Streaming elevated to a higher plane Southport, England – From mainstream smart speakers to specialised audio systems, digital streaming – often over a Wi-Fi network – has become the dominant method of listening to music at home. For those who care about sound quality, building a system from dedicated audio components remains the best route... Read More »
Part 2: RECORDINGS In the 1990s, the music industry moved from reel-to-reel recorders, both analog and digital, to DAW recording systems, i.e. computer workstations. The Alesis Electronics ADAT digital multi-track tape recorders represent a turning point in this history. DIGITAL SOUND RECORDING – an audio preservation method in which the audio signals are converted into... Read More »
– New album featuring female vocal rock band Foxfeather is available on SACD and via download, recorded using exclusive DSDDirect Mastering – Boulder, Colorado, June 21, 2021 – PS Audio’s Octave Records label has released its latest album, The Nature of Things by the band Foxfeather. It’s a compelling blend of rock, pop, acoustic-electric roots... Read More »
Naim Audio launches first-ever turntable plus next-generation Aro tonearm as part of complete Solstice Special Edition package – limited to 500 units Salisbury, England (June 21, 2021) - Vinyl-lovers can now finally enjoy the full Naim Audio experience with the launch of Solstice, the first turntable in the British brand’s almost 50-year history. It comes... Read More »
MAPLE GROVE, MN (June 17, 2021) – Sumiko is excited to announce the launch of three new phono cartridges and one new stylus, extending the company’s high-end audio collection with audiophile-grade enhancements for any new or existing turntable system. The Blue Point No. 3 High and Blue Point No. 3 Low phono cartridges replace the... Read More »
After it’s been a public secret for a while that the founder of the Densen brand, Thomas Sillesen, has been on the look-out for a buyer of his HiFi company, it’s been announced two new partners have taken over the brand, which was founded in 1993 in Esbjerg, Denmark. Casper Reinhold and Ditlev Leth... Read More »
HD Audio streaming playlists of songs mixed on Focal speakers show off what the music was meant to sound like when listening on Focal speakers Montreal, Canada (June 15, 2021) — Today Focal Naim America, a leading North American importer, and distributor of premium consumer and professional electronics brands, announces “Mixed on Focal” a new program to highlight the... Read More »
New Subwoofer Adds Oomph to Award-Winning SpinBase Turntable Speaker System Andover, MA—June 2021— Building on its highly acclaimed “Spin” product system, and created in response to customer feedback, Andover Audio introduces SpinSub: a 100-watt subwoofer designed to pair with the award-winning SpinBase Turntable Speaker System. SpinSub connects to SpinBase via its subwoofer output, and... Read More »
Orchard Audio Introduces Starkrimson® Stereo Ultra: a 500W Stereo Gallium Nitride (GaN) Hi-Fi Audio Amplifier June 15, 2021 – Succasunna, New Jersey. Following the enormous success of the Starkrimson® Mono amplifier, Orchard Audio is introducing the Starkrimson Stereo Ultra amplifier, with the same proprietary dual-feedback modulator and next-generation gallium nitride (GaN) transistors. Unlike its predicesor... Read More »
16th June 2021, Surrey, UK: Melco Audio has significantly upgraded its highly acclaimed entry-level N100-H20 digital music library, creating a new high-capacity HDD variant, the N100-H50, which more than doubles the original device’s music storage capability. The new N100-H50 benefits from a 150 per cent capacity increase over the standard 2 TB N100-H20 (which stays in the range),... Read More »
Record Store Day 2021 has two summer dates this year, June 12 and July 17, and Craft Recordings has no fewer than twelve RSD exclusive releases to offer this go around. Last year's RSD was the craziest ever, what with the pandemic and everything, but 2021 seems to be bringing new hope for some kind... Read More »
World-Renowned Vocalist Patricia Barber Announces Clique (Impex Records), Brand New Album of Standards out August 6th in Mind-Blowing Hi-Fi Recorded, Mixed & Mastered in Digital eXtreme Definition 2.0 and 5.1, with Multi GRAMMY-Winner & Longtime Creative Partner Jim Anderson Listen to Patricia Barber’s Take on Lee Hazlewood’s “This Town.” Patricia Barber, the performer known for... Read More »
