SECRETS is pleased to announce our Best Of Awards for 2023.
Here we are again! A whole year has gone by (a lot faster than many of us would have liked) with a bunch of great gear that has come through our reviewers’ collective doors. The Editorial Team spent several weeks deliberating and considering which of those products we evaluated, rose to the top and could truly be considered as exceptional. It is to these standout products that we give the SECRETS Best of Awards.
The awards and the categories are based on reviews that have been conducted on actual products that we have had in our homes and put our grubby little mitts on. While we can’t review every conceivable “great piece of gear” from year to year, we believe the products we have reviewed represent a good and relevant cross-section of what is interesting out there in the audio/video universe at this time. Our reviewers are pretty candid about their findings of products: if they really like something, that opinion is reflected in the product highlights and review conclusion. We will not make recommendations or award pronouncements out of thin air.
As always, our Product of the Year choice is something we feel is a genuine game-changer. The Editor’s unanimously felt that this year’s POY choice marked a potential change for the industry and a recognition of where the modern or younger audiophile may be going.
In 2016 we added our SECRETS “Thumbs-Up Award” in addition to the Best Of Award recipients. The “Thumbs-Up” award recognizes outstanding products in categories that may not have had more than one product in for review this year. Other times we have certain products that, while not Best Of winners, have qualities and features that are so compelling that they demand recognition. So, the SECRETS Thumbs-up Award winners are guaranteed to be unique and recommended as well!
From time to time our Editor-Emeritus, John E. Johnson Jr. will encounter a product that butters his bread, flips his lid, and creams his cocoa just enough, that he will bestow upon it, a coveted “Bad-Ass” award. The SECRETS “Bad-Ass” award is a mark of exceptionalism. A recognition of something very special and deeply considered from the furrowed recesses of JJ’s learned brow! This year, JJ has seen fit to grant the brand of “Bad Ass-ery” on one very deserving product.
As vinyl purchasing and playback continue to see growth this year, our vinyl review guru Jason Crawford has selected a couple of what he considers outstanding examples of the medium. The practice of enjoying music committed to the grooves of 12-inch petroleum-based platters seems to be alive and well and Jason has awarded “Best Vinyl Reissue” and “Best Vinyl New Release” awards accordingly.
Now, without further ado, we present the Secrets Best Of 2023 Awards!
Product of the Year
Product of the Year
JBL 4329P Studio Monitor Loudspeakers
These JBL 4329P speakers were a tremendous and positive surprise. As someone who hasn’t heard JBLs in a good listing environment for years, the sound was faultless. The horn compression drivers were the biggest leap from what I expected. These speakers are clean, with tremendous dynamic range.
Mel Martin, Editorial Team
Bad-Ass Award
Best Headphone Amplifier
Feliks Audio Envy 300B Tube Headphone Amplifier
The Feliks Audio’s Envy Headphone Amplifier is a masterpiece. For those of you who have not heard what 300B triodes can do to audiophile sound, you don’t know what you have been missing. It has to be paired with a fine set of headphones, the HIFIMAN Susvara used in the review, satisfies that requirement.
John E. Johnson, Jr., Editor Emeritus
Best of Awards
Best Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Wharfdale Evo 4.2 Bookshelf Loudspeakers
These speakers look similar to the range-topping Elysian speakers. They even get some of that ‘trickle-down tech’ but without the high price tag. They are engineered to give you the sound and scale of a floor stander but without being a floor stander. The EVO 4.2s are quite something special. And sonically, they’re going to be hard to beat.
Taps Das, Editorial Team
Best Floor-Standing Loudspeakers
Legacy Audio Focus XD Floor-Standing Loudspeakers
The Focus XD has taken the position within my personal reference speakers, as my (until something knocks them off the top) ultimate reference loudspeaker system. They best the above-mentioned reference speakers at every level. They play deeper, with less distortion, and with a sense of ease that the other speakers cannot quite accomplish, and do so in an elegant package. They are more than highly recommended: they are the reason one might ask ‘why pay more?’
Craig Chase, Editorial Team
Best Wireless ANC Headphones
Focal Bathys Wireless Hi-Fi ANC Headphones
There’s a lot to like here. The overall sound is a close family match to the wired Focal headphones I use at home. Similar frequency response, soundstage, and dynamic range, especially when listening through the built-in amp and DAC. In fact, I think it slightly exceeds my Focal headphones in this mode.
