2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2013 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: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Subwoofers
Price: $1500
Website: www.jlaudio.com
Kevin said: JL Audio’s E-Sub e110 is a terrific component. If $1500 is your price point, then you’re missing something special if you don’t give it a listen. Recommended.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: One of the best subs for the price we can think of.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Subwoofers
Price: $1900 in Black Ash, $2100 in Black Gloss
Website: www.jlaudio.com
Jeff said: At the end of the day, the E-Sub e112 is an output beast with fidelity to match. That’s worth the asking price in most any system. In fact, its performance makes the e112 the no-brainer buy of the year.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Pounds out high-fidelity bass.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Subwoofers
Price: $1799
Website: www.rel.net
S. Andrea said: The R-328 made my system sound more dynamic, and remarkably increased its ability to convey the ambient information contained on most naturally miked recordings. To sum up the REL R-328’s performance in a single word: excellent.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Not designed for HT, but for the audiophile in need of deep bass.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Subwoofers
Price: $1699
Website: www.svsound.com
Jason said: I heartily recommend the SVS PC13-Ultra. If you’re looking to add a subwoofer to a system that you use mostly for movies, but also want to use for listening to music without any drawbacks, I can’t imagine that it will disappoint you. If you’re looking for a music-only sub, the PC13-Ultra might well be overkill -- I doubt you’d ever use it to anywhere near its full capabilities.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: A good all-‘round sub in a tube.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1395 per pair
Website: www.amphion.fi
Hans said: Amphion’s Ion+ is a precision instrument. Its hallmark of accuracy makes it a compelling proposition, and its size and Northern European style make it an attractive one as well.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Finnish minimonitor with a distinctive style and neutral sound.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1800 per pair
Website: www.atlantictechnology.com
Philip said: I’m certain that the AT-2’s combination of strengths will appeal to those who want the more full-range sound of a floorstander combined with the sort of imaging usually heard only from minimonitors. If that describes you, you’ll definitely want to hear a pair of AT-2s.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Great bass, and overall pretty good.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1000 per pair
Website: www.audiopro.com
Jeff said: For speakers so small, the LV2e’s had wonderful resolution and exceptional transparency, while establishing a soundstage of impressive depth and dimension. They’re fast, delicate, and detailed, and their two-way design coherently integrates the bass, treble, and midrange.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Who wouldn't want a powered, leather-wrapped minimonitor?
- Details
- Parent Category: 2013 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2013) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $4187 per pair
Website: www.audiosolutions.lt
Doug said: All told, for its asking price, the Rhapsody 80 performed exceedingly well in my room. Color me impressed -- very impressed.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: A new company producing a surprisingly good speaker for a fair price.
- Axiom Audio LFR1100 Loudspeakers
- Canton Chrono SLS 780 DC Loudspeakers
- Contrast Audio Model One As3-Ref Loudspeakers
- Definitive Technology BP-8020ST SuperTower Loudspeakers
- Dynaudio Focus 260 Loudspeakers
- GoldenEar Technology Triton Seven Loudspeakers
- KEF LS50 Loudspeakers
- KEF R900 Loudspeakers
- KEF X300A Powered Loudspeakers
- Logitech Z600 Wireless Bluetooth Loudspeakers
- Music Culture Elegance RL21 Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Reference 30th Anniversary Inspiration Loudspeakers
- PSB Alpha PS1 Powered Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Venere 2.5 Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Venere 3.0 Loudspeakers
- SVS Ultra Tower Loudspeakers
- Cabasse Pacific 3 Loudspeakers
- Daedalus Audio Argos v.2 Loudspeakers
- Kaiser Kawero! Classic Loudspeakers
- Magico S5 Loudspeakers
- PMC IB2i Loudspeakers
- T+A Criterion TCD 110 S Loudspeakers
