We at Monarch Systems Distribution are incredibly proud to announce that several of the world-class brands we represent have been honored with the prestigious 2026 Editors’ Choice Awards from The Absolute Sound.

These awards are a testament to the uncompromising pursuit of musical realism and engineering excellence that defines our entire portfolio. It is our privilege to bring these exceptional products to our valued dealer partners and the dedicated audiophile community across North America.

Please join us in celebrating our winning brands and products:

Siltech: The Benchmark in Cable Performance

Siltech has once again set the benchmark for cable performance, with the Master Crown series and Royal Double Crown series both receiving this prestigious accolade.

Master Crown Series

In a comprehensive review, The Absolute Sound lauded the Master Crown interconnects, speaker cables, and power cords for their ability to transport the listener.

“realm is the right word because there is something regal about the latest Siltech cables. They help to endow musical reproduction with a sense of clarity, drive, and weight that many other cables simply cannot match. … It may sound like a small matter but it contributed to an overall greater sense of realism. … transcendent experience.”

Royal Double Crown Series

Just below the flagship Triple Crown, the Royal Double Crown was recognized for its ability to “unlock the full potential of reference-level hi-fi systems,” delivering “exceptional transparency, control, and tonal refinement.” This award highlights nearly four decades of metallurgical research and innovation.

B.audio: Enthusiastically Recommended

We are thrilled that the Alpha One Streaming Integrated Amplifier has “done it again,” securing a 2026 Editors’ Choice Award for B.audio.

In his review, The Absolute Sound‘s Neil Gader was completely captivated by its performance, stating:

“The work done by this input takes the Alpha One’s quality to the next level. … I know that I’ll never forget the time I spent with Alpha One. Enthusiastically recommended.”

This accolade reinforces B.audio’s position as a leader in creating truly integrated, high-resolution components that deliver on the promise of the High End without compromise.

Chario: Harmony of Scientific Precision

The iconic Constellation Pegasus Loudspeaker from Chario has been honored with a 2026 Editors’ Choice Award in the “Shared Spaces” category.

This award celebrates the perfect harmony of scientific precision and Italian craftsmanship. Praised as a “masterpiece,” the Pegasus represents the pinnacle of speaker design where Italian artistry meets acoustic excellence. The Absolute Sound‘s Drew Kalbach noted that Chario is “big into serious acoustic science. And it really shows in how the Pegasus performs.”

SME: The Standard of Precision

SME remains the undisputed leader in analog engineering. This year, The Absolute Sound recognized multiple models for their unwavering pitch stability and “Rolls-Royce” build quality.

  • SME Model 30 Turntable: A perennial favorite that remains a reference standard for its immunity to vibration and surgical precision.
  • SME Model 12 Turntable: Celebrated for delivering flagship-level performance in a more compact, integrated design.
  • Honorable Mention: While the SME Model 35 was recently named SoundStage! Product of the Year, it continues to dominate discussions in TAS for its “heirloom” build quality and the revolutionary Series VA tonearm.

Audio Physic: No Loss of Fine Detail

Following their motto to the letter, Audio Physic secured a spot on the 2026 list with speakers that disappear into the soundstage.

  • Audio Physic Tempo: A 2026 Editors’ Choice winner, the Tempo is praised for its explosive dynamics and ability to render the “creamy sound of the treble” with exceptional transparency. It remains one of the best choices for rooms that require a slender, stylish footprint without sacrificing scale.

AnalogMagik: The Science of the Setup

For those who demand objective perfection from their vinyl playback, AnalogMagik provides the tools to achieve it.

  • AnalogMagik V2 Software: Highly recommended by TAS reviewers as an essential “step-by-step approach” to cartridge alignment. By using real-time digital analysis to calibrate anti-skating, azimuth, and VTA, it removes the guesswork and allows listeners to hear the true potential of their SME or Garrard rigs.

A Complete Portfolio of Excellence

These awards reflect the exceptional quality found throughout the Monarch Systems family of brands. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the finest tools for musical enjoyment. Explore our full range of distributed brands, including:

“The goal is simple: to bring listeners closer to their favorite recordings by preserving the integrity of the musical signal.” — Monarch Systems Distribution

For information on purchasing these award-winning products or becoming an authorized dealer, please contact Monarch Systems Distribution.

Monarch Systems’ 2026 Award Summary

BrandAward-Winning Model(s)Award Type
B.audioAlpha OneTAS Editors’ Choice
CharioConstellation PegasusTAS Editors’ Choice
SMEModel 12, Model 20, Model 30, & Model 60TAS Editors’ Choice
Audio PhysicTempoTAS Editors’ Choice
SiltechRoyal Double Crown , Master Crown & SAGATAS Editors’ Choice
AnalogMagikV2 Calibration SoftwareTAS Editors’ Choice
Garrard301 ClassicTAS Editors’ Choice
Categories: News, Reviews