New series of demonstration-quality recordings focuses on various critical sonic aspects of audio reproduction Boulder, Colorado, January 16, 2023 – PS Audio’s Octave Records is proud to announce its all-new series, The Art of Hi-Fi. Each recording in the ongoing series will showcase a different aspect of high-quality audio reproduction, beginning with this initial release, Volume 01: Bass. As the title indicates, The Art of Hi-Fi, Volume 01: Bass offers a variety of musical selections with deep, powerful bass that will challenge the low-frequency limits of any audio system, from pipe organ to acoustic, electric and synthesizer bass and intensely dynamic percussion workouts. This is also the first Octave Records disc to feature PS Audio and Octave Records CEO Paul McGowan as recording engineer.
Paul McGowan said: “Volume 01: Bass is a disc you can use to not only test out a system’s low end, but with some great music that will also really show off what your system can do.”
Volume 01: Bass was recorded in pure DSD 256 on Octave Records’ Pyramix digital audio workstation. All the tracks were minimally miced using a combination of single-point stereo mics and a few spot microphones as needed. All were recorded and mixed by Paul McGowan and produced by Jessica Carson. Volume 01: Bass: features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. Volume 01: Bass also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport.
In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256 and DSD 128, DSDDirect Mastered 176.4 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, 44.1 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/16-bit PCM. (SRP: $19 – $39, depending on format.)
The album’s opener, “Erase Me” by newcomer Kaitlyn Williams, features a low-frequency synthesizer and electronic percussion bed that adds a richness and warmth to this pensive song. Volume 01: Bass showcases three pipe organ works including Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, recorded at Temple Emanuel synagogue in Denver, Colorado. The awe-inspiring power of the organ is conveyed in majestic full-range sound, with a vast soundfield captured by a combination of AKG C24 and David Bock mics in a modified Decca Tree configuration. Jazz aficionados will revel in the depth and sonic realism of the ensemble playing and the 5-string electric bass on the Seth Lewis Trio’s interpretations of “Maiden Voyage” and “How Deep Is the Ocean,” and Jeremy Mohney’s swing-band, upright bass-driven “Shep’s Dream,” recorded live using a Telefunken single-point microphone.
Other cuts on Volume 01: Bass include Michael Wooten’s percussion showpiece “Rocky Mountain Rain,” Kimberly and DJ Sparr’s viola and synth duo on “Take What You Need,” and “World Wind,” where Tom Amend plays all the instruments in an alluring combination of electronic keyboards, an 808 drum machine, drums, percussion, flute and bass clarinet.
Although the low-frequency impact of Volume 01: Bass is often spectacular, the music never takes a back seat. As Paul McGowan noted, “The last thing we wanted to do was make bass-crazy tracks that had no value as actual musical pieces. This is one release where you can just hit Play and enjoy it on its musical merits.”
About PS Audio
Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.
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