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2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide

64 Audio Nio Earphones

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Headphones and Related
Created: 27 March 2021

Price: $1699

Website: www.64audio.com

Brent said: My guess is that most audiophiles will enjoy the detail and general neutrality of the mids and the highs—and I bet audiophiles who don’t buy into the concept that high-end headphones shouldn’t have plenty of bass will love them.

Read the SoundStage! Solo review.

The gist: Very expensive but competes with the best.

64 Audio U6t Earphones

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 July 2021
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $1299

Website: www.64audio.com

Brent said: While you might prefer a more trebly (or more bassy) set of earphones, I couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about these.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Solo review.

The gist: 10 out of 10 for sound!

Accuphase C-2850 Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Preamplifiers
Created: 30 July 2021
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $24,999

Website: www.accuphase.com

Doug said: The C-2850 embodies the best of what a high-end hi-fi component is about—quality in every respect.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.

The gist: Extreme Japanese thoughtfulness throughout.

Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000
Created: 28 September 2021

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.

AKG K72 Headphones

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Headphones and Related
Created: 30 June 2021

Price: $49

Website: www.akg.com

Brent said: . . . for a set of knock-around headphones to use in places where you need sound monitoring and don’t want to fret too much about the headphones getting left on the floor and stepped on or run over with an office chair, they’re a great choice.

Read the SoundStage! Solo review.

The gist: You get your money’s worth with these.

Allnic Audio L-9000 OTL/OCL Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Preamplifiers
Created: 30 May 2021

Price: $19,500

Website: www.allnicaudio.com

Howard said: [K.S. Park] set out on the apparently more difficult road of transformerlessness and has created something special in the directly coupled L-9000 OTL/OCL preamplifier, which sounds exceptionally immediate, detailed, and captivating.

Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.

The gist: Far from another me-too tube preamplifier.

Audio Research Reference 6SE Preamplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Preamplifiers
Created: 27 March 2021
  • Reviewers Choice

Price: $17,000

Website: www.audioresearch.com

Aron said: Audio Research’s Reference 6SE preamplifier is a big step forward from their Reference 6 in terms of transparency, and thus in terms of all the sonic nuances that a superior preamplifier can communicate.

Reviewers' Choice

Read the SoundStage! Ultra review.

The gist: Yet another in a long line of great ARC preamps.

Audio Research Reference 80S Power Amplifier

Details
Parent Category: 2021 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
Category: (2021) Power Amplifiers
Created: 26 August 2021

Price: AU$24,995

Website: www.audioresearch.com

Travis said: . . . sonically speaking, it offers just enough of 'yesterday' to ensure that the grin on your face will last long after your first listen.

Read the SoundStage! Australia review.

The gist: Entry into ARC’s Reference series of amplifiers.

