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"Good enough" audio is the order of the day, but if you're all about great sounding gear, it can get really expensive. Usually, but not always. Here's some great gear that won't break the bank.
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SONY XDR-F1HD
- CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
- The good: Budget-priced AM/FM HD Radio component delivers extraordinary sound quality and low-noise reception; small size; remote control; bright backlit LCD screen.
- The bad: No digital output; weak HD signals cause the XDR-F1HD to switch back and forth between analog and HD; the memory doesn't retain station presets if the radio is unplugged from AC power.
- The cost: $85 - $99.99
- The bottom line: Hailed by audiophiles as one of the greatest tuners ever, the Sony XDR-F1HD is arguably the best - and most affordable - way to add HD radio to any stereo system.
- Full review: http://reviews.cnet.com/radio-tuners/sony-xdr-f1hd/4505-7866-7-32987435 .html
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ALTEC LANSING EXPRESSIONIST ULTRA MX6021
- CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
- The good: Impressive sound for the money; stylish design; very strong bass; good connectivity options; desktop controller for power, volume, bass and treble.
- The bad: The speaker cables - which can't be extended because they use proprietary connections - are a little on the short side, so you lose some flexibility on where to place the speakers.
- The cost: $154 - $199.99
- The bottom line: The Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra MX6021 PC speaker system is a superior combination of design and performance available at a fairly affordable price.
- Full review: http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-speakers/altec-lansing-expressionist-ultra/4 505-3179-7-33770025.html
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OPPO BD-83
For those of you with older receivers lacking HDMI connectivity, or perhaps for audiophiles with stereo home theater systems, the Oppo BD-83 Special Edition player is for you. Known for its exceptional audio and video performance, the BDP-83 Special Edition is upgraded with an all-new analog audio stage and improved power supply. The new Oppo player handles the digital-to-analog conversion at a higher standard than the original - and still available - BD-83 player. So rather than use its HDMI connectivity you hookup the Special Edition's eight analog (7.1) outputs to the multichannel inputs on older receivers or sound processors. Don't worry if your receiver is limited to 5.1, the Special Edition will work perfectly well with those systems. The Special Edition would be the go-to player for HT 2.0 (stereo) systems.
- Price: $899
- Full review: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645-3-10422449-47.html
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MINIWATT N3 INTEGRATED TUBE AMPLIFIER
The Miniwatt N3 Integrated Tube Amplifier uses a single ECC83 twin-triode tube feeding a single EL84 output tube per channel, and the amp features a switching power supply. The N3 delivers a healthy 3.5 watts per channel and measures a scant 5.25 inches wide and 6 inches deep. There's only one stereo input, with gold-plated RCA jacks, but the rear panel's transformers house three output jacks to accept 4-, 6- or 8-ohm-rated speakers (you can only hook up one pair of speakers at a time). Output transformers are the heart and soul of any tube amplifier, and the N3's are custom units, designed for Miniwatt.
- Price: $378
- Full review: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645-3-20003287-47.html
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Executive Editor David Carnoy, Contributing Writer Steve Guttenburg, Features Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.