It’s Awards time here at Sound+Image! Our Awards have been presented every year since 1989, so this is our 38th collection of winners, representing the stand-out products which have especially thrilled us with their performance over the last year of equipment reviews and tests for all our titles and reviewers across Sound+Image, Australian Hi-Fi, our special editions Audio Esoterica and Best Buys Audio & AV, both their print editions and up on our Australian corners of whathifi.com/au and techradar.
The crystal trophies were handed out at our Award cocktail evening during the recent Australian Hi-Fi Show in Sydney, and now it’s time to go fully public with the 40+ winners, listed in full here, and presented in our Special Awards Issue (available in print and digital) together with all their review-based details of strengths and any foibles to be aware of: sometimes a particular winner may not be for everyone – but it might be perfect for you!
It’s a celebration of the best and best-value consumer audio and AV products available in the Australian market today, and our top recommendations of the year. Let's get into the winners! (Use the side 'jump list' to get to the sections you want to see first!)
VINYL
TURNTABLE OF THE YEAR UNDER A$5000
Audio-Technica AT-LPA2
A$3199
Judges' comment: “An excellent moving-coil cartridge and an external power supply assist the fine performance here, while this turntable’s acrylic beauty is clear for all to see.”
TURNTABLE OF THE YEAR OVER A$5000
E.A.T. F-Dur / F-Note
A$18,999
Judges' comment: “F-Dur is German for F-Major. And this is a major turntable, especially with the full 12-inch F-Note tonearm, making for superb vinyl sound in every respect.”
PHONO STAGE OF THE YEAR
Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl
A$7200
Judges' comment: “The M8x, dual mono and fully balanced from input to output, takes Musical Fidelity’s phono EQ to new levels of flexibility and performance.
DIGITAL
STREAMER OF THE YEAR
Silent Angel Bremen SL1 Plus
A$1690
Judges' comment: “A straightforward streamer with sound quality at its heart while bringing easy and neat app-based streaming from online sources and UPnP.”
STREAMER/DAC OF THE YEAR
Aurender A1000
A$6495
Judges' comment: "A preamplifier for digital inputs, a streamer for music services, a buffering server for your own music files, all at exceptional audiophile levels of music reproduction.”
RECORDER OF THE YEAR
Zoom H5studio
A$669
Judges' comment: "While we await the full resurgence of cassette tape, might we instead suggest this exceptional 4-track high-res recorder, with volume-free 32-bit floating recording. Zoom’s H5studio represents amazing value."
AMPLIFIERS
AMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR UNDER A$1500
Denon Home Amp
A$1199
Judges' comment: “In our recent group test of smart amps, the Denon Home showed clear value as a first ‘just-add-speakers’ streaming hi-fi, or the start of something bigger.”
AMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR A$1500-A$5000
Musical Fidelity B1xi
A$1600
Judges' comment: “Musical Fidelity’s most affordable hi-fi amp is reborn with modern looks, HDMI ARC and digital inputs, but still very much a classic stereo amp for great music.”
AMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR A$5000-A$10,000
Arcam SA35
A$6495
Judges' comment: “A fantastic streaming amplifier for a central hub role in a system, well-equipped and with 5th-generation Class G delivering a glorious, engaging sound.”
AMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR OVER A$10,000
Accuphase E-800S
A$26,000
Judges' comment: “A no-compromise amplifier, magnificent in every sense of the word: enormously powerful, totally silent when it needs to be, loaded with circuit features and options.”
PREAMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR
Marantz LINK 10n
A$19,000
Judges' comment: “This is pure Marantz, its Reference Standard preamp wildly versatile as a streamer plus DAC plus phono stage plus preamp plus TV audio hub... all in one chassis."
PREAMPLIFIER & POWER AMPLIFIER (COMBO) OF THE YEAR
Sugden Audio LA-4 / SPA-4
A$7495 / A$12,495
Judges' comment: “Both the LA-4 preamplifier and the SPA-4 power amplifier are gorgeously finished, clearly well-built in their UK base, and absolutely magnificent performers.”
SYSTEMS
STREAMING SYSTEM OF THE YEAR UNDER A$1500
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
A$1299
Judges' comment: “The Zeppelin is back flying high, the Pro’s sound boosted by new in-house drivers and pricing which these days looks like a bargain against more extravagant competitors.”
STREAMING SYSTEM OF THE YEAR OVER A$1500
Denon CEOL N12
A$1599
Judges' comment: “It looks like a traditional system, but Denon’s N12 is loaded with the latest HEOS streaming, CD player, radio, HDMI & phono inputs. It does the lot, and does it well.”
