Be Happy! Listen To Music 78+ Minutes A Day
According to a scientific study commissioned by online music streaming service
Deezer, a 'balanced diet' of music, with a mix of uplifting, relaxing, sad, motivating and anger management songs, has health benefits. Benefits of different music styles take on average 11 minutes to kick in – but it takes just five minutes to feel happier according to their study. Deezer's global study of over 7500 people analyzed how different music styles affect our mental and physical well-being. Deezer says that, "Our bodies need a balanced diet of nutrients to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now a new scientific study has found the
'Recommended Daily Allowance' (RDA) for music. Global music streaming service Deezer commissioned scientists at the British Academy of Sound Therapy to find the dose of music needed by a healthy body and mind. This data has been used to create the musical
'RDA'."
The global study of over 7500 people looked at the relationship between music and our mental and physical well-being – by studying various factors including styles, mood and genre. The experiment concluded that, whatever your preferred choice of music, in order to feel the emotional benefits of different music styles you need to listen to music. The study analyzed how people use music to process emotions. Relaxation was the most common emotional benefit (90%), followed by happiness (82%) as well as overcoming sadness (47%). A further third (32%) of participants used music to help them concentrate, while over a quarter (28%) deal with anger through their tunes. Here's the lineup of their study:
14 minutes of uplifting music to feel happy (18% of your musical RDA)
16 minutes of calming music to feel relaxed (20.5% of your music RDA)
16 minutes of music to overcome sadness (20.5% of your music RDA)
15 minutes of motivating music to aid concentration (19% of your music RDA)
17 minutes of music to help manage anger (22% of your music RDA)
Reference Recordings Earns 11 Grammy 2020 Nominations
Proof that high quality musical performances recorded in audiophile-grade Hi-Res Music is alive and well,
Reference Recordings has earned 11 Grammy nominations
across eight categories! You can learn more at their website, and remember we
recommend Reference Recordings within our Great
Audiophile Gift 2019 Special Edition too! Some of the categories
Reference Recordings received Grammy nominations include:
Best Immersive Audio Album
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Producer Of The Year, Classical
Best Orchestral Performance
Best Choral Performance
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Best Classical Compendium
11 / 20 / 19
Capital Audiofest 2019 Bounty for all who attended! Capital Audiofest 2019 Report By
Greg Weaver There is no denying it; Capital Audiofest has grown to be one
of the best and most enjoyable shows within the USA and is rapidly becoming my
favorite show to attend! The camaraderie, the "vibe," the diversity, the quality
of the exhibits – at ALL PRICE POINTS, the after-hours events, the music,
it's just a spectacularly fun three-days of friendship, sound, and music. ---> Read More
11 / 19 / 19
Special
Holiday Edition!
Great Audiophile Gift Ideas
2019
50 great gifts for music lovers! Welcome to Enjoy
the Music.com's 14th annual Great Audiophile Gift recommendations! We all love gifts,
yet getting that something special for an audiophile can be quite a challenge. Enjoy the Music.com's
annual Great Audiophile
Gift wish list brings you 50 web pages filled with some truly spectacular ideas for music lovers.
Prices start at
around $10
and reach to a still reasonable $500 or so. Sure we snuck a few $$$ bits, yet
still under $800. Be sure to visit this page as we
have a free gift e specially for you! ---> Read More
MartinLogan Presents Artists In Motion Videos MartinLogan is pleased to present their
Artists In Motion series of videos on YouTube. This collection of short films spotlights musicians who are passionate about their craft. Maybe you know their names. Perhaps you
don't (yet). But they all share one thing in common — Truth in Sound. Where does Truth in Sound start? It begins with artists on the cutting edge of
creation — composers, musicians, artisans, dancers, sound mixers, and DJs —
constantly in motion, never resting, always inventing, exploring, and pushing the boundaries of their art. Their passion is to create and find their Truth in Sound. And then, to share it with the
world.
"This film series highlights artists stepping out from behind the scenes to tell their stories, describe their creative process, and show us the reality of creation," explains Justin Bright, Director of Marketing and Digital Technology. "These professionally produced films
don't overtly endorse the MartinLogan brand. They reinforce the essential elements of the MartinLogan mission by illuminating the creative process. The effect is compelling and authentic."
Spinbase Powered Speaker System For Home Or Office Spinbase ($200) is a cool low-profile powered speaker system that supports turntables, computer monitors, etc to give you great sound within a table-top package. It gives vinyl and computer users a compact high-quality speaker solution to complete their setup without using extra space within your home or office. Spinbase's audio system utilizes a clever arrangement of two active woofers, two soft dome tweeters, plus DSP processing to produce an expansive stereo image. A built-in MM phono stage makes it extremely easy to use your fave turntable!
