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STEREOPHILE'S RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS 1996 Turntables Class A Forsell Air Force One Mk.II: $26,000 Linn Sondek LP12 with Lingo power supply: $3045 $$$ * Class B Basis Ovation Mk.II: $5400 Kuzma Stabi: $2200 VPI TNT Jr.: $2800 Class C Linn Sondek LP12 Valhalla: $2045 * VPI HW-19 IV: $1850 * Well Tempered Classic Turntable: $2495 (inc. arm and Black Damped Platter) * Class D Rega Planar 3: $649 (inc. arm) $$$ * Roksan Radius: $1050 (without arm) Rotel RP-900: $500 (inc. arm) SOTA Comet: $699 (inc. arm) $$$ Well Tempered Record Player: $1495 * [ Back ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonearms Class A Clearaudio/Souther Tri-Quartz Improved: $2400 Eminent Technology 2.5: $2000 with standard air pump * Graham Model 1.5-T/C: $2900 * Linn Ekos: $2595 * Naim ARO: $2000 $$$ SME Series V: $2550 * Wheaton Triplanar IV Ultimate: $2375-$2550, depending on termination Class B Kuzmi Stogi: $950 Well Tempered Classic Arm: $995 $$$ * Class C AudioQuest PT-8: $695 * Rega RB300: $425 $$$ * [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phono Cartridges Class A AudioQuest AQ 7000 Fe5: $2495 Benz-Micro Ruby: $3000 Benx-Micro Reference: $2500 Ikeda Kiwame: $2495 Linn Arkiv: $2295 Lyra Parnassus: $3495 Symphonic-Line RG-8 Gold: $5000 Class B Blue Oasis: $2250 Clearaudio Signature: $2100 Clearaudio Veritas-S: $1880 London (Decca) Jubilee: $1600 Sumiko SHO Reference High-Output: $1800 Class C Sumiko Blue Point Special: $295 $$$ Class D Benz-Micro MC-20E II: $150 Roksan Corus Black: $400 Sumiko Blue Point: $150 Class E Grado ZTE+1: $30 * [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CD Players A Accuphase DP-65: $6695 Krell KPS-20i: $9000 Linn Karik CD transport $ Linn Numerik D/A processor: $6190 * Naim NA CDS: $7500 * B Meridian 508: $2495 Micromega Stage 2: $1075 $$$ MSB Technology Silver: $2795 Sony CDP-X707ES: $2700 $$$ C JVC XL-Z1050TN: $800 * Marantz CD-63: $399 $$$ NAD 502: $299 $$$ Pioneer Elite PD-65: $800 Quad 67: $1495 TEAC VRDS-10: $1250 [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Processors A Accuphase DC-91: $15,995 Digital Domain VSP Model S: $1495 Enlightened Audio Designs DSP-9000 Pro Series III HDCD: $5995 Jadis JS1 Symmetrical: $11,990 Mark Levinson No.30.5: $15,950 Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 Mk.II: $5295 $$$ Sonic Frontiers UltraJitterbug: $699 $$$ Spectral SDR-2000 Professional: $8995 Theta DS Pro Generation V: $3795 B Audio Alchemy DTI v2.0: $599 Denon DA-S1: $7000 Enlightened Audio Designs DSP-7000 Pro Series III HDCD: $2495 Meridian 563: $1395 $$$ Muse Model Two: $1700 $$$ PS Audio Reference Link: $4795 Revolution Audio Quantum: $3295 Timbre Technology TT-1: $3295 C Adcom GDA-600: $750 $$$ Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 HDCD: $799 $$$ Bel Canto Design Aida: $1790 California Audio Labs Alpha: $1495 Counterpoint DA-10: $1895 plus DAC card McCormack Digital Drive DAC-1: $995 Micromega Duo BS-2: $995 The Parts Connection Assemblage DAC-1: $449 $$$ D Audio Alchemy DAC-in-the-Box: $259 $$$ Audio Alchemy DAC-MAN: $159 Cobalt 307: $599 [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CD Transports A Accuphase DP-90: $8995 C.E.C. TL 0: $17,500 C.E.C. TL 1: $4959 $$$ Denon DP-S1: $8000 Esoteric/TEAC P-2S: $7000 * Forsell Air Bearing Mk.II: $8900 Jadis J1 Drive: $12,500 Mark Levinson No.31: $8495 B Enlightened Audio Design T-8000 Universal Disc Transport Series III: $4395 Meridian 500: $1795 $$$ Museatax Melior CD-D: $1749 $$$ * PS Audio Lambda: $1795 $$$ Theta Data Basic: $1995 $$$ C California Audio Labs Delta: $895 $$$ D JVC XL-Z1050TN: $800 * Pioneer Elite PD-65: $800 [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preamplifiers A Air Tight ATC-2: $5995 Audio Research LS5 Mk.II: $4995 Audio Research LS2B Mk.II: $2995 * Audio