THE BEST OF THE YEAR 2023
BEST PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR FOR 2023
Welcome to our 4th Annual Best of the Year Awards issue. There have been some truly wonderful discoveries and some incredible music made. Suffice to say, that there are some impressive products in this issue both reviewed and the award winners, of course
There are several categories of Best of the Year Awards—Breakthrough Products, Editor’s Choice, The Best Product of the Year, Best Budget Products of the Year, and Best Products of the Year.
BREAKTHROUGH productS of 2023
The Breakthrough Award was created to recognize those products that have ‘broken through’ the musical and technological barriers of high-fidelity, audio reproduction. To go a bit further, this award symbolizes a profound leap in unparalleled performance, for a product in a given category or sub category that places it without peers, seemingly, at any price point. It should be firmly stated ‘for the time being’ as technology continues its march forward. And lastly, the award knows no September boundary and, to the degree that it exist and has not been recognized among our prior awards, it will be brought forward.
EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS fOR 2023
CLARUS CABLE LOOM
Andre Marc, Editor
AUDIO MIRROR DAC
Andre Marc, Editor
BEST PRODUCT OF THE YEAR fOR 2023
Sonnet Kratos Amps
Andre Marc, Editor
BUDGET PRODUCT OF THE YEAR fOR 2023
CLEER AUDIO CRESCENT V1R2
Andre Marc, Editor
The best products of 2023
THE BEST TO $1,000
Shakti Electromagnetics: I could not have anticipated the level of improvement with regard to the Shakti Electromagnet Optimizers, though given my experience with Ben’s Hallograph Soundfield Optimizers, I assumed that there would be improvement. How much would be determined by analysis and review. Well, the short and sweet of it is that the Shakti Stone Air and On-Line Air work immediately and beautifully together. They took our electrostatic reference system to even greater high-fidelity heights than we could have imagined. MSRP Stone Air: $199, On-Line Air $99
Meze Audio Advar: The Meze Advars are mini works of art and a captivating display of contemporary industrial design. In the end, we found the sonics to be smooth, rich, detailed, and very engaging. We loved the feel of these IEMs in our hands and in our ears. For us, the Advar is worth the asking price, and well suited for numerous applications. In our estimation, Meze's design is a success. Advar distinguishes itself from its rivals with a wonderful high-end audio experience. MSRP $699
The Pyxi phono preamp retails for $300 and appears to be not just a “me too” product. SOTA worked with well respected firm Phoenix Engineering to develop the unit. The goal was ultra low noise, a clean signal path, and a balanced, transparent sonic character. They paid particular attention to parts quality, specifying 1 percent resistors for consistent performance, highly unusual at this price point. At $300 it puts itself at the head of the pack for affordable phono preamps. No, it did not out class phonostages costing ten times more we had in house, but it sure was closer than we could have imagined. MSRP $300
Cleer Audio Crescent V1R2: Having auditioned plenty of smart speakers, I have to applaud Cleer for seeing past the ordinary. It stands out from other lifestyle products with an elevated appearance combined with crowd–pleasing fidelity at a nice price. For anyone looking to fill their abode with musical enjoyment without excess, CRESCENT lands squarely in the category of solid sound with designer looks. This is one addition to your living space that will receive no push back from your spouse. MSRP $700.00
THE BEST TO $2.5K
The Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro is a must whether you own other Silent Angel products or not, as it is quite fastidious with regard to eliminating noise at the ‘entry point’ of one’s streaming system via optimized components, build quality, and an internal word clock. Though having experienced the synergy between the various Silent Angel products, it is easy to comprehend an A to Z engineering/programming, via R&D, that targets optimization among ‘siblings’. A product that will level up most systems and all systems that are not currently using a network switch with a built-in word clock.MSRP $1,599
SOTA Comet Turntable: At around $2500 for the package, depending on cartridge, the Comet VI is an absolute steal. The same applies to the magical little box called the Pyxi. At $300 it puts itself at the head of the pack for affordable phono preamps. No, it did not out class phonostages costing ten times more we had in house, but it sure was closer than we could have imagined. SOTA is exactly the type of company I enjoy supporting as a consumer and enthusiast. They take the quality of their products and customer satisfaction quite personally. They make turntables that any music lover would fall for, and there is peace of mind the product will be supported going forward. MSRP $2,125
THE BEST TO $3.0K
The Silent Angel Rhein Z1 Plus, like its non-Plus sibling, brings exceptional high-fidelity streaming to your system, whether it be two-channel or a dedicated headphone system. And again, its value-to-cost ratio is outstanding, as exemplified by two quite well-known streamers, four to six times its price, which were in-house during its review. Well, the Rhein Z1 Plus streamer embarrassed them both. The two much more expensive streamers, which shall go unnamed (we don’t throw products under the bus) were returned unceremoniously to their manufacturers. This, of course, speaks to the tremendous value and high-fidelity bona fides inherent in this relatively low-cost streamer. MSRP: $3,199
RSX Beyond Cable: Roger Skoff says of his three cables—PRIME, MAX, and BEYOND—“Good, better, best.” Well, I am currently reviewing the BEYOND and the MAX and, in terms of ‘better’ and ‘best,’ he is spot on. How does a power cord increase detail? Perhaps, as stated above, via metaphor, by not interfering or diminishing any aspect of the electron transmission and providing for their unhindered, undiminished, and happy point A to B delivery—as they are, truly, the life blood of all systems. The RSX BEYOND is an easy award-winner of our highest award. Suffice to say, that it is our first DIAMOND AWARD winner for a cable. There be magic in that there power cable. MSRP $3,600
TORUS POWER AVR Elite: Hands down, the TORUS POWER AVR Elite is an exceptional power conditioner that provides what every component—streamer, DAC, network switch, word clock, preamplifier, amplifier, etc.—needs:clean, continuously flowing power, while doing no harm. And to date there has certainly been no harm. When a component brilliantly does what it was designed to do and gets out of the way to let all the other performers—components—shine, well, it deserves an award. We happily award the TORUS POWER AVR Elite power conditioner our DIAMOND AWARD, well deserved for its exceptional work. MSRP $4,600.
The Silent Angel Bonn NX Network Switch and the Genesis GX Word Clock will together dramatically reduce jitter, period. What the switch-in of the Silent Angel NX/GX combo will entail is an eyeopening experience and a real-world introduction to ‘Jitter 101’. What this will mean in practical terms for one’s music is greater focus and resolution and transparency, more detail, and a better overall appreciation of your music. MSRP Silent Angel Bonn NX Network Switch $3,899. Silent Angel Genesis GX Master Clock $3,699
The Dan Clark CORINA is one of the most transparent, resolving, and musical headphones, inclusive of both dynamic and planar magnetic headphones, that I have heard or reviewed to date. The only electrostatic headphone that might top it and by a wee small margin is the STAX SR-X9000. Though given the pedigree of the various other headphones reviewed and lived with, this is no small feat.Further, the CORINA handles the full breadth of the frequency range—bass, midrange, treble—with superlative ease and refinement… MSRP $4,500
The Dan Clark STEALTH planar-dynamic headphone is a revelation. It exceeds its prescribed edict—to excel in planar magnetic duties—and goes on to become exceedingly familiar with, if not master of the edicts of the other headphone worlds and technologies. Again, there are very few headphones capable of doing this and fewer still with such compelling musicality. You and your music, regardless of genre, will be well served. Please note that to date, I have listened to a great many headphones, and these days it takes a great deal to move me. The STEALTH easily wins our DIAMOND AWARD for technical excellence and sublime musicality. Bravo! MSRP $3,999
THE BEST TO $5K
Audio Mirror Tubadour DAC: From hard rock to show tunes, Die Antwoord to The Bad Plus, the Tubadour IV SE had me aggressively nodding in time (if only I had long hair again…) or belting out the lyrics, deeply immersed in the artists’ intent. Merason, Mytek and Ayre have excellent offerings at higher and lower price points, but the Tubadour shares that comfortable middle segment of the consumer DAC market with the oversampling exaSound as a worthy rival. Standing head and shoulders above the bottom feeder R–2R imports, the Tubadour IV SE confers a refined and powerful sound. Audio Mirror’s DAC should be on the short list of every audiophile searching for mid–priced conversion bliss. MSRP $3,500
THE BEST TO $10K
Boenicke W8 Speakers: His slim little gals will compel you to listen, and listen I did; to bottom-heavy dance, solo classical piano, thought-provoking Americana, grating death metal, and poorly recorded pop from the dark days of ADAT and early Pro Tools. In each case, the speakers revealed the peculiarities of each recording. Yet with skillfully produced material, the sprit of Apollo was summoned, enveloping me in a perfume of harmoniously presented, simply beautiful music. If I had a magic lantern housing a benevolent and easily amused djinn and asked her for the boon of a high performance loudspeaker in a handsome family-friendly package…Abracadabra, a pair of W8s would miraculously appear! Not only would my wish be granted, but I’d have to give props to my genie for her astute good taste. MSRP: $8,950
The Baetis Audio Revolution X4 brings a naturalness, an ease, and a sweetness to recordings that will have analog-lovers fully engaged while also providing the high-fidelity technicalities—soundstaging, resolution, transparency, detail retrieval, etc.—for those long wedded to the evolving digital audio world. The Revolution X4 is an outstanding digital streamer that I am certain believes itself to be a synthesis of both digital and analog. At least, that is what it has shown me as it has served my musical collection and every genre therein as such. MSRP $6,000
The Aurorasound VIDA MKII phono stage is simply a wonderful piece of playback gear. It had no flaw that I could put my finger on, sonically or ergonomically. It looks amazing, is built with precision and craft, and has more features than most vinyl enthusiasts are accustomed to. Clearly, founder and designer Shinobu Karak’s 30 years of experience with Sony and Texas Instruments has paid off in his circuit designs. The real wood enclosure, which can also be ordered in black, is the icing on the cake. MSRP $5,999
The SEISMION REACTIO 541 isolation platforms are NOT your un-electrified, passive isolation platforms, not even close. What they represent is the next “quantum shelf,” if you will, that will undeniably give you more of your music, regardless of how “reference” your current system is believed to be. It’s not. There is vibration and resonance even now coursing through and haunting your music to various degrees as I write (that is not coursing through mine). A supposed “tweak” that will lift your reference system, regardless of price, to the next “quantum shelf” or “reference level,” which will free your music no end. MSRP $5.995
Sonnet Digital Kratos Amps: Sonnet Audio is offering an excellent value here with the Kratos mono block amplifiers, taking into consideration the harmonically rich, and spacious sound. It was essentially impossible to find flaw with these beautifully built amps, and they had plenty of power to drive 4 Ohm speakers. MSRP $5,295
The Acelec Model One monitors are high performance in the truest sense of the word. Their incredible accuracy, over the top build quality, impressive musical focus make it difficult to find any fault. We really could not pick anything in particular we would want more or less of, except perhaps wishing they were affordable for us! MSRP $6,495
Lyric Audio Ti 100 MkII: There was immediate magic from the Ti 100 MkII, though this was purely from a musical perspective, which was immersive in the extreme. However, after about 100 hours the magic suffused to all aspects of the Lyric Ti 100 MkII’s performance. This was easily witnessed, as it followed an exceptional pair of 200 watt/channel, solid state monoblock amplifiers with dedicated preamplifier with relatively minor lessening in overall performance. Remarkable! Twenty watt SET integrated amps don’t move the kind of air or drive the bass the way the Lyric Ti 100 MkII does. Or, at least, they’re not supposed to. Incredibly musical(!), transparent, resolving, detailed, and powerful (especially at its rated 20 watts!). MSRP $9,995
Mojo Audio Mystique X DAC: I have to applaud Zwickel for bringing together a package that had me reassessing everything I knew about digital–to–analog conversion in the home. Until Ms. Mystique slunk in on her sinuous gams, I had held Berkeley Audio Design’s† as the approach to take when looking for accuracy with musicality. Now, I have another more affordable choice among peers. The Mystique X SE combines the eternal precision of digital with the immortal soul of human performance. I concede, Benjamin’s karate is better.MSRP $9,999.
Tri-Art Audio OPEN-5: Yes, its complement of drivers—two-18” and two-15” woofers, 2-8” midranges, two-1” tweeters, and 2-super-tweeters—allow the OPEN 5 to easily mark all of the audiophile check boxes—transparency, resolution, Pacing, Rhythm, and Timing (PRaT), detail retrieval, soundstaging, microdynamics, weight, etc.—while pleasing music lovers to no end. And there is its finesse, its open air ambiance, its wealth of spatial cues, and the incredible spaciousness… MSRP $7,999, w/tri-wiring $9,999.
Clarus Audio Cable Loom: To summarize, the Clarus Crimson Cables are quite special. They produce the lowest noise floor we have heard from any cables. They also immediately solidified an already very good sounding system. There was definitely a synergy between the cables and our system, and the power cords, USB cable, and analog interconnects seem to be of a piece. Clarus also makes high end power conditioning products, and interestingly, a portable dongle style USB DAC. They are an investment that should last a lifetime. We would highly recommend an audition if considering a cable upgrade. The Clarus Crimson line simply does nothing wrong. Virtually state of the art! MSRP $8,160
THE BEST TO $20K
Baetis Audio Reference Mingo: Alive. Natural. Musical. Transparent. Astonishing. The Baetis Audio Reference 4 Mingo left streamers, on fire, smoking, and begging for mercy, in its tracks, at twice its price! Or, at least, as coupled to the Mola Mola Tambaqui. And this would be the kindest thing that I could say given the disparity of its performance relative to the others. The Reference Mingo provided the most decisive and stark performance gap, to date, that I had experienced between streamers. The Grimm Audio MU1 was the only streamer that was kindred in this respect. In conclusion, the Baetis Audio Reference 4 Mingo demonstrated the ability to be more ‘alive’, more real…
Vivid Audio Kaya 45s: The Kaya 45s will beautifully play all genres of music and have you neglecting none, as was the case with this reviewer. The high-fidelity touchstones are always scrupulously met and with a naturalness, ease, and musicality most will simply never expect. That said, the Vivid Audio Kaya 45s win our highest award, the DIAMOND AWARD, while making it look easy, and yet they have made it a good deal more difficult for other speakers and components alike to win. MSRP $19,900
The NEODIO Origine S2 CD player is a breath of fresh air or, perhaps, it is digital as analog in the selfsame way that analog was dismissed as “obsolete,” “inferior,” “anachronistic,” when it was not, as now referenced by the ever-rising growth of album sales. And that it also beautifully decodes streams is a complimentary faucet that, again, says, “endgame component.” The NEODIO Origine S2 is easily a DIAMOND AWARD WINNER… MSRP $20,000
THE BEST TO $40K+
The Audionet PRE G2 preamp and AMP monoblocks are velvet hammers. Should the program material require them to access the stygian depths of the Holy-Bass-Head-Grail, they will take you there swiftly, as it is a path they know well. And in this respect, the Audionet PRE G2 preamp and AMP monoblocks are hammers. Yet should the material require a stratospheric rise to tip-top, treble heights or a most proficient, beautifully resolved, and compellingly engaging vocal, you will be there. Spectacular! Not every day does a preamp and amplifier duo come into your life and raise the “living dead,” figuratively speaking, from their musical graves. MSRP $43,000
Kubala Sosna Elation speaker cables: I was not ready for the stunning difference that the Kubala Sosna Elation speaker cables made once placed in the system. Night and day, or perhaps appreciation versus bliss, would provide some insight as to the relative differences between the cables. The experience was decidedly profound and another easy confirmation that there are differences between cables. Exceptional in their ability to simply let the music flow while doing no harm whatsoever and while further making the conclusive argument that cables are incredibly important to achieving ever greater levels of high fidelity in your system. Period. MSRP $31,350