There's both a treble and bass adjustments to fine-tune the sound to your
liking. Its' clarity and output levels is said to match the performance of small bookshelf speakers.
Spinbase also features Bluetooth wireless streaming, and support for extra devices like an Alexa Dot or CD player via RCA line inputs. Put your favorite turntable, CD player, computer monitor, etc. on top of Spinbase and let the music play. Spinbase also has a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack for when you desire a more personal listening experience. Spinbase was demonstrated to audio enthusiasts at Capital Audiofest 2019 and the New York Audio Show 2019. Spinbase production is happening now, and they are ready to ship orders in December; just in time for the holiday season! Spinbase
measures 18" x 3.25" x 13.5" (WxHxD) and is available in black or
white. Spinbase
is available via Kickstarter at this link.
11 / 14 / 19
McIntosh DA2 Digital Audio Module Upgrade Kit McIntosh Labs
is proud to announce their DA2 Digital Audio Module Upgrade Kit ($1000). The DA2 Digital Audio Module is McIntosh's most advanced module for processing digital audio. It comes standard in their C53 and C2700 Preamplifiers, allowing both of those units to take advantage of some of the latest innovations in digital audio technology. McIntosh products equipped with the DA1 can now be upgraded to the newer DA2. McIntosh's DA2 has two S/PDIF coaxial, two TosLink optical, USB, and MCT). There's also a new audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) connection included. DA2's USB input can support Hi-Res Music files including native playback of up to DSD512, while S/PDIF coax is up to 24-bit/192kHz.
The models that can be upgraded are: MA9000, MA8900, MA7200 and MA5300 Integrated Amplifiers; MAC7200 Receiver; and C49 Preamplifier. Of interesting note is that those models will continue to come with the older DA1 installed. Upgrading to the DA2 is an optional dealer installed upgrade that must be installed by an Authorized McIntosh Dealer or Authorized McIntosh Service Agency. Besides
standard lossy and lossless Hi-Res Music files, multi-channel audio formats from Dolby and DTS are supported and will be converted to two-channel audio for playback.
Attending CAF 2019 Was A
Musical Treat! Capital Audiofest 2019 Report By Dr. Matthew Clott
VPI announces the new Shiloh cartridge (price and availability TBD) and Vanquish
complete analog system with turntable, control box, phono stage, tonearm, cartridge,
and rack. The 14" tonearm with no offset angle is included for a grand total
of around $130k'ish. Less noise, better tracking. Matt Weisfeld is beaming
with pride over this all-out assault on vinyl! ---> Read More
Brett Enjoys NYC High-End Audio
Event NYAS
2019 Report By Brett Rudolph The New York Audio Show was held at the Park Lane Hotel, a
beautiful venue overlooking Manhattan's famous Central Park on November 8th
through 10th. It is the perfect place to host such a plethora of audio
equipment from affordable to price-no-object and quite a bit in-between. ---> Read More
Townshend Allegri Reference Passive Preamplifier
Introducing the new Townshend
Allegri Reference preamplifier (£6667 plus VAT), which sets a new standard for the company in volume control performance. With 129 step in 0.5dB, a reed relay switched Auto-transformer Volume Control (AVC) is also remote-controlled for
ease-of-use. Internally, the unit is point-to-point wired with Fractal-Wire throughout and suspended on the company's latest Seismic Isolation. Designed with the goal of absolute signal purity, it is Townshend's optimum solution for the heart of your system.
Townshend's Allegri Reference is microprocessor-controlled, and thus the passive preamplifier is ideally suited for both the discerning home hi-fi enthusiast and the professional user. It has a detailed and clear LED display and easy to use interface. Featuring five stereo RCA and two pairs of balanced XLRs for inputs. Note that input XLRs are in parallel with RCA inputs 1 and 2. There is a 3.5mm jack socket, on the front panel, in parallel with input five. For output, it has two sets of stereo phonos and one pair of balanced XLRs.
11 / 11 / 19
FiiO M11 Pro Hi-Res Lossless
Portable Music Player FiiO's new M11 Pro Hi-Res lossless music player ($650) employs dual AK4497, THX AAA amplifier, and offers aptX,
aptX, HD, LDAC, Bluetooth, DSD, Tidal, Spotify, plus much more! It also provides easy use of Wi-Fi, supports balance headphone output, and includes a color touch screen for
ease of use. A six-core processor chip (Samsung Exynos 7872) plus high performance DAC chips (dual AK4497EQ+) combined with balanced THX AAA-78 ensure extremely high sound fidelity and powerful output to drive virtually any in-ear monitor or headphones.
