Two things I heard in 2019 that blew me away. 1) The Peachtree Nova 150. I am very impressed with this amp/DAC/pre. It made every speaker connected to it sound so much cleaner, stronger bass, more output with less distortion and the additional voltage through the RCAs to my sub made it sound better. The DAC is great quality too. The Peachtree has many inputs and HT bypass and of course looks beautiful. I've had my eye on them for about 10 years and finally got one. It has lived up to everything I had hoped! 2) The power of DIY, how easy it is to build speakers and high quality crossovers (provided they are properly designed). It was amazing to see DIY speaker projects compete with products costing 5-10 times as much! For those who like to build things it is a great sense of satisfaction to hold/listen to something you built and choose from almost infinite ways to veneer/paint/texture/beautify/customize what it looks like. Happy building!
My 3 audio discoveries in 2019: 1. I wanted to try R2R DAC and decided to buy Denafrips Ares II. I liked this 800 USD DAC more then 4,000$ Auralic Vega G1! 2. For bedroom system I wanted a bookshelf speakers with ribbon tweeter and after auditioning at the dealer I chose small Elac Vela 403 which sounded much better for me than large PSB Imagine T2! 3. In my main system with B&W 805D3 I put old Hegel H80 amplifier instead of twice as expensive Marantz KI Ruby and I liked Hegel much more! So after few months I decided to upgrade the amplifier to Hegel H390 (MQA capable and soon Roon Ready) and its superb. Frankly, I was surprisingly shocked to see that all 3 products were chosen by you as best in 2019 :) Thank you for all your reviews and all the best in 2020!
Best I have personally heard in 2019: 1. PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblock amplifiers. Soundstage and imaging step to another level with monoblocks vs. stereo amps. Effortless sound due to incredible control and LOTS of power. 2. ELAC Adante AW-61 standmount speakers. Wow. These do the magic thing of being SUPER present and resolving in the high-end without ever becoming harsh or piercing. 3. Audeze LCD-XC headphones. Best sound I have ever heard from any transducer. Ever. This includes all speakers and headphones. Detail retrieval is off the charts. They scale indefinitely - the better your amplification, the better they get. Happy New year and merry Christmas to everyone!
The best thing I can say to the audio community is that price does not always equal performance. Case and point are the Elac UF5 floorstander speakers. They shoot way beyond their price point and sound absolutely fantastic... I would also add that there comes a time when we need to learn how to stop obsessing on our components and start listening to the music. Build your system to the best of your ability, sure, but don't get stuck in 'gear acquisition syndrome'. Learn how to be happy with what you have accomplished. Otherwise we limit our experience to only 50% of the game. - And way to go on the 10,000 subs!
For me the biggest surprise in 2019 was Allo USBridge Signature + Allo Shanti Linear Power Supply. I owned previously the original USBridge which made me understand that a computer is not the best source for music playback when connected to a usb dac. Allo USBridge Signature is a worthy sucessor. For very little money, that normal human beings can afford, you get a reference digital transport that sounds like real music. Very happy with the upgrade. If folks out there are still using a computer to connect to your precious dac, try using one of those Raspberry Pi digital transports. You won't be dissapointed!
The best thing I heard in 2019 was the Tannoy Revolution XT8F. So much so that I bought a pair. Incredible speakers! Fill the whole house with rich, detailed sound. Still dialing them in. Now I have to build a system for my daughter!
The product that received your most praise in 2020 was the Magnepan speaker. Your evaluation was so detailed and vivid that I can experience the sound just listening to your description. Your unique style of a concise yet in-depth description of products draws 100K plus viewers. Congratulations!
Seeing magnepan’s here is what brought me to buying my mg1.4’s and see what magnepan was all about and to me that is letting the gear disappear and getting back to what brought me to hifi in the first place the music 💕
I left the A/B and A Integrated Amplifier world after 40 years and went for a NAD C388 D integrated amp. and never looked back. I'm so pleased, it controls my speakers very well, tight Bass , clean voices, and overall revealing in all aspects. Plenty of Power, software upgradable and can be further up grated with modules. Definitely future proof. My product for 2019.
in the 80's i had a Yorx stereo which fostered my love for music and this year I finally got a used set of Kef LS 50's i'm very thankful to have them and it took a very long time. Keep working, stay strong, save, protect your hearing when doing anything that can hurt them, be humble, help others when you can and best of all remember it's all about the love of music. Cheers to everyone!
My favorite discovery of 2019 is learning speaker crossover and building them. If you really want to improve your sound, get good speakers or build them yourself and design a crossover
The Focal Aria 906's caught my attention this past year to the point that they sit in my listening room. Vocals and string instruments (particularly) sound angelic.
The best thing I heard this year was your channel. It’s a balanced, well thought out source of reviews for products that I can afford. It’s a great, fresh voice that gives useful information and insight based on experience and passion. Well done!
In 2019 the best component(s) I heard and PURCHASED is: 1. Primaluna Prologue Amplifier 2. Gigiwatt PowerPrime Conditioner (massive improvement in my 2 channel audio system) 3. Audio Hungary APR 204 Preamp 4. Cary Audio DAC 100t The preamp/amp and dac are all tubes and sounds GLORIOUS- finally - “I’M DONE UPGRADING” Subbed n shared- great channel Jay!!!
what stood out to me the most for 2019? well, I don't buy a lot of gear. last year, I purchased a pair of Klipsch kg4. couldn't afford a genuine heritage series. however, I purchased (from the famous Klipsch aftermarket place that everyone knows) some crossover rebuild kits and tweeter replacements. after installing and listening to them for hours I would say it was a very good decision. it gave new life to my stereo. so, if you can't afford new gear, maybe you can always improve on what you have. happy listening!
For a small office setup: * All in one amplifier: Naim Uniti Atom (excellent convenience and sound) * Desktop speakers: Gallo Strada 2 (Sennheiser HD800 equivalents) * Alternative speakers: Harbeth P3ESR (Relaxing and beautiful to look at) All are older products but I heard and learned to love them during this year as I am learning about speakers after having moved away from headphones.
I bought the Buchardt S400 early this year and continue to marvel at how wonderful this little speaker sounds...but if I had to be honest and pick the best product I heard in 2019, the one product that made me switch off my critical brain and demanded i listen with my heart, the product that kept me up at night pulling one more album out, was the Van den Hul Frog cartridge. The Frog has been around for years, and was always way beyond my means, but earlier this year I had the good fortune to find one with low hours at a good price. My dream cartridge did not disappoint. On my VPI table and arm, it continues to remind me why I stick with this crazy hobby of ours. The Frog is a great communicator of joy or heartbreak. It cuts through to the essence of the music. That’s my favorite product of 2019.
This combination. Buchardt S400 with IOTAVX SA3 and PA3. They are such a complete package . They both are direct to consumer products . High on value for money. understated, classy and disappear only to make beautiful sounding music .made by genuine, passionate people.That is how imo hi end hi-fi needs to be made affordable. I have discovered more new music with them over 4months of owning them than over last 5years. Music is back and how.
@@sushmaswamy5060 love the vocals. I had the RP 600M to compare with. The Klipsch are a very forward sounding speakers. Very alive. A bit in your face and why i returned them. In comparison the buchardts are more composed and rendered back in the soundstage. Very clear with authority but not overpowering. Just comes together well with the rest of the music beautifully.The vocals are a joy imo.
We just moved in to a new house with a very high ceiling for the living room and my old Dynaudio Audience 82 couldn’t fill the room anymore. I bought the Golden Ear Triton Reference and used it with my Cambridge Audio 851N and 851W combination and this is the best system that I’ve owned so far. My recent subscription to Tidal increased my listening sessions. My interest in pairing the Triton Reference with Hegel led me to your channel. I love the honest reviews! Thanks!
Hello, I'm new to HiFi so really appreciate UA-cam channels such as NBTS, and the one that led me to NBTS, Tomas and Stereo. There is so much to learn from these guys and they inspired me to update my, what I thought was decent system at the time, to a much better one this year. I didn't have much money to start my journey and I wanted a full size set-up for my medium/large size room so did some research on good valued used gear to try and maximize my budget. Found a pair of Ohm Walsh 4's from 1982 for sale and was blown away by their performance compared to my old system with 20 yr old JBL speakers. They were reconditioned by the factory and I picked them up for under $700. I love the full rage sound with all frequencies separated out for heightened clarity and that there's no need for a subwoofer. Plugged them into my Sony surround sound receiver and was immediately unhappy with how they sounded compared to the PS Audio amp the seller of the Ohm's had... so now I was on the hunt for an used integrated amp that could give me a better sound. Picked up a Peachtree Nova 150 for $800, which gave me everything I needed in 1 package and sounded much better than the Sony. The speakers then sounded more balanced, the sound stage opened up and it really tighten up the bass. It's also one of the most beautiful amps for my taste and aesthetically paired really well with my vintage looking Ohm's. So for less than $1500 I have a great start to my HiFi journey, I think. Next on my list is a tube preamp to add some warmth. Any suggestions? This HiFi stuff can be addicting. 😐
The best for me in 2019 was the use of streaming services such as Tidal to truly provide the justification for going to a fully digital front end. The Chord Mojo DAC was a game-changer for me, especially as a value play... I would love to hear how my Primaluna Prologue Tube Amp could make the LRS sing!? You guys have been stating the Hegel 90 as an ideal match due to the high current and damping factor, but would love to see how these incredible speakers will sound with tubes. Merry Christmas and keep up these great videos!
I bought a couple of different low priced speakers this year for my bedroom setup, RP600M's and Kef Q350's, I was really impressed with both speakers for the price but the q350's blew me away. As an owner of LS50's for a couple of years I was surprised at the difference between the 2 speakers with same Uni-Q setups. Q350's are nice and warm sounding in my bedroom . Love them. Keep up the good work
I have a friend that purchased a pair of the LRS and they are an impressive speaker! After hearing them I went back home and I could not forget the amazing soundstage and the imaging of this speaker! I know now I cannot live without a pair of Magnepans for my listening room too!!!
I don't listen to a lot of different gear, but I bought a ton of vinyl this year, listened to music, discovered a lot of new music! That being said, I just upgraded my turntable cartridge yesterday! A Nagaoka MP-110. So far, so good. That Billie integrated looks awesome, though.
