As a record ages, you expect some cracks and pops, but an inconsistent sound just won't do. The RAW-1 Record Adapter Weight from Scout can help even things out, improving the sound by creating a flatter contact between the record and the turntable platter. It doubles as a 45rpm adapter and provides a more consistent listening experience whether you're a hardcore audiophile or just getting started as a vinyl collector.
Already known for their audiophile level of sound quality and engaging design, D'Agostino raises the bar even higher with the MLife Streaming Amplifier. Based on the Momentum 200, the new kid on the block adds built-in streaming audio that is fully controllable from your smartphone or tablet, adding a level of convenience typically not found on the high-end market. A 5-inch LCD screen provides streaming information, while a lighted-dial face and volume bezel — that brings a fine Swiss watch to mind — moves up and down as things are manually adjusted.
If you're into vinyl, odds are you're proud of your collection. The Floating Record Vertical Turntable gives you the chance to show it off like never before by making the record itself the center of attention. An all-in-one solution, it features built-in, full-range stereo speakers, so it's easy to get up and running. It uses an Audio-Technica AT95E cartridge mounted on a fully-adjustable carbon fiber tone arm, a DC manual belt-drive system to spin both 33s and 45s, and a high-mass acrylic plinth and platter. It has a headphone jack for private listening, and RCA outs with a built-in preamp in case you want to integrate it into your existing system. Assembled by hand in Chicago.
Like fingerprints, eyesight, and taste, everyone's hearing is different. The Aumeo Tailored Audio Device takes this into account. You simply connect it between your phone/tablet and your headphones, use the companion app to create a customized audio profile, and that's it — the sleek box stores your profile automatically, so you can use it with any device that can connect to a standard 3.5mm cable. And since it customizes the sound to suit your ears, it keeps you from turning it up louder, protecting you from potential hearing loss.
The designers at Fern & Roby not only believe that a turntable should meet the standards of audiophiles, but also that it should satisfy those with a keen eye for great design and fine art as well. The Turntable is a perfect centerpiece to the equally lauded Beam Speakers and Integrated Amplifier F&R have already released from their Richmond, Virginia headquarters. It's a cast iron piece, featuring a 35-pound bronze platter, dynamically balanced to 1000 rpm. The Rega 303 tone arm comes standard, supported by salvaged heart pine. The centered heavy weight helps keep friction and contact to a minimum with the dynamically balanced platter for clean, superior performance.
Mixing a timeless silhouette with modern materials, the PF Flyers Made in USA Center Hi Sneaker is an ideal addition to the casual side of your wardrobe. On the outside, you'll find a heavy duty 14oz Duck canvas upper with a leather toe cap, eyerow, and heel tape, cotton laces, a hand-drawn midsole stripe, hand-stamped tongue, and debossed ankle patch. On the pigskin leather-lined interior, there's a running shoe-style insert that sits atop the PU midsole to provide cushioning far beyond what you'd expect from its classic '60s-era design.
Presented by PF Flyers.
Timberland continues to innovate while honoring the past with these Timberland Smuggler's Notch Boots. Designed after Prohibition-era bootlegger's footwear, the Smuggler's Notch collection features 6-inch and 8-inch (pictured) silhouettes. They feature leather-stacked midsoles, leather-lined footbeds with contouring memory foam, and premium Horween leathers that are hand finished for a throwback appearance. Built to handle a long workday but comfortable enough for a night out, they also feature the strength of rubber Vibram outsoles and all-weather Cougar rawhide laces. Goodyear welt construction helps round out these tough yet functional boots that are designed and engineered in the U.S.A.
Presented by Timberland.
Never judge a speaker by its size, especially in the case of the Heresy from Klipsch — one of the best compact floor standing speaker lines ever created, and still made in the USA. The Klipsch Heresy III, the latest iteration, is another leap forward for the most affordable model in Klipsch's Heritage line. It features a more powerful woofer, a titanium diaphragm tweeter, and a new midrange compression driver with its own titanium diaphragm. Available in walnut, cherry, or black lacquer, the Heresy III focuses on high sensitivity and maximum output and takes the sound places that other compact speakers can only dream of.
It is a speaker. It's a flashlight as well. But that's not all the Outdoor Tech Buckshot Pro Speaker Flashlight does. Thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, it also serves as a power bank for your USB-charging devices, and doubles (or quadruples) as a speakerphone. It's water-resistant and impact resistant, with built-in playback control buttons, 10-hours of battery life, and an included bicycle handlebar mount for those times when two wheels and a horn just aren't enough.
Odds are you aren't doing sets in the same venue every night. Why should your stand need to stay in one place? The Hoerboard Stereo.T DJ Stand is designed to move with you, thanks to a body that can be torn down or set up in as little as 10 minutes. Its modular nature lets you customize it to fit your needs — with space for turntables, DJ controllers, or CD-based setups, for example — and can be outfitted with laptop clips or monitor stands as needed. You can also get a flight case for it, so even if your gig is across the ocean, your stand will arrive there safe.