FiiO's lossless music player supports aptX/aptX HD/LDAC/LHDC wireless steaming, which allows you to enjoy high quality wireless audio via Bluetooth. FiiO M11 Pro digital audio player also supports most Hi-Res lossless formats such as FLAC, WMA, WAV, Apple, DSF, and DSDIFF. There's native support for DSD 128/256 and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz. A 9.5hour battery life keeps the music playing virtually all day. Headphone outputs includes a 2.5mm / 3.5mm / 4.4mm jack. Digital output / input includes USB C and S/PDIF. Internal storage is 3GB RAM that is free to install and run any third-party Android apps according to your needs, plus up to 2TB expanded storage.
Exhibitors: Last Chance To Save On Florida Audio Expo Florida Audio
Expo 2020's special Early Bird savings ends November 15th! Exhibitors should register now to save on their room. With over 1000 attendee tickets already being reserved, the Florida Audio Expo is set for February 7th through 9th at Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport
Westshore. Note that all exhibit rooms are easy to access, with none being hidden around corners or out of the way. Every room is a suite, plus your sleeping room is included in the exhibitor room fee! You are free to arrange the room to best suit your needs, yet you are responsible to return to the condition it was at the end of the show. Wednesday evening your suite is available, with Thursday being setup day. You'll receive a five night stay within your suite. During the Florida Audio Expo
attendees can listen to the finest tunes in paradise with an awesome audience of passionate music lovers. A very special even sponsored by
Enjoy the Music.com will be announced as the show nears. Exhibitor Early Bird discount rates expires
November 15th, so e-mail Bart Andeer
ASAP to reserve your room.
Qobuz Says "No" To 1996 Low-Quality MP3 Music Qobuz, founded in 2007 as an online music streaming / downloading service that now specializes in Hi-Res Music, is completely eliminating its
low quality 1996 technology lossy MP3 tier on their streaming service. As most know, MP3 basically solved the bandwidth
and memory storage issue of early computers and Internet, when (generally) the
fastest web connection was 56Kpbs dial-up (or faster ISDN @ 128Kpbs). Today, most Internet users have over 1000x that speed, yet
hundreds of millions of music lovers are still listening to 1999 Napster sound quality. Why?
And so beginning today Qobuz streamlines its monthly offering to one $14.99 plan ($12.50 per month with a yearly plan) that includes unlimited access to its entire Hi-Res Music and CD lossless
catalog streaming. This provides music lovers up to 24-bit/192kHz streaming for
Hi-Res Music and 16-bit/44.1kHz for 1980's technology CD, which is better than
1996's lossy compressed MP3. With Qobuz's maximum quality plan now available for one accessible price, Qobuz is the first streaming service to say goodbye to the increasingly archaic MP3. Neil Young, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member artist whose early support and ongoing enthusiasm for Hi-Res are well-documented, says "Qobuz sounds great! Qobuz was one of the earliest Hi-Res streamers. Their new offer is another big step towards making Hi-Res streaming available at the same cost as MP3 streaming today."
The new Studio Premier plan is a limited time promotion available to the first 100,000 new Qobuz subscribers and existing users, who will receive unlimited access to over 50 million tracks in certified Hi-Res or CD lossless quality, along with Qobuz's exclusive, in-depth editorial and metadata content. Qobuz will still offer its unique Sublime+ plan, now priced at $249.99/year and includes all the streaming offerings, plus a substantial discount on Hi-Res Music download purchases from the Qobuz
store.
Mojo Audio's New Hi-Res Audio Mystique v2X DAC
Mojo Audio now offers their new Mystique v2X DAC ($2,499.95) with XMOS USB (or RCA S/PDIF) input that is optimized for all operating systems. As trickle down technology from their award-winning v3 DAC, Mojo Audio's latest DAC also features the same ultra-purist non-oversampling direct-coupled R-2R topology they have become known for. The company incorporated much of the more advanced circuitry from their Mystique v3 DAC including S/PDIF input stage, demultiplexing circuit, I/V conversion stage and more.
Behind the new black anodized faceplate with blue LED is high-end error prevention versus error correction.
You'll also find a true R-2R ladder DAC built around Analog Devices' famous AD-1865N-K DAC chip. To eliminate bit read errors, Mojo Audio's power supply incorporates over 237,000uf of capacitive filters and nine Belleson ultra low-noise high-dynamic regulators that independently isolate each stage. The analog output stage is direct-coupled to provide the most linear and extended frequency response possible by eliminating output coupling capacitors and transformers that narrow bandwidth and cause phase and time distortion.
Optimized 24-bit 192kHz XMOS USB input minimizes input signal degradation; mainly by employing a single-source USB input with three dedicated ultralow-noise Belleson regulators and over
3000uf of capacitance. The USB input, I2S output, and Femto clocks each have their own isolated power supply and all stages are completely isolated from USB buss power.
