As we come to the end of 2018, Becky and I want to thank all of our readers, all the manufacturers, importers and retailers who have helped The Audio Beatnik grow so fast in our first year and a half. And now, it’s time to hand out awards for the best products of the year.
These awards go to products I’ve actually had the opportunity to hear and review this past year. I will not try to give out awards in every category, but I think the products listed here legitimately deserve a “best of” recognition.
Best Analog Device – DS Audio DS 002 Optical Cartridge and Phono Preamp/Equalizer
I reviewed two outstanding products from DS Audio this year; the DS Audio DS 002 and the DS W2 phono cartridge and phono preamp/equalizer . Either of these could have received this award. The DS Audio DS Mater1 is the best phono cartridge and phono preamp/equalizer I have ever heard, and the DS W2 is next followed by the DS 002. Not only are they the three best cartridges I have heard, they all come with their own phono preamp/equalizer so that you don’t have to buy a phono stage.
I’m giving this award to the DS Audio DS 002 because it is an astoundingly good value. It’s the third best cartridge I have ever heard, it only costs $5,500, and you don’t need to buy a phono stage.
Best Digital Device – BorderPatrol DAC SE USB + SPDIF
In August, I reviewed the BorderPatrol DAC SE USB + SPIDF. This amazing little DAC has to be the most unassuming looking piece of audio magic ever made. I’ve seen DACs that look like modern art and others that have thick front panels with lots of lights and some that have a huge separate power supply chassis and a few even have an external clock in another huge chassis. But, what we have from Border Patrol is a 9 x 7x 3 inch unassuming DAC that weighs less than seven pounds. Yet, it is pure musical magic.
I’ve been meaning to write a part 2 to my review of the DAC SE because I really had no idea how good it could be until I got my hands on the little Innuos Zen-Mini music streamer. This combo has led me to enjoy digital music more than I ever dreamed I could.
Best High-Powered Tube Amplifier – TriangleArt Reference Tube Monoblock Amplifiers
At the California Audio Show this year, I awarded the Beatnik Bongo Award for Best Sound to the TriAngle Art and Angel City Audio room. When listening to the room for the third time, Tom Vu asked me if I would like to take the amps home to review, and I jumped at the offer.
The system at the show combined as good or better audio effects as I had heard, and they had the most magically musical sound I could ever want. In fact, for the award I wrote, “I really don’t know what more to say about this system other than it was one of the three most musically satisfying rooms at the show. Combine this with having as good or better audio effects and the most magical and quietest sound from LPs, and you have the room that did more things right than any other room at the show.”
I had the TriangleArt Reference Tube amplifiers for about three months, and I promise they are everything I said in the review. They are without a doubt really luxury audio and are world-class in every way, and they are very state of the art when it comes to sound. The only other tube amp I have used that was built with this kind of state-of-the-art parts, fit and finish is the WAVAC EC300B which sells for $30,000 and has an output of only 10 watts.
These TriangleArt monoblock amplifiers also beautifully present the timbre of instruments. They enabled me to hear the nuance, great tone and dynamics of music. They brought beautiful music into my room, and I miss them now that they are gone.
Best Low-Powered Tube Amplifier – Linear Tube Audio Ultralinear Amplifier
It’s hard to know what more to say about the Linear Tube Audio Ultralinear Amplifier other than that it’s and incredible small amp. If your system can live with only 18 watts per channel this amp is really great. Let me share a comment about this amp from a reader who read my review:
Some time ago, after reading your review of the Pass XA30.8, I took it in for a month-long audition (a friend who was going to Europe lent it to me) and much to my surprise it bested a cultish Japanese tube amp I thought would have to pry from my cold fingers. (I was no newbie to your reviews . . . Three plus years of wonder with the XA30.8 I find myself moving to smaller quarters where the amp I can’t lift by myself just doesn’t fit. What to do? Then I read your review of the Ultralinear. Are your ears still golden? Dare I trust the Audio Beatnik again? Of course, I should and just in case he’s off his rocker there’s a 14-day home trial. Now, having taken delivery of the Ultralinear and settled into some early phase burn-in listening, I can say you are at one with your rocker. Thank you again. This amp is all you say it is and actually more–to my ears anyway. If you come across something finer please headline the review “Ultralinear Spoiler Alert” so I’ll be sure to avoid it. Just no fun thinking what could be better than this. And I can easily lift it with one hand.
Steve
Editor’s Note: Part Two of our awards will be published later this week.
