Part 1: TECHNOLOGY Or why a recording is not a document and what does it mean DIGITAL SOUND RECORDING – method of preserving sound in which audio signals are transformed into a series of pulses that correspond to patterns of binary digits (i.e., 0's and 1's) and are recorded as such on the surface of... Read More »
Pure Joy! Three world premier recordings from a contemporary composer with much to say, performed by a string quartet in their own recording debut whose style shows they will be going places, and stellar audio engineering once again by Tom Peeters on Cobra Records. Enthusiastically recommended all around. Introspect: String Quartets No. 1 & 2... Read More »
A ray of Sunshine! This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 181. Jimmy "Bo" Horne, "Get Happy"/"It's Your Sweet Love". T.K. Disco – 33 (1977), 12", 45 rpm. Genre: funky disco, Sunshine Sound. Jimmie Horace Horne, Jr.—better known as Jimmy "Bo" Horne—honed his singing style and success to Steve Alaimo and Henry Stone's Alston... Read More »
Buffalo, NY, November 26, 2021---- Bluebird Music, distributor of high-performance audio products since 2000, is pleased to announce the availability of the Questyle CMA Fifteen, the latest evolution in Questyle’s ultra-high performance compact headphone amp/DACs. In addition to Questyle’s well-known proprietary technologies, the CMA Fifteen includes analog inputs, allowing it to serve as the preamp/DAC hub for... Read More »
Another strong outing by the Rembrandt Trio brings us once again into the fascinating cross-cultural musical explorations for which I so much value in their recordings. While grounded in their European musical tradition this group explores the world with open eyes and curiosity to learn from non-western musical traditions, thereby expanding their horizons. A Wind... Read More »
When Just Listen Records releases an album, I sit up and pay attention. I'm always so glad to see a new release because I know it will be something special. And Same Silence, Same Self is again something very very special. Same Silence, Same Self, Hossein Alizadeh, Rembrandt Trio, Just Listen Records (2017 (24bit-44.1kHz, CD)... Read More »
PRESS RELEASE: 23rd November 2021 The new MOON Studio has been designed to allow the MOON team to deliver industry-leading communications to its customers and partners across the globe. Equipped with the very latest premium pro recording equipment, the facility will allow people and products to be seen and heard in brilliant audio-visual detail. As... Read More »
Romanel, Switzerland – Wednesday 24th November 2021. The Swiss company announces it is celebrating its 70th anniversary in style with a limited edition turntable. The Reference Anniversary turntable is the product of a years long, major research and development project that has been kept under wraps until this past summer. In 1951, our founder Stefan... Read More »
Few things in this life are better than spending some quality time with The Hague String Trio as they continue the storytelling that informs their artistic collaboration. Celebrating Women! is a celebration of the discovery of previously unrecorded string trios by women whose music needs to be heard. Kudos! Celebrating Women!, The Hague String Trio,... Read More »
HD Audio streaming playlists of songs mixed on Focal speakers show off what the music was meant to sound like when listening on Focal speakers Montreal, Canada - November 22, 2021 - Today Focal Naim America, a leading North American importer, and distributor of premium consumer and professional electronics brands, has announced "Mixed on Focal" a new program... Read More »
From November 25 through December 25, 2021, Danacable will hold a Giving2021 sale on standard headphone products across all Lazuli product lines. You get 10% off the product’s price by entering the coupon code Giving2021 at checkout. At the end of the Giving2021 sale period, Danacable will tally up the discounts given and match the total... Read More »
Musical Artisans is hosting their annual Winter Open House event on Saturday December 4th from 6:00-9:00pm featuring the full line of Stenheim ALUMINE speakers. Address: 8335 N. Keeler Ave Skokie, IL 60076 The ALUMINE TWO, ALUMINE THREE, and ALUMINE FIVE SE will be demonstrated in three systems featuring CH Precision, Nagra, and Engstrom electronics, De Baer and... Read More »
