$9,999

Luxman’s newest universal-disc player derives from the company’s flagship D-10X, which we favorably reviewed in Issue 317. The D-07X series bridges the gap between the D-03X at $4195 and the D-10X at $16,995. Priced closer to the 03X at $9995 but in features, performance, and overall design and engineering much closer to the 10X, think of 07X as a scaled-down 10X instead of a hot-rodded 03X. First, the onboard DAC is the BD34301EKV from ROHM Semiconductor, premiered in the 10X and retained here, still in dual-mono configuration with full soup-to-nuts MQA rendering and decoding. Second, the 07X’s transport is the same proprietary Lx DTM-I, with its superior disc-reading mechanism. And third, connectivity and useable formats remain unchanged. Excepting Blu-ray audio, the 07X will play virtually any audio-only two-channel or hybrid disc on the planet, including MQA CDs. The stated goal of Luxman’s engineers is to create products that are “musical and natural, never strident or aggressive. They want you to be able to hear all sorts of detail, even at the micro level, yet without fatigue, for a rich, musical experience.” Luxman has achieved this, but without sacrificing detail, resolution, or transient speed. Its presentation remains within the overall boundaries of neutrality, just that degree more inviting and easeful, a hint of warmth and smoothness, but applied with a commendably light and fastidious hand. Exceptional build-quality and Luxman’s elegant casework round out this superb player. (352)

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$12,000

The 681 is a Roon-ready, MQA-compatible network streamer/DAC/preamplifier that’s a visual twin of Moon’s 641 integrated amplifier. It is feature-rich with six digital inputs including HDMI (with ARC), a front-panel graphic color display, and a sophisticated hybrid volume control for driving a power amplifier directly from digital sources (there are no analog inputs). It is a perfect companion for the 641 integrated amplifier; the two look smashing side-by-side or stacked and make a terrific combination. When auditioned together, the 681 serves up an open airy sound, with plenty of dynamic cues to carry the music’s emotions straight to your heart. A great sense of pace delivers the rhythms directly to your toes. The 681 provides a wealth of transient definition, deep and solid bass, heaps of dynamic contrast, and plenty of timbral information. In addition, dynamics are absolutely stellar. Given all that, its sound is nearly miraculous. There’s a fluidity and ease, combined with a surfeit of musical and sonic detail, that draw you willingly into the music’s embrace. The 681 sounded its best when used with Roon rather than with Moon’s own MiND app. Our reviewer Alan Taffel called the 681 a “complete success.” We call it The Absolute Sound’s 2025 DAC/Preamplifier of the Year Award winner. (352)

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$11,100

A technological marvel at a ridiculously low price, the Cadenza C41 network player incorporates unique advancements that perfect digital volume control, improve the handling of jitter, eliminate pre-ringing, and eradicate clipping due to intersample peaks. Given this focus on removing distortions and preserving information that is lost or obscured on other network players, you have to think that chief engineer Jürgen Reis’ brilliant technical innovations are, indeed, the reasons for the C41’s lifelike color and solidity and its rare ability to conjure up near-visible presences rather than insistently drawing your ear to isolate transient details. In JV’s experience, only three other DACs can work this magic consistently—and, of course, they cost a lot more dough. If you’re an analog guy looking for a network player that will give you the sound you love (or a close semblance of same), this is the player for you. And if you’re a digital guy who wants the very best but can’t afford it, the C41 would be JV’s first (and only) recommendation. A shoo-in for 2025’s DAC of the Year Award. (355)

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$55,000

Though it looks the same and operates via the same controls as its 2023 POY Award-winning predecessor, the Ultima5, Greg Beron’s new Ultima Apollo deck doesn’t sound the same. In fact, it doesn’t sound like any previous Ultima that JV has auditioned. With an entirely new EQ circuit and a beefed-up gain stage, it is “darker” in overall tonal balance (more “bottom-up”) than any previous UHA offering, save for the SuperDeck. Instruments in the bass range not only sound better resolved, more present, denser in color, more three-dimensional, and more powerful, they also sound deeper going, as if the deck had added another half-octave on the very bottom and some extra energy in the midbass. The midband shows this same increase in presence, color, solidity, and impact, while the top treble is still soft, smooth, and slightly rolled. It’s as if the frequency-response curve that the AES currently recommends for loudspeakers (a boost in the bass with extension down to 20Hz and a gradual roll-off in the treble above 1.5kHz) has somehow been incorporated in the Apollo’s new equalization stage. The result is a marked increase in bass-range extension, definition, and density of tone color, in overall listenability, in three-dimensional solidity top to bottom, and in the lifelike continuousness that makes an ensemble of instruments sound as if they are playing together in the same space, without any loss of their individual contributions.

