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Secrets
At SECRETS, a “Product of the Year” is something that not only sets the bar for its category, it’s something we believe will inspire real innovation and progress from its competitors. We consider new technologies, performance and value; and when a component excels at all three, we afford it this prestigious recognition.
Epson Pro Cinema 6040UB LCD 4K (Pixel-Shift) Projector
The Epson Pro Cinema 6040UB is a breakthrough projector in multiple areas offering Ultra HD support via pixel-shift and High Dynamic Range (HDR). Though a still-emerging technology, it appears in many HDTVs but only a few projectors. And they typically cost well into five figures. The 6040UB brings that performance to a sub-$4000 product. That’s simply astounding. Add to all this Epson’s precise color accuracy and top-shelf video performance and you have one of the best projectors in the world at an incredibly attractive price. Bravo Epson! I can’t wait to see what you do for an encore
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
John Johnson, Editor-in-Chief, initiated the first SECRETS “Bad Ass Award” in 2010. This award is not given out every year and is reserved only for products that test outrageously well. This award will be selectively conferred on products that have intense output, ultra-low distortion, substantial build quality and/or extreme engineering. So the “Bad Ass Award” is given to the product that is outstanding and clearly evokes a Bad Ass response from our team….. “you just know it when you see it!”
Emotiva XPA Gen3 Multi-channel Power Amplifier
The high end’s high value champ, Emotiva, just released the newest version of their highly regarded power amplifiers. It is the XPA Gen3 and it is a modular design that is available in two to seven channels depending on the number of amp modules installed. The power supply is a high tech Class H design which promises high power, cool operation and low energy consumption. In actual use, the Gen3 really floored me. It was extremely powerful with good frequency balance and low distortion. On movies, especially the kind with things blowing up, the sound it put out illuminated my listening space like very few amplifiers have. The Emotiva XPA Gen3 power amp is the 2016 recipient of the Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity “Bad Ass Award”. It is worthy of this award because it is capable of high power output with very low distortion. This amplifier is definitely for you if you love action movies and love to crank ’em up!!!!
Jim Clements, Co-Editor
Enjoy and consider the SECRETS Best of Awards for 2016!
Emotiva Big Ego USB DAC
The Big Ego is an excellent value and almost a no-brainer for a regular headphone listener on their portable computer. For just over $200 bucks you get excellent build quality, easy operation and great sound in a very small package. USB powered so no wall wart required, solid build quality and made in the USA, played nice with a variety of headphones (3.5mm jack).
Carlo LoRaso, Senior Editor
GoldenEar SuperSub X Subwoofer
The Supersub X is a sleek cat of a subwoofer that roars like a lion: an excellent little subwoofer, full stop. GoldenEar has used some novel thinking and engineering design work to obtain the performance parameters of a traditionally larger sub from something small enough to make deep bass accessible for people who might be otherwise space-challenged. On music, in particular, GoldenEar subs have been exceptional performers and the SuperSub X is no different.
One of these subs will convincingly energize a medium sized room. If you get two, and take the pains to place them properly, you will be rewarded with more headroom and more even bass distribution. I’m a firm believer in the benefits of multiple subs so I like to encourage this line of thinking. The SuperSub Xs are so small however, why stop at only two? Go for four. I’m sure GoldenEar won’t mind!
Carlo LoRaso, Senior Editor
Vizio D65u-D2 65” Ultra HD (4K) TV
THE VIZIO D65U-D2 represents the best value in an Ultra HD Display I’ve seen to-date. With a full-array backlight, it out-performs alot of more expensive competition. Even at this incredibly low price point, Vizio has left nothing off the table. In the budget UHD display category there is nothing better right now. The D65u-D2 receives my highest recommendation.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
Pass Labs HPA-1 Headphone Amplifier
Pass Labs, one of the most prestigious names in audio, has launched a terrific headphone amplifier. At $3,500, it is not cheap, but the build quality matches the price. It’s a heavy piece of equipment, and the sound is fantastic. The Pass Labs HPA-1 is one of the finest headphone amplifiers on the market today.
John E. Johnson, Jr., Editor-in-Chief
HiFiMAN Edition X Planar Magnetic Headphones
It seems like every time I check in on HiFiMAN they are showing off a new idea or updating part of their line with something unexpected. In this case, the Edition X Headphones owe much to the design and engineering developed for their reference HE1000 planar headphones.
The X has a higher sensitivity than the HE1000s, meaning that they can be driven effectively by almost any portable device or smartphone and they are available at a more affordable price point. The Edition X are essentially a close- to- reference quality set of headphones, with all their planar magnetic virtues, that can be used in almost any situation to obtain excellent sound quality from the broadest possible range of devices.
