2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2009 SoundStage! Network Buying Guide features summaries of all stereo and home-theater products reviewed in the calendar year across all of our publications. The Buying Guide is subdivided by product and price, with each article including pricing details, a review summary, a full-review link, and product-award indicators.
All prices are in US dollars.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Subwoofers
Prices: $1350 (CT SW15), $1500 (SA 1000)
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.com
Wes said: The B&W CT SW15 plus SA 1000 sounded imperturbable and unflappable. . . . the B&W sub fits my décor as perfectly as it fits my room’s acoustic. It stays.
Read the Home Theater & Sound review.
The gist: Wes likes it. A lot.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Subwoofers
Price: $4200
Website: www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Howard said: Based solely on its stellar sonic performance, the S2/12t warrants critical recommendation. However, when you also consider its features, versatility, and cutting-edge appearance, it can fairly be said to be among a handful of exceptional subwoofers at its price.
Read the Home Theater & Sound review.
The gist: If the looks attract you, the sound will keep you.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Subwoofers
Price: $2800 (satin), $2900 (high gloss)
Website: www.jlaudio.com
Aron said: If you’re in the market for a wonderfully versatile subwoofer that offers deep, controlled, powerful bass, looks classy, and is impeccably built, JL Audio’s Fathom f112 deserves to be on your short list.
Read the Home Theater & Sound review.
The gist: A mainstay in compact subwoofer land.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Subwoofers
Price: $7499
Website: www.paradigm.com
Jeff said: My recommendation: Find a Sub 2 you can demo, and I think you’ll come to the conclusion I have. Get it. Play it. Be moved by it.
The gist: There’s a new sheriff in town.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Subwoofers
Price: $4000
Website: www.paradigm.com
Randall said: I so loved my time with Paradigm’s Signature Sub 25 that I’ve decided to make it my reference subwoofer. Never has a subwoofer energized my room in so dominant yet so controlled a way. In the past, whenever I’ve written about how this or that subwoofer I was reviewing did a wonderful job of “disappearing” -- i.e., not audibly drawing attention to its position -- I never felt as if I was overstating that quality. I guess it just takes a better one to point out the difference.
Read the Home Theater & Sound review.
The gist: One of the best, pure and simple.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Subwoofers
Price: $949
Website: www.svsound.com
Howard said: In fact, for the ticket price of many similarly performing subs, you could buy two or three PC-12 Pluses: one for each of the two front corners of your home theater, and perhaps a third, to be placed close to your seating position. That, I think, would be one awesome setup.
Read the Home Theater & Sound review.
The gist: Big, tubular bass, dude.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $650 per pair
Website: www.aperionaudio.com
Ron said: The 4T asks little in terms of space, watts, or money, but play through them your favorite but imperfectly recorded LPs or CDs and they’ll make the most of the good that’s there while downplaying the bad. In a world of cynical hi-fi gear, the Aperion 4T is a true optimist.
The gist: Mini-floorstander with monster sound, direct to your door.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2009 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2009) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1390 per pair
Website: www.aperionaudio.com
John said: I had to keep reminding myself that these wonderful-sounding speakers are affordable by almost anyone’s standard, not just an audiophile’s. And these speakers always brought me closer to the music played through them.
The gist: Aperion’s flagships are only $1390 a pair and sound terrific. Refreshing.
- Dynaudio Excite X12 Loudspeakers
- EgglestonWorks Dianne Loudspeakers
- Focus Audio Signature FS8 Loudspeakers
- Harbeth Monitor 30 Domestic Loudspeakers
- Infinity Primus P252 Loudspeakers
- LSA Group LSA1 Statement Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Reference Studio 60 v.5 Loudspeakers
- Audience ClairAudient LSA8+8 Loudspeakers
- Audio Acoustics Fundamental K2 Loudspeakers
- Consensus Audio Engineering Conspiracy Loudspeakers
- Crystal Cable Arabesque Loudspeakers
- Gemme Audio Katana Loudspeakers
- Lafleuraudio X1 Loudspeakers
- Magico V2 Loudspeakers
- MartinLogan Summit X Loudspeakers
- Revel Ultima Salon2 Loudspeakers
- Rockport Technologies Ankaa Loudspeakers
- Rockport Technologies Arrakis Loudspeakers
- Von Schweikert Audio UniField 3 Loudspeakers
- Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX Series 3 Loudspeakers
- Focus Audio Prestige FP 90 Loudspeakers
- Genesis G7.1f Loudspeakers
- Thiel Audio CS2.4SE Loudspeakers
- Arcam FMJ A18 Integrated Amplifier
- Arcam FMJ A38 Integrated Amplifier
- Classé Audio Delta CAP-2100 Integrated Amplifier
- Luxman L-509u Integrated Amplifier
- Marantz PM8003 Integrated Amplifier
- Pass Laboratories INT-150 Integrated Amplifier
- Simaudio Moon i.5 Integrated Amplifier
- Simaudio Moon i3.3 Integrated Amplifier
- TEAC AG-H600NT Stereo Receiver
- Arcam FMJ CD37 SACD/CD player
- Audio Research CD5 CD Player
- Audio Research DAC7 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Ayre Acoustics QB-9 USB Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Bel Canto Design e.One CD2 CD player
- Bel Canto Design e.One DAC3 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Blue Circle Audio BC501 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Blue Smoke Entertainment Systems Black Box