Create Music With Jean-Michael Jarre's EōN Labs App Jean-Michael
Jarre's new EōN Labs app ($8.99
@ Apple app store) lets you create music featuring this legendary musician. EON is an ancient Greek God associated with Time & Eternity. The « time » represented by Eon is infinite and unbounded in the sense of «ages» and «forever» says Jean-Michael. In cosmology, geology or astronomy, Eon is often used in reference to a period of a billion years Jean-Michael named this project EŌN, as it best defines exactly what it is – an infinite musical and visual creation, which offers each individual a unique experience on its primary support as an App: on each device, and on each launch of the EŌN App, you will hear and see a unique ever-evolving orchestration of the music & the visuals.
EŌN is a never ending, never repetitive, organic art-piece that will live & grow forever in everyone's own singular space-time continuum, at the tip of their finger. "Personally," says Jean-Michael, "I truly feel that EŌN is probably one of my most exciting creative projects since
Oxygene. I always wanted to create a music specific for each listener and which could constantly evolve. Here it is. EŌN is conceived & composed for your own
eternity!"
HiFiGo Moondrop S8 Universal Fit IEM HiFiGo's new Moondrop S8 universal fit in-ear monitor (IEM) features eight redesigned drivers, fed by a triple crossover architecture. Carefully selected high and low frequency drivers are mated with proprietary customized midrange driver for
'Moondrop' style. Internal wiring is 6N OCC copper, while the
connector is an industry standard 0.78 two-pin design.
For the bass driver, selected an extra back volume version of their distinguishing vented bass receiver, so the diaphragm is more free to move compared to typical closed balanced armature unit while still less distorted than normal vented drivers. Distinct midrange tuning is passed down from HiFiGo's previous A8 model, with Moondrop customized mid balanced armature driver. For upper frequencies, two Knowles SWFK BA drivers produce a targeted response with ultra-low distortion.
Erzetich Announces Thalia Handcrafted Headphones Erzetich
now offers their Thalia handcrafted stereo headphones (€449 introductory
price, normally €599) that are crafted from quality wood and durable metals. Inspired by the Goddess Of Festivity, Thalia live up to their name with full, festival sound and innovative design. Available in Tilla (a rich dark wood) or Salvage (light, recycled spruce), this brand new product allows for an immersive audiophile experience whilst still allowing external sound for safety purposes.
The octagonal shape and unique wood design provide the perfect facade to
Thalia's look. Weighing in at 270 grams, Erzetich's Thalia headphones are tuned to provide superior quality sound for portable devices including digital audio players (DAP), phone, portable DAC and your tablet. A superior quality 40mm titan coated drivers are mated with silver-plated oxygen-free copper cables that have high-end gold plated connectors. Designed for life, Thalia headphones are fully serviceable to ensure great quality sound year after year.
11 / 06 / 19
Enjoy the Music.com's Great Audiophile Gift 2019 Guide
Only three days remaining to have your product featured within
Enjoy the Music.com's highly-popular 2019 Great Audiophile Gift article. This year's gift suggestions is our largest to date, so don't miss your opportunity to be featured! We'll be promoting our gift suggestions multiple times starting just before Thanksgiving through the end of December.
With the holidays only a few weeks away, longtime high-end audio site
Enjoy the Music.com is now taking submissions for your product to appear within our Great Audiophile Gift 2019 guide. Our 14th annual gift guide
will reach hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic music lovers worldwide and will be promoted multiple times during the holiday season. As an added benefit, your product will also receive a special award logo your company
/ worldwide distributors may feature on their website and social media pages. Generally, most gift idea products are below $500, though we are accepting higher priced product submissions too. Space is strictly limited, so we need to hear from you ASAP as submission closes November 10th.
Steven R. Rochlin
Creative Director, Enjoy the Music.com
Hi-Fi World December Features Reviews & Think Pieces Hi-Fi
World's December 2019 issue features a contest with your chance to win a
Audio Technica Oc9X Ml Cartridge Worth £480. High-end audio equipment reviews include
Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary loudspeakers, Devialet Phantom Reactor 300 loudspeaker, Peiga Premium Wireless 501 loudspeakers, Cambridge Audio Edge integrated amp/streamer, Quad Artera pre amplifier, Parasound Halo A23+ amplifier, Black Rhodium Twist Bi-Wire cables,
and Mcru No.79 Mains Block power conditioning unit. Other reviews include the Thorens Td1601 turntable, Unison Research Uphono+ phonostage, Klipsch T5 True Wireless earbuds, plus Paul Rigby rounds up the latest audiophile
music releases.
