4 Best hifi Products I've heard in 2019 (that most people can afford)

[@huh00002]

The product that received your most praise in 2020 was the Magnepan speaker. Your evaluation was so detailed and vivid that I can experience the sound just listening to your description. Your unique style of a concise yet in-depth description of products draws 100K plus viewers. Congratulations!

[@jacekparuch7511]

My 3 audio discoveries in 2019: 1. I wanted to try R2R DAC and decided to buy Denafrips Ares II. I liked this 800 USD DAC more then 4,000$ Auralic Vega G1! 2. For bedroom system I wanted a bookshelf speakers with ribbon tweeter and after auditioning at the dealer I chose small Elac Vela 403 which sounded much better for me than large PSB Imagine T2! 3. In my main system with B&W 805D3 I put old Hegel H80 amplifier instead of twice as expensive Marantz KI Ruby and I liked Hegel much more! So after few months I decided to upgrade the amplifier to Hegel H390 (MQA capable and soon Roon Ready) and its superb. Frankly, I was surprisingly shocked to see that all 3 products were chosen by you as best in 2019 :) Thank you for all your reviews and all the best in 2020!

[@flashhog01]

Two things I heard in 2019 that blew me away. 1) The Peachtree Nova 150. I am very impressed with this amp/DAC/pre. It made every speaker connected to it sound so much cleaner, stronger bass, more output with less distortion and the additional voltage through the RCAs to my sub made it sound better. The DAC is great quality too. The Peachtree has many inputs and HT bypass and of course looks beautiful. I've had my eye on them for about 10 years and finally got one. It has lived up to everything I had hoped! 2) The power of DIY, how easy it is to build speakers and high quality crossovers (provided they are properly designed). It was amazing to see DIY speaker projects compete with products costing 5-10 times as much! For those who like to build things it is a great sense of satisfaction to hold/listen to something you built and choose from almost infinite ways to veneer/paint/texture/beautify/customize what it looks like. Happy building!

[@randyshakes]

The best thing I heard in 2019 was the Tannoy Revolution XT8F. So much so that I bought a pair. Incredible speakers! Fill the whole house with rich, detailed sound. Still dialing them in. Now I have to build a system for my daughter!

[@rolandlickert2904]

I left the A/B and A Integrated Amplifier world after 40 years and went for a NAD C388 D integrated amp. and never looked back. I'm so pleased, it controls my speakers very well, tight Bass , clean voices, and overall revealing in all aspects. Plenty of Power, software upgradable and can be further up grated with modules. Definitely future proof. My product for 2019.

[@rexer02]

Seeing magnepan’s here is what brought me to buying my mg1.4’s and see what magnepan was all about and to me that is letting the gear disappear and getting back to what brought me to hifi in the first place the music 💕

[@rlwings]

The best thing I can say to the audio community is that price does not always equal performance. Case and point are the Elac UF5 floorstander speakers. They shoot way beyond their price point and sound absolutely fantastic... I would also add that there comes a time when we need to learn how to stop obsessing on our components and start listening to the music. Build your system to the best of your ability, sure, but don't get stuck in 'gear acquisition syndrome'. Learn how to be happy with what you have accomplished. Otherwise we limit our experience to only 50% of the game. - And way to go on the 10,000 subs!

[@ronin43]

in the 80's i had a Yorx stereo which fostered my love for music and this year I finally got a used set of Kef LS 50's i'm very thankful to have them and it took a very long time. Keep working, stay strong, save, protect your hearing when doing anything that can hurt them, be humble, help others when you can and best of all remember it's all about the love of music. Cheers to everyone!

[@marcinkantoch7176]

For me the biggest surprise in 2019 was Allo USBridge Signature + Allo Shanti Linear Power Supply. I owned previously the original USBridge which made me understand that a computer is not the best source for music playback when connected to a usb dac. Allo USBridge Signature is a worthy sucessor. For very little money, that normal human beings can afford, you get a reference digital transport that sounds like real music. Very happy with the upgrade. If folks out there are still using a computer to connect to your precious dac, try using one of those Raspberry Pi digital transports. You won't be dissapointed!

[@Funkbus5]

My favorite discovery of 2019 is learning speaker crossover and building them. If you really want to improve your sound, get good speakers or build them yourself and design a crossover

[@keeferdog5617]

In 2019 the best component(s) I heard and PURCHASED is: 1. Primaluna Prologue Amplifier 2. Gigiwatt PowerPrime Conditioner (massive improvement in my 2 channel audio system) 3. Audio Hungary APR 204 Preamp 4. Cary Audio DAC 100t The preamp/amp and dac are all tubes and sounds GLORIOUS- finally - “I’M DONE UPGRADING” Subbed n shared- great channel Jay!!!

[@lostinbostom]

I bought a couple of different low priced speakers this year for my bedroom setup, RP600M's and Kef Q350's, I was really impressed with both speakers for the price but the q350's blew me away. As an owner of LS50's for a couple of years I was surprised at the difference between the 2 speakers with same Uni-Q setups. Q350's are nice and warm sounding in my bedroom . Love them. Keep up the good work

[@harryfattbak8740]

Best I have personally heard in 2019: 1. PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblock amplifiers. Soundstage and imaging step to another level with monoblocks vs. stereo amps. Effortless sound due to incredible control and LOTS of power. 2. ELAC Adante AW-61 standmount speakers. Wow. These do the magic thing of being SUPER present and resolving in the high-end without ever becoming harsh or piercing. 3. Audeze LCD-XC headphones. Best sound I have ever heard from any transducer. Ever. This includes all speakers and headphones. Detail retrieval is off the charts. They scale indefinitely - the better your amplification, the better they get. Happy New year and merry Christmas to everyone!

