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04 / 06 / 20

AXPONA 2020 Press Center: Send Us Your Press Releases
Enjoy the Music.com is preparing our AXPONA 2020 Press Center, which will go live next week per AXPONA's original April 16th through 18th schedule. We're giving your company a 100% free opportunity to promote your latest hi-fi gear that was planned to appear at AXPONA 2020 in Chicago. For those who have not prepared their press releases, or perhaps need a bit of help, there's a wonderful article on Quill & Pad titled "Watch Brand Marketing And Communication Teams". This is a great article that parallels the needs of high-end audio manufacturers to effectively reach the audiophile press. Send us your company's ~1000 word press release with three hi-res product photos plus your company's logo to appear within our AXPONA 2020 Press Center via e-mail at this link.

Ella 100: Live At The Apollo! On Concord Jazz
Concord Jazz celebrates the music and life of the "First Lady of Song" Ella Fitzgerald with their upcoming release Ella 100: Live at the Apollo!. Set for release on April 24th (2020) via Concord Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald has been hailed as perhaps the greatest singer in the history of jazz. Recorded live at the storied Harlem N.Y. venue in front of an ecstatic audience, the concert and recording, produced by the eight-time Grammy and Emmy Award recipient and former Fitzgerald musician Gregg Field, features dynamic and loving tributes from a parade of contemporary vocal and musical giants and co-hosted by Grammy award winner Patti Austin and the multi-Tony award nominated actor/singer David Alan Grier.

In addition to Austin and Grier, the concert features performances by Andra Day, Ledisi, Lizz Wright, Cassandra Wilson, Monica Mancini and the award-winning a cappella vocal group from Howard University, Afro Blue. Accompanying these world-class vocalists is none other than the Count Basie Orchestra and strings, so effectively presenting the music of Ella and the renowned orchestra with whom Ella so often collaborated. Also featured, and to celebrate Ella's famous quartet, is the deeply swinging Ella 100 All-Star Quartet with Shelly Berg, Nathan East, Brian Nova and Field, who channel the spontaneous spirit direct from Ella. 

04 / 03 / 20

CE WEEK New York 2020 Has Been Cancelled
This news just in:
Dear friends and partners,

We know how much all of you value the great exhibition and networking opportunities offered by CE WEEK. However, we are writing to let you know that Messe Berlin; IFA and CTLab have decided to cancel this year's CE WEEK which was scheduled to take place from June 10-11, 2020 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The New York State Office of General Services, in conjunction with the Governor's Office, the New York State Department of Health and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, requested the use of available space at the Javits Center in order to help combat the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. As this is challenging for all of us it is self-evident to back the decision of the Javits Center to support New Yorkers in their time of need.

However, as you will appreciate, your health and safety is paramount for us.

Please stay safe – and make sure to take precautionary measures to protect you and your families.

We will continue to communicate operational updates as soon as possible.

Best regards,
Jens Heithecker
IFA Executive Director,
Producer of CE Week,
EVP Messe Berlin

Editor's Note: Called a CE Week representative and they said perhaps full refund for exhibitors, or at the very least roll-over of funds without penalty for their 2021 event.

04 / 02 / 20

Hi-Fi+'s April 2020 High-End Audio Magazine
Hi-Fi+ magazine's April 2020 issue features 2020 Florida Audio Expo, the best show of the season in the USA! All the latest from the fast-growing Florida Audio Expo, now in just its second year. Also featured within this issue if Hi-Fi+'s very special 2020 Editor's Choice Awards as they celebrate their 21 years of outstanding audio and personal audio. Hi-Fi+ speaks to Kelly Finnigan from the San Francisco-based psychedelic soul band, Monophonics. There's a competition where you could win Meze's excellent RAI Penta universal-fit in-ear monitors worth £949!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says, "It seems like only a year ago that we were celebrating Hi-Fi+'s 20th Anniversary, and now... we're celebrating our 21st year. Who would have guessed it? Normally, we take these times to reflect on what has happened and what will happen over the next 12 months, but the COVID-19-shaped elephant in the room can't be avoided. With AXPONA, CanJam Singapore, the Montreal Audio Show and even Munich High-End either cancelled or postponed, the impact of the pandemic has rocked our little world." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

Xavian Terza Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker
Xavian just announced their upcoming Terza (or 'third note') three-way stand-mounted loudspeaker. The sealed 'infinity baffle' enclosure will be available in six luxury finishes to choose from, with the cover grille being held on with magnets for a seamless fit. Other features include a sandwich woofer voice coil with winding outside and inside the former, a dampened labyrinth chamber for the tweeter, and each drive pair is carefully hand-matched. Internally inside the cabinet is a complex bracing system to avoid unwanted cabinet resonances. An advanced crossovers has variable slopes compensating for the reactivity of the woofer around the resonant frequency. Crossover parts include 1% tolerance of Mundorf resistors, 3% tolerance of Jantzen and Mundorf coils. Capacitors are carefully paired with a tolerance of +/-0.5dB. Xavian's Terza stand-mounted loudspeaker can be bi-amp'ed or bi-wired. Tailor-made stands are also available to underline the aesthetic clarity of the speakers for optimum listening height with fine and quick tuning of the ideal horizontal position using the built-in feet. 

Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems
Momentum Phono Stage Preamplifier
A championship phono stage from living legend Dan D'Agostino.
Review By Tom Lyle
When I heard that I would be reviewing the $28,000 Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Momentum phono preamplifier for this issue of Enjoy The Music, I was a very happy audiophile — on account of the time I spent with the $50,000 D'Agostino Momentum Lifestyle integrated amplifier that I reviewed earlier this year. If this phono preamplifier had any of the sonic characteristics of the MLife, I suspected I was going to hear my records through a state-of-the-art phono preamp, or at the very least one that was very close to state-of-the-art. When writing about their MLife integrated amp I declared that not only have I never heard an integrated sound so marvelous in my system, I never have I heard one sound as marvelous anywhere.
---> Read our Dan D'Agostino MAS Momentum Phono Stage Preamplifier review.