Research LS3/LS3B: $1695/$1995 $$$ Cello Palette Preamplifier: $6500 Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Signature: $4950 Jadis JP-80MC: $13,990-$15,500 Jadis JPL: $5395-$6200 Krell KRC-HR: $6900 Mark Levinson No.38S: $6495 Melos MA-333 Gold: $4895 ($5795 with balanced inputs) MFA MC Reference: $12,850 Sonic Frontiers SFL-2: $3795 $$$ Threshold T2: $5250 YBA 2 preamplifier: $2750 B Classe Six Mk.II: $3295 Conrad-Johnson PF2: $1795 $$$ Conrad-Johnson PV10: $1195 $$$ Counterpoint SA-5000: $3995 * Exposure XVII preamplifier: $1649 $$$ Krell KRC-2: $3700 McCormack Line Drive TLC-1: $995 $$$ McIntosh C-22 Commemorative Reissue: $2500 Melos SHA-1 headphone amplifier: $1095 $$$ * Perfectionist Audio Components CPR IIIB/TIPS line stage: $3100 * Proceed PRE: $1995 Sonic Frontiers SFL-1: $1395 $$$ * Woodside SC26: $3495 C Audio Alchemy Digital Line Controller: $495 with Power Station One Home HeadRoom: $599 McCormack Micro Line Drive: $595 [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Passive Control Units A Electronic Visionary Systems Attenuators: $230-$450 * McCormack Line Drive TLC-1: $995 B McCormack Micro Line Drive: $595 Purest Sound Systems Model 500: $315 [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moving Coil Step-up Devices/Phono Preamps A Expressive Technologies SU-1 transformer: $3500 * Mark Levinson No.25: $3990 * B American Hybrid Technologies phono preamplifier: $2500 Audio Research PH1: $1495 Gold Aero dB45 Signature: $999 Krell KPE: $1000 $$$ Sonic Frontiers SFP-1: $1095 $$$ C Audio Alchemy VAC-in-the-Box: $259 $$$ [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Amplifiers: A (Tube) Air Tight ATM-2: $8750 * Air Tight ATM-3 monoblock: $13,995/pair Audion Silver Night 300B monoblock: $3900/pair Audio Research VT150 monoblock: $12,990/pair Bel Canto Design Orfeo SE2 monoblock: $7590/pair Cary Audio Design CAD-805 monoblock: $7995/pair Cary Audio Design 300SE monoblock: $3695/pair Conrad-Johnson Premier Eight monoblock: $15,990/pair Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven: $3495 $$$ Fourier Sans Pareil OTL Mk.III monoblock: $4495/pair plus freight * Jadis JA 200 monoblock: $18,990/pair-$20,500/pair Jadis Defy-7 Mk.II: $7500 * Music Reference RM-9 Mk.II: $3440 $$$ Vacuum Tube Logic MB 225t monoblock: $5490/pair * Valve Amplification Company Renaissance Seventy/Seventy: $9800 A (Solid-State) Forsell The Statement: $30000 Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 2: $5800 Krell KSA-300S: $9500 Krell KSA-200S: $7500 LAMM Model M1.1 monoblock: $13,380/pair Pass Labs Aleph 0 monoblock: $7000/pair Symphonic-Line Model RG-7: $5600 * Threshold T-200: $4200 YBA 2 HC: $3750 $$$ A (Integrated) Cary Audio Design CAD-300SEI: $3395 $$$ B Aragon 4004 Mk.II: $1850 $$$ * Boulder 500AE: $4950 * Carver Research Lightstar Reference: $3995 Cary Audio Design CAD 300B: $3295 Counterpoint Natural Progression NPS-400A: $4395 Crown Macro Reference: $3995 Forte 4A: $1790 $$$ Krell KSA-100S: $5500 Krell KSA-50S: $3300 Manley 175 monoblock: $4800/pair McCormack Power Drive DNA-1: $1995 $$$ * McCormack Power Drive DNA-0.5: $1295 $$$ McIntosh MC275 Commemorative Edition: $3995 Meridian 605 monoblock: $3500/pair Parasound HCA-2200 II: $1795 Proceed AMP-2: $1995 Sonic Frontiers SFS-80: $2895 Sonic Frontiers SFM-160 monoblock: $5495/pair Woodside MA150 monoblock: $4495 B (Integrated Amplifiers) Acurus DIA 100 "Direct-Input Amplifier": $995 $$$ Arcam Delta 290: $899 inc. remote: $$$ Arcam Xeta One: $1995 Exposure XV Super: $1449 $$$ C Audio Alchemy OM-150: $1195 Audio Electronics Supply SE-1: $1295 Bryston 8B ST-THX: $2950 Carver AV-806x: $1750 NAD 208THX: $1649 Parasound HCA-1206: $1950 Perreaux MC-6100: $2995 PS Audio 100 Delta: $1295 * PSE Studio IV: $995 $$$ Rotel RB-980BX: $600 $$$ C (Integrated Amplifiers) AMC CVT-3030: $895 $$$ Audiolab 8000A: $849 * NAD 304: $379 $$$ D (Integrated Amplifiers) Creek 4240: $595 $$$ [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loudspeaker Systems: A B&W Matrix 800: $15,000/pair * Genesis Technologies II.5: $21,950/pair Meridian DSP6000: $16,000/pair * ProAc Response Four: $18,000/pair Sound-Lab A-1: $13,250/pair Thiel CS 5i: $12,300/pair * Wilson Audio Specialties X-1/Grand SLAMM: $67,500/pair A (Restricted Extreme LF) Audio Physic Virgo: $4995/pair B&W John Bowers Silver Signature: $8000/pair (stands included) Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-IV: $5495/pair in American Oak (black or golden) $$$, $6495/pair in dalwood rose or dalwood teak Infinity IRS Epsilon: $14,000/pair inc. servo control unit MACH 1 Acoustics DM-10 Signature: $17,995/pair Magnepan Magneplanar MG-20: $9200/pair Sonus Faber Extrema: $9890/pair (stands necessary) Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage: $9000/pair (stands included) Thiel CS 7: $8900/pair B (Full-range) Acarion Alon IV: $3500/pair Apogee Studio Grand: $12,595-$15,595, depending on finish Apogee Acoustics Centaurus Slant 6: $1995/pair $$$ Apogee Acoustics Stage: $2995/pair $$$ * (stands optional) Apogee Acoustics Mini Grand: $5595/pair Audio Physics Tempo: $2995/pair Avalon Eclipse: $5900/pair * B&W Matrix 801 Series 3: $5500/pair * (stands optional) Energy Veritas v2.8: $6000/pair Flatline Design Model 175: $3995/pair Gradient Revolution: $3995/pair Infinity Composition Prelude P-FR: $3000/pair JPW Ruby 4: $2895/pair KEF Reference Series Model 107/2 Raymond Cooke Special Edition: $5900/pair Martin-Logan Quest Z: $4295/pair Martin-Logan Aerius: $1995/pair $$$ Meret Audio Ay: $4200/pair Metaphor 2: $5950/pair Mirage M-1si: $5500/pair Mirage M-3si: $3000/pair $$$ NHT 3.3: $4300/pair Nelson-Reed 8-04/CM: $3650/pair * Nestorovic Type 5AS Mk.IV: $4500/pair * Nestorovic Type 5AS Mk.IV Signature: $7000/pair Paragon Regent: $3200/pair PSB Stratus Gold: $2100/pair $$$ * Ruark Crusader II: $3300/pair Snell Type B minor: $3699/pair Snell Type C/V: $2599/pair $$$ Spendor S100: $2990/pair * (stands necessary) Swans Cygnus: $5995/pair Thiel CS3.6: $3990/pair Thiel CS2 2: $2750/pair $$$ * Unity Audio Signature 1: $3395/pair Vandersteen 3A: $2595/pair $$$ B (Restricted LF) B&W 805 Matrix: $1600/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Celestion SL600Si with DLP600: $2798/pair * (stands necessary) Ensemble PA-1: $3250/pair * Ensemble Reference Silver: $5580/pair * (stands necessary) Martin-Logan CLS IIZ: $3995/pair (stands optional) Monitor Audio Studio 6: $1999/pair (stands necessary) ProAc Response Two: $3000/pair (stands necessary) ProAc Response 1S: $1800/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Quad ESL-63 USA Monitor: $5995/pair * (stands necessary) Sonus Faber Electa Amator: $5000/pair * (stands necessary) Thiel CS 1.5: $1990/pair $$$ Totem Acoustic Model 1: $1595/pair $$$ (stands necessary) C Acarion Alon I: $1590/pair Audio Artistry Mozart: $2795/pair Eminent Technology LFT-VIII: $1500/pair Jospeh Audio RM-20ti: $2099/pair Linn Keilidh LS300: $1495/pair (stands necessary) Mirage M-7si: $1500/pair $$$ Mission Cyrus 753: $1800/pair NHT SuperZero/SW2P active subwoofer: $940/system $$$ (stands necessary) PSB Stratus Silver: $1500/pair $$$ Snell Type D: $1799/pair $$$ Thiel CS.5:$1350/pair Vandersteen 2Ce: $1295/pair $$$ (stands optional) Whatmough Monitors 202 Leadline: $2500/pair (stands necessary) C (Restricted LF) Acoustic Energy AE1: $1595/pair * (stands necessary) Audio Physic Step: $1395/pair (stands necessary) Celestion SL600Si: $2099/pair * (stands necessary) Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-I: $995/pair (stands necessary) Duntech PCL25: $1995/pair (stands necessary) Epos ES14: $1695/pair * (stands necessary) Harbeth HL-P3: $1100/pair (stands necessary) JM Labs Micron: $695/pair * (stands