High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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07 / 18 / 19

Siltech Classic Anniversary Cables
Neutrality is the hallmark of a well-designed product.
Review By Paul Schumann
One of my favorite parts of "The Grinch" is when Mr. Grinch complains about Christmas and all the "noise, noise, noise". We live in a noisy world. Even in the middle of the night I can go out and hear the sound of distant highway traffic. Have you ever tried to listen to music when someone is watching TV in the next room or a noisy dishwasher is going? Impossible! Our audio systems are noisy too. There are always the obvious demons of 60 Hz hum and high frequency hiss.
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07 / 17 / 19

World Premiere Review!
Wells Audio Commander Level II Tube Line Stage
I found myself often thinking of Van Morrison's "Cleaning Windows".
Review By Dr. Jules L. Coleman
For much of my life I tried my hand at playing guitar – with little, if any, success. Truth be told, early and often friends and family – several of whom are professional musicians – encouraged me to abandon my efforts. Ultimately, fear of being friendless and homeless carried the day, and my nascent, if not burgeoning, career came to a screeching halt. This tragedy, notwithstanding, my love of music has continued to grow unabated. Like the majority of you, I love listening to music, engaging it, getting to know and appreciate it for its artistry as well the narrative content of the music and where present the lyrics.
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Apurna's New Carmina Floorstanding Loudspeaker
French high-end audio manufacturer Apurna has announced their stylish Carmina floorstanding loudspeaker. After having put the company's aerospace expertise into analog amplifiers, the company has now unveiled their ultra-high-end Carmina loudspeaker. This three-way passive floorstanding speakers employs CARS (Composite Apurna Resonance System) that is said to ensure the highest of sound quality. A 30mm multi-layer composite shell is coupled with three solid copper bass-reflex ports. This innovation allows a controlled elasticity of the cabinet construction according to the company. The energy created by the movement of two 26cm bass drivers is effectively absorbed, removing the harmful effect of standing waves inside the speaker cabinet.

The CARS process permits the 12cm midrange and 2.7cm tweeter driver's energy to evolve in an isolated enclosure, which is equipped with a specific coupling system in relation to the bass-reflex chamber. Design wise, the MTM configuration is seemingly suspended in transparency, surrounded by a luminous halo with adjustable colors and intensity. Other high-end design details include four WBT-0702.01 24K gold-plated terminal blocks for using single or bi-amplification. Frequency response is from 21Hz to 40kHz, impedance is 4 Ohms, and sensitivity is 93dB/W/m. Dimensions are 1750 x 495 x 590mm (HxWxD) and they weight 97 kgs.

07 / 16 / 19

World Premiere Review!
Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp
Simple to use sweet sounding analog!
Review By Richard Cohn
Have you ever noticed how people's pets tend to look like them and reflect their personalities? Well, I have noticed a similar congruency between audio components and their designers – for good or bad (no names mentioned here are the astringent amps/designers I have come across in my years as an audiophile). Fortunately, the subject of this review, the Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp (the "Merrill Preamp" or "Pure") for reel-to-reel decks and its creator Merrill Wettasinghe are on the right side of that spectrum.
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New York Audio Show November 8th To 10th
Held at the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan from November 8th through 10th, the New York Audio Show 2019 features the latest in high-end audio technology. This ranges from loudspeakers created to perfection, headphones with excellent fit and sound for you, to Hi-Res Audio digital sound for your home or on the go. Also featured were many state-of-the-art turntables for your beloved vinyl LP collection. Attendees could easily compare hundreds of luxury audio products in one location – with the benefit of receiving excellent advice from audio engineers, designers and product specialists.
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07 / 15 / 19

Capital Audiofest 2019 DIY And High-End Audio Event
Capital Audiofest (CAF), launched in 2010 as a very casual DIY show, has evolved into a well-organized and well-attended event. CAF is recognized as a fun, friendly and family-oriented show where you often see parents with children strolling from room to room listening to music, auditioning gear, and browsing the multiple bins of vinyl records, CDs and accessories. During the evenings they feature live music within the bar and special live performers in the Theater. Adding to the fun local distillers offer tasting of their alcoholic beverages. CAF 2019 takes place from November 1st through 3rd at the Hilton Washington DC / Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center. See Enjoy the Music.com's CAF 2018 show report at this link.

