Roger Skoff writes about getting the best boom for your buck... Many a long year ago, even before HiFi prices got to the stratospheric levels they're at now, a friend of mine—a music lover, not yet, but willing to become, a HiFi Crazy—went into his local HiFi shop to see about buying a system. He... Read More »
If you're a vinyl-spinning audiophile and you love great guitarists, you should listen to Chet Atkins (1924-2001). Heck, even if you don't spin vinyl you should listen to Chet Atkins. The soft-spoken man from Luttrell, Tennessee, was also known by the nicknames Mr. Guitar and The Country Gentleman. His guitar tone was sweet like honey,... Read More »
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new milestone in analog playback: the Luxman E-07 Phono Amplifier. This exceptional new product is set to redefine the standards of performance and sound quality in phono amplification. The E-07 is an all-solid-state phono equalizer amplifier that leverages Luxman's extensive experience and expertise in the... Read More »
Astell&Kern, a global leader in high-resolution audio products and accessories, announces the PD10 Black, a new color option for the popular PD10 DAP released in May 2025. The PD10 Black will be featured at CanJam SoCal September 13 – 14, 2025 and be available at authorized Astell&Kern dealers in the US for $2,410 and worldwide... Read More »
The Fenby Legacy: Music of Delius. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Eric Fenby. Unicorn-Kanchana DKP (CD) 9008/9 (2 CDs; recorded 1981-3). Songs of Farewell (The Ambrosian Singers). Idyll (Felicity Lott, s; Thomas Allen, b). Fantastic Dance. A Song of Summer. Cynara (Allen, b). Irmelin: Prelude. A Late Lark (Anthony Rolfe Johnson, t). La Calinda. Caprice and Elegy (Julian... Read More »
Engineered for enthusiasts who demand the best, the UDP900MKII & UDP800MKII deliver reference-level playback across every format with precision-tuned updates inside and out DENVER, CO – CEDIA EXPO 2025 – BOOTH #4137 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 – Magnetar, a leading provider of premium media players and reference-grade disc playback hardware for audiophiles and cinephiles who... Read More »
Introducing the Umami Black MC cartridge $11,500 The HANA-Umami Black continues the brand’s legacy of “Brilliant and Gorgeous” sound. Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san of Excel Sound celebrates over 5 decades of innovation and excellence with his new masterpiece, featuring a diamond cantilever and new “OKD” High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator. The Umami Black is much more than... Read More »
Rhino Entertainment and Warner are celebrating the 75th anniversary of iconic label Elektra Records with twenty limited edition LP reissues and releases as part of the Elektra 75 Vinyl Collection. Albums in the series include a mix of 140 and 180 gram LPs, with many of them pressed on really cool colored-vinyl! The Elektra 75... Read More »
Wilco, A.M. (Rhino High Fidelity) I am a Chicago guy, and I have been a long term loyal fan of Wilco since the very beginning of the band. Wilco was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of the alternative country group Uncle Tupelo, after Jay Farrar's departure that same year to form Son Volt.... Read More »
This article by Robert Levi originally ran in 2003, so while we call this section "New Old Stock - Articles from Our Days in Print" you are also going to see some articles from our early days of going online. I've always liked tube amps. That said, there are a lot of things about tube... Read More »
Every now and then, something really special comes our way. And today it has. A new release from HDTT of Miles Davis' album, Milestones, in a gorgeous, sonically luscious Pure DSD256 transfer. I hope you will forgive this fresh new article after so many others right in a row. But I wanted you to hear... Read More »
Craft Recordings has just released the latest installment in the Original Jazz Classics (OJC) reboot series, featuring four new titles that are scattered across the Prestige and Riverside labels. Including guitarist Kenny Burrell's fourth Prestige LP, 1957's Kenny Burrell; the 1958 Prestige blowing session Wheelin' and Dealin', which features the horns of Frank Wess, John... Read More »
This issue brings discussion of two new releases, and four that are included on my Pure DSD256 from Analog Tape: My Top of the Pile list but not previously reviewed. So, time to tell you more about these. Milhaud, La Création Du Monde, Suite Provençale, Charles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra. HDTT 2025 1960-1961 (DSD256, DXD)... Read More »
