Stereophile

About this resource

Stereophile began in Pennsylvania in 1962 under founder and editor J. Gordon Holt. Its original emphasis was judging audio equipment by listening, and measured-performance analysis became a regular part of its reviews from the late 1980s. That combination of listening impressions and technical assessment remains visible in its published recommendation criteria. ^{[1] [2]}

The Recommended Components lists cover a wide spread of hi-fi equipment, including loudspeakers, amplifiers, turntables, digital sources, headphones and accessories. Entries identify a product's class, price and review references, providing a route into the fuller coverage. The lists concentrate mainly on products available through the US hi-fi market. ^[2]

For a visitor, the important distinction is that these are editorial recommendations, not a measurement-only leaderboard. Stereophile says reviewers' listening experiences carry the greatest weight, and acknowledges that individual reviewers value different aspects of performance. Use the lists to identify reviews worth reading, then examine the listening context, measurements and caveats before arranging an audition. The publication itself cautions that even highly rated equipment will not work optimally in every system and room. ^[2]