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05 / 02 / 24
World Premiere Review!
Charisma Audio Musiko Turntable Review I strongly suspected when listening to the first song with the Musiko that I would buy it. Review By Rick Becker The Charisma
Audio Musiko tonearm had already become part of my reference system back
in May 2021. when it was incorporated into my Linn Project — a complete re-make of the fabled Linn LP12 using off-the-shelf, re-engineered parts from several after-market companies. These parts were sourced from Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Colorado. By the time I finished, the only original OEM parts were the suspension springs and
grommets, the belt, the sub-chassis nuts and bolts, and the wood plinth. While there were lots of lovely alternatives, I kept the original wood plinth out of sentimentality. I was quite proud of the results, having greatly improved on the original vintage table — not unlike the way Carroll Shelby made over the British AC Ace into the Cobra sports car, except I did it on a kitchen countertop and never got around to racing it. I nicknamed it the Bard for reasons
I'll let you figure out. ---> Charisma Audio Musiko Turntable
Review.
Black Ice Audio Fusion F100 Monoblock Vacuum Tube Power
Amplifier Review Plus a great story about Jim Fosgate's Odyssey circuit. Review By Ron Nagle To tube or
not to tube? Strange as it may seem, that age-old question is still relevant.
Today new materials and innovative designs have taken vacuum tube audio
components to a higher level. When I first saw the Black Ice Fusion F100 in room
504 at the Capital Audiofest, they were powered with Russian Tung-Sol KT150 beam
tetrodes. This innovative tube is only one type of power tube the F100 can use,
each with a different musical voice. This ability has a substantial fundamental
advantage. Unlike solid-state amplifiers, you need not be stuck with one
solid-state sound. Like a fine wine, the sound of vacuum tube audio components
can appeal to many diverse tastes. --->
Black Ice Audio Fusion F100 Monoblock Vacuum Tube Power Amplifier Review.
05 / 01 / 24
May High-Performance Audio
Review Magazine This month we've finalized our Southwest
Audio Fest, Montreal
Audiofest, and AXPONA show
reports. Later this month we'll be posting show coverage from HIGH
END 2024 in Munich (our 24th time, we were there in Frankfurt too!). Roger Skoff's editorial
'What Kind Of Music Do You Like?' may answer the question of matching your
loudspeakers to your music preferences. Or it could be a trap, you decide!
With so much effort going towards shows, we still
found time to review the incredible Linkwitz LX521 loudspeakers. Longtime audio reviewer Rick Becker truly hopes you have the
opportunity to hear them. Rick says they were one of the very best rooms at shows! Our much-anticipated review of Nagra's Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, and VFS by Senior Editor Tom Lyle is a
must-read for those seeing the top echelon of Hi-Res Audio digital audio / music. Fact is, while listening to music the Nagra system,
literally, brought tears to Tom's eyes. All this and much more inside Enjoy
the Music.com's May 2024 Review Magazine.
What Kind Of Music Do You Like?
Roger writes why what you like is what you ought to buy.
Article
By Roger Skoff Many
a long year ago a friend of mine asked me what kind of speakers he ought to buy.
Complimented by his confidence in my judgment and wanting to be helpful, I asked
him some questions to help me figure out what might be best for him. One of the first was "How much do you want to spend?" To which
I got "It doesn't matter; whatever it costs." I should have known better – he
was the local Maserati dealer, quite well off, and really could afford just
about anything I might suggest. Next, I tried "What kind of music do you listen to? " and was
told "Everything; I like it all, as long as it's good." Other questions about all the usual hi-fi criteria –
imaging, soundstaging, timbre, transient attack and decay, harmonic richness,
the whole thing – got equally vague answers until I finally asked him "Is
there anything at all that you particularly like or want in the music you listen
to?", That's when I hit the "jackpot": "Loud." He said, "I like it really
loud!" ---> What Kind Of Music Do You
Like?