Effective immediately, Garrard products will be distributed throughout the US & Canada by Monarch Systems Ltd. 1 September, 2025: Englewood, Colorado – Monarch Systems Ltd. is happy to announce our appointment as the official North American distribution partner of Garrard, manufacturer of specialty turntables. The Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company was originally formed in 1915... Read More »
NativeDSD's catalog continues to expand, with new artists and new labels. As I've written before, I enjoy recommending new albums from NativeDSD because I trust that the sound quality will be very high, regardless of the format or original recording resolution. Too many times I've been disappointed by the sound quality found elsewhere, even from... Read More »
Musing here... As I listen the the HDTT release of Sonny Rollins' Way Out West in the DXD mastering of the tape transfer HERE, I was prompted to think about what different listening experiences there are between media. Listening to vinyl (which I did for decades) is one experience, listening to reel-to-reel tape another. And now, listening to ultra-high... Read More »
Nordost Launches the QNET7 Network Switch: Nordost is proud to announce the official launch of the QNET7, their high-fidelity Layer-2 network switch, following the exclusive "sneak peek" at the High End Show in Munich, Germany this past Spring. The much-anticipated QNET7 is now available to customers at authorized Nordost retailers, worldwide. Engineered from the ground... Read More »
Tom Peeters is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Cobra Records, which he founded in the fall of 2000. As founder, recording engineer, mastering engineer, and producer of nearly 100 exquisite albums released on the Cobra Records label over these years, Tom has many accomplishments for which his work should be celebrated. And he thanked. His... Read More »
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab continues their brilliant restoration of Santana's catalog of albums with a new reissue of the band's 1977's classic, Moonflower. Sprawling across a pair of LPs, Moonflower unconventionally combined new studio tracks with Santana's first official domestic release of any of the band's live recordings. Moonflower provided a thrilling showcase of Santana's... Read More »
Hardware, more and better, constant angst—bleh. I suppose I'm the outlier among most audiophile circles because I rarely change equipment. And, I'm not eager to go listening to gear. For me, I want better software. That's clearly my shtick, always has been. And, here, it's not as much the music as it is the sound... Read More »
“Rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated” ~ Pacific Audio Fest ~ We WILL be back in 2026! Same venue, better dates. September 11-13, 2026 In 2024 we considered making PAF a biennial event, and scheduled the next show for 2026. Turns out everyone wants it to be an annual event. So beginning in 2026 it... Read More »
Multi-Release Physical And Digital Packages Confirmed for 2025 And 2026 First Up is At The Hollywood Bowl 1943-1948 on October 3rd Followed by Christmas on The Air with 5xLP- vinyl exclusive Box Set Long Ago, Far Away, scheduled for Fall/Holiday releases of 2025. SING Spared No Expense on Extensive Audio Restoration Campaign from Original Broadcast... Read More »
Jewel Faye Smith (1943-2005), who went by the name Sammi Smith, was born in Orange, California. Due to her father's military career, she lived in Arizona, Texas, Colorado, and Oklahoma. In 1967 she was discovered in an Oklahoma City nightclub by Johnny Cash's bassist, Marshall Grant, and subsequently she moved to Nashville. With help from... Read More »
This has been a very interesting if not challenging review, especially when considering the sound quality of this reissue compared to the original pressing and other reissues that have been released over the years. Well established as a true classic, this 1975 self-titled album by Fleetwood Mac was the first with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey... Read More »
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's ongoing release of Joni Mitchell's most iconic albums continues with her 1976 transitional masterpiece, Hejira, where her embrace of jazz idioms deepened far beyond her initial explorations in both Court and Spark (1974) and The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975). Hejira is very much a road album of sorts, a musical... Read More »
