Welcome to The Abso!ute Sound online! We explore music and the reproduction of music in the home. We believe that the sound of music, unamplified, occurring in a real space is a philosophic absolute against which we may judge the performance of devices designed to reproduce music. Our goal is to provide the resources consumers need to judge how a component's sound either honors or departs from the music's truth, and to make sound purchasing decisions that maximize their experience of reproduced sound. Below is our Issue 227, 2013 High-End Audio Buyer's Guide table of contents and link to the editorial.

 

Articles & Reviews In This Issue
6 From the Editor
The Big Tent
Editorial By Robert Harley

 

High End Audio Buyer's Guide
Mini-Reviews of Our Top Picks in Every Category and Every Price
68 Desktop Loudspeakers
70 Stand-Mounted Loudspeakers 
78 Floorstanding Loudspeakers 
94 Subwoofers 
98 Power Amplifiers 
110 Integrated Amplifiers 
118 All-In-One Systems 
120 Preamplifiers 
130 Phonostages 
136 CD and SACD Players 
142 DACs
146 Music Servers and Peripherals
151 DSP Loudspeaker and Room Correction
154 Turntables and Record Players 
164 Tonearms 
168 Phono Cartridges 
176 Tuners 
176 Record-Cleaning Machines 
178 Equipment Racks 
180 Power Conditioners 
182 Interconnects and Loudspeaker Cables
192 Power Cords
194 USB Cables
200 Earphones
204 Headphones
208 Accessories

 

8 From The Editor: What makes an audio component "high-end" rather than "mass-market?" Robert Harley reflects on this question — and on why high-end doesn't have to mean high-priced.

10 A New On-line Home for The Absolute Sound: Take a guided tour of our terrific new Web site, TheAbsoluteSound.com.

12 Computer Audio Demystified 2.0: This newly revised and updated guide to computer audio will bring newbies up to speed, while offering advanced users essential techniques for achieving state-of-the-art 
digital sound.

40 Music Feature: Personal Faves Lists: Our writers pick their ten favorite recordings in a slew of different genres and sub-genres.

216 The 32 Greatest Bargains in High-End Audio (and Where to Find Them in This Issue)
We pick some of the most spectacular values in high-end audio today.

 

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