[@eriekhulseman495]

The best thing I heard this year was your channel. It’s a balanced, well thought out source of reviews for products that I can afford. It’s a great, fresh voice that gives useful information and insight based on experience and passion. Well done!

[@earthtribe786]

I'm just getting into vinyl and hifi stuff and I am currently saving and deciding what pieces to get for my first system. Over the last couple months I've watched all of your videos, so thank you for all the awesome info that has guided me into quality gear. So far I have purchased a mint 1981 Technics 1200 mk2 (500$) that looks like its never even been used! So, for Christmas I bought my 15 year old son an Audio Technica lp60 (99$) and a set of Edifier R1280T powered speakers (99$) ...on a tight budget since we're saving for our main system. We were not disappointed! It sounds great, so I just wanted to say to anyone wanting to get a kid into this stuff for cheap, you can't go wrong with this setup! and its the best thing I heard all year! lol

[@brianbridges458]

I have a friend that purchased a pair of the LRS and they are an impressive speaker! After hearing them I went back home and I could not forget the amazing soundstage and the imaging of this speaker! I know now I cannot live without a pair of Magnepans for my listening room too!!!

[@grburton1]

For me it was the Maggie’s .7s I got to hear them at a local Hifi store combined with an Atoll IN200 and wow. The depth and sound stage blew me away. For the price I had to purchase. Thanks for the great videos and keep up the great work.

[@MykiCantero]

We just moved in to a new house with a very high ceiling for the living room and my old Dynaudio Audience 82 couldn’t fill the room anymore. I bought the Golden Ear Triton Reference and used it with my Cambridge Audio 851N and 851W combination and this is the best system that I’ve owned so far. My recent subscription to Tidal increased my listening sessions. My interest in pairing the Triton Reference with Hegel led me to your channel. I love the honest reviews! Thanks!

[@MrPkimura]

The Focal Aria 906's caught my attention this past year to the point that they sit in my listening room. Vocals and string instruments (particularly) sound angelic.

[@bosmanragga51]

I just discovered your channel from a video titled "Meet Jay, even before he was a reviewer, he owned 60 pairs of speakers" and Im loving it so much. I love Speakers, Amps and other related audio equipment, thanks you are doing a good job

[@RyszawaJ]

I bought a marantz 1060, the sound was amazing and fun it really opened up the audio hobby to me. Getting to appreciate all my music again is what its all about. to anyone scared of vintage i wouldn't hesitate. Thank you and happy holidays

[@MangoZen]

I bought the Buchardt S400 early this year and continue to marvel at how wonderful this little speaker sounds...but if I had to be honest and pick the best product I heard in 2019, the one product that made me switch off my critical brain and demanded i listen with my heart, the product that kept me up at night pulling one more album out, was the Van den Hul Frog cartridge. The Frog has been around for years, and was always way beyond my means, but earlier this year I had the good fortune to find one with low hours at a good price. My dream cartridge did not disappoint. On my VPI table and arm, it continues to remind me why I stick with this crazy hobby of ours. The Frog is a great communicator of joy or heartbreak. It cuts through to the essence of the music. That’s my favorite product of 2019.

[@neilstewart8719]

Hello, I'm new to HiFi so really appreciate KZbin channels such as NBTS, and the one that led me to NBTS, Tomas and Stereo. There is so much to learn from these guys and they inspired me to update my, what I thought was decent system at the time, to a much better one this year. I didn't have much money to start my journey and I wanted a full size set-up for my medium/large size room so did some research on good valued used gear to try and maximize my budget. Found a pair of Ohm Walsh 4's from 1982 for sale and was blown away by their performance compared to my old system with 20 yr old JBL speakers. They were reconditioned by the factory and I picked them up for under $700. I love the full rage sound with all frequencies separated out for heightened clarity and that there's no need for a subwoofer. Plugged them into my Sony surround sound receiver and was immediately unhappy with how they sounded compared to the PS Audio amp the seller of the Ohm's had... so now I was on the hunt for an used integrated amp that could give me a better sound. Picked up a Peachtree Nova 150 for $800, which gave me everything I needed in 1 package and sounded much better than the Sony. The speakers then sounded more balanced, the sound stage opened up and it really tighten up the bass. It's also one of the most beautiful amps for my taste and aesthetically paired really well with my vintage looking Ohm's. So for less than $1500 I have a great start to my HiFi journey, I think. Next on my list is a tube preamp to add some warmth. Any suggestions? This HiFi stuff can be addicting. 😐

[@martincrete9745]

Its amazing to see you talk about the speakers and the amps the way you do. We can really tell you are passionnate, knowledgable and amazed at the products just from your words and delivery. Great video

[@FirstNameLastName-tb3rm]

what stood out to me the most for 2019? well, I don't buy a lot of gear. last year, I purchased a pair of Klipsch kg4. couldn't afford a genuine heritage series. however, I purchased (from the famous Klipsch aftermarket place that everyone knows) some crossover rebuild kits and tweeter replacements. after installing and listening to them for hours I would say it was a very good decision. it gave new life to my stereo. so, if you can't afford new gear, maybe you can always improve on what you have. happy listening!

[@aSlimtube]

Love your enthusiasm for this hobby. You and Thomas are a breadth of fresh air. Only "problem" with watching you and Thomas is that you are going to cost me money hanging out in y'alls channel. Every time i listen to you guys i book mark something. Now you have me drooling over the MAGNEPAN LRS. Congrats on the 10K and with your enthusiasm and honesty the sky is the limit. Cheers from Oklahoma.