HOUSTON, Texas - Rolling out its vast worldwide network of Focal Powered by Naim stores, VerVent Audio, the union of iconic brands Focal and Naim, announces the opening of a store in Houston (Texas) on May 26. This brand-new store opened in the fourth largest US city and will set the tone for future official... Read More »
Orange, CA June 7th, 2021 – ELAC, a leading global provider of high-performance speakers and electronics, today announced the Uni-Fi Reference line of home speakers. This new line builds upon the success of the Uni-Fi 2.0 series and incorporates a variety of performance and cosmetic improvements. “This new line removes the price limitations of the... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about one of High-End audio's truly basic questions. Full disclosure: Roger Skoff is the former founder and CEO of XLO Cables, and is now the same for RSX Cables. His writing in this essay focuses on the notion of high-end power cables having an effect on turntables, his surprise at that possibility,... Read More »
Ye Olde Editor: a portrait. Happy Valley, OR, 2020. (Photograph by David C. Robinson; image processing by David W. Robinson) It takes time for good things to happen. A child in the womb. A person growing to maturity. Creating art. Composing music. Writing. Fine photography. The aging of wine, whiskey, bourbon, tobacco. All are the... Read More »
Now shipping, the 2yu heralds the arrival of a standalone Chord Electronics network bridge 1st June 2021, Kent, UK: Chord Electronics’ 2yu digital interface for the 2go streamer/server is now shipping worldwide, following its 2020 reveal. The 2yu connects to the existing 2go streamer/server to create Chord Electronics’ first-ever network bridge, ready for use with DACs, DAC-equipped A/V devices... Read More »
Jonathan and Kevin Couch - Founders of Heavenly Soundworks After three years of intensive development, Heavenly Soundworks will, for the first time, be presenting their FIVE17 active speaker system to the public. They will be exhibiting at T.H.E. Show, which is taking place in Long Beach, CA from June 11 through 13, at the Hilton... Read More »
27th May 2021, Surrey, UK: Melco Audio has upgraded its two flagship Japanese-engineered digital music libraries, the HA-N1Z/2EX-H50 (HDD) and HA-N1Z/2EX-S40 (SSD), to include new, improved power supplies and new, higher-performance single-drive storage for the best-ever Melco sound quality. The flagship N1Z series machines offer audio connoisseurs the choice of either solid-state or hard disc storage,... Read More »
There are issues that drive me crazy, truly. I try not to give in to them, I look away and look for more interesting activities, but eventually, sooner or later, they come back to me. I am thinking mainly about how pavements are treated. Once the NOT office building, commonly known as the Szkieletor, today... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 171. Pink Floyd, Meddle. Harvest – SHVL 795, IE 064 o 04917 (UK) (1971), MoFi – MFSL 1-190 (1984), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: psychedelic, progressive, experimental rock, heavy rock, art rock, folk rock, acoustic rock, roots rock, space rock, ambient. Meddle may be considered the bridge between... Read More »
Upgraded MKII Audio Circuits and Components Deliver A Higher Level of Acoustic Performance Tokyo, Japan (May 25, 2021) – Rotel is thrilled to announce new upgraded MKII versions of two of the companies award winning stereo pre-amplifiers with the launch of the RC-1590MKII and RC-1572MKII. Both models feature a host of acoustic and performance upgrades... Read More »
With a light and delicate touch, Noelia Rodiles carries us on a rollicking joy filled ride with Schumann, Rueda, Mendelssohn, and del Puerta, then lands us gently with Schubert and Magrane. If some of these names are unfamiliar, I encourage you to join me and explore this lovely recording. Another transparent recording by Gonzalo Noqué... Read More »
Violent Femmes: Add It Up (1981-1993). Two 120 gram, black vinyl LPs: $29.99 MSRP. Also available as two 120 gram, blister-marbled red vinyl LPs: $32.99 MSRP. Available from Craft Recordings. My first experience with the Violent Femmes came not too long after their eponymous debut album had been released in 1983. I'd just gone to... Read More »
Sarah Jarosz: Build Me Up From Bones. 120 gram, black vinyl LP: $21.99 MSRP. Also available as a 120 gram, opaque red vinyl LP; no website or pricing information was available at the time of the review. Available from Craft Recordings. Sarah Jarosz is a multi-instrumentalist and singer / songwriter who grew up in Wimberley, Texas, a... Read More »