04 / 01 / 20

Enjoy the Music.com's April 2020 Review Magazine
Staycation 2020 Special Edition!
Over 50 Reviews And Articles

High-End Audio / Audiophile Equipment Reviews And Think Pieces
Enjoy the Music.com just posted our massive April Review Magazine online. This month is jam-packed with over 10 hours of Chad Kassem's Blues Masters At The Crossroads concert streaming video, a wide variety of high-end audio gear reviews, quite a few 10 Questions special features from manufacturers.... This being April, we also have some fun spoof reviews too!

Live Streams Now Available For On-Demand Viewing
Enjoy the Music.com To Rebroadcast Our Live Stream Of Blues Masters At The Crossroads 2014
The 2014 Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, celebrating the 17th year as the preeminent authentic Blues concert in the world, featured performances by Rip Lee Pryor, Moreland & Arbuckle, Marquise Knox, Big George Brock, Kim Wilson, Joe Beard, Lazy Lester, Mighty Sam McClain, Sonny Green, Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn, and Bernard Allison. Taking place in Salina, Kansas, October 17th and 18th (2014) at a converted 1925 church sanctuary, the musical gospel continues to resonate within the walls of this historic building.
---> Read more and watch our Blues Masters live stream.

Our Largest Review Magazine In History!
Plus I shoulda bought a high-end music system.
Stuck at home during Staycation 2020? Well then, it's time to buy a great hi-fi system!
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
My coding fingers are raw to the bone! The April 2020 issue of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine is the largest we've ever done in our 25 years history! The many new writers we've hired are finally chiming in! Blame me for not announcing every new hire, as we've been on a spree as of late and want to take a moment to point out our youngest reviewer, plus a 'new guy' who I've known for decades!
---> Read more about Enjoy the Music.com's largest issue in history.

Coronavirus And High-End Audio
The last few weeks have turned our world a bit topsy-turvy.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Well, that happened. The past month has been extremely eventful for everyone around the world. As this article will be online for decades, please allow me a moment to put this article into some context. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) has affected many people throughout the world. It has also caused the cancellation, or delay, of a variety of shows from high-end audio and mechanical timepieces to cars, etc. Summertime music concert tours have also been canceled, or at the very least delayed.
---> Read more about the Coronavirus and high-end audio.

Plenty Of Time To Enjoy The Music
Roger Skoff tells how to turn a lemon into lemonade.
Article By Roger Skoff
Seems like everyone I know is staying home lately. Either they're sick; afraid of getting sick; afraid they might unknowingly contract or carry the Coronavirus to someone else just by getting too close; or just staying home because the government (at every level, from the most local to all-the-way up) is telling them to. Besides, with just about every kind of social or recreational business, event, or activity shut down and just about every restaurant, bar, or bowling alley closed or restricted, there's really no place to go – especially if one of those businesses or events happens to be how they make their living.
---> Read more about making plenty of time for music.

Immersive: The New Gold Standard Of Sound
The sonic search is an exciting journey!
Article By Dennis Baxter
The evolution of audio in broadcasting and film has paralleled the increase in the number of audio record and transmit channels available in the ecosystem. Analog satellite technology provided two channels of audio and often one channel was for a full program and one channel for the program without commentary – hence mono audio except for special events. Through the early 1980s, stereo was often electronically processed from mono and original surround sound was processing from two channels to create five channels of sound.
---> Read more about immersive sound as the Gold standard.

Industry POV: A New Understanding Of Diffusion
It's a far more complex concept than absorption is, and here's why.
Article By Jim DeGrandis Of Acoustics First Corporation
In decades past, traditional barrel and pyramidal sound diffusers had their acoustical specifications presented with absorption coefficients as the only available acoustical data. This was handy for low-frequency control applications or targeting particular "bumps" in a room without adding too much absorption, which could make a room too dry. Toward the end of the 20th century, more than one acoustical company began to use graphed polar plots of various diffusion devices to illustrate where sound was being redirected when it reflected off a device's surface. It could be "visualized" from that information.
---> Read more about measuring diffusers.

What It Takes To Make Our Review Magazine
A special sneak peek look into the inner workings...
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Getting out a new issue of the Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine takes much effort and concentration. First comes the many hours of deep meditation. As is customary, a minimum of four hours are spent each and every day seeking the divine wisdom to the Audio G-ds. We search only for His knowledge and wisdom as handed down to us though the ages.

Understanding Digital Room Correction
Article By Mitch Barnett Of Accurate Sound
Modern Digital Room Correction (DRC) is an often misunderstood subject area. I have seen many articles written on the subject that don't answer basic questions such as what problem is DRC trying to solve? How does DRC work? And why, as an audiophile, should I care? This article endeavors to answer these questions. Let's start off with what problem DRC is trying to solve. One can identify the problem fairly quickly by listening to the bass response of your loudspeakers in your room. Try it along with me.
---> Read more about understanding room correction.

Rogier van Bakel
Truly breathing life into great music means identifying, using, and appreciating exceptional high-fidelity equipment.
Three tableaux come to mind when I think of how I wandered into the world of high-end audio.
1. When I was in my mid-twenties, an older editor at the Dutch current-affairs magazine I worked for announced he wanted to write a piece about audiophiles (he had himself been bitten by the audio bug). Because I often wrote about rock and pop music, he asked if I had a quality hi-fi system. If so, he added, would I be willing to be interviewed? I should've demurred, but I owned some mid-fi components (a Nakamichi cassette deck, a Technics turntable, BNS 482 speakers) that I thought sounded fantastic together.
---> Learn more about reviewer Rogier van Bakel.