07 / 12 / 19

Win The Cable Company Audience forte f3 powerChord Valued At $249!
Enjoy the Music.com is honored to join with The Cable Company for our July 2019 contest. Audience's forte f3 powerChord is an entry-level priced high performance powerChord at $249 for 6-foot length. Over 20 years of Audience high performance powerChord DNA technology is embedded in the forte f3. The forte f3 powerChord is a high current 10 AWG design made with high purity stranded copper wire, as this keeps flexibility and user friendliness. It's geometry is a proprietary design that rejects noise while balancing energy flow for lowest eddy current resistance.
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07 / 11 / 19

Abyss Diana Planar Magnetic Portable Headphones
Simply the best portable headphones around!
Review By Peter Pialis Of Headphone.Guru
When I first heard a prototype of the Abyss Diana headphones last October, the final voicing had not been finalized, but what I heard really impressed me! This audition was immediately after hearing one of my very favorite flagship headphones of all time (the Abyss AB1266 Phi) immediately prior to them and as a result, these headphones really got my attention! What I noticed immediately was the outstanding attention to detail in terms of the build quality and included accessories, and as soon as I put them on my head, they seemed as light as a feather and were very comfortable as well.
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07 / 10 / 19

McIntosh Labs Announces C53 Solid-State Preamplifier
McIntosh Labs is proud to announce the C53 Preamplifier ($8000). The C53 stereo preamplifier features an upgradeable digital audio module, yet unlike their integrated amplifiers that use the DA1 Digital Audio Module, the C53 is the first product to use McIntosh's newly released advanced DA2 Digital Audio Module. In total, there are 9 analog inputs and 7 digital, giving it a nearly inexhaustible number of 16 total inputs for connecting all of a user's music sources.

In addition to having all the same connections as the DA1 (two coaxial, two TosLink optical, USB and proprietary MCT), a new audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) input is included on the DA2. This allows it to be connected to TVs with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output to bring TV sound to a new level of audio performance. Popular multi-channel audio formats from Dolby and DTS are supported and will be expertly converted to two-channel audio for proper playback through the C53.

Additionally, the DA2's USB input can support native playback of up to DSD512 via next generation Quad Balanced 8-channel / 32-bit DAC that powers the DA2. The USB input also supports DXD up to 384kHz. The S/PDIF coax and TosLink optical inputs can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz for high resolution audio playback. Rounding out the DA2 is an MCT input that offers a secure, custom DSD connection for playback of the high definition audio found on SACDs when paired with a McIntosh MCT series SACD/CD Transport to produce the best possible sound quality from an SACD collection.

The analog inputs consist of three balanced and four unbalanced connections, plus Moving Coil (MC) and Moving Magnet (MM) phono inputs for plugging in a trusted turntable. Outputs include three variable balanced and unbalanced connections along with one fixed unbalanced connection. Tone controls include an 8-band analog equalizer with each band adjustable by ± 12dB. The High Drive Headphone Amplifier can power virtually any pair of headphones, while Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD) can bring an added dimension to the music. Home Theater Pass Through lets the C53 be seamlessly integrated into a home theater system. Power Control ports easily turn other connected McIntosh components on and off, while the Data Ports can send remote control commands to connected source components.

RMAF 2019 Show September 6th Through 9th, 2019
Featuring a luxury destination at the brand-new Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Enjoy the Music.com's Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) 2019 show report celebrates our sweet 16 years of covering this highly popular high-end audiophile event. Take in the friendly atmosphere at RMAF where all are welcome and questions are encouraged. You will experience in one location many major household audio brands from Klipsch and McIntosh to ultra high-end brands Acora Acoustics, Audio Research, Kimber Kable, Mark Levinson, Nordost, Pro-Ject, VAC and many others.