[@nonametofame]

Going to separates was a game changer, especially with room correction software like dirac. The combination of quality equipment plus more thoughtful placement and measuring of your speakers and gear represents a paradigm shift i didn't think was possible on the consumer level. It's a great time to be in the hobby. The community is outrageously helpful.

[@michaelbrieden7389]

My Favorites in 2019: Lavardin Isx Reference integrated Amp , Bouchardt S400 Speaker, VPI Prime Scout with Goldnote Donatello Gold cartridge and all Time Favorit the Harbeth P3 ESR . Thank you for your fantastic Channel , Great Job ! Michael from Germany

[@reclermo]

The best for me in 2019 was the use of streaming services such as Tidal to truly provide the justification for going to a fully digital front end. The Chord Mojo DAC was a game-changer for me, especially as a value play... I would love to hear how my Primaluna Prologue Tube Amp could make the LRS sing!? You guys have been stating the Hegel 90 as an ideal match due to the high current and damping factor, but would love to see how these incredible speakers will sound with tubes. Merry Christmas and keep up these great videos!

[@Hohoho701]

I have been an headfier for a long time but looking to move to hifi. Your videos have helped alot with my transition into hifi. In 2019 ive heard the abyss ab-1266tc which was the best headphone ive heard so far(ive heard pretty much everything including the Orpheus). If anyone is interested in hifi but isnt able to commit to speakers due to wife approval, space, or neighbors, i highly recommend trying these headphones. While expensive for a pair of headphones, it is nothing compared to the end game of speakers.

[@mortenbonde-hansen2858]

I have heard the KEF R3. I was so good to actually hear them, instead of just viewing reviews. They do really sound great. I am saving up for them as my next upgrade.

[@ukbij]

This combination. Buchardt S400 with IOTAVX SA3 and PA3. They are such a complete package . They both are direct to consumer products . High on value for money. understated, classy and disappear only to make beautiful sounding music .made by genuine, passionate people.That is how imo hi end hi-fi needs to be made affordable. I have discovered more new music with them over 4months of owning them than over last 5years. Music is back and how.

[@anshdeepak7284]

This is my dream set up!!!

[@ukbij]

@@sushmaswamy5060 love the vocals. I had the RP 600M to compare with. The Klipsch are a very forward sounding speakers. Very alive. A bit in your face and why i returned them. In comparison the buchardts are more composed and rendered back in the soundstage. Very clear with authority but not overpowering. Just comes together well with the rest of the music beautifully.The vocals are a joy imo.

[@fred28123]

Well, I'm just getting into this stuff, so I can't say I've heard much, but I bought my first pair of decent speakers Klipsch R-41PM Powered Bookshelf Speaker, for under 300.00 and now I'm hooked. Now I'm looking to move up to good passive speakers and a separate amplifier. The two top contenders right now are the Klipsch RP-600M and the Magnepan LRS, which I have to say I am absolutely fascinated with. Thanks for educating a novice like me. Happy New Year and good luck to everyone!

[@kentcroy1609]

Best I’ve heard this year was the MBL flagship speakers, all MBL electronics, unbelievable sound stage, my new best I’ve ever heard

[@JuanRomanMagdaraog]

I don't listen to a lot of different gear, but I bought a ton of vinyl this year, listened to music, discovered a lot of new music! That being said, I just upgraded my turntable cartridge yesterday! A Nagaoka MP-110. So far, so good. That Billie integrated looks awesome, though.

[@Celestialrob]

Every year I hear the same system in my home. It’s an active Naim setup with a turntable. It’s the most involving sound I have ever heard with vice like grip on rhythm and attack and recovery that is rare. If you love jazz, blues, rock it’s phenomenal. Just discovered your channel. Nice work.

[@tioga2316]

Congrats on 10k subscribers. In 2019 I purchased the Buchardt S400 speakers (color black) to use for front left & right channels (along with the Schiit Vidar amp and a HSU VTF-2 MK5 subwoofer). A friend who has played electric & acoustic guitar in a band for 15 years came by to hear the speakers. He commented on how clear the sound was and how good the dispersion was. The speakers continued to improve during the first 200 hours of break-in (I listen with the grills off). There seems to be little difference on whether you face the speakers square or toe-in toward the listener. I toe-in the speakers slightly, aimed to the left and right of the listener. The sound stage is wide, and I can typically identify what instrument is playing. Here are some other considerations about the company. I've emailed Mads, the founder, and have received responses in 1-2 business days. The speakers have a 10-year warranty, there's no additional charge for shipping, 30 days to return for refund if not happy (the company pays for the return shipping), and no tax for shipping to North America. When I ordered in Mar 2019, because the speakers would be out of stock until Jun 2019, a discount was offered. Then in Jun I received an email that since there was a production issue, the choice was to take delivery in Jul or agree to wait until Sep 2019 and get an additional discount if one waited until Sep. I took the Sep option (happened to be good timing for me since I was going to be out of town part of Jul-Aug). The total discount was 25% - what company does this. Even without the discounts that I received thru fortunate timing, I consider these speakers to be an excellent value for the money.

[@CostasLivadiotis]

Merry Christmas to The "The Next Best Thing Studio" crew who work hard on bringing us the the reviews online ever! I only trust you!!! No one else... You are sincere and honest in your reviews. You will NOT kiss up to anyone. You are the ones to fully trust...I would love to own the Maggies...Thank you!!!

[@pkunz1]

Great year end recap of notable products---I would also mention the Buchardt speakers too! I like that you have duo sessions with Thomas --- you have a great rapport with him and its helpful getting mutual takes on gear.

