CA Readers Choice Awards 2017

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys - As the title says, this is your chance to vote for the best products and/or music of 2017. 

 

I’ll compile the results and publish a front page article when voting is finished. To make this easier, if you list several items, please rank them 1, 2, 3, etc...

 

I cant wait to see what has been increasing your enjoyment of our wonderful hobby this year. 

[miguelito]

1- Roon

It is so much a part of my system that I forget not everyone has it!

 

2- microRendu and it's variants

An amazing way to completely obliterate needs to optimize a computer for computer audio - simple, amazing, in my opinion a next generation, and it doesn't hurt that it works with Roon so well. I actually don't use the microRendu anymore because I now use a Rossini (that's a little more expensive than most setups so I won't put that on this list).

 

3- ECM's move to allow streaming of their catalog

 

 

[jcn3]

1. Roon - as you use it more, you appreciate it more.

2. Audiophile Optimizer - great piece of software that truly elevates the sound quality of your system.

3. Schiit Yggy - great dac at great price and built like a tank.

[asdf1000]

1. Roon

 

2. Tidal

 

3. Chord Hugo2

 

[davide256]

1. Sonore MicroRendu and its variants - brings high performance streaming to a more affordable price. And gets better as you improve whats connected to it

for source, power and DAC solution.

2. Uptone Audio USPCB - there's no contest between it as a USB interconnect and the other USB cables I've bought for $100 or less. It won't fix

a weak setup but swap it out in a good one and you will regret it.

3. Audeze Sine headphones - brings you much of the Audeze sound at about half the price of their next step up, weighs less, and makes even cellphones

sound great

 

growing the audiophile community requires price affordability; when rankings largely feature products made of "unobtainium" at stratospheric prices it discourages interest

 

[mourip]

1. Focusrite Rednet D16

2. Schitt Yggdrasil DAC (who names these things): a remarkable value and remarkable from any perspective

3. Linear Tube Audio ZOTL 10 amp - David Berning designed

4.  Audiophile Optimizer

5. The Computer Audiophile (not necessarily behind these others)

 

Coincidentally I am using all of these. Go figure :-)

[esimms86]

1. For me personally it’s the Chord Blu Mk2. Don’t listen to one if you’re not ready to buy one. It’s that good. I do, of course, realize that few have heard one with the Chord Dave and that even fewer can afford to buy “BluDave.”

 

2. SOtM sMs-200Ultra

 

 

[89reksal]

1. Schiit Eitr

[mozes]

I think this year, it is about a radically innovative product and not more of the same. I vote for

 

 SOTM sCLK-EX super clock

[JoeWhip]

Schiit Yiggy with usb5. Awesome improvement with usb sources.

[Cornan]

This is without a doubt one of the best album releases 2017 IMO.

 

Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile To The Surface

 

http://tidal.com/album/76466264

 

[Charente]

Schiit's 'Gen 5 USB' technology has got to be up there IMO

[austinpop]

1. SOtM sCLK-EX technology.
   • Contained in the Ultra line (sMS-200ultra, tX-USBultra)
2. Uptone LPS-1
   • Released late 2016, but really came into focus in 2017
   • Cannot be beat for price/performance
3. Roon

[auricgoldfinger]

SOtM sCLK-EX

[beautiful music]

1-Chord Blu2

 

2-SOtM sCLK-EX

 

3-Chord Hugo2

[semente]

MQA?

[firedog]

Hardware:

1. Kii Three

 

Music (restricted to 2017 releases):

1. Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band: 2017 Remaster
2. Tony Allen: A Tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
3. Bill Evans: The Hilversum Concert
4. Van Morrison: Roll with the Punches
5. Shelby Lynne-Allison Moorer: Not Dark Yet

 

[ElviaCaprice]

1.  sCLK-EX by SOtM

2. Uptone USPCB

[NOMBEDES]

1. "wood cable elevators"  (see thread)

[Abtr]

FWIW, Schiit Vali 2.

 

Edit: Sorry, that was 2016..

[gmgraves]

9 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi Guys - As the title says, this is your chance to vote for the best products and/or music of 2017. 

 

I’ll compile the results and publish a front page article when voting is finished. To make this easier, if you list several items, please rank them 1, 2, 3, etc...

 

I cant wait to see what has been increasing your enjoyment of our wonderful hobby this year. 

JRiver Media Center 23.

Schiit Yggdrasil. Best DAC this audio nut has ever heard and by a wide margin. The fact that J.A. of Stereophile didn't like it, makes it all that much better!

 

[astrotoy]

1. Roon

2. HQPlayer

3. Channel Classics mch Downloads from Nativ DSD

[phosphorein]

Kii Three and Kii control; Benchmark DAC 3 HGC.

[coot]

W4S 10th Anniversary DAC

Cardas Clear ICs

[wdw]

1. ROON and as importantly, ROON ROCK (it rocks)

2. dCS Network Bridge

3. Devialet Expert PRO and Core Infinity upgrade.  

                        (Truly spectacular!)