I just discovered your channel from a video titled "Meet Jay, even before he was a reviewer, he owned 60 pairs of speakers" and Im loving it so much. I love Speakers, Amps and other related audio equipment, thanks you are doing a good job
I'm just getting into vinyl and hifi stuff and I am currently saving and deciding what pieces to get for my first system. Over the last couple months I've watched all of your videos, so thank you for all the awesome info that has guided me into quality gear. So far I have purchased a mint 1981 Technics 1200 mk2 (500$) that looks like its never even been used! So, for Christmas I bought my 15 year old son an Audio Technica lp60 (99$) and a set of Edifier R1280T powered speakers (99$) ...on a tight budget since we're saving for our main system. We were not disappointed! It sounds great, so I just wanted to say to anyone wanting to get a kid into this stuff for cheap, you can't go wrong with this setup! and its the best thing I heard all year! lol
The LRS is now a legit candidate for the HIgh End Audio Hall Of Fame! It can now join the elite company of legendary affordable components such as the Spica TC50s, NAD 3020, Rega Planar 3, AT OC9, Denon DL 103, etc.. You can now enter the world of high end audio for such as measly price of admission. To put things into perspective, just bought a "Record Clamp" from Basis for $650! Just a word of caution: Don't expect the LRSs to sound spectacular right out of the box; you need to invest time and effort to make them sound their best. Even though they are cheap, they deserve the best in ancillary equipment. Pay particular attention to placement, cabling and amplification. Once optimally set up, these transducers will mesmerize you with a sound that is quite incredible. They have some sonic qualities that equal or surpass some of the world's best speakers, regardless of price! My jaw dropped to the floor the first time I heard them. They have that sonic X factor, that elusive naturalness in sound that fools you to think you are hearing the real thing! This is what we audiofools endlessly chase and willingly pay for for gazzillions of dollars! Magnepan is about to make a killing!
For me , the best revelation it's when I plugged and configured the minidsp SHD studio. Room correction via dirac live and streamer into one package. No more boomy bass and great focus and nothing loose on the sound stage side. I was at first skeptical but after spending thousands on room correction panel...now I can enjoy the music the way it was intended. Minidsp shd✓ Hegel H90✓ Buchardt S400✓
For me it was the Maggie’s .7s I got to hear them at a local Hifi store combined with an Atoll IN200 and wow. The depth and sound stage blew me away. For the price I had to purchase. Thanks for the great videos and keep up the great work.
After watching Dannie Ritchie's Tuesday Tech Talk videos on New Record Day, I built a set of NX-Oticas from GR Research. Cost is under $2500 including other supplies, but they are by far the best sounding speakers I've ever owned, and that includes a number of speakers in the $10K to $20K range such as Revel Studios, Magneplaner Tympani IVs, and Duntech Sovereigns. If you're up for a relatively easy DIY project and have the space for these speakers, they are absolutely tremendous. Incredible clarity, deep airy sound stage, fabulous dynamics, and easy to drive (93db/w). I also built a pair of GR Research's triple servo open baffle subs. These aren't absolutely necessary with the NX-Oticas, but the combination delivers the best bass I've ever heard at any price - incredible detail and clarity that's deep and powerful without any boxiness. These speakers have been around for a few years, so not new for 2019, but I only recently found out about them. They don't get a lot of publicity because you have to put them together yourself. But if you are willing to put in a little time - no fancy tools required other than a few large clamps to glue them up - you'll end up with an absolutely tremendous value. It took me about 50 hours to build both the NX-Oticas and the stereo subs, most of which was sanding/painting the cabinets and building the NX-Otica crossovers.
2019 brought several realization to me in audio: 1 a Marantz 1060 integrated is an amazing preamp paired w class d and ab. 2 barely used audio is amazingLy affordable and can be an incredible value (as long as you follow Jay’s rules for used audio),& 3, TRY EVERY SPEAKER DESIGN if you can!! Dipole ribbons, open baffle dynamic designs, time/phase coherent priority (Thiel and Green Mountain Audio designs), Infinite baffle, and Omni-polar designs. I lack electrostatics at this point. Finally, there is NO perfect set up. Have a few set ups to tailor you sound to your music whims. Variety is the spice! Thanks for the great videos NBT!!
The most important “product” of 2019 is the collective spirit and support of the vast number of audiophile UA-cam channels and podcast. The mutual respect displayed in this niche community is truly a model for other communities of likeminded people who come together for the love of a particular passion. I have noticed “competing” reviewers often refer to other well-known reviewers with such a high level of respect, even in disagreement, and I find it so refreshing in theses somewhat divisive times. This would include race/gender/economic differences. Here in the audiophile community these differences are either ignored or openly celebrated. I can enjoy any number of fine channels without having to worry about this kind of nonsense. This simply allows us to share information and a passion for music and sound which is exactly what we need now and forever moving forward.
Love your enthusiasm for this hobby. You and Thomas are a breadth of fresh air. Only "problem" with watching you and Thomas is that you are going to cost me money hanging out in y'alls channel. Every time i listen to you guys i book mark something. Now you have me drooling over the MAGNEPAN LRS. Congrats on the 10K and with your enthusiasm and honesty the sky is the limit. Cheers from Oklahoma.
Well, I'm just getting into this stuff, so I can't say I've heard much, but I bought my first pair of decent speakers Klipsch R-41PM Powered Bookshelf Speaker, for under 300.00 and now I'm hooked. Now I'm looking to move up to good passive speakers and a separate amplifier. The two top contenders right now are the Klipsch RP-600M and the Magnepan LRS, which I have to say I am absolutely fascinated with. Thanks for educating a novice like me. Happy New Year and good luck to everyone!
The thing(s) that stood out to me this year happened while attending Rocky Mountain festival in Denver this year, (1) I got a chance to listen to the Innuos PhoenixUSB Reclocker. This is what it didn't do to the music, it didn't make the music sound better, improve the imaging, improve the soundstage, it didn't make the base tighter, it didn't make make it more "analog", but what it did was make it so that my shoulders dropped and my body relaxed when I listed to the re-clocked music. That was huge. What was cool was that what I felt exactly matched the marketing material by Innuos. In this hobby there are layers of subtlety and for each of us, may represent something we wish to squeeze out of our system (2) At the PSAudio booth , Micheal Fremer played a number of records, some original pressing, along with the respective re-issues from digital sources and it was amazingly discernible the difference.. again to some subtle and to others not so, but it showed how important it is to be able to hear and do A/B comparisons in person which is a shame in the age of online shopping.
I have heard the KEF R3. I was so good to actually hear them, instead of just viewing reviews. They do really sound great. I am saving up for them as my next upgrade.
Its amazing to see you talk about the speakers and the amps the way you do. We can really tell you are passionnate, knowledgable and amazed at the products just from your words and delivery. Great video
I was impressed with the $799 USD 110 wpc@8 ohm outlaw RR2160 stereo receiver . It is loaded with features and has a retro look and drove the Maggie's with ease.
I have been an headfier for a long time but looking to move to hifi. Your videos have helped alot with my transition into hifi. In 2019 ive heard the abyss ab-1266tc which was the best headphone ive heard so far(ive heard pretty much everything including the Orpheus). If anyone is interested in hifi but isnt able to commit to speakers due to wife approval, space, or neighbors, i highly recommend trying these headphones. While expensive for a pair of headphones, it is nothing compared to the end game of speakers.
I'm in my 70's and I finally bought a set of interconnects that cost more than $15, I always thought any reasonably well made interconnect was just fine (blue jeans or monoprice). A month ago I found a special on Morrow Audio interconnects for half off with a 30 day return option and I bit. I bought 3 sets of the lowest tier to go between the DAC and CD player to my Rogue RP5 preamp and a longer one from the Rogue to my PS Audio m700 monoblocks. They came in a few days and i was impressed, everything was more open and it seemed the level of clarity took a jump up. I never expected this kind of improvement in the sound form cables that cost me $50 (0.5 meter) and $100 (2 meter). They will have to pry these from my cold dead hands. This just proves you have to be willing to challenge old firmly held beliefs because you just might be wrong.
Good stuff. Keep it coming and congrats on 10K subs. For me in 2019 it was changing the power tubes in my Primaluna Integrated HP amplifier. I moved to the Tung Sol EL34B power tubes and was pleasantly surprised. Really balanced tube. I would have loved to try the NOS EL34’s but crazy pricing especially since I would have had to change 8 tubes.
Going to separates was a game changer, especially with room correction software like dirac. The combination of quality equipment plus more thoughtful placement and measuring of your speakers and gear represents a paradigm shift i didn't think was possible on the consumer level. It's a great time to be in the hobby. The community is outrageously helpful.
I bought a marantz 1060, the sound was amazing and fun it really opened up the audio hobby to me. Getting to appreciate all my music again is what its all about. to anyone scared of vintage i wouldn't hesitate. Thank you and happy holidays
Happy New Year! The Denafrips Ares 2 has me very interested especially that Thomas drove >6 hours to pick it up from you. It’s great that all you guys collaborate and that we get to hear all your opinions. Please keep it up! Thanks for your excellent reviews.
My Favorites in 2019: Lavardin Isx Reference integrated Amp , Bouchardt S400 Speaker, VPI Prime Scout with Goldnote Donatello Gold cartridge and all Time Favorit the Harbeth P3 ESR . Thank you for your fantastic Channel , Great Job ! Michael from Germany
Great year end recap of notable products---I would also mention the Buchardt speakers too! I like that you have duo sessions with Thomas --- you have a great rapport with him and its helpful getting mutual takes on gear.
Hey HI-Fi community🤗 I’m running buchardt s400, ps audio m700 mono blocks, Mytek Brooklyn dac +, simaudio moon mind 2 streamer. One of the best things I did to get better sound was to add a wyred 4 sound linear power supply to my modem and router. It removed the little bit of harshness and made everything more real. Cheers
My buy of the year was a Parasound NewClassic with their Zpre3 preamp, powering a pair of Emotiva T1s. Got everything on sale, and have to say that nothing disappoints. This system - being a two channel setup- does two things really well. It’s a great home “home theater” combo despite being just two channel. And if you want to host a dance party or just rock out, the thing just gets better and better with volume. I think I’m in 1300 US and am quite pleased with the system.
Tried a bunch of stuff this year... dac's - bifrost mb, chord mojo, and marantz na6006. Integrated amps - nad c368/c388 , denon pma-1600ne, yamaha rn803/as801, and marantz pm8006. Speakers - klipsch rp600m and ML esl's (electromotions). Favorite of 2019? The marantz na6006/pm8006 combo (with my ls50s). Great sound and its flexible. Can connect an external dac or preamp or power amp down the road. The denon had a nice punch but no preout's for future expansion... Biggest surprise - the discounts that can be had on new equipment. Nad C388 can be bought new ($CDN) for $1700, pm8006 $1350, yamaha rn803 $850.... hard to pay full price when you know the profit margin involved... Biggest let down - Martin logan electrostatic panels can wrinkle and degrade from regular use.... (sticking with Maggies from now on).
