Enjoy the Music.com
The Absolute Sound

The Absolute Sound Issue 172 June / July 2007   Welcome to The Abso!ute Sound online! We explore music and the reproduction of music in the home. We believe that the sound of music, unamplified, occurring in a real space is a philosophic absolute against which we may judge the performance of devices designed to reproduce music. Our goal is to provide the resources consumers need to judge how a component's sound either honors or departs from the music's truth, and to make sound purchasing decisions that maximize their experience of reproduced sound. Below is our Issue 172, June / July 2007 contents and editorial.

 

Read this edition's editorial by clicking here.

 

Articles & Reviews In This Issue

8 Letters

15 From The Editor

16 Industry News

20 Future TAS

24 Start Me Up
Barry Willis on Monitor Audio’s fabulous new $599 BR5 speaker

26 iTAS
MSB's iLink turns your iPod into a no-compromise high-end music
server.

28 Book Review
Jonathan Valin reviews Robert Harley’s new book, Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems.

122 Manufacturers’ Comments

 

Special Report On The State Of Analog Playback
35 An  LP Primer: Robert Harley on everything you always wanted to know about the LP.

40 Twelve Analog Components The Shook The Audio World
The TAS editorial staff picks the 12 most significant LP-playback products of the stereo era

46 Rega P1
Get into the vinyl game for just $350 — complete. Wayne Garcia reports.

47 Pro-Ject Audio System Roundup
Jim Hannon surveys three Pro-Ject turntables and a phonostage, priced from $299 to $2500.

59 Tech Corner
Robert Harley explains cartridge compliance, tonearm mass, and why they need to be matched.

60 VPI Aries Scout And JMW-9 Tonearm
Jacob Heilbrunn on a high-value entry from a venerable turntable manufacturer.
COVER STORY

64 Nottingham Space ‘Table & Arm
Chris Martens on a unique British ‘table and tonearm.

70 Budget Cartridge Survey
Chris Martens listens to three affordable cartridges from $89 to $299.

74 Four Moving-Coil Cartridges
Paul Seydor compares four moving coils from $800 to $3000.

80 Nine "Must-Have" Analog Accessories
Don’t spin vinyl without them!

84 Musical Surroundings Phonomena Nova And Parasound Zphono
Paul Seydor reports on two sweet phonostages at even sweeter prices.

88 JR Transrotor Phono II
Neil Gader on a mid-priced phonostage from Germany’s premier turntable-maker.

90 Art Audio Vinyl Reference
Jim Hannon has the scoop on a phonostage that mixes tubes, transistors, and transformers

92  Audio Research PH7
Jonathan Valin on the best phonostage yet from ARC.

98 Basis Audio 2800 Signature Turntable And Vector Model 4 Tonearm
Robert Harley brings you an exclusive look at a truly remarkable piece of turntable and tonearm engineering.

110 Pursuing Perfection
Basis founder A.J. Conti talks with Robert Harley

114 HP's Workshop: The Golden Dozen LPs
Harry Pearson on the twelve best-sounding LPs of the stereo era.

30 Sonic Anima And Argenta Loudspeakers
Neil Gader on a classic mini-monitor and an entry-level speaker from an important new company.

 

Music
127 Recording of the Issue: Kronos Quartet: Henryk Górecki String
Quartet No. 3

Rock Etc.
Reviews of the latest CDs and LPs from The National, The Sea and Cake, Modest Mouse, Pelican, Blonde Redhead, El-P, Aesop Rock, Tinariwen, Neil Young, Dale Watson, Chris Knight, Uncle Earl, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mavis Staples, Koko Taylor, and Bill Callahan. Plus, Rhino’s Warren Zevon reissues and audiophile vinyl pressings from Joni Mitchell, Slayer, Lowell Fulsorn, Earl Hooker, and Muddy Waters.

Classical
The scoop on three new Mario Alsop discs, Handel’s Concerti Grossi, Mozart’s Symphonies Nos. 38 and 41, and Elina Garanca’s Aria Cantilena. Also Testament’s reissue of Wagner’s Göftterdämmerung, SACDs from Beethoven, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and Rachmaninoff, and two Speakers Corner LPs.

Jazz
Coverage of new records from Anat Cohen, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, and Mario Adnet, plus a survey of eight Analogue Productions 180-gram, 45rpm, two-LP titles.

160 Back Page: Questions for mastering engineer Bob Ludwig.

 

SUBSCRIBE!
Click here
to subscribe to The Abso!ute Sound.

Previous Issues

2007

January   February   March   April/May

 

2006

January   February   March   April/May

June/July   August   September   October

November   December

 

2005

January   February/March  April/May

June/July   August/September  October/November

December

 

2004

January   February/March   April/May

June/July   August/September  October/November

December

 

2003

December/January   February/March   April/May

June/July   August/September   October/November

December

 

2002

June/July   August/September   October/November

 

     
 

Quick Links


Premium Audio Review Magazine
High-End Audio Equipment Reviews

 

Equipment Review Archives
Turntables, Cartridges, Etc
Digital Source
Do It Yourself (DIY)
Preamplifiers
Amplifiers
Cables, Wires, Etc
Loudspeakers/ Monitors
Headphones, IEMs, Tweaks, Etc
Superior Audio Gear Reviews

 

Videos
Our Featured Videos

 


Show Reports
Montreal Audiofest 2024 Report

Southwest Audio Fest 2024
Florida Intl. Audio Expo 2024
Capital Audiofest 2023 Report
Toronto Audiofest 2023 Report
UK Audio Show 2023 Report
Pacific Audio Fest 2023 Report
T.H.E. Show 2023 Report
HIGH END Munich 2023
Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 Report
AXPONA 2023 Show Report
...More Show Reports

 

Other
Cool Free Stuff For You
Tweaks For Your System
Vinyl Logos For LP Lovers
Lust Pages Visual Beauty

 

 


Industry & Music News

High-End Premium Audio & Music News

 

Partner Print Magazines
audioXpress
Australian Hi-Fi Magazine
hi-fi+ Magazine
Sound Practices
VALVE Magazine

 

For The Press & Industry
About Us
Press Releases
Official Site Graphics

 

 

 

     

Home   |   Hi-Fi Audio Reviews   |   News   |   Press Releases   |   About Us   |   Contact Us

 

All contents copyright©  1995 - 2024  Enjoy the Music.com®
May not be copied or reproduced without permission.  All rights reserved.