Photo by John Marks The above photo was not taken in Ireland, but it perhaps could pass; and in any event, it will have to do. For St. Patrick's Day, here are Nathaniel Rosen (cellist), Doris Stevenson (pianist), and Arturo Delmoni (guest violinist) playing Fritz Kreisler's trio arrangement of "Londonderry Air," also known as "Danny... Read More »
SAN FRANCISCO (3/17/20) – Parasound and thousands of other businesses in seven San Francisco Bay Area counties are now subject to a 'Shelter at Home' directive that requires all "nonessential" businesses to cease operation. Today, Parasound notified its dealers and representatives that the office and warehouse are closed. However, company personnel are still on the... Read More »
The Berlin Philharmonic has just made a really classy move: in view of the coronavirus pandemic, they have removed the paywall on their archived content. To put it another way, you can now binge-watch exceptional classical music performances for free. While hunkering down under the electric blanket and waiting for the wine-store delivery person to... Read More »
In support of the UK bands and artists that were set to perform at the recently cancelled South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, Production Park’s The Mill Studio in London will play host to a live-streamed showcase on Wednesday 18 March. The sessions are supported by the British Music Embassy, with the line-up curated by DIY... Read More »
The PranaWire Annapurna 4” Platform/Collector The PranaWire Annapurna 4” Platform/Collector PranaWire is proud to announce the release of its new series of Platform/Collectors. These are designed to connect to our Super Enhanced Ground Plane boxes or other grounding devices for maximum effect. The top plate of the Annapurna is 3/8” thick brass that is electrically... Read More »
Although we approve this wise decision, it is with sadness that we welcome the decision of the Government of Quebec to limit or ban public gatherings of over 250 people in Quebec until further notice. We all invested time and money in this project and just like you and the visitors we were really excited... Read More »
We have just received the following letter from THE Show 2020's Show Director, Maurice Jung, regarding the coronavirus and this year's event. We publish it to keep our readers well informed about T.H.E. Show's plans in this very troubled year.... Dr. David W. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief
Following the cancellation of several events in the USA, Europe, and Asia dues to coronavirus fears, please allow us to present to you the following: The Montreal audiofest remains on schedule for its March 27th to 29th run, 18 days from now. Rest assured that Canada is neither in the throes of a panic over... Read More »
March 9, 2020 Dear AXPONA Community, AXPONA has been rescheduled from April 17-19 to August 7-9, 2020 out of concern for the health and safety of all participants due to the growing coronavirus situation. This decision was made following an outpouring of feedback from the AXPONA community over the last 72 hours. The three most... Read More »
Heads up! I have just received the following very important letter from Joel Davis of JD Events regarding the rescheduling of AXPONA 2020, and share it with our readers: "Dear AXPONA Community, AXPONA has been rescheduled from April 17-19 to August 7-9, 2020 out of concern for the health and safety of all participants due... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 126. Zoot Sims and Al Cohn with Cecil Collier, Either Way. Fred Miles – FM-1 (1961), Classic Records JP 1006 (1998) 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: jazz, small combo swing, cool jazz, West Coast, jump blues. Tenor saxophonists Zoot Sims and Al Cohn head a cool swinging rhythm... Read More »
March 5, 2020 Dear AXPONA Community, JD Events is immensely proud to be the official steward of AXPONA, the largest and most passionate annual gathering of the high-end audio industry in North America. We take this responsibility, as well as the health and safety of all participants, seriously and we are listening to our stakeholders... Read More »
High-Grade Private Listening Experience with All-Day Comfort The PM-50 Planar Magnetic headphones create a spectacularly detailed and musical soundscape for private listening. Typical headphones use dynamic drivers, which are susceptible to “cone breakup,” a characteristic distortion resulting from diaphragm flex that reduces listening enjoyment. Andover’s Planar Magnetic drivers instead distribute the driving force across the... Read More »
We are saddened to hear about the decision of the Munich High End show to cancel and would like to reassure you that Canada and principally Montreal are a safe place to travel. Held in the prestigious Hotel Bonaventure in the heart of North America’s most vibrant, European-flavored, audio-loving city, the Montreal Audiofest is a... Read More »
In April 1997, jazz magazines published numerous ads of the re-edition of Verve Records, bearing the common name "Verve Master Edition:" HIGHER STANDARD "Verve Master Editions" - the ultimate sound quality and releases for serious collectors. "Verve Master Editions" are new releases of the groundbreaking Verve discs from the 1950s and 1960s, using the best... Read More »
MAHLER: Des Knaben Wunderhorn; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen* Lucia Popp, soprano; Bernd Weikl, baritone; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt; *Thomas Allen, baritone; English Chamber Orchestra/Jeffrey Tate. EMI Red Line 7243 5 69862 2 0. TT: 70.08 This issue is now quite venerable—the EMI Classics labels, including the low-priced Red Line, disappeared after the company's 2013 acquisition by Warner... Read More »
Schaumburg, IL (February 28, 2020) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will take place as scheduled April 17-19 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center. As always, the health and safety of our customers is our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s... Read More »
The HIGH END 2020 trade show, planned for May 14 to 17, 2020 at Munich‘s MOC exhibition grounds, has been cancelled due to the current worsening trend with respect to the spread of the novel coronavirus. This decision was reached by the HIGH END SOCIETY Service GmbH upon consideration of all criteria in close cooperation... Read More »