Within his editorial, Noel Keywood says, "This month is relay month. They're everywhere – upon us like fleas. I don't know what has brought this about, perhaps just happenstance, perhaps the flow of the river. OK, it's a peculiar thing to obsess about, but it does start to make you go clickety-click after a while – sort of plays on the brain. Why now? They've been around for ages. Quad's new Artera preamplifier has them aplenty, performing all sorts of tricks in conjunction with a micro-processor. I was taken aback at just how far you can go with this approach – turns out a long way, Quad show us. The Artera is an unusual proposition, purist analogue and very slick – greatly helped by liberal use of relays. You can find out more about this unusual preamplifier on p11 and all the many tricks it has up its metaphorical sleeve."
See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World
at this link.
11 / 05 / 19
Pro-Ject Artist Collection The Beatles Singles Turntable Pro-Ject's
new The Beatles Singles Turntable ($799) is exclusively available on the company's website within the USA. To celebrate the release of
The Beatles Singles Collection box set of vinyl singles, Pro-Ject is releasing a very special addition within their Artist Collection turntables. Simply referred to as the 'Singles Turntable', the deck itself will be a collage of all original Beatles single sleeve, and it will include several features unique to this edition.
This turntable will only be available for purchase through December 31, 2019. Based on Pro-Ject's award winning Debut III model, The Beatles Singles Turntable features the following elements and upgrades:
1) Electronic speed change including 33.3/45/78 rpm.
2) 8.6" Aluminum S-shaped tonearm with two SME
headshells, each with its own pre-calibrated cartridge.
3) Easily change headshells to switch between
mono and stereo vinyl LP record playback.
4) The two included cartridges are a new Pro-Ject designed, Ortofon manufactured Pick it Mono for mono-record playback and an Ortofon 2M Red for stereo-record. playback
5) Heavy acrylic platter.
New York Audio Show 2019
Is This Weekend NYAS 2019 Show Report By Enjoy the
Music.com 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. ---> Learn more and see our New
York Audio Show 2019 report.
11 / 04 / 19
VAC Statement 452 IQ Musicbloc Tube Power Amplifier VAC (Valve Amplification Company) has introduced their finest amplifier in the company's 29 year history. VAC's Statement 452 iQ ($75,000) can be used in either stereo or monoblock mode, plus has greater headroom than previous designs for unfettered musical impact. An unconventional vertical architecture and lateral tube mounting play a large part in achieving this new sonic freedom. It provides the
ability for extremely short, direct hand-wired signal, power, and ground runs. The circuitry exploits VAC's high speed parallel design principle, with smaller parts that are willing to 'jump' electrically and magnetically with the music says the company.
There are a total of nine VAC design transformers in the Statement 452, in aggregate weighing 120 pounds, for perfect coupling combined with lightning fast speed. VAC's Statement 452 IQ circuitry is fully balanced, with provision for both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs. VAC's Musicbloc design allows the amplifier to be switched between 450 Watt single-channel mono operation and 225
Watt/channel dual mono amplifier, without compromise in either mode.
Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Stereo Headphones Dan Clark Audio, formerly known as MrSpeakers, announced their new
AEON 2 ($899.99 for both open and closed back version) high-fidelity over-ear stereo headphones that builds upon the legacy of its popular AEON Flow design. Developed with input from dealers and consumers, the new
AEON 2 is a more portable headphone than the original AEON Flow, weighing a mere 325 grams for long-term comfort. Dan Clark Audio incorporated multiple technologies from its flagship ETHER 2 headphone while maintaining the
AEON 2's mid-level price.
A unique folding 180 degree gimbal system on AEON 2 allows for easy storage in its newly designed case. A new motor assembly enhances resolution, soundstage, dynamics, tone, and imaging. An ultra-light, highly carbon fiber baffle plates serve as the base for the driver. The driver assembly is mounted to an extruded and machined aluminum frame that remains light and rigid.
Updated ear pads feature thicker sidewalls for enhanced isolation and improved aesthetics, as well as comfort over long periods.
Efficiency is 92dB/mW for AEON 2 closed version, and 94dB for open, with impedance being 13 Ohms.
A premium AEON 2 option ($1,099.99) includes an ergonomic, high-end custom-designed silver-plated copper VIVO cable with a choice of a 2.5, 3.5, 4.4, 6.8mm tips or a 4-pin XLR connectors. AEON 2 is also available with three-meter 1/4" and XLR VIVO cables for $1,249.99.
11 / 01 / 19
Enjoy the Music.com's
November Review Magazine Articles within the November
2019 issue of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine include CAF, NYAS, Social Media Fun And Frolicking by Steven R. Rochlin, plus industry veteran Roger Skoff says "Ho, Ho, Ho, The Time Is Hear!" as he writes about the coming Holiday Season. We have a World Premiere Review of
Art Audio's new Quartet vacuum tube monoblock amplifiers, with Dr. Michael Bump saying it produces "3D sound staging and sense of scale that will capture your heart!"
We also have Senior Editor Tom Lyle as he finds that when his system was re-wired with Kimber Kable it "was coming as close to hearing the source using the most transparent, non-additive or subtractive sounding cables that I've ever heard in my system."