HIGH END 2024 At Munich M.O.C. Show Report
High End Society's HIGH END 2024 Event In Munich Germany From May 9th to 12th, 2024, the 41st HIGH END
trade show in Munich will once again shine a spotlight on luxurious
premium music reproduction systems, inspiring listening enjoyment and
exquisite audio technology. HIGH END continues to be one of the most
important marketplaces and trading rendezvous for the audio industry,
with many international trade visitors from around the world. Music
lovers from over 90 countries visit Munich to discover high-performance
audio industry trends, exchange views, learn the latest news, plus
network and do business. For industry experts, audiophile enthusiasts,
and music enthusiasts, the HIGH END four-day event in Munich will once
again be a spectacular event. ---> HIGH END 2024 At Munich M.O.C.
Show Report.
AXPONA 2024 Show Report
Audio Expo North
America (AXPONA) 2024 three-day experience featured a multitude of floors,
with a total of approximately 200 listening rooms. Special showcases include the
Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and a variety of seminars. Whether you're a
very serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you found everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite
sounds. The Ear Gear Experience is the place to go to find everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, as well as cables DACs and players. You can also shop audio accessories, turntables, cables and more in the Expo Hall. Plus find new and vintage vinyl in AXPONA's own Record Fair. ---> AXPONA 2024 High-End Audio Show
Report.
Linkwitz LX521 Loudspeaker Review I hope you have the opportunity to hear them.
Review By Rick Becker It
is no accident the Linkwitz LX521 speaker eventually landed in my listening
room. It would have happened much sooner if I had not been so busy. The three Best
Rooms awards you may have seen in their ads have resulted from my very favorable
impressions at AXPONA (2022 and
2023) plus Capital
Audiofest. I've been a big fan of open baffle
speakers since my world premiere reviews of Tekton Designs' OB 4.5,
PureAudioProject's Trio 15 TB, and Treehaus Audiolab's Phantom of Luxury
speaker. Other major proponents of open baffle design include Nola and the
now-named Clayton Shaw Acoustic Lab. And more recently, Songer Audio on the West
Coast, plus a few I've likely missed. I don't normally read other writers' reviews of products I
review. For that matter, I pretty much focus on doing world premiere coverage,
but I wanted to get a first-hand listen to the Linkwitz in my own room. --->
Linkwitz LX521 Loudspeaker Review.
Nagra Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, And VFS
Review Bringing tears of joy when listening to special songs.
Review By
Tom Lyle In January 2021, I was fortunate to review Nagra's
Tube DAC and Classic PSU power supply. In my review, I said that the
owners of this vacuum tube Hi-Res Audio DAC will be able to appreciate the "sonic glory"
of this "high-performance component." So, I was not surprised that the
Nagra Tube DAC and its PSU power supply were awarded Enjoy The Music.com's Best
Of 2021 Award. After I finished the review, I was not psyched to
return the $40,900 package consisting of the Nagra Tube DAC, Classic PSU power
supply, and VFS Classic base to the distributor. I was captivated by the sound
quality this digital front end contributed to my system. My reference DAC, an EMM
Labs DA2, is no slouch, but this Nagra Tube DAC package costs twice as much.
It was not twice as good as the EMM Labs converter; it doesn't work that way, but
the improvement in sound quality was significant. I jumped at the chance when I
was offered the subject of this review, the relatively new Nagra Classic DAC II
/ PSU / VFS combo. --->
Nagra Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, And VFS Review.
Today Is International Jazz Day
2024
Back in 2011 we welcomed UNESCO's decision to officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day. In hopes of bringing great music while also uniting people globally, International Jazz Day features legendary jazz pianist / composer Herbie Hancock as UNESCO's Ambassador. According to their website, "International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication. Each year on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity; eradicating discrimination; fostering gender equality; and promoting freedom of expression."
