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Pure DSD256 Albums, My Top of the Pile

2025-06-30T17:21:01Z

I listen to a lot of high resolution DXD and DSD256 file downloads. And, as you can imagine, I have my favorites—my "top of the pile" recordings for sound quality (to borrow a description from my vinyl years). I thought I'd assemble some of these personal favorites into a list for anyone interested. To keep... Read More »

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RAMONES 1!2!3!4! THE RAMONES ATMOS COLLECTION

2025-06-28T18:06:30Z

DOLBY ATMOS MIXES OF THE BAND’S FIRST FOUR ALBUMS OUT TODAY IN LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY COLLECTION AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM RHINO ORDER NOW (June 27, 2025 - Los Angeles, CA) Rhino presents the first four Ramones albums in Dolby ATMOS on Blu-ray for the first time today with a new boxed set, 1!2!3!4! The Ramones Atmos... Read More »

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Sound Liaison Releases a Pure DSD256 One-Mic Stunner, With Free Download Sample Track

2025-06-28T18:03:17Z

Peter Bjørnild and Frans de Rond at Sound Liaison have just released a stunning new Pure DSD256 album. This is their first album in Pure DSD256 and the results are simply incredible, with all the transparency, timbral accuracy, and resolution for which we love Pure DSD256. Frans says of DSD, "Its incredible clarity and precision... Read More »

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Jascha Horenstein's Mahler Symphony No. 8, a Stunning Performance and a Recording of Great Historical Importance

2025-06-26T22:34:13Z

Every so often, a music release occurs that is of such historical and musical significance that time must be made to mark its arrival. So it is with this amazing restoration of the BBC's 2-microphone live recording of Jascha Horenstein's Mahler Symphony No. 8 "Symphony of a Thousand," recorded live in 1959 in Royal Albert... Read More »

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E231: High End Munich 2025: Six Exceptional Rooms

2025-06-25T17:59:02Z

Today we’ll explore a number of the incredible sounding rooms that were on exhibit at the 2025 Munich High End event. I’ll share my thoughts on rooms using Kronos Audio analog gear, Master Fidelity digital gear, a captivating TIDAL system, Soulution’s new tangent tracking turntable using a unique approach, and two rooms using Acora Acoustics... Read More »

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ACCLAIMED POET/SONGWRITER STEPHEN KALINICH TO RELEASE COLLABORATIVE SONG + POETRY ALBUM I LOVE MY LIFE VIA HEYDAY AGAIN RECORDS ON JULY 11, 2025

2025-06-25T15:39:28Z

Known Best for his Lyrical Work (beginning in 1968) with Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson and the Beach Boys, Kalinich’s Songs Have Been Performed by Paul McCartney, Steve Cropper, PF Sloan, Diana Ross and Others LOS ANGELES, CA. (TUESDAY JUNE 24, 2025) - You’ve heard his lyrics on classic albums like Dennis Wilson Pacific Ocean Blue... Read More »

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VAN HALEN BALANCE (EXPANDED EDITION) 2LP/2CD/BLU-RAY DELUXE SET ARRIVES AUGUST 15 FEATURING UNRELEASED LIVE TRACKS, RARITIES, AND RESTORED PROMO VIDEOS

2025-06-25T15:36:58Z

PRE-ORDER NOW 2LP, 2CD AND DIGITAL VERSIONS AVAILABLE SAME DAY PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE VERSION OF “THE SEVENTH SEAL” AVAILABLE TODAY DIGITALLY LISTEN NOW (June 25, 2025 - Los Angeles, CA) Van Halen’s Balance turns 30 this year, and Rhino is celebrating with an expanded edition of the band’s multi-platinum tenth studio album. It follows last... Read More »

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E230: High End Munich 2025: Mola Mola & Vivid Audio

2025-06-27T22:00:05Z

With this week’s tour of events during the final High End Society show to be held in Munich, we’ll meet and hear from two of my favorite people in our industry, Ewald Verkerk, the International Sales Manager for two superb manufacturers, Mola Mola of the Netherlands, and the UKs Vivid Audio, and Vivid Audio’s Chief... Read More »

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Dan Fogelberg's Breakthrough Album Souvenirs, in a 50th Anniversary Edition on 180 gram LP from Impex Records

2025-06-26T00:16:53Z

Impex Records, in a joint effort with Iconic Artist Group and Epic Records, has just released Souvenirs, 50th Anniversary Edition, a limited LP reissue of Dan Fogelberg's classic second studio album. Fogelberg's debut album failed to chart, and in the aftermath his manager, Irving Azoff, suggested a change of scenery might be in order. He'd... Read More »

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Robin Trower's Classic For Earth Below, 50th Anniversary Edition, on 2-LPs and 4-CDs from Chrysalis Records

2025-06-25T15:06:12Z

Chrysalis Records continues their celebration of the legacy of legendary guitarist Robin Trower with the latest installment in the series, For Earth Below, 50th Anniversary Edition. Originally released in 1975, For Earth Below was his third studio album, and followed on the heels of his commercial and critical breakthrough Bridge of Sighs by only ten... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 42 Rachel Podger's New Album plus Pure DSD256 from Yarlung

2025-06-23T16:24:10Z

A new album from Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque, recorded by Jared Sacks, is always reason to celebrate! Add to that some delightful discoveries from Alpha Classics, Yarlung Records (in Pure DSD256), two albums from IBS, and an intriguing peak at what may come from the "new" Channel Classics under Outhere Music's direction, and we... Read More »

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Impressions: AXPONA 2025, Part The First...My Audio Oasis! Awards