RMAF 2019 provides a lively atmosphere of interactive experiences that ranges from engaging with industry engineers, owners and salespeople to live entertainment and formal seminars on a variety of current topics and trends in the audio industry. Many companies present their world-wide debut of new products and, additionally, may offer discounted show-prices on selected top quality hi-fi equipment. Learn more about RMAF 2019 at this link.

Headphones Sales Q1 2019 Revenues Reach $5.9 Billion
According to Futuresource Consulting, consumer appetite for premium headphones continues to grow, with global revenues rising five times faster than shipments in Q1 2019. Their Q1 data reveals headphones shipments expanded by nearly 9% year-on-year, yet the performance was eclipsed by revenue growth of more than 43% to reach global revenues of $5.9 billion for the quarter. True wireless maintained its ascendance, outperforming all other form factors with growth of 223% in units and 188% in value. Overall in-ear category achieved a year-on-year increase of nearly 12% in units and more than 61% in revenue.

07 / 09 / 19

McIntosh Labs MC312 Power Amplifier
One of the best amplifiers of 2019!
Review By Andre Marc Of NOVO High-End Magazine
McIntosh Labs is a longstanding entity that defines the term 'legendary' when high-end audio hobbyists discuss companies that helped create the market for top shelf home playback equipment. In fact, McIntosh celebrated its 70th anniversary recently. Clearly, they set standards, and continue to offer new and interesting products to this day. The upstate New York based company has had its trials and tribulations, but it has never been in better standing, and its products continue to be desirable globally. McIntosh is currently owned by McIntosh Group, a company that also own several other highly regarded brands including Audio Research and Sonus Faber.
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Grado Gold2 Turntable Phono Cartridge
Old Grado favorite in improved edition!
Review By Danko Suvar, Technical Editor Of hifimedia Magazine
Grado Gold2 is a cartridge with excellent timbral and frequency balance, and well balanced overall, sounds calm and well controlled, but at the same time it follows very well the dynamic and rhythm changes in music material, and all that without adding any (unnecessary) emphasis of high frequency content with the goal of creating more "openness" in sound.
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Cardas Audio Clear Beyond XL Phono Cable
Special order world premiere!
Review By Robert H. Levi Of Positive Feedback
The story begins with my review of the House of Cardas Clear Beyond Phono Cables back in PF Issue 102, clearly then the best ever from the genius we fondly refer to as George Cardas. They equaled or exceeded the overall performance of anything I have tried at any price, ever. I was content. Next, George Counnas, chief designer of Zesto, takes the Zesto Audio Line to AXPONA 2019 and wires up the works with Cardas, his new reference cable of choice. George Counnas's reference, not George Cardas's reference... follow so far?
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NOVO High-End Summer 2019 Audiophile Magazine
NOVO High-End magazine's Summer 2019 issue features The Rise Of Location Based Entertainment, a special focus on Tech Trends For Summer 2019, plus Classical Music: A Guide For The Perplexed: Episode 2. Gear reviews within this issue of NOVO High-End include McIntosh Labs MC312 stereo power amplifier, Transrotor Dark Star turntable, Kirmuss Audio Ultra-Sonic Vinyl Restoration System, Furutech DSS-4.1 speaker cables, and Audio Solutions Figaro M speakers.

Within his editorial, Suave Kajko says, "Welcome to our summer issue! There's a good chance that you love your audio or tech if this magazine found its way into your hands. And if you're like me, then perhaps your love is shared equally between audio and tech. And if so, then you're in luck! This issue is filled to the brim with exciting topics about music, audio gear and some very cool new technology trends." Download this issue of NOVO High-End magazine for free at this link.