Frank Garofalo
The beginning of a journey begins with the first step....
As much as I would like to boast about which band was seen in concert in 1972, or where I was working in 1987, I simply cannot. Born near the turn of the millennium, am still in the early stages of life. Therefore my bio will be relatively short compared to other writers that have lived much longer lives. I am currently a student finishing up my undergraduate studies at a local college and will begin to study cybersecurity at the University of Central Florida in the fall of 2020.
---> Learn more about Frank Garofalo.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Benjamin Zwickel, Owner of Mojo Audio
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Benjamin Zwickel, Owner of Mojo Audio Inc. The company's products are engineered to sound natural, musical, and coherent. We never use voicing or attractive distortions to impress or enhance. Rather, we seek to create the most musically transparent products possible. They strive to have the simplest signal path, the highest performance power supplies, the lowest resonance, the best shielding, and best grounding possible.
---> Read more about Benjamin Zwickel, Owner of Mojo Audio.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Florian Cossy, CEO Of CH Precision
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Florian Cossy, CEO Of CH Precision. Each and every CH Precision circuit is designed with a single goal – to touch the signal as little as possible. It sounds simple and in some ways it is, at least on a conceptual level. But it also means accepting that conventional approaches and accepted practice fall well short of that ideal.
---> Read more about Florian Cossy, CEO of CH Precision.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Jeff Poggi, Co-CEO Of Audio Research
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Jeff Poggi, Co-CEO Of Audio Research. Audio Research is one of the oldest continually operating manufacturers in American audio. The company was founded in 1970 in Minneapolis with one goal in mind: to advance the state-of-the-art in music reproduction. Today, Audio Research remains a performance-oriented company by philosophy and design.
---> Read more about Jeff Poggi, Co-CEO of Audio Research.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Nelson Pass Of Pass Labs And First Watt
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Nelson Pass of Pass Labs. Pass Laboratories was founded in 1991 by Nelson Pass. Operating out of his shop at home, Pass developed prototypes of a single-ended Class A amplifier design. At the same time, he and Mike Burley were constructing an in-house machine shop with three home-built CNC milling machines with which to produce the amplifiers when the design was finished. The first product, the Aleph 0, shipped in 1992.
---> Read more about Nelson Pass of Pass Labs and First Watt.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Norbert Lindemann Of Lindemann Audio
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Norbert Lindemann of Lindemann Audio. The development of their products fall back on a wealth of experience gathered in 25 years of building loudspeakers, amplifiers and digital sources. At Lindemann Audio, new products are created by means of the most advanced design tools and measuring methods.
---> Read more about Norbert Lindemann of Lindemann Audio.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Yoav Geva, Chief Engineer At YG Acoustics
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Yoav Geva, Chief Engineer at YG Acoustics. Founded in 2002, YG Acoustics is recognized as one of the most prominent companies in the high-end audio industry, a pioneer whose technical advancements remain unmatched. They strive to provide the best performance, cutting-edge technology, value, reliability and exceptional customer service.
---> Read more about Yoav Geva, Chief Engineer at YG Acoustics.

Bauhutte DAW, Audiophile / HT And Gaming Bed
Nearfield audio mastering / gaming bed for those on Staycation 2020.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Wake up and move from bed to desk in a matter of seconds as your bed 'transforms' into a digital audio workstation (DAW nearfield monitors. It can also be used as a gaming bed as well. In addition, those who add more speakers may enjoy a truly immersive experience! Stuck in Staycation 2020 due to the Coronavirus? This problem is solved by The Gamebed from Japan. It features a lifting headboard that adds functional storage to the bedside and a bed desk that can be set at the foot of a single bed.
---> Read more Bauhutte DAW, Audiophile / HT and Gaming Bed.

McDonald's Limited Edition Scented Candles
Celebrate Staycation by enjoying the scent of delicious fast-food.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
If you're missing that glorious fast-food feeling while on Staycation 2020 due to the Coronavirus, McDonald's is here to help. For a limited time, McDonald's is offering a special six-pack of scented candles. This limited edition set of six custom scented candles in glass containers is inspired by Quarter Pounder ingredients: Bun, Ketchup, Pickle, Cheese, Onion, and 100% Fresh Beef.
---> Read more about McDonald's limited edition scented candles.

Toilet Paper DIY Separator 8467
DIY project doubles your money with this ingenious TP separator!
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Introducing the cost-savings Toilet Paper Splitter for those on Staycation 2020. As many know, finding a roll of TP is a challenge during these tough times due to the Coronavirus. The incredible TP Separator 8467 quickly separates your two-ply toilet paper into two individual rolls!
---> Read More about the Toilet Paper DIY Separator 8467.

World Premiere Review!
Chesapeake Crab Chips
High-end potato chips for the discerning audiophile.
Article And Review By Rick Becker
During this time of the Coronavirus pandemic when audio shows around the world have been cancelled and product review samples are hard to come by, I'd like to take this opportunity to share a review of my epicurean road food. Those familiar with my audio show reports are well aware of my disdain for public transport, preferring to travel in my humble Hotel Tracker SUV or simply hoof it for shorter distances such as mountain ascents.
---> Read more our Chesapeake Crab Chip article here.

World Premiere Review!
Endow Audio T35 Point-Array Loudspeakers
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.
---> Read our review of the Endow Audio T35 loudspeakers.

Kronos Sparta Super Capacitor Power Supply
Making the already exceptional truly exemplary!
Review By Greg Weaver
Typically, I open my reviews with technical information and engineering background on the product under examination before I address its sonic attributes. However, my experience with the new Kronos Sparta Super Capacitor Power Supply (SSCPS) was so remarkable and brought such starkly positive change, to such an already overachieving turntable, that I had trouble believing it. After its installation, within the first ten seconds of my original needle drop, I was so floored by what I was hearing that I was almost speechless. If you knew me, you'd realize just how significant that is; I'm rarely at a loss for words!
---> Read our review of Kronos' Sparta Super Capacitor Power Supply.

