Reviews

The Absolute Sound 2011 High-End Audio Buyer's Guide

Aesthetix Atlas
Aesthetix Calypso
Clearaudio Basic Plus
Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena
Fosgate Signature tube Phono preamp
Aesthetix Rhea & Rhea Signature
Clearaudio Concept & Concept MC
Clearaudio Innovation Wood
Clearaudio Statement & TT-1
Graham Phantom II B-44
Benz Micro Glider SM
Benz Micro Gullwing SLR
Benz Micro LP S
Clearaudio Goldfinger v2

2010

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The Absolute Sound High-End Buyer's Guide (Spring 2010)

Aesthetix Atlas
Aesthetix Calypso
Aesthetix Janus Signature
Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena
Aesthetix Rhea & Rhea Signature
Clearaudio Statement
Graham Phantom II B-44
Benz Micro Glider SM
Clearaudio Goldfinger v2

Stereophile Recommended Components (October 2010)

Aesthetix Saturn Calypso & Calypso Signature
Aesthetix Atlas
Graham Phantom II B-44
Benz Micro LP-S
Clearaudio Stradivari
Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood

The Absolute Sound Editor's Choice Awards 2010 (March 2010)

Aesthetix Atlas
Aesthetix Calypso & Calypso Signature
Aesthetix Janus & Janus Signature
Musical Surroundings Phonomena II
Musical Surroundings SuperNova 2
Aesthetix Rhea Signature
Clearaudio Performance SE
Clearaudio Ambient
Clearaudio Statement
Graham Phantom II B-44
Benz Micro ACE S
Clearaudio Maestro Wood
Benz Glider SM
Clearaudio Concerto v2
Benz Micro Ebony L
Clearaudio Goldfinger v2
Aesthetix ABCD-1MC
Clearaudio Spirit Level
Clearaudio Strobe Disc & Light

The Absolute Sound Golden Ear Awards 2010 (June/July 2010)

Clearaudio Innovation Wood
Aesthetix Calypso
Aesthetix Atlas

2009 Absolute Sound Product of the Year (January 2010)

Graham Phantom II B-44
Benz Micro Glider SM
Musical Surroundings Phonomena II
Aesthetix Rhea Signature

Review Links

Aesthetix Calypso Signature www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/705aesthetix/index5.html - Stereophile (July 2010)

Aesthetix Atlas www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/aesthetix_atlas_power_amplifier/index.html - Stereophile (January 2010)
Musical Surroundings SuperNova 2 www.avguide.com/review/musical-surroundings-supernova-2-phono-preamplifier-tas-200-0 - The Absolute Sound (April 2010)
Clearaudio Basic Plus dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=655 - dagogo.com (January 2010)
Clearaudio Innovation Wood Turntable w/Universal Tonearm dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=768 - dagogo.com (July 2010)
Helius Designs Scorpio 4 Tonearm dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=745 - dagogo.com (April 2010)
Clearaudio Universal Tonearm dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=760 - dagogo.com (July 2010)
Aesthetix Io Signature Phono Stage dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=640 -dagogo.com (January 2010)
Clearaudio Innovation Wood www.avguide.com/review/clearaudio-innovation-wood-turntable-tas-204 - The Absolute Sound (July 2010)
Fosgate Signature Phono Stage www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/fosgate_signature.htm -The Audio Beat (July 2010)
Clearaudio Concept www.tonepublications.com/gear/fantastic-value-from-clearaudio/ - Tone Magazine (2010)
Clearaudio Innovation Wood with Universal Tonearm and DaVinci v2 whathifi.com/Review/Clearaudio-Innovation-WoodUniversalDaVinci-V2/ - What Hi-Fi (2010)
Clearaudio Concept with Verify Tonearm whathifi.com/Review/Clearaudio-Concept/ - What Hi-Fi (2010)
Clearaudio Emotion SE with Satisfy Carbon Direct and Aurum Beta S whathifi.com/Review/Clearaudio-Emotion-SE/ - What HiFi (2010)
Clearaudio Ambient with Satisfy Carbon Tonearm whathifi.com/Review/Clearaudio-Ambient/ - What Hi-Fi (2010)
Clearaudio Performance with Satisfy Carbon Tonearm - whathifi.com/Review/Clearaudio-Performance/ - What HiFi (2010)
Clearaudio Basic Plus and Accu+ - The Absolute Sound (October 2010)
Benz Micro SLR Gullwing - The Absolute Sound (October 2010)
Fosgate Signature Phono Preamp and Fozgometer - The Absolute Sound (October 2010)
Clearaudio Concept with Verify Tonearm and MC Concept Cartridge - The Absolute Sound (October 2010)
Clearaudio Goldfinger v2 - The Absolute Sound (October 2010)
Benz Micro LP S-MR - The Absolute Sound (October 2010)

