SECRETS Best of Awards 2017

OPPO UDP-205 4K Ultra HD Audiophile Blu-ray Disc Player

The OPPO UDP-205 Blu-ray disc player builds upon the success of the OPPO UDP-203 UHD. And Ultra HiDef videophiles can now enjoy the audiophile experience with this heavily-built universal disc player. The OPPO UDP-205 is an Audiophile Player for Audio Discs and Files of All Types. At $1299, It Demonstrates Superb Performance as an Ultra HD Blu-ray Audio and Video Player.

Mike Osadciw, Writer
John E. Johnson, Jr. Editor-in-Chief

GoldenEar Triton Reference Loudspeakers

I offer no rhetoric, no extraneous wit or hyperbole in my simple and honest admiration for the T-Ref as these are top to bottom, first class reference quality speakers. The GoldenEar Triton Reference Loudspeakers are aural satisfaction at its finest: not simply excellent sound reproduction but soulful, engaging and sublime musical art.

Piero Gabucci, Co-Editor

HiFiMAN Shangri-La Electrostatic Headphones and Pure Class A Amplifier

HiFiMAN’s Shangri-La electrostatic headphones break the sound barrier and took 20 years to develop. The headphones come with a pure Class A fully balanced headphone amplifier that uses 300B triode tubes in the output stage, producing a warm lush midrange that is simply beyond beyond.

John E. Johnson, Jr., Editor-in-Chief

Sonus faber Principia 3 Bookshelf Speakers

Considering the price point of $699 per pair, the Sonus faber Principia 3 Bookshelf Speakers do an awful lot of things right, including excellent bass response and accuracy, musical midrange, clean treble, and very good dynamics. Top that off with the solid build quality and great aesthetics Sonus faber is known for and you have a very impressive overall package.

Tyler Stripko, Writer

AURALiC POLARIS Wireless Streaming DAC Amplifier

AURALiC has set a high performance-to-cost value standard with the AURALiC POLARIS, which is a superb-sounding integrated amplifier equipped with phono-stage, DAC, Bluetooth, and high-resolution DSD/DXD/MQA network streamer. The AURALiC POLARIS is a versatile audio product that is more than capable to take center stage of a high-end stereo system.

Yongki Go, Writer

NAD Master Series M50.2 Digital Music Player

The M50.2 is a no-brainer for value compared to the idea of setting up a computer and storage, software to control ripping and file arrangements, easy integration into a home system, excellent dynamic sound and functionality. I believe what NAD has developed in the M50.2 Digital Music Player is the ideal solution; a computer in a hifi component accessed from a tablet, with my music organized, easily accessible, and sounding great.

Piero Gabucci, Co-Editor

Revel Concerta2 F36 Tower Speakers

With an all new elegant design featuring curved edges and a high gloss finish, the Revel Concerta2 series speakers draw from years of research to improve upon the award-winning Concerta1 speaker line. Using optimized transducers, an improved wave guide, new crossover networks, and a new port design, the Revel Concerta2 F36 tower speakers provide the famous Revel sound at an amazing price point that bests the competition in construction, design, and sound quality.

Jim Milton, Senior Editor

Bryston BHA-1 Balanced Headphone Amplifier

The Bryston BHA-1 is an impeccably designed and solidly built amplification device for speakers that you just happen to wear on your head. It has a fastidiously clean and neutral sound quality with an abundance of power and connectivity options that will allow almost any headphone to shine on its own merits. If you are in the market for a top-class headphone amplifier and don’t need a built-in DAC, you really cannot go wrong with choosing the BHA-1. Highly recommended.

Carlo Lo Raso, Senior Editor

HiFiMAN HE1000 V2 Planar Magnetic Headphone

THE HiFiMAN HE1000 V2 continues to set the standard for what a reference class pair of headphones should be. The HiFiMAN HE1000 V2 Planar Magnetic Headphones are a damn fine pair of cans, full stop. Just like their forerunner, they remain one of the finest pair of non-electrostatic headsets that I have ever heard and will continue to be a reference point to judge other headphones.

Carlo Lo Raso, Senior Editor

McIntosh MA8900 Stereo Integrated Amplifier

For audiophiles who want the cutting edge of convenience, control, and durability, there are few other components that can match the MA8900. The McIntosh MA8900 is a thoroughly modern integrated amplifier sporting its own, upgradeable DAC. The McIntosh MA8900 integrated amplifier is everything an audiophile might desire, both sonically and in durability. It isn’t cheap, but it truly delivers what you’re paying for.

Glenn Young, Writer

Legacy Audio Wavelet Preamp/Processor

The Legacy Wavelet is a unique and effective product that is much more than the sum of its parts. Combining the features of a quality preamp, a multi-way electronic crossover, a DAC and an effective speaker/room correction system in one box, Legacy gives 2-channel listeners a great deal of value and flexibility in a handsome streamlined package.

Carlo Lo Raso, Senior Editor

MartinLogan Cadence Soundbar and Dynamo 700w Subwoofer

With wireless capabilities, Dolby Digital & DTS 5.1 sound processing, ARC (Anthem Room Correction), an Ethernet input, and the ability to stream music over your network using DTS Play-Fi, Apple AirPlay, and Bluetooth, the Cadence is designed to fit nicely under a 50” or larger flat panel television. The subwoofer can be of any make or model, but MartinLogan’s Dynamo 700w is a great choice to mate with the Cadence.

Jim Milton, Senior Editor

Power Sound Audio S3601 Subwoofer

With performance to well below 15Hz in my room, and with smooth blending with the satellite speakers, the Power Sound Audio S3601’s performance is almost impossible to conceive of until you’ve actually heard it.