Music enthusiasts can look forward to legendary figures of jazz, blues and beyond electrifying the city of Tangier – and screens throughout the world. Led by iconic pianist Herbie Hancock and Musical Director John Beasley (USA), the All-Star Global Concert will feature performances by an international roster of artists from all corners of the globe, including master Gnawa musician Abdellah El Gourd (Morocco). Other confirmed artists include: Claudia Acuña (Chile), Ambrose Akinmusire (USA), Lakecia Benjamin (USA), Richard Bona (Cameroon), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), and many, many more. Below is their YouTube video, which
will be live when their official event commences later today. As always, in the end what
really matters is that you... enjoy the
music!
04 / 29 / 24
HIGH END 2024 At Munich's M.O.C. Show Report
From May
9th to 12th, 2024, the 41st HIGH END trade show in Munich will once again shine
a spotlight on luxurious premium music reproduction systems, inspiring listening enjoyment and exquisite audio technology.
HIGH END continues to be one of the most important marketplaces and trading rendezvous for the audio industry, with many international trade visitors from around the world.
Music lovers from over 90 countries visit Munich to discover high-performance audio industry trends, exchange views, learn the latest news, plus network and do business. For industry experts, audiophile enthusiasts, and music enthusiasts, the HIGH END four-day event in Munich will once again be a spectacular
event.
For many years, the HIGH END
show has provided both the big players within the industry and smaller owner-managed companies with their ideal presentation platform as the
world's leading audio trade show. It is the perfect place to establish business relationships, expand networks,
exchange ideas and experiences with other industry experts. Acclaimed musician and producer Steven Wilson will be presenting his most recent album
The Harmony Codex in immersive audio reproduction at HIGH END 2024. The HIGH END show is an international leader when it comes to impressively setting the
bar for high-performance music reproduction. The trade show has been providing ideas
and inspiration for producers, distributors, sellers, and consumers of high-quality
luxurious consumer electronics for four decades. Each year, representatives from the
industry get together for four days at the HIGH END show in Munich. From leading global
players to innovative start-ups, exhibitors provide proof of their innovative
passion, which they present on an international stage to the global public. ---> HIGH END 2024 AT Munich's M.O.C. Show Report.
04 / 27 / 24
The Big AXPONA 2024 Show Report The largest, most well-managed, and most amazing show in North America!
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver This
most recent AXPONA (Audio eXPO North America), held Friday,
April 12th through Sunday, April 14th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel &
Convention Center for the fifth time (COVID-19 took its toll affecting the cancellation
of the 2020 and 2021 events), managed to break all its previous records by
welcoming 10,391 attendees from 42 states and 31 countries. Liz Smith,
AXPONA's Show Director for JD Events shared that this represented a 14%
increase over 2023, adding that, "This year our Gen Z pass doubled. It was
exciting to see so many attendees ages 15 to 26 discovering the world of
high-performance audio." Just how big and amazing was it? This year's
monstrous event featured 202 dedicated listening rooms and dozens of displays
and booths over its sprawling twelve floors of displays and exhibits crafted by
some 600 global manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and brands! ---> The Big AXPONA 2024 Show Report.
Best Of AXPONA 2024 Blue Note
Awards Greg Weaver's Top Five Rooms at AXPONA
2024
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver Here are my Top Five Rooms, presented in the
same order as the main show report is laid out, starting on floor 16 and working
down to the ground floor. Keep in mind that, given your personal biases and
musical preferences, ANY of these Top Five Rooms might have filled your
top honor qualifications. They were ALL fabulous and deserving of such
remarkable recognition. Let's literally, "Take it from the top...." ---> Best Of AXPONA 2024 Blue Note
Awards.
04 / 25 / 24
Endow Audio T35 Point-Array
Loudspeakers Review Exceptionally well made with impressive on- and off-axis sound.
Review By Brett Rudolph Last month I
had the fortune of being asked to review new speakers from Endow, which made
their debut at the Florida Audio Expo
2020. Endow Audio's T35s loudspeakers,
according to the company, represents the same quality at a substantially reduced
price without cutting corners. Indeed, they are certainly visually a sight to
behold.... The engineering itself was fascinating; Endow utilized
multiple drivers in various phases and closed baffle in a very non-trivial
design to allow for a very expansive off-axis listening field. --->
Endow Audio T35 Point-Array Loudspeakers Review.