- Tannoy Definition DC10A Loudspeakers
- Vivid Audio Giya G3 Loudspeakers
- Aurelia XO Cerica Loudspeakers
- Birch Acoustics Raven Loudspeakers
- Bryston Model T Loudspeakers
- Focal Electra 1008 Be 2 Loudspeakers
- Grand Cru Audio Essentiel Loudspeakers
- Monitor Audio Platinum PL200 Loudspeakers
- PBN Audio Scan-Speak B741 Loudspeakers
- Alpha Design Labs by Furutech Esprit USB DAC/Headphone Amplifier/Preamplifier
- Arcam rBlink DAC-Bluetooth Digital Converter
- Audioengine W3 Wireless DAC
- AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC
- Autonomic Controls Mirage MMS•5A Media Server
- Bel Canto Design e.One DAC3.5VB Mk.II / REFLink / VBS1 / VB REF
- Bel Canto Design e.One mLink USB Digital Converter
- Benchmark Media Systems DAC2 HGC DAC-Preamplifier-Headphone Amplifier
- Bryston BDA-2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Cambridge Audio Azur 851C CD Player-DAC-Digital Preamplifier
- EMM Labs DAC2X Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Esoteric D-07X Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Esoteric P-02 SACD/CD Transport and D-02 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Hegel Music Systems HD25 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Magnum Dynalab MD 806T Internet Radio Tuner
- Mass Fidelity Relay DAC-Bluetooth Digital Converter
- Music Culture Elegance MC 501A CD player-DAC
- NuForce Air DAC iWireless System and Air DAC uWireless System D/A Converters
- Oppo Digital BDP-103 Blu-ray Player
- Oppo Digital BDP-105 Blu-ray Player
- Resonessence Labs Concero Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Simaudio Moon Neo 380D Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Audio Research Reference 5 SE Preamplifier
- Classé Audio Delta CP-800 DAC-Preamplifier-Processor
- Hegel Music Systems P20 Preamplifier
- Simaudio Moon Evolution 740P Preamplifier
- YBA Passion 550 DAC-Preamplifier
- Blue Circle Audio 18X Sillycone Filter Power Conditioner
- Dynamique Audio Infinite Power Cords
- Essential Sound Products Essence Reference-II Power Cords and Reference-II Power Distributor
- Siltech Explorer 270P Power Cord
- Anthem Statement M1 Mono Amplifiers
- Axiom Audio ADA-1000 Multichannel Amplifier
- Calyx Audio Femti Stereo/Mono Amplifier
- Copland CTA 506 Stereo Amplifier
- Gryphon Audio Designs Mephisto Stereo Amplifier
- JE Audio Dyad S400 Stereo Amplifier
- JE Audio VM60 Mono Amplifiers
- KR Audio VA910 Mono Amplifiers
- Dynamique Audio Celestial Speaker Cables, Zenith Interconnects, Firelight USB Digital Interconnect
- Siltech Explorer 180ix Interconnects and 180L Speaker Cable
- Arcam FMJ A19 Integrated Amplifier
- Bel Canto Design e.One C7R Stereo Receiver
- Bryston B135 SST2 Integrated Amplifier
- Focus Audio Liszt Sonata Integrated Amplifier
- KR Audio VA340 Mk.II Integrated Amplifier
- NAD C 390DD Direct Digital Integrated Amplifier
- NuForce DDA-100 Direct Digital Integrated Amplifier
- Octave Audio V 70 SE Integrated Amplifier
- Pro-Ject Stream Box DSA Integrated Amplifier/Network Player/DAC
- Rogue Audio Sphinx Integrated Amplifier
- Simaudio Moon Evolution 700i Integrated Amplifier
- T+A Elektroakustik E-Series Power Plant Balanced Integrated Amplifier
- Audio Pro Avanto 5.0 HTS Home-Theater Speaker System
- Bowers & Wilkins MT-60D Home-Theater Speaker System
- Definitive Technology SoloCinema XTR Sound Bar and Wireless Subwoofer
- Focal Pack 5.1 Bird Loudspeakers and Sub Air Subwoofer
- MartinLogan Motion SLM On-Wall Loudspeakers and Dynamo 700w Subwoofer
- PSB Imagine Mini / Imagine Mini C / SubSeries 200 Home-Theater Speaker System
- Cambridge Audio Azur 651R A/V Receiver
- Cambridge Audio Azur 751R A/V Receiver
- DarbeeVision Darblet DVP 5000 Video Enhancer
- JVC DLA-X70R 2D/3D Projector
- Marantz SR7008 A/V Receiver
- Alpha Design Labs H118 Headphones
- Astell&Kern AK120 Portable Media Player
- Audio-Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Canceling Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-WS70 Solid Bass Headphones
- Cardas EM5813 Model 1 Ear Speakers
- Jabra Revo Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
- JVC HA-M55X Xtreme Xplosives Headphones
- Miniwatt n4 USB DAC-Headphone Amplifier
- Munitio Pro40 Headphones
- Shure SE535 Earphones
- Atomic Audio Labs Mac Platform
- Definitive Technology Sound Cylinder Bluetooth Loudspeaker
- G-Project G-Go Bluetooth Water-Resistant Speaker
- Grace Digital ECOXBT Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- Grace Digital Mondo Wi-Fi Music Player and Internet Radio
- HMDX Jam Plus Wireless Bluetooth Loudspeaker
- Logitech Harmony Touch Universal Remote Control
- Logitech UE Boombox
- Logitech UE Smart Radio
- Primacoustic London 10 Room Acoustic Kit