Price: $199.99
Website: www.usa.1more.com
Brent said: I can’t think of earphones I like better for $200 -- or even for $300.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Great sound and nine sets of eartips!
Price: $39.99
Website: www.alteclansing.com
Rad said: Altec apparently cut costs in the wrong places: in the electronics and drivers. If you’re going to listen only to spoken word or old-time radio, these headphones will do; but if you want even semi-serious sound quality, be willing to spend a few bucks more.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Don’t bother with these.
Price: $3499
Website: www.anthemav.com
Roger said: The MCA 525 may look unpretentious, but don’t underestimate it. Its excellent all-around performance makes it my favorite midpriced multichannel amp.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: A solid anchor for your new home-theater system.
Price: $599
Website: www.arcam.co.uk
Al said: At $599, the rPlay costs 20 times as much as Google’s puck-like Chromecast Audio -- but when you use the Arcam to listen to Tidal or Spotify, or stream music from a media server on your computer or NAS, your ears will tell you that the difference is worth the money.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Hi-rez streaming the Arcam way.
Price: $2000
Website: www.arcam.co.uk
Al said: Arcam’s Solo Music will be great for those who want to dispense with a component-based hi-fi system. With everything included -- amplifier, preamp, SACD/CD player, DLNA network streamer -- all you need to add are speakers (and a sub, if you’ve got one).
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: The most simplified Arcam system so far.
Price: $399 with Cipher and analog cables, $349 with analog cable only
Website: www.audeze.com
Brent said: If you want top-notch, audiophile-grade sound you can enjoy at home and easily take along to your office, cubicle, or hotel room, I can’t think of a more practical and cost-effective way to get it. This is $4000 worth of sound for $400.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Unique design delivers stunning sound quality.
Price: AU$11,900
Website: www.audia.it
Edgar said: Add to all that the aesthetic design flair commensurate with the Italian credo plus the Swiss-precision build quality and you have yourself one extremely serious power amplifier that should last you a lifetime.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Italian designed, nicely styled stereo amp.
Price: $14,995 per pair
Website: www.audiophysic.com
Aron said: In the Codex, Audio Physic has produced something special. I highly recommend that anyone willing to spend up to $15,000 on a pair of speakers give it a serious listen.
Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.
The gist: Rock-solid bass and very revealing.