HEADPHONES
OPEN CABLED HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR UNDER A$250
Audio-Technica ATH-R30x
A$219
Judges' comment: “Full down low, airy up top, balanced overall, and light as a feather to wear – the R30x’s performance amazed us given their price of just $219.”
OPEN CABLED HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR A$250-A$1000
Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa
A$499
Judges' comment: “Forget the buttons, apps and Bluetooth, here’s a range-topping open-back headphone where you just plug in the cable and enjoy the magic.”
OPEN CABLED HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR OVER A$1000
Meze Poet
A$3550
Judges' comment: “Thrilling planar magnetics from Romania, the Poets deliver endless hours of delight and revelation.”
TV HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR
Sennheiser RS 275 TV Headphones bundle
A$549
Judges' comment: “The first practical Auracast product we’ve reviewed, extending Sennheiser’s successful TV headphones into a new era.”
TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS OF THE YEAR
Nothing Ear (3)
A$299
Judges' comment: “They look unlike any pair of in-ear headphones on the market, but they also deliver an audio performance summed up in one word: fun.”
WIRELESS HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR UNDER A$500
Beyerdynamic Aventho 100
A$349
Judges' comment: “Beyerdynamic shows that on-ear noise-cancelling is not only a valid concept but can deliver a powerful-sounding pair of headphones at a nice price.”
WIRELESS HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR A$500-A$1000
Apple AirPod Max 2
A$999
Judges' comment: “The Mk2 of the new Apple overears are not so much different to the originals – but are still brilliant...”
WIRELESS HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR OVER A$1000
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
A$1299
Judges' comment: “Physical perfection in design, and performance that makes these headphones sound like the company’s legendary speakers.”
AUDIOVISUAL
AV PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR
BenQ W2720i
A$3299
Judges' comment: “Smart Android streaming in a full-size home cinema projector with a super long-life light source and very reasonable pricing…”
MINI PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR
Leica Cine Play 1
$5990
Judges' comment: “Leica’s expertise in glass and design raises the Cine Play 1 above other mini projectors. Its imaging results are excellent, even from an off-axis position…”
ULTRA-SHORT-THROW PROJECTOR UNDER A$5000
Epson EH-LS670B
A$4199
Judges' comment: “Epson offers a full ‘TV replacement’ ultra-short-throw projection, built-in streaming and sound, all backed by its projection expertise.”
ULTRA-SHORT-THROW PROJECTOR OVER A$5000
Leica Cine 1 ‘Cinema TV’
A$7999 (A$9999 with 120-inch ALR screen)
Judges' comment: “A previous winner at double the price, this gorgeous ultra-short-throw deserves repeat recognition now it has become such a high-value proposition.”
AV SOURCE OF THE YEAR
Kaleidescape Strato E
A$5299
Judges' comment: “With Kaleidescape now fully Australianised, this more affordable 4K player is the perfect introduction to this mega movie delivery system.”
AV AUDIO
AV RECEIVER OF THE YEAR
Marantz AV 20 / AMP 20
A$10,000 each
Judges' comment: “The channel counts don’t match, but the processing and performance are top-notch across both units, resulting in thrilling immersion.”
SOUNDBAR OF THE YEAR
Samsung HW-QS700F
A$999
Judges comment: "A high-performance bar and subwoofer for those seeking a simple Atmos-compatible solution. It benefits from key design input from Samsung’s California lab.”
SOUNDBAR SYSTEM OF THE YEAR UNDER A$2500
JBL Bar 1300Mk2
A$2299.99
Judges' comment: “With lift-off ends to work as rears or separate Bluetooth speakers, JBL’s soundbar system gets key updates while maintaining the magic.”
SOUNDBAR SYSTEM OF THE YEAR UNDER A$2500
Yamaha True X Surround 90A package
A$4499
Judges' comment: “Yamaha brings back the beam-forming for this high-performance package with Atmos bar, subwoofer and versatile wireless rears.”
INSTALLATION 'GOLD'
These Gold awards recognise exceptional skills in custom installation, as demonstrated through the home cinemas and smart homes we feature in Sound+Image magazine.
INSTALLATION 'GOLD' AWARD
Hifi Hunter
Judges' comment: “This room shows the merits of Hifi Hunter’s planning
processes and the careful consideration of acoustic
priorities within a fully-immersive family movie space.”
Hifi Hunter is based in Perth.
INSTALLATION 'GOLD' AWARD
The Digital Picture
Judges' comment: “One key takeaway here is that this room was already a movie space, so it demonstrates how transformative things can become once you call in the experts.”
The Digital Picture is based in Brisbane & the Gold Coast.