Every year I hear the same system in my home. It’s an active Naim setup with a turntable. It’s the most involving sound I have ever heard with vice like grip on rhythm and attack and recovery that is rare. If you love jazz, blues, rock it’s phenomenal. Just discovered your channel. Nice work.
I've been listening to upgraded (Model 3000 driver level) Ohm Acoustics Model F speakers for about 4 months now. Some of you may know of them and the Walsh driver which generates a 360 degree (horizontal) sound field. I couldn't afford them when the F first appeared in the 70's - it's great to be able to listen to them, updated, now. Large sweet spot, of course, substantial bass, natural mids on male and female vocals, and I haven't heard a harsh note out of the tweeter (a separate driver from the Walsh). (My old ears are still pretty good at noticing distortion ;) ). Ohm offers old enclosures of their past models (like my Fs) fully rebuilt with their latest drivers. I like this channel for its emphasis on high grade gear that is more affordable to the majority of music lovers. Keep going, 20,000 soon!
Congrats on 10k subscribers. In 2019 I purchased the Buchardt S400 speakers (color black) to use for front left & right channels (along with the Schiit Vidar amp and a HSU VTF-2 MK5 subwoofer). A friend who has played electric & acoustic guitar in a band for 15 years came by to hear the speakers. He commented on how clear the sound was and how good the dispersion was. The speakers continued to improve during the first 200 hours of break-in (I listen with the grills off). There seems to be little difference on whether you face the speakers square or toe-in toward the listener. I toe-in the speakers slightly, aimed to the left and right of the listener. The sound stage is wide, and I can typically identify what instrument is playing. Here are some other considerations about the company. I've emailed Mads, the founder, and have received responses in 1-2 business days. The speakers have a 10-year warranty, there's no additional charge for shipping, 30 days to return for refund if not happy (the company pays for the return shipping), and no tax for shipping to North America. When I ordered in Mar 2019, because the speakers would be out of stock until Jun 2019, a discount was offered. Then in Jun I received an email that since there was a production issue, the choice was to take delivery in Jul or agree to wait until Sep 2019 and get an additional discount if one waited until Sep. I took the Sep option (happened to be good timing for me since I was going to be out of town part of Jul-Aug). The total discount was 25% - what company does this. Even without the discounts that I received thru fortunate timing, I consider these speakers to be an excellent value for the money.
I have a Hegel H160 driving a pair of Ohm Walsh 2000. My surprise of the year was the Hegel H190. It is a significant improvement over later model. The H160 is still a remarkable performer. To make their new amp quieter, with a blacker background provides this shimmering clarity which truly shines. Another surprise of the year was the new KEF R series. Everyone of them grabbed my attention. Definitely a speaker I would love to put in my listening space someday.
I saw a demo of the top of the line Technics SL1000R turntable....88lbs! Awesome engineering. I heard the Hegel at Toronto Audio Fest paired with Totem Element tower speakers and was amazed at the soundstage. The first time that I actually liked the sound of the Element speakers. Thanks for your recommendations in this video. Looking forward to seeing the review of the integrated amp.
Merry Christmas to The "The Next Best Thing Studio" crew who work hard on bringing us the the reviews online ever! I only trust you!!! No one else... You are sincere and honest in your reviews. You will NOT kiss up to anyone. You are the ones to fully trust...I would love to own the Maggies...Thank you!!!
Love the way you show your passion and also break down the practical aspects of the products you review. I'm getting back into the HiFi realm after being gone for 100 years (well maybe 40 years), it's been a complete surprise to hear just how good speakers are these days! I grew up in MN - not too far from White Bear Lake (home of Magnapan). The LRSs would be the perfect way get started on a system that will outlast my hearing and keep up with anything I can afford to put in front of it. Thanks for your dedication, honesty, knowledge and joy that you bring to every one of yoy reviews. Wishing you joy and prosperity for 2020! Gratefully yours.... Dan
Hi, I bought the Edifier R1280T powered speakers for my computer. I stream music off Amazon and the bang for the buck is phenominal. Crisp and clean in the midrange. just enough bass. I love these speakers and highly recommended.
Congratulations on 10,000. I really appreciate your videos. I’ve only been watching a short time but thank you for your recommendations. Unfortunately I have not been able to afford any new gear for 2019 but hopefully 2020 with your recommendations. I’m really interested in the LRS and Hegel combo. Thanks again for all your advice.
The 2 products I have purchased in 2019 which you have also reviewed I absolutely am loving are the Klipsch rp600m and the Denafrips Ares 2. Merry Christmas to everyone here...
Sincerely... the one item I heard beyond its price point was the new Schiit Freya+. A wholesome combination of tube sound With an incredible introduction of quiet sound from a preamplifier that’s way beyond what it should sound like at that price point of $899. Used in both tube and straight… Definitely worth a listen. I have heard the Magnepan LRS with the system combo of the Schiit Freya+ and Schiit Vidar...A sweet combination I would love to obtain. Clarity, Soundstage, Power and Depth...Would love to have that! Love your videos and glad you are obtaining the viewership you deserve. Great work!
Recently auditioned McIntosh 7200 with B&W, the command this amp have is something and those VU meter are to die for. It bring back some childhood memories of my dad’s cassette deck. Still a long way from getting that system to home.
Best wishes for 2020! Thank you so so much for your great contribution to this community of passionate people. My personal standout product of 2019 is the Denafrips ARES II. In this increasingly digital world, this little gem makes digital sources so enjoyable to listen to for such an accessible price. This year, my hat's off to Denafrips.
Thank you Jay for your good work, interesting reviews, and your providing exposure to some of the best in audio. I hope that you will continue to develop and further mature your reviewing as you gain experience and more exposure to the best in hi fi. Wishing you and NBT all good in 2020.
Running my Leben 300 12watt tube amp into a friend's Klipsch RP600M was my surprise of 2019 and made me want to run out to buy a pair for myself. Second surprise was a cheap Topping D30 DAC paired with a TASCAM CD200 ... my CDs came alive.
The best bang-for-the-buck product I experienced in 2019 is the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital DAC. I pit it against the Chord Qutest and it kept up easily. That said, I already own Maggies so please award them to an audiophile in need of great speakers.
I totally agree with your assessment of the Magnepan LRS speakers. I heard them at the Capital Audiofest 2019 show in Maryland and was absolutely stunned by their performance. They truly are amazing and the price is just insanely affordable. Aside from the LRS speakers, the McGary line of tube amplifiers are equally amazing. Both of their models are relatively low powered, but can blow you out of the room with texture, dynamics, transparency, soundstage and speed.
Sorry for being late to the party 😊. The best products I heard in 2019 were a Cayin tube amp powering a pair of Harbeth P3ESR. I heard this combo at the KL Int’l AV Show. They were not even products on demo but they were playing audiophile CDs on sale in one of the showrooms. I had listened to much more expensive equipments in the other showrooms but the sound of the Cayin & the Harbeth combo just blew me away. Although they were playing some Chinese songs which I could not understand, I was totally mesmerised by how natural & engaging they sounded. It was a truly alluring experience & needless to say, I spent the longest time in this room. Alas, they are priced beyond my pay grade. So I did the NEXT BEST THING ; I went online & bought myself something more affordable based on the good reviews by Sean of Zero Fidelity - the Paiyon P4 -2.0 speakers & the Boyuu Reisong A10 tube amp. I do love how they sound but I can’t help but still dream of owning the Harbeth & the Cayin one day; which explains my current daily diet of instant ramen 😊.
2019 has been my intro year to high quality audio. Before now I considered Beats and expensive Bluetooth speakers to be high end audio, lol I have been living in my local audio shop and have listened to a decent amount of speakers this year. As a new comer to the audio world I would say the biggest lesson I learned is to... take it slow and don’t overspend initially (there will be plenty of time for that!). You may spend a lot of money on components that may be good but don’t make the sound you enjoy. It seemed like every time I was sure I had figured out my favorite sound and setup, the next time I heard something that was new to me, I was blown away and had to change my mind. What I figured out is... all high quality audio, regardless of price, is amazing and fun. I bought my first set up which was a pair of 1990s, ADS L880/2s, they have an incredible mid range. I powered it with an Harmon Kardon integrated amp with a schiit Dac. I’ve spent some time with it, appreciate what it has had to offer me and am now ready to change things up! Lol hopefully with some Maggis. I may buy them even if I don’t win. But if I do, I can put that money toward a new tube amp. Thank you for your content, it really is some of the best in the game. O and do more videos with Thomas you two are a good combo!
For me, this list is just right, however I would like to comment that this year I heard the NAIM Unity atom & the Yamaha AS-801 (both very different) and let me tell you guys that they both represent the entry level for there respective companies into Hi-fi and they do a fantastic jobs at showing you what those companies can do, both are solid state but with fairy dust sparkled on them (No doubt the Hegel H190 proposed here is the better value) If someone here doesn't manage to swing $4k for the Hegel or is not available in your area, do give a try to this ones. Great list...!!! (is short, committed and informed) Thank you, keep them coming...
I have the A-S701 Yamaha. Same as the 801 minus the DAC. Love it with Buchardts and a Chord DAC. I will probably upgrade it in the future though but for the money it's a great buy.
@@slip6699 Buchardts..? Chord..? Yamaha..? How can it not sound great..!!!??? (Jealous) I'm sure it sounds wonderful, in fact I think you are exactly were the so called "diminish returns" begin. What I mean is that upgrading for you will start to become more and more expensive to notice the difference because you are starting with an all ready nice equipment. Jay here has a layout a nice list. Which Buchardts do you have?
The best hi-fi experience I've had this year was listening to a pair of Revel F226Be speakers at the AudioVideo show in Warsaw. Being a budget-minded music enthusiast myself, this has been the first time I've heard something this expensive (8k Eur for the speakers + about twice that for what they were connected to) and thought to myself: "I wish they were cheaper, but it's truly the best thing I've ever heard -- and now I have to figure out a way to afford it" :) I found them a bit lacking in bass (they're not very large), but me and my buddies kept returning to the listening room where they were set up, even after hearing systems in the show which cost several times more. The best I can describe the experience is "natural, neutral, effortless, transparent": the speakers completely disappeared acoustically, leaving the band or the solo vocalist just virtually standing there and playing/singing to you, as if they were there (I keep reading about such experiences, but it was a first for me). I sat there for 90 minutes and felt like I could have done so for the whole day without getting tired or bored.