Michael Fremer and Bob Levi CLARICE from Bob Attiyeh and Yarlung Records Extraordinarily well recorded with every tube and analog bell and whistle, this 45 RPM LP of Clarice, pressed in Germany, is another Yarlung Records treat. Bob Attiyeh of Yarlung Records, 2018. A portrait. Considering that the producer, Bob Attiyeh, has taste levels superior... Read More »
I recently had the opportunity to review Joni Mitchell's classic album Court and Spark, which is part of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's ongoing release of six of Joni's most iconic albums. You can read my review of that superb UltraDisc One-Step set HERE. The UltraDisc is MoFi's ne plus ultra analog statement format, and their... Read More »
Rhino Entertainment has just released Jethro Tull's Still Living In The Past, which updates the band's original 1972 album issue in every possible way. Still Living In The Past is being released as a gatefold double LP edition, as well as an expansive 5-CD+Bluray package, all remixed and remastered by Steven Wilson. The 2-LP set... Read More »
Craft Latino celebrates Latin and Salsa music across a host of subgenres, with eight new LP reissues, many of which have been long out of print. Featuring three albums that are continuing the centennial celebration of "The Queen of Salsa," Celia Cruz; percussionist extraordinaire Ray Barretto's 1975 self-titled album; a pair of albums from salsa... Read More »
Sound Liaison founder and recording engineer Frans de Rond makes some wonderful recordings. He and his business partner Peter Bjørnild have been doing so for quite a long time, and my music library is delightfully filled with their superb small ensemble and duo recordings. The other day, their newsletter flowed into my email box and... Read More »
Woodinville, WA – Genesis Advanced Technologies and Merrill Audio Advanced Technologies co-sponsored the Friday Night entertainment for show goers at the inaugural Pacific Audiofest in 2022. We hired a local band-leader, Mr. Paul Sawtelle, to put a 17-piece big band together for a concert. “This album was total serendipity,” said Genesis Chief Designer and CEO... Read More »
Rhino Entertainment is celebrating the musical legacy of the B-52's with multi-LP and CD catalog box sets, The B-52's The Warner/Reprise Years, which collects the band's eight albums from the years between 1979 and 1992. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 1977, the B-52's initially rode the crest of the New Wave with a string of... Read More »
Re-published from Copper magazine; used with permission of the owner Paul McGowan, and the Editor, Frank Doris. Images used by permission. DALI EPIKORE 9 loudspeakers I'd known of DALI Loudspeakers for a while. The Danish company (DALI stands for Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries) has been exhibiting at AXPONA right by the Renaissance Schaumburg hotel's check-in area, a prime... Read More »
Bach hanging out with John Marks... John Marks continues with the Gentlemen; see HERE for Part 1. QOBUZ Playlist Link https://play.qobuz.com/playlist/33451444 Jesse Colin Young, Light Shine (1974) "Jesse Colin Young" was the stage name of singer-songwriter Perry Miller (1941-2025). He chose that stage name in part because of his admiration for Lotus sports- and racing-car... Read More »
Bob Levi: a portrait by David W. Robinson (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) House of the Singing Blossoms (click for complete album art and information), a jazz tour-de-force starring Anthony Wilson is recorded at Sam First's jazz club and recording studio by Sam First Records. This two record set with thick stock gatefold... Read More »
Audiophile Day is delighted that its tenth year in 2025 is being commemorated globally to celebrate music and audiophiles around the world. Now officially listed in Chase’s Calendar of Events, Audiophile Day has grown in recognition each year since the first celebration in 2016. The demand for excellent high-fidelity equipment driven by audiophiles significantly impacts... Read More »
With its upcoming amplifier, AMP-44R, Enleum has been awarded the most prestigious of design awards, the "Red Dot: Best of the Best 2025". This award is given for groundbreaking design and is the highest award in the competition, reserved only for “the best of the best” products in a category. And this is Enleum’s second... Read More »