Aggghhh... Christmas music in the stores. Here's an antidote to the mind numbing drivel we're all going to be exposed to endlessly over the next several weeks. Unlike the yearly onslaught of "stuff to avoid," here is one album to balance out your musical sanity. Imagine Christmas, Various Artists from Sono Luminus (2017 (DXD) HERE... Read More »
Elbow, Flying Dream 1 Consistency and critical acclaim are the banes of an artist's existence. Countless bands have made this unfortunate discovery throughout millennia. Release a hit single your first time out, or, God forbid, an entire album that's embraced by the critics and the record-buying masses, and it feels almost impossible to meet expectations... Read More »
Commencing with the scintillating opening to Ernst von Dohnányi's Sonata for cello and piano, op. 8, and finishing with the abrupt falling phrase that concludes Shostakovich's Sonata for cello and piano, op. 40, Fernando Arias, cello, and Noelia Rodiles, piano, take us for a joyous ride through some superb music. Over the past several days... Read More »
Nathaniel Rosen is one of those rare artists whose playing captivates me for hours on end. There is a remarkable depth, intelligence and empathy to his playing. He is a simply immersive cellist whose performances are full of nuance, color, and imaginative flair. Listening today to his Schumann Complete Works for Cello and Piano, with... Read More »
Drawing by Dan Zimmerman Very sad news today. I received a phone call from Mike Spurlock, of the olden days of the Oregon Triode Society, notifying me that our dear friend and colleague, John Pearsall, has passed away, aged somewhere in the 80s. He didn't have many details, but said that he had been told... Read More »
Effective immediately, TIDAL-Audio GmbH, manufacturer of speakers, electronics, and cables, is pleased to announce re-establishment of self-distribution of all products directly to dealers throughout the United States. The past year has provided the company with an opportunity to re-evaluate and reassess the global path and goals for TIDAL-Audio, as well as prepare a long-term plan... Read More »
Mytek Audio proudly introduces the Liberty DAC II; the new portal for all things digital from Mytek Audio. Capable of exceptional quality playback and monitoring of all high resolution digital formats in both PCM and DSD, the Liberty DAC II also includes a built in certified hardware MQA™ decoder and a reference grade headphone amplifier... Read More »
WORLD PREMIERE Acoustic revive is a Japanese company founded in 1997 and run by Mr. Ken Ishiguro-san. It specializes in connection cables and anti-vibration products, but offers also innovative products, the ideas of which are most often sourced from the University of Tokyo. We test its products containing a mineral called Kiyoh-stone. The use of minerals... Read More »
Great Neck, NY, November 17, 2021---- Music Hall, manufacturer and distributor of fine audio components since 1985, is pleased to introduce Stealth, the company’s first direct-drive turntable. Stealth is a true high-end turntable that combines rugged construction, superb audio performance, and unique design features with the ease of use generally associated with throw-away entry-level turntables.... Read More »
Greetings friends, I hope you are doing well. I know there's a lot of Leben HiFi Stereo Company fans out there, and today I want to tell the Leben fans in the audience about the rather rare and exotic Leben CS-300F vacuum tube integrated amplifier (photo below). Over the years, I've either owned or written... Read More »
The Brand is Thrilled to Officially Add the Facility to its Family after Over 35 Year of Partnership VICENZA, ITALY (November 15th, 2021) – Sonus faber is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the De Santi woodworking factory in San Martino di Lupari (PD), establishing the facility as the official woodworking department within the company.... Read More »
STOW, OH, November 10, 2021 — Audio-Technica is now shipping its AT-BHA100 balanced headphone amplifier and AT-DAC100 digital to analog converter, two high-resolution audio components designed to deliver extraordinary sound quality. The high-end AT-BHA100 and AT-DAC100 utilize premium-quality chips and internal components, and the AT-BHA100 features a hybrid vacuum tube/solid state design to deliver rich, detailed, enveloping music reproduction. Both components are... Read More »
On Friday, November 12, AV Therapy will host its first annual “Groove Event,” in loving memory of Mark Terletzky, its late co-owner and Groove Champion. This is the store’s first in-person event in two years. Featured guests from Audience Cables, KEF, Klipsch, Luxman, and Paradigm/Anthem will be available throughout the evening to demonstrate their new... Read More »