Thanks for sharing your best of 2019! An integrated amp that I was impressed with this year was the Boyuu Reisong that Sean over at Zero Fidelity turned me onto. I always wanted a tube amp but they are generally very expensive so this amp was an affordable way to try them out...have not been disappointed and my wife really likes the look of it too...right now I use it as a second system in the living room. Best of luck in 2020!
I got my hands on a pair of Micca RB48's. They are really an amazing value. They are definitely the best audio product I interacted with in 2019. They have surprising lowend for 4 inch drivers and they do a pretty great job at imaging. They show that you don't need to spend a huge amount to get great audio. Kind of like the Magnepans.
Hi for me it was the Polk Lsim 707´s, incredible speakers with a very strong bass and quite detailed in the mid and highs. I´m not an audiophile so probably don´t get most of the nuances but the difference on my set up is astounding. I´m intrigued by the IOTAVX PA3.
What stood out for me this year was my return to tube amplification but in a budget and bang for the buck way. I went with Canada's very own, Musical Paradise MP-301 Mk3 Deluxe powering up a Zu Audio Omen Dirty Weekend Mk2 with a NHT Classic 10 Sub (Currently saving for a better sub) but this will do for now. Using Tung-sol's 7581A and GE 6SJ7 tubes just made me grin in so many ways that I just can't help but listen endlessly to my favourite CDs. I've missed so many o the TV series I follow but I don't care anymore. :) Congrats for hitting a new milestone on subscribers.
The best audio product I've heard this year is the AudioDesk Systeme Pro. Nothing else comes close. Next was adding a Minus K vibration isolation platform for my preamp (I already have one under my turntable). All Maggies need space behind and to its sides to be effective, preferably 3 feet on all sides. Maggie's also benefit from an upgrade in bracing and feet. It's just great to see someone of your age with educated ears so passionate about audio.
For me it was KEF LS50 wireless. The sheer value of the sound and amplification provided was amazing. All the qualities of LS 50 (primarily imaging and detail) enhanced with the optimized amplification. Tough to beat for the money and affordable for most of us "mortals".
Best product I have heard all year has actually been the BIC F12 subwoofer - I know, it’s quite old but it’s an amazing sub for the price. Made my entire system shine like I could not believe. Thanks for doing these giveaways!
My picks for 2019 are based around value and particular sales (quality/price ratio): 1. Polk LSiM 703 at $449/pair -- I only have experience listening to about 7-8 setups so far, but at $449/pair, these punched way above its price point. 2. Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon at $199 -- These are definitely polarizing, but have a ton of sound stage and resolution. I love these. 3. My last pick was Schiit Bifrost Multibit at $349 B-stock -- It definitely upgraded my DAC setup multiple tiers for such a low price. I considered it a steal for my personal 2019.
For me, the best speaker i heard in 2019 would be the SVS PB-2000 subwoofer. This sub can shake an entire house and sounds good. I can't imagine what the PB16 ultra's can do. But for a mid tier entry level sub, can't go wrong with it. They have upgraded the 2000 series to a 'Pro' version which adds more power as well as app connectivity to control the sub via phone or tablet. Keep up the good work! Truly enjoyed your vids.
The best gear I heard this year is the Vivid Kaya 45 at a friend's place (driven by Chord Blu mk2, DAVE, Esoteric F-03. A setup beyong affordable range though). Most speakers usually fall into one of these two: they are either trying to grab your attention all the time (you can't sit and read while listening), or too mellow or smooth and fades into the background (can't help but read something while listening). Vivid Kaya does both. Fades into the background when you're reading or talking or doing something, but when you sit and listen you can't help but be mesmerised by its effortless way of presenting music. And the bass, oh my...you'd never imagine such a cultured and clean sounding speaker can plummet the earth with such endless raw energy. And it rocked liked a stadium speakers. It was absolutely captivating and emotional! I later read up in the design and found that a great amount of effort was done to reduce distortion in the speaker. And I appreciate that this translates into a wonderful sounding speakers.
Instead of looking for the product of the year 2019 I also consider looking into the used market. I was at a friends house the other day, he had a vintage system, an older Sony CD-Player into an 80's Hitachi preamp going into a beautiful Beard P35 tube poweramp feeding some older restored Allison Nine speakers. He played Tears for Fears "The Seeds of Love". I've never heard such a lush sound, was lots of fun!
The product that really impressed me in 2019 are horn speakers. It really opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. I am just doing hifi on a budget. I took a chance on the Klipsch R51 reference monitors and was blown away by its dynamics. Actually, a bit to much dynamic, but adding a subwoofer woks. I am happy with my Schiit set up right now and see what happens next. Great job. Good reviews and congratulations!
In 2019, I heard the Topping D3x Pro, which provides much more low end power and control for my Oppo PM-3 planar magnetics than my faithful AudioQuest Dragonfly Red DAC/amp that I have been using for 5 years. I love that little $219 desktop amp for headphones and am looking forward to trying it out on even better headphones. Congrats on hitting 10k subscribers! Really enjoy your love for audio and your honest talk. Here’s to 50k subscribers in 2020!
I thought this video was very informative for products that are affordable for the average person. They are all great products. I enjoyed the sound of the 1,7 maggies with the Hegel 190. The best sound I've heard in long time. So real and natural. Thanks for what you are providing us with this useful information. Well done
Haven’t heard any actual products from 2019 but have been enjoying your posts and also posts from Audiophile-Man, Thomas and Stereo, and ZeroFidelity! Please keep up the good work! Thank you!
Always appreciate your honesty in your reviews because you don't always like everything that you review and you say what you really believe. For me, the HiFi Man Sundara headphones were quite a pleasant surprize. I would have to say that listening to them was like wearing a super miniature pair of planar speakers on your head.
The thing I’ve been most impressed with is the sound of my Magnapan 0.7 after 3 month’s of moving them around I would still be dancing with them if it were not for me hearing your video on Maggie placement. Hands down best speaker in its price range!
The item which impressed me most in 2019 was the Salk SS 9.5. I attended the Capital Audio Fest 2019 in November and was floored by the soundstage, detail, and imaging of these speakers. Full disclosure, I'm a big fan of the Focal Sopra No. 2 and these speakers could give them a run for the money. They unquestionably surpass the Focal Kanta no. 2s. Another item of note was Klaus Blum's Odyssey Kismet amp. Klaus gives you so much for the money. I own a pair of Kitargo mono and would not trade them for the world! Great amp. In fact, his combo of Odyssey amp, pre-amp, and speakers (which played Carlos Santa on vinyl), blew rooms costing well over five times as much (or more) away! No joke! I thought it to be the best sounding room of the show. When the lights went out and the music came on, it was like Santana took center stage in the room. When the lights came back on, everyone was speechless. The sound was simply mesmerizing with clarity, depth, and presence unmatched by anything in the building. So that's my take, I hope it stands up to the test for the Maggies. Great speakers. I was traveling through Montana once and had an opportunity to hear them in a local store. Impressive sound with great highs. Ideal for classical or symphonic music.
This is a great time for those who enjoy great audio. Never in my lifetime is so much information available and combined with an unbelievable array of quality products at affordable prices. Going forward I would like to see from this channel, maybe crossover speakers and setups for people that double duty their systems for 2 channel listening and movie watching. Not necessarily full multi channel home theater, but good setups for both. But keep up the info flow.
This year my goal was to put together a system that was very affordable to someone (me!) , but was still musical and engaging. I love things like a good sound stage and imaging, clear highs, and beautiful midrange and vocals. I came upon a Canadian company called Musical Paradise who produce products that are designed in Canada and built in China with very good sourced parts. They also sell direct to the public from their factory to keep the price down. I discovered that their products have a good following in forums on the web, with a lot of very satisfied customers. I started off with the MP-301 Mk3 integrated tube amp because the price was such that if I wasn't satisfied, I wouldn't be out that much. Well, I LOVE it! It is only 6.5 watts, so it demands efficient speakers, but it definitely has the sound stage, imaging, and midrange I was looking for. This emboldened me to also purchase their MP-D1 tube dac and MBerry music server. The total cost was about $1400 U.S., and I have to say that together this setup gives me a digital system that has a beautiful analog sound to it., and all the qualities I was looking for. There is no listener fatigue whatsoever. In fact, it makes me want to keep listening on and on and on! You could definitely do better with more money, but every day I am amazed anew at all that I do get with this system for this price.
Got my current setup in 2019, Schiit Eitr, Denafrips Ares, Naim Nait XS2 and Kef LS50. They're just wonderful, and the best system I've had so far. Definitely would love to try the Hegel one day.
Best product I’ve heard in 2019 was Tin Hifi T4 IEMs. I was really impressed with the clarity and detail. Also Tidal masters music steaming was a worthy alternative to CDs & CD player.
Hagel h190- Agreed! super great value. I feel no reason to consider separates after hearing this with Magnepan 1.7's. The openness was stunning, and I love the simple clean industrial design.
Jay you’re right on the H190...its amp that has balls to run just about any speaker out there. The SQ on these Hegels i found to be just gorgeous but may be an acquired taste as to other ‘high-end’ pieces in the chain. I was really looking to jump into the next threshold of the HiFi jungle and found a great dealer who happened to have hegel, parasound and Devialet to name a few. Long story short, ended up with a Hegel after demoing a parasound, Rotel, and Arcam with my bowers. Whatever Hegel is doing, just had a different overall sonic attribute that to my ears, was something more engaging and overall enveloping to the music. It was the one that made me lean back, relax and bob my head to the rhythm. It’s no secret when you hear something that presents beautiful midrange.... BUT, when you understand the absolute magic of what 80Hz is supposed to sound like in a music passage or track, then that’s when toe tapping and head bobbing come in, imo. 80Hz to me, is ultimately complementary to the midrange magic. This is what the Hegel gave me. Ended up with a H390 (bought blindly) after demoing the H190 for almost 2 weeks - its really that good, such a great jump off point, especially being integrated with all its capabilities. Great channel dude! I sub’d to you before the other channel you’re in and I found the other channel first, LOL.
Two things I heard in 2019 that blew me away.
1) The Peachtree Nova 150. I am very impressed with this amp/DAC/pre. It made every speaker connected to it sound so much cleaner, stronger bass, more output with less distortion and the additional voltage through the RCAs to my sub made it sound better. The DAC is great quality too. The Peachtree has many inputs and HT bypass and of course looks beautiful. I've had my eye on them for about 10 years and finally got one. It has lived up to everything I had hoped!
2) The power of DIY, how easy it is to build speakers and high quality crossovers (provided they are properly designed). It was amazing to see DIY speaker projects compete with products costing 5-10 times as much! For those who like to build things it is a great sense of satisfaction to hold/listen to something you built and choose from almost infinite ways to veneer/paint/texture/beautify/customize what it looks like. Happy building!
