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The Hegel H20 sounds like a good push-pull amp with the benefit of the SoundEngine technology not apparent in audition.

Hegel H20 Stereo Power Amplifier

Many listeners would award this amplifier their own “10 LP” ratings.

EVS modified VTV Purifi Stereo Power Amplifier

The Origin Live Agile tonearm is the next level.

Origin Live Agile Tonearm

The NAD C298 is a “just the facts” component, presenting the big picture and omitting the small details.

NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Esoteric E-02 is a highly musical phono preamplifier.

Esoteric E-02 Phono Preamplifier

The Marantz SA-10 is a reference-level component that will make its owner happy for many years.

Marantz SA-10 CD/SACD Player & DAC

This upgrade could be roughly compared to doubling the cost of any component in your stereo system.

Origin Live Gravity One Record Clamp

The projection of the image out into the listening room is incredibly well developed and can be a little scary!

Magico S1 Mk II Loudspeakers

The Dynaudio Evoke speakers are excellent for music and home theater.

Dynaudio Evoke 30 & 25C Loudspeakers

The subtle excellence of the Benchmark AHB2 amplifier assures long term satisfaction.

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

Holbo Turntable: There is no bass, midrange, treble in the usual, analytical sense. The entire musical spectrum is one continuous, highly transparent river of performance.

Holbo Turntable System

The Adcom GFA-555se is not a “giant killer”, just a reliable music maker.

Adcom GFA-555se Stereo Power Amplifier

The C-J Classic 62SE is not a tube amplifier to “sweeten up” an overly dry or harmonically thin system.

Conrad-Johnson Classic Sixty-Two SE Stereo Power Amplifier

The Aurorasound VIDA Prima could possibly let you delete the word “upgrade” from your thoughts.

Aurorasound VIDA Prima Phono Preamplifier

ZYX Optimum. Is there anything negative, any weaknesses, to report? No.

ZYX UNIverse Optimum Phono Cartridge

The Valvet E2 SE amplifier is a revelation, and competitive with any amplifier at any price.

Valvet E2 SE Stereo Power Amplifier

I would love to revisit this promising design for a follow-up review after an update.

Revel Performa M126Be Loudspeakers

This is a speaker that draws little attention to itself.

Monitor Audio Platinum PL100 II Loudspeaker

They easily offer the sonic value of a $5,000+ speaker, and are a tremendous bargain at their current asking price.

Xavian Perla Esclusiva Loudspeakers

Go tubeless! The BAT VK-43SE preamplifier can take you there.

Balanced Audio Technology VK-43SE Preamplifier

Even if you derive some joy from spending more money on audio gear, this company’s products should be included in any search for maximum-quality components.

Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2v2SE 10th Anniversary Limited Edition DAC

Now we are enjoying nuance, delicacy, penetrating resolution, and “draw me in” involvement.

B.M.C. MCCI Signature ULN Phono Preamplifier

The Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE-2 preamp is unremarkable, and that is precisely why it is so special.

Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Stage 2 Preamplifier

In the product literature, Paradigm uses the word “untamed” which is an entirely appropriate summary for the Persona B.

Paradigm Persona B Loudspeakers

The Valvet E2 is easily the best sounding amplifier this lifelong audiophile has heard. And it is only $2,990.

Valvet E2 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Focal Sopra 1 is a highly communicative, extremely entertaining and completely satisfying loudspeaker.

Focal Sopra No1 Loudspeaker

The PS Audio Stellar S300 delivers such a fine sound quality that the low purchase price is an out-of-this-world value.

PS Audio Stellar S300 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Bryston BDA-3 D/A Converter makes beautiful music, no doubt.

Bryston BDA-3 Digital-to-Analog Converter

The Pro Thunder power cable is a great product that provides a noticeable and very cost effective system upgrade which has increased my enjoyment of and connection to the music. Thank you, Straight Wire!

Straight Wire Pro Thunder Power Cable

Whether you have an Inspire amp, or another single ended tube amp, really, you must hear this type of amplifier in your own system!

Inspire Fire-Bottle SE Stereo Power Amplifier

The Fritzspeakers Carrera BE is a superior loudspeaker that you **need** to know about.

Fritzspeakers Carrera BE Loudspeakers

The dynamic performance of the Prism Callia is its main strength.

Prism Sound Callia DAC Preamplifier

The Bryston 2.5B-3 model quickly and easily dispatched the $4,500 McIntosh MC152 amp.

Bryston 2.5B Cubed Power Amplifier

The ZYX UNIverse Premium meets or exceeds every expectation I ever imagined for the potential of the vinyl LP.