07 / 08 / 19

Hi-Fi+ July 2019 High-End Audio Magazine
Hi-Fi+ magazine's July 2019 issue features Munich HIGH-END 2019, the most important audio show in the world today plus AXPONA 2019 personal audio report. High-end audio gear reviews include the Conrad-Johnson ART300 mono valve power amplifier, TechDAS Air Force V turntable, Moon By SimAudio 700i v2/780D v2 integrated amplifier and digital converter, Hegel Audio Systems H390 integrated amplifier/DAC, Cyrus 82 DAC / QXR integrated amplifier/DAC upgrade and Totem Acoustic Tribe Tower. Also reviewed within this issue are the Sonner Audio legato Duo floorstanding loudspeaker, Burmester 175, 111, 948, 159, and BC350 system, Lateral LAS-4 Integral equipment support table, and lastly Wire On Wire Experience 880 tuneable interconnect cables.

Within Hi-Fi+'s Ultimate Headphone Guide, there's reviews of the Sony IER-Z1R custom-fit in-ear monitors, Stax SR-009S electrostatic headphones, Empire Ears Phantom universal-fit earphones, and Woo Audio WA11 Topaz portable, balanced solid-state headphone amp / DAC.

Alan Sircom's editorial within this issue of Hi-Fi+ says, "Sometimes a month is a long time in audio, and any trip out to Munich has the power to reset your thoughts about the audio world. This is not a massively trend-driven industry (instead, it reacts slowly – often too slowly – to changes in the market), but Munich is the place to go trend-spotting, and there was the faint tang of a change coming in the air, and not just one pinned to the current financial waves rippling through the Eurozone." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp For Reel-To Reel
For reel-to-reel analog tape lovers, Merrill Audio now offers an alternative for purists. Merrill Audio's new PURE Tape Head Preamp ($9000) provides a superior preamp that is said to bring out the full dynamics, with the details and immediacy of the live recording. As the first of a series of three Tape head Preamps, minimal adjustments means there's a special focus on the purist audiophile demanding the most accurate sound signature with the least amount of artifacts. The Preamp is an ideal addition to the Ampex ATR 100, 102 and 104 series. Merrill Audio can provide the plug in card to access the Tape Head directly on the Ampex ATR 100 series Machines, replacing the onboard preamp cards.

Merrill Audio's PURE Tape Head Preamp takes its designed cues from the famed Jens Phono stage and circuit designer, Jens Waale. The Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp has six speed and equalization settings: 3.75 NAB, 7.5 NAB, 15 NAB, 7.5 IEC, 15 IEC and 30 IEC2. The gain is selectable as well, with all settings saved internally. The display brightness can be dimmed, delayed dimmed or delay blanked. All setting and speed/eq settings can be set using a remote. The Eq and gain settings can also be manually switched; while low noise Merrill Audio Kratos External Power Supply provide the first level of power filtering. 

The Merrill Audio ELEMENT PURE Tape Head Preamp is built with ultra-tight tolerance components, Silver plated Teflon sleeved wire, fully balanced inputs and outputs, custom XLR connectors with gold plated pins with Teflon body in metal housing is used. On July 13th high-end audio dealer Xtreme Fidelity in River Vale, New Jersey, will host a private event to show off the Merrill Audio PURE Tape Head Preamp using the Ampex ATR 102 that was fully restored by ATR Services.

07 / 03 / 19

Hi-Fi World August Features Reviews & Think Pieces
Hi-Fi World's August 2019 issue features reviews including Focal Kanta No.1 standmounts, Ibasso DX220 Hi-Res portable player, Chord Electronics Poly update, Vincent DAC-7 DAC, Icon Audio Stereo MKIV valve amplifier, Copland CTA408 valve amplifier, World Design Pre3CF pre-amplifier, Titan Audio Nemesis loudspeaker cable, Pioneer CS88a loudspeakers, and Lehmann Audio Decade phonostage. There's a great article about how to for a cartridge, while in Classic Cuts they review Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses.