My 3 audio discoveries in 2019:
1. I wanted to try R2R DAC and decided to buy Denafrips Ares II. I liked this 800 USD DAC more then 4,000$ Auralic Vega G1!
2. For bedroom system I wanted a bookshelf speakers with ribbon tweeter and after auditioning at the dealer I chose small Elac Vela 403 which sounded much better for me than large PSB Imagine T2!
3. In my main system with B&W 805D3 I put old Hegel H80 amplifier instead of twice as expensive Marantz KI Ruby and I liked Hegel much more! So after few months I decided to upgrade the amplifier to Hegel H390 (MQA capable and soon Roon Ready) and its superb.
Frankly, I was surprisingly shocked to see that all 3 products were chosen by you as best in 2019 :)
Thank you for all your reviews and all the best in 2020!
Best I have personally heard in 2019:
1. PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblock amplifiers.
Soundstage and imaging step to another level with monoblocks vs. stereo amps. Effortless sound due to incredible control and LOTS of power.
2. ELAC Adante AW-61 standmount speakers.
Wow. These do the magic thing of being SUPER present and resolving in the high-end without ever becoming harsh or piercing.
3. Audeze LCD-XC headphones.
Best sound I have ever heard from any transducer. Ever. This includes all speakers and headphones. Detail retrieval is off the charts. They scale indefinitely - the better your amplification, the better they get.
Happy New year and merry Christmas to everyone!
The best thing I can say to the audio community is that price does not always equal performance. Case and point are the Elac UF5 floorstander speakers. They shoot way beyond their price point and sound absolutely fantastic... I would also add that there comes a time when we need to learn how to stop obsessing on our components and start listening to the music. Build your system to the best of your ability, sure, but don't get stuck in 'gear acquisition syndrome'. Learn how to be happy with what you have accomplished. Otherwise we limit our experience to only 50% of the game. - And way to go on the 10,000 subs!
For me the biggest surprise in 2019 was Allo USBridge Signature + Allo Shanti Linear Power Supply. I owned previously the original USBridge which made me understand that a computer is not the best source for music playback when connected to a usb dac. Allo USBridge Signature is a worthy sucessor. For very little money, that normal human beings can afford, you get a reference digital transport that sounds like real music. Very happy with the upgrade. If folks out there are still using a computer to connect to your precious dac, try using one of those Raspberry Pi digital transports. You won't be dissapointed!
The best thing I heard in 2019 was the Tannoy Revolution XT8F. So much so that I bought a pair. Incredible speakers! Fill the whole house with rich, detailed sound. Still dialing them in. Now I have to build a system for my daughter!
The product that received your most praise in 2020 was the Magnepan speaker. Your evaluation was so detailed and vivid that I can experience the sound just listening to your description. Your unique style of a concise yet in-depth description of products draws 100K plus viewers. Congratulations!
Seeing magnepan’s here is what brought me to buying my mg1.4’s and see what magnepan was all about and to me that is letting the gear disappear and getting back to what brought me to hifi in the first place the music 💕
I left the A/B and A Integrated Amplifier world after 40 years and went for a NAD C388 D integrated amp. and never looked back. I'm so pleased, it controls my speakers very well, tight Bass , clean voices, and overall revealing in all aspects. Plenty of Power, software upgradable and can be further up grated with modules. Definitely future proof. My product for 2019.
in the 80's i had a Yorx stereo which fostered my love for music and this year I finally got a used set of Kef LS 50's i'm very thankful to have them and it took a very long time. Keep working, stay strong, save, protect your hearing when doing anything that can hurt them, be humble, help others when you can and best of all remember it's all about the love of music. Cheers to everyone!
My favorite discovery of 2019 is learning speaker crossover and building them. If you really want to improve your sound, get good speakers or build them yourself and design a crossover
In 2019 I was impressed by:
-ZMF Auteur headphones
-PMC twenty5.23 floorstanding speakers
-Arendal Subwoofer 2
-Harbeth Compact 7 ES-3 40th Anniversary
The Focal Aria 906's caught my attention this past year to the point that they sit in my listening room. Vocals and string instruments (particularly) sound angelic.
The best thing I heard this year was your channel. It’s a balanced, well thought out source of reviews for products that I can afford. It’s a great, fresh voice that gives useful information and insight based on experience and passion. Well done!
Best I’ve heard this year was the MBL flagship speakers, all MBL electronics, unbelievable sound stage, my new best I’ve ever heard
In 2019 the best component(s) I heard and PURCHASED is:
1. Primaluna Prologue Amplifier
2. Gigiwatt PowerPrime Conditioner (massive improvement in my 2 channel audio system)
3. Audio Hungary APR 204 Preamp
4. Cary Audio DAC 100t
The preamp/amp and dac are all tubes and sounds GLORIOUS- finally - “I’M DONE UPGRADING”
Subbed n shared- great channel Jay!!!
what stood out to me the most for 2019? well, I don't buy a lot of gear. last year, I purchased a pair of Klipsch kg4. couldn't afford a genuine heritage series. however, I purchased (from the famous Klipsch aftermarket place that everyone knows) some crossover rebuild kits and tweeter replacements. after installing and listening to them for hours I would say it was a very good decision. it gave new life to my stereo. so, if you can't afford new gear, maybe you can always improve on what you have. happy listening!
For a small office setup:
* All in one amplifier: Naim Uniti Atom (excellent convenience and sound)
* Desktop speakers: Gallo Strada 2 (Sennheiser HD800 equivalents)
* Alternative speakers: Harbeth P3ESR (Relaxing and beautiful to look at)
All are older products but I heard and learned to love them during this year as I am learning about speakers after having moved away from headphones.
I bought the Buchardt S400 early this year and continue to marvel at how wonderful this little speaker sounds...but if I had to be honest and pick the best product I heard in 2019, the one product that made me switch off my critical brain and demanded i listen with my heart, the product that kept me up at night pulling one more album out, was the Van den Hul Frog cartridge. The Frog has been around for years, and was always way beyond my means, but earlier this year I had the good fortune to find one with low hours at a good price. My dream cartridge did not disappoint. On my VPI table and arm, it continues to remind me why I stick with this crazy hobby of ours. The Frog is a great communicator of joy or heartbreak. It cuts through to the essence of the music. That’s my favorite product of 2019.
This combination. Buchardt S400 with IOTAVX SA3 and PA3. They are such a complete package . They both are direct to consumer products . High on value for money. understated, classy and disappear only to make beautiful sounding music .made by genuine, passionate people.That is how imo hi end hi-fi needs to be made affordable. I have discovered more new music with them over 4months of owning them than over last 5years. Music is back and how.
This is my dream set up!!!
@@sushmaswamy5060 love the vocals. I had the RP 600M to compare with. The Klipsch are a very forward sounding speakers. Very alive. A bit in your face and why i returned them. In comparison the buchardts are more composed and rendered back in the soundstage. Very clear with authority but not overpowering. Just comes together well with the rest of the music beautifully.The vocals are a joy imo.
We just moved in to a new house with a very high ceiling for the living room and my old Dynaudio Audience 82 couldn’t fill the room anymore. I bought the Golden Ear Triton Reference and used it with my Cambridge Audio 851N and 851W combination and this is the best system that I’ve owned so far. My recent subscription to Tidal increased my listening sessions. My interest in pairing the Triton Reference with Hegel led me to your channel. I love the honest reviews! Thanks!
Hello, I'm new to HiFi so really appreciate UA-cam channels such as NBTS, and the one that led me to NBTS, Tomas and Stereo. There is so much to learn from these guys and they inspired me to update my, what I thought was decent system at the time, to a much better one this year. I didn't have much money to start my journey and I wanted a full size set-up for my medium/large size room so did some research on good valued used gear to try and maximize my budget. Found a pair of Ohm Walsh 4's from 1982 for sale and was blown away by their performance compared to my old system with 20 yr old JBL speakers. They were reconditioned by the factory and I picked them up for under $700. I love the full rage sound with all frequencies separated out for heightened clarity and that there's no need for a subwoofer. Plugged them into my Sony surround sound receiver and was immediately unhappy with how they sounded compared to the PS Audio amp the seller of the Ohm's had... so now I was on the hunt for an used integrated amp that could give me a better sound. Picked up a Peachtree Nova 150 for $800, which gave me everything I needed in 1 package and sounded much better than the Sony. The speakers then sounded more balanced, the sound stage opened up and it really tighten up the bass. It's also one of the most beautiful amps for my taste and aesthetically paired really well with my vintage looking Ohm's. So for less than $1500 I have a great start to my HiFi journey, I think. Next on my list is a tube preamp to add some warmth. Any suggestions? This HiFi stuff can be addicting. 😐
The best for me in 2019 was the use of streaming services such as Tidal to truly provide the justification for going to a fully digital front end. The Chord Mojo DAC was a game-changer for me, especially as a value play... I would love to hear how my Primaluna Prologue Tube Amp could make the LRS sing!? You guys have been stating the Hegel 90 as an ideal match due to the high current and damping factor, but would love to see how these incredible speakers will sound with tubes. Merry Christmas and keep up these great videos!
I bought a couple of different low priced speakers this year for my bedroom setup, RP600M's and Kef Q350's, I was really impressed with both speakers for the price but the q350's blew me away. As an owner of LS50's for a couple of years I was surprised at the difference between the 2 speakers with same Uni-Q setups. Q350's are nice and warm sounding in my bedroom . Love them. Keep up the good work
I have a friend that purchased a pair of the LRS and they are an impressive speaker! After hearing them I went back home and I could not forget the amazing soundstage and the imaging of this speaker! I know now I cannot live without a pair of Magnepans for my listening room too!!!
I don't listen to a lot of different gear, but I bought a ton of vinyl this year, listened to music, discovered a lot of new music! That being said, I just upgraded my turntable cartridge yesterday! A Nagaoka MP-110. So far, so good. That Billie integrated looks awesome, though.
