Stereophile Magazine - December 2024

In this issue

Stereophile’s 33rd Annual Product of the Year Awards - The very best in hi-fi for the year 2024.

Moon 861 power amplifier by Jason Victor Sernius.

Mobile Fidelity, PrimaLuna, and First Watt redux

GRAMOPHONE DREAMS - It's important for readers to remember that I've spent my adult life as an artist and mechanic. Making things. Working as a tradesperson during the day then at an easel or workbench at night.

10+ mins

German kitchens, Japanese amps, and Afropop gems

BRILLIANT CORNERS - I have a day job at a museum. One of my favorite things about working there is taking the elevator from my office down to one of the floors open to the public; I walk into the galleries through a discreet panel in the wall. This makes me feel like I'm in one of those horror-movie manors with a tunnel concealed behind a bookshelf. Sometimes I startle people, which I kind of enjoy.

10+ mins

STEREOPHILE'S 33RD ANNUAL - PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024

When Stereophile's Product of the Year Awards were first published, in 1992, we decided that unlike some other publications and their awards schemes, we would keep the number of categories to a minimum. That way, we would avoid what the late Art Dudley once described as the \"every child in the class gets a prize\" syndrome.

5 mins

Moon 861 - POWER AMPLIFIER

It is unusual to begin a review with a detailed discussion of setup. But setup protocol for the Moon 861 power amplifier ($22,000 each), the top-level amplifier in the North Collection from Moon, which I reviewed bridged in mono, proved crucial to its sound.

10+ mins

Sonus faber Sonetto V G2 - LOUDSPEAKER

Here's a hard truth: A written review of a full-sized speaker any speaker, really-is, at best, semi-useful. We all listen differently, we have different musical tastes, our system electronics are different, and our listening rooms vary a lot. You will gain a general picture of a speaker's capabilities and foibles from John Atkinson's measurements, and I can tell you how the speakers sound to me, in my room. But that's it. You need to hear them for yourself before making a buying decision. The best I can do is tell you how my music brain felt when the speakers were in my house and making music.

10+ mins

TEAC UD-701N - STREAMING PREAMP, D/A CONVERTER

In Gramophone Dreams #88, I described the sound of TEAC's VRDS-701T CD transport as \"dense and precise in a way I had never previously heard from digital.\" I went on to explain, \"by dense, I mean there was a tangible corporeality effected by seemingly infinite quantities of small, tightly packed molecules of musical information.\"

10+ mins

PS Audio Aspen FR5 - LOUDSPEAKER

I remember the first PS Audio product: a simple phono stage. It was so simple - a passive RIAA eq filter flanked by a pair of primitive op-amps - that when the schematic was made public, I built one myself; I was in the midst of my DIY years. I thought it was, to use a word from that time, nifty.

10+ mins

You're only lonely

AURAL ROBERT - The least surprising story in music today is the inevitable passing of irreplaceable talent. Tenor saxophonist Benny Golson died at age 95 the day I finished this salute to another fallen star, Southern California singer/songwriter John David \"JD\" Souther.

4 mins

The Butthole Surfers wipe out

REVINYLIZATION - Music's lunatic fringe drifts further out every hour. As it should. In this century, with computers playing an ever-larger role, music continues to fragment and become infinitely more varied. This splintering is either the essence of what keeps it relevant as an art form or something profoundly disturbing, to be hated and feared.

3 mins

EDITOR'S PICK - RECORDING OF THE MONTH

The record business was awash in money and power. Vinyl LPs were still five bucks, and while the pressings could be suspect, the music-buying public still snapped them up en masse.

4 mins

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Stereophile Magazine Description:

Stereophile is a monthly magazine that reviews audio equipment, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, and digital audio players. It was founded in 1965 and is one of the most respected audio magazines in the world.

The magazine's reviews are known for their meticulous attention to detail and their commitment to neutrality. Stereophile also publishes articles on a variety of other topics related to audio, such as listening room acoustics, recording techniques, and music history.

Stereophile is aimed at a wide audience of audiophiles, from casual listeners to serious enthusiasts. It is a popular resource for anyone who wants to learn more about audio equipment and how to get the best sound possible.

Here are some of the things you can expect to find in Stereophile Magazine:

* Reviews of the latest audio equipment
* Articles on audio technology and techniques
* Interviews with audio engineers and musicians
* Features on audio history and culture
* Tips and advice on how to get the best sound possible

Stereophile Magazine is the perfect resource for anyone who is interested in high-quality audio. Subscribe today and start enjoying your music the way it was meant to be heard!