[@davehallam9038]

I've been listening to upgraded (Model 3000 driver level) Ohm Acoustics Model F speakers for about 4 months now. Some of you may know of them and the Walsh driver which generates a 360 degree (horizontal) sound field. I couldn't afford them when the F first appeared in the 70's - it's great to be able to listen to them, updated, now. Large sweet spot, of course, substantial bass, natural mids on male and female vocals, and I haven't heard a harsh note out of the tweeter (a separate driver from the Walsh). (My old ears are still pretty good at noticing distortion ;) ). Ohm offers old enclosures of their past models (like my Fs) fully rebuilt with their latest drivers. I like this channel for its emphasis on high grade gear that is more affordable to the majority of music lovers. Keep going, 20,000 soon!

[@HoomanR17]

The thing(s) that stood out to me this year happened while attending Rocky Mountain festival in Denver this year, (1) I got a chance to listen to the Innuos PhoenixUSB Reclocker. This is what it didn't do to the music, it didn't make the music sound better, improve the imaging, improve the soundstage, it didn't make the base tighter, it didn't make make it more "analog", but what it did was make it so that my shoulders dropped and my body relaxed when I listed to the re-clocked music. That was huge. What was cool was that what I felt exactly matched the marketing material by Innuos. In this hobby there are layers of subtlety and for each of us, may represent something we wish to squeeze out of our system (2) At the PSAudio booth , Micheal Fremer played a number of records, some original pressing, along with the respective re-issues from digital sources and it was amazingly discernible the difference.. again to some subtle and to others not so, but it showed how important it is to be able to hear and do A/B comparisons in person which is a shame in the age of online shopping.

[@benjaminsturgeon2147]

2019 brought several realization to me in audio: 1 a Marantz 1060 integrated is an amazing preamp paired w class d and ab. 2 barely used audio is amazingLy affordable and can be an incredible value (as long as you follow Jay’s rules for used audio),& 3, TRY EVERY SPEAKER DESIGN if you can!! Dipole ribbons, open baffle dynamic designs, time/phase coherent priority (Thiel and Green Mountain Audio designs), Infinite baffle, and Omni-polar designs. I lack electrostatics at this point. Finally, there is NO perfect set up. Have a few set ups to tailor you sound to your music whims. Variety is the spice! Thanks for the great videos NBT!!

[@elileichter5395]

Sincerely... the one item I heard beyond its price point was the new Schiit Freya+. A wholesome combination of tube sound With an incredible introduction of quiet sound from a preamplifier that’s way beyond what it should sound like at that price point of $899. Used in both tube and straight… Definitely worth a listen. I have heard the Magnepan LRS with the system combo of the Schiit Freya+ and Schiit Vidar...A sweet combination I would love to obtain. Clarity, Soundstage, Power and Depth...Would love to have that! Love your videos and glad you are obtaining the viewership you deserve. Great work!

[@jaytorborg812]

After watching Dannie Ritchie's Tuesday Tech Talk videos on New Record Day, I built a set of NX-Oticas from GR Research. Cost is under $2500 including other supplies, but they are by far the best sounding speakers I've ever owned, and that includes a number of speakers in the $10K to $20K range such as Revel Studios, Magneplaner Tympani IVs, and Duntech Sovereigns. If you're up for a relatively easy DIY project and have the space for these speakers, they are absolutely tremendous. Incredible clarity, deep airy sound stage, fabulous dynamics, and easy to drive (93db/w). I also built a pair of GR Research's triple servo open baffle subs. These aren't absolutely necessary with the NX-Oticas, but the combination delivers the best bass I've ever heard at any price - incredible detail and clarity that's deep and powerful without any boxiness. These speakers have been around for a few years, so not new for 2019, but I only recently found out about them. They don't get a lot of publicity because you have to put them together yourself. But if you are willing to put in a little time - no fancy tools required other than a few large clamps to glue them up - you'll end up with an absolutely tremendous value. It took me about 50 hours to build both the NX-Oticas and the stereo subs, most of which was sanding/painting the cabinets and building the NX-Otica crossovers.

[@agustinisip5586]

The LRS is now a legit candidate for the HIgh End Audio Hall Of Fame! It can now join the elite company of legendary affordable components such as the Spica TC50s, NAD 3020, Rega Planar 3, AT OC9, Denon DL 103, etc.. You can now enter the world of high end audio for such as measly price of admission. To put things into perspective, just bought a "Record Clamp" from Basis for $650! Just a word of caution: Don't expect the LRSs to sound spectacular right out of the box; you need to invest time and effort to make them sound their best. Even though they are cheap, they deserve the best in ancillary equipment. Pay particular attention to placement, cabling and amplification. Once optimally set up, these transducers will mesmerize you with a sound that is quite incredible. They have some sonic qualities that equal or surpass some of the world's best speakers, regardless of price! My jaw dropped to the floor the first time I heard them. They have that sonic X factor, that elusive naturalness in sound that fools you to think you are hearing the real thing! This is what we audiofools endlessly chase and willingly pay for for gazzillions of dollars! Magnepan is about to make a killing!

[@mikkol79]

In 2019 I was impressed by: -ZMF Auteur headphones -PMC twenty5.23 floorstanding speakers -Arendal Subwoofer 2 -Harbeth Compact 7 ES-3 40th Anniversary

[@fflintstone123]

Love the way you show your passion and also break down the practical aspects of the products you review. I'm getting back into the HiFi realm after being gone for 100 years (well maybe 40 years), it's been a complete surprise to hear just how good speakers are these days! I grew up in MN - not too far from White Bear Lake (home of Magnapan). The LRSs would be the perfect way get started on a system that will outlast my hearing and keep up with anything I can afford to put in front of it. Thanks for your dedication, honesty, knowledge and joy that you bring to every one of yoy reviews. Wishing you joy and prosperity for 2020! Gratefully yours.... Dan

[@timtrudeau163]

I have a Hegel H160 driving a pair of Ohm Walsh 2000. My surprise of the year was the Hegel H190. It is a significant improvement over later model. The H160 is still a remarkable performer. To make their new amp quieter, with a blacker background provides this shimmering clarity which truly shines. Another surprise of the year was the new KEF R series. Everyone of them grabbed my attention. Definitely a speaker I would love to put in my listening space someday.