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$4995

PrimaLuna’s most powerful Evolution series amplifier delivers 70Wpc in ultralinear mode with the stock EL34 pentode, and almost 90Wpc with the optional KT150 beam tetrode. If more power is needed, a pair of amps can easily be configured in monoblock operation. The design is quite flexible; at the flick of a bias switch, all the popular beam power tubes can readily be used. A neat and useful convenience is the remote switching capability between ultralinear and triode modes. Generally, triode mode offers a mellower presentation and occasionally better bass-line definition. And there is no need for tedious manual power-tube bias adjustments. PrimaLuna’s Adaptive AutoBias circuit monitors and continuously adjusts bias current under dynamic operating conditions. Its inherent tonal character is rather neutral and tends to be shaped by that of the associated preamp. It is capable of excellent imaging and resolution, coupled with exceptional soundstage transparency. In stock form, it delivers the tonal gravitas that the EL34 pentode is famous for, achieving a satisfying big tone presentation. Relative to most vintage tube amps, its superior detail resolution, enhanced dynamic nuances, and ability to peer deeper within the soundstage make for a much more compelling sonic impression. Sonically, the EVO 400 signifies nothing less than a joyous celebration of tube virtues without the genre’s traditional limitations at the frequency extremes. At its asking price, the EVO 400 represents supreme value. (353)

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$16,500

The new Inspiration 2 Stereo power amplifier may be the “entry level” in Constellation’s line, but there’s nothing entry level about this amplifier, from sound quality to feature set to build-quality. The Inspiration 2 Stereo has preserved the outstanding transparency, resolution, and dimensionality that made the original so compelling, while greatly improving bottom-end performance and dynamic impact. This new model has also increased the power output of the original by 20%, now delivering 240Wpc into 8 ohms. Thanks to a new switch-mode power supply, the Inspiration 2 Stereo’s bass has been transformed. This amplifier has a muscular authority in the low end along with tremendous dynamic impact. But the most significant improvement is how it conveys music’s rhythmic flow in a way that is competitive with cost-no-object electronics. Along with the improvement in the bass, Constellation has managed to keep all those qualities that made the originals so special (and the company’s Reference Series RH’s electronics of choice for nearly 10 years)—resolution, transparency, speed without etch, and a wonderfully open, expansive, and deep soundstage that makes the speakers disappear. Bulletproof build-quality and lavish casework round out this superb amplifier (353)

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$3999 (stands $499)

This jumbo-sized stand-mount is the brainchild of designer extraordinaire Andrew Jones. It features a new 10-inch concentric driver housed in a 50-liter bass-reflex cabinet capable of 40Hz bass extension. A 1.25-inch silk-dome tweeter covers the range above a frequency of 1.6kHz. The result is a resounding success as the crossover region sounds seamless. Expect a massive sweet spot and a superlative boogie factor. Harmonic textures are fleshed out with consummate lucidity and transparency. The extreme treble range is tipped up adding a touch of air to the soundstage, an effect which is felicitous of female voice and violin overtones. There is plenty of low-level detail that seems to bubble effortlessly to the surface within the confines of a nicely layered depth perspective. Space truly is the final frontier, and the SP 10’s spatial solidity won me over in spades. With the right power amp, the SP 10 is capable of virtually lighting a fire under the soundstage, delivering dynamic peaks with no apparent compression. If one of your major priorities is to connect with the music’s passion and drama, this is the speaker for you. One of the things I like the most about the SP10 is its sense of coherence. It sounds very much like the single full-range driver loudspeakers I’ve experienced and enjoyed in the past. It is a superbly crafted and engaging transducer that may well prove to be addictive. (338)

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