INSTALLATION 'GOLD' AWARD
Wavetrain Cinemas
Judges' comment: “A well-engineered room is a given with Wavetrain’s thorough design processes. This cinema also shows their style, integrating the technology within a beautiful space.”
Wavetrain Cinemas is based in Sydney.
LOUDSPEAKERS
SUBWOOFER OF THE YEAR
Paradigm Defiance S12
A$2999
Judges' comment: “A well-priced and powerful subwoofer for both cinema and hi-fi, making it all easy with the dedicated and foolproof Paradigm app.”
STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR UNDER A$5000
VAF Research DC-2S
A$1699
Judges' comment: “Huge bang for your buck from VAF’s latest DC standmounts; it’s great to see Australian-made speakers competing on a global level.”
STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR A$5000-A$10,000
MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 8
A$5499 (joint winner)
Judges' comment: “Andrew Jones returns to ‘point source’ design with the MoFi SourcePoint range, and these large standmounters just knock it out of the park.”
STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR A$5000-A$10,000
Pylon Audio Jade 10
A$5999 (joint winner)
Judges' comment: “From Poland, the Jades combine classic looks with compression drivers in Tractrix horns, to hit impressive scale and dynamics.”
STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR OVER A$10,000
SpectraFlora Celata 88
$35,000
Judges comment: “The entry-price isn’t cheap for these large standmounts from Inverleigh in Victoria, but their jaw-dropping precision made them fully award-worthy.”
FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR UNDER A$10,000
Richter Dragon S7 Special Edition
A$7999
Judges' comment: “The redesign and return of Richter’s famous Dragon has been delighting all who hear them; this first award for the S7SE shows great promise for the ongoing series.”
FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS OF THE YEAR OVER A$10,000
Microphase Audio Design Tower 3 Signature
A$15,400
Judges' comment: “Superb driver integration with fantastic build quality, forgiving placement, and genuine musical engagement: French design, made in Australia.”
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Leon Suter & Lee Gray, Kyron Audio
Our Lifetime Achievement Award this year goes to not one but two people, joined in audio greatness by their creation of Kyron Audio. There are some quite deep ties between the Australian Hi-Fi Show and Kyron: the company’s first public launch was at Next Media’s 2011 Melbourne Hi-Fi Show, where they made quite the sensation, awarded Best Sound of Show, their first of several.
But it began at least eight years before that, when they were both serving musicians in the Royal Australian Air Force Band.
“Kyron did not begin as a business plan…” as they explained to us; rather, as with so many classic hi-fi companies, it began with the desire to build better speakers. On an Air Force flight, Leon was reading a loudspeaker design book, as you do, and announced he’d like to build a set of speakers, but didn’t have the practical skills. Lee said he would help… and by the time they landed, other band members had asked for a pair as well.
They built five pairs, and came up with the name Kyron not because they were launching a company, just so they could buy parts in bulk cheaper. But it stuck, and as a mythological figure associated with music and science, it proved their first strategic decision, even if largely accidental.
They kept going through the early 2000s, building systems for friends, mostly at cost, and in fact losing money fairly consistently, which they claim is “how you know someone’s taking it seriously”.
And they were now taking it seriously, deciding to see how far they could push it, to build the best loudspeaker system they could design. It was their background as musicians that led them. Rather than following hi-fi trends, they worked from their experience of playing and hearing music in real spaces. Leon focused on the electronics and system design, Lee on industrial design and construction. And all of it done while still in full-time service with the Australian Air Force.
They pioneered active hi-fi loudspeakers using Hypex Class D, and using Australia’s DEQX FIR technology in dipole designs.They came up with their famous no-enclosure ‘nude baffle’. They were among the first in the world to use aluminium and steel for main construction in a commercial home audio product.
And finally, that original Gaia system, their Best Sound of Show win in 2011, and even a rave notice from a visiting Michael Fremer then of Stereophile, boosting their ability to secure US dealer presence. Kyron has indeed now gained international recognition, through their releases of multiple reference systems – the Gaia, Kronos, the Phoenix, the Pythos Network Music Player, the Mercury Subwoofer, the new baby Palleon Micro.
All of these have been designed and built in Australia, maintaining their focus on engineering-led design, and becoming a key and collaborative part of the Adelaide high-end audio cluster. They even found time to upgrade the audio system of the Australian Army’s Air Defence Simulator.
For all this, and all still to come (for they are still so very young), and for being such excellent blokes, we are delighted to present our Lifetime Achievement Awards to Mr Leon Suter, and Mr Lee Gray, of Kyron Audio.