[@mcmedia7303]

at such a young age, audiophile reviewer with an extensive knowledge of audio gears and sound. just amazing!!

[@colossalclean432]

I was impressed with the $799 USD 110 wpc@8 ohm outlaw RR2160 stereo receiver . It is loaded with features and has a retro look and drove the Maggie's with ease.

[@wildersoncheriscar1875]

Outlaw rr2160 offers very good value.

[@tonyharrison2542]

I totally agree with your assessment of the Magnepan LRS speakers. I heard them at the Capital Audiofest 2019 show in Maryland and was absolutely stunned by their performance. They truly are amazing and the price is just insanely affordable. Aside from the LRS speakers, the McGary line of tube amplifiers are equally amazing. Both of their models are relatively low powered, but can blow you out of the room with texture, dynamics, transparency, soundstage and speed.

[@patrickjeffrey1839]

Best wishes for 2020! Thank you so so much for your great contribution to this community of passionate people. My personal standout product of 2019 is the Denafrips ARES II. In this increasingly digital world, this little gem makes digital sources so enjoyable to listen to for such an accessible price. This year, my hat's off to Denafrips.

[@jef.raymond]

For me , the best revelation it's when I plugged and configured the minidsp SHD studio. Room correction via dirac live and streamer into one package. No more boomy bass and great focus and nothing loose on the sound stage side. I was at first skeptical but after spending thousands on room correction panel...now I can enjoy the music the way it was intended. Minidsp shd✓ Hegel H90✓ Buchardt S400✓

[@kaneda7katsuragi]

Tried a bunch of stuff this year... dac's - bifrost mb, chord mojo, and marantz na6006. Integrated amps - nad c368/c388 , denon pma-1600ne, yamaha rn803/as801, and marantz pm8006. Speakers - klipsch rp600m and ML esl's (electromotions). Favorite of 2019? The marantz na6006/pm8006 combo (with my ls50s). Great sound and its flexible. Can connect an external dac or preamp or power amp down the road. The denon had a nice punch but no preout's for future expansion... Biggest surprise - the discounts that can be had on new equipment. Nad C388 can be bought new ($CDN) for $1700, pm8006 $1350, yamaha rn803 $850.... hard to pay full price when you know the profit margin involved... Biggest let down - Martin logan electrostatic panels can wrinkle and degrade from regular use.... (sticking with Maggies from now on).

[@richardblaauwgeers4349]

Best change in 2019, went from marantz pm6006 to xtz a2-300. The marantz was noisy. The XTZ is pitchblack and very grippy in the bottomend. I love it

[@robertm8518]

Happy New Year! The Denafrips Ares 2 has me very interested especially that Thomas drove >6 hours to pick it up from you. It’s great that all you guys collaborate and that we get to hear all your opinions. Please keep it up! Thanks for your excellent reviews.

[@MrChrokodil]

For a small office setup: * All in one amplifier: Naim Uniti Atom (excellent convenience and sound) * Desktop speakers: Gallo Strada 2 (Sennheiser HD800 equivalents) * Alternative speakers: Harbeth P3ESR (Relaxing and beautiful to look at) All are older products but I heard and learned to love them during this year as I am learning about speakers after having moved away from headphones.

[@ibassnote]

The most important “product” of 2019 is the collective spirit and support of the vast number of audiophile KZbin channels and podcast. The mutual respect displayed in this niche community is truly a model for other communities of likeminded people who come together for the love of a particular passion. I have noticed “competing” reviewers often refer to other well-known reviewers with such a high level of respect, even in disagreement, and I find it so refreshing in theses somewhat divisive times. This would include race/gender/economic differences. Here in the audiophile community these differences are either ignored or openly celebrated. I can enjoy any number of fine channels without having to worry about this kind of nonsense. This simply allows us to share information and a passion for music and sound which is exactly what we need now and forever moving forward.

[@charlesjones2033]

I thought this video was very informative for products that are affordable for the average person. They are all great products. I enjoyed the sound of the 1,7 maggies with the Hegel 190. The best sound I've heard in long time. So real and natural. Thanks for what you are providing us with this useful information. Well done

[@drfuzz1756]

Always appreciate your honesty in your reviews because you don't always like everything that you review and you say what you really believe. For me, the HiFi Man Sundara headphones were quite a pleasant surprize. I would have to say that listening to them was like wearing a super miniature pair of planar speakers on your head.

[@uduman]

The product that really impressed me in 2019 are horn speakers. It really opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. I am just doing hifi on a budget. I took a chance on the Klipsch R51 reference monitors and was blown away by its dynamics. Actually, a bit to much dynamic, but adding a subwoofer woks. I am happy with my Schiit set up right now and see what happens next. Great job. Good reviews and congratulations!

[@rig4365]

I saw a demo of the top of the line Technics SL1000R turntable....88lbs! Awesome engineering. I heard the Hegel at Toronto Audio Fest paired with Totem Element tower speakers and was amazed at the soundstage. The first time that I actually liked the sound of the Element speakers. Thanks for your recommendations in this video. Looking forward to seeing the review of the integrated amp.

[@johnpaylo879]

Thanks!