Within his editorial, Noel Keywood says, "Valve amplifiers are a modern mystery. Things from days gone by, yet still with us today in ever more imposing form. Not cheap either: there's so much in them that is specialized, heavy and costly to make. Robots need not apply. Hi-Fi World attracts valve amplifier manufacturers (!) because we understand the issues, what manufacturers are trying to achieve. Explaining why – serendipitously! – we featured the extraordinary McIntosh MC2175 power amplifier last month (July 2019 issue) and now have another thermionic charger this month: Icon Audio's Stereo 40 MKIV valve amplifier. Not as much power as a big Mac but not the price either. I hope you enjoy reading about this lovely amplifier in its glowing glory on p10 of this issue." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World at this link.

Music Streaming Service TIDAL Now Offers Credits
TIDAL is shining a spotlight on the industry's unsung heroes, whose contributions are instrumental to music's success — the songwriters, producers, engineers, band members and studio musicians, background vocalists and programmers. Not everyone who contributes to the success of a song or album is given the proper credit, which is why TIDAL is introducing its new interactive Credits feature — to highlight those important behind-the-scenes contributors, while also displaying the other projects on which they've worked.

TIDAL Credits is a feature highlighting all the people who helped create a piece of music. Enter artists' credits pages through their artist pages, and explore the different projects on which they've contributed. Filter the tracklist according to their roles on tracks (e.g. composer or producer), and sort the tracklist by popularity (which is the default setting), release date, track title, or artist. Select a track to play. This includes credits to those with roles for crafting a song such as composer, lyricist, producer, co-producer, mastering engineer, mixing engineer, recording engineer, arranger, programmer and author.

07 / 02 / 19

HiFi Media Magazine July 2019 Audio / Video Reviews
This issue of HiFi Media magazine features AV news, gadget news, plus Danko Suvar "Rudy Van Gelder Studio" (New York column). High-end audio equipment reviews include the Pioneer A-40AE integrated amplifier, Audiovector QR 5 loudspeaker, Grado Prestige Gold2 phono cartridge, Marantz SR8012 AV receiver, Bose Lifestyle 650 home entertainment system, McIntosh RS200 wireless loudspeaker system, Focal Elegia headphones, Cyrus ONElinear loudspeaker, Sonus Faber Pryma 01 headphones, Marshal Acton & Stanmore wireless multi-room speakers, Audeze Mobius premium 3D gaming headset, and Q Acoustics 3020i loudspeaker.

Within his editorial, Andrija Ćurković says "Just when the time is right, before summer vacation, we publish a new issue of our magazine and we believe that many will spend a pleasant time relaxing in the shade, being advised by the medical profession. Namely, longer exposure to sun and high heat is not particularly desirable. For such circumstances we have also prepared this issue in more casual way and with less high-end products thus giving more space for more affordable Hi-Fi." See what's within this issue of HiFi Media magazine at this link.