I just discovered your channel from a video titled "Meet Jay, even before he was a reviewer, he owned 60 pairs of speakers" and Im loving it so much. I love Speakers, Amps and other related audio equipment, thanks you are doing a good job
I'm just getting into vinyl and hifi stuff and I am currently saving and deciding what pieces to get for my first system. Over the last couple months I've watched all of your videos, so thank you for all the awesome info that has guided me into quality gear. So far I have purchased a mint 1981 Technics 1200 mk2 (500$) that looks like its never even been used! So, for Christmas I bought my 15 year old son an Audio Technica lp60 (99$) and a set of Edifier R1280T powered speakers (99$) ...on a tight budget since we're saving for our main system. We were not disappointed! It sounds great, so I just wanted to say to anyone wanting to get a kid into this stuff for cheap, you can't go wrong with this setup! and its the best thing I heard all year! lol
The LRS is now a legit candidate for the HIgh End Audio Hall Of Fame! It can now join the elite company of legendary affordable components such as the Spica TC50s, NAD 3020, Rega Planar 3, AT OC9, Denon DL 103, etc.. You can now enter the world of high end audio for such as measly price of admission. To put things into perspective, just bought a "Record Clamp" from Basis for $650! Just a word of caution: Don't expect the LRSs to sound spectacular right out of the box; you need to invest time and effort to make them sound their best. Even though they are cheap, they deserve the best in ancillary equipment. Pay particular attention to placement, cabling and amplification. Once optimally set up, these transducers will mesmerize you with a sound that is quite incredible. They have some sonic qualities that equal or surpass some of the world's best speakers, regardless of price! My jaw dropped to the floor the first time I heard them. They have that sonic X factor, that elusive naturalness in sound that fools you to think you are hearing the real thing! This is what we audiofools endlessly chase and willingly pay for for gazzillions of dollars! Magnepan is about to make a killing!
For me , the best revelation it's when I plugged and configured the minidsp SHD studio. Room correction via dirac live and streamer into one package. No more boomy bass and great focus and nothing loose on the sound stage side. I was at first skeptical but after spending thousands on room correction panel...now I can enjoy the music the way it was intended. Minidsp shd✓ Hegel H90✓ Buchardt S400✓
For me it was the Maggie’s .7s I got to hear them at a local Hifi store combined with an Atoll IN200 and wow. The depth and sound stage blew me away. For the price I had to purchase. Thanks for the great videos and keep up the great work.
Best change in 2019, went from marantz pm6006 to xtz a2-300. The marantz was noisy. The XTZ is pitchblack and very grippy in the bottomend. I love it
After watching Dannie Ritchie's Tuesday Tech Talk videos on New Record Day, I built a set of NX-Oticas from GR Research. Cost is under $2500 including other supplies, but they are by far the best sounding speakers I've ever owned, and that includes a number of speakers in the $10K to $20K range such as Revel Studios, Magneplaner Tympani IVs, and Duntech Sovereigns. If you're up for a relatively easy DIY project and have the space for these speakers, they are absolutely tremendous. Incredible clarity, deep airy sound stage, fabulous dynamics, and easy to drive (93db/w).
I also built a pair of GR Research's triple servo open baffle subs. These aren't absolutely necessary with the NX-Oticas, but the combination delivers the best bass I've ever heard at any price - incredible detail and clarity that's deep and powerful without any boxiness.
These speakers have been around for a few years, so not new for 2019, but I only recently found out about them. They don't get a lot of publicity because you have to put them together yourself. But if you are willing to put in a little time - no fancy tools required other than a few large clamps to glue them up - you'll end up with an absolutely tremendous value. It took me about 50 hours to build both the NX-Oticas and the stereo subs, most of which was sanding/painting the cabinets and building the NX-Otica crossovers.
2019 brought several realization to me in audio: 1 a Marantz 1060 integrated is an amazing preamp paired w class d and ab. 2 barely used audio is amazingLy affordable and can be an incredible value (as long as you follow Jay’s rules for used audio),& 3, TRY EVERY SPEAKER DESIGN if you can!! Dipole ribbons, open baffle dynamic designs, time/phase coherent priority (Thiel and Green Mountain Audio designs), Infinite baffle, and Omni-polar designs. I lack electrostatics at this point. Finally, there is NO perfect set up. Have a few set ups to tailor you sound to your music whims. Variety is the spice! Thanks for the great videos NBT!!
The most important “product” of 2019 is the collective spirit and support of the vast number of audiophile UA-cam channels and podcast. The mutual respect displayed in this niche community is truly a model for other communities of likeminded people who come together for the love of a particular passion. I have noticed “competing” reviewers often refer to other well-known reviewers with such a high level of respect, even in disagreement, and I find it so refreshing in theses somewhat divisive times. This would include race/gender/economic differences. Here in the audiophile community these differences are either ignored or openly celebrated. I can enjoy any number of fine channels without having to worry about this kind of nonsense. This simply allows us to share information and a passion for music and sound which is exactly what we need now and forever moving forward.
Love your enthusiasm for this hobby. You and Thomas are a breadth of fresh air. Only "problem" with watching you and Thomas is that you are going to cost me money hanging out in y'alls channel.
Every time i listen to you guys i book mark something. Now you have me drooling over the MAGNEPAN LRS. Congrats on the 10K and with your enthusiasm and honesty the sky is the limit. Cheers from Oklahoma.
Well, I'm just getting into this stuff, so I can't say I've heard much, but I bought my first pair of decent speakers Klipsch R-41PM Powered Bookshelf Speaker, for under 300.00 and now I'm hooked. Now I'm looking to move up to good passive speakers and a separate amplifier. The two top contenders right now are the Klipsch RP-600M and the Magnepan LRS, which I have to say I am absolutely fascinated with. Thanks for educating a novice like me. Happy New Year and good luck to everyone!
The thing(s) that stood out to me this year happened while attending Rocky Mountain festival in Denver this year, (1) I got a chance to listen to the Innuos PhoenixUSB Reclocker. This is what it didn't do to the music, it didn't make the music sound better, improve the imaging, improve the soundstage, it didn't make the base tighter, it didn't make make it more "analog", but what it did was make it so that my shoulders dropped and my body relaxed when I listed to the re-clocked music. That was huge. What was cool was that what I felt exactly matched the marketing material by Innuos. In this hobby there are layers of subtlety and for each of us, may represent something we wish to squeeze out of our system (2) At the PSAudio booth , Micheal Fremer played a number of records, some original pressing, along with the respective re-issues from digital sources and it was amazingly discernible the difference.. again to some subtle and to others not so, but it showed how important it is to be able to hear and do A/B comparisons in person which is a shame in the age of online shopping.
I have heard the KEF R3. I was so good to actually hear them, instead of just viewing reviews. They do really sound great. I am saving up for them as my next upgrade.
Its amazing to see you talk about the speakers and the amps the way you do. We can really tell you are passionnate, knowledgable and amazed at the products just from your words and delivery. Great video
I was impressed with the $799 USD 110 wpc@8 ohm outlaw RR2160 stereo receiver . It is loaded with features and has a retro look and drove the Maggie's with ease.
Outlaw rr2160 offers very good value.
I have been an headfier for a long time but looking to move to hifi. Your videos have helped alot with my transition into hifi. In 2019 ive heard the abyss ab-1266tc which was the best headphone ive heard so far(ive heard pretty much everything including the Orpheus). If anyone is interested in hifi but isnt able to commit to speakers due to wife approval, space, or neighbors, i highly recommend trying these headphones. While expensive for a pair of headphones, it is nothing compared to the end game of speakers.
I'm in my 70's and I finally bought a set of interconnects that cost more than $15, I always thought any reasonably well made interconnect was just fine (blue jeans or monoprice).
A month ago I found a special on Morrow Audio interconnects for half off with a 30 day return option and I bit. I bought 3 sets of the lowest tier to go between the DAC and CD player to my Rogue RP5 preamp and a longer one from the Rogue to my PS Audio m700 monoblocks.
They came in a few days and i was impressed, everything was more open and it seemed the level of clarity took a jump up. I never expected this kind of improvement in the sound form cables that cost me $50 (0.5 meter) and $100 (2 meter). They will have to pry these from my cold dead hands.
This just proves you have to be willing to challenge old firmly held beliefs because you just might be wrong.
Good stuff. Keep it coming and congrats on 10K subs. For me in 2019 it was changing the power tubes in my Primaluna Integrated HP amplifier. I moved to the Tung Sol EL34B power tubes and was pleasantly surprised. Really balanced tube. I would have loved to try the NOS EL34’s but crazy pricing especially since I would have had to change 8 tubes.
Going to separates was a game changer, especially with room correction software like dirac. The combination of quality equipment plus more thoughtful placement and measuring of your speakers and gear represents a paradigm shift i didn't think was possible on the consumer level. It's a great time to be in the hobby. The community is outrageously helpful.
I bought a marantz 1060, the sound was amazing and fun it really opened up the audio hobby to me. Getting to appreciate all my music again is what its all about. to anyone scared of vintage i wouldn't hesitate. Thank you and happy holidays
Happy New Year!
The Denafrips Ares 2 has me very interested especially that Thomas drove >6 hours to pick it up from you. It’s great that all you guys collaborate and that we get to hear all your opinions. Please keep it up! Thanks for your excellent reviews.
My Favorites in 2019: Lavardin Isx Reference integrated Amp , Bouchardt S400 Speaker, VPI Prime Scout with Goldnote Donatello Gold cartridge and all Time Favorit the Harbeth P3 ESR . Thank you for your fantastic Channel , Great Job ! Michael from Germany
Great year end recap of notable products---I would also mention the Buchardt speakers too! I like that you have duo sessions with Thomas --- you have a great rapport with him and its helpful getting mutual takes on gear.
Hey HI-Fi community🤗 I’m running buchardt s400, ps audio m700 mono blocks, Mytek Brooklyn dac +, simaudio moon mind 2 streamer. One of the best things I did to get better sound was to add a wyred 4 sound linear power supply to my modem and router. It removed the little bit of harshness and made everything more real. Cheers
My buy of the year was a Parasound NewClassic with their Zpre3 preamp, powering a pair of Emotiva T1s.
Got everything on sale, and have to say that nothing disappoints.
This system - being a two channel setup- does two things really well. It’s a great home “home theater” combo despite being just two channel. And if you want to host a dance party or just rock out, the thing just gets better and better with volume.
I think I’m in 1300 US and am quite pleased with the system.
Tried a bunch of stuff this year... dac's - bifrost mb, chord mojo, and marantz na6006. Integrated amps - nad c368/c388 , denon pma-1600ne, yamaha rn803/as801, and marantz pm8006. Speakers - klipsch rp600m and ML esl's (electromotions). Favorite of 2019? The marantz na6006/pm8006 combo (with my ls50s). Great sound and its flexible. Can connect an external dac or preamp or power amp down the road. The denon had a nice punch but no preout's for future expansion... Biggest surprise - the discounts that can be had on new equipment. Nad C388 can be bought new ($CDN) for $1700, pm8006 $1350, yamaha rn803 $850.... hard to pay full price when you know the profit margin involved... Biggest let down - Martin logan electrostatic panels can wrinkle and degrade from regular use.... (sticking with Maggies from now on).