Louis Desjardins and David W. Robinson: a moment. (Photograph by Bill Parish; image processing by David W. Robinson) You know, I just knew that Louis Desjardins was up to something. Last spring, I got a very excited Facetime call from him, talking about a discovery that he had made. No, make that "talking about The... Read More »
Buffalo, NY, November 4, 2021: Bluebird Music, distributor of fine audio products since 2000, is pleased to announce the availability of five new products in the high-performance, high-value 30.3 line from AVM (Audio Video Manufaktur), Bluebird distributes seven brands: AVM, Weiss Engineering DACs, Jadis vacuum tube electronics, SME tonearms and turntables, Questyle personal audio products,... Read More »
The latest Starkrimson® product line from Orchard Audio highlights the remarkable sound quality and amplifier performance delivered by GaN power transistors OTTAWA, Canada AND Succasunna, N.J., November 4, 2021 – GaN Systems, the global leader in GaN power semiconductors, and Orchard Audio, announced their collaboration to introduce the latest, cutting-edge Class-D audio products to market.... Read More »
Albuquerque, New Mexico (November 7, 2021) Mojo Audio introduces the new Mystique X. To keep up with the overwhelming demand for our products, Mojo Audio has taken a totally new direction. The new Mystique X Digital-to-Analog Converter is engineered for robotic manufacture, housed in an extruded aluminum chassis, and will be sold through an international... Read More »
McIntosh and Sonus faber announcethe debut of their custom integration within Six Senses Ibiza, a new luxury resort. The unique, experiential Cave Royal, Cave Suite 906 and Live Cave spaces are outfitted with an array of hifi components that create an unparalleled listening experience in Ibiza, which has long functioned as an escape for the world's top performers and... Read More »
Up the Long Ladder Maurice Jeffries at GTT Audio: a portrait. Long Valley, NJ, 2021 I won't rehash here either the science behind KRONOS Audio's remarkable line of turntables, or the engineering insights that led Louis Desjardin, the turntable design world's current enfant terrible, to pursue his revolutionary approach to turntable design. Instead, I'll begin... Read More »
If you are at all interested in checking out the underground Idol scene in Japan, here is an article by our own Peter R. Clark. Check out the review HERE at Citadel Review.
As we all know, vinyl is booming. Not only new sales, but collectable titles are also in high demand. Discogs and eBay have shown tremendous growth in sales for pre-owned and sealed out of print vinyl. Prices almost seem unfair. During the lockdown and to keep myself busy, I found myself pursuing the various Internet... Read More »
Greg Weaver, a fresco portrait. Chicago, 2018 (photograph and fresco image processing by David W. Robinson) It should come as no real surprise that paradigm shifts in the performance capabilities of hyper-audio gear come rarely. In my fifty-plus years in and around this industry, I have witnessed scant few. The first came in the early... Read More »
The Qutest DAC has won a prestigious What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year Award every year since launch 4th November 2021, Kent, UK: Chord Electronics’ Qutest DAC has won What Hi-Fi?’s Product of the Year Award in the DACs category for the fourth year in succession. The UK designed, engineered and manufactured Qutest, has won the biggest award in the audio... Read More »
Delivering remarkable versatility, state-of-the art technology, and class-leading sound quality with digital and analogue sources, iFi’s latest DAC/headphone amp is a portable marvel. Southport, England – Launched in 2018, the xDSD is among the most popular portable DAC/headphone amps in iFi’s range – a feature-packed model that has earned a stellar reputation and a plethora of awards... Read More »
Glazunov, Symphony No. 6 in C minor, Op. 58; La mer, Op. 28; Introduction and Dance from Salome, Op. 90. Royal Scottish National Orchestra/José Serebrier. Warner Classics 2564-69627-0. TT: 66.48 Downloads: amazon.com (mp3); prestomusic.com (320 kbps mp3, FLAC); qobuz.com ("16-Bit CD quality," 44.1 kHz). Streaming: app.idagio.com; spotify.com Coming to the classics, as I did, by way of... Read More »