ZYX UNIverse Premium Phono Cartridge

I have heard no other amp under $15,000 that has comparable levels of control, clarity and consistency of tone.

Rogue Audio Stereo 100 Power Amplifier

With high bit-rate music files, LPs are on the verge of being unnecessary.

Cary Audio DAC-200ts Digital-to-Analog Converter

Harry Weisfeld was correct. The difference IS staggering!

Phoenix Engineering RoadRunner Tachometer - Falcon/Eagle Power Supplies and VPI SDS Motor Controller

The Emerald Physics 4.7 speakers channel Hartley woofers, Tannoy Churchill midrange, and remarkable treble. They're keepers.

Emerald Physics 4.7 Loudspeakers

At $4,000 for the preamp and DAC option, the SST Thoebe II could very well be the best digital preamplifier currently available.

Spread Spectrum Technologies Thoebe II Preamplifier & Son of Ampzilla II Amplifier

All other phono stages are inferior in one or more ways. The RCM Sensor 2 turns sound into music!

RCM Sensor 2 Phono Preamplifier

The first thing one hears from the Teatro is nothing. This cartridge, possibly due to the complex shape of the titanium body, has the quietest backgrounds that this listener has ever not heard.

AMG Teatro Phono Cartridge & Musical Surroundings Nova II Phono Preamplifier

The Ayre K-5xe MP preamp has excellent pace and drive with superb dynamics. The listener is carried along with the grace and power of the performance.

Ayre K-5xe MP Preamplifier

The great sound, light weight and flexible cabling makes extended listening a real pleasure.

BRAINWAVZ M2 In-Ear Monitors

After an audition, the Acoustic Imagery Jay-Sho is like a girl you met briefly but can't get out of your mind. The need to reconnect is strong.

Acoustic Imagery Jay-Sho Preamplifier - MINI REVIEW

The VPI Prime is a turntable that looks great, has some very effective technology, and is a well-executed design that simply sounds very good. Very good, indeed.

VPI Prime Turntable and JMW 3D Tonearm

The Miyajima Madake phono cartridge is a worthwhile upgrade from the already excellent Kansui.

Miyajima Madake Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

I frequently felt connected to the music when listening with the Wyred 4 Sound DAC.

Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital-to-Analog Converter and USB Cable

The Sutherland 20/20 and DUO are very good phono stages. Either could - and did - provide enjoyable listening for a long time.

Sutherland 20/20 and DUO Phono Preamplifiers

In a nutshell, the Krell pre turns all music into low MP3-quality sound.

Krell Phantom III Preamplifier

The performance of the phono stage alone justifies the asking price.

PS Audio NuWave Phono Converter

No one should buy any power amplifier at any price until they hear this technology. Then decide.

Acoustic Imagery Atsah Power Amplifiers

I suggest that it is mandatory to use AH fuses on the Magnepan ribbon tweeters.

Audio Horizons “More Than a Fuse” Fuses

"The REV 7 does indeed have a "little more sparkle and better resolution" due to the remarkable Scanspeak AirCirc tweeter."

Fritzspeakers REV7 Loudspeakers

"Most noticeable in the new version is the BilletCore™ woofer cone which is machined in-house from large pieces of solid aircraft-grade aluminum."

YG Acoustics Kipod II Signature Main Modules Speakers

"Size matters. Loudspeakers always need to be matched to the room in which they are used."

Audience The ONE Loudspeakers

"The Benz LP-S, $5,000, is indeed an evolutionary step up from the Benz LP. The LP-S is simply a higher resolution device."

Benz-Micro LP-S and Gullwing SLR Moving-coil Phono Cartridges

At this level of performance, it is almost a waste of time to discuss the sound in standard audiophile terms, dissecting the bass, midrange, treble, and soundstage.

MØRCH DP-8 Anisotropic Tonearm - Follow-up

I thought about turning the system off and going to bed, but just wanted to hear one more song, and then another. The level of musical satisfaction with the Cary SA-200.2 amplifier is very high.

Cary Audio SA-200.2 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Miyajima Kansui could be that lifelong "end of the road" phono cartridge. The performance continues to satisfy!

Miyajima Kansui Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

"Laboratory-grade" means that the component is true to the source. This is a step above "reference-grade", which is simply the current state-of-the-art.

YG Acoustics Kipod Main Modules Speakers

"Possibly the most valuable aspect of live, acoustic music for the evaluating the truthfulness of an audio system is the feeling one often gets of the music's purity, sweetness, dynamics, and transparency. "

The Live vs. Recorded Debate, Revisited

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