07 / 01 / 19

Now Online: Enjoy the Music.com's July Review Magazine

Win The Cable Company Audience forte f3 powerChord Valued At $249!
Enjoy the Music.com is honored to join with The Cable Company for our July 2019 contest. Audience's forte f3 powerChord is an entry-level priced high performance powerChord at $249 for 6-foot length. Over 20 years of Audience high performance powerChord DNA technology is embedded in the forte f3. The forte f3 powerChord is a high current 10 AWG design made with high purity stranded copper wire, as this keeps flexibility and user friendliness. It's geometry is a proprietary design that rejects noise while balancing energy flow for lowest eddy current resistance.
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Hi-Res Audio: A Solution In Search Of A Problem
Article By Shelly Palmer
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), about 75 percent of the recorded music industry's revenue comes from streaming. Bandwidth keeps getting cheaper and faster. Hardware and software continue to improve at an exponential pace. Surely there is pent-up demand for high resolution audio (Hi-Res Audio). After all, doesn't everyone want the "best sounding" audio? The world of recorded music was irrevocably changed in October 2001 when Apple introduced the iPod. While it is well remembered as a stepping stone to the greatest comeback in American corporate history, the iPod is less well remembered for dealing the final, almost fatal, blow to sonic quality.
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A Tour Of The Famous Capitol Records Studios
Article By Bobby Owsinski
Los Angeles is lucky in that there's a number of iconic recording studios that were built decades ago that still exist and thrive today. United Recording (formerly Oceanway), East West (formerly Cello), The Record Plant, and Henson Studios (formerly A&M) are just a few that remain busy serving high-end music clients, movie soundtracks, and just about any other type of recording you can think of. But the one studio that may be the most iconic of all is Capitol Studios, built into the basement of the historic round Capitol Records building in the middle of Hollywood.
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More Good Isn't Necessarily Better
Roger Skoff writes about a matter of proportion.
Article By Roger Skoff
When I was a kid in my 'teens, the JC Whitney catalog was the ultimate wishbook for young men: Whether or not we owned a car (At sixteen, we could get a license, but only a very few of us – usually just rich kids from Encino or thereabouts – actually owned one) we would all pore over the JC Whitney catalog, dreaming of all the things that we could do to our cars (when we actually got one) to make it faster, "cooler", or cheaper to operate.
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A Trio Of Tunes From Impex Records & Muxia Music
Sound quality that is second to none.
Review By Tom Lyle
Over the years this classic jazz album Legrand Jazz, arranged by Frenchman Michael Legrand and recorded at Columbia Studios in New York in 1958 has been cited as a classic. The album is a who's who of jazz at the time of the recording, and although the musical arrangements aren't very forward thinking – one might inadvertently toss this record into the Easy Listening section – one close listen will convince any lover of jazz that this is the real deal. There have been many pressings of this album over the years, with the three sessions that are recorded on the original LP rearranged into a different order, pressed with a variety of cover art, and issued on many different labels – 36 different versions of this album (!), not including this album I'm reviewing that's pressed on Impex, are listed in Discogs, issued in every country one could imagine.
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World Premiere Review!
Wonderful Wireworld High-End Audio Cables
Featuring Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Audio Interconnects, Silver Eclipse 8 Speaker Cable, Platinum Electra Power Cords, Silver Electra-7 Power Cords, Platinum Starlight 8 75-Ohm Digital Audio Cable, and Platinum Starlight 7 USB 2.0 Cable.
Review By Tom Lyle
It's no secret that cables are an important part of a high-end system, and therefore which cables one uses deserve serious consideration. As one's system improves, it is very important to make sure that the cables one uses are not only as good as the rest of one's system, but also match the components they are paired with. Still, even though most recognize the importance of cables, many audiophiles still feel as if good cables are "icing on the cake. Those who know me realize that I feel that once a system gets to a certain level, everything makes a difference. And so, cables may be as important as any other component one uses in their system.
