Accessory of the Year
Audeze LCD-X headphones ($1699; reviewed by John Atkinson, March 2014, Vol.37 No.3 Review)
Once we've dispensed with source components, amplification components, and loudspeakers, virtually anything else that gets put into—or under, or onto—our music systems can qualify as an accessory. Thus, one supposes that a few readers will be let down that the voting for our 2014 Accessory of the Year reflected a conservative turn of mind, with nary a quantum-field generator, plastic demagnetizer, or capacitor ointment in sight. Indeed, fully three of our seven finalists are headphones—and one of these models, the Audeze LCD-X, has earned top honors. Small wonder: The Audeze 'phones, with their planar-magnetic drivers, patented Fazor sound-guide elements, luxurious lambskin earpads, and—best of all—their abundantly detailed yet nonfatiguing sound, did nothing less than seduce (his word!) JA away from his previous favorite at-home headphones.
Notes on the vote: Of all contests in all categories, this was the least close: The Audeze headphones received almost three times as many votes as the second-place product. Then again, it's pretty significant that that second-place winner is an update of a product that has been in production for 45 years: the Keith Monks DiscOvery One record-cleaning machine.
Finalists: (in alphabetical order)
Audience Au24 SE interconnect ($1190/1m pair; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Cardas Audio Clear Balanced Interconnect ($2140/1m pair; reviewed by John Marks, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Keith Monks DiscOvery One record-cleaning machine ($2495; reviewed by Art Dudley, April 2014, Vol.37 No.4 Review)
PSB Speakers M4U 2 headphones ($399; reviewed by Stephen Mejias, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Sennheiser Momentum over-ear headphones ($349.99; reviewed by Stephen Mejias, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Shunyata Research Venom AC Power System ($195–$695; reviewed by John Marks, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Notes on the vote: Of all contests in all categories, this was the least close: The Audeze headphones received almost three times as many votes as the second-place product. Then again, it's pretty significant that that second-place winner is an update of a product that has been in production for 45 years: the Keith Monks DiscOvery One record-cleaning machine.
Finalists: (in alphabetical order)
Audience Au24 SE interconnect ($1190/1m pair; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)Cardas Audio Clear Balanced Interconnect ($2140/1m pair; reviewed by John Marks, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Keith Monks DiscOvery One record-cleaning machine ($2495; reviewed by Art Dudley, April 2014, Vol.37 No.4 Review)
PSB Speakers M4U 2 headphones ($399; reviewed by Stephen Mejias, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Sennheiser Momentum over-ear headphones ($349.99; reviewed by Stephen Mejias, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
Shunyata Research Venom AC Power System ($195–$695; reviewed by John Marks, December 2013, Vol.36 No.12 Review)