Carlo LoRaso, Senior Editor
Parasound Halo 2.1 Channel Integrated Amplifier
Nearest to perfect piece of audio gear, the Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier will make you forget you need separates! A complete audio manager, the Halo Integrated offers analog and digital inputs and a robust amplifier section: excellent DAC section, balanced XLR input and output, including one for a subwoofer, phono stage and more.
Am I biased towards Parasound Halo products? Yes, unquestionably, proudly. I own several pieces. Halo gear is reliable, well made and superbly engineered and can’t be beat for value.
Piero Gabucci, Co-Editor
Rogue Audio RP-1 Stereo Preamplifier
The Rogue RP-1 is a modern, single ended vacuum tube preamplifier with superb sound quality and measured performance. The Rogue RP-1 might be the best value stereo preamp you can get. It’s certainly the lowest price preamp I’ve listened to where I couldn’t find a thing wrong with it that really mattered. It sounds fantastic, has all the features you could need (as long as single ended is OK), and nothing you don’t need. I’m buying one myself.
Chris Groppi, Senior Editor
Epson Pro Cinema LS10000 Laser Projector
While not the first laser projector ever, THE EPSON LS10000 is certainly the best. It’s not cheap but considering the quality, it’s priced properly. A laser offers LED’s long lifespan but with greater brightness and spectral qualities that result in superior color accuracy. Combined with the solid engineering Epson is known for, the LS10000 looks like a home run.
I spent a lot of time testing and watching the LS10000, as I do with any flagship component, and came away highly impressed. I doubt I’ll ever call any display perfect but this projector is darn near.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
Optoma HD28DSE DLP Projector
THE OPTOMA HD28DSE is a fantastic value and the first display of any kind to include Darbee Visual Presence processing. There are many competent projectors on the market today that are compact, bright and inexpensive. But none offer Darbee Visual Presence processing except the Optoma HD28DSE. Through their unique technology, the picture has significantly greater detail with no added edge enhancement or any change in color. It truly is a win/win feature that has no negative tradeoffs.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
Anthem MRX 1120 A/V Surround Sound Receiver
The Anthem MRX 1120 is the best home theater receiver that I have had the pleasure of ever using. It looks deceptively simple on the outside and while it might not have every last bell and whistle that some of its competitors do, the features it does have are the ones that matter and are well thought out.
This handsome looking piece of gear supports Dolby Atmos decoding out of the box and will support DTS:X decoding, by years’ end, with a future firmware update that can be user installed. The MRX 1120 comes equipped with 11 channels of amplification on board, the latest version of Anthem’s acclaimed ARC 2 room correction system, and DTS Play-Fi which supports streaming services like Spotify, Pandora etc.
Carlo LoRaso, Senior Editor
Stewart Filmscreen LuminEsse
THE STEWART LUMINESSE isn’t cheap but it’s hard to imagine a better screen for a small to medium theater and a high-contrast projector. No matter which projector you choose, its full potential can’t be enjoyed without the right screen. Even though there are cheaper alternatives to a Stewart screen, it’s hard to beat the manufacturer that has been in the business for over 65 years and won two Academy Awards.
We’ve spoken here at Secrets about that final one percent of performance that comes when you go high-end. It’s equally true in video as well as audio. You can enjoy an excellent image from your projector without spending many thousands of dollars. A value-priced projector and an inexpensive roll-up screen will satisfy the majority of viewers. But to get the very best from any projector, a premium product like the Stewart Filmscreen LuminEsse is a must.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
PSB Imagine T3 Floor-Standing Speakers
The PSB Imagine T3 Speakers are a World-Class and Long-Term Investment I have no problem recommending. When I sat down to finalize my review, I couldn’t quite convey how enjoyable and delightful I found the PSB T3 in every way; an effortless neutrality, bass in all forms, large and bold, tight and clean, major and micro dynamics and nuances and clean transient speeds. The PSB T3 exudes the passion and dedication from Paul Barton – this is a non-compromised, fully developed loudspeaker design that takes the podium in the Imagine lineup.
Piero Gabucci, Co-Editor
HSU Research ULS-15 MKII Subwoofer
An upgrade to the venerable ULS-15, the Hsu Research ULS-15 MKII takes the tried-and-true formula of a 15-inch woofer within a relatively small sealed enclosure and kicks things up a notch. Given how much you could spend on a subwoofer in today’s market, $779 (plus shipping) for the Hsu Research ULS15-MkII is one heck of a bargain given its remarkable combination of accuracy, depth and raw power.
The Hsu ULS-15 MKII is just about everything you could want in a subwoofer.