Stream to a McIntosh of Any Era. Binghamton, NY – May 20, 2021 – McIntosh, the global leader in prestigious home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio for over 70 years, is proud to introduce the MB20 Bluetooth Transceiver. The MB20 Bluetooth Transceiver is an easy and simple solution to add McIntosh quality Bluetooth® streaming capabilities... Read More »
The U18s Combines Proprietary Drivers, LID Technology, and a New Electronic Crossover Network to Deliver a Uniquely Exceptional Listening Experience VANCOUVER, Wash., May 19, 2021 - 64 Audio, the leader in custom and universal fit in-ear monitors, is proud to announce its new U18s, audiophile-grade, universal fit 18-driver in-ear monitor is now shipping with an MSRP... Read More »
May 19th, 2021 – Succasunna, New Jersey. Orchard Audio, LLC (www.orchardaudio.com) is proud to announce the launch of Starkrimson® Ultra Amp Modules. These modules add another product to highly reviewed and award winning Starkrimson amplification line. The ultra modules up the power level to 500WRMS from the previously available 150W. Starkrimson Ultra Amp Modules features:... Read More »
With 4th gen speakers, these five headphones have a new durable cable and headband as well. Brooklyn, NY: Today Grado Labs is introducing the new Prestige Series featuring the first X Drivers. These newly built speakers are the fourth generation of drivers the Brooklyn company has designed since the introduction of the first Grado headphone in... Read More »
IBIS, Self-Titled. Polydor Records 3581980. 1975 Locanda Delle Fate, Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Piu. Polydor Records 3529073. 1977 Sensations' Fix, Finest Finger. Polydor Records 3559352. 1976 For the uninitiated, Italian Progressive Rock of the 1970s can be differentiated from its German and British peers by its heavier emphasis on the Hammond B-3 organ as opposed... Read More »
Wayne Goins, doing his thing... This next chapter starts with Grant making major moves after his successful adventure with Jimmy Forrest. In our last issue, Grant and the Forrest-led band had completed their first album recorded on December 10 and 19 in 1959 at Delmark Records in Chicago, entitled All The Gin Is Gone (with... Read More »
Bringing the exceptional quality of the world-renowned Reference Ultime speakers to smaller spaces and at lower price point. Conceived and built entirely in Switzerland, the new Reference Ultime Two speaker offers the proven design approach, components and materials used so successfully in our Reference Ultime models, in a more compact product that is easier to... Read More »
Chamber music of Brahms and Schumann, how does it get any better? Well, you mix it with music of Hindemith and Enescu, add excellent musicians who perform all deliciously on viola and piano, and then capture the magic in a sterling recording. And thus you have a this exceptional release. I love music for the... Read More »
Grimm Audio introduces the successor of their LS1s-DMF motional feedback subwoofer: the SB1. It takes Grimm's "Digital Motional Feedback" technology to a whole new level. When Grimm Audio introduced the LS1s-DMF in 2016 they pioneered with true high tech mechatronics in audio. The Philips' motional feedback concept of the 70's was improved with modern sensors... Read More »
Some of you may recall that Ann and I have been on a journey of discovery these past three years. After 45 and more years as died-in-the-wool analog listeners, we moved from an all-vinyl listening system to an all-digital listening system. And as we've explored digital recordings, we've kept our "audiophile-off-the-deep-end" hats firmly in place,... Read More »
When I was a Kid Hi-Fi Crazy many years ago, "specs" were really important to me and to all of my Kid Hi-Fi Crazy friends. Being kids, we naturally had no money, and couldn't afford to buy anything—or at least not anything that wasn't either a kit or second-hand. Even so, we were all very... Read More »
Escape into your own world of high-quality sound! Salisbury, England – May 11, 2021 - British hi-fi specialist, Naim Audio has launched Uniti Atom Headphone Edition – a headphone-optimized version of its multiple-award-winning Uniti Atom music streaming system, designed to be the ultimate solo listening source. Unlike traditional headphone amplifiers and DACs, which require a... Read More »