Headphone lovers will, ummm, love reading Dave
Hanson's review of Manley Labs' cute beaute Absolute Headphone vacuum tube
stereo amplifier / preamplifier. Dave felt that "Manley creates a Masterpiece that looks and sounds like nothing else!" Within this issue we also take the Wayback machine with The Core Issues: Choosing A Power Transformer by Michael S. LaFevre Of MagneQuest fame. The Core Issues examines the function, construction, design, and operation of magnetics for audio applications. Going
DIY this month, we have Dan Schmalle of VALVE / Bottlehead as he remakes a Dyna MKIII to 'juice his lizard'. Have a look at the Tung-Sol
6550 tubes, new tube arrangement, Vitamin Q caps, new bias pot location, and cool paint job. Some of you may remember that Dan was so enamored of the Mklll's he modified for Chris that he wangled a pair for himself.
CAF, NYAS, Social Media Fun And Frolicking Shows and industry comradery as we prepare for the holidays.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin This
weekend's Capital Audiofest (CAF)
2019 is shaping up to be truly epic! Normally editorial are about
whatever is within this issue, yet let's forget all that and go right to the fun
of shows. Why? Because there is sooo much fun to be had while enjoying the
music! During CAF our god friends over at Part-Time
Audiophile posted on Facebook that they're having a get-together for
those under 40 hosted by the fabulous photojournalist Eric Franklin Shook. ---> Read More
Ho, Ho, Ho, The Time Is Hear! Roger Skoff writes about the coming Holiday Season
Article
By Roger Skoff The
kids have come and gone, the pumpkin's been carved or eaten, and now it's time
to start thinking about turkeys, family get-togethers, and the December holidays
to come. For me, the holiday season mean two major things: presents and MUSIC! Starting right after Thanksgiving (only a few weeks from now), holiday music is
going to be everywhere — on the radio, as background to every television
program, in the elevators, and in the shopping malls, and on most of our
turntables, CD players, and streaming services. ---> Read More
Manley Labs Absolute Headphone Amplifier / Preamplifier Rare Form: Manley creates a Masterpiece that looks and sounds like nothing else! Review By Dave Hanson I had the pleasure of meeting Manley Labs VP of Engineering and Design, Zia
Faruqi,
in the CanJam exhibit at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018. While I was more than
familiar with the Manley name, this was the first time I had seen them in the
personal audio section of the show, so naturally I was quite curious about their
debuting flagship headphone amplifier, the Manley Labs Absolute Headphone
Amplifier ($4500). Zia was very generous with his time, and walked me through
the devastating and inspiring story behind the amplifier's creation. --->
Read More
My Own Triode Input MK III Dan remakes a Dyna MKIII to 'juice his lizard'.
By Dan Schmalle From VALVE Issue 9, September 1994 A remarkably
bad graphic representation of a very pretty amp. Squint to see the Tung-Sol 6550's, new tube
arrangement,
Vitamin Q caps, new bias pot location, and cool
paint job. Some of you may remember that I was
so enamored of the Mklll's I modified
for Chris that I wangled a pair for myself.
As I recall I bought a Fisher 20A,
swapped that and some other stuff for a MkIV, and then swapped the MklV and
a pair of Ampex monoblocks for the Mklll's. Then I swapped a Philco Model
60 cathedral radio for a quad of Tung
Sol 6550 tubes. ---> Read More
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.
10 / 31 / 19
VPI Industries Vanquish Magnetic
Direct Drive Turntable VPI Industries
is proud to debut a new state-of the-art Vanquish magnetic direct drive turntable ($100k to $120k). VPI's Vanquish turntable is a refined version of a model made by VPI's founder Harry Weisfeld. Advancements in direct drive technology is based off of VPI's HW-40 motor, aided by motion control circuitry and software. Vibration isolation technology is based off refinements by engineer Mike Bettinger. The Vanquish comes in the company's Reference tripod shape, giving the user the ability to mount up to three tonearms of any length, type, or brand.
VPI's Vanquish turntable is complete with their latest 3D printing ability, and thus mounted with a Fatboy tonearm (choice of Uni or Gimbal bearing). Hidden wiring gives a clean look, as opposed to usual LEMO plug termination with a wire loop. Internal wiring is by Nordost and connects directly into the Phono stage, thus having fewer connections between the cartridge and phono stage. The Vanquish Fatboy is VPI's first 14" 3D printed tonearm that provides both rigidity and resonance cancelling.
VPI's Vanquish turntable also features:
• Phono Stage with multiple inputs.
• Every part is mounted with machined / blind screws
• Removable machined aluminum arm-board.