LINKS TO VIDEOS

YouTube Links:

Clearaudio Concept What HiFi 2009 Awards - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWAnfYOk3QA

Audio Advisor Series:

Clearaudio Basic Plus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLEb9uhSVKg&feature=related
Clearaudio Precision Bubble Level - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoFr4uS1s4o&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=Kz8JWbXSaEk
Clearaudio Clever Clamp - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RZ1_NtWvJE&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=_ogQrkztByE
Clearaudio Emotion CMB - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBqLI_NTzYk&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=vJb7BbOHvm8
Musical Surroundings Phonomena II - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smb1QZp_SMM&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=33OO8TKmGQE
Clearaudio Maestro Wood - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ixrLqLC0Kc&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=auGj02Hw1xQ
Clearaudio Performance SE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuUXY_LDLEM&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=EvnUow8b8fg
Clearaudio Twister Clamp- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqYTXIL4mRs&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=xIq0_OGWlfw
Clearaudio Weight Watcher - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CqbQDdE2-s&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=P1GSPItQkMo
Clearaudio Test and Optimization LPs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJt00XZDpY&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=DAuR8moMStc
Clearaudio Concept What Hi-Fi 2010 Best Turntable awards - http://awards.whathifi.com/winners/turntables/2010

2009

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The Absolute Sound High-End Buyer's Guide (November 2009)

Aesthetix Atlas

Aesthetix Calypso

Aesthetix Janus Signature

Aestheitx Rhea/Rhea Signature

Benz Micro Glider SM

Clearaudio Goldfinger

Clearaudio Statement

Nova Phonomena

Stereophile Recommended Components (October 2009)

Aesthetix/Benz ABCD-1

Benz Micro ACE SL

Benz Micro MC-20E2-L

Clearaudio Maestro

Clearaudio Stradivari

Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood

Clearaudio Matrix

Clearaudio Outer Limit

The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Awards 2009 (September 2009)

Aesthetix Calypso

Aesthetix Rhea

Aesthetix ABCD-1 demagnetizer

Benz Micro ACE S Class

Benz Micro Glider S Class

Benz Micro Ebony L

Clearaudio Emotion CMB/Satisfy Carbon Fiber

Clearaudio Performance

Clearaudio Ambient

Clearaudio Statement

Clearaudio Maestro Wood

Clearaudio Concerto V2

Clearaudio Stradivari V2

Clearaudio Goldfinger V2

Clearaudio Matrix

Clearaudio Double Matrix

Clearaudio Spirit Level

Clearaudio Strobo-disc and Strobe-light

Phonomena II

Nova Phonomena

The Absolute Sound Golden Ear Awards 2009 (June/July 2009)

Helius Omega Silver Ruby tone arm

Stereophile Recommended Components (April 2009)

Clearaudio Stradivari

Clearaudio Concerto

Clearaudio Maestro

Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood

Benz-Micro MC-20e2-L

The Absolute Sound Top Picks 2009 (March 2009)

Clearaudio Performance

Clearaudio Statement

Clearaudio Maestro Wood

Benz-Micro Glider S

Clearaudio Goldfinger v2

Clearaudio Nano

Phonomena II

Phonomena Nova

Aesthetix Rhea

2009 Reviews

Aesthetix Atlas and Janus Signature - The Absolute Sound (October 2009)

Aesthetix Rhea Signature - The Absolute Sound (October 2009)

Helius Omega tone arm (with Grado Statement) - Positive Feedback (September 2009)

Benz Micro LP S-Class - HiFi News (August 2009)

Helius Omega tone arm - Postive Feedback "Quickies" (August 2009)

Clearaudio Twister and Statement clamps - Dagogo.com (August 2009)

Benz Micro Glider SM - Bound for Sound #194 (July 2009)

Clearaudio Double Smart Matrix - Home Entertainment Magazine (July 2009)

Aesthetix Rhea and Rhea Signature - Ultra Audio (July 2009)

Clearaudio Da Vinci/Fosgate Signature Phono Stage - TONE Audio Magazine (Issue 22)

Clearaudio’s Goldfinger v.2 - Gear | TONEAudio MAGAZINE  (June 2009)

Benz-Micro ACE-SL -- Stereophile (June 2009)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena II - Audiophile Audition (March 2009)

Clearaudio Nano Phono -- Absolute Sound (March 2009)

Phonomena II Phono -- Absolute Sound (March 2009)

Benz-Micro Glider S (M) -- Absolute Sound (March 2009)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena II - Stereo Times (Jan 2009)