Sonus Faber Il Cremonese Floorstanding
Loudspeaker Review Sonus Faber's Il Cremonese speakers tell a story, and the more you listen, the more you not only get lost in the music, you appreciate and admire both in the story and the telling of it.
Review By Jules Coleman If there is
anything obvious about obvious truths, it is their truth. Nothing else about
them need be, and often nothing else is. Moreover, some obvious truths are
obvious only in retrospect. Obvious truths – truisms – can be revealing,
insightful and even important. Take what is certainly one of audio's most obvious truisms: an audio system is,
after all, a system! Patently obvious? Yes. Uninteresting or unimportant?
Hardly! --->
Sonus Faber Il Cremonese Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
04 / 23 / 24
Australian
Hi-Fi March / April 2024 Editorial: New Hi-Fi Gear Is Pushing The Boundaries
Sonus Faber Duetto Stereo Speaker System
Dellichord FR6 Loudspeakers
DS Audio DS 003 Optical Cartridge
Richter Wizard Series 6Plus Loudspeakers
Australian Hi-Fi Show 2024 Guide
History of Portable Audio: Part 4
Podcasts for Music Lovers
Top Picks And Reissues
And Much More!
Pacific Audio Fest 2024
Show
Report Experience the best in premium audio
gear at Seattle's PAF 2023 show. The Pacific Audio Fest (PAF) returns to Seattle for
their third great year! From September 6th through 8th, you can experience the very best in high-performance high-end audiophile gear at the biggest and best audio show on the Northwest coast of the USA! With
~100 exhibition rooms showcasing great audio gear, there will be millions of
dollars is audio gear, from very reasonably priced to cost-no-object, to hear and enjoy.
Taking place at the Doubletree-Hilton Sea-Tac / Seattle, PAF is the USA's very best Northwestern premium audio
event.
Scheduled for the Pacific Audio Fest 2024 is live music
on Friday and Saturday nights, with NW regional wine and beer tastings, and ~100 rooms of quality audio, Marketplace, Record Fair, HeadZone and much more! The Pacific Audio Fest show
is located at a top tech hub and one of the fastest growing communities in the USA, plus it is a vacation paradise in the summer months. The Seattle area has great demographics for the audio industry
too! ---> Pacific Audio Fest 2024 Show Report.
04 / 19 / 24
audioXpress' May 2024 Issue
Editorial: No Truth. Just Joy.
The Neurochrome Story
The Open-Loop Complementary Follower And An Amplifying Stage
A High-Performance 60-Watt Class A Amplifier Part 2
Sustainable Acoustical Absorption
Glass Audio: The TubeSociety 2022 OTL Hybrid Tube Amplifier
A Low-Feedback Triode Amplifier With Zero Output Impedance Part 1
Tube Output Power
Optimizing Single-Stage Dual-Triode Totem Pole Drivers
And Much More!
Within his editorial, J. Martins says "My experience of over three decades in the audio sector reinforced a conviction that no matter how hard we try, there is no way to achieve truth in audio, just joy. And that the latter is completely independent of the former. This is a fundamental principle on my standing about audio technologies. I care about good audio experiences and I believe that our efforts should be focused on eliminating bad sound, not so much about achieving exceptionally great fidelity — that illusive quest. Do I have a low bar when it comes to audio experiences? I just know when I find joy listening to music. That's why I admire product designers that manage to create great sounding products that are also affordable. The joy they bring to so many is incomparably more impactful than any $100,000 high-end piece of gear could ever induce." ---> audioXpress'
May 2024 Issue.
04 / 18 / 24
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker Review A sense of performance that gets out of the way of your music.
