FutureAudiophile.com 2025 Gear of the Year Award Roundup

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Every year, we pick out the best of the best audiophile gear from what we have reviewed. To be clear, we don’t purposefully review “bad gear” (sometimes we even send it back or to another reviewer if we aren’t feeling it), thus what we review is already filtered, but our yearly awards are to highlight for our readers the best of the best, be it in terms of value or, specifically, great value.

Here are the 2025 Gear We Love Award winners on a category-by-category basis …

The Linear Tube Audio (LTA) Aero DAC paired with some of its tubey brethren.

Best Affordable Digital Component of 2025

And the winner is: Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC

The idea of a tube in a DAC seemed so far removed from our audiophile intellectual comfort zone that we initially politely passed on this review twice before saying yes. After hearing LTA gear in multiple affordable rooms at various trade shows, Jerry Del Colliano got his hands on it and ended up just loving it – calling the DAC a perfect digital-to-analog converter for vinyl lovers.

Andrew Dewhirst took a hard look at a handful of the value-oriented DACs in the Chi-Fi world, and they all are strong performers, as well as an incredible value, as always. Today’s Chi-Fi DACs rule. The idea that higher-end DACs don’t have their sonic advantages is for skeptics (and they are wrong), but the amount of sonic benefit that you get over these more entry-level DACs isn’t commensurate with the money that you have to spend to get that Nth level of performance.

The Bluesound Node ICON is a highly anticipated audiophile component release post-CEDIA 2024

Best Music Streamers of 2025

And the winner is: BlueSound Node Icon

Greg Handy is all over the ever-evolving category of music streamers, and they all keep getting better and better. The Bluesound Node world saw three new streamers with more support for streaming options than most other audiophile music streamers. While not priced at an unreasonable level, the larger Node with a nice LED screen is our pick for the winner. Its DIRAC room correction makes the argument even better.

The HIFIROSE RS130 was a close second, with great performance and really pretty industrial design. The other Bluesound Node models are wonderful options for those seeking more value in your system’s streaming, as the BluOS is the same, so it is more the form factor, LED screen and room correction that you pay for in the ICON, but that feels very worth it for most modern audiophile systems today,

The yellow cartridge really stands out on the elegant VPI Cliffwood Turntable

Best Audiophile Turntable/Analog of 2025

And the winner is: VPI Cliffwood Turntable

2025 was a good year for turntable reviews here at FutureAudiophile.com. Paul Wilson’s E.A.T. was so good, he bought the review sample, and that is no small audiophile investment. The MOFI Fender X is another gorgeous turntable, with a cool musical tie-in. Andrew Dewhirst delved into the world of affordable phonostages and found that they all make a positive impact on lower-cost audiophile systems, with the Schiit Skoll F being the best of the group.

We reviewed two VPI turntables late in 2025 and both were great, but for our younger aspiring audiophiles, the made-in-America (New Jersey)VPI Cliffwood gives you a true audiophile turntable at under $2,000, with an easy setup and great sound. That is why we picked it for our category winner.

The SPL Elector might be one of the best audiophile value products in any category today.

Best Stereo Preamplifier of 2025

And the winner is: SPL Elector

The SPL Director (with internal DACs) was the object of our affection in 2024 and we’ve gone back to the well again, as the SPL Elector, for well under $3,000, is just so good that we can’t believe it. It has no internal DAC like the SPL Director, which for many audiophiles is just what the doctor ordered. If you are looking for an open-sounding neutral stereo preamp that can rival those costing as much as $10,000, we would suggest the SPL Elector, as it is just that fantastic.

We got into some more very high-end preamps, like the three-chassis Pass Labs XP-32 (Jerry Del Colliano bought the review sample, as he was regretful of letting his two-chassis XP-22 go to Greg Handy, who bought it), as well the CH Precision LX-1 and X1 combination, which was over-the-top good. Others were designed by PS Audio’s Paul McGowan, as well as Parasound’s legendary John Curl. It was a good year for preamps reviewed.

Bryston 4B Cubed has been a classic audiophile and pro audio power amp for decades.

