RECOMMENDED & FAVOURITES

If a component is going to score extremely high on hifi terms but not so capable to comunicate the emotion of music (subjective), it is not going to be here. The emotion is subjective since there are parts of the music reproduction that may elite from you a stronger responce then others. For many of us it is the equilibre among parts, but we still don't know how we feel this equilibre... so this can only be subjective. I can say the rithmic capabilities are great for a certain component but if you are more sensitive to another thing and less to rithmic swing...

For example in the loudspeaker cables section are two cables ( VDH The Inspiration Hybrid and Naim NAC A5 ) that are not very expensive but are able to convey emotion (subjective) in effective way and much better then other much more expensive ones. For example these two cables came out in recomended from more then 40 loudspeakers cables tested most of them much more expensive. Many were good, other very good, some better in hi fi terms but failed in being able to reproducing the emotion of the music message for me! This is going to be the reason to be in this list. Subjective emotion comunication.

A very important point in this list is price consideration. If a component is absolutely fantastic in the sound but also in its price, it is not going to be here. I will leave the 10% gap performance paid from 10 to 50 times more, out of the range. This is very evident for examples in cables and in cartridges. There is a point after which to get really more music out, I am not talking about useless details and silent background, but significative musical message, you have to spend enormously more money and setting up effort, not to talk about your listening room. And sometimes these products are there for few years and then they disappear from the market. Or they have a ridiculous customer service or waranty. And if you want to sell them second hand just for the hell of  changing...good luck.

I have realized that the most difficult section to be in is the preamplifier one. Really good preamplifiers are really, really extremely expensive. The ones that are "more affordable " in a way or another,  either kill the timing or are just too coloured and tend to be too present with their signature. If you listen to one kind of music, you could find the one that is well adapted to it, but if you have a more open musical taste, you will find the preamplifier ruining a certain type of music. 

Another very difficult spot is for power cables. They really make a difference. What I found out disturbing is that most of them, expecially the ones that are over $1000m or around it,  wash timbres out, the harmonic content is poor, and many times timing too. Everything becomes fluid, there is less noise, more black backround but the instuments loose colours and intent. In many cases the more complex their construction is, something that could partially justify their high cost, the more manipulative their sound is. I feel with these kind of cables also a phase problem. It is like that the building complexity avoid noises and other gremlins but creats phase shifting issues.  

I will be praising the durability of a product, that it will mean it stood the test of time and the changing taste of the listeners.

Phono cables: 

VDH D-501 silver hybrid 

Vertere redline

Cardas Clear Beyond. Still considering its presence since its high cost...but comparing it with other cables costing twice as much it could be also considered very competitive.

Power Cords

Naim Powerline (very, very long break in required if not cheap sounding )

VDH the Mainsstream

Audio Note ISIS

Cardas Clear Refelction

LOUDSPEAKER CABLES:

VDH The Inspiration Hybrid (single wiring only)

Naim NAC A5 (very long burn in required, more then 400hours, and dressed the Naim way, if not cheap sounding )

Kimber 8TC

Straightwire Virtuoso H

Interconnect cables:

Townshend Fractal

VDH The Integration

Digital cables:

Naim DC1

VDH The First

TURNTABLES:

Kuzma Stabi Ref2

Linn LP12 (more basic models)

Rega Planar 10

Mitchell Gyrodec

Cartridges:

EMT HSD006

Miyajima Shillabe

VDH The Frog

Preamplifiers: 

Townshen Allegri 

Amplifiers:

Naim Supernait(s) (the s at the end to signify all its versions)

Naim Nap250 DR

Naim Nap300 DR

Rega (all)

Rotel Michi S5

Exposure

TONEARMS: 

Triplanar MKVII

Moerch DP-8

Linn Ekos SE

Loudspeakers:

Spendor, Grahams, Rogers: all models

Marten: all models

ATC: all models