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Collection by Bill Leebens

The Five Best Audio Products on the Market Today

From turntables to speakers, these products turn the listening experience up to 11.

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The Audiophile To some, speakers are the most alluring part of any audio system, and for most audiophiles, the stark, machined-aluminum enclosures of the Magico Q7 Mk II loudspeakers are equivalent to a stealth fghter jet. Where most speakers have screwedtogether fiber-board boxes, Magicos feature aluminum skeletons and skins and are bolted together for a sturdy build. The speaker drivers have graphene cones, and the high-frequency tweeter has a diaphragm of diamond-coated beryllium for maximum rigidity and sound transmission. Pricing matches the stratospheric aspirations at $229,000 per pair.
The Audiophile To some, speakers are the most alluring part of any audio system, and for most audiophiles, the stark, machined-aluminum enclosures of the Magico Q7 Mk II loudspeakers are equivalent to a stealth fghter jet. Where most speakers have screwedtogether fiber-board boxes, Magicos feature aluminum skeletons and skins and are bolted together for a sturdy build. The speaker drivers have graphene cones, and the high-frequency tweeter has a diaphragm of diamond-coated beryllium for maximum rigidity and sound transmission. Pricing matches the stratospheric aspirations at $229,000 per pair.
The Minimalist The tiny Lepai LP-2020A+ amplifier can be found on Amazon for an amazing $25—less than you’d pay in shipping for other equipment— and provides enough power for modest speakers like the Dayton Audio B652s, available online for $40, among the best speakers available for under $100 per pair. The Lepai is compatible with Bluetooth adapters, preamps for record players, and even CD players.
The Minimalist The tiny Lepai LP-2020A+ amplifier can be found on Amazon for an amazing $25—less than you’d pay in shipping for other equipment— and provides enough power for modest speakers like the Dayton Audio B652s, available online for $40, among the best speakers available for under $100 per pair. The Lepai is compatible with Bluetooth adapters, preamps for record players, and even CD players.
The Vinyl Lover Why not commit to a turntable built to last a lifetime? The Scout Jr. by VPI is a newly introduced, simplifed version of the popular Scout turntable that has been made for over a decade. The Scout Jr. is a belt-drive turntable with a fully isolated AC synchronous motor, a nine-inch stainless-steel tonearm, and a premounted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. A separate phono preamp is needed. Scout Jr. isn’t cheap, but it represents excellent value: Many products from VPI’s initial production runs are still in daily use. $1,499.
The Vinyl Lover Why not commit to a turntable built to last a lifetime? The Scout Jr. by VPI is a newly introduced, simplifed version of the popular Scout turntable that has been made for over a decade. The Scout Jr. is a belt-drive turntable with a fully isolated AC synchronous motor, a nine-inch stainless-steel tonearm, and a premounted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. A separate phono preamp is needed. Scout Jr. isn’t cheap, but it represents excellent value: Many products from VPI’s initial production runs are still in daily use. $1,499.
The Newbie Peachtree Audio’s Deepblue2 is a Bluetooth speaker, like hundreds of others, but this heavy one-piece system sounds more like a high-quality audio setup than you’d expect. Deepblue2 features fve speaker drivers, including a central woofer, and 440 watts of power. There’s an optical digital input for connection to a CD player or other digital source, but even YouTube sounds terrifc using aptX Bluetooth compression technology. Its $399 price may seem high for a Bluetooth speaker, but given its quality, performance, and versatility, it’s a deal.
The Newbie Peachtree Audio’s Deepblue2 is a Bluetooth speaker, like hundreds of others, but this heavy one-piece system sounds more like a high-quality audio setup than you’d expect. Deepblue2 features fve speaker drivers, including a central woofer, and 440 watts of power. There’s an optical digital input for connection to a CD player or other digital source, but even YouTube sounds terrifc using aptX Bluetooth compression technology. Its $399 price may seem high for a Bluetooth speaker, but given its quality, performance, and versatility, it’s a deal.