StereoFile Products of the year 2004

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2004 Joint Loudspeakers

Aerial Acoustics Model 20T (review) ($23,500-$28,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)

Focal-JMlab Nova Utopia Be (review)($37,500/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Harbeth Compact 7ES-2 ($2495/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
mbl Radialstrahler 101E (review) ($44,900/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.10, October 2004)
Sonus Faber Cremona (review) ($7995/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.1 & Vol.27 No.3, January 2003 & March 2004)
Spendor S5e (review) ($1649/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
Velodyne Digital Drive DD-18 subwoofer (review) ($4999; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Wilson Benesch A.C.T. (review) ($12,500/pair; reviewed by John Marks, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)

 

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2004 Amplification Component

McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier ($8200/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE preamplifier ($8500; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.4, November 2003 & April 2004)
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
EAR 890 power amplifier ($5495; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Halcro dm38 power amplifier ($18,790; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.10, October 2004)
Lamm ML2.1 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($29,290/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.10, October 2004)
McIntosh MC275 power amplifier ($3500; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.27 No.7, July 2004)
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista kW power amplifier (review) ($27,995; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.1, January 2004)
Pass Labs XA160 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($18,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.11, November 2003)

 

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2004 Digital Source Component

Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Arcam FMJ CD33 CD player (review) ($2499; reviewed by John Atkinson & Art Dudley, Vol.27 Nos.7 & 11, July & November 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
Burmester 001 CD player (review) ($14,995; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Krell SACD Standard SACD player (review) ($4000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Lavry Engineering DA2002 D/A processor (review) ($8500; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)
Marantz DV8400 universal player (review) ($1694; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.5, May 2004)
McIntosh MDA 1000 D/A processor ($8000; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.27 No.7, July 2004)
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD player (review) ($6495; reviewed by Michael Fremer, John Atkinson, & Sam Tellig, Vol.26 Nos.5, 7, & 12, May, July, & December 2003)
Primare D30.2 CD player (review) ($2250; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Simaudio Moon Equinox CD player (review) ($2000; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
Sony SCD-XA9000ES SACD player (review) ($2999; reviewed by John Atkinson & Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12 & Vol.27 No.5, December 2003 & May 2004)

 

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2004 Analog Source Component

Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo turntable & Ekos tonearm (review) ($6295; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.11, November 2003)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Reference turntable & Air Line tonearm (review) ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 Nos.8 & 9, August & September 2004)
Linn Akiva MC phono cartridge (review) ($2995; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.10, November 2003 & October 2004)
Musical Fidelity M1 turntable & SME M2 tonearm ($5600; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Sam Tellig, Vol.27 No.3, March 2004)
Origin Live Resolution Modern turntable & Encounter tonearm ($4465; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.7, July 2004)
Sumiko Blackbird MC phono cartridge ($749; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.1, January 2004)
VPI Scoutmaster turntable & JMW Memorial tonearm ($2400; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)

 

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2004 Multichannel Music Component

Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier-processor (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Fosgate FAP V1 multichannel preamplifier-processor (review) ($13,000; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Krell SACD Standard multichannel SACD player (review) ($4000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Magnepan CC3 center & MGMC1 surround loudspeaker system (review) ($2490/system; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Marantz DV8400 multichannel universal player (review) ($1694; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.5, May 2004)
McIntosh C45 multichannel preamplifier (review) ($3600; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.3, March 2004)
Outlaw ICBM bass-management system (review) ($249; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Sony SCD-XA9000ES multichannel SACD player (review) ($2999; reviewed by John Atkinson & Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12 & Vol.27 No.4, December 2003 & April 2004)

 

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2004 Accessory

Shure E3c in-ear headphones (review) ($179; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.5, May 2004)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Acoustic Sciences Corp. SubTrap (review) ($438; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
AudioQuest Kilimanjaro speaker cable (review) ($6400/8' pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.1, January 2004)
PS Audio Power Port (review) ($50; reviewed by Art Dudley & Robert J. Reina, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.3, November 2003 & March 2004)
Shunyata Hydra Model 8 AC conditioner (review) ($1995; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Paul Bolin, Vol.27 Nos.1 & 8, January & August 2004)

 

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2004 Editor's Choice

Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier

 

[Σπύρος Μπλάτσιος]

2004 Joint Budget Products of the Year

Magnepan CC3 center & MGMC1 surround loudspeaker system (review) ($2490/system; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)

Spendor S5e loudspeaker (review) ($1649/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)

Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
B&W 705 loudspeaker (review) ($1500/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.2, February 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
Creek CD50 CD player ($1495; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)
Epos ELS-3 loudspeaker (review) ($329/pair; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.27 No.1, January 2004)
Infinity Primus 150 loudspeaker (review) ($198/pair; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Linn Adikt MM phono cartridge ($349; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.2, February 2004)
Meadowlark Swift loudspeaker (review) ($1195/pair; reviewed by John Marks & Art Dudley, Vol.25 No.11 & Vol.27 No.1, November 2002 & January 2004)
Pro-Ject Debut II turntable ($279; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.9, September 2004)
Shure E3c in-ear headphones (review) ($179; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.27 No.5, May 2004)