Tyler Stripko, SECRETS Team
Fluance RT81 Turntable with Cartridge and Phono Preamplifier
Fluance utilized KickStarter to build a turntable with cartridge and built-in phono preamplifier that is priced below the competition and which represents a good entry-level unit for those who are just starting their quest into the world of vinyl. At $249.99, the RT81 is an amazing value. It comes with a cartridge pre-mounted in the headshell and a built-in phono preamplifier. It is an entry-level turntable, and is perfect for the budding vinyl consumer.
John E. Johnson, Jr., Editor-in-Chief
Bluesound Gen 2 Wireless Multi-Room Music System
The Bluesound Wireless Streaming System is the Audiophile’s choice for whole-home streaming or distributed music. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bluesound components. Each piece has true audiophile grade performance in terms of noise levels and DAC quality. Bluesound also builds each component to a very high level of fit and finish.
The Vault 2 can store all your music and then some, and it also makes a pretty nice preamp if you don’t have many analog sources. The Powernode 2 is also a really fine amp, and the Pulse Mini is the best extension speaker I’ve heard. I found the Bluesound system to continually surprise and delight me with both its sonic prowess and its ease of use. Give it a chance, and I suspect it will surprise and delight you too.
Jay Haider, SECRETS Team
OPPO Headphone Amp
THE OPPO HS-2SE is a travelling audiophile’s delight. It is a veritable “Swiss-Army-Knife” of a device. It easily improves the sound of your smartphone or laptop computer. It will power higher quality headphones that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise use successfully with said devices.
You can use it to hook up your mobile devices to a home stereo with improved sound quality, and it’ll even charge your phone if you’re in a pinch and your battery is low. At $299.00, the OPPO HA-2SE could very well be seen as a travelling necessity!
Carlo LoRaso, Senior Editor
The versatile SDA-2400 digital stereo power amplifier features both analog and digital inputs and optional rack mounts, as well as a range of novel features to deliver outstanding performance in a wide range of applications. It has the same amount of dynamic power as my monos, the sound quality is superb and the low noise floor is remarkable. Stereo separation is also excellent with a wide and deep sound stage. Whatever your personal opinion about switching amplifiers has been in the past, get ready for the future.
Class D has finally evolved into an audiophile product with the Lyngdorf SDA-2400. With more manufacturers using Class D amplification these days, it might be time to for you to consider switching. The Lyngdorf SDA-2400 will change the way you think about Class D amplification.
Jim Milton, Senior Editor
MOON by Simaudio has put their all into the design and build of this substantial piece with the expected results. The MOON by Simaudio Neo 430HA takes significant shelf space as well as monetary investment. But if you’ve got the scratch and the space, the ample power output and the multitude of headphone connection options make the 430HA a keeper. You can grow your headphone collection or even better, your music collection, with confidence that you’ve got the right connection for both.
Rick Schmidt, SECRETS Team
Tannoy’s Dual Concentric-based speaker lineup is an audio institution. One could reasonably call them audio’s Porsche 911: unique, enduring, and evolving through multiple eras, with high performance in every incarnation. The Revolution XT line is a landmark for 90 year-old Scottish speaker specialist Tannoy. The Tannoy Revolution XT 8F is a beautiful sounding, great looking, genuinely full-range speaker.
Without putting too fine a point on it, if we didn’t have a fireplace front-and-center in our living room we’d probably host three Tannoy Revolution XT 8Fs as long-term guests. They sounded great on every track, video, TV show, and movie we threw at them. Three Tannoy Revolution XT 8Fs are also naturals for a dedicated theater with a projector, because they combine extraordinary low-level resolution and All-Pro dynamic freedom. Their measurements, both on and off axis, back up my listening impressions. If you can fit three in your room, do it.
Jay Haider, SECRETS Team
The Reference Remastered In-Ear Monitors strikes me as nothing so much as a tool, perhaps THE tool, to help you find and sort all the sounds you were meant to discover in both music and video. It is easily one of the most dynamic, natural-sounding components I’ve ever heard and for anyone craving neutrality, resolution, and involvement; it is highly, highly recommended. Even at its just-under four-figure price tag, the Ultimate Ears Pro Reference Remastered In-Ear Monitors is money well spent.
Michael Galvin, SECRETS Team
THE MONITOR AUDIO AIRSTREAM A100 Combines Sonic Transparency, Eye-Catching Styling, And Extreme Flexibility. The A100 integrated DAC amplifier thoroughly impressed me with its’ fidelity and flexibility. The A100 can shine in any of the following four setups: lossless streaming system, computer/ desktop system, two channel secondary system, and compact 2.0 channel A/V system. Overall, I really liked Monitor Audio’s Airstream A100. It sounded like the speakers it powered; it did not impose its own sonic stamp across multiple speakers.
