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When I finalized my plans to attend last August's Audio Advice Live manufacturer showcase in Raleigh, North Carolina, publicist Jaclyn Inglis contacted me in advance to gauge my interest in a show demonstration of IsoAcoustics' new GAIA Neo loudspeaker isolators. Her excitement for the product line sold me, and I quickly agreed to stop by... Read More »

I have been waiting for the chance to hear a recording made in Bert van der Wolf's new High Street Studio in Heerewaarden, Netherlands—a performance hall and recording studio inside a converted church. Bert has described this building as an incredible find with wonderful acoustics. In the conversion process, those inherently excellent acoustics have been... Read More »

Stand Up! Jerome Sabbagh, Ben Monder, Joe Martin, Nasheet Waits. Analog Tone Factory 2025 2026 (Pure DSD256, Stereo) HERE When tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh released Stand Up! on vinyl and open reel last year, I remember thinking, I hope he gives us a Pure DSD256 transfer from that half-inch 30ips master tape. Now he has!... Read More »

For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one HERE. One thing you probably will notice as this series progresses is the preponderance of used records listed. Of course some of those are used copies to replace records I've previously owned that were stolen, but quite honestly, the bulk... Read More »

HDTT continues to release recordings of historical significance that are treasures to hear once again, and all in excellent sound quality. We have five classical recordings that deserve a place in every classical music collection. And three jazz recordings of interest, with the Sonny Stitt and Paul Gonsalves album, Salt and Pepper, beyond outstanding. Enjoy.... Read More »

Over the years I've freely admitted to being something of a sound nut. I revel in recordings that feel transparent, timbrally truthful, and utterly convincing in their portrayal of natural acoustic space. For me, the deepest listening pleasure comes from acoustic instruments captured in real environments, without artifice. With that in mind, I'm delighted to... Read More »

Intervention Records has just announced their Intervention Sun Records Hi-Fi Series, which will offer deluxe 180 gram, 45 rpm mono LP editions of classic Sun Records albums. The series has kicked off with Dance Album of Carl Perkins, the iconic guitarist's 1957 compilation album that not only commemorates the 70th anniversary of his classic hit... Read More »

Impex Records has just released incomparable guitarist and jazz fusion legend John McLaughlin's latest recording, Music For Abandoned Heights. It's an album that hearkens back to not only his classic early recordings, but continues to build on a legacy of remarkable fretwork that spans a half-century of thrilling and often groundbreaking performances. Music for Abandoned... Read More »

Every now and then I discover an album that changes the course of my musical journey. Don't Fence Me In: Western Music's Early Golden Era (Ronder CD 1102), a CD that I found in the late-nineties, is one such title.  My favorite music is sixties rock, followed closely by classical music, but in 2008 I... Read More »

I admit to getting utmost pleasure from the outstanding releases Bob Witrak continues providing to us via his High Definition Tape Transfers catalog. As I've said before, his extensive offerings are like wandering into a treasure room filled with some of the greatest classical and jazz albums ever released. I'm delighted to have these opportunities... Read More »

Engstrom is a small family-run company from Stockholm Sweden. The EE emblem represents the two founding partners, Lars & Timo Engstrom, who are a unique uncle and nephew duo. They embody a balanced and "less is more" approach to design and engineering that is central to the company's identity. Lars Engstrom was born in the... Read More »

Please be patient as I share some personal backstory. When I was a kid, our family had certain traditions for Christmas week that were lovingly established and then re-enforced by my father every year. He and my mother seemed to enjoy them as much or more than the seven kids. These traditions have carried on... Read More »

For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part 1 HERE. As I mentioned in previous parts of this series, many times in my articles and reviews, and probably to everyone I've ever talked to about records or audio, I had a bunch of records stolen at some point in... Read More »

I have enjoyed Kubala•Sosna interconnects, speaker cables, digital cables, and power cords for over 20 years, and value the advice of Joe Kubala greatly. My systems are tuned with Kubala•Sosna Emotion, Elation! and more, and have used these excellent cables to compare newcomers from all parts of the world. It is heartwarming to know the... Read More »

In this issue, we have some exquisite new albums at NativeDSD, led by a new Pure DSD256 release from Cobra Records with a fascinating program for solo piano. And two new releases from the creative artists partnering with Brendon Heinst at TRPTK, and more. I hope you will find something to further explore. Flowers We... Read More »

"The album was meticulously recorded with the best technology of its day and has always sounded good, but it has never sounded this good on vinyl," wrote Jeff Elbel of Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Ultra Disc One-Step reissue of Stevie Nicks' Bella Donna record. "This prestige-format release benefits from the label's best mastering and highest-tier pressing process.... Read More »

A huge part of the audiophile addiction…er…hobby, (yeah… let's call all of this insanity a quote-unquote 'hobby'), is incessantly trying to improve the sound quality of the gear you own with better cabling. Why do this…? Why change any of your cables and risk the painful expense of time, energy, and money in the desperate... Read More »

Yes, you know by now that I keep track of Bert van der Wolf's recording projects. I've been holding my reviews of the two releases below because I keep hoping to add yet a third release along with them—wishfully the first release from Bert's new High Street Studio recording studio, HERE. But, alas, while Bert's... Read More »

One of my all-time favorite violinists is Arturo Delmoni, who has recorded far too infrequently. Here we have an opportunity to hear him performing in a superb reissue of his recording Music for Violin and Guitar. Originally released by Athena Records in 1993, this reissue is a significant sonic improvement over the original CD-only version... Read More »