Mel Martin, Editorial Staff
Best High End Headphones
Focal Utopia Open-Back Headphones
The new Focal Utopias certainly qualify as some of the best-sounding headphones that I have heard to date. It almost pains me to admit it actually because just when I think that there is no way headphone sound can improve, along comes something like the new Utopias to make me grudgingly readjust my expectations. They honestly do it all and do it extremely well.
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Best Closed-Back Headphones
HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back Headphones
The HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back headphones are probably one of the most appealing and fun-sounding affordable headphone models that you are likely to find for the money. They are an easy recommendation!
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Best Open-Back Headphones
Meze 109 PRO Open-Back Headphones
The Meze 109 PRO are some of the most comfortable and best-sounding open-back headphones that I have ever come across, full stop. They are constructed to a standard of finish that quite frankly shames some other more expensive brands out there. They also look fantastic and are fairly easy to drive to boot.
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Best Integrated Amplifier
Technics SU-R1000 Integrated Amplifier
The Technics SU-R1000 Integrated amplifier is a beautiful behemoth that blends classic tasteful HiFi design cues, with plenty of advanced technologies and unique features. The phono cartridge calibration routine alone is impressive and works well.
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Best Media Server
Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player and Compact Terra Movie Server
There is no more convenient way to store and play a movie collection than with Kaleidescape players and servers. The Strato C Movie Player and Compact Terra Movie Server modules combine with the best user interface in the industry to create an unequaled viewing experience.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
Best Phono Preamplifier
Austin Audio Works Black Swan Phono Preamplifier
The Austin Audio Works Black Swan gave me the best analog playback I have ever had in my system. It presented me with an amazing fidelity of timbre and transparency, and an all-encompassing soundstaging.
Gene Hopstetter, Editorial Team
Best Projector Under $3000
BenQ HT4550i 4K LED Projector
It had me during testing when I discovered that it didn’t need calibration. As in, it was perfect right out of the box. Then it told me that its Android TV feature now supports Netflix with HDR and 4K. Then it showed me some of the best projector HDR I’ve ever seen.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
Best Mid-Priced AVR
ANTHEM MRX 740 Home Theater Receiver
The Anthem MRX 740 has all of the features a serious home theater receiver should have. It has all of the power and just about all of the important options that you would ever want (along with a couple that I don’t know what to do with).
Taps Das, Editorial Team
Best Video Processor
madVR Envy Extreme Mk2 Video Processor
The madVR Envy Extreme Mk2 Video Processor brings premium video quality to your theater or media room. It enhances HDR content, corrects color, and handles de-interlacing & scaling far better than even the best display can. It also includes MotionAI processing, currently in the Alpha test phase, that makes all content look better without the dreaded soap opera effect.
Chris Eberle, Co-Editor
Best In/On-Wall Loudspeakers
MartinLogan Statement 40XW In-Wall Loudspeakers
MartinLogan has succeeded at EVERY level with the Statement 40XWs. They are the product of solid engineering with credible science backing the design. They make great music, dialogue, explosions, and everything else we want to experience in our home entertainment systems.
Craig Chase, Editorial Team
Best Turntable
VPI Avenger Direct Turntable
So, until such time as I pass on to the hereafter and the Almighty invites me over for a listen to his stereo set, the VPI Avenger Direct is by all accounts the finest turntable that I have ever used, and it will be a benchmark that I will judge all other elite turntables against going forward.
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Best Vinyl Reissue
Drones – Terrace Martin – Sounds of Crenshaw
Drones is like kudzu. You close your eyes to listen, and when you open them again it’s on everything. It has all the guest features (Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Leon Bridges for crying out loud) that are such an ingrained part of the Hip-Hop ecosystem, but I barely notice. I’m getting hit in the chest with synth bass sounds, and ear wormed by the tastiest auto-tuned vocals that I’ve heard to date.
Jason Crawford
Best Vinyl New Release
Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners – Riverside/Craft Recordings
Thelonious Monk is having a moment. Another moment. It’s not that his position on the Mt. Rushmore of Jazz History was ever in question, of course. More than most, it seems that his weightier works are often made available in ways that will satisfy today’s most discerning listeners. But I’m not sure that any of his works have been treated as respectfully as Brilliant Corners has been by Craft Recordings. That’s going to be a really high bar to clear.
