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2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide

The 2011 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.

Velodyne Digital Driveplus 10 Subwoofer

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Subwoofers

Velodyne DD+ 10Price: $3299

Website: www.velodyne.com

Kevin said: The Velodyne Digital Driveplus 10 renders professional-quality bass. It’s required listening if you’re in the market, or even just in the neighborhood. Recommended.

Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.

The gist: The company that defined the genre continues to charge ahead.

Amphion Argon3L Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice

Amphion Argon 3LPrice: $3695 per pair in black, white, or full white painted finish; $3995/pair in birch, cherry, or walnut real-wood veneers

Website: www.amphion.fi

Philip said: At just under $4000/pair it isn’t cheap, but I’ve heard more expensive speakers that don’t sound nearly as good. While there’s no such thing as a perfect speaker, Amphion’s Argon3L comes as close as I’ve heard to reaching that elusive ideal.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: Perhaps one of the best small floorstanders under five grand a pair that you can currently buy.

Aperion Audio Verus Forte Tower Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Great Buy

Aperion Verus FortePrice: $1090 per pair

Website: www.aperionaudio.com

Thom said: In prizefighting, there’s a phrase to describe a boxer who hits like a fighter in a heavier class: "He punches above his weight." That was the case with the Aperion Audio Verus Forte Tower. I found it to be a really fine speaker overall, and a pretty remarkable one for its size. No, it didn’t have the ultimate bass performance; that’s where a subwoofer would come in. But on their own they provided a wide-bandwidth sound with excellent detail and a fine soundstage, and their depth of soundstage was especially good. This is a speaker that can sound great in many environments, though it does need some space behind it to sound its best. Overall, it was attractive and capable -- I recommend it to anyone looking for a really high-value speaker that sounds good and looks just as good.

Great Buy

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: Aperion's smallest floorstander stands tall in performance.

Aperion Audio Verus Grand Bookshelf Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice

Aperion Verus Grand BookshelfPrice: $598 per pair

Website: www.aperionaudio.com

Colin said: Aperion Audio’s Verus Grand Bookshelf reminded me that great things can still come in small packages. The Bookshelf isn’t just a fine-sounding speaker, it’s a refined-sounding speaker that doesn’t offer only a glimpse of high-end performance -- it’ll take you on a full tour and give you a T-shirt at the end. With a beguiling tweeter and a clean, overachieving midrange-woofer, the Verus Grand Bookshelf proves that its name is no oxymoron. It’s a speaker well worth an audition and its asking price. And it looks fabulous.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: Look at that finish!

Aperion Audio Verus Grand Tower Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Great Buy

Aperion Verus GrandPrice: $1798 per pair

Website: www.aperionaudio.com

Jeff said: Aperion Audio has ticked off all the areas you’d want ticked off by a floorstanding loudspeaker: clean, textured, articulate, full-range sound; solid build quality and a beautiful finish; nice touches such as dual sets of binding posts and magnetically attached grilles; and a price well under $2000/pair.

Great Buy

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: The new speaker-to-get-under-$2000 class leader.

Aperion Audio Zonas Wireless Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999

Aperion Audio ZonaPrice: $499 per pair

Website: www.aperionaudio.com

Jeff said: Just do the easy thing: Get some Zonas, plug ’em in, dial ’em in with the remote, then sit back and enjoy the experience. The Zona might not take over the audio world -- such little guys can do only so much heavy lifting -- but they fill a void in the real world consumers live in, and do so while offering more performance, build quality, and features than you might expect for the price. To me, that makes them a solid recommendation. Thumbs up to wireless!

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: Wireless speakers that actually sound good!

Atlantic Technology AT-1 Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice
  • Great Buy

Atlantic Technology AT-1Price: $2500 per pair

Website: www.atlantictechnology.com

Ron said: The Atlantic Technology AT-1 is more costly than its closest competitor I’ve yet listened to, the $1995/pair Dynaudio DM 3/7, but the extra $505 buys a whole lot in terms of fit’n’finish and performance. The AT-1 just does more, both on paper and in the listening. Nothing about this speaker annoyed me in the least -- and usually I find something that does. To say that the AT-1 should worry other manufacturers is an understatement. Smart people will buy a pair for $2500; the same smart people would be justified in considering the AT-1 even if it cost two, three, or four times as much.

