AudioCircle Year End Nominations

earlmarc · « **on:** 7 Jan 2006, 05:11 pm »

I wonder how many members would be interested in nominating products for "AudioCircle Year End Award". If enough of us put our heads together and came up with criteria, I think this would be an meaniful tool for audio consumers. What do you guys think about this idea?

woodsyi · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Jan 2006, 05:27 pm »

I don't know. Why pit one product against another which may produce some acrimonious posts. May be just nominations and a poll without comments? We can certainly have various categories of poster of the year award and poke fun at some of our posters as long as there are no personal name callings. Who would win the Most Prolific Poster/I Have No Life award?

Carlman · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jan 2006, 05:31 pm »

I think a 'best of '05' for gear award would be a fun topic... and if it's about 2-channel gear, this is the place... However, Earlmarc has a good suggestion too... a 'Superlative AC member' nomination would be pretty funny.... but not a 2-channel discussion.

-C

kfr01 · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Jan 2006, 07:47 pm »

I nominate the Exodus Audio DIY speaker kit line as New DIY Product Line of 2005.

It was a completely new product line for 2005 and now includes 6 different and highly competent yet affordable designs. The kits range from small 2-way bookshelves to a large 3-way floor standing design.

ted_b · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Jan 2006, 08:27 pm »

I nominate the Modwright SWL 9.0SE two-channel tubed preamp. It's an incredibly detailed yet warm and musical preamp that has created a new standard at $2k. My $.02 (plus $2k...

)

mcgsxr · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Jan 2006, 08:33 pm »

I'll break the rules, right off the bat!

I would like to split nominate two modders, for taking on the SB series of front end devices, and creating a couple of options, for folks seeking great sound, leveraging their existing PC, and a willingness to play with 11g, or ethernet cables.

Congrats to Vinnie at Red Wine Audio, and Wayne at Bolder Cables, for professionally competing, in the same sandbox, for modding this series of devies from Slim.

audiophile39 · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Jan 2006, 08:42 pm »

While I am putting my first audio system together, based on what I've heard with friends' systems, I nominate the RE Designs LNPA 150 monoblocs and SCPA preamp as best in their categories emeritus. The LNPA is, well, was, extremely reasonably priced at $3,000 for monoblocs and was the best-sounding solid state amp I've heard, delivering total transparency while devoid of any ss harshness. The SCPA is scary it's so neutral and quiet, and the only preamp I've heard that distinguishes the different layers of bass response while reproducing upper frequencies with brilliant accuracy.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 01:27 am »

Quote from: mcgsxr

Congrats to Vinnie at Red Wine Audio, and Wayne at Bolder Cables, for professionally competing, in the same sandbox, for modding this series of devies from Slim..

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your nomination!

Besides the hate mail to each other, I'd say Wayne and I are doing fine with both offering SB mods and being on Audiocircle. (totally joking about the hate mail

)

Thanks again,

warnerwh · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 03:38 am »

It's not fair, nathan's Sonic Rock's so far outperform anything else there's nothing to compare. After over thirty years in this hobby I've never been so amazed by a product. Sonic Rocks deliver a knockout blow against all comers any way you look at it.

Gordy · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 03:45 am »

Quote from: ted_b

I nominate the Modwright SWL 9.0SE two-channel tubed preamp. It's an incredibly detailed yet warm and musical preamp...

Second that! No question about it, most definitely the product of the year!

My second nomination is for the "DIY product that shoulda/coulda been more available" award, the Felicia balanced power conditioner. There is no other device (that I'm aware of) for $35 or so that will do so much to transform a system as two or three of these simple little buggers do!!! Note that you coulda/can build three for less than the price of a single Sonicrock...

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 10:01 am »

Quote from: woodsyi

Who would win the Most Prolific Poster/I Have No Life award?

Might just check the statistics......

[/list:u]

zybar · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 10:08 am »

Quote from: woodsyi

Who would win the Most Prolific Poster/I Have No Life award?

I believe that honor goes to our man of international mystery and intrigue:

MARBLES

Congrats!!

George

zybar · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 10:10 am »

My nominations would be:

Salk Sound HT3's
RWA Squeeze Box + Battery PS
Bolder Cable Squieeze Box + PS

Big shock I am sure...

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 10:19 am »

Quote from: zybar

Quote from: woodsyi
Who would win the Most Prolific Poster/I Have No Life award?

I believe that honor goes to our man of international mystery and intrigue:

MARBLES

Congrats!!

George

....Yep, congrats !!! You just beat out Rob Babcock....heading to the 5000 mark....(wow !! thats a lot of typing..

)

Rocket · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 10:58 am »

Hi,

I didn't even make the top 20 posters

but my nuforce thread was 1 and 2

.

I guess if i was recommending products i would have to say the following:

Modwright swl 9.0 preamp
Nuforce
Channel Islands d100/200

Rod

earlmarc · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 01:27 pm »

My nominations would be:

1. SilverFi Interconnects

2. Belles Reference 350A Amplifier

3. SAS Audio Labs 10B Preamplifier

eric the red · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 01:50 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Quote from: zybar
Quote from: woodsyi
Who would win the Most Prolific Poster/I Have No Life award?

I believe that honor goes to our man of international mystery and intrigue:

MARBLES

Congrats!!

George
....Yep, congrats !!! You just beat out Rob Babcock....heading to the 5000 mark....(wow !! thats a lot of typing.. )
Your right George....those Salk speakers are right up there as well....great looks....great sound !!! [/list:u]

Take Babcock's Vikings posts out of the equation and he's not even in the first three rounds of the draft

Am honored though to be in the top 13 with my Sharp post

Plus Wolfy doesn't count because he lives on the East Coast and posts sooner than the rest of us

Gordy · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 02:59 pm »

Wolfie doesn't sleep either

I was going to nominate the Salk Sound HT-3's, but didn't think they qualified as a 2005 product.

Should we have a catagory for best troll?

SoundIdeas has been the most consistent, but TheOne had a heck of an opening day

Carlman · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Jan 2006, 03:08 pm »

Well as to gear, the one product that truly opened my eyes this year was the Eastern Electric Phono preamp. That made me realize what vinyl was all about.

I don't know if the Sharp EX-111 was this year but I'd nominate that as a 'best second system for the money' award.

I agree about the Exodus speaker line someone mentioned earlier. I'm using the KIT41's which sound very good. (As part of a second system)

The Squeezebox was a real surprise to me. I had no interest in it until Loanwolf

let me borrow his... I'm now standing in line to buy one.

Oh, and last but FAR from least, I'd nominate Gregg Straley's cables as the best of '05... I completely forgot about them because, well.. I'm done with SC's... I have my last pair!

I only use digital IC's but Gregg's IC's make the best of '05 list also.

Thanks to everyone on AC for their contributions and letting us know about these new products!!!

-C

(Edited to add GS cables)