Review By Simon Lucas Getting to 'Series
3' of the Bowers & Wilkins 705 stand-mounting loudspeaker has been a rather
more convoluted process than it might seem at first glance. You might imagine
that 'S3' replaces 'S2', which in turn replaced 'S1' (or perhaps just '705') –
but you'd be wrong. Getting to '705 S3' initially required there to be an original
'705', it's true. But after this, the entire 700 range (for reasons no one cares
to remember) became the 'CM' range. 'CM' didn't remain a thing for all that
long, and was replaced by the 'S2' range of 700 models. Then the 705 S2 (and the
702 S2 floorstander) were singled out for the Bowers & Wilkins 'Signature'
treatment – I reviewed the 705 Signature in issue 187 of this very magazine.
These 'Signature' editions ran alongside the 'vanilla' S2 models on which they
were based. --->
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker Review.
McIntosh MP100 Phono Preamplifier / DAC Review A serious piece of kit for an entry level vinyl setup.
Review By Gary Lea If you are a reader of this esteemed publication it is not a
stretch to presume you are an audiophile and probably pretty deep into our
wonderful hobby. Having said that, I think you would be hard-pressed to find
anyone amongst us who has not heard of, listened to, or even owned McIntosh
components at some time in our audio journey. Right after college, and I started making reasonable money for
the first time, I moved up from a Yamaha integrated amp to a McIntosh MA6200
integrated unit. Sound-wise it was a toss-up between that and a comparable
Luxman. While Luxman was perhaps a bit more exotic, I just could not resist the
aesthetics of the McIntosh and I never regretted the decision. That was some 43 years ago and was the second phase of my
serious journey down the HiFi Highway. --->
McIntosh MP100 Phono Preamplifier / DAC Review.
04 / 17 / 24
Record Store Day 2024 Is This Weekend
Record Store Day 2024 will celebrate the many important independent record stores in the USA and internationally on April 20, 2024. Record Store Day was originally conceived during 2007 when a few independent record store owners as an avenue to rejoice and share the love for local record stores. Record store staff, music lovers and musicians come together to celebrate the wonderful diversity of music and the
important local role each store plays at showcasing their local talent and the unique global music culture.
According to the Record Store Day website, "Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and on and on. In 2008 a small list of titles was released on Record Store Day and that list has grown to include artists and labels both large and small, in every genre and price point. For several years, 60% or more of the Record Store Day Official Release List came from independent labels and distributors. The list continues to include a wide range of artists, covering the diverse taste of record stores and their customers." As always, there will be many very limited edition music titles / LP pressings released on Record Store Day 2024.
Please find the participating store near you and contact them directly to find out how they're participating and celebrating Record Store Day
2024.
04 / 16 / 24
Greg Weaver's Sunday AXPONA 2024 Show Report It's the last day of AXPONA 2024 and
Greg chimes in with pics and great info! Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver It's
the very last day of AXPONA and we're grateful for Greg Weaver's Sunday photos
and info (albeit slightly delayed). Many topflight exhibit rooms are within
today's update, including a stereo sound system that retails for a staggering
$4,000,000! There are also systems in the more normal range, and some surprises
along the way too! We know you'll enjoy Greg's final day at AXPONA 2024 pics and
info. As always... enjoy the music! ---> Greg Weaver's Sunday AXPONA 2024 Show Report.
T.H.E. Show SoCal 2024 Discount Hotel Rooms Available
North America's longest running hi-fi audio trade show, T.H.E. Show, is set to take place from June 7th through 9th at the Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa. T.H.E. Hotel Room Block is now available for our attendees at a very special discounted rate so make sure to book your rooms now. With this
booking link, attendees will also be entitled to a special parking rate of $20 per day per vehicle (last year it was $28 so they are pleased to offer an even deeper savings). Armed Forces and children under 12 receive complimentary entry (with proof of service).