• Beautiful limited-edition ruby anodized components
• Removable platter for easy shipping
• Tonearm counterweight with fast / accurate VTF
• Vanquish stand that can fit multiple components
Hi-Fi+ November 2019 High-End
Audio Magazine Hi-Fi+ magazine's
November 2019 issue features their Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2019 report, plus Meet Your Maker with Warwick Acoustics and Meet Your Dealer with KEF Music Gallery in Hong Kong. Gear reviews include the VPI Industries 40th Anniversary direct drive turntable/tonearm, PrimaLuna Evo 300 preamp/amp, Totem Acoustics ElementFire V2 stand-mount loudspeaker, Innuos ZENmini MK3/LPSU music server, MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL X hybrid electrostatic loudspeaker, Synthesis Soprano LE hybrid integrated amplifier, Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary stand-mount loudspeaker, Acoustic Solid Wood Round MPX turntable/arm/cartridge, TotalDAC D1-Core streamer, Grand Prix Audio Monza rack, and Esprit Audio Alpha / Beta cables.
Hi-Fi+'s Ultimate Headphone Guide answers your personal audio questions, plus there are review of the Final B-series earphones (Part 1), iFi Audio PowerStation
with their AC iPurifer power conditioners, Shure KSE 1200 electrostatic earphone system, oBravo Cupid earphones, and RHA TrueConnect Bluetooth earphones.
Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says,
"The interesting thing about modern audio is just how diverse and international it has become. Back in the old days, the products of one country tended to stay in that country. Granted there were always exceptions (and many of those exceptions came from America, Japan, and the UK) but for the most part, the idea of a truly international audio system is an almost uniquely 21st Century concept. The big question is – is it actually real?" See
what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+
magazine at this
link.
10 / 29 / 19
The State Of The Arts, And Thoughts While On The Road
Three-time Grammy nominee David Chesky has earned great respect for his fresh and unique approach to musical compositions, which span the jazz and classical genres. As David explores the world, he recently made an observation about classical music during his travels. "It is becoming clear to me that new classical music is doomed upon conception," said David
Chesky. "Berlin, for me, is a metaphor for cutting-edge arts. A city filled with great writers, artists, intellectuals, and composers. But the mainstream cultural musical institutions of Europe are an insult and embarrassment to these incredible artists. These institutions recreate and sell European musical history to wealthy tourists while choking the voices of these contemporary artists. Every city I visit seems to have the same repertoire of musical works and operas in their concert halls. The only thing worse is in the USA as we sell not our own musical history but imported history, as if we must lack self-esteem with our own musical arts."
"In all areas of the arts, painting, sculpture, literature, film, and architecture, there is a genuine inquisitive thirst for what is going on now," continues David. "Classical music is the only genre I know that refuses to join the present with the rest of the world. What if we asked modern painters in the world to copy 16th-century masters all day? How creative would that be for them? But commerce dictates, and that is how wealthy patrons want the classical world to stay. Good or bad orchestras are now just only aural museums."
In conclusion, David said, "It's absurd for any critic that is truly a person of arts and letters to partake in writing and perpetuating the status quo. The institutions will kill off the very thing that any business, art, or genre needs to survive — innovation."
David Chesky is the founder of the audiophile label Chesky Records. Producing the highest quality of recordings available today,
Chesky Records has produced over 500 albums with highly accomplished artists in genres spanning classical, jazz and world music.
HDtracks is a Hi-Res Music service
also started by David that delivers the highest quality / resolution recordings
to music lovers worldwide.
10 / 28 / 19
Xavian New Premio Esclusivo Standmount Monitor Xavian's Premio Esclusivo standmount monitor
(€4400 per pair on up) builds upon the success of its predecessor as a top of the Natura range. It represents advanced technology hidden inside nature
inspired, with organic shapes of the cabinet made from solid wood. The front twin reflex aid in producing deeper
bass response while a sophisticated system of inner damping allows custom made AudioBarletta drivers to work accurately and as cleanly as possible.
The custom AudioBarletta drivers are made in Italy and are mounted upon a solid oak wood cabinet of 23mm thickness to ensure solidity. A 29mm AudioBarletta
tweeter with flat aluminum wire voice coil and soft dome has a copper ring in motor plus die-cast chassis. For midrange and bass, a 175mm AudioBarletta impregnated paper membrane cone is mounted on a die-cast chassis. Bitumen and other layers of cabinet internal damping aid in Xavian's Premio Esclusivo standmount monitor in producing sound accurately. A specially-designed Fase Zero crossover topology (drivers connected in series) seek to seamlessly mate the sound of both drivers to produce a smooth frequency
response. Precision audio components within crossover include Mundorf capacitors and resistors. A front grill cover is included and magnetically attached to ensure an elegant visual style.