Sonus Faber Il Cremonese Floorstanders
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!
---> Read our review of the Sonus Faber Il Cremonese speakers.

Triangle Art Anubis Turntable & Osiris Mk. 2 Arm
Enjoy music presented with harmonic density, dynamics, and more.
Review By Robert May
The venerable turntable, uniquely among the components of an audio system, presents a fundamentally mechanical design problem. Since a turntable is nothing other than a mass in a spinning motion, the problem is how stability is to be maintained to very close tolerances. If the stylus is to make a complete and accurate read of the record, then in principle nothing extraneous should interfere with its reading the message from the grooves. Approaching this "perfect" interface is the art and science of successful engineering of a turntable design.
---> Read our review of Triangle Art's Anubis turntable/tonearm.

KEF LS50 Active Wireless Speaker System
KEF's bookshelf speakers still tower over much of the competition.
Review By Rogier van Bakel
I've long had a predilection for prix-fixe meals. And why not? Hacking your own path through the culinary scene is fine, but it might be unwise to turn up your nose at three or four courses pre-selected by a talented chef. I don't presume to know his cooking better than he does, so if he tells me that the suggested dishes are his way of combining quality ingredients, his special skill in preparing them, and a reasonable bill at the end, I'm in.
---> Read our review of KEF's LS50 active wireless speakers.

Audience Forte V8 Power And forte f3 Power Chord
Clean power at an affordable price.
Review By Dr. Jules Coleman
There is no doubt that the quality of electrical power is a limiting factor in the performance of an audio system. I learned this lesson the hard way. In the mid to late 1970s, while living in Milwaukee, I had put together what at the time was a high-end system featuring an early version of the Magnepan Tympani loudspeakers, a Connoisseur Turntable with a Formula 4 arm and a Decca Plum cartridge. Between the TT and speakers, I employed as many different high powered amplifiers as I could get my hands on.
---> Read our review of Audience's Forte V8 & forte f3 Power Chord.

World Premiere Review!
LIRPA DDRX - 401 Reference Converter
Eating one's cake and having it too. A quantum leap in progress.
Review By Claude LeMero
If you follow the near endless digital evolution, you are well-aware that the days of the Red Book 16-bit/44kHz limits are long gone and we are now starting to take for granted the Internet's pluralism of HD audio files in 24-bit/96kHz and 24-bit/192kHz resolution. Yet as we progress in numerical terms, many audiophiles are still clinging to their trusted vinyl. They are not satisfied with the numerous digital alternatives out there.
---> Read more about LIRPA's DDRX - 401 Reference Converter.  

World Premiere Review!
Audio Analogue aaDAC Hi-Res Audio DAC
The converter to beat within this price range.
Review By Tom Lyle
Audio Analogue's aaDAC digital-to-analog converter is the latest high-end audio component from their PureAA line, which also includes their AAcento integrated amplifier and AAphono phono preamplifier. Audio Analogue says on their website "the aaDAC is a product that perfectly fits in the Audio Analogue philosophy: its simple design, its remarkable sound performances and its great care for the finish and the materials and parts selection, make it a perfect partner for your digital sources".
---> Read our review of the Audio Analogue aaDAC Hi-Res DAC.

Digital Amplifier Company 2-CHerry Power Amplifier
The light amp that packs a heavy punch!
Review By Frank Garofalo
My time as an audiophile to date, I've always had the impression that Class D amplification is just simply inferior to Class A or Class A/B amplification. That impression was influenced by educating myself in the various topics of audio, and through lurking on many online forums including topics about Class D amplification.... While this may be true for common off-the-shelf Class D modules that may be found in A/V receivers and the like, this is certainly not the case for the 2-CHerry Power Amplifier.
---> Read our review of Digital Amplifier Company's 2-CHerry amp.

World Premiere Review!
Sozy Wulkmun High-Rez Audio Turntable
Freeing your music has never been easier!
Review By Nilhcor R. Nevets
Look, I'll make this preview brief as spy photos and an advanced copy of their upcoming advertisement just hit my desk. While I'm bound to this desktop torture getting this story out fast, your music LPs soon will have a newfound freedom away from their homeward bondage. With vinyl LP sales experiencing double-digit growth, it appears that the LP is once again becoming a major force within the music industry.
---> Learn more about Sozy's Wulkmun High-Rez audio turntable.

World Premiere Review!
Lindemann Musicbook SOURCE And POWER 500
Beautify, simplify, electrify... may the SOURCE be with you.
Review By Clive Meakins
The old days are gone... well, almost. How many of us still have piles of audio equipment connected via cable spaghetti? Is it crazy to dream of simplifying Hi-Fi systems into a very few items of equipment? Doesn't such simplicity come at the expense of quality? There are of course economies in reducing the Hi-Fi box count; chassis costs are high so fewer of these should result in a major saving. Reducing the number of power supplies is beneficial too as is directly connecting circuits internally which can cut the costs associated with providing external connectivity.
---> Read our Lindemann Musicbook SOURCE & POWER 500 review.

World Premiere Review!
Monoprice Monolith Liquid Gold X Headamp
Return Of The King: Monoprice and Alex Cavalli resurrect the legendary Liquid Gold.
Review By Dave Hanson
The Cavalli Liquid Gold holds legendary status within the personal audio community. I remember when I first entered into the hobby the Liquid Gold felt like the very definition of ultra-high-end unobtanium. Among many within the hobby, it was considered the king of headphone amplifiers. My first encounter with the Liquid Gold was at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in 2015. I remember vividly how it gave headphones a tremendous sense of body, a level of holographic imaging and transparency I had never heard before.
---> Read our review of Monoprice's Monolith Liquid Gold X.

Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC & Ragnarok 2 Nexus Int. Amp.
A true multi-bit Hi-Res Audio DAC meets Nexus-level amplification.
Review By Ron Nagle
Yes, it's pronounced, SHIT! There is no person with that name associated in any way with this relatively new company. Would you think of this as a name for a startup? As it happened this Schiit company started in 2010 when two audio industry veterans decided it was time to produce their Shiit audio products. The two audiophiles are Jason Stoddard, formerly of Sumo Audio, and Mike Moffat, formerly of Theta Audio. They began with a nascent idea to build highly innovative Audiophile quality components at a reasonable price. So how do you tell people how they sound?
---> Read our Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC & Ragnarok 2 Nexus int. amp review.

Tweaking Without Limits
For your special April 1 celebration.
Article By Jeff Poth
Sometimes, dear reader, we hear of tweaks that leave us scratching our heads- how could anyone be so foolish? The HST, or Head Scratch Threshold varies by person — some would lump cables in here (not me!) and some would say that the quantum effects touted by some are totally legit. Many times, perhaps even most of the time, these tweaks are as phoney as a stuffed mermaid. But in some cases, it is simply a lack of understanding that leads to dismissive attitudes.
---> Read more about tweaking without limits.

Read All Articles, Reviews, And Show Reports
We have many more reviews, think pieces, etc than shown above, so be sure to read this month's edition of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine at this link.

03 / 31 / 20

Electronic Alchemy eForge 3D Printer For Electronics
According to NASA, Chance Glenn traces the inspiration for his Electronic Alchemy eForge 3D Printer back to Star Trek. He was struck by the replicator, a machine in the show that could produce food, clothing, ship parts, and anything else that was needed, on demand. Glenn proposed the project to NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, which funds research and development projects in technology areas that contribute to NASA's missions. Because the ability to 3D print parts in space could support long-duration missions, NASA has been working on the technology for years, with a more recent focus on electronics in particular, since these high precision parts and devices have failed in the past on the International Space Station.

Science fiction has become reality. Imagine downloading any electronic device that you want then printing it in minutes. That's what's possible with the Electronic Alchemy eForge. The Electronic Alchemy eForge is a multi-material 3D printer based upon our proprietary materials development. Six of the eight spools have an electronic property, including a capacitive filament, conductive filament, insulating filament, resistive filament, plus both N- and P-type semiconductors.

The eForge and Design Cauldron design software make it easy to start designing and printing electronics. Additionally, our Design Community gives makers all over the world a place to share, download, and discuss designs and applications. Use up to eight different materials simultaneously with fully independent extruders allowing for a massive range of printing capabilities. Never lose a project with automatic pausing if a filament runs out and automatic data saving should power be lost for any reason. Plus, industry-leading build volume means fewer limits and greater freedom to design and print what you want. The Electronic Alchemy eForge is the first 3D printing system capable of producing functional electronics. Limitless possibilities!

03 / 030 / 20

Hi-Fi World's May Issue Features Reviews & Think Pieces
Hi-Fi World's May 2020 issue features your chance to win a Rega Ania Pro cartridge worth £750. There's also a Bristol show report in pictures from the Hi-Fi World team that were there and saw the action. Also within this issue is a report about Hi-Fi World's Globe Awards to manufacturers celebrating the best products from 2019. Gear reviews within this issue include the Magneplanar MG 0.7 LRS loudspeakers, Unison Research Max Mini bookshelf speakers, FiiO Btr5 Bluetooth headphone amplifier, Avid Integra amplifier, Black Rhodium Charleston cables, Luxman PD-151 turntable, Ortofon Quintet Bronze phono cartridge, and Lime Ears IEMs. There's a wonderful and heartfelt tribute to Hi-Fi World journalist of Jon Myles, who passed away suddenly in February 2020.

Within his editorial, Noel Keywood says, "It's been said many times there's no innovation in loudspeakers any more: we get the "same old same old", endlessly regurgitated. You know – cone bass/midrange unit in a box, plus tweeter. The reason being it works and it is cheap. Conventional drive units are mass produced: just look at China's Swan loudspeaker drive unit range. But not everyone wants to follow this path and the dear old US of A likes to make its own way, seemingly oblivious to what's across the Atlantic or Pacific. And thank heavens for that. They produce electrostatics, magnetic planars and hybrids not seen elsewhere." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World at this link.

03 / 27 / 20

Tonight And Tomorrow Only!
The 2014 Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, celebrating the 17th year as the preeminent authentic Blues concert in the world, featured performances by Rip Lee Pryor, Moreland & Arbuckle, Marquise Knox, Big George Brock, Kim Wilson, Joe Beard, Lazy Lester, Mighty Sam McClain, Sonny Green, Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn, and Bernard Allison. Taking place in Salina, Kansas, October 17th and 18th (2014) at a converted 1925 church sanctuary, the musical gospel continues to resonate within the walls of this historic building. To bring the 'good word to the streets', Enjoy the Music.com live streamed Blues Masters at the Crossroads for the first time in recorded history, so the world can see and hear the live sound of true, authentic Blues music during this momentous event.
Learn more about our Blues Masters At The Crossroads live stream.

03 / 26 / 20

T.H.E. Show Talk Interview Style Q&A Event
This just in from the brilliant minds at T.H.E. Show (The Home Entertainment Show). It looks to be along the same lines as Enjoy the Music.com did years ago with our virtual CES reports we did years ago: In this time of social distancing and focusing on health, T.H.E. Show is launching our news series, called T.H.E. Talk shortly. This will be an interview style Q&A with various designers, manufacturers, dealers, and distributors and YOU will get to ask them your most burning questions about audio and music from the safety and comfort of your own home. We'll be hosting these events on our various social media platforms - be it on Facebook, on Instagram Live and even on Twitter/Periscope so make sure to watch for which platform we will be on. In the meantime, send us who you'd like to see featured! We already have our first few guests lined up but we want to give you a chance to get connected with your favorite brands so please reach out.

We hope that no matter where in the world you are, you're all staying healthy, safe, and inside. T.H.E. Team here at T.H.E. Show would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of you - whether you're a brand, a distributor, a member of the press/media, or an audiophile/music lover, we do this for all of you and we appreciate your continued support. T.H.E. End... until next time!

