Maya Fridman's album, Reið (translated as "Journey"), is an album of such emotional complexity and depth of meaning that it requires multiple listening sessions to begin to absorb. I've long savored its complexity and the soundscapes Maya creates within it. The album is tremendously rewarding; it compels one's full attention. REIÐ, Maya Fridman. TRPTK 2019... Read More »
As I've commented before, Bob Witrak's High Definition Tape Transfers catalog is like walking into a treasure house of wonderful recordings, some classics, some little known, some new. I regularly discover recordings that I'm delighted to add to my music library. Unfortunately, a separate article on each recording I would recommend is just not practical.... Read More »
Ye Olde Editor, a moment. Happy Valley, OR, 2018 (Photograph by John Robinson; image processing by YOE) Continuing my brief notes on Gold Note from last month, and progressing onwards in their designs, here's the June installment of what's up with this impressive audio company. Combining audio-technical achievements with a fine sense of design aesthetics,... Read More »
"See Joe...no problem! Sell the kid...get the upgrade!"
Wayne Jones at NAMM 2022 I was interested in the audiophile community's resistance to pro audio gear, used in top studios around the world. The music we listen to on our home systems was created using tools that are available to everyone, and often sport sophisticated and modern features to carefully provide shockingly accurate reproduction... Read More »
For the Qobuz play list for Focal Powered by Naim Houston - Listen to the playlist Focal/Naim - Houston by Qobuz USA on Qobuz June 7, 2022 - As the Focal Powered by Naim network continues its global rollout, the two leading audio and electronics brands have teamed up with Qobuz to create a bespoke in-store musical sound... Read More »
Global leader in high-end audio products to move manufacturing facility and showroom from New York to Florida MIAMI (May 19, 2022) – Recognized the world over for designing and manufacturing high-end audio products that deliver “astonishing performance,” LAMM Industries, Inc. today officially announced that the company is moving its design and manufacturing facility and customer... Read More »
June 9, 2022 - The VerVent Audio Group, which unites the Focal and Naim brands, announces the opening of new brand spaces in Barrie, near Toronto, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. They open in reference audio stores, whose managers are key partners of the group. Focal Powered by Naim Barrie takes place in the EQ Audio Video store,... Read More »
Released in 2019 the 1st SETO-HORI model received widespread global recognition. The new name for this continued legendary product will be the "SETO-HORI REMODEL," which emphasizes integration of the cartridge with the headshell for a true precise sound. The headshell and cartridge's center of gravity, which are machined from aluminum and copper alloy ingots, are... Read More »
It used to be that great things were invented by one great man. Edison, Morse, Tesla, Bell, McCormick, Whitney, Fulton, and countless others all—at least until they became established—worked alone, or with just an assistant or two, to bring their wonders to the world. In most fields, that no longer seems possible. Maybe it's because,... Read More »
A superb reissue of Mingus' The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady from HDTT in DSD256 that retains all the natural rawness and energy that makes this album special. This is a must have acquisition for any jazz library. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus. HDTT 1963, 2022 (DSD256, DXD) HERE... Read More »
James Gaffigan and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra deliver a very fine Prokofiev symphonies cycle. Collectively, these performances present a consistent and insightful look into Prokofiev's symphonic music, all exceedingly well executed. And all are recorded in the finest, most natural, sound quality one can find. The Symphonies of Sergei Prokofiev, James Gaffigan, Netherlands Radio... Read More »
Ye Olde Editor, contemplating on a high deck in Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Israel, 2022. (Portrait by John Robinson; image processing by Ye Olde Etc.) Just yesterday Positive Feedback posted notice of the launch of an audiophile standards group: the Association of International Audiophile Publications. The formation of this new high-end audio association took most of... Read More »
(Happy Valley, OR, June 4, 2022) The founding members wish to announce the launch of the Association of International Audiophile Publications (AIAP). The AIAP is composed initially of ten audiophile publications from around the world, all dedicated to a set of ethical and professional standards. These have been organized as a Statement of Principles, which... Read More »
World music meets bluegrass, country and Americana with virtuoso guitar and fiddle on this superb-sounding DSD and SACD premium gold disc. Boulder, Colorado, June 3, 2022 – Octave Records announces the release of Everlasting Dance by TIERRO Band with Bridget Law, a rich “Gypsy Grass” tapestry of sonic elegance that combines world music, bluegrass, country,... Read More »
Award-winning DAC/amp updated with features prioritizing flexibility and premium sound quality Chicago, IL — June 1, 2022 — CEntrance, boutique manufacturer of premium recording and audio playback solutions, today announced the launch of the DACmini™ 2, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier. This sleek, stylish, and sophisticated-looking desktop model is designed to conveniently stack... Read More »
The AMP-23R Integrated Amplifier is the result of years of expertise and effort inspired by the previous generation technology used in Bakoon Products HiFi components. It is the next in line after the Bakoon AMP-13R with a nearly identical physical size and footprint. This newly developed amplifier comes with a fully integrated and advanced circuitry,... Read More »
A thoroughly engaging and well-spent hour with this delightfully articulate guitarist. Enno Voorhorst is a master of subtle grace, dynamic drive, and brilliant technique. But, he never allows his huge technique to overshadow his musically compelling communication of nuance and emotion. 840 - Enno Voorhorst, guitar. Cobra Records 2022 (Pure DSD256). HERE In this album,... Read More »
I was on the sidewalk in front of our house in San Luis Obispo. In 1952 it must've been a very quiet place, otherwise it's hard for me now, looking back, to understand why my mother let me go out by myself. I was only four. But she was very pregnant at the time, and... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 191. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Unlimited Love. Warner Records – 093624874720 – 093624880653 (2022), (2x33 1/3 rpm). Genre: alternative rock, funk rock. First things first, even though this is the band's twelfth studio album, this is only the third 'Chili Peppers LP in my collection—the other two... Read More »
Few musical cycles are as compelling as is Rachel Podger's and Gary Cooper's cycle of the complete sonatas for violin and piano by Mozart on Channel Classics. With the plethora of new recordings, we sometimes lose sight of great recordings from the recent past. I thought it would be useful to revisit these and perhaps... Read More »
Back in the 1980s or maybe earlier, "transparency" became the buzzword in high-end audio. Harry Pearson of The Absolute Sound was a big proponent of the term, and soon many reviewers and sycophants jumped on the idea, to the point where talking about "transparency" quickly became a tiresome cliché. But what does "transparency" really mean? I think most audiophiles... Read More »
Volume VI offers an eclectic selection of pop, rock, classical, Americana and more, in exceptional DSD and SACD sound on newly-available premium gold discs – Boulder, Colorado, May 27, 2022 – PS Audio’s Octave Records has expanded its series of reference-quality music-sampler discs with the release of Audiophile Masters, Volume VI. The compilation offers an... Read More »
Modena, Italy (May 25, 2022) – Sonus faber is thrilled to announce the continuation of its celebrated partnership with Maserati, showcased in the audio system integration within the new spyder MC20 Cielo. The audio system technology has been specifically optimized from the EISA award-winning MC20 Coupè vehicle to fit the unique acoustic and positioning needs... Read More »
From organiser, exhibitors or visitors – the voices at the HIGH END 2022, which celebrated its comeback from 19th to 22nd May in Munich, all said the same thing. After a forced hiatus due the pandemic, the international audio trade show was filled with powerful emotions and pure passion. Not only the great joy of... Read More »
Plan your calendar for July 29-31, 2022 and book your rooms at the Doubletree Hilton Sea-Tac. https://book.passkey.com/go/audiofest22 All of our large vendor rooms are reserved and are booking table spaces and standard rooms, which are the largest in the industry at 15' x 20'. While at PAF be sure to visit: Headphone and record vendors. The... Read More »
(May 24, 2022) Enjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's celebrated site for over 26 years and a leader in providing premium audio and music industry news, hardware reviews, and show reports, is pleased to announce that we're sponsoring T.H.E. Show's Thursday night media and exhibitor celebration! To be held from Friday, June 10th through Sunday, June 12th... Read More »
Celebrating over 50 years of the Record Cleaning Machine with new siblings for the world's first Threadless point suction cleaner. High-End Munich MOC Hall 3 N07. Jonathan Monks, the son of the founder Keith Monks, today announced two new additions to the Prodigy series and updates to the original machine. Prodigy series brings the world's first... Read More »
Vertere Acoustics MOC Munich Thursday 19th May 2022. Touraj Moghaddam Vertere's founder and chief designer today announced the new Silencer equipment supports. These and an Iso-Shelf are part of the demo record player system in Atrium 4.1 E121. The Vertere Iso-shelf sits under a record player supported by low profile Iso-balls or the superior Silencers. Silencer is... Read More »
Can you like a work of music without understanding it? Indeed, yes. I don't claim to yet understand what Maya Fridman and Maarten van Veen have created in Nuït, their new release from TRPTK. But I do like it, and I plan to continue listening to come to grips with it. It is a wonderful... Read More »
Eric Clapton, Unplugged (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) This latest limited edition Mofi UltraDisc One-Step box set was cut by Krieg Wunderlich and pressed at RTI. You get your two 180 gram 45 RPM LPs on Supervinyl with all the usual packaging and perks, but I had to wonder if this pressing was really going to... Read More »
Tierkreis by Bruce Friedman, Jeff Schwartz, and Jim McAuley Tierkreis is a collection of 12 short compositions written by Karlheinz Stockhausen, each originally created to be played on a music box. In 2008, Bruce Friedman, a trumpet player based in Southern California, organized a concert of Stockhausen work, part of a global celebration of his... Read More »
The Munich Show is ongoing at the time of this writing. While many of us in the USA are still maintaining our distance during this ongoing pandemic (and with those rising airline prices!), those in Europe have this splended event happening just down the road. Our good friend, Dirk Sommer, Editor of our affiliated publication,... Read More »
May 19, 2022 (Munich) - Focal and Naim present a hi-fi system with exceptional performance and finishes: the new Aria K2 926 loudspeaker and the Uniti Star all-in-one player, Ash Grey finish. United under the VerVent Audio Group for 10 years now, the two brands embody the very best of French audio and English electronics.... Read More »
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The new innuOS 2.1 will feature a new TIDAL integration, initial support for UPnP/DLNA players, a Smart Mixes engine and Airplay connectivity based on the provided Logitech Media Server platform. TIDAL MQA integration will come later. innuOS 2.1 now in Beta testing to gather user feedback before launch, which is planned for the end of... Read More »
Faro, Portugal, May 16th 2022 After the tremendous success of their ZEN Music Server series, Innuos is now launching the new PULSE Network Player series to bring the Innuos experience to music lovers who mostly want to play music from streaming services or who just want another zone in their home connected to their main music... Read More »
