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Let's assume that, like many into hi-fi, you're extremely busy and prefer a minimalist aesthetic, reference-level sound, and low-fuss gear. In that case, the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe network music player may be the music player for you.  When I first spotted the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe, it was featured in a high-end... Read More »

Whenever I get to hear something that is so supremely good, and so delightfully performed, with such insight and richness, I feel it warrants a immediate sharing with you. This new Yarlung Records Pure DSD256 album, released today, is such a recording. Can you tell I'm excited about it? Yes, indeed! You need to hear... Read More »

What a pleasure to hear of a new label with audiophile aesthetics emerging from the greater Los Angeles commercial music community! This was my immediate reaction when I first started talking by phone with Ryan Sillifant, producer, mastering engineer, and performing artist for a new label, BigRibbons, launched by Wes Dooley, founder of AEA Microphones... Read More »

Chet Baker, Swimming By Moonlight. Slow Down Sounds (33 RPM) My father was a big Chet Baker fan. I remember that he had several of the essentials including Chet, Chet Baker & Strings, Chet Baker & Art Pepper – Picture of Health, and Chet Baker Plays The Best of Lerner And Loewe. I also remember... Read More »

Anna Fedorova is, to me, one of the most exquisite pianists performing today. Her interpretative skills are subtle, inventive, and completely engaging. And her technical skills are simply amazing. When she performs, I just slide into a very happy place listening to her. Her most recent release is delightful. Liberté, Anna Fedorova, Orquesta Sinfónica de... Read More »

Chrysalis Records is honoring inimitable New Zealand band Split Enz with a lavish new compendium of their earliest recordings, Enzyclopedia Volumes One & Two. Which highlights their long out-of-print debut album, 1975's Mental Notes, their sophomore effort from the following year, Second Thoughts, as well as 1979's The Beginning of the Enz, which collects non-album... Read More »

When the opportunity to evaluate the singular performance of the comparatively affordable Master Fidelity digital suite, comprised of the $27,500 NADAC D DAC and its identically priced companion, the NADAC C Clock, in my own reference system, I was beside myself with anticipation. My enthusiasm for spending time with these components in my own reference... Read More »

Last year I reviewed my favorite album by The Box Tops album, their second, Cry Like A Baby HERE, and this time I'm reviewing my second favorite, their fourth and final title, Dimensions (Bell 6032/Sundazed SC 6161). I've never seen a clean copy of the LP, so I'm reviewing the Sundazed CD. Before I get... Read More »

Somewhere between the impassioned corporate overlords of large audio conglomerates and the overly passionate do-it-yourselfer lies a middle ground of small-to-medium audio companies. Many of these middle ground overachievers carve their niche by offering products that combine the value of the big brands with esoteric-like perfection in everything they build. Or in this case, you... Read More »

Once again we have a full measure of excellent recordings released in recent weeks. If I didn't like them, I would not write about them. And I do like these very much. They start off with an outstanding new recording of trumpet concertos from the inestimable Tine Thing Helseth and Lawo Classics, then some very... Read More »

Four new release and reissue LPs have just been made available from Craft Recordings, including a pair of titles on their ultra hip Jazz Dispensary imprint. As well as the latest reissue on Craft Latino from legendary Corrido singer Chalino Sanchez. And Craft has just made an extensive group of repackaged colored vinyl variants of... Read More »

As Yarlung Records celebrates its 20th Anniversary, founder Bob Attiyeh is reissuing in Pure DSD256 some of the 15ips 2-track tape recordings made in earlier years. We've previously seen released David Fung's Evening Conversations (HERE) and coming before long will be Ciaramella's Music in the Court of Burgundy. But now we have this very excellent... Read More »

Bob Witrak continues to find really nice recordings to release over at HDTT. This time around we have a Basie/Ellington Redux reissue, a Coleman Hawkins album transferred from the original Crown Records 15ips master tape, an excellent Fritz Reiner Living Stereo reissue, plus three albums that I've had in my  Pure DSD256 From Analog Tape:... Read More »

Scarlatti Sonatas. Tamara Stefanovich, piano. Pentatone Music PTC5187401 (WAV download, EP). TT: 23.11 87 in B minor. K. 158 in C minor. K. 8 in G minor. K. 13 in G. Angela Hewitt's recent performance of the Goldberg Variations reminded me of how well Bach can work on the modern grand piano, given the right application of... Read More »

Analog Tone Factory is a label new to me but it has been releasing some very nice all analog albums on high quality vinyl and transfer to analog tape for the past few years. Their LPs have already received very high recommendations in the audiophile press, but since I've been away from vinyl for half... Read More »

Offered for your perusal are thoughts on six releases to be found at NativeDSD. Included are two outstanding performances of Prokofiev's symphonies by Gianandrea Noseda and the LSO (the Fourth and Sixth); a first recording from Jared Sacks' newly opened residential recording studio in Pure DSD256, giving us a glimpse of more nice recordings to... Read More »

Call it serendipity, a strange coincidence, or just plain chance, but when the power cords arrived from Stereo Dave's Audio Alternative for me to review, I was watching a video on YouTube from none other than Audioholics. Those familiar with that organization will know they are not supporters of high-end, high-priced audio cables whatsoever. One... Read More »

Selecting an album which inspires me enough to write about it isn't easy. A lot of thoughts go through my mind, such as: Should I avoid an album because it's hard to find? Should I avoid an artist that few have heard of? And should I avoid an album if the sound quality is less... Read More »

"Keep your voices down a little bit" is faintly heard in the background. This phrase is incredibly difficult to decipher in many systems, as it is located deeply in the background of the recording. "Then, a band member says"Oh I will tell you everything," and while it cannot be documented it is likely Christine McVie... Read More »