Will Wonders Never Cease A recurring nightmare haunts my dreams. In the nightmare, some guy named Bill Parish of GTT Audio continually harasses me with phone calls, texts, and emails imploring yours truly to return the Audionet WATT integrated amp that took up residence hear at Casa Jeffries a little over a month ago (and... Read More »
Syracuse, NY, April 5, 2018: Today Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. announced that they will be introducing their new HPA4 headphone/line amplifier at two upcoming trade shows; CanJam Global SoCal, April 7-8, and Axpona Audio Expo, April 13-15. At each show, Benchmark will be conducting personal listening demonstrations. Benchmark partnered with THX Ltd. in order to incorporate the THX... Read More »
Playback Designs has announced their new Dream Series Audio DAC and Transport-SACD/CD/Server system incorporating the latest Ultra High Performance technology. Production versions will be shown at the Axpona show in Chicago and the High End show in Munich. According to Andreas Koch, president and designer of Playback Designs, this system could have been called "Reference"... Read More »
Schaumberg, IL—April 13, 2018: EgglestonWorks, Memphis-based manufacturer of High End loudspeaker systems, will be displaying at 2018 AXPONA, at the Renaissance Schaumberg Hotel and Convention Center, room 614, starting Friday, April 13. Once Again, EgglestonWorks’ will be displaying with Triangle Art and once again, the room will showcase EgglestonWorks’ acclaimed Viginti, their 20th Anniversary speaker... Read More »
IRVINE, CA, April 3, 2018 – The LA Audio Show 2018 - Orange County will be a sumptuous feast for Mind, Body, and Soul. While the Show will feature the finest in high-performance audio gear, it will also offer attendees "food" for the mind, body and soul. Beginning with a special preview June 7, and running through June 10 at the Hilton Irvine/Orange... Read More »
Campfire Audio Announces Exciting New Audiophile Earphones; COMET ($199) and ATLAS ($1299). Stainless Steel Body: Our new stainless steel earphone bodies are drop forged and then CNC machined before being hand polished to a mirror finish. The durability of stainless steel provides peace of mind in daily use. Each earphone is assembled by hand in our workshop... Read More »
Image courtesy of Pear Audio Blue Damnation. Time is sand through the fingers, crap through the goose. Projects pile up, deadlines come and go, and the best intentions of rodents and humans crash and burn. Turntables. Tonearms. Cartridges. LPs. Reissues. New record companies. New pressing plants. A glory of riches, getting better and better over... Read More »
As I mentioned when I introduced myself to this journal, I'm a rookie when it comes to high tech audio equipment—but I'm a fast learner. And l have already learned pretty quickly how deep this rabbit hole goes when one steps into the arena of sound and technology. Now, I'm not one for keepin' up... Read More »
It's good to have our dear friend John Marks back in our pages again. As always, he brings light and insight to music that's worthy of our careful attention. A valuable guide, he! In this essay, he covers the Harmonia Mundi recording of Stile Antico's performance of de Victoria's exploration of the passion of the Christ... Read More »
Exordium I've been a lover of music and audio for as long as I can remember. I didn't really recognize myself as an "audiophile;" but from my first 45 rpm box player in '63, to an all-in-one Sears stereo, followed by a succession of Pioneers, Harman-Kardons, Yamahas, and Kenwoods; I loved gear even then. I... Read More »
Focal introduces Blue, Olive and Purple designs to their Listen Wireless Line to provide Chic options in audio St. Etienne, France. – March 28, 2018 – Focal, a recognized leader on the global stage for high fidelity products, today unveils Listen Wireless Chic, offering three new finishes for their Listen Wireless closed-back headphones. After debuting... Read More »
TORRANCE, CA, March 21, 2018 – For consumers looking for masterful sound and unparalleled visuals at an entry-level price, Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation has the perfect solution as the company today announced the details of its new Elite network AV receiver: the VSX-LX103 7.2-Channel Network AV Receiver. Featuring more connectivity and multi-zone features, the new receiver is now... Read More »
The other day I had the idea to write a post on Facebook about records, but the more I thought about it the more I realized it would make a better article than Facebook post. I see a lot of people posting lists of records that have had an impact on them. I like those... Read More »
For Immediate Release: DARIA and Her Stellar Trio; Sunday April 29th 6:30pm-9pm PT; Fenix, 919 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. Featuring: Daria, Vocals/Percussion; Frank Martin, Piano; Daniel Lucca Parenti, Bass; Deszon Claiborne, Drums. Not to be missed!! Get tix: https://www.fenixlive.com/show/daria-jazz-2/ For more about Daria, go to Daria's Web site at www.dariajazz.com.