[@alexbarquin9]

For me, the best speaker i heard in 2019 would be the SVS PB-2000 subwoofer. This sub can shake an entire house and sounds good. I can't imagine what the PB16 ultra's can do. But for a mid tier entry level sub, can't go wrong with it. They have upgraded the 2000 series to a 'Pro' version which adds more power as well as app connectivity to control the sub via phone or tablet. Keep up the good work! Truly enjoyed your vids.

[@thestackcash01]

Best product I have heard all year has actually been the BIC F12 subwoofer - I know, it’s quite old but it’s an amazing sub for the price. Made my entire system shine like I could not believe. Thanks for doing these giveaways!

[@marcl8814]

The 2 products I have purchased in 2019 which you have also reviewed I absolutely am loving are the Klipsch rp600m and the Denafrips Ares 2. Merry Christmas to everyone here...

[@jef.raymond]

I own a Hegel H90 with Buchardt S400... amazing experience for my first experience as an audiophile. Do you think the H90 could drive the Magnapan the right way ?

[@btedd]

If I remember from a previous review, the Hegel made the Magnepans come alive.

[@johndekker4227]

How long have you had them? What type of music ? require sub? with the Buchardt stands? regular or special edition which has different crossover caps. I am also seriously considering them. thx

[@jef.raymond]

@@johndekker4227 This is the combo I'm using for the past 5 months. Regular version of the S400 on my own stand.... listening too much type of music... can't choose !-). It's a wow everytime I'm turning on the system. You just can't go wrong with this combo imo.

[@johndekker4227]

@@jef.raymond thanks helps

[@kylep9596]

I wasn't aware that budget hifi was possible until my friend demoed his rp600m setup and it absolutely knocked my socks off.

[@dell177]

I'm in my 70's and I finally bought a set of interconnects that cost more than $15, I always thought any reasonably well made interconnect was just fine (blue jeans or monoprice). A month ago I found a special on Morrow Audio interconnects for half off with a 30 day return option and I bit. I bought 3 sets of the lowest tier to go between the DAC and CD player to my Rogue RP5 preamp and a longer one from the Rogue to my PS Audio m700 monoblocks. They came in a few days and i was impressed, everything was more open and it seemed the level of clarity took a jump up. I never expected this kind of improvement in the sound form cables that cost me $50 (0.5 meter) and $100 (2 meter). They will have to pry these from my cold dead hands. This just proves you have to be willing to challenge old firmly held beliefs because you just might be wrong.

[@Andrew.Z34]

What stood out for me this year was my return to tube amplification but in a budget and bang for the buck way. I went with Canada's very own, Musical Paradise MP-301 Mk3 Deluxe powering up a Zu Audio Omen Dirty Weekend Mk2 with a NHT Classic 10 Sub (Currently saving for a better sub) but this will do for now. Using Tung-sol's 7581A and GE 6SJ7 tubes just made me grin in so many ways that I just can't help but listen endlessly to my favourite CDs. I've missed so many o the TV series I follow but I don't care anymore. :) Congrats for hitting a new milestone on subscribers.

[@54tristin]

The thing I’ve been most impressed with is the sound of my Magnapan 0.7 after 3 month’s of moving them around I would still be dancing with them if it were not for me hearing your video on Maggie placement. Hands down best speaker in its price range!

[@MichelLinschoten]

Bennett Lewis hehe fun to see you new magnepan owners

[@jimmiferfreddette8583]

2019 has been my intro year to high quality audio. Before now I considered Beats and expensive Bluetooth speakers to be high end audio, lol I have been living in my local audio shop and have listened to a decent amount of speakers this year. As a new comer to the audio world I would say the biggest lesson I learned is to... take it slow and don’t overspend initially (there will be plenty of time for that!). You may spend a lot of money on components that may be good but don’t make the sound you enjoy. It seemed like every time I was sure I had figured out my favorite sound and setup, the next time I heard something that was new to me, I was blown away and had to change my mind. What I figured out is... all high quality audio, regardless of price, is amazing and fun. I bought my first set up which was a pair of 1990s, ADS L880/2s, they have an incredible mid range. I powered it with an Harmon Kardon integrated amp with a schiit Dac. I’ve spent some time with it, appreciate what it has had to offer me and am now ready to change things up! Lol hopefully with some Maggis. I may buy them even if I don’t win. But if I do, I can put that money toward a new tube amp. Thank you for your content, it really is some of the best in the game. O and do more videos with Thomas you two are a good combo!

[@orwhat24]

My buy of the year was a Parasound NewClassic with their Zpre3 preamp, powering a pair of Emotiva T1s. Got everything on sale, and have to say that nothing disappoints. This system - being a two channel setup- does two things really well. It’s a great home “home theater” combo despite being just two channel. And if you want to host a dance party or just rock out, the thing just gets better and better with volume. I think I’m in 1300 US and am quite pleased with the system.

[@gunvantkathrotiya]

Recently auditioned McIntosh 7200 with B&W, the command this amp have is something and those VU meter are to die for. It bring back some childhood memories of my dad’s cassette deck. Still a long way from getting that system to home.

[@arcforceworld]

I watch these videos like the way most guys watch pr0n. You sit there and get to play with all this awesome hardware while us mortals are stuck here wishing we were in your shoes. LOL! I'm currently rocking an SMSL sa98E for my amp to a pair of Sony bookshelf speakers that i bought used on FB Marketplace. Thats about as HiFi as I'll ever get due to being a disabled pesant. But it's all good. At least we have your videos to live vicariously thru you. =D

[@UnCholoContraElMundo]

Is it better the billie integrated amplifier or the atoll in100?

