Levinsons of the day. To refresh my memory, I looked through my Stereophile archives and found the December 1985 issue (Vol.8 No.8), which included Larry Greenhill's review of the Grand Integra M-510, a 300Wpc power amplifier covered in lacquered persimmon wood, weighing 139 lbs, and costing $4200 (about $8000 in 2007 dollars). Larry was most impressed with the M-510, describing it as "a very powerful amplifier with outstanding sonics across the board—power with delicacy."