The centerpiece of a great hi-fi system, this is not. But the Crosley Revolution Turntable can do something your high-end player can't: go everywhere with you. Smaller than a record case, able to run off 4 AA batteries, and weighing in at under two pounds, it's one of the most portable options around, and also has a USB port than can be used for power or for ripping your vinyl to a computer. Available in four colors.
The iPod classic might be dead, but the idea lives on in the Fiio X5 Lossless Music Player. Designed to handle the most detailed digital audio tracks available, it supports DSD, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, and WAV files, and has two microSD card slots for up to 256GB of storage. The 2.4" IPS screen is easy on the eyes when making song selections, the DAC and amps promise dynamic, accurate sound reproduction, and the matte black anodized aluminum unibody construction means it feels as good as it sounds.
It's not going to run a home theater system, but if you're looking for a great-sounding amp to pair with your turntable, the Yamaha A-S2000 Natural Sound Stereo Amplifier is a fine choice. Apart from its great looks — a metal body, satisfyingly mechanical controls, and wooden panels on the side — it also offers terrific sound, thanks to a proprietary design that ensures balanced signal transmission from input to output, resulting in a more lifelike audio experience. Equally important is the built-in headphone amp, the low-noise phono amp, and the dedicated MC head amp that lets you switch between moving magnet and moving coil cartridges with ease.
Upgrade your outdoor audio experience with the Om Outdoor Speaker. This cylindrical system pairs with your devices via Bluetooth 3.0, providing omnidirectional sound as well as modest lighting via three LED clusters spread around the base. The whole thing is weather resistant, powered by solar panels on the top, and can pair with up to three other units via RF, blanketing your entire backyard in sound via a single connection to your phone.
Keeping your records clean is essential for preserving the life of both your vinyl and your stylus. The Okki Nokki Record Cleaner makes it easy. This automatic system combines a heavy-duty motor and turntable with a vacuum tube, allowing the fluid and goat hair brush to clean thoroughly, and the suction arm to remove any residual dirt and fluid. The result is your vinyl, pristine in both appearance and sound.
You took the time to convert your audio over to ultra-high-quality DSD. Now it's time to get it out of the box and into your speakers or headphones. The Korg DS-DAC 100 is a great way to do that. It works over a USB connection in conjunction with AudioGate 3 software to provide realtime DSD conversion, outputting the pristine audio via RCA or XLR outputs or straight into your headphones. Despite its processing chops, its design couldn't be more elegant, with a retro curved body, a clean front panel sporting only a volume knob, LED indicators, and a headphone jack, and metal spiked feet that double as vibration impediments.
There are great looking and sounding tower speakers, and then there's the Beam Speakers from Fern & Roby. These amazing bookends for your audiophile setup aren't just made from real wood like so many other floorstanding speakers, the cabinet itself is solid wood — heart pine to be specific — reclaimed from a 19th century Virginia factory. And they aren't just all show, as the pair delivers the dynamics you'd expect from a full range system, with the imaging and accuracy you'd only find in a mini monitor. A true case of design and sound complimenting each other.
The DDJ-SX was already cool enough, designed for use with beloved software Serato DJ. The Pioneer DDJ-SX Gold Edition DJ Controller adds a touch of bling to the proceedings with a limited production vintage gold color scheme. Features include dual decks, access to multiple effect modes, an independent 4-channel mixer, large jog wheels, eight performance pads, a host of inputs and outputs, and a high-performance DAC for outstanding audio quality.
It's tough to fill a whole room with sound from a single speaker. The Poet Pandoretta 360º Sound System makes it easy. This striking unit features seven speakers driven by a 170 Watt amplifier, all set inside a wooden enclosure that's topped with a brushed stainless steel case. It offers lossless aptX Bluetooth and AirPlay for wireless streaming, one digital and two analog connections for wired components, and an optional oak base that complements the sleek design perfectly.
It's rare when an AV receiver looks as good as it sounds. As such, the ColorWare Yamaha Aventage Pearl Receiver is rarity in more ways than one. On the specs side, it boasts built-in Wi-Fi, support for Dolby Atmos, 9 channels of 150W sound, 4K video up conversion with HDMI 2.0 support, AirPlay, advanced switching, and more. But the exterior is equally stunning, with a Diamond Pearl metallic paint finish and 24K gold accents on the visible buttons and dials. Limited to 10 individually-numbered units.
Leveraging 40 years of experience in the audio business, the Naim Mu-so Music System surpasses your average wireless system in nearly every regard. It pairs six custom-designed drivers with six digital amplifiers cranking out a combined 450 watts. An advanced a 32-bit digital signal processor keeps everything sounding great, and supports a myriad of audio sources, including AirPlay, UPnP, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth aptX, USB, 3.5mm analog, and optical digital. All of this is housed in an anodized aluminum cabinet that will look great no matter where you place it, and can be customized with your choice of colored speaker grilles.