Great Buy

Read the SoundStage! Access review.

The gist: The standout budget floorstander of 2011.

Carnegie Acoustics Contemporary CST-1 Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2011 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
  • Reviewers Choice

Carnegie Acoustics CST-1Price: $1999 per pair

Website: www.carnegieacoustics.com

Colin said: If you want deep, natural bass, silky highs, a natural midrange, detail enough to satisfy pickers of the tiniest nits, and a soundstage so natural that a photo of this speaker should appear beside the dictionary definition of the word, the CST-1 is the speaker for you.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: A standout in a crowded field of sub-$2000 speakers.

  1. Dynaudio DM 3/7 Loudspeakers
  2. Focal Chorus 826V Loudspeakers
  3. Gemme Audio Tonic G5 Loudspeakers
  4. Gingko Audio ClaraVu 7 MkII Loudspeakers
  5. Mordaunt-Short Mezzo 8 Loudspeakers
  6. NHT SuperZero 2.0 Loudspeakers and Super 8 Subwoofer
  7. Paradigm Atom Monitor v.7 Loudspeakers
  8. Paradigm Shift A2 Active Loudspeakers
  9. Paradigm Special Edition SE 1 Loudspeakers
  10. PSB CS1000 Outdoor/Indoor Loudspeakers
  11. Selah Audio Verita Loudspeakers
  12. Thiel Audio SCS4T Loudspeakers
  13. Triangle Esprit 30th Anniversary Edition Antal Loudspeakers
  14. UltraLink UFi UCube Compact USB Loudspeakers
  15. Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand SE Loudspeakers
  16. Audio Physic Virgo 25 Loudspeakers
  17. Magico Q3 Loudspeakers
  18. PBN Audio Montana Liberty Loudspeakers
  19. Tidal Piano Cera Loudspeakers
  20. YG Acoustics Carmel Loudspeakers
  21. AAD Silver Reference 7 Loudspeakers
  22. Bowers & Wilkins 803 Diamond Loudspeakers
  23. Focus Audio Prestige FP88 SE Loudspeakers
  24. MartinLogan Ethos Loudspeakers
  25. MartinLogan Spire Loudspeakers
  26. Silverline Audio Sonatina Mk.IV Loudspeakers
  27. Volent VL-2 Signature Edition Loudspeakers
  28. April Music Aura Neo CD Player-DAC
  29. Arcam Solo rDac Digital-to-Analog Converter
  30. Audio Research DAC8 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  31. Auraliti PK100 Music Server
  32. Ayre Acoustics DX-5 Universal A/V Engine
  33. Bel Canto Design e.One DAC2.5 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  34. Blue Circle Audio BC509 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  35. Bryston BDP-1 Digital Player
  36. Copland CDA825 CD Player
  37. Esoteric K-03 SACD/CD Player/DAC
  38. Eximus DP1 Digital-to-Analog Converter/Preamplifier/Headphone Amplifier
  39. Furutech Alpha Design Labs GT40 DAC and Headphone Amplifier
  40. Hegel Music Systems HD10 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  41. Hegel Music Systems HD2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  42. High Resolution Technologies Music Streamer II USB DAC
  43. M2Tech Young Digital-to-Audio Converter
  44. MSB Technology Universal Media Transport
  45. Oppo Digital BDP-93 Blu-ray Player
  46. Simple Design Sonore Music Server
  47. Wavelength Audio Proton Digital-to-Analog Converter
  48. YBA Design WD202 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  49. Artisan Silver MC Phono Stage
  50. EAR MC 4 Step-Up Transformer
  51. Miyajima Laboratory Premium BE Mono Cartridge
  52. Ortofon Cadenza Mono Phono Cartridge
  53. Parasound Halo JC 3 Phono Stage
  54. Thorens TD 309 Turntable
  55. TW-Acustic Raven 10.5 Tonearm
  56. Well Tempered Lab Amadeus Turntable
  57. Vizio VMB070 Portable 7” TV
  58. Audio Research LS27 Preamplifier
  59. Audio Research Reference 5 Preamplifier