Furutech NCF Cable Booster-Signal
Life often contains hidden gems awaiting exploration.
Review By Jeremy Kipnis
Sometimes, you can't help but get giddy about a product that most everyone is going to gripe that, "It can't possibly work!" But the fact is the highly debatable yet finely engineered Furutech NCF Booster-Signal I've been lucky enough to be closely reviewing these past few months clearly improves the clarity, focus, resolution, and musical enjoyment...
---> Read More

03 / 25 / 20

Last Chance To Enter And Win!
Win An Audio Note UK IZero Vacuum Tube Int. Amp.
Win a vacuum tube integrated amplifier valued at $2480!
For Audio Note UK's Zero range, they decided to design an integrated amplifier rather than a preamplifier / power amplifier combination. The result is the IZero Integrated Amplifier ($2480), and it has exceeded all of this British company's expectations. Offering a level of performance that was previously considered unthinkable for an amplifier of such diminutive size and price, the IZero really is something very special. It is said to produce a bold, rich, smooth, and delicate performance, whilst offering a level of fine detail finesse that is quite incredible!
---> Read More

03 / 24 / 20

Enjoy the Music.com To Rebroadcast Our Live Stream Of Blues Masters At The Crossroads 2014
The 2014 Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, celebrating the 17th year as the preeminent authentic Blues concert in the world, featured performances by Rip Lee Pryor, Moreland & Arbuckle, Marquise Knox, Big George Brock, Kim Wilson, Joe Beard, Lazy Lester, Mighty Sam McClain, Sonny Green, Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn, and Bernard Allison. Taking place in Salina, Kansas, October 17th and 18th (2014) at a converted 1925 church sanctuary, the musical gospel continues to resonate within the walls of this historic building.
---> Read more about our Blues Masters At The Crossroads live stream.

03 / 23 / 20

WiSA Supports 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res Audio Dolby Atmos
WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association), comprised of over 60 leading consumer electronics brands and founded by Summit Wireless Technologies (NASDAQ: WISA), announced support of Hi-Res Audio 24-bit/96kHz Dolby Atmos height channels, allowing WiSA speaker partners to develop products that include immersive 3D audio experiences made possible by Dolby Atmos technology. WiSA users will be able to assign front height, side height and rear height audio channels to WiSA Certified speakers, making it easy for consumers to configure their systems for Dolby Atmos content during set-up.

The addition of Dolby Atmos height channels as options for a WiSA wireless audio system shows WiSA's continued dedication to maintaining its leadership position in wireless home audio while providing versatile solutions that maintain an extremely high level of audio performance. The ability for a user to select Dolby Atmos height channels will be included in the latest transmitter and speaker firmware, now scheduled for release in Q2 of 2020. Existing WiSA products can also take advantage of this feature through a firmware update.

03 / 20 / 20

Thorens New TD 1600 And TD 1601 Series Turntables
Thorens has just introduced the successors to their legendary 160-Series Turntables. Thorens' new TD 1600-series combine the TD 160's DNA with state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, and materials technology. The result is a classically beautiful analog component with impressive performance. The fully manual TD 1600 ($2999) is the standard version, with the semi-automatic TD 1601 ($3499) adds electrical tonearm lift, contactless auto shut-off and balanced XLR outputs in addition to standard unbalanced RCA. Thoren's new TD1600 and TD 1601 embody all the qualities that made the original 160 one of the company's most significant turntable of its generation; however, every detail has been scrutinized, reimagined, and elevated to state-of-the-art. Their aluminum plinth is crafted from cutting-edge Alucobond, which sandwiches aerospace honeycomb material between two layers of aircraft-grade aluminum to provide extraordinary strength and stiffness. The 12-volt synchronous motor is encased in a non-resonant housing, damped by a silicone ring, and fed by an oversized, outboard Linear Power Supply for the quietest and most accurate performance obtainable. A sealed, maintenance-free bearing assures a lifetime of silent rotation.

Whereas the original TD 160 sub-chassis was hung from three springs attached to its top plate, the TD 1600 and TD 1601 sub-chassis sits atop three conical steel springs attached to a massive, highly damped base. These springs are fully adjustable to enable fine-tuning and leveling of the sub-chassis. Fitted to both TD 1600 and TD 1601, Thorens' TP92 9" Tonearm tube is crafted from eight layers of cold-forged aluminum for maximum strength and vibration control, and includes a fixed damping ring precisely placed at the first bending node to attenuate resonance. An offset counterweight ensures optimal tracking. Devotees of Mid-Century Modern design will admire the 1600-Series' minimalist aesthetics. Available in either Walnut or Black gloss, Thorens' TD 1600 series base is complemented by a gorgeous extra-thick hinged dustcover.

03 / 19 / 20

TBT: How A Vinyl Record Is Made
We tour Quality Record Pressings / Acoustic Sounds vinyl LP pressing plant.
Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV presents to you our video tour of the Quality Record Pressings (Acoustic Sounds) vinyl LP pressing plant. We join plant manager Gary and owner Chad Kassem as they take us on a step-by-step journey through how a vinyl LP record is produced. Creative Director of Enjoy the Music.com Steven R. Rochlin guides you on his Quality Vinyl Pressings factory tour to learn how they produce a vinyl LP.
---> See the video of how a vinyl LP is made at this link.

Coronavirus: Consumers Spend More Time On Media
According to Nielsen, a global measurement and data analytics company that provides consumer data for worldwide markets, says that, "Regardless of whether you call it social distancing, quarantining or retreating to a safe place, heading home amid concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is bound to affect media consumption habits. In fact, staying put in our homes can lead to almost a 60% increase in the amount of content we watch in some cases and potentially more depending on the reasons. Considering that consumers around the globe are already leaning into the growing array of content options and channels, a 60% increase is significant."