T.H.E. Club Lounge will be open for members of all audio societies and music clubs! Please bring proof of membership and you will be welcomed in for complimentary beverages, snacks, networking, and relaxation. Additionally, T.H.E. Show SoCal 2024 are excited to share with you all that T.H.E. Women's Lounge is back! We welcome our HiFi Sisters to join us in this special lounge where we will be serving complimentary beverages, snacks, and some special surprises for T.H.E.
Ladies! Learn more about T.H.E. Show SoCal 2024 at this
link.
04 / 15 / 24
Montreal Audiofest 2024: Best Rooms And Honorable Mentions Rick Becker picks his Best Rooms at
Montreal Audiofest 2024.
Montreal Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker The playing field at audio shows is never level. The room itself can make a huge difference as was notably evident to me this year. And mishaps can happen. A piece of music might be playing that
doesn't show off the greatest strengths of a system. After 286 photos and over 17k babbling words, out of 66 rooms it came down to six I thought were outstanding and another nine I could live very happily
with... plus another couple if headphones were my destiny. The Best Rooms did not all sound alike, but they were all very impressive in achieving what they set out to do. Hopefully, in attending the show the visitors will have tuned their listening skills a bit further and identified what is realistically achievable for their own listening
pleasure. --->
Montreal Audiofest 2024: Best Rooms And Honorable Mentions.
Chuck's Sunday FUNday At AXPONA 2024 Chuck completes his at-show fun within
this AXPONA 2024 show report.
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Chuck Bruce With
the AXPONA 2024 (Audio Expo North America) show's last day in the books, Enjoy
the Music.com's Chuck Bruce gives us his final 'preview'. Within his
Sunday FUNday update Chuck reports on an excellent assortment of high-end
audiophile gear. We're sure there's something within our many AXPONA 2024 show
reports you'll love. As always... enjoy the music. ---> Chuck's Sunday FUNday At AXPONA 2024.
04 / 14 / 24
Michael Bump's Saturday AXPONA 2024 Show Report Music Professor Michael Bump's photos
during AXPONA 2024.
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Dr. Michael R. Bump During
Saturday at AXPONA 2024, musician Michael Bump heard many great pieces of high-performance
audio gear. From turntables and Hi-Res Audio DACs to lossless music streamers,
reference-quality loudspeakers, tweaks and so very much more. There was quite a
bit of high-end audiophile quality stereo equipment to see during the AXPONA
2024 show. As always... enjoy the music! ---> Michael Bump's Saturday AXPONA 2024 Show Report.
Chuck Bruce's Saturday AXPONA 2024 Show Report Chuck takes a look and listens to
high-end audiophile gear.
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Chuck Bruce Chuck once again brings us exceptional coverage of Audio Expo North America
(AXPONA) here in Chicago. Today he gave a careful listen to various turntables,
hornspeakers, DAC, reel-to-reel, and much more! We're sure you'll enjoy seeing
the many pieces of high-performance audiophile gear that was on display at
AXPONA 2024. As always... enjoy the music! ---> Chuck Bruce's Saturday AXPONA 2024 Show
Report.
Greg Weaver's Saturday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show Report Greg gives us more great info and pics
from the AXPONA 2024 show.
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver Once
again we're honored to have many fantastic photos and incredible info from the
AXPONA 2024 show. Our Senior Editor Greg Weaver has sent us even more info for
your visual pleasures. We also feature Qobuz's David Solomon too, plus new great
that's not to be missed. All this and more within today's AXPONA 2024 show
report update from Greg Weaver. As always...
enjoy the music! ---> Greg Weaver's Saturday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show
Report.
04 / 12 / 24
Friday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show Report Friday night sneak peek by Chuck Bruce.
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Chuck Bruce Featuring Stenheim L/S, VTL, And Nordost Cables
Christina Stone Of GIK Acoustics
Aurora Aries Cerat Three-Way Horn Loudspeakers
Acora Acoustics Loudspeakers And VAC Tube Amplification
Highwater Sound Room With Cessato Horn Acoustics Opus+ Loudspeakers
Zesto Ensemble Vacuum Tube Amplifiers ---> Friday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show
Report.