The Absolute Sound 2007 Golden Ear Awards:

Clearaudio Stradivari

The Absolute Sound 2007 Editors' Choice Awards:

Aesthetix Calypso (Preamplifiers, $4000 - $5000)
Musical Surroundings Phonomena (Phono stages, under $2000)
Benz Lukaschek PP-1 (Phono stages, under $2000)
Aesthetix Rhea (Phono stages, $3000 - $6000)
Aesthetix Io MkII and MkII Signature (Phono stages, over $6000)
Clearaudio Emotion/Satisfy (Turntables, $1000 - $2000)

Clearaudio Ambient/Satisfy (Turntables, $5,000 - $10,000)
Clearaudio Master Solution AMG (Turntables, $5000 - $10,000)
Benz Micro ACE (Cartridges, $500 - $1000)
Clearaudio Concerto (Cartridges, $2000 and up)
Clearaudio Stradivari (Cartridges, $2000 and up)

Benz-Micro Ebony L (Cartridges, $2000 and up)

Clearaudio Goldfinger, v2 (Cartridges, $2000 and up)

Clearaudio Spirit Level (accessories)
Clearaudio Strobo-disc and Strobe Light (accessories)
Clearaudio Matrix Record Cleaner (accessories)

Clearaudio Double Matrix Record Cleaner (accessories)

2007 Reviews

Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena -- The Stereo Times - Frank Alles (Nov 2007)

Benz-Micro MC20E2 L and Ebony L Cartridges -- The Stereo Times - Frank Alles (Sep 2007)

Benz Ebony L -- The Absolute Sound - Paul Seydor - (June 2007)

Pathos Endorphin -- The Absolute Sound - Wayne Garcia (January 2007)

Clearaudio Ambient Turntable -- www.dagogo.com - Jack Roberts (May 2007)

Clearaudio Stadivari -- The Absolute Sound - Paul Seydor - (July 2007)

Musical Surroundings Nova Phonomena -- The Absolute Sound - Paul Seydor - ( July 2007)

Benz-Micro MC20E2-L -- Stereophile -- Art Dudley - ( Sept 2007)

Benz-Micro Ebony L -- www.dagogo.com - Jack Roberts (Sep 2007)

Benz-Micro ACE L -- www.dagogo.com - Bill Epstein - (Dec 2007)

Pathos Classic One Mk II -- www.dagogo.com - Doug Schroeder  - (Dec 2007)

2006

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The Absolute Sound 2006 Editors' Choice Awards

Aesthetix Calypso (Preamplifiers, $4000 - $5000)
Musical Surroundings Phonomena (Phono stages, under $2000)
Benz Lukaschek PP-1 (Phono stages, under $2000)
Aesthetix Rhea (Phono stages, $3000 - $6000)
Aesthetix Io MkII and MkII Signature (Phono stages, over $6000)
Clearaudio Emotion/Satisfy (Turntables, $1000 - $2000)
Clearaudio Master Solution AMG (Turntables, $5000 - $10,000)
Clearaudio Maximum Solution (Turntables, $10,000 and up)
Benz Micro ACE (Cartridges, $500 - $1000)
Benz Micro Ruby 3 (Cartridges, $2000 and up)
Clearaudio Titanium (Cartridges, $2000 and up)
Clearaudio Strobo-disc and Strobe Light (accessories)
Clearaudio Matrix Record Cleaner (accessories)

2006 Reviews

 

Clearaudio Ambient Turntable -- AV Guide - Jim Hannon (Dec 2006)

Clearaudio Goldfinger Phono Cartridge -- Stereophile - Michael Fremer - (October 2006)

Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage and Calypso Preamplifier -- Hi-Fi + - Roy Gregory - (September 2006)

Musical Surroundings Super Nova Phono Preamplifier -- EnjoytheMusic.com - Ron Nagle - (August 2006)

Clearaudio Weightwatcher Stylus Pressure Gauge -- Hi-Fi + - (Issue 45)

Clearaudio Concerto Phono Cartridge -- Stereophile - Michael Fremer - (July 2006)

Clearaudio Goldfinger Phono Cartridge -- 6MoonsAudio.com - Mike Malinowski (June 2006)

Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage -- Hi-Fi News - Martin Colloms - (May 2006)

Clearaudio Titanium Phono Cartridge -- The Absolute Sound - Jonathan Valin - (April 2006)

Clearaudio Ambient, Satisfy Carbon Fiber, Stradivari - EnjoytheMusic.com - Steven Rochlin - (Feb 2006)

Clearaudio Smart Phono Preamp -- Stereo Times - Most Wanted Components Award 2006

Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage -- PositiveFeedback.com - Robert H. Levi & Dave Clark - (Issue 13)

Benz Micro LP Phono Cartridge -- The Absolute Sound - H P's Workshop - (January 2006)

2005

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Clearaudio Titanium phono cartridge

The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Awards (December 2005)

Aesthetix Callisto Line Stage Preamplifier

Musical Surroundings Phonomena

Benz Lukaschek PP1 T-9 Phono Stage

Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage

Aesthetix Io MkII and Signature Phono Stage

Clearaudio Emotion Turntable and Satisfy Tonearm

Clearaudio Master Solution AMG Turntable

Clearaudio Maximum Solution Turntable

Benz Micro ACE Phono Cartridge

Benz Ruby 2 Phono Cartridge

StereophileRecommended Components (July 2005)

Aesthetix Calypso Preamplifier --Class A - Michael Fremer

2005 Reviews

Clearaudio Maximum Solution, Master TQ-I, Everest, Stradivari -- 6MoonsAudio.com - Jules Coleman - (December 2005)

Aesthetix Calypso Line Stage follow up -- The Absolute Sound - Alan Taffel - (December 2005)

Clearaudio Speed Strobe Disc and Strobe --The Absolute Sound-- HP's Workshop (December 2005)

Benz Micro ACE Low Output Phono Cartridge-- The Absolute Sound - Chris Martin - (August 2005)

Pathos Acoustics Logos Integrated Amplifier -- PositiveFeedback.com - John Brazier (Issue 22)

Clearaudio Smart Phono Preamp -- Stereo Times - Dave Thomas

Benz Micro ACE Low Output Phono Cartridge -- Stereo Times - Dave Thomas

2004

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StereophileRecommended Components (June 2004)

Benz Micro ACE Mono Phono Cartridge -- Art Dudley -

2004 Reviews

Clearaudio Emotion, Satisfy, Aurum Classic Wood -- Audio Ideas Guide - Andrew Marshall - (Fall 2004)

Clearaudio Emotion, Satisfy,, Aurum Classic Wood -- Soundstage - Jason Thorp - (April 2004)

2003

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Aesthetix Rhea phono stage - Paul Bolin

Benz-Micro L2 Wood Body cartridge - Paul Bolin

Clearaudio Unify tone arm - Paul Bolin

Clearaudio Emotion turntable, Satisfy tone arm - Michael Fremer

Clearaudio Classic Wood cartridge - Michael Fremer

2003 Reviews

Clearaudio Cartridge Alignment Gauge -- Bound For Sound - Martin DeWulf - (November 2003)

Aesthetix Rhea Phono Stage -- Stereophile - Paul Bolin - (September 2003)

Benz Micro L2 Wood Body Phono Cartridge -- Stereophile - Paul Bolin - (July 2003)

Clearaudio Champion Level 2 -- Stereophile - Paul Bolin - (July 2003)

Clearaudio Emotion Turntable, Satisfy Tonearm -- Stereophile - Michael Fremer - (June 2003)

Benz Micro ACE Phono Cartridge -- AudioAsylum.com - J. P. Matt - (April 2003)

 

2002

The Absolute Sound Golden Ear Awards

Musical Surroundings Phonomena (December '02)

Stereophile Recommended Components

Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge - Bob Reina

Clearaudio Outer Limit turntable ring - Michael Fremer

Aesthetix ABCD-1 cartridge demagnetizer

Benz-Micro Glider Sereis 2

2002 Reviews

Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood Phono Cartridge -- Stereophile - Bob Reina - (December '02)

Clearaudio Outer Limit Turntable Ring -- Stereophile - Michael Fremer - (October '02)

Clearaudio Champion Level 2 -- Bound For Sound (Issue #145 - August '02)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena & BPS -- HiFi+ (July '02)

Aesthetix ABCD-1 cartridge demagnetizer -- Stereophile (July '02)

Clearaudio Sigma Wood Cartridge -- AVguide.com (June '02)

Clearaudio Champion Turntable -- SoundStage.com (May '02)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena & BPS -- HiFi News and Record Review (March '02)

Benz Glider Series 2 -- Stereophile (March '02)

Clearaudio Aurum Beta S -- HiFi Choice (February '02)

Clearaudio Champion Level 2 -- Audiophila (February '02)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena & BPS -- The Absolute Sound (February '02)

Musical Surroundings Phonomena & BPS -- Stereophile (January '02)

2001

2001 Reviews

Benz Micro L2 Wood Body Phono Cartridge -- EnjoytheMusic.com - Neil Walker - (September 2001)

Clearaudio Virtuoso MK II -- Stereotimes - (August '01)

1998