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World Premiere Review!
Stack Audio Linn LP12 Turntable Tweaks
Making the Linn LP12 even more fantastic!
Review By Rick Becker
It's no secret the Linn LP12 is one of the most iconic components in all of high-end audio. It's reasonable to expect there are more than 100,000 sold since introduced in 1972. With its backward compatible upgrade path there is good reason to assume there are still plenty in active use, if not sitting idle in attics all over Great Britain and the USA. While the backward compatibility has led to its continued popularity, it has also left the design vulnerable to aftermarket modifications since such mods would be applicable to virtually any LP12, not just the ones between say 1979 and 1981. So, just as there are legions of people who hot-rod old cars (which were made in even larger numbers), so there is a cult following of the LP12. You're probably one of them if you're reading this now... or about to become one once you've finished reading here.
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Lindemann Audio Limetree Network DAP / Headamp
Good things do come in small packages.
Review By Rufus Smith
Do good things really come in small packages and at ridiculously low price points? I have always though diminutive audio products always had too many compromises in their design to be used in anything but a portable playback system. I have also found that when a product is designed to a low price point, the sound usually suffers. When Enjoy the Music.com was offered the opportunity to review the Limetree Digital Network player from German audio manufacturer, Lindemann Audiotechnik GmbH I jumped at the opportunity to see if my prejudices held true. In business since 1993, Lindemann has been a leader in digital sound reproduction.
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Sanders Sound Systems Magtech Stereo Amplifier
Clear, clean presence that sounds alive and breathing.
Review By Ron Nagle
What follows must be a story of evolution. And in a broad sense It will serve to illustrate some of the technical advances that have been made to bring music into our lives. Driven by our need to experience music we keep technology in a constant state of flux. Ever reaching for an elusive totally immersive experience. Back in May 2008 within the pages of Enjoy the Music.com I wrote about the original Sanders ESL Audio Amplifier. It was made to drive impossible electrostatic speaker impedance variations. And more specifically it was intended to power the designer Roger Sanders own Innersound Electrostatic speakers. At that time, eleven years ago, I owned and enjoyed a pair of Quad 63 Electrostatic speakers mounted on eighteen inch high Gradient woofers. And subsequently I purchased that Sanders ESL amplifier to power my Quad and Gradient speakers.
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Pro Sound Labs' PuroQuiet
Active Noise Cancelling Headphones For Kids
One-in-five children have noise-induced hearing loss.
Review By Frank Iacone Of Headphone.Guru
Parents, are you concerned with your children and hearing loss? As a parent who has one special needs daughter and grandchildren, the concern for me is real and as a parent, I was looking for ways to introduce my grandchildren into the world of headphone listening without any danger of hearing loss. Statistically, one-in-five children listening to headphones today are facing noise-induced hearing loss. One option parents have is to work with companies who are inspired by more than money and dedicated to finding a solution to eliminate the problem. Puro is one such company who designs products to prevent hearing loss and offer studio grade quality sound from products aimed at music, movies and playing video games.
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Luxman CL-38uC Preamp & MQ-88uC Amplifier
Review By Matthias Böde Of STEREO Magazine
For many hi-fi fans, the new retro looking Luxman tube-duo is guaranteed to be love at first sight. What about first listen? STEREO is testing whether the CL-38uC preamplifier and the MQ-88uC power amplifier will please nostalgic types in particular or whether they can satisfy modern demands just as well. No other Japanese large-scale producer has existed as long as the Luxman Corporation whose origins date back to 1925 and to the launch of broadcasting in the Land of the Rising Sun.
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Read All Articles, Reviews, And Show Reports
We have many more reviews, show reports and think pieces than shown above, so be sure to read this month's edition of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine at this link.