necessary) Monitor Audio Studio 2: $1199/pair (stands necessary) PSB Stratus Mini: $950/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Sonus Faber Minima Amator: $3000/pair (stands necessary) Spica TC-60: $795/pair $$$ (stands necessary) D AR 303: $1200/pair (stands necessary) Epos ES11: $895/pair $$$ * (stands necessary) NHT SuperZero: $240/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Harbeth LS3/5a: $1100/pair * KEF LS3/5a: $1450/pair in teak (Santos Rosewood adds $200/pair) Spendor LS3/5a: $896/pair * (stands necessary) ProAc Studio 100: $1400/pair (stands necessary) Sonus Faber Minuetto: $1500/pair (stands necessary) E Canon S-35: $399/pair Celestion MP1: $299/pair (stands necessary) Mirage M490: $600/pair (stands necessary) Paradigm Atom: $169/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Paradigm Titan: $209/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Pinnacle PN8+: $350/pair (stands necessary) PSB 500: $499/pair (stands necessary) PSB Alpha: $199/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Radio Shack Optimus Pro LX5: $300/pair (stands necessary) RA Labs Black Gold Mini-Reference: $208/pair $$$ (stands necessary) Signet SL260B/U: $550/pair (stands necessary) [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subwoofers and Crossovers A Bag End S18E/ELF 1: $2460 for ELF 1 crossover, $776-$1976 for S18E depending on finish Kinergetics SW-800: $3995/system * Muse Model 18 active subwoofer: $3000 * (inc. crossover and amplifier) Snell SUB 1800: $2449 each B Apogee Acoustics Mini-Grand suboofer: $2595/pair Bryston 10B electronic crossover: $1195 Entec l2-f20 active subwoofer: $3247 (inc. crossover and amplifier) Gradient SW-63: $3000/system * (inc. crossover) Velodyne ULD-18 II active subwoofer: $2750 * (inc. crossover, amplifier, and servo electronics) C Audio Concepts (ACI) Titan active subwoofer: $729 each Gradient SW-57 woofer: $2395 (inc. crossover) Hsu Research HRSW12V active subwoofer: $850 M&K MX-200 active subwoofer: $1495 Snell EC-300 active crossover: $299 Velodyne F-1500R: $1595 (inc. crossover, servo electronics and amplifier) D AudioControl Richter Scale Series III: $349 * Boston Acoustics Lynnfield VR500 active subwoofer: $600 Paradigm PS-1000 active subwoofer: $519 PSB Subsonic II active subwoofer: $699 [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complete Audio Systems A (every bit of it!) Cello Music & Film System: ~$ 101 000 : comprises Cello Audio Palette MIV equalizer ($20 000), Cello Encore line preamp ($8 500), Cello Performance II monoblock ($22 000/ pair), Cello Stradivari Master loudspeakers ($30 000/ pair), Cello Strings I interconnects ($596/ 2m pair terminated with Fischer connectors), Cello Strings III speaker cable ($1 800/ 3m tri-wire harness), Cello/Apogee Series CFMS 8.1 D/A processor ($7 000), Apogee Wide-Eye AES/EBU datalink ($24.95/ 1m), Forsell Air Bearing Mk. II CD transport ($8 900). Drool! [Return] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Home Theater Surround-Sound Components A Audio Research SDP1 Multichannel Music Processor: $2995 Meridian 565 digital surround-sound processor: $3595 Proceed PAV surround-sound control center: $4195 Reference Recordings LD-101, A Video Standard: $69.98 Snell Music and Cinema Home THX Reference system: $29,393 B Arcam Xeta One integrated A/V amplifier: $1995 B&W Home Cinema THX looudspeaker system: $7000 (with two subwoofers, but without amplification) B&W Matrix HTM Home Theater Monitor center loudspeaker: $800 each $$$ Counterpoint HC-808 Dolby surround-sound processer: $1495 Infinity Composition surround-loudspeaker system: $4448/system Lexicon CP-3 Plus: $3200 McIntosh C39 THX surround-sound audio/video control center: $3000 Mcintosh THX loudspeaker system: $10,050 (with amplification & one subwoofer) Meridian Digital Theatre: $16,325-$34,785 depending on options |