  1. Audio-Technica AT-PEQ30 Phono Preamplifier
  2. AudioControl The Director Model M4800 Eight-Channel Network DSP Matrix Amplifier
  3. Aurelia XO Cerica XL Loudspeakers
  4. Bluesound Node Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  5. Bluesound Powernode Streaming Integrated Amplifier
  6. Bowers & Wilkins 705 Signature Loudspeakers
  7. Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Loudspeakers
  8. Bowers & Wilkins P17 True Wireless Earphones
  9. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition Bluetooth Headphones
  10. Bryston B1353 Integrated Amplifier
  11. Bryston BR-20 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  12. Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Digital-to-Analog Converter
  13. Campfire Audio Honeydew Earphones
  14. Campfire Audio Satsuma Earphones
  15. Chord Electronics 2go Streamer/Server & 2yu DAC Interface
  16. Classé Audio Delta Mono Amplifiers
  17. Classé Audio Delta Pre Preamplifier-DAC
  18. DALI IO-4 Bluetooth Headphones
  19. Definitive Technology Demand D17 Loudspeakers
  20. Denafrips Ares II Digital-to-Analog Converter
  21. Denafrips Terminator-Plus Digital-to-Analog Converter
  22. Dynaudio Heritage Special Loudspeakers
  23. EarFun Free 2 True Wireless Earphones
  24. EcoXGear EcoLantern Bluetooth Speaker
  25. Edifier Airpulse A300Pro Active Loudspeakers
  26. Emotiva Airmotiv GR1 Headphones
  27. Estelon X Diamond Mk II Loudspeakers
  28. Focal Aria K2 936 Loudspeakers
  29. Focal Celestee Headphones
  30. Harbeth SHL5plus XD Loudspeakers
  31. Heavenly Soundworks FIVE17 Active Loudspeakers
  32. HEDD Type 05 MK2 Active Loudspeakers and Bass 08 Powered Subwoofer
  33. Hegel Music Systems V10 Phono Stage
  34. Helius Designs Viridia Turntable and Phaedra Tonearm
  35. Hemingway Audio Cable Z-core Alpha, Beta, and Sigma Power Cords
  36. Heschl Audio Labs HAL 300 Power Amplifier
  37. HiFiMan HE400se Headphones
  38. iFi Audio iPhono3 Black Label Phono Stage
  39. ISOtunes Free True Wireless Earphones
  40. JBL 4349 Studio Monitor Loudspeakers
  41. JBL Xtreme 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
  42. Karan Acoustics Master Collection LINEb Preamplifier
  43. KEF Blade Loudspeakers
  44. KEF LS50 Wireless II Active Loudspeakers
  45. KEF Mu3 True Wireless Earphones
  46. Kinki Studio Vision THR-1 Headphone Amplifier
  47. Line Magnetic LM-34IA Integrated Amplifier
  48. Linn Klimax DSM Digital Music Player
  49. Linn Majik DSM/4 Network Music System
  50. Luxman D-03X CD Player
  51. Lyngdorf Audio TDAI-1120 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  52. Magico A5 Loudspeakers
  53. Marantz PM-KI Ruby Integrated Amplifier
  54. Marantz SACD-30n SACD/CD Player and Streaming DAC-Preamp
  55. Meitner Audio MA3 DAC-Preamplifier
  56. MSB Technology Premier Digital-to-Analog Converter
  57. MSB Technology S202 Stereo Amplifier
  58. Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  59. MUTEC MC-3+ Smart USB Reclocker & REF10 Reference Master Clock
  60. NAD C 298 Stereo/Mono Amplifier
  61. NAD Masters M28 Multichannel Amplifier
  62. Paradigm Founder Series 100F Loudspeakers
  63. Pro-Ject Audio Systems Debut Pro Turntable with Pick it Pro Cartridge
  64. PSB Alpha AM3 Powered Loudspeakers
  65. PSB Performance Wall Mount Home-Theater Speaker System
  66. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Active Loudspeakers
  67. Rockna Wavelight Digital-To-Analog Converter
  68. Rotel CD11 Tribute CD Player
  69. Rotel Michi X5 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  70. Rotel RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  71. Sendy Audio Peacock Headphones
  72. Sennheiser IE 300 Earphones
  73. Siltech Classic Legend 680L Speaker Cables
  74. Sivga P-II Headphones
  75. Sonus Faber Lumina V Loudspeakers
  76. Sony SA-Z1 Active Nearfield Loudspeakers
  77. Sony WF-1000XM4 True Wireless Earphones
  78. Soundcore Life Q35 Bluetooth Headphones
  79. SPL Electronics Director Mk2 Preamplifier-DAC
  80. SPL Performer m1000 Monoblock Amplifiers
  81. SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer
  82. The Funk Firm Houdini Cartridge Decoupler
  83. Theory Audio Design sb25 Loudspeakers
  84. Theory Audio Design Sys5.2.2.8515 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos Surround Speaker System
  85. Totaldac d1-direct Digital-to-Analogue Converter
  86. Triangle 40th Anniversary Comète Loudspeakers
  87. U-Turn Audio Orbit Special Turntable with Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
  88. Vincent Audio SV-500 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  89. VPI Cliffwood Turntable with 2M Red Cartridge
  90. Yamaha YH-E700A Bluetooth Headphones
  91. Zesto Audio Andros Deluxe II Phono Stage

Subcategories

(2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5000

(2021) Stereo Loudspeakers $5,000-$10,000

(2021) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000

(2021) Home-Theater Loudspeakers

(2021) Portable Speakers

(2021) Subwoofers

(2021) Stereo Analog Source Components

(2021) Stereo Digital Source Components

(2021) Stereo Integrated Amplifiers and Receivers

(2021) Preamplifiers

(2021) Power Amplifiers

(2021) Home-Theater Components

(2021) Headphones and Related

(2021) Interconnects and Speaker Cables

(2021) Power Conditioners and Cords

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Edgar Kramer
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