THE LAMPIZATOR PACIFIC HAS ARRIVED AXPONA 2018 Schamburg, IL, April 13-15, 2018 – Introducing the next chapter in digital musical reproduction. “I didn’t just want to make it prettier or slightly different, or slightly more expensive. I wanted to verifiably, undeniably better the Golden Gate in every aspect.” — Lukasz Fikus, President of LampizatOr Bettering the... Read More »
We have contacted some of the our partners in crime who create and showcase DSD capable DACs and Players, and guess what? 10 of them will be playing DSD (up to DSD 256) music from the NativeDSD catalog in their AXPONA 2018 Demo Rooms. NativeDSD Music at AXPONA In other DSD news, Yarlung Records and Channel Classics Records have... Read More »
New Wireless Noise-Cancelling and Flagship ATH-ADX5000 Headphones and More at AXPONA 2018 Turn to Audio-Technica for an outstanding listening experience at AXPONA 2018! The company will be demonstrating every single turntable in its lineup, along with its newest headphones and more. Highlights include the following: The new top of the line AT-LP7 Belt Drive Turntable is the culmination of more than... Read More »
La Voce S3 Discrete DAC | the evolution of technology The La Voce DAC is a modular design, so aqua releases the new D/A conversion module for La Voce S3 with Discrete R2R Ladder DAC architecture. Owners of original La Voce can upgrade to La Voce S3 Discrete DAC. The update for the La Voce... Read More »
Las Vegas, NV (March 11, 2018) – Lone Mountain Audio, the importer of ATC Loudspeaker Technology consumer Hi Fi products from England, and its US sales representative Rutherford Audio are extremely proud to announce the arrival of the CDA 2 Mk2 CD/DAC Preamp, which represents a re-engineering of its predecessor in all the key performance areas. ... Read More »
Yugawara-machi, Japan - March 8, 2018 - Black Cat Cable introduces LUPINO - a word which means "Little Wolf" in Italian - as a trickled-down and more affordable version of their immensely popular "Lupo" interconnect. "Mama" Lupo is made from 2 x 99.999% pure, annealed silver conductors in a ca: 0.25" dia air-teflon tube, and is... Read More »
Brooklyn, NY: Grado Labs is proud to release the second Brooklyn built phono cartridge in the new Lineage Series, the Aeon. The Lineage Series is a major step forward in phono cartridge design. With the release of the Epoch phono cartridge last summer, reviews and responses to the Lineage Series have been overwhelming: "For me, a 10... Read More »
Once again our friend and guide John Marks leads us into interesting and educational musical terrain. This time, the great master Glenn Gould is featured, with meditations upon his creative performing focus. I always learn from John's commentary; I am sure that you will, as well. (Although I must calmly disagree with Gould's eschewal of... Read More »
Dave and Carol Clark of Positive Feedback. Dave and Carol give us all the details on creating a print magazine, shifting to an online publication and learning how to really enjoy audio shows. Co host Bryan Beasley.