Jay Haider, SECRETS Team
THE CASABLANCA platform continues to lead the premium surround sound processor market by offering both hardware and firmware upgrades. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the CB IV. The improvements brought about by Dirac Live were impressive: bass reproduction elevated to a level I had never heard before in my room; dialog intelligibility improved, as did the consistency of timbre across my loudspeaker array. For anyone who is able to afford this price point, the CB IV should be at the top of the audition list. This is an excellent sounding processor with a bright future.
Sumit Chawla, SECRETS Team
The Arcam AVR850 receiver has pristine video pass-through, modern audio technologies and some of the cleanest, most powerful amplification of any receiver on the market. It is compatible with the latest audio and video formats while it includes one of the best room correction packages on the market. The built-in amplification provides plenty of power for most any system. The independent bench tests I conducted indicated that the unit was very conservatively rated and the distortion profiles are incredibly good for a surround receiver.
All this adds up to excellent performance with surround sources as well as with two-channel music! The Arcam AVR850 stands out as one of the best sounding receivers that I have ever had in my system.
Jim Clements, Co-Editor
The RX-A3050 is Yamaha’s flagship Audio-Video Receiver (AVR), boasting no fewer than nine power amplifier channels, 11.2 output capability and every bell and whistle known to man. This receiver has every improvement and feature one could wish for in a state-of-the-art product. I find the Yamaha RX-A3050 to be not only fairly priced, but also highly future-proof. For cinema sound, the RX-A3050 does everything one could hope for and more. It is the best cinema sound receiver that I’ve heard to date, so if your listening is for movie soundtracks, you just can’t do any better than the Yamaha RX-A3050.
Glenn Young, SECRETS Team
The MartinLogan Motion Vision X Soundbar is elegant-looking and a versatile wireless-capable soundbar that delivers solid stereo music and home-theater surround performances. The $1,699.95 MartinLogan Motion Vison X Soundbar is not cheap, but it is one of the best soundbars that I have had a chance to listen to in terms of versatility and sound peformance. Many soundbars fall short in delivering respectable music-playback performance, but the Vision X excels in both music and home-theater applications. This multi-function excellence is what makes this soundbar ahead of its pack.
Yongki Go, SECRETS Team
The 5.1 Paradigm Prestige surround system was formed from their flagship tower speakers, the larger of two center channel models, the hefty 15” powered subwoofer and a pair of the bi-polar surrounds. These speakers feature all-new drivers in sturdy cabinets with real wood finishes. They had stellar bench test results and the audible performance was clean, natural, beautifully balanced and true to the source.
I truly enjoyed my time with these speakers. I liked the real wood finishes. I liked the smooth sound. I liked the low distortion response. I liked the wide frequency extension. These speakers seriously rocked on movies and the performance on two-channel music was so intoxicating that sometimes I started to feel the speakers were tailor made for whatever song I was listening to. The Paradigm Prestige Series is an excellent surround system with smooth sound.
Jim Clements, Co-Editor
While still managing to maintain the sweet musicality inherent in Sonus faber models of the past, the Olympicas manage to combine that smooth sound with a huge advance in articulation and detail. The end result is a speaker line that can resonate as strongly with accuracy-obsessed audiophiles as it does with those who just want to sit back and enjoy every minute of their music and movie time. While the Sonus faber Olympica speakers are by no means cheap, I cannot think of another speaker line near this price point that delivers as high a level of performance while being housed in such impeccably designed and finished cabinetry.
Tyler Stripko, SECRETS Team
What I witnessed with the DarbeeVision processor, at a CEDIA Show, was nothing short of breathtaking. When properly configured, the tiny Darblet processor adds obvious image depth, increased perceived resolution, and does so without crushing detail or creating unwanted artifacts. I was astounded and bought one practically on the spot. For $249 you won’t find a better way to spruce up the image on your 1080p TV or projector than the DarbeeVision DVP-5000S.
In a few minutes you can increase dynamic range without having to buy a new display or source component. Darbee is the first, and still one of the only technologies that truly enhances quality without any downsides.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
The Icron RG2304GE LAN 4-Port USB 2.0 Ethernet Extender System is a very useful product if you want to play music from your computer by sending the digital audio bitstream, via Ethernet cable, to a digital receiver, such as a Blu-ray player that has the proper USB port, and where the player is located at the other end of your home that is too far for use with your wireless router.
John E. Johnson, Jr., Editor-in-Chief
X-Men Apocalypse
Boy and the World
Pacific Rim
Wilco’s Schmilco (DBPM Records)
Freddie Hubbard’s Hub Tones (Music Matters Jazz)