"Media consumption in the U.S. is already at historical highs," continues Nielsen. "As reported in the most recent Nielsen Total Audience report, Americans are already spending just shy of 12 hours each day with media platforms. What's more, three-fourths of U.S. consumers are broadening their media options with streaming subscriptions and TV-connected devices." Read more about this on their website.

03 / 18 / 20

Dan D'Agostino MAS Progression Integrated Amplifier
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems has begun shipping the Progression Integrated Amplifier (starting at $18,000), the latest addition to the award-winning Progression Series. The Progression Integrated combines the elegance and detail retrieval of the Progression Preamplifier with the power and dynamic capability of the Progression amplifier topology housed in a chassis the exudes the D'Agostino aesthetic. Built on a modular platform, the Progression Integrated fills every need of today's music listener and audiophile. The analog base unit provides two single ended RCA inputs and three XLR balanced inputs including a theater pass through. Balanced preamplifier outputs make for convenient inclusion of subwoofer(s) into a system.

The Bluetooth Remote control connectivity, first used in the Progression and Momentum HD Preamplifiers, is included as part of the base package. Bluetooth connectivity eliminates line of sight issues and extends the usable range 5x versus conventional IR remote controls. The heart and soul of the Progression Integrated Amplifier is essential Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems' technologies including discrete, balanced, direct coupled circuitry married to a substantial output stage delivering 200 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 400 Wpc into 4 Ohms. The foundation of the Progression Integrated Amplifier is a traditional line stage integrated amplifier suitable for all analog sources except turntables. If a turntable is part of the current system or added in the future, an optional moving coil phonostage module can be included at the time of production or added at a later date. For those listeners keen to incorporate digital playback within the same unit, an optional digital module, adding a full suite of capability, is also available.

Eliminating external connections, gain stages, and additional components offers distinct sonic advantages. S/PDIF coaxial, TosLink optical, and USB physical inputs join Ethernet and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity for in house network and internet streaming capability. Digital resolution includes support for files up to DSD256, 24-bit/192kHz, and MQA. As part of the digital module technologies, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and Spotify streaming subscription services are available. Customized apps for iOS devices provide easy control of music collections, streaming content, and unit control. Roon Music management is also available. The Progression Integrated Amplifier is available now starting at $18,000 for the analog base model, $20,000 for the analog model with optional phono stage, $23,000 for the analog model with optional digital module, and $25,000 for the unit equipped with the optional phono stage and digital module. The optional modules may also be added at a later date. Standard finishes include silver or black with custom painted finishes available upon request.

Enjoy Reading Your Fave Hi-Fi Magazines Online
Everyone here at Enjoy the Music.com sympathizes with those affected by the recent health issue. Our hobby is one that can be enjoyed within the privacy, and security, of your home. We'd like to take a moment to remind our readers that many of our partner magazines offer online subscriptions. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music.

03 / 17 / 20

Florida Audio Expo 2020 Show Report

DanaCables And Gingko Audio
Plus Sennheiser, Lampizator, Salk, Pro-Ject, Focal, Pangea and Furman.
Report By Frank Garofalo
DanaCables was at the 2020 Florida Audio Expo with their line of handcrafted cables along with speakers by Gingko Audio. If you are someone who is unsure about cables, the difference that they can make or even where cables fall on the priority tier list of audio components when it comes to which component of an audio system makes the biggest difference. You can test the difference between stock cables and DanaCables on various headphones at a show and see for yourself.
---> Read More

PranaWire Annapurna 4" Platform / Collector Base
PranaWire is proud to announce the release of its new series of Platform/Collectors (starting at $9950). These are designed to connect to our Super Enhanced Ground Plane boxes or other grounding devices for maximum effect. The top plate of the Annapurna is 3/8" thick brass that is electrically connected to the internal collector assembly, which is surrounded by a massive amount of noise absorbing materials. Available in 4", 3", and 2" heights, standard and custom sizes and in a range of solid hardwood finishes.

The top is of thick, heavily damped polished brass and composite material. Inside is the company's Super Enhanced Collector Plate that is connected electrically to the top. The internal collector plate is surrounded by powerful noise absorbing materials. There is a binding post that connects the platform to the Emerald via a cable. The entire unit weighs 50 to 60 lbs. The Brass top and the internal Collector Plate function in concert said to to draw vast amounts of noise away from the component, while the massive brass top plate decisively shunts vibrational energy away from the component. Dimensions of this platform in standard form are 15" X 17" X 4".

03 / 16 / 20

HIFICRITIC's Latest Issue Features UK Show And Reviews
HIFICRITIC's latest issue features their coverage of The Bristol Show 2020, which is a fixture on the British hi-fi calendar for more than three decades. High-end audio equipment reviews include the Magico M2 speakers, McIntosh MA9000 big integrated amplifier, Vertere Dynamic Groove DG-1 entry-level turntable, Naim ND555 flagship network player revisited, JBL L100 Classic loudspeaker, Avid Integra integrated amplifier, Focal Chora 806 stand-mounted loudspeaker, Townshend Allegri Reference transformer-based passive preamplifier, Magico Spods speakers, and more.

Within his editorial, Martin Colloms says, "We leap into the 'twenty-twenties' with this brave new issue, the first in our expanded format: we have refreshed layouts, typography and presentation, thanks to our designer Philippa Steward, and hope you'll enjoy it. This update offers the opportunity to be more creative with our presentation of both features and reviews, include extended technology investigations, and write greater detail where appropriate – and it's also easier to read. Instead of the oft- found breathless chase to a quotable conclusion found in many publications, we favour a deeper exploration of the subject, the product, and its context. 'Slow publishing', if you like...". See what's within this issue of HIFICRITIC at this link.