SCHMIDT: Symphony No. 2 in E flat. STRAUSS: Dreaming by the Fireside (Symphonic interlude from Intermezzo). Vienna Philharmonic/Semyon Bychkov. Sony Classics 88985355522. TT: 55.14 Downloads: amazon.com (mp3); hdmusic.pw (FLAC); highresaudio.com (not available in U.S.); myopenmp3.com (mp3); prestoclassical.co.uk (FLAC, mp3); primephonic.com (WAV, FLAC; not available in U.S.) The composer Franz Schmidt, while renowned in his native Vienna during his... Read More »
Mozart, Violin Sonatas, Nos. 5, 6, 7, 28, 35; Variations in G minor; Sonata in B flat Major, 570. Alina Ibragimova, violin. Cédric Tieberghien, piano. Hyperion CDA 68175. (2 CDS for price of one). Alina Ibragimova plays Mozart as if he is at the center of her repertoire. He suits her refined tone and willingness... Read More »
IRVINE, CA March 13, 2018 – McIntosh, one of the most storied brands in audio, has revived its famed “McIntosh Clinic,” a free diagnostic service, exclusively for the LA Audio Show 2018 to be held in Irvine, CA June 8-10 at the Hilton Irvine Hotel, with a “preview” afternoon Thursday, June 7. ThIs amazing June... Read More »
I'll start off by describing my experience with reel-to-reel, which spans several decades. In 1979, I acquired a Pioneer RTR deck from my brother-in-law—he had no idea how to use it, and I believe we just traded some stuff back and forth. It worked almost flawlessly, although one of the channels had a habit of... Read More »
IRVINE, CA, March 8, 2018 – The LA Audio Show has announced a bold plan in support of today's celebration of "International Women's Day." According to Marine Presson, Show President, the moves not only support women but are intended to, as in the words of the U.S. Constitution, "ensure domestic tranquility." "As of today," President Presson... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations. 56. Borodin, Symphony no.2 / Rimsky-Korsakoff – Capriccio Espagnole The London Symphony Orchestra, Jean Martinon. RCA Victor Red Seal – LSC-2298 (1959), Classic Records – LSC-2298 (1996?), 180g, Living Stereo series, Genre: classical, orchestral, romantic. Tightly led and influenced by Mily Balakirev, Alexander Borodin—the eldest of 'The Five'—along... Read More »
Cypress, CA March 1st, 2018 – ELAC, a leading global provider of high-performance speakers and electronics, today announced the Debut 2.0 line of home speakers and subwoofers. This new line builds upon the success of the first-generation Debut Family incorporating a variety of new features and technologies. “Based on feedback from dealers and end-users, along with changes in the market, we have completely... Read More »
MoFi Electronics proudly announces the addition of the Super HeavyWeight record weight to their product lineup. Best described as a “super noise killer”, it is intended for use with all makes of turntables - not just MoFi Electronics models. The Super HeavyWeight was conceived with the assistance of MoFi Electronics’ good friend, Mike Latvis, of Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS). The device uses... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about a basic split in our hobby I admit it; I don't own a smartphone. And for driving instructions, I have to go to my home computer. I've also never owned an Amazon "Kindle" or any other such device, and I don't intend to. Does that make me a Luddite? Maybe, but... Read More »
Regular readers of High Fidelity remember, I hope, the texts from two and three years ago, which served (me and the editor-in-chief of HF, Wojciech Pacula) to present the best albums of mainstream music (read HERE). However, we did not write about the discs, that were the best music of 2017 "in our opinion", but about those... Read More »
This article, as reviewed by Carol Clark, Victor Chavira, and Larry Cox, originally ran when audioMusings was in print. Issue 11, 2000 I awaited the arrival of the Audio Aero Prima CD player with great anticipation. Like my five-year-old Audio Electronics CD1, the Prima is a highly modified Phillips unit with a variable tube output stage. However, that... Read More »
I have been a very happy owner and user of the Aries Network Streamer/Renderer from AURALiC for a good number of years (HERE). In its use, the Aries "rendered" our music, make that files, as well as I could ever imagine—pace, resolution, dynamics, extension, clean, articulate, palpable, and so on, and so on, and so... Read More »
The missing tweeter I've had the same pair of YG Anat speakers going on seven years. That's the longest I've owned any reference component by far. And still the Anats' give no cause to go out looking. They do everything well. If I notice a performance shortfall, it won't be the speakers I'm looking at.... Read More »
The information regarding the design of the Siltech Triple Crown Power AC Cable provided by Siltech seem to be simple and few: Unique 7 heavy core S8 mono crystal silver conductors, Stabilized air core insulation, Spatial balanced for perfect EMC canceling behavior over an extreme frequency range, Ultra-stable operation even under high current demand, Bending the... Read More »
