Awards 2011

Best Accessory Shure M97XE Vinyl replay need not be an expensive business. The reasonably priced Shure took on three other cost-effective cartridges and won the day. It’s an impressive performer with exceptional detail, fine bass and a fantastically communicative midrange. The M97xE is also one of the highest-compliance cartridges we know of, and has an exceptional ability to track even well-worn records quietly and without causing further wear.

Best Amplifier up to £1,000 Audiolab 8200A The origins of the 8200A lie in the classic 8000A from the ’80s and ‘90s. We loved the original and its successor proves equally enthralling. The 8200A combines neutrality and accuracy, with enough of a unique character to entertain. The midrange lucidity impressed us, while detail retrieval is simply superb.

Best Amplifier over £1,000 Onkyo P-3000R/M5000R Onkyo might be more famous for its multichannel products, but this pairing is a potent reminder of what it’s capable of with stereo. The P-3000R/M5000R combines an impressive feature set, including digital inputs with superb build and fantastic aesthetics – the VU meters are particularly eye-catching. Best of all, it’s a truly fantastic amplifier, able to drive the most demanding speakers to any volume level; it combines a powerful and explicit sound with excellent tonality and naturalness. Details PRICE: £1,700/£2,500 TYPE: Pre/power TELEPHONE: 01628 473350 WEBSITE: eu.

Best CD Player up to £1,000 Audiolab 8200CD Audiolab has swept the boards in the sub-£1,000 category this year. While the 8200 amplifier harks back to the Audiolab of old, the 8200CD represents state-of-the-art thinking in almost every area. Combining a high-performance DAC with clever adjustable filters, gives the Audiolab a sound that is both accurate and highly involving. Add digital inputs, including hi-res USB and you have a worthy winner.

Best CD Player over £1,000 Shanling CD-T2000 Compared to some of the CD players we’ve tested, the CD-T2000 is very straight-forward. It doesn’t play SACD or have digital inputs, but what it does do is perform at the very highest levels of the format. It has a smooth, natural sound that allows you to hear material as the artist intended without embellishment or harshness. Add the battleship build and the stunning aesthetics, and you have a player that is a treat for the eyes and the ears.

Best Digital to analogue convertor Rega DAC Rega has never made a DAC until now, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice, given how accomplished its first offering is. The Rega combines a useful set of inputs with fine build and a handsome appearance. It also sounds fantastic and won us over with excellent timing and an accurate and engaging tonality. The result is a product that has all the detail retrieval and slam and impact you could ask for, but it’s presented in a fabulously calm and inviting way.

Best Headphones Q701 Quincy Jones Signature Edition Any person with a track record like Quincy Jones was never going to put his name to any old product and the Q701 doesn’t disappoint. The AKG is a perfect package of clever technology, excellent build and funky appearance. Sonically, the Q701 is a star and recordings are faithfully captured with incredible detail retrieval and a real sense of ambience. Quincy does it again! Details PRICE: £500 TYPE: Dynamic headphone TELEPHONE: 01707 278100 WEBSITE: akg.