Free Nightly Metropolitan Opera Streams In HD
After just recently canceling upcoming performances due to concerns around the coronavirus, The Metropolitan Opera announced that it would stream encore presentations from the award-winning Live in HD series of cinema transmissions on the company website for the duration of the closure. The new offering will begin on Monday, March 16 with the 2010 HD performance of Bizet's Carmen, conducted by Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and starring Elīna Garanča in the title role and Roberto Alagna as Don José.

All "Nightly Met Opera Streams" will begin at 7:30pm and will remain available via the homepage of metopera.org for 20 hours. The homepage link will open the performance on the Met Opera on Demand streaming service. The performance will also be viewable on all Met Opera on Demand apps. "We'd like to provide some grand opera solace to opera lovers in these extraordinarily difficult times," said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. "Every night, we'll be offering a different complete operatic gem from our collection of HD presentations from the past 14 years." Below is a schedule for the first week of streams:

Monday, March 16 – Bizet's Carmen
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Elīna Garanča and Roberto Alagna. Transmitted live on January 16, 2010.

Tuesday, March 17 – Puccini's La Bohème
Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, starring Angela Gheorghiu and Ramón Vargas. Transmitted live on April 5, 2008.

Wednesday, March 18 – Verdi's Il Trovatore
Conducted by Marco Armiliato, starring Anna Netrebko, Dolora Zajick, Yonghoon Lee, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Transmitted live on October 3, 2015.

Thursday, March 19 – Verdi's La Traviata
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flórez, and Quinn Kelsey. Transmitted live on December 15, 2018.

Friday, March 20 – Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment
Conducted by Marco Armiliato, starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez. Transmitted live on April 26, 2008.

Saturday, March 21 – Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor
Conducted by Marco Armiliato, starring Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczała, and Mariusz Kwiecien. Transmitted live on February 7, 2009.

Sunday, March 22 – Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin
Conducted by Valery Gergiev, starring Renée Fleming, Ramón Vargas, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Transmitted live on February 24, 2007.

03 / 15 / 20

Win An Audio Note UK IZero Vacuum Tube Int. Amp.
Win a vacuum tube integrated amplifier valued at $2480!
For Audio Note UK's Zero range, they decided to design an integrated amplifier rather than a preamplifier / power amplifier combination. The result is the IZero Integrated Amplifier ($2480), and it has exceeded all of this British company's expectations. Offering a level of performance that was previously considered unthinkable for an amplifier of such diminutive size and price, the IZero really is something very special. It is said to produce a bold, rich, smooth, and delicate performance, whilst offering a level of fine detail finesse that is quite incredible!
---> Read More

03 / 13 / 20

Florida Audio Expo 2020 Show Report

Musical Surroundings
Featuring AMG, DS Audio, Rogue Audio, Magnepan, and Clearaudio.
Report By Frank Garofalo
Musical Surroundings made an appearance at the 2020 Florida Audio Expo with products from AMG, DS Audio, Rogue Audio, Magnepan, and Clearaudio. To start, we have a pair of Magnepan .7 quasi ribbon loudspeakers ($1400) that are widely known to be one of the greatest performers with in their price range. Powering the .7's was Rogue Audio's very special Cronus Magnum III integrated vacuum tube amplifier ($2995), which I was excited to see.
---> Read More

Hi-Fi World's April Issue Features Reviews & Think Pieces
Hi-Fi World's April 2020 issue features competition with your chance to win a Blue Aura Blackline system worth £899. Reviews within this issue include the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 loudspeakers, Klipsch R-51pm loudspeakers, NAD C658 streaming DAC, FiiO FH7 hybrid in-ear monitors, Furutech DSS 4.1 speaker cables, Mordaunt Short MS3.30 loudspeakers from the early 1990s, Pro-Ject The Classic Evo turntable, Rega Ania Pro MC phono cartridge, TEAC TN-3b turntable and more.

Within his editorial, Noel Keywood says, "I guess a lot of people fancy the thought of being blown across the room by a studio monitor. You know – by a loudspeaker with real bass power, something that has a donkey's kick to it. Wharfedale's new Evo 4.2 isn't quite that but it carries the essence – in a small cabinet. Bass unit and midrange dome are tailored to give a fast sound in everyday living rooms, much as this arrangement does in recording studios. But then Wharfedale go and use an Air Motion Transformer tweeter – unknown in studio monitors. Why? This is a fascinating loudspeaker – reviewed on p11 of this issue. Streamers that play music from internet streaming services – Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music and so many others – get ever more complex as manufacturers try to add value over those of rivals: the one that ticks most boxes looks best...." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World at this link.

RecordingtheMasters New MYSTIK Portable Cassette Player
MYSTIK by RecordingtheMasters is a new portable cassette player ($90) project that is now available on Kickstarter. By taking pre-orders for the device, MYSTIK will be a modern day analog cassette player with a focus on quality audio playback plus included Bluetooth as well. MYSTIK is a modern day cassette player with rechargeable battery, while also providing optional Bluetooth so you may connect your portable analog player to Bluetooth 5.0 headphones or loudspeakers. For those who prefer to keep a fully wired connection to maintain a pure analog signal, there is a standard 3.5mm stereo headphone jack that one can plug in at all time.

Furthermore, the MYSTIK portable cassette player also has the ability to record onto blank cassette tapes, meaning that one can make a mixtape if desired. While sales of cassette tape are falling, RecordingtheMasters is proud to say that they are the leading manufacturer of professional and semi-professional analog audio tapes worldwide. Many recording studios have already switched to fully digital operations. Meanwhile, on the production end there were increasingly few engineers that were familiar with the sophisticated manufacturing process on analog tape. Nevertheless, with over thirty years of experience in the magnetic world, RecordingtheMasters decided to rise to the challenge by inheriting the legendary formulations from former giants in the tape world: BASF and AGFA, plus the formulations they produce today including SM 900, SM 911, and SM 468. Their idea of MYSTIC is simple: a new portable cassette player (and recorder) engineered and built for the 21st century with an honest emphasis on quality audio playback.

Previous High-End Audio News
For previous high-end audio and music industry news click here.