- Esoteric SA-50 SACD/CD Player
- Esoteric X-01 D2 SACD/CD Player
- High Resolution Technologies MusicStreamer Digital-to-Analog Converter
- JBL WEM-1 Wireless Transmission System
- NAD Classic Series C 565BEE CD Player
- Simaudio Moon CD.5 CD Player
- Simaudio Moon CD3.3 CD Player
- Sonic Studio Amarra Software
- Stello CDT100 CD Transport
- Stello DA100 Signature Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Wadia 170iTransport Digital iPod Dock
- Zandèn Audio Systems 2500S CD Player
- Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage
- Aesthetix Rhea Signature Phono Stage
- Artemis Labs SA-1 Turntable
- Audio-Technica AT33EV Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge
- Bel Canto Design e.One Phono3 Phono Stage
- Blue Circle Audio Fon Lo Thingee Phono Stage
- Lamm Industries LP2 Deluxe Phono Stage
- Simaudio Moon LP5.3 Phono Stage and PSX5.3 Power Supply
- Behold APU768 Preamplifier-Processor-DAC
- Belles Statement VT-01 Preamplifier
- Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Legend Preamplifier
- Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe Preamplifier
- Trends Audio PA-10 SE Preamplifier
- Blue Circle Audio Peed Al Sea Thingee Power Line Conditioner
- DH Labs Red Wave Power Cord
- Shunyata Research Hydra V-Ray II Power Conditioner
- Shunyata Research King Cobra and Anaconda Power Cords
- Bryston 9B SST2 Multichannel Amplifier
- Classé Audio Omega Omicron Mono Amplifiers
- deHavilland Fisher Model 50A Mono Amplifiers
- Raysonic M100 Mono Amplifiers
- Zandèn Audio Model 9600 Mono Amplifiers
- Bel Canto Design e.One REF500 Mono Amplifiers
- Belles Statement SA-30 Stereo Amplifier
- Bryston 4B SST2 Stereo Amplifier
- Genesis Reference GR180 Stereo Amplifier
- JE Audio VS70 Stereo Amplifier
- Parasound A 52 Multichannel Amplifier
- Sunfire Theater Grand Multichannel Amplifier TGA-7401
- Trends Audio TA-10.2P SE Power Amplifier
- Audience Au24 e Interconnects and Speaker Cables
- Audio Art Cable IC-3SE Interconnects
- Crystal Cable Bridge Add-On Interconnects
- Crystal Cable Dreamline Speaker and Digital Cables
- DH Labs Silver Sonic White Lightning Interconnects
- Shunyata Research Aeros Aurora-IC Interconnects and Aurora-SP Speaker Cables
- Synergistic Research Tesla Apex Interconnects and Speaker Cables
- Synergistic Research Tesla Tricon USB Cable
- Acoustic Energy Radiance 1 / 3 / Centre / Subwoofer Home-Theater Speaker System
- Angstrom Loudspeakers Obbligato Renaissance Home-Theater Speaker System
- Angstrom Loudspeakers Suono 300S / 200S 100SD / ALFT-12S Home-Theater Speaker System
- Aperion Audio Intimus 5T-DB Hybrid HD Home-Theater Speaker System
- Atlantic Technology System 1400 / 224 SB Home-Theater Speaker System
- AV123 ELT525 5.0 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Definitive Technology Mythos STS SuperTower / Mythos Nine / Mythos Gem Home-Theater Speaker System
- Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Paradigm Monitor 11 v.6 / Monitor CC-390 v.6 / Monitor ADP-390 v.6 / UltraCube 12 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Yambeka Audio 5-Speaker Home-Theater Speaker System
- Cambridge Audio DVD99 SACD/CD/DVD-Audio Player
- DVDO Edge Video Processor
- Integra DHC-9.9 Audio/Video Processor
- Oppo Digital BDP-83 Blu-ray Player
- Roku Digital Video Player
- Sanyo PLV-Z700 LCD Projector
- Sherwood BDP-5003 Blu-ray Player
- Sherwood RD-6513 A/V Receiver
- TEAC DR-H300 DVD Receiver
- Copland DRC205 Digital Room Correction Processor
- Harmonic Resolution Systems MXR Audio Stand and M3 Isolation Bases
- Harmonic Resolution Systems SXR Audio Stand, S1 Isolation Base, Damping Plate, Nimbus System
- HeadRoom Bi-Amped Audiophile Desktop System
- Phiaton Moderna MS 400 Headphones
- Shunyata Research Dark Field Cable Elevators
Subcategories
(2009) Subwoofers
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Loudspeakers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009 in the context of a stereo system. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000
Loudspeakers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009 in the context of a stereo system. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Stereo Loudspeakers $5,000-$10,000
Loudspeakers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009 in the context of a stereo system. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Stereo Integrated Amplifiers and Receivers
Stereo integrated amplifiers and receivers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Stereo Digital Source Components
Stereo digital source components (CD and SACD players, DACs, music servers, etc.) reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Stereo Analog Source Components
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Preamplifiers
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Power Conditioners and Cords
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Power Amplifiers Over $5000
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Power Amplifiers $5000 and Under
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Interconnects and Speaker Cables
Analog interconnects and speaker cables, digital interconnects, and power cords reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Home-Theater Speakers Over $5,000
Loudspeakers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009 in the context of a home-theater system. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Home-Theater Speakers $5,000 and Under
Loudspeakers reviewed on the SoundStage! Network in 2009 in the context of a home-theater system. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and are accurate at the time of the review.
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Home-Theater Components
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.
(2009) Accessories, Stands and Other Products
The entries are shown alphabetically by company name.