Glenn Young, Writer

ELAC Uni-Fi Slim 5.1 Speaker System

The ELAC Uni-Fi Slim 5.1 Speaker system is an extremely stylish and astonishingly good sounding line of products for the money. “Standard” or “Slim,” the ELAC Uni-Fi speaker line is an easy recommendation to make. They are an outstanding sonic value.

Carlo Lo Raso, Senior Editor

JWM Acoustics Karen 6 Turntable

The Karen 6/ Ortofon Black offers musicality and soul when reproducing records. Adding to the spectacular performance for the price the proud owner will also have a limited, customized, and hand built turntable. I highly recommend the JWM Acoustics Karen 6 turntable for the most discriminating music lover.

Francisco Licon, Writer

Anthem AVM 60

The Anthem AVM 60 is the first 11.2-channel preamplifier-processor from Anthem. With all the latest technology to support a modern 4K UHD HDR home theater, it lives up to the Anthem AVM legacy and offers exceptional functionality and performance for the consumer.

Robert Kozel, Co-Editor

Emotiva TA-100 Stereo Preamp/DAC/Tuner With Integrated Amplifier and Airmotiv B1 Bookshelf Speaker

While prices of high-end audio continue to rise, Emotiva strives to give budding audiophiles a chance to get great-sounding quality gear that the “average Joe” can actually afford, and with the TA-100 Stereo Preamp/DAC/Tuner with Integrated Amplifier and Airmotiv B1 Bookshelf Speakers, that philosophy continues.

Jim Milton, Senior Editor

BenQ HT3050 DLP Projector

At $899, THE BENQ HT3050 sets a high standard among budget projectors. Its optics and accurate color are equal to or better than many costlier displays.

Chris Eberle, Co-Editor

JVC DLA-RS4500 4K Projector

The JVC DLA-RS4500 offers the latest projection technology in one package. It doesn’t get much better and expect to pay for the privilege.

Chris Eberle, Co-Editor

Bluesound Pulse 2 All-In-One Streaming Music System

The Bluesound Pulse 2 All-In-One Streaming Music System puts quality amplification, great-sounding speakers, and a streaming player in one stylish box. Available in white or black, it makes whole-house audio a breeze with easy installation and connection to your local Wi-Fi network.

Chris Eberle, Co-Editor

The OPPO Sonica DAC is a state of the art, fully balanced DAC using Sabre’s top of the line 32 bit DAC chipset, implemented with excellent digital and analog engineering. The OPPO Sonica DAC might be one of the best value audio components available today, offering superb audio performance and an unmatched feature set.

Chris Groppi, Senior Editor

The JWM Acoustics Alyson speakers are the most musically satisfying speakers I have ever listened to. They also represent a superb value at their asking price, especially when you consider the workmanship and the sound. I highly recommend the JWM Acoustic Alyson’s….they are a joy to experience.

Francisco Licon, Writer

Beginning with the art-deco inspired enclosure styling that is legitimately purposeful, to the technical and materials innovation that was born from years of development and research, the B&W 803 D3 Floor Standing Speakers project sound like a scrupulously clean beam of light that is unwaveringly revealing. Devoid of any noticeable distortion, these are certainly some of the cleanest sounding Hi-Fi speakers that I have ever experienced in my home.

Carlo Lo Raso, Senior Editor

MartinLogan really hit their mark with the ElectroMotion ESL X Floorstanding Speaker. Like most electrostatic speakers, they have great clarity of sound with a vivid mid range.

Jim Clements, Co-Editor

If you’re in the market for a new screen, it’s hard to imagine a better set for the price. The Vizio P65-E1 Ultra HD TV has high resolution, excellent video processing, superb HDR, and convenient connectivity all in one high-value package. I give it my highest recommendation.

Chris Eberle, Co-Editor

Not only are many enthusiasts storing vast libraries of downloaded music on their computers, there are those who simply want to listen to the radio or connect to a service like Spotify for easy access to thousands of songs. The NAD M32 Direct Digital Amplifier can do all of those things while delivering the fantastic sound the Masters Series is revered for.

Chris Eberle, Co-Editor

A screen like the Seymour-Screen Excellence TAM-1T is a luxury for sure but nothing enhances the home theater experience better, at any price.

Chris Eberle, Co-Editor

Compared to other systems in this price range, the Emotiva BasX components and speakers are exceptionally durable and well made. The BasX system would provide better movie sound than most potential purchasers have ever heard. The Emotiva BasX surround-sound system is an exceptional value!

Glenn Young, Writer

At $299, I consider the Zappiti One HDR a good deal. However you use it, the Zappiti One 4K HDR media server has solid software and hardware, is being constantly updated, and the multi-room video and audio distribution features make it even more valuable.

Mel Martin, Writer

The Audio Technica VM540ML phono cartridge gets so much right that, for $250 bucks, it’s hard to go wrong with this cartridge. Buy it.

Carlo Lo Raso, Senior Editor

The McIntosh D1100 2-Channel Digital Preamplifier takes McIntosh’s rich heritage and classic design and pairs it with a truly modern set of digital inputs as well as a fully functional DAC that can decode just about any digital format currently available. The more I wrote about the music I listened to, the less I talked about the McIntosh D1100 2-Channel Digital Preamplifier. That is really the highest praise I can give to an audio component. Listening to quality music through the D1100 brought me a level of involvement and joy that I have not experienced in a long time.

Tyler Stripko, Writer

Kong: Skull Island

Moana

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

Taj Mahal: Labor of Love

The Flying Burrito Brothers: The Gilded Palace of Sin