More Friday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show Report Friday's fun AXPONA 2024 pics from our
Senior Editor Greg Weaver
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver Featuring Avantgarde Acoustic And Phasemation
LampizatOr And Westminster Lab
Soulution And Gauder Acoustics
Rethm Loudspeakers And Perfect8
Acora Acoustics And VAC Tube Amps
Vivid Audio And Audionet Electronics
Gobel Speakers And WADAX Electronics
Carver Tube Amps And Magnepan Speakers ---> More Friday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show
Report.
And Even More Friday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show Report Enjoy the Music.com's resident
music Professor Michael Bump chimes in.
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Dr. Michael R. Bump For
our third Friday Preview, we are honored to add musician, music Professor, and
all around great gentleman Dr. Michael Bump's Friday photographs. We're sure
you'll enjoy seeing many of the exciting pieces of high-performance audio gear
that was being showcased at the AXPONA 2024 show. As always... enjoy the music! ---> And Even More Friday Preview: AXPONA 2024 Show Report.
Part 7: Montreal Audiofest Chronicles 2024 Time to check out the Lower Level, Outremont, and St. Laurent rooms. Montreal Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker To reorient readers
and those who have attended the Montreal show this year or in the past, Part 7
covers the rooms off to the right after you descend the escalator to the lower
level. The Outremont rooms are generally just a little larger than the Westmont
rooms covered in Part 6, so think of them as larger living rooms, but far
smaller than the St. Laurent rooms on the opposite side of the hallway. Ahead and off to the right was the Audio Technica
display with headphones, entry-level turntables, and phono cartridges. The Aston Martin took me back to 1966 when I
lusted after a bright red DB6 in their showroom window bordering Hyde Park in
London. The current iteration is much more elegant, but they should have named
it the dB12, as it is more understated than its current competition. ---> Part 7: Montreal Audiofest Chronicles
2024.
04 / 11 / 24
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression S350 Stereo Power Amplifier Review The Dan D'Agostino S350 amplifier makes each musical selection sound spectacular!
Review By Tom Lyle Dan D'Agostino Master Audio
products are not the most expensive audio components on the market, but in my
opinion, their audio products are some of the best sounding high-end
audio components I've ever had the pleasure of auditioning. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review two
D'Agostino Master Audio components in the past. In 2017, I reviewed the
excellent-sounding Momentum
Lifestyle integrated amplifier, which had an onboard DAC and could also
be used as a streamer with its front-panel LCD metadata display. Also in 2017, I
reviewed D'Agostino
Master Audio System's Momentum phono stage, which I was highly impressed
with its outstanding sound quality and very user-friendly front panel controls. --->
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression S350 Stereo Power Amplifier Review.
Songer Audio S1 Field Coil Point-Source
Loudspeaker Review Singing a magnificent song.
Review By Bob Grossman Do you remember as a kid when you
first heard an excellent quality music system? It was exciting, right? That
first time I heard music on a good stereo, I was completely mesmerized as if
real musicians were performing in the room! It was an emotional experience
beyond the thrilling sound. That feeling came back a few months ago at the
Capital Audio Fest when I visited the Songer Audio room and heard the S1
Speakers for the first time. I had been listening to music in many different
demo rooms with my good friend Ken Sternberg. We were also saying hello to
industry friends and taking in the excitement of the festival. Something magical
happened when we went into the Songer Room that distinctly grabbed our
attention, like the first time I heard a stereo 60 years ago. --->
Songer Audio S1 Field Coil Point-Source Loudspeaker Review.
AXPONA 2024 Is This Weekend
Audio Expo North
America (AXPONA) 2024 is set to take place from April 12th through 14th at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention
Center close to Chicago. This three-day experience will feature a multitude of floors,
with a total of approximately 200 listening rooms. Special showcases include the
Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and a variety of seminars. Whether you're a
very serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you found everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds.
