What was the best (most impactful) piece of new equipment to hit the market in 2023?

For me it wasn't a piece of equipment but rather software. I have been interested in the BACCH system for some time but I had no interest in inserting a MAC computer into my system. Their introduction of u-BACCH software for Windows corrected that. Running it through J. River l got exactly what I was looking for at a lower price to boot.

@mahgister I was interested in the BACCH system since it’s introduction but not only is it expensive it is MAC based. I did not want to take a backwards step in my system and go back to a laptop. I have a Windows based Wolf Audio streamer/server feeding a PS Audio MK II DAC. The u-BACCH for Windows allows me to have my cake and eat it too. For all music it adds a nice you are there presentation component to it; like moving a couple of rows closer to the soundstage.

The interest for most users however is the 3 dimensional effects that it creates. I have found this to to be very song dependent. On some songs it is simply spectacular and on others not so much. It responds very positively to recordings with echo and reverb and it is a backup singers best friend especially choruses. Just about all songs get some movement beyond the plane of the speakers. 

The only drawback is that it that it has a small sweet spot.If you are familiar with the Carver Sonic Hologram ,it is somewhat similar but the sweet spot is larger allowing one listener to sit behind another and get pretty much the same presentation. When I have company I prefer to sit side by side. In this case , I will adjust the u- BACCH slider to around the 50 setting.This allows me to still get the liveliness that u- BACCH adds to the presentation. I would pay the software fee for just the added you are there playback. The 3D effects are a bonus. 

One of my audiophile buddies visited for a couple of days this week. He was quite enthusiastic about the results when I had him sit in the sweet spot. When we were sitting side by side, I moved the slider adjustment to 50. He had me engage and disengage the u- BACCH software. After going back and forth several times he liked when it was engaged better stating that the music sounded closer to being live.

@mahgister Thanks and I hope you and your family have a great holiday season. I would love to hear your impressions of the software.

@scottwheel u-BACCH doesn’t have head tracking which is one of the reasons it is a lot less expensive than BACCH. Tell me about side by side seating ?

@deep_333 BACCH has been around for awhile but u- BACCH was introduced this year. I purchased it at the introductory price.

@scottwheel thanks for the update. Head tracking for two listeners would be great especially if it would work with Windows.