Jason Crawford
Thumbs Up Awards
Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Bookshelf Loudspeakers
The Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G. A two-way bookshelf loudspeaker that sounds as big as you would hope it would. A speaker that is absolutely gorgeous in design. A speaker that brings a smile to my face whenever I have it connected. A speaker that might very well take up permanent residence in my home.
Taps Das, Editorial Team
Floor-Standing Loudspeakers
Canton Vento 100 Floor-Standing Loudspeakers
Both the form and function of the Canton Vento 100 speakers impressed me a great deal during this review. The speakers are very well designed and look elegant in their exquisite fit and finish. More importantly, the Vento 100 speakers exhibit vibrant sonic performance that checks all the important aspects of a great-sounding loudspeaker with no discernible weaknesses.
Yongki Go, Ph.D., Editorial Team
Headphone Amplifiers
Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5XL Headphone Amplifier
From both an objective and subjective level, the J2 DAC and Archel 2.5XL work together to make a fantastic-sounding tabletop headphone solution. If you want to get the best out of your headphones and you’re not looking for a particular kind of sound, then this Geshelli Labs stack makes for a superbly serious listening system that won’t put you in hock.
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Headphone Amplifiers
VIVA Audio Egoista STX Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier
The Viva Audio Egoista STX headphone amplifier will make your electrostatic headphones sing unlike anything else out there. The sound of its 300B tubes and stunning Italian design make it a completely unforgettable experience and a statement piece.
Carlo Lo Raso, Editor-In-Chief
Media Streamer
Silent Angel Munich M1 Network Music Streamer
I rediscovered, Hilary Hahn plays Bach recorded back in 1997. Her playing reminded me how delicate she can sound, the highs from her violin pronounced and vibrant. The recording feels (sounds) pristine! Her violin sounds forward and well-positioned on the soundstage.
Piero Gabucci, Editorial Team
Multi-channel Power Amplifier
Monolith by Monoprice 8250X Multi-channel Amplifier
Eight channels x 200w (or 400w @ 4 ohms) of power for $2,999? That is a pretty good power to $$$ ratio. The M8250X also sounds fantastic with either two-channel or multichannel sources. Throw in the compact chassis and excellent build quality and the M8250X is a fantastic bargain in the home theater world.
Tyler Stripko, Editorial Team
Mid-Priced AVR
Denon AVR-X4800H AV Receiver
The Denon X4800H checks a LOT of boxes. On its own, it is a stellar AVR with an abundance of power and sonic excellence. In addition, with its pre-outs, it can grow over the years with you by adding separate power amplifiers. It’s even a very good two-channel pre-amp and power amp for music listening, and easily worthy of the “Best Of” award!
Craig Chase, Editorial Team
Review Coming Soon
Surround Sound Speaker System
Paradigm Founder 120H Home Theater System
This Paradigm Founder 120H-based system is the best Home Theater package I’ve ever heard. It truly is completely ridiculous. Five big and beautiful speakers powered by an extremely capable receiver. In the end, I was sad to see this go, and I am now forever spoiled by the effortless quality of sound that I heard.
Taps Das, Editorial Team
Phono Preamplifier
Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B Phono Preamplifier
If you’re looking to invest in an analog system that has a lot of room to grow, then the Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B Phono preamplifier is well worth looking into. This phono preamplifier will also let you connect two tonearms at once and adjust cartridge settings by pressing buttons on its face, which is a real rarity in its price range.
Gene Hopstetter, Editorial Team
Turntable
Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 Turntable
The Alva fits in as a great lifestyle turntable. So, while I will talk about the way it sounds, I’m more impressed by how easy it was to use. Because through regular use is where it separates itself from the pack.
Taps Das, Editorial Team
Little Things
Little Things
Arylic B50 Bluetooth Stereo Amplifier
It has a use in any room you use it in. At the price of $139 its feature set is tough to beat; it has everything you need and then some. The sound is great, not perfect, but still above the norm for the price. It’s a great amp for just those getting into hi-fi or setting up a new system on a budget.
Indiana Lang, Editorial Team
Little Things
SMSL DO300 Desktop DAC
A DAC this good should cost more than $549 and it’s currently on sale as I write this. SMSL continues to impress with the DO300, and I have no idea how they could top this. It’s well-built, feature-rich, and has every input you could ever wish for, if you’re looking for an end-all DAC, this is it.
Indiana Lang, Editorial Team