10 / 27 / 19
CAF 2019 Event With
Enjoy the Music.com's Greg Weaver Enjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's
celebrated online site since 1995 and a leader in providing
industry news, gear reviews, and show reports, is helping to provide two very
special listening events during the upcoming Capital Audiofest
2019. Renown audiophile and
veteran industry journalist Greg
Weaver, who will be reporting exclusively for Enjoy the Music.com during the
upcoming Capitol Audiofest (CAF), held November 1st through 3rd, will be hosting
two special after-hours LP sessions open
to all attendees. --->
Read More
10 / 25 / 19
TACET Releases Wolfgang Amadé Mozart Hybrid SACD TACET's new Wolfgang Amadé Mozart hybrid SACD (0252-4, €21.47 + VAT) features Stadler Quintet K. 581, Clarinet Concerto K. 622, and Aria K. 523 & 524 performed by Dirk Altmann, Kei Shirai, Masato Suzuki, and the Ludwig Chamber Players. Recorded in TACET Real Surround Sound, the clarinet player uses his instrument as
billiard cue on the cover. This little provocation indicates what is going on. Its common knowledge that Mozart composed these pieces not long before his death. But for Dirk Altmann, and booklet author Katharina Eickhoff, they're not the creations of an angel on the way to heaven. Instead, it is written in a very earthly environment with a part of
includes playing billiards with his friend including clarinet player Anton Stadler. What happens when the clarinet concerto is played exempt of romantic, nearly religious
enhancement? We hear the inspirations of a joyful genius! This hybrid SACD includes a CD,
Hi-Res Audio 24-bit/96kHz stereo layer, and 5.1 multi channel 24-bit/96kHz layer too.
10 / 24 / 19
Pass Labs X250.8 Solid-State Stereo Amplifier A powerful, detailed and delicate sounding
power amplifier.
Review By
Anthony Nicosia Not too long ago (in a galaxy...), during July 2012 actually,
it was my privilege to review two products from Pass Laboratories. Specifically,
their very impressive XP-10 preamplifier and outstanding XA 60.5 monoblock power
amplifiers. Both were a joy to have in my audio system and were sorely missed when returned
to the factory after my standard two month review period. So when the
opportunity arose for me to borrow their new .8 series amplifier, the X250.8,
there was absolutely no hesitation on my part to jump at the chance to again
audition a Nelson Pass design. --->
Read More
Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed
Vinyl LP / SACD / CD Box Set
Available November 1 is the very special 50th Anniversary Edition edition of Rolling Stones'
Let It Bleed available on 180 gram vinyl LP box set / SACD / CD. The Rolling Stones groundbreaking multi-platinum selling album
Let It Bleed was released in late 1969, charting at #1 in the UK and #3 in the
USA. The Rolling Stones, at this point already a critically and commercially dominant force, composed and recorded their eighth long player (tenth for the
USA) amidst both geopolitical and personal turmoil.
The second of four Rolling Stones albums made with producer Jimmy Miller (Traffic, Blind Faith),
Let It Bleed perfectly captures the ominous spirit of the times with the opening
track "Gimme Shelter".
The 2019 remaster has been engineered by eleven-time Grammy-winning mastering engineer Bob Ludwig.
Let It Bleed (50th Anniversary Limited Deluxe Edition) includes the remastered album in Stereo and Mono on both vinyl and
hybrid SACD, plus a reproduction of the 1969 seven mono single of "Honky Tonk Women / You Can t Always Get What You
Want" in a picture sleeve. The box set also comes with three 12 x 12 hand-numbered replica-signed lithographs printed on embossed archival paper, a full-color 23 x 23 poster with restored art from the original 1969 Decca Records package,
plus an 80 page hardcover book with never-before-seen photos by the band s tour photographer Ethan Russell and an essay by journalist David
Fricke. You can pre-order the Rolling
Stones Let It Bleed (50th Anniversary Limited Deluxe Edition)
from Amazon at this link.
Legacy Audio's New I·V7 Multi-Channel Amplifier Legacy Audo's
new I·V 7 multi-channel amplifier is the company's most powerful to date. Featuring state-of-the-art ICEedge technology, the elegant seven channel amplifier approaches 80% efficiency while delivering 600 Watts per channel @ 8 Ohms. Power is delivered with very high current (i) and voltage (V) output, with said capabilities providing stability into impedances as low as 2.7 Ohms. The amplifier supports 12VDC triggered on/off and will also be available in a rack mount eight channel version for Atmos installations.
There's a Breaker reset for excessive sustained current. Inputs are fully balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA. Loudspeaker outputs are via gold plated safety approved five-way binding posts. Damping factor is 750 from 20Hz to 1kHz. Channel separation is an impressive 120dB at 1kHz, the unit weighs 31 lbs., and dimensions are 17.5" x 15.6" x 5.8" (WxDxH).
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