Best Audiophile Power Amp (Cost No Object) of 2025

And the winner is: Bryston 4B Cubed

Talk about a classic: the Bryston 4B Cubed is as tried and tested as any audiophile amp on the market and today’s version is so refined and high-performance that it gets our Gear We Love Award this year. The Infigo Method 3 amazingly is the only Class-A amp that we’ve ever seen that runs cool to the touch, which is amazing, even in the ultimate class. Mytek and Argent Pur should get major props for pushing what can be done in the Class-D semiconductor-based amps. McIntosh’s monoblocks offer so much power that have amazing levels of control with an iconic look. Nelson Pass’ XA-30.8 is a classic design with all of the aesthetic goodies, but isn’t absurdly priced, thus an excellent value in the high-end power amp world.

Here is the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium power amp photographed in Mike Prager's listening room in Oregon — Here is the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium power amp photographed in Mike Prager’s listening room in Oregon

Best Audiophile Power Amp (Affordable) of 2025

And the winner is: Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra-Premium Amps

Leo Ayzenshtat at Orchard Audio is one of the young stars of the audiophile business, beloved by those of us looking for true high-end sound without spending insane money. Ayzenshtat’s latest top-of-the-line amps were too good for Mike Prager to send back. They are that good. There are less expensive options, but this is Ayzenshtat’s best, and that is good. Buckeye is another killer value in the Class-D world. Dylan Launder’s amp use Purifi technology, which is yet another powerful yet smooth-sounding Class-D option available at an incredible price. More and more Class-D amp reviews are coming in 2026. Stay tuned.

Gryphon Diablo 333 Integrated amp comes with modules for an internal DAC and phono section

Best Audiophile Integrated Amp – Cost No Object of 2025

And the winner is: Gryphon Diablo 333 Integrated Amp

Paul Wilson took on many of the best high-end integrated amps in the industry in 2025, and we learned just how good the category has gotten. Separates have very little on these more consolidated, easy-to-use solutions. The bass and overall power on the Gryphon was just so good in Wilson’s room. The CH Precision I1 integrated amp is one of the most configurable and upgradable/expandable high-end integrated amps that we’ve tested. T+A is yet another lower-cost way to get into very high-end technology (HV) at lower prices.

The Vitus Audio’s lineage is very close to the Gryphon, as is the performance. 9.9 out of 10 audiophiles would be over-the-moon with any of these high-end integrated amps. The McIntosh is a total classic at a pretty fair price for a legendary audiophile experience. The ASR Emitter is one of the most compelling, evolved designs from a slightly off-beat, German-made option that we just loved. Like the CH Precision, the ASR is wonderfully upgradable, which we just love.

Best Audiophile Integrated Amp – Affordable of 2025

And the winner is: Rotel DX-5

The simplicity of the Rotel DX-5 is just a beautiful concept. There are many integrated amps in the market with more features, but the pure sound of the Rotel DX-5 such a great value. The latest NAD M10 M3 is a good example of a more feature-laden integrated that also includes a Bluesound Node, room correction and more. Today’s integrated amps, both high-end and more entry-level, are vastly improved in 2025. Vastly.

The Dali IO-12s are the perfect compliment to an Apple MacBook Pro laptop for those looking for some high performance sound.

Best Audiophile Headphones of 2025

Winner: Dali IO-12

There are so many headphones in so many categories to consider that it is hard to fit them all in with our 102-reviews-per-year schedule. Dali Loudspeakers are some of our favorite speakers and their high-end headphones are equally appealing. The IO-8s were great, but the IO-12s are even better and even more comfortable in the world of high-end wireless over-the-ear headphones. The HIFIMAN Sundara headphones are, yet again, a way to get a super high-end performance at a price that any audiophile can actually afford.

The Chesky Audio LC1 is actually designed by a 18 year old college student (not his father)

Best Audiophile Speaker (Bookshelf) of 2025

And the winner is: Chesky Audio LC-1

There has never been a speaker that is more in line with the FutureAudiophile.com mission statement than the young, Mr. Lucca Chesky’s 3D-printed, totally kickass $1,000 component. These speakers are made in New Jersey at the VPI turntable factory, so they are tariff-proof. But how do they sound? They are way-way-way better than anybody has expected. Every staff member has been WOWED by the Chesky LC-1.

Best Audiophile Speaker (Under $2,500 Floorstanding) of 2025

No award this year

In 2025, we didn’t cover this market category as much as we will in 2026, thus no winner this year.

The Paradigm Persona 9H speakers in a gorgeous blue painted finish.

