2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2016 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: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Subwoofers
Price: $799.99
Website: www.jlaudio.com
Hans said: Given the level of performance it was able to muster in my system, and the fact that it’s the smallest, least expensive subwoofer JL Audio makes, I worry for the competition.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: JL breaks into a new price range.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Subwoofers
Price: $999.99
Website: www.jlaudio.com
Howard said: Like the crazy puppy who lives in my building, the d110 might not be fully grown, but it sure doesn’t act that way. And surprisingly, unlike the puppy, the d110 has bark and bite, providing high output, linear extension, and, above all, tuneful music. It stands among the best of a large class of highly able competitors, and might even be the very best of that small bunch.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: JL-quality bass for under a grand is always a good deal.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Subwoofers
Price: $1499.99
Website: www.psbspeakers.com
Kevin said: PSB has not only cut the edge but stropped it razor sharp; it’s a bold statement, and a challenge to all other makers of subwoofers.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Flagship PSB subwoofer strikes all the right cords.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $4299 per pair
Website: www.atcloudspeakers.co.uk
Wes said: If you want the sound quality and sturdiness of a pro speaker, and the knowledge that your music was likely monitored in the studio through speakers made by the same company in the first place, then look at ATC’s Consumer HiFi models. A pair of ATC SCM19 V2s ($4299), along with their clean- and open-sounding P1 dual-mono power amplifier ($4200), total $8499 and would be hard to match.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Small prosumer speaker packs a punch.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $749 per pair
Website: www.audioengineusa.com
Hans said: It’s pretty and stylish, with a gorgeous real-wood finish. Its high-quality remote has a pleasing weight and solidity. Perhaps most important, its Bluetooth functionality was flawless in execution. Add to these its smooth midrange and properly punchy bass, and Audioengine’s HD6 is an easy recommendation for, well, just about anyone.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Audioengine’s most expensive speaker to date is also their best.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $2780 per pair
Website: www.audiosolutions.lt
Jeff said: The AudioSolutions Overture O203F is a solid choice of speaker at a competitive price. Which is just what a lot of folks are looking for.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Cool-looking speaker from Lithuania offers admirable sound quality for a good price.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $2390 each
Website: www.devialet.com
Hans said: For around $5000, a pair of Silver Phantoms offers more to consumers than any other complete sound system I can think of. It’s not the prettiest thing in the world, and it’s not quite perfect, but the Devialet Silver Phantom is the most daring effort to come out of the high end in a long, long time.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Groundbreaking product, period and point blank.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2016 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2016) Stereo Loudspeakers Up to $4,999
Price: $1599 per pair
Website: www.dynaudio.com
Hans said: Dynaudio’s Xeo 2 is a little powerhouse, with spacious sound, bell-like midrange clarity, and genuinely taut, powerful bass. Also praiseworthy are its boundary-related tuning, clever adaptive bass technology, and tiny proportions. But what I find most commendable is that all of this can be had for $1599/pair, with no need for additional hardware or wiring.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: The smallest Xeo is the line’s most advanced.
