The Absolute Sound      August 2023

  The Absolute Sound is the world's preeminent source of expert product reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio. Since 1973, TAS has set the standard for quality audio and music journalism, helping to shape the industry and guiding audio enthusiasts and music lovers to components and recordings that faithfully reproduce the sounds one might hear in a good concert hall. The Absolute Sound's editors and reviewers, many of whom have been writing about music and high fidelity for better than three decades, bring unparalleled enthusiasm, expertise, and insight to the magazine's readers.

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Guest Editorial
Reissues
Music sounding more faithful to what is recorded.
Editorial By Roy Midyett
When the news came out of yet another re-mastering of a Beatles album, my first thought was, "Really, another one?" It was a reflexive thing; no cogitation involved. Maybe it reminded me of the constant re-packaging of products like Star Wars movies, with better and better production values and "special features" and add-ons that lure us to shell out the bucks again. And again. And yet, I didn't complain when something like the Director's Cut of the original Blade Runner was released, and yeah, I bought it. I'm a big fan of re-mastering worthy LPs and have my special box of all-analog reissues (still have to double-check one of those MoFi albums), plus a good number of "reissued" CDs, and, no, I didn't seem to have a problem with buying five versions of Getz / Gilberto. So, why pick on the latest iteration of The Beatles?
---> Guest Editorial: Reissues.

Cover Story
Basis Bravo Turntable
In this all-new design, Basis brings the brand's legendary sound quality to a more affordable and easier-to-use turntable. Wayne Garcia brings you the full story of this remarkable achievement.

Letters

Future TAS
New products on the horizon.

Video Preview
A look at the latest videos on The Absolute Sound's YouTube channel.

The 2023 Golden Ear Awards
Our writers name their personal favorite products.

The Munich Show Roars Back
Robert Harley, Michael Fremer, and Andrew Quint bring you all the latest new gear from the world's greatest hi-fi show in a special 12-page report.

The Cutting Edge
Burmester BC350 Loudspeaker
Robert Harley explores the many intriguing facets of Burmester's flagship BC