  60. Gryphon Audio Designs Mirage Preamplifier
  61. Herron Audio VTSP-3A Preamplifier
  62. JE Audio VL10.1 Preamplifier
  63. Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe Preamplifier
  64. Marantz Reference Series SC-7S2 Preamplifier
  65. Purity Audio Design Purity Reference Preamplifier
  66. Simaudio Moon 350P Preamplifier
  67. LessLoss Firewall Power Conditioner
  68. Atma-Sphere Music Amplifier M-60 Mk.3.1 Mono Amplifiers
  69. Bel Canto e.One REF150S Stereo Amplifier
  70. Coda Technologies 15.0 Stereo Amplifier
  71. Gryphon Audio Designs Colosseum Stereo Amplifier
  72. Hegel Music Systems H20 Stereo Amplifier
  73. Marantz Reference Series MA-9S2 Mono Amplifiers
  74. NuForce Reference 18 Mono Amplifiers
  75. Simaudio Moon 400M Mono Amplifiers
  76. VAC Phi 200 Stereo Amplifier
  77. AudioQuest Carbon USB Cable
  78. Cardas Clear Phono Cable
  79. Dynamique Audio Cyclone Speaker Cables, Tempest Interconnects
  80. Nordost Blue Heaven LS Speaker Cables and Interconnects
  81. Ridge Street Audio Designs Poiema!!! R-v3 USB Digital Master USB Cable
  82. Siltech 330i Interconnects and 330L Speaker Cables
  83. Octave Audio V 40 SE Integrated Amplifier
  84. April Music Aura Groove Integrated Amplifier
  85. Audia Flight Two Integrated Amplifier
  86. Audioengine N22 Integrated Amplifier
  87. Blue Circle Audio Katlas Integrated Amplifier
  88. Boulder Amplifiers 865 Integrated Amplifier
  89. Cambridge Audio Azur 350A Integrated Amplifier
  90. Densen Audio Technologies Beat B-130 Integrated Amplifier
  91. Devialet D-Premier Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  92. Leema Electro Acoustics Tucana II Integrated Amplifier
  93. Magnum Dynalab MD 309 Integrated Amplifier
  94. Music Culture Elegance MC 701 Integrated Amplifier
  95. Pathos Acoustics Logos Integrated Amplifier
  96. Axiom Audio Epic 80-800 Home-Theater Speaker System
  97. MartinLogan Motion 10 / 8 / 4 / Dynamo 1000 Home-Theater Speaker System
  98. Polk Audio Blackstone TL350 / DSWpro 550wi Home-Theater Speaker System
  99. Anthem MRX 500 A/V Receiver
  100. Anthem MRX 700 A/V Receiver
  101. Cambridge Audio Azur 650R A/V Receiver
  102. Integra DTA-70.1 Multichannel Power Amplifier
  103. Marantz AV7005 A/V Processor
  104. Audeze LCD-2 Headphones
  105. Bowers & Wilkins C5 Earphones
  106. Etymotic Research ER-4PT Earphones
  107. Etymotic Research hf5 Earphones
  108. HeadRoom Balanced Ultra Desktop Amplifier
  109. HiFiMAN HE-500 Headphones
  110. Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control
  111. Logitech S715i Rechargeable Loudspeaker and iPod/iPhone Dock
  112. Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones
  113. Smyth Research Realiser A8 Audio Processor
  114. SoundMagic PL50 and EH11 Earphones
  115. TEAC SR-100i iPod Dock
  116. Ultrasone Edition 8 Headphones
  117. Ultrasone Pro 900 Headphones

Subcategories

(2011) Subwoofers

(2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999

(2011) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000

(2011) Stereo Loudspeakers $5,000-$10,000

(2011) Stereo Integrated Amplifiers and Receivers

(2011) Stereo Digital Source Components

(2011) Stereo Analog Source Components

(2011) Projectors and Video Displays

(2011) Preamplifiers

(2011) Power Conditioners and Cords

(2011) Power Amplifiers

(2011) Interconnects and Speaker Cables

(2011) Home-Theater Loudspeakers

(2011) Home-Theater Components

(2011) Accessories, Stands and Other Products

Us

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