Every year I hear the same system in my home. It’s an active Naim setup with a turntable. It’s the most involving sound I have ever heard with vice like grip on rhythm and attack and recovery that is rare. If you love jazz, blues, rock it’s phenomenal. Just discovered your channel. Nice work.
I've been listening to upgraded (Model 3000 driver level) Ohm Acoustics Model F speakers for about 4 months now. Some of you may know of them and the Walsh driver which generates a 360 degree (horizontal) sound field. I couldn't afford them when the F first appeared in the 70's - it's great to be able to listen to them, updated, now. Large sweet spot, of course, substantial bass, natural mids on male and female vocals, and I haven't heard a harsh note out of the tweeter (a separate driver from the Walsh). (My old ears are still pretty good at noticing distortion ;) ). Ohm offers old enclosures of their past models (like my Fs) fully rebuilt with their latest drivers. I like this channel for its emphasis on high grade gear that is more affordable to the majority of music lovers. Keep going, 20,000 soon!
Congrats on 10k subscribers. In 2019 I purchased the Buchardt S400
speakers (color black) to use for front left & right channels (along with the Schiit Vidar amp and a HSU VTF-2 MK5 subwoofer). A friend who has played electric & acoustic guitar in a band for 15 years came by to hear the speakers. He commented on how clear the sound was and how good the dispersion was. The speakers continued to improve during the first 200 hours of break-in (I listen with the grills off). There seems to be little difference on whether you face the speakers square or toe-in toward the listener. I toe-in the speakers slightly, aimed to the left and right of the listener. The sound stage is wide, and I can typically identify what instrument is playing. Here are some other considerations about the company. I've emailed Mads, the founder, and have received responses in 1-2 business days. The speakers have a 10-year warranty, there's no additional charge for shipping, 30 days to return for refund if not happy (the company pays for the return shipping), and no tax for shipping to North America. When I ordered in Mar 2019, because the speakers would be out of stock until Jun 2019, a discount was offered. Then in Jun I received an email that since there was a production issue, the choice was to take delivery in Jul or agree to wait until Sep 2019 and get an additional discount if one waited until Sep. I took the Sep option (happened to be good timing for me since I was going to be out of town part of Jul-Aug). The total discount was 25% - what company does this. Even without the discounts that I received thru fortunate timing, I consider these speakers to be an excellent value for the money.
I have a Hegel H160 driving a pair of Ohm Walsh 2000. My surprise of the year was the Hegel H190. It is a significant improvement over later model. The H160 is still a remarkable performer. To make their new amp quieter, with a blacker background provides this shimmering clarity which truly shines. Another surprise of the year was the new KEF R series. Everyone of them grabbed my attention. Definitely a speaker I would love to put in my listening space someday.
I saw a demo of the top of the line Technics SL1000R turntable....88lbs! Awesome engineering. I heard the Hegel at Toronto Audio Fest paired with Totem Element tower speakers and was amazed at the soundstage. The first time that I actually liked the sound of the Element speakers.
Thanks for your recommendations in this video. Looking forward to seeing the review of the integrated amp.
Merry Christmas to The "The Next Best Thing Studio" crew who work hard on bringing us the the reviews online ever! I only trust you!!! No one else...
You are sincere and honest in your reviews. You will NOT kiss up to anyone. You are the ones to fully trust...I would love to own the Maggies...Thank you!!!
Love the way you show your passion and also break down the practical aspects of the products you review. I'm getting back into the HiFi realm after being gone for 100 years (well maybe 40 years), it's been a complete surprise to hear just how good speakers are these days! I grew up in MN - not too far from White Bear Lake (home of Magnapan). The LRSs would be the perfect way get started on a system that will outlast my hearing and keep up with anything I can afford to put in front of it. Thanks for your dedication, honesty, knowledge and joy that you bring to every one of yoy reviews. Wishing you joy and prosperity for 2020! Gratefully yours.... Dan
Hi, I bought the Edifier R1280T powered speakers for my computer. I stream music off Amazon and the bang for the buck is phenominal. Crisp and clean in the midrange. just enough bass. I love these speakers and highly recommended.
Congratulations on 10,000. I really appreciate your videos. I’ve only been watching a short time but thank you for your recommendations. Unfortunately I have not been able to afford any new gear for 2019 but hopefully 2020 with your recommendations. I’m really interested in the LRS and Hegel combo. Thanks again for all your advice.
The 2 products I have purchased in 2019 which you have also reviewed I absolutely am loving are the Klipsch rp600m and the Denafrips Ares 2. Merry Christmas to everyone here...
Sincerely... the one item I heard beyond its price point was the new Schiit Freya+. A wholesome combination of tube sound With an incredible introduction of quiet sound from a preamplifier that’s way beyond what it should sound like at that price point of $899. Used in both tube and straight… Definitely worth a listen. I have heard the Magnepan LRS with the system combo of the Schiit Freya+ and Schiit Vidar...A sweet combination I would love to obtain. Clarity, Soundstage, Power and Depth...Would love to have that!
Love your videos and glad you are obtaining the viewership you deserve.
Great work!
Recently auditioned McIntosh 7200 with B&W, the command this amp have is something and those VU meter are to die for. It bring back some childhood memories of my dad’s cassette deck. Still a long way from getting that system to home.
Best wishes for 2020! Thank you so so much for your great contribution to this community of passionate people. My personal standout product of 2019 is the Denafrips ARES II. In this increasingly digital world, this little gem makes digital sources so enjoyable to listen to for such an accessible price. This year, my hat's off to Denafrips.
Thank you Jay for your good work, interesting reviews, and your providing exposure to some of the best in audio. I hope that you will continue to develop and further mature your reviewing as you gain experience and more exposure to the best in hi fi. Wishing you and NBT all good in 2020.
Running my Leben 300 12watt tube amp into a friend's Klipsch RP600M was my surprise of 2019 and made me want to run out to buy a pair for myself. Second surprise was a cheap Topping D30 DAC paired with a TASCAM CD200 ... my CDs came alive.
The best bang-for-the-buck product I experienced in 2019 is the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital DAC. I pit it against the Chord Qutest and it kept up easily. That said, I already own Maggies so please award them to an audiophile in need of great speakers.
I totally agree with your assessment of the Magnepan LRS speakers. I heard them at the Capital Audiofest 2019 show in Maryland and was absolutely stunned by their performance. They truly are amazing and the price is just insanely affordable.
Aside from the LRS speakers, the McGary line of tube amplifiers are equally amazing. Both of their models are relatively low powered, but can blow you out of the room with texture, dynamics, transparency, soundstage and speed.
Sorry for being late to the party 😊. The best products I heard in 2019 were a Cayin tube amp powering a pair of Harbeth P3ESR. I heard this combo at the KL Int’l AV Show. They were not even products on demo but they were playing audiophile CDs on sale in one of the showrooms. I had listened to much more expensive equipments in the other showrooms but the sound of the Cayin & the Harbeth combo just blew me away. Although they were playing some Chinese songs which I could not understand, I was totally mesmerised by how natural & engaging they sounded. It was a truly alluring experience & needless to say, I spent the longest time in this room. Alas, they are priced beyond my pay grade. So I did the NEXT BEST THING ; I went online & bought myself something more affordable based on the good reviews by Sean of Zero Fidelity - the Paiyon P4 -2.0 speakers & the Boyuu Reisong A10 tube amp. I do love how they sound but I can’t help but still dream of owning the Harbeth & the Cayin one day; which explains my current daily diet of instant ramen 😊.
2019 has been my intro year to high quality audio. Before now I considered Beats and expensive Bluetooth speakers to be high end audio, lol I have been living in my local audio shop and have listened to a decent amount of speakers this year. As a new comer to the audio world I would say the biggest lesson I learned is to... take it slow and don’t overspend initially (there will be plenty of time for that!). You may spend a lot of money on components that may be good but don’t make the sound you enjoy. It seemed like every time I was sure I had figured out my favorite sound and setup, the next time I heard something that was new to me, I was blown away and had to change my mind. What I figured out is... all high quality audio, regardless of price, is amazing and fun. I bought my first set up which was a pair of 1990s, ADS L880/2s, they have an incredible mid range. I powered it with an Harmon Kardon integrated amp with a schiit Dac. I’ve spent some time with it, appreciate what it has had to offer me and am now ready to change things up! Lol hopefully with some Maggis. I may buy them even if I don’t win. But if I do, I can put that money toward a new tube amp.
Thank you for your content, it really is some of the best in the game.
O and do more videos with Thomas you two are a good combo!
For me, this list is just right, however I would like to comment that this year I heard the NAIM Unity atom & the Yamaha AS-801 (both very different) and let me tell you guys that they both represent the entry level for there respective companies into Hi-fi and they do a fantastic jobs at showing you what those companies can do, both are solid state but with fairy dust sparkled on them (No doubt the Hegel H190 proposed here is the better value) If someone here doesn't manage to swing $4k for the Hegel or is not available in your area, do give a try to this ones.
Great list...!!! (is short, committed and informed) Thank you, keep them coming...
I have the A-S701 Yamaha. Same as the 801 minus the DAC. Love it with Buchardts and a Chord DAC. I will probably upgrade it in the future though but for the money it's a great buy.
@@slip6699 Buchardts..? Chord..? Yamaha..? How can it not sound great..!!!??? (Jealous) I'm sure it sounds wonderful, in fact I think you are exactly were the so called "diminish returns" begin. What I mean is that upgrading for you will start to become more and more expensive to notice the difference because you are starting with an all ready nice equipment. Jay here has a layout a nice list. Which Buchardts do you have?
The best hi-fi experience I've had this year was listening to a pair of Revel F226Be speakers at the AudioVideo show in Warsaw. Being a budget-minded music enthusiast myself, this has been the first time I've heard something this expensive (8k Eur for the speakers + about twice that for what they were connected to) and thought to myself: "I wish they were cheaper, but it's truly the best thing I've ever heard -- and now I have to figure out a way to afford it" :) I found them a bit lacking in bass (they're not very large), but me and my buddies kept returning to the listening room where they were set up, even after hearing systems in the show which cost several times more. The best I can describe the experience is "natural, neutral, effortless, transparent": the speakers completely disappeared acoustically, leaving the band or the solo vocalist just virtually standing there and playing/singing to you, as if they were there (I keep reading about such experiences, but it was a first for me). I sat there for 90 minutes and felt like I could have done so for the whole day without getting tired or bored.
Thanks for sharing your best of 2019! An integrated amp that I was impressed with this year was the Boyuu Reisong that Sean over at Zero Fidelity turned me onto. I always wanted a tube amp but they are generally very expensive so this amp was an affordable way to try them out...have not been disappointed and my wife really likes the look of it too...right now I use it as a second system in the living room. Best of luck in 2020!
I got my hands on a pair of Micca RB48's. They are really an amazing value. They are definitely the best audio product I interacted with in 2019. They have surprising lowend for 4 inch drivers and they do a pretty great job at imaging. They show that you don't need to spend a huge amount to get great audio. Kind of like the Magnepans.
Hi for me it was the Polk Lsim 707´s, incredible speakers with a very strong bass and quite detailed in the mid and highs. I´m not an audiophile so probably don´t get most of the nuances but the difference on my set up is astounding.
I´m intrigued by the IOTAVX PA3.
Anthony Martino wow 6x 707! I also own the 707 and know it is great but more so now a better value speaker based on the recent clearance prices.
What stood out for me this year was my return to tube amplification but in a budget and bang for the buck way. I went with Canada's very own, Musical Paradise MP-301 Mk3 Deluxe powering up a Zu Audio Omen Dirty Weekend Mk2 with a NHT Classic 10 Sub (Currently saving for a better sub) but this will do for now. Using Tung-sol's 7581A and GE 6SJ7 tubes just made me grin in so many ways that I just can't help but listen endlessly to my favourite CDs. I've missed so many o the TV series I follow but I don't care anymore. :) Congrats for hitting a new milestone on subscribers.
The best audio product I've heard this year is the AudioDesk Systeme Pro. Nothing else comes close. Next was adding a Minus K vibration isolation platform for my preamp (I already have one under my turntable). All Maggies need space behind and to its sides to be effective, preferably 3 feet on all sides. Maggie's also benefit from an upgrade in bracing and feet. It's just great to see someone of your age with educated ears so passionate about audio.
I wasn't aware that budget hifi was possible until my friend demoed his rp600m setup and it absolutely knocked my socks off.
For me it was KEF LS50 wireless. The sheer value of the sound and amplification provided was amazing. All the qualities of LS 50 (primarily imaging and detail) enhanced with the optimized amplification. Tough to beat for the money and affordable for most of us "mortals".
Best product I have heard all year has actually been the BIC F12 subwoofer - I know, it’s quite old but it’s an amazing sub for the price. Made my entire system shine like I could not believe. Thanks for doing these giveaways!
My picks for 2019 are based around value and particular sales (quality/price ratio):
1. Polk LSiM 703 at $449/pair -- I only have experience listening to about 7-8 setups so far, but at $449/pair, these punched way above its price point.
2. Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon at $199 -- These are definitely polarizing, but have a ton of sound stage and resolution. I love these.
3. My last pick was Schiit Bifrost Multibit at $349 B-stock -- It definitely upgraded my DAC setup multiple tiers for such a low price. I considered it a steal for my personal 2019.
For me, the best speaker i heard in 2019 would be the SVS PB-2000 subwoofer. This sub can shake an entire house and sounds good. I can't imagine what the PB16 ultra's can do. But for a mid tier entry level sub, can't go wrong with it. They have upgraded the 2000 series to a 'Pro' version which adds more power as well as app connectivity to control the sub via phone or tablet. Keep up the good work! Truly enjoyed your vids.
The best gear I heard this year is the Vivid Kaya 45 at a friend's place (driven by Chord Blu mk2, DAVE, Esoteric F-03. A setup beyong affordable range though).
Most speakers usually fall into one of these two: they are either trying to grab your attention all the time (you can't sit and read while listening), or too mellow or smooth and fades into the background (can't help but read something while listening).
Vivid Kaya does both. Fades into the background when you're reading or talking or doing something, but when you sit and listen you can't help but be mesmerised by its effortless way of presenting music.
And the bass, oh my...you'd never imagine such a cultured and clean sounding speaker can plummet the earth with such endless raw energy. And it rocked liked a stadium speakers. It was absolutely captivating and emotional!
I later read up in the design and found that a great amount of effort was done to reduce distortion in the speaker. And I appreciate that this translates into a wonderful sounding speakers.
Instead of looking for the product of the year 2019 I also consider looking into the used market. I was at a friends house the other day, he had a vintage system, an older Sony CD-Player into an 80's Hitachi preamp going into a beautiful Beard P35 tube poweramp feeding some older restored Allison Nine speakers. He played Tears for Fears "The Seeds of Love". I've never heard such a lush sound, was lots of fun!
I’m obsessed with the Hegel/Magnepan pairing. Now I just need to find somewhere to audition them. Great channel - keep up the great reviews.
I am too! I have had the LRS's for almost a year now and have been searching for the perfect amp. Luckily my local hi-fi shop carries Hegel.
The product that really impressed me in 2019 are horn speakers. It really opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. I am just doing hifi on a budget. I took a chance on the Klipsch R51 reference monitors and was blown away by its dynamics. Actually, a bit to much dynamic, but adding a subwoofer woks. I am happy with my Schiit set up right now and see what happens next. Great job. Good reviews and congratulations!
In 2019, I heard the Topping D3x Pro, which provides much more low end power and control for my Oppo PM-3 planar magnetics than my faithful AudioQuest Dragonfly Red DAC/amp that I have been using for 5 years. I love that little $219 desktop amp for headphones and am looking forward to trying it out on even better headphones. Congrats on hitting 10k subscribers! Really enjoy your love for audio and your honest talk. Here’s to 50k subscribers in 2020!
I thought this video was very informative for products that are affordable for the average person. They are all great products.
I enjoyed the sound of the 1,7 maggies with the Hegel 190. The best sound I've heard in long time. So real and natural.
Thanks for what you are providing us with this useful information. Well done
Haven’t heard any actual products from 2019 but have been enjoying your posts and also posts from Audiophile-Man, Thomas and Stereo, and ZeroFidelity! Please keep up the good work! Thank you!
Always appreciate your honesty in your reviews because you don't always like everything that you review and you say what you really believe. For me, the HiFi Man Sundara headphones were quite a pleasant surprize. I would have to say that listening to them was like wearing a super miniature pair of planar speakers on your head.
The thing I’ve been most impressed with is the sound of my Magnapan 0.7 after 3 month’s of moving them around I would still be dancing with them if it were not for me hearing your video on Maggie placement. Hands down best speaker in its price range!
Bennett Lewis hehe fun to see you new magnepan owners
The item which impressed me most in 2019 was the Salk SS 9.5. I attended the Capital Audio Fest 2019 in November and was floored by the soundstage, detail, and imaging of these speakers. Full disclosure, I'm a big fan of the Focal Sopra No. 2 and these speakers could give them a run for the money. They unquestionably surpass the Focal Kanta no. 2s. Another item of note was Klaus Blum's Odyssey Kismet amp. Klaus gives you so much for the money. I own a pair of Kitargo mono and would not trade them for the world! Great amp. In fact, his combo of Odyssey amp, pre-amp, and speakers (which played Carlos Santa on vinyl), blew rooms costing well over five times as much (or more) away! No joke! I thought it to be the best sounding room of the show. When the lights went out and the music came on, it was like Santana took center stage in the room. When the lights came back on, everyone was speechless. The sound was simply mesmerizing with clarity, depth, and presence unmatched by anything in the building. So that's my take, I hope it stands up to the test for the Maggies. Great speakers. I was traveling through Montana once and had an opportunity to hear them in a local store. Impressive sound with great highs. Ideal for classical or symphonic music.
This is a great time for those who enjoy great audio. Never in my lifetime is so much information available and combined with an unbelievable array of quality products at affordable prices. Going forward I would like to see from this channel, maybe crossover speakers and setups for people that double duty their systems for 2 channel listening and movie watching. Not necessarily full multi channel home theater, but good setups for both. But keep up the info flow.
The REL T7i really impressed me. Very fast bass, and very easy to integrate into any system
This year my goal was to put together a system that was very affordable to someone (me!) , but was still musical and engaging. I love things like a good sound stage and imaging, clear highs, and beautiful midrange and vocals.
I came upon a Canadian company called Musical Paradise who produce products that are designed in Canada and built in China with very good sourced parts. They also sell direct to the public from their factory to keep the price down. I discovered that their products have a good following in forums on the web, with a lot of very satisfied customers.
I started off with the MP-301 Mk3 integrated tube amp because the price was such that if I wasn't satisfied, I wouldn't be out that much.
Well, I LOVE it!
It is only 6.5 watts, so it demands efficient speakers, but it definitely has the sound stage, imaging, and midrange I was looking for.
This emboldened me to also purchase their MP-D1 tube dac and MBerry music server. The total cost was about $1400 U.S., and I have to say that together this setup gives me a digital system that has a beautiful analog sound to it., and all the qualities I was looking for.
There is no listener fatigue whatsoever. In fact, it makes me want to keep listening on and on and on!
You could definitely do better with more money, but every day I am amazed anew at all that I do get with this system for this price.
Got my current setup in 2019, Schiit Eitr, Denafrips Ares, Naim Nait XS2 and Kef LS50. They're just wonderful, and the best system I've had so far. Definitely would love to try the Hegel one day.
Best product I’ve heard in 2019 was Tin Hifi T4 IEMs. I was really impressed with the clarity and detail.
Also Tidal masters music steaming was a worthy alternative to CDs & CD player.
Hagel h190- Agreed! super great value. I feel no reason to consider separates after hearing this with Magnepan 1.7's. The openness was stunning, and I love the simple clean industrial design.
Jay you’re right on the H190...its amp that has balls to run just about any speaker out there. The SQ on these Hegels i found to be just gorgeous but may be an acquired taste as to other ‘high-end’ pieces in the chain. I was really looking to jump into the next threshold of the HiFi jungle and found a great dealer who happened to have hegel, parasound and Devialet to name a few. Long story short, ended up with a Hegel after demoing a parasound, Rotel, and Arcam with my bowers. Whatever Hegel is doing, just had a different overall sonic attribute that to my ears, was something more engaging and overall enveloping to the music. It was the one that made me lean back, relax and bob my head to the rhythm. It’s no secret when you hear something that presents beautiful midrange.... BUT, when you understand the absolute magic of what 80Hz is supposed to sound like in a music passage or track, then that’s when toe tapping and head bobbing come in, imo. 80Hz to me, is ultimately complementary to the midrange magic. This is what the Hegel gave me. Ended up with a H390 (bought blindly) after demoing the H190 for almost 2 weeks - its really that good, such a great jump off point, especially being integrated with all its capabilities. Great channel dude! I sub’d to you before the other channel you’re in and I found the other channel first, LOL.