[@mikecees2230]

FWIW I heard the IN200SE and found it had a beautiful rich sound. Bass was a bit flabby though. For the price that Billie amp sure looks interesting. I'll make sure to check it out after the holidays.

[@z-mad3435]

For me it was KEF LS50 wireless. The sheer value of the sound and amplification provided was amazing. All the qualities of LS 50 (primarily imaging and detail) enhanced with the optimized amplification. Tough to beat for the money and affordable for most of us "mortals".

[@Waldorfinho]

The best hi-fi experience I've had this year was listening to a pair of Revel F226Be speakers at the AudioVideo show in Warsaw. Being a budget-minded music enthusiast myself, this has been the first time I've heard something this expensive (8k Eur for the speakers + about twice that for what they were connected to) and thought to myself: "I wish they were cheaper, but it's truly the best thing I've ever heard -- and now I have to figure out a way to afford it" :) I found them a bit lacking in bass (they're not very large), but me and my buddies kept returning to the listening room where they were set up, even after hearing systems in the show which cost several times more. The best I can describe the experience is "natural, neutral, effortless, transparent": the speakers completely disappeared acoustically, leaving the band or the solo vocalist just virtually standing there and playing/singing to you, as if they were there (I keep reading about such experiences, but it was a first for me). I sat there for 90 minutes and felt like I could have done so for the whole day without getting tired or bored.

[@retiredminimalist1937]

Hi, I bought the Edifier R1280T powered speakers for my computer. I stream music off Amazon and the bang for the buck is phenominal. Crisp and clean in the midrange. just enough bass. I love these speakers and highly recommended.

[@SuperMcgenius]

Thanks for your videos, you asked for products and one of the things is that there is no one product, it is about synergy and you help people get that . The best is feeling joy when all the pieces make sense. So my product of the year is a balance,well put together. Audio dealers can do this in a way that cannot be done online. So my product of the the year is caring audio stores. ❤️

[@toddpalmer634]

My best for 2019 is the Buchardt s400's, I know they were intro'd in 2018, but usually I'm a year in the rears due to gathering up all my pennies to make the purchase :), I also acquired a a pair of Totem Dreamcatchers, they are tiny and I am dumbfounded by the sound that comes out of them, it really makes me curious as to what the higher end models in the Totem fleet are capable of. Happy to become a subscriber, keep up the good work and have a great 2020!

[@tedmanasa907]

In 2019, I heard the Topping D3x Pro, which provides much more low end power and control for my Oppo PM-3 planar magnetics than my faithful AudioQuest Dragonfly Red DAC/amp that I have been using for 5 years. I love that little $219 desktop amp for headphones and am looking forward to trying it out on even better headphones. Congrats on hitting 10k subscribers! Really enjoy your love for audio and your honest talk. Here’s to 50k subscribers in 2020!

[@davidmcginnis2998]

The best thing I’ve heard in 2019 is your KZbin channel!You have a good thing going very enjoyable to watch thanks and have a great 2020.

[@heplerstudio9809]

This is a great time for those who enjoy great audio. Never in my lifetime is so much information available and combined with an unbelievable array of quality products at affordable prices. Going forward I would like to see from this channel, maybe crossover speakers and setups for people that double duty their systems for 2 channel listening and movie watching. Not necessarily full multi channel home theater, but good setups for both. But keep up the info flow.

[@ranelime]

This video sealed the deal. The Magnepan is definitely number one on my next year's resolution. Hopefully one day the Hegel 190 as well. Heard that amp, can't shake it since. I think the Buchardt S400 deserves a spot at this video as well

[@cliffd7164]

The two products that I have heard the most about this year are the LRS speakers and the Denafrips Ares II. I purchased Magnepan 10 QR's years ago for a home theater and enjoy them for stereo as well so my first step will be to add the Ares II to the 10 QR setup to build on what I have. But swapping out the 10QR for the LRS might be phase 2. Of course now you have me interested in Hagel! Oh well, it is Christmas...

[@HOBOGiant]

Thanks for sharing your best of 2019! An integrated amp that I was impressed with this year was the Boyuu Reisong that Sean over at Zero Fidelity turned me onto. I always wanted a tube amp but they are generally very expensive so this amp was an affordable way to try them out...have not been disappointed and my wife really likes the look of it too...right now I use it as a second system in the living room. Best of luck in 2020!

[@alfredoltinocol]

Hi for me it was the Polk Lsim 707´s, incredible speakers with a very strong bass and quite detailed in the mid and highs. I´m not an audiophile so probably don´t get most of the nuances but the difference on my set up is astounding. I´m intrigued by the IOTAVX PA3.

[@mpitogo]

Anthony Martino wow 6x 707! I also own the 707 and know it is great but more so now a better value speaker based on the recent clearance prices.

[@jimhanson7556]

Hagel h190- Agreed! super great value. I feel no reason to consider separates after hearing this with Magnepan 1.7's. The openness was stunning, and I love the simple clean industrial design.

[@mickeyparker]

Instead of looking for the product of the year 2019 I also consider looking into the used market. I was at a friends house the other day, he had a vintage system, an older Sony CD-Player into an 80's Hitachi preamp going into a beautiful Beard P35 tube poweramp feeding some older restored Allison Nine speakers. He played Tears for Fears "The Seeds of Love". I've never heard such a lush sound, was lots of fun!

