2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
The 2022 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: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5,000
Price: $4499 per pair
Website: www.atohm.com
Dan said: If you just want a quick answer, then yes, I would heartily recommend the Atohm GT1-HD.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: Plays big and comes from a boutique manufacturer.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5,000
Price: $2398 per pair
Website: www.focal.com
Diego said: . . . given all that a pair of Focal Aria K2 906s offer, visually and sonically—at just $2398 per pair—I can’t help but enthusiastically recommend these wonderful French loudspeakers.
Read the SoundStage! Hi-Fi review.
The gist: The only real flaw is a slight lack of bass.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5,000
Price: $899.99
Website: www.svsound.com
Gordon said: On its own, the Prime Wireless Pro is a dynamite little two-channel system.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: The original was good, and this update is better in most every way.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5,000
Price: €1899 each
Website: www.system-audio.com
Gordon said: I suspect that there are many people who would love to have an audiophile-grade music system (or maybe even a surround system) in a multipurpose living space, but find it impossible because of room layout. For them, the Silverback active on-wall speakers might be just the ticket.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: Comes up a little short on the software side, but not a dealbreaker.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Under $5,000
Price: $2250 per system
Website: www.totemacoustic.com
Gordon said: I very much doubt that you could match this performance in a system comprising an amplifier and pair of passive speakers with a combined cost of $2250.
Read the SoundStage! Simplifi review.
The gist: A little quirky but ultimately very satisfying.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000
Price: AU$32,500 per pair
Website: www.bowers-wilkins.net
Tom said: The 803 D4 portrays all genres of music with accuracy, purity, beautiful timbre and emotion.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Tom bought a pair!
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000
Price: AU$25,000 per pair
Website: www.pittandgiblin.com.au
Edgar said: They do dynamics and low-end power to levels which would fill the largest of domestic rooms.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Active speakers from Australia deliver value and sound quality in a massively constructed package.
- Details
- Parent Category: 2022 SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide
- Category: (2022) Stereo Loudspeakers Over $10,000
Price: AU$114,995 per pair
Website: www.wilsonaudio.com
Edgar said: Alexia V has transcended the platform to a level far exceeding the excellence of its predecessor.
Read the SoundStage! Australia review.
The gist: Best Alexia yet, by far.
- Cyrus Audio i9-XR Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- Denon PMA-1700NE Integrated Amplifier-DAC
- McIntosh Laboratory Inc. MA12000 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier
- Sonnet Digital Audio Pasithea Digital-to-Analogue Converter
- Dual CS 429 Turntable with Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
- EMM Labs DS-EQ1 Optical Phono Preamplifier
- Esoteric E-02 Phono Preamplifier
- Phasemation PP-200 Moving-Coil Cartridge
- Pro-Ject Audio Systems E1 Phono Turntable with Ortofon OM 5E Cartridge
- Thorens TD 102 A Turntable with Audio-Technica AT-VM95E Cartridge
- Vertere Acoustics Sabre Moving Magnet Cartridge & PHONO-1 MkII L Preamplifier
- Yamaha GT-5000 Turntable
- JBL L75ms Integrated Music System
- Crystal Cable Future Dream 22 Cables
- Shunyata Research Venom-X Speaker Cable
- ZenSati Zorro Cable Loom
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II True Wireless Earphones
- Edifier NeoBuds S True Wireless Earphones
- Focal Bathys Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones
- LG Tone Free T90Q True Wireless Earphones
- Meze Audio 109 Pro Headphones
- Phiaton 900 Legacy Bluetooth Headphones
- Sivga SV023 Headphones
- Soundcore Sport X10 True Wireless Earphones