Best Audiophile Speaker (Floorstanding) of 2025

And the winner is: Paradigm Persona 9H

The Paradigm Persona 9H is the speaker that the audiophile traditionalists don’t always understand. A semi-powered speaker with built-in room correction gets you to a sound that is optimized for your room as mathematically as close to perfect as it can be, which is a quantum leap forward in the modern audiophile world. With the need to power just the highs and mids, you can use a lower-powered, more exotic Class-A or tube amp without concern. This is a new way to look at a very high-end audiophile speaker.

Paul Wilson upgraded his beloved $30,000 Laufer Teknik The Note speakers with the long-awaited nearly $100,000 Laufer Teknik Grand Note speakers. Rated at 95 dB efficient, thin and present, not just palpably, dynamically visceral in their presentation, they are also pinpoint accurate. In fact, they are almost holographic in their imaging, as you might hear from, say, high-end MBL speakers. For a six-figure investment, you should have very high expectations. The Grand Notes totally deliver, even if Wilson had to wait a few years for them to come to market.

The Paradigm Founder 120Hs offer much of what the Persona 9Hs do, at a way more reasonable price. Ironically, Paradigm owns GoldenEar now, after AudioQuest’s unsuccessful foray into speakers (stick with cables and accessories, guys) turned out poorly. The GoldenEar T66s in Santa Barbara Red are very cool, real-world speakers that audiophiles can more easily make a reality. Speaking of speaker companies that got sold in 2025, Bowers & Wilkins is now owned by Harman. They rocked it with the 702 S3 speakers, which fall in around the ballpark of the GoldenEars at a more realistic price point for higher-end speakers. The Stenheim Alumine 5SE are not affordable, but holy crap, these all-aluminum, Bauhaus-inspired Swiss speakers might have the singular best imaging at any price – dynamics, too. Dali Epikore was another crushingly good speaker for the money. The world of high-end speakers today has so many great options.

The SVS PB-17 is a long-awaited new reference level sub from SVS

Best Audiophile Subwoofer of 2025

And the winner is: SVS PB-17

SVS is one of the elite, biggest success stories in the specialty audio space and their roots are solidly established in high-performance, high-value subwoofers. They thankfully don’t come out with new subs very often but, in 2025, they did just that. Brian Kahn put the SVS PB-17 to the test and just loved it. Normally, audiophiles gravitate towards sealed box woofers (the SVS SB-17 is on its way to Paul Wilson for a 2026 review), but the ported woofer moves more air and kicks a little more ass. Like drinking white wine while eating steak, the ported versus sealed box subwoofer decision should be a matter of taste, not any kind of rule.

REL goes about audiophile subwoofers in a much different way than SVS, which is based on digital room correction, whereas REL is based around a direct connection between speakers and the sub, as well as using physical configuration and manual tuning over using software and/or room correction. Guess what: it works great, too, and REL’s U.S.-based staff is willing to help any consumer to easily get the best performance in their room/system the old-school way.

GIK Acoustics Turbo Trap Pro bass treatment installed with Jerry Del Colliano's Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 speakers — GIK Acoustics Turbo Trap Pro bass treatment installed with Jerry Del Colliano’s Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 speakers

Best Audiophile Accessory of 2025

GIK Turbo Trap Pro Bass Trap

And the winner is: GIK Turbo Trap

Every audiophile is looking for a big sonic performance from a small investment, and the GIK Acoustics Turbo Trap delivers on this promise. For about $350, the physics of treating standing waves is likely going to help improve any audiophile system at any level. Your physical treatments come first, and GIK has many affordable solutions that are highly effective. They also offer free acoustical design, so you don’t have to go it alone in getting your acoustics right. Getting your acoustics right – not changing out components – is the single most important thing any audiophile can do at any level of system or budget.

Chesky's LC-1 is our Component of 2025 — Chesky’s LC-1 is our Component of 2025

FutureAudiophile.com Audiophile 2025 Component of the Year

And the winner is: Chesky LC-1 Bookshelf Loudspeakers

There will be audiophiles who question our pick of a 3D-printed, American-made, $1,000 per pair bookshelf speakers, but they likely haven’t heard these. They are that good, but it is the innovation, creativity, value and enthusiasm that made these speakers our pick for the best of the best for the Gear We Love Awards in 2025. There were so many products that we could have chosen, but these Chesky speakers are something really special on so many fronts.

OK, it is your turn to give us your thoughts on our picks! What do you think we got right? What products would you have voted for that we didn’t? What products do you think we need in 2026 for our 102 reviews? We love to hear what you want us to review. Comment away and we will approve your thoughts ASAP.