06 / 28 / 19

Music Participation And Academic Achievement Study
A recently released study by Martin Guhn, Scott D. Emerson, and Peter Gouzouasis titled "A Population-Level Analysis of Associations Between School Music Participation and Academic Achievement" shows what many of us already know. And that is the link between music education in school and higher academic achievement. To quote the research paper, "This large-scale study identified evidence of positive relationships between school music participation and high school exam scores in English, mathematics, and science using population-level educational records for over 110,000 students in British Columbia, Canada. Participation in school music (especially instrumental music) was related to higher exam scores, and students with higher levels of school music engagement had higher exam scores."

The study continues by saying, "The positive relationships between music engagement and academic achievement were independent of students' previous (Grade 7) achievement, sex, cultural background, and neighborhood socioeconomic status, and were of considerable magnitude: The group differences observed in our study were greater than average annual gains in academic achievement during high school. In other words, students highly engaged in music were, on average, academically over 1 year ahead of the peers not engaged in school music. In light of this study (the largest of its kind to date), as well as supporting evidence suggesting music learning in childhood may foster competencies (e.g., executive functioning) that support academic achievement, educators may consider the potential positive influence of school music on students' high school achievement."

06 / 27 / 19

Bryston BP17³ Preamplifier And Bryston 7B³ Monoblock Amplifier Combo
A truly amazing setup!
Review By Dwayne Carter
Bryston is a company that has never rested on their laurels. Unlike some companies, Bryston does not release new products every year; just to release "something". Instead, Bryston tends to issue generational releases, marked by a significant incremental improvement in sound and technology. Last year, Bryston introduced their new Cubed Series amplifiers, followed by Cubed Series Integrated Amplifier (Bryston B-135³ Integrated Amplifier), Pre-Amplifier (Bryston BP-17³ Preamplifier) and Digital Streamer (Bryston BDP-3 Digital Player). The Cubed Series products were developed with the same patented circuitry developed in conjunction with Dr. Salomie, Ph.D., to "move the listener ever closer to the music with such visceral realism, the experience is most comparable to live performance".
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06 / 26 / 19

Studio Electric Loudspeakers F2 2.5-Way Floorstander
Studio Electric Loudspeakers recently announced their new F2 floor standing speaker ($6900 to $8400 depending on finish). Building on the success of their well-regarded M4 monitor and larger FS1, the F2 is the company's attempt to redefine what a floorstander can achieve at under $10,000. Studio Electric Loudspeakers' F2 is a 2.5-way design using two of the company's proprietary HighX woofers plus a specially-developed 1" soft dome tweeter. The crossover features tight tolerance air core inductors and custom capacitors by ClarityCap. The extensively internally braced cabinet features a 1.5" baffle board. A variety of exotic hardwood veneers are available (picture above is African Padauk).

06 / 25 / 19

STEREO Magazine July 2019 Reviews & HIGH END Report
This issue of STEREO magazine features audio news, HIGH END 2019 show report, and reviews of the Canton Smart Vento 9 power amplifiers that deliver a combined 600 Watts, Clearaudio Innovation Compact and radial (Tracer) versus tangential (TT5) tonearms, Klei Cables from Down Under, Luxman CL-38uC preamplifier and MQ-88uC amplifier, and Thorens TD202 turntable at a beginner-friendly price. Also reviewed are the Musical Fidelity M2SCD with M2SI combination of CD player and amplifier, plus the Dynaudio Evoke10 and 30 speakers from Denmark.

Within his editorial, Tom Frantzen says, "The hi-fi industry was not quite as badly hit by the smartphone-boom as for example the photo industry. On the contrary, it increasingly understands how to use this platform as a bridge. That is a plausible development when you consider how much music is now being listened to on the go and how much higher the technical level is – or could be – at home. This trend was also apparent at this year's HIGH END event in Munich, which took place from May 9th to May 12th in the M.O.C.." See what's within this issue of STEREO magazine and download the entire issue for free at this link.

06 / 24 / 19

Pro-Ject Audio Systems X2 Vinyl LP Turntable
Pro-Ject Audio Systems' new X2 turntable ($1599) is their heavyweight, high-end vinyl record player system that replaces their 2Xperience SB. Pro-Ject's X2 takes the same enhancements as the latest generation X1 record player and improves on those technologies with much higher quality components and materials. The selected components are bigger, heavier and more robust, for improved performance and greater build quality too. X2 typifies Pro-Ject's belief that all analog enthusiasts need to be individually catered within the company's wide range of turntable choices.

The X2 is carefully tuned to offer only audio-focused features for the best possible price, and due to the company's decades-long experience in analog technologies its hand-assembled by a European-based factory you can trust. Every effort has been made throughout to not cut corners on cost or sonic ability, with the end result being a highly engaging, musical turntable that delivers deep, detailed lows, crisp high frequencies and an engaging well-presented midrange. Pro-Ject's X2 is available in four finishes; a premium walnut wood veneer, a luxurious black eight-layer high gloss paint, plus black or white eight-layer hand-polished satin paint.

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