Vaughn Loudspeaker's Zinfandel 9-0 Compact Line Array, with their bespoke plasma tweeters and line array mid-bass driver configuration, sounded magically present and open. Alison Krause and company illuminated the back third of the room with convincing depth layering, rich tone, and impressive image stability. My notes highlighted the system's impressive dynamic punch, good overall transparency... Read More »
New company outgrows current factory and offices Rancho Cucamonga,... Read More »
Gaute Storsve, photo by Dag Thrane, used with permission. Gaute Storsve is a Norwegian guitarist, composer, band leader and educator who has recorded with his own jazz trio, contributed to many diverse and eclectic projects, and frequently collaborated with Ketil Vestrum Einarsen, including a new project, +Ingelrii+, and the 2nd Weserbergland album, due out in... Read More »
A friend recently wrote me to help another friend who is interested in getting a mobile music setup. Quality is important, meaning "Sound Quality" or SQ… Price is important, meaning "Cost"… Mobility is important meaning "Something that travels with good sound but also sounds good in a room when you get there"… Here is what... Read More »
As I suspected on the drive down to Tampa on Friday, February 7, 2020 to cover the Florida Audio Expo 2020 show for Positive Feedback, the second running of this new show proved even more delightful than its debutante "coming out" reveal. An even larger number of enthusiastic audiophiles, exhibitors, journalists, and show organizers descended... Read More »
For its 40th anniversary, the renowned Quebec audio manufacturer, MOON, is proud to announce the launch of a new competition for emerging Canadian artists and composers: the MOON Musical Prize: Elevate the Talent. MOON has created the competition to encourage and inspire the musical creativity of young and promising artists who would like a kickstart... Read More »
Founded in 2010 by Pat Hickman, Whammerdyne Heavy Industries is an amalgamation of technical skill-sets united by a common passion for hi-end audio, based in Wilsonville, OR. With many years of combined experience in hi-end audio, electronics engineering, and CNC fabrication, the team set out to build the ultimate single-ended stereo amplifiers. The year 2020... Read More »
Phi 3i and Phi 5i speakers The Phi-i speakers delivers dynamics and soundstage way beyond its compact looks. Using a custom-made Ringradiator and a 5.25” driver from the renowned danish manufacturer, Scanspeak, the goal is set on an authentic and involving sound with excellent resolution and superb timing. The Phi-i speakers are able to reproduce... Read More »
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Red Leaf Audio as our new distributor for German Physiks loudspeakers, electronics and cables in Canada. Their president, David Jensen, has 40 plus years of experience in both the audio and music industries. During that time, he has worked for some of the largest audio... Read More »
Monday, February 10th 2020, 5:31 PM CST British Recording Artist Aaron Paul, was cited for his outstanding contribution to society through his commitment to supporting inclusivity and diversity through his music, reaching across global cultural boundaries, paving the way for individuals to rise above repression. Gregory Petan, an accomplished fine arts artist and gifted guitarist,... Read More »
Göbel Audio is proud to announce their new Divin Marquis Loudspeaker. Its unveiling will be at AXPONA 2020 in April. The technical specifications are: Principle: 3-Way, high sensitivity, symmetrical bass reflex loudspeaker Driver: 1 pcs. Göbel® High End proprietary long-throw Bass chassis (12 inch), 1 pcs. Göbel® High End proprietary midrange chassis (8 inch), significantly... Read More »
It's not news that streaming has gobbled up 75% of the USA consumer music market, as reported recently by the RIAA, simply how fast it happened. This is the most exciting development in the High-End right now. The urge to jump quickly to the new thing is very tempting. My prudent advice for anyone considering... Read More »
"Hey Danny, are you familiar with Hemiolia Records?" asked Kerry St. James, YG's formidably friendly European sales director late last year. "No," I replied. "Well, you should and I'll put you in touch with them, I know you love tape and they have some really cool stuff out that I think you'll dig." Fast forward... Read More »
Life is hard and filled with sorrow. And sometimes you don't see it coming. Two real woes for high-end audio are at hand. What their outcomes may be, or how they may affect audiophiles worldwide, are yet to be seen. Woe Number One I received a phone call and an email recently from a colleague... Read More »
Here's the last installment of my show coverage for the Florida Audio Expo. You can see Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE, and Part 3 HERE. An absolute semi-truckload of VAC, Esoteric, and Kronos equipment was on display in this monstrous room! The room was filled with people, who where absolutely digging the sound coming... Read More »
LIVE MUSIC Saturday, April 18, 2020 | 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM Open to All Attendees! RICKIE LEE JONES was the IT girl of the 80’s, trend setter, beautiful big smile and long blonde hair, gyrating teenager in a spandex one-piece, a temptress in lacy elbow length gloves and heels--still a popular rock costume today. 40... Read More »
Our good audio brother John Marks, he who shepherds his site, The Tannhauser Gate, sends along another smoke signal about a fine recording of a nowadays-obscure composer, Louise Farrenc. I have not yet found a single recommendation of John's that wasn't very worthwhile. To borrow and adapt John's phrasing, "pause and listen." Amen! Dr. David... Read More »
Here's the current installment of my ongoing show coverage for the Florida Audio Expo. You can see Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE. Jerry Stoeckigt elaborates on the Eikon Audio Image 1 System specifics. Eikon Audio/Aurrender The $25K Eikon Image 1 System is the brainchild of Gayle Sanders of Martin Logan fame. In no... Read More »
2go streamer/server brings both Ethernet and wireless streaming, plus 4 TB of microSD card storage to the award-winning Hugo 2 DAC/pre/headphone amp; 2yu digital interface turns 2go into a standalone streamer 13th February 2020, Kent, UK: Chord Electronics has announced 2go, a high-performance streamer/server designed to transform Hugo 2 into a fully featured Wi-Fi- and Ethernet-enabled device, bringing the proven sound quality... Read More »
