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 250, February 2015 table of contents and editorial.

 

Articles & Reviews In This Issue
8 Letters

12 From the Editor
The Enduring Legacy

14 Remembering Harry Pearson
We celebrate the legacy of TAS founder Harry Pearson with a remembrance by Tom Martin, Neil Gader heartfelt look back on their more than 40-year relationship, tributes by readers and the industry on what Harry and TAS meant to them, and another look at HP iconic Super LP List.

28 Future TAS
New products on the horizon.

30 Industry News
Meridian Audio announces its revolutionary MQA technology. And Spencer Holbert reports from the Toronto show.

36 Electrical Engineering and the High End
Industry icon Roger Skoff shares his thoughts on why high-end audio and electrical engineering aren't always on the same page.

46 The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest
We bring you full coverage from the Denver hi-fi extravaganza.

150 Manufacturer Comments

 

Absolute Analog
42 Lehmannaudio Decade Phonostage
Neil Gader listens to this upscale German-made phonostage commemorating the company tenth anniversary.

 

Affordable Focus Equipment Reports
80 Infinity Primus 360 Loudspeaker
Can a $400-per-pair speaker really sound this good? Robert E. Greene makes a strong case that correct design can bring high-end sound to an entry-level price.

84 Magnepan MG .7 Loudspeaker
The hit of last year Newport show, the $1395 Maggie .7 brings the company famed quasi-ribbon technology within easy financial reach. Our newest writing talent, Julie Mullins, and our oldest writing talent, Jonathan Valin, report.

92 Micromega MyAmp Integrated Amplifier/DAC
This cleverly designed integrated amp and wireless DAC can form the core of an affordable audio system, says Neil Gader.

96 B&W CM6 S2 Loudspeaker
Spencer Holbert auditions the newest loudspeaker from fabled Bowers & Wilkins.

100 Coincident Dynamo 34SE SET Integrated Amplifier
A single-ended triode amplifier for $1295? If you have the right loudspeaker, the Dynamo 34SE may be your ticket to tube bliss, says Dick Olsher.

 

The Cutting Edge
104 Balanced Audio Technology Rex II Preamplifier and Rex II Power Amplifiers
Jacob Heilbrunn spends time with BAT newly redesigned Rex II preamplifier and Rex II monoblock power amplifiers.

110 Devialet 200 : The Future Has Arrived
The Devialet 200 is easily the most technically advanced audio product yet devised. But does its sound quality match its sophistication? Robert Harley explores this marvel of a 200 Wpc integrated amplifier and wireless DAC.

 

Music
120 The Music of Sam Peckinpah Films
Paul Seydor weighs in on the availability‚ and quality‚ of the soundtracks to Peckinpah movies.

122 Checking in with Robert von Bahr
Andrew Quint chats with the BIS Boss and mastermind behind eClassical.com.

124 Download Round-Up
Alan Taffel and Andrew Quint review high-res pop/rock and classical downloads.

128 Rock
Box sets by George Harrison and Ry Cooder, new vinyl by blues masters John Mayall and Duke Robillard, ORG‚ two-LP 45rpm reissue of Jeff Buckley‚ Grace, plus new releases by the Flaming Lips, Steelism, and dobro masters Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, and Rob Ickes.

134 Jazz
New music by Kenny Barron/Dave Holland and Melissa Stylianou, previously unreleased recordings by the Keith Jarrett Trio, Dexter Gordon, and John Coltrane, reissues by Albert Ayler, Annie Ross, and Shakti, plus box sets by Oscar Peterson and Clifford Jordan.

144 Classical
New recordings by Tre Voci, countertenor Lawrence Zazzo, pianist Joel Fan, and Arcade Fire Richard Reed Parry, plus a Blu-ray release of Glires Third Symphony.

152 Back Page
We talk with Owen Kwon of iriver Inc.

 

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