2025-06-29T01:45:45Z

Ye Olde Editor: a Fantasy. (Photograph by John Robinson; image processing by yours truly.) AXPONA time again... Another year, another AXPONA. The biggest high-end audio show in the USA had its latest iteration on April 11-13 at the Renaissance Schamburg Hotel in Schamburg, IL. According to the AXPONA management team, "10,000+ attendees and 700+ brands... Read More »

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ONO Tone Labs a3 Standmount Loudspeakers: Stunning Performance, Sustainably Built

2025-06-22T10:32:17Z

ONO Tone Labs is a new loudspeaker manufacturer based in Kahului, Maui, in Hawaii, and is the brainchild of Dustin (or if you prefer, "Dusty") Vawter. Dustin has been involved in audio design and production for over 35 years, and was most recently the owner and principal designer of Channel Islands Audio (CIA). For a... Read More »

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Ortofon MC X20 Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

2025-06-25T13:00:28Z

Hard to believe, but the first time I reviewed an Ortofon cartridge for PF was way back in the fall of 2008 (read it HERE). The company had just introduced their then-new 2M series of affordable moving magnets that were notably different looking and sounding than other price-competitive cartridges, the basic architectures and styling of... Read More »

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XACT S1 EVO Music Server

2025-06-19T16:19:02Z

The formula is simple. If you voice the component in a way that resonates with enthusiasts, odds are it's going to take off. What's left is securing media coverage to sustain consumer enthusiasm. I was not surprised to see the S1 Music Server from XACT take that route. Once you've heard its big tone—ample body,... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 41 Pure DSD256 from Hunnia Records

2025-06-25T15:49:32Z

You will likely have noticed a large number of recordings in my articles from Hunnia Records. The owner of the label, Robert Zoltán Hunka, loves all kinds of music and is fanatically committed to making recordings with the highest sound quality he is able to achieve. Their albums keep showing up for three good reasons:... Read More »

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Vera-Fi Audio's Line Noise Black Hole and Snub Station Zero: Serious AC Power Optimization that has Rocked my World!

2025-06-16T18:26:01Z

Mark Schifter and the geniuses at Vera-Fi Audio have done it again, and their new group of AC power optimization products may be the company's most important product launch to date. A little over a week ago, and following a series of somewhat cryptic direct messages, Mark confirmed he was sending a trio of new... Read More »

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E229: High End Munich 2025: With True Life Audio

2025-06-12T19:40:15Z

While True Life Audio wasn’t launching anything new at this High End Munich, the presentation of their Supreme series of products in two different systems in Hall 4 really served to stir growing excitement and generate a buzz during this year’s event, attention and recognition that are very well deserved, and long overdue. Today, we’ll... Read More »

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RAY Tubes Select 12AT7 Dual Triode Tubes: Rolling Next-level Performance into the Advance Paris A12 Classic

2025-06-13T01:36:29Z

In my recent review of the Advance Paris A12 Classic integrated amplifier, I was smitten with its great looks and retro-cool vibe, but it also proved to be a superb all-around performer. And its impressive range of features ought to make it a top choice for anyone looking to build a system around a high-end... Read More »

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Cherish the Ladies, Part 2

2025-06-10T00:25:30Z

John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate (thetannhausergate.com) and Positive Feedback This is a continuation of a very long essay. But I think the subject matter deserves thorough coverage. In Part 1 (HERE), I examined the hard-wired neurological, and the (apparently, universal) cultural reasons why everyone responds strongly to women's singing voices (and responds equally strongly to toddler... Read More »

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T.H.E. Lone Star Audiofest 2025 Show Report

2025-06-09T18:33:23Z

T.H.E. Lone Star Audiofest 2025 ran the first weekend of May in Round Rock just outside Austin Texas. This eighteenth Lone Star Audiofest marked an important transition for the long running show changing from a volunteer run event to professional management. After the 2024 LSAF talks between LSAF founder Wayne Parham, T.H.E. Enterprises' Emiko E.... Read More »

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Wireworld Silver Eclipse 10 Interconnects

2025-06-09T16:32:19Z

What manner of arcane sorcery does David Salz of Wireworld Cable Technology practice behind closed doors in the depths of his cryptic labyrinth? Are mystic spells being chanted, obscure rituals observed, and talismans of power wielded in the creation of magical and wonderful wires? Or perhaps I've simply spent too many hours this weekend binge-watching... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 40 Some Reissues of Significance from HDTT

2025-06-09T16:22:30Z

HDTT has been on a tear generating great reissues this past year, and that tear continues unabated. Here are several releases that have gotten my attention over recent weeks largely because of their historical significance. The belong in any well stocked music library. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1, Byron Janis, Kiril Kondrashin, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.... Read More »

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Grado Labs Signature S950 Headphone: An Amazing Addition to the Signature Line!

2025-06-09T16:19:58Z

Bob Levi (right) with Michael Fremer (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) Brand new to the lineup of Grado Labs Signature Headphones is the extraordinary Signature S950 all wood headphones. Frankly, I did not see these coming! The aluminum used in the excellent HP100 SE Headphones is gone and hand-crafted Brazilian walnut shell... Read More »

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RAY Tubes Reserve EL34 and Select 12AU7 Vacuum Tubes: Elevating My PrimaLuna EVO 300 Integrated Amplifier's Performance to Unforeseen Heights!

2025-06-10T12:28:28Z

Growing up in late-sixties north Georgia, music first really grabbed my attention around my tenth birthday. My family had an old tube Philco console stereo, and after school every day, I'd run home to spin a few records or listen to the radio. I had no concept of buying my own albums yet, and the... Read More »

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