[@alext2933]

The Hegel H190 has a damping factor of over 4000, not 2000, as stated here (so actually even more amazing). Also, it is actually only a streaming end point for DNLA, Spotify connect or Apple Airplay, it is not actually a streamer but can be streamed to. The H390 also adds MQA. Roon (as an endpoint) is on the way through an update. I have listened to both the H190 and H390 and both are wonderful. If you need power these are for you. The 190 is 150w at 8 ohms and 250 at 4 but the 390 is a beast at 250w at 8 ohms and a mahoosive 420w at 4 ohms (and dual mono), all in a compact enclosure. Please review. Merry Christmas. Really enjoying the channel.

[@Sexytoyboy69]

Alex Tomlins I Agree. Ive a H390 and its amazing in my setup with Focal Aria 936. But tast is different and rooms to. Just waiting for Roon ready to be ready🤓

[@alext2933]

@@Sexytoyboy69 I have tried the 390 with my ProAc's D30R, also Amphion 7LS, Kudos Super 20A and Kudos Titan 606's. It sounded great with all of them. Super control with great flexibity. Love them hemp drivers on your speakers.

[@54tristin]

I have a pair of .7 need a new preamp. Any suggestions ?

[@mnmlist1454]

Sorry for being late to the party 😊. The best products I heard in 2019 were a Cayin tube amp powering a pair of Harbeth P3ESR. I heard this combo at the KL Int’l AV Show. They were not even products on demo but they were playing audiophile CDs on sale in one of the showrooms. I had listened to much more expensive equipments in the other showrooms but the sound of the Cayin & the Harbeth combo just blew me away. Although they were playing some Chinese songs which I could not understand, I was totally mesmerised by how natural & engaging they sounded. It was a truly alluring experience & needless to say, I spent the longest time in this room. Alas, they are priced beyond my pay grade. So I did the NEXT BEST THING ; I went online & bought myself something more affordable based on the good reviews by Sean of Zero Fidelity - the Paiyon P4 -2.0 speakers & the Boyuu Reisong A10 tube amp. I do love how they sound but I can’t help but still dream of owning the Harbeth & the Cayin one day; which explains my current daily diet of instant ramen 😊.

[@helgar791]

The best audio product I've heard this year is the AudioDesk Systeme Pro. Nothing else comes close. Next was adding a Minus K vibration isolation platform for my preamp (I already have one under my turntable). All Maggies need space behind and to its sides to be effective, preferably 3 feet on all sides. Maggie's also benefit from an upgrade in bracing and feet. It's just great to see someone of your age with educated ears so passionate about audio.

[@marcdostie8409]

I recently visited an audio shop and I was pleasantly surprised with both the finish and the sound of the Q Acoustics 3050i. When I found out the pair was less than a thousand I was really impressed. I had never heard of them before, but it's great to see sub-1000 speakers that look and sound great.

[@BeanieHead1500]

Running my Leben 300 12watt tube amp into a friend's Klipsch RP600M was my surprise of 2019 and made me want to run out to buy a pair for myself. Second surprise was a cheap Topping D30 DAC paired with a TASCAM CD200 ... my CDs came alive.

[@iamyuanwu]

The best gear I heard this year is the Vivid Kaya 45 at a friend's place (driven by Chord Blu mk2, DAVE, Esoteric F-03. A setup beyong affordable range though). Most speakers usually fall into one of these two: they are either trying to grab your attention all the time (you can't sit and read while listening), or too mellow or smooth and fades into the background (can't help but read something while listening). Vivid Kaya does both. Fades into the background when you're reading or talking or doing something, but when you sit and listen you can't help but be mesmerised by its effortless way of presenting music. And the bass, oh my...you'd never imagine such a cultured and clean sounding speaker can plummet the earth with such endless raw energy. And it rocked liked a stadium speakers. It was absolutely captivating and emotional! I later read up in the design and found that a great amount of effort was done to reduce distortion in the speaker. And I appreciate that this translates into a wonderful sounding speakers.

[@Jassethi03]

Good stuff. Keep it coming and congrats on 10K subs. For me in 2019 it was changing the power tubes in my Primaluna Integrated HP amplifier. I moved to the Tung Sol EL34B power tubes and was pleasantly surprised. Really balanced tube. I would have loved to try the NOS EL34’s but crazy pricing especially since I would have had to change 8 tubes.

[@DawidDoesTechStuff]

I got my hands on a pair of Micca RB48's. They are really an amazing value. They are definitely the best audio product I interacted with in 2019. They have surprising lowend for 4 inch drivers and they do a pretty great job at imaging. They show that you don't need to spend a huge amount to get great audio. Kind of like the Magnepans.

[@davidbaxter6843]

I would like to congratulate you on hitting the 10,000 subscriber mark. I really do love the videos and have learned so much. As like most people, I have a budget, but try different items yearly. I purchase most Items used. I love a deal and have had great luck in the used market. Amazing what you can find. I like many others do not have a dedicated listening room, but have to share equipment with my home theater. My main towers are B&W 605. I also have the B&W AWS3000 sub along with a host of other B&W speakers making up a 7.2.4 system. Recently I added a Parasound A21 to the system to power the mains. This took over duty from my Rotel 1075. I was surprised how it changed the system. The mid bass was crisper, the lows were punchier, and the music just seemed to open up. So for me, even though the is not a new product, it is my favorite of the year. I would also like to encourage people to get into the hobby. I know it can be expensive, but, I have put a $20,000 total home theater system together for about $7000. There was some luck but not every component has to be perfect. A great example is I recently had a Garand Lab 80 turntable rebuilt. This is. Not considered autophile, but it has sentimental value and that is there turntable I use. Every time I spin a record it means something to me and I enjoy it. Is it perfect, no, but it is great to me for many reasons. I also want to comment that I love that your a young person with so much knowledge and passion. We need as many young people in this hobby as we can get. So thank you for that. Encourage all your friends. Happy new year to everyone.