- GoldenEar Technology Triton Three+ Loudspeakers
- KEF Egg Powered Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Principia 3 Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Venere S Loudspeakers
- Wharfedale Diamond 220 Loudspeakers
- KEF Blade Two Loudspeakers
- Kharma Elegance dB9-S Loudspeakers
- Magico S1 Mk.II Loudspeakers
- Rockport Technologies Cygnus Loudspeakers
- Vivid Audio Oval B1 Decade Loudspeakers
- Audio Physic Avanti Loudspeakers
- Ayre Acoustics AX-5 Twenty Integrated Amplifier
- Blue Circle Audio CSD Integrated Amplifier
- Clones Audio 25iR Integrated Amplifier
- Cocktail Audio X12 Music Server-Integrated Amplifier
- Devialet Expert 1000 Pro Mono DAC-Integrated Amplifiers
- Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 300 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
- Hegel Music Systems H360 DAC-Integrated Amplifier
- JE Audio IS250 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Moon by Simaudio Neo ACE Integrated Amplifier-DAC-Streamer
- Onkyo A-9010 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Parasound Halo Integrated DAC-Integrated Amplifier
- T+A Elektroakustik PA 2000 R Integrated Amplifier
- Wadia a315 Stereo Amplifier
- Acoustic Research AR-M2 Portable Music Player
- Alpha Design Labs Stratos DAC-ADC-Preamplifier
- Arcam irDAC-II Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Astell&Kern AK380 Portable Media Player
- AudioQuest DragonFly Red and Black USB DAC-Headphone Amplifiers
- Aurender N100H Music Server
- Bluesound Node 2 Streaming Tuner
- Bluesound Pulse Mini Streaming Loudspeaker
- Bluesound Vault 2 Streaming CD Ripper and Storage Device
- Bryston BDA-3 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Esoteric K-07X SACD/CD Player/DAC
- Merging NADAC ST-2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Moon by Simaudio Evolution 780D Digital-to-Analog Converter
- PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream Junior DAC
- SOtM sMS-1000SQ Music Server
- Soulution 560 Digital-to-Analog Converter
- T+A Elektroakustik MP 2000 R Multi-Source Digital Player
- European Audio Team C-Major Turntable
- Luxman EQ-500 Phono Stage
- van den Hul Crimson Stradivarius Phono Cartridge
- Audio Research G Series GSPre Preamplifier
- Constellation Audio Inspiration Preamp 1.0 Preamplifier
- Moon by Simaudio Evolution 850P Preamplifier
- Moon by Simaudio Neo 350P Preamplifier
- PS Audio BHK Signature Preamplifier
- Rogue Audio RP-1 Preamplifier
- YBA Passion PRE550A DAC-Preamplifier
- Zanden Audio Systems Model 3100 Preamplifier
- Audience aR6-TSSOX Power Conditioner
- High Fidelity Cables CT-1 Ultimate Power Cord
- Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 3 Power Cord
- Synergistic Research PowerCell 12 UEF SE Power Conditioner
- Bel Canto Design e.One REF600M Mono Amplifiers
- Blue Circle Audio BC2K4sh Stereo Amplifier
- Classé Audio Sigma Amp5 Multichannel Amplifier
- Constellation Audio Inspiration Stereo 1.0 Amplifier
- Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 Mk.II Power Amplifier
- Mola Mola Kaluga Mono Amplifiers
- Moon by Simaudio Neo 330A Stereo/Mono Amplifier
- Rotel RMB-1585 Multichannel Amplifier
- Audioengine B2 Bluetooth Speaker
- Bluesound Pulse Flex Bluetooth Speaker
- Grace Digital BT Bluetooth Loudspeakers
- Grace Digital CastDock X2 Wi-Fi Speaker
- Grace Digital EcoXGear EcoPebble Powerbank Bluetooth Speaker-Charger-Flashlight
- Grace Digital EcoXGear SolJam Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- KEF Muo Bluetooth Speaker
- Oppo Digital Sonica Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Speaker
- Philips Shoqbox BT2200 Mini Bluetooth Speaker
- High Fidelity Cables CT-1 Ultimate Interconnects and Speaker Cables
- Skogrand Cables Ravel Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 4 Speaker Cables and Interconnects
- Anthem AVM 60 Audio/Video Processor
- Anthem MRX 720 A/V Receiver
- Classé Audio Sigma SSP Surround-Sound Processor
- Integra DTR-40.7 Audio/Video Receiver
- AKG N60 NC Headphones
- Arcam MusicBoost DAC-Headphone Amp and Case for Apple iPhone 6/6s
- Audeze Sine Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-S700BT SonicFuel Bluetooth Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT Bluetooth Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-WS99BT Solid Bass Bluetooth Headphones
- Beyerdynamic T 5 p Headphones
- Final Sonorous III Headphones
- Focal Sphear Earphones
- HiFiMan Edition X Headphones
- HiFiMan HE1000 V2 Headphones
- JBL Everest Elite 700 Headphones
- Klipsch Reference X20i Earphones
- Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD DAC-Headphone Amplifier
- Optoma NuForce HEM8 Earphones
- Pryma 0|1 Headphones
- RBH Sound HP-2 Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 630VB Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 800 S Headphones
- Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
- fo.Q Modrate HEM-25 Pure Sound Insulators
- Moon by Simaudio Evolution 820S Power Supply
- Zanden Audio Systems AT-1 Acoustic Tubes and AP-1 Acoustic Panels