EPISODE · Dec 20, 2025 · 1H 28M
2025 Year in Review: The Gear That Actually Delivered (No Excuses, No Hype)
from the ecoustics podcast · host Black Circle Studios
In this episode, the eCoustics team cut through a year of hype, delays, and eyebrow-raising price hikes to talk about the products that genuinely moved the needle across hi-fi, head-fi, and home theater. We cover the TVs and projectors that finally earned their bragging rights, the headphones and earbuds that didn’t just chase trends, and the loudspeakers and portable gear that reminded us why good engineering still matters.It’s a wide-ranging, candid discussion about what impressed us.And because the timing couldn’t be better, the ink is barely dry on our massive eCoustics Editors’ Choice awards list. If you want to know which products actually earned a spot—and which ones quietly didn’t—you’ll want to listen first, then check the list.Less hype. More perspective. And no participation trophies.Thank you to our sponsor SVS for a phenomenal year of collaboration and support of our programming! https://www.svsound.comOn the panel:Brian Mitchell, Founder & CEOChris Boylan, Editor at LargeW. Jennings, Sr. Portables EditorEric Pye, Contributor / IG Influencer @audioloveyycEalan Osborne, Mr. eCoustically SpeakingMitch Anderson, Podcast ProducerProducts mentioned:Chris Boylan:> Sony Bravia 8 II> Hisense L9Q UST> Kaleidescape Strato E and Strato V> Denon AVR-X3800H> Samsung Micro RGB> Dirac Acoustic Room TreatmentEalan Osborne:> Sony STR-AZ7000ES> Google Eclipsa> DTS:X Profile 2William Jennings:> Sony WH-1000XM6> Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3> Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2> Audeze CRBN2> Questyle QCC Pro> Astell&Kern SP4000 DAP> Bose Ultra Open-Ear budsEric Pye:> Vinyl reissues> KLH Model Five> KLH Model SevenMitch Anderson:> MoFi UltraTracker> Ray TubesBrian Mitchell:> Canvas HiFi> Canvas HiFi Frame> Bacch 3DRelated links:> https://www.ecoustics.com/best-right-now/Credits:Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.comVoice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.comProduction by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.comKeep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com#ecoustics #avtrends #2025bestof #hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #hometheater #dolbyatmos #headphones #vinylcommunity #yearinreview
What this episode covers
In this episode, the eCoustics team cut through a year of hype, delays, and eyebrow-raising price hikes to talk about the products that genuinely moved the needle across hi-fi, head-fi, and home theater. We cover the TVs and projectors that finally earned their bragging rights, the headphones and earbuds that didn’t just chase trends, and the loudspeakers and portable gear that reminded us why good engineering still matters.It’s a wide-ranging, candid discussion about what impressed us.And because the timing couldn’t be better, the ink is barely dry on our massive eCoustics Editors’ Choice awards list. If you want to know which products actually earned a spot—and which ones quietly didn’t—you’ll want to listen first, then check the list.Less hype. More perspective. And no participation trophies.Thank you to our sponsor SVS for a phenomenal year of collaboration and support of our programming! https://www.svsound.comOn the panel:Brian Mitchell, Founder & CEOChris Boylan, Editor at LargeW. Jennings, Sr. Portables EditorEric Pye, Contributor / IG Influencer @audioloveyycEalan Osborne, Mr. eCoustically SpeakingMitch Anderson, Podcast ProducerProducts mentioned:Chris Boylan:> Sony Bravia 8 II> Hisense L9Q UST> Kaleidescape Strato E and Strato V> Denon AVR-X3800H> Samsung Micro RGB> Dirac Acoustic Room TreatmentEalan Osborne:> Sony STR-AZ7000ES> Google Eclipsa> DTS:X Profile 2William Jennings:> Sony WH-1000XM6> Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3> Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2> Audeze CRBN2> Questyle QCC Pro> Astell&Kern SP4000 DAP> Bose Ultra Open-Ear budsEric Pye:> Vinyl reissues> KLH Model Five> KLH Model SevenMitch Anderson:> MoFi UltraTracker> Ray TubesBrian Mitchell:> Canvas HiFi> Canvas HiFi Frame> Bacch 3DRelated links:> https://www.ecoustics.com/best-right-now/Credits:Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.comVoice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.comProduction by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.comKeep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com#ecoustics #avtrends #2025bestof #hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #hometheater #dolbyatmos #headphones #vinylcommunity #yearinreview
NOW PLAYING
2025 Year in Review: The Gear That Actually Delivered (No Excuses, No Hype)
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.