2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2021 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 unless indicated otherwise.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Subwoofers
Price: $799.99
Website: www.svsound.com
Gordon said: The 3000 Micro performed well—remarkably well for its size—and looks great.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Little sub packs a big-time punch.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $1599 per pair
Website: www.acoustic-energy.co.uk
Gordon said: The AE1 Actives definitely held their own against the KEFs, which have already received a Reviewers’ Choice award.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Add a DAC-preamp and you’re ready to go.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $3999.99 per pair
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.com
Evan said: Aesthetically and sonically, the B&W 705 Signature ticks every box on the audiophile checklist for standmount speakers at any price.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: The strength of B&W is you know what you’re getting, and the 705 Signature is no exception.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: AU$5999 per pair
Website: www.definitivetechnology.com
Mark said: They are excellent all-round floorstanders at an affordable price and they only get better with higher resolution music formats.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: A lot of speaker for the money.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $1999 per pair
Website: www.airpulse.com
Gordon said: For anyone looking for an affordable, highly revealing, all-in-one active speaker, the Airpulse A300Pro deserves a careful listen.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Solid product, but not quite Gordon’s favorite.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $1598/pair and $1199, respectively
Website: www.hedd.audio
Gordon said: For less than three grand, you get a superbly integrated, fully active sat-sub system with 700W of built-in amplification and a specified frequency response of 24Hz-40kHz, -3dB.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Beautifully integrated sub-sat system for almost any environment.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $2499 per pair
Website: www.kef.com
Gordon said: I think it’s the best deal in hi-fi right now.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Gordon was blown away.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Price: $399 per pair
Website: www.psbspeakers.com
Gordon said: What I can say is that I’d love to have a pair of AM3s on my desktop, for watching movies, listening to music, or catching up on the news.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Incredible value in a powered desktop speaker system.
- Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Active Loudspeakers
- Sonus Faber Lumina V Loudspeakers
- Triangle 40th Anniversary Comète Loudspeakers
- Aurelia XO Cerica XL Loudspeakers
- Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Loudspeakers
- Estelon X Diamond Mk II Loudspeakers
- KEF Blade Loudspeakers
- Magico A5 Loudspeakers
- Dynaudio Heritage Special Loudspeakers
- Focal Aria K2 936 Loudspeakers
- Harbeth SHL5plus XD Loudspeakers
- Heavenly Soundworks FIVE17 Active Loudspeakers
- JBL 4349 Studio Monitor Loudspeakers
- Paradigm Founder Series 100F Loudspeakers
- Sony SA-Z1 Active Nearfield Loudspeakers
- Theory Audio Design sb25 Loudspeakers
- Bluesound Powernode Streaming Integrated Amplifier
- Bryston B1353 Integrated Amplifier
- Line Magnetic LM-34IA Integrated Amplifier
- Lyngdorf Audio TDAI-1120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Marantz PM-KI Ruby Integrated Amplifier
- Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Rotel Michi X5 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Rotel RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Vincent Audio SV-500 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Bluesound Node Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
- Bryston BR-20 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
- Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Chord Electronics 2go Streamer/Server & 2yu DAC Interface
- Denafrips Ares II Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Denafrips Terminator-Plus Digital-to-Analog Converter
- Linn Klimax DSM Digital Music Player
- Linn Majik DSM/4 Network Music System
- Luxman D-03X CD Player
- Marantz SACD-30n SACD/CD Player and Streaming DAC-Preamp
- Meitner Audio MA3 DAC-Preamplifier
- MSB Technology Premier Digital-to-Analog Converter
- MUTEC MC-3+ Smart USB Reclocker & REF10 Reference Master Clock
- Rockna Wavelight Digital-To-Analog Converter
- Rotel CD11 Tribute CD Player
- Totaldac d1-direct Digital-to-Analogue Converter
- Audio-Technica AT-PEQ30 Phono Preamplifier
- Hegel Music Systems V10 Phono Stage
- Helius Designs Viridia Turntable and Phaedra Tonearm
- iFi Audio iPhono3 Black Label Phono Stage
- Pro-Ject Audio Systems Debut Pro Turntable with Pick it Pro Cartridge
- The Funk Firm Houdini Cartridge Decoupler
- U-Turn Audio Orbit Special Turntable with Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
- VPI Cliffwood Turntable with 2M Red Cartridge
- Zesto Audio Andros Deluxe II Phono Stage
- Accuphase C-2850 Preamplifier
- Allnic Audio L-9000 OTL/OCL Preamplifier
- Audio Research Reference 6SE Preamplifier
- Classé Audio Delta Pre Preamplifier-DAC
- Karan Acoustics Master Collection LINEb Preamplifier
- SPL Electronics Director Mk2 Preamplifier-DAC
- Hemingway Audio Cable Z-core Alpha, Beta, and Sigma Power Cords
- Audio Research Reference 80S Power Amplifier
- AudioControl The Director Model M4800 Eight-Channel Network DSP Matrix Amplifier
- Classé Audio Delta Mono Amplifiers
- Heschl Audio Labs HAL 300 Power Amplifier
- MSB Technology S202 Stereo Amplifier
- NAD C 298 Stereo/Mono Amplifier
- SPL Performer m1000 Monoblock Amplifiers
- EcoXGear EcoLantern Bluetooth Speaker
- JBL Xtreme 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- Siltech Classic Legend 680L Speaker Cables
- PSB Performance Wall Mount Home-Theater Speaker System
- Theory Audio Design Sys5.2.2.8515 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos Surround Speaker System
- NAD Masters M28 Multichannel Amplifier
- 64 Audio Nio Earphones
- 64 Audio U6t Earphones
- AKG K72 Headphones
- Bowers & Wilkins P17 True Wireless Earphones
- Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition Bluetooth Headphones
- Campfire Audio Honeydew Earphones
- Campfire Audio Satsuma Earphones
- DALI IO-4 Bluetooth Headphones
- EarFun Free 2 True Wireless Earphones
- Emotiva Airmotiv GR1 Headphones
- Focal Celestee Headphones
- HiFiMan HE400se Headphones
- ISOtunes Free True Wireless Earphones
- KEF Mu3 True Wireless Earphones
- Kinki Studio Vision THR-1 Headphone Amplifier
- Sendy Audio Peacock Headphones
- Sennheiser IE 300 Earphones
- Sivga P-II Headphones
- Sony WF-1000XM4 True Wireless Earphones
- Soundcore Life Q35 Bluetooth Headphones
- Yamaha YH-E700A Bluetooth Headphones