On Friday, April 12 at 8pm, celebrated jazz guitarist Bobby
Broom will take the stage at AXPONA 2024. Born and raised in New York City, Bobby
began studying the guitar at age 12, eventually attending the High School of Music and
Art where he took part in the jazz ensemble and was awarded Outstanding Jazz Improvisation during his senior year.
Broom's first release of original compositions Upper West Side Story (2012) reached
number one within the College Music Journal jazz chart and was in the Jazz Week and
Down Beat Top Albums of 2012. Today, Broom calls Chicago home and teaches Chicago high school students for the Ravinia Festival
Organization's community outreach Jazz Scholar Program. See Enjoy
the Music.com's AXPONA 2024 show report at
this link.
04 / 10 / 24
HIGH END 2024 In Munich Features Steven Wilson
This just in from the world's most important and largest high-end
audio event globally: Acclaimed musician and producer Steven Wilson will be presenting his most recent album "The Harmony Codex" in immersive audio reproduction at the HIGH END 2024, taking place from May 9 to 12 at the MOC Event Center in Munich. In cooperation with the
organizer of the international audio show and the company PMC, which has exhibited at the HIGH END for many years, Wilson will be holding a series of seminars on all four days of the event, sharing his vast knowledge and experience of mixing in spatial audio with his guests.
At the presentations, visitors will have the unique opportunity to become familiar with the creative use of reference level audio, guided by the Grammy-nominated spatial audio mix engineer and one of the world's leading songwriters and
producers.
Steven Wilson, no stranger to the HIGH END, having been brand ambassador in 2019, will give a series of talks about the use of immersive audio in the creation of his music and share his experience as a sought-after remixer of classic works by other artists. During each presentation, he will be demonstrating his immersive mixes, with a special focus on his latest album, "The Harmony Codex", and some of the other artists mixes he has produced, including works from Tears for Fears, Ultravox and Roxy Music.
The system, provided by PMC, includes loudspeakers from the manufacturer that are found in the best recording and mixing facilities in the world, e.g. at the BBC, Metropolis, LP:ME Dubai and numerous other
studios. Learn more and see Enjoy the
Music.com's HIGH END 2024 MOC / Munich show report at this link.
Part 6: Montreal Audiofest Chronicles 2024 The Lower Level, Montreal, and Westmount Rooms. Before heading down
to the lower level I revisited the ASONA room to listen to the new Dan Clark E3
closed-back headphones driven by a Pathos headphone amp. It was a very
impressive experience – near-flagship performance for $2k USD from a premium
headphone manufacturer. The Pathos amp is a very classy amplifier as well. Somewhere on the upper level was a sleeping room
with a Cabasse Rialto all-in-one system playing. I had marveled at these
speakers with all the system electronics built into them at last year's Axpona
show. The display there was not nearly as optimal as in this room in Montreal.
They sounded great at AXPONA and were even more spectacular here. Priced at $4k
USD, it sounds a lot more expensive and plays a lot deeper in the bass than you
would expect with a rear-firing woofer in this diminutive cabinet. ---> Part 6: Montreal Audiofest Chronicles
2024.
04 / 09 / 24
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Announced
This exciting news just in from Lou Hinkley and Gary Gill, show promoters for the SWAF:
Our first Southwest Audio Fest was a resounding success and we already have the contract locked in at the Hilton Anatole for March 21st through 23rd, 2025, with 30 more rooms! We appreciate your investment in this new show and sincerely thank you for being part of SWAF. We are confident that Dallas and the Southwest Region will support and promote the growth of a quality
audiophile / high-end consumer electronics event. Looking ahead we plan to incorporate more lifestyle products including home theater, headphones, and personal audio to bring more families and friends to SWAF!
Thank you to all of our volunteers including the many regional audio clubs, groups and societies! Lastly, thank you to the generous sponsors who have made the live music and much more possible including
Enjoy The Music.com, Qobuz, and Snake River Audio. We will definitely see you again next year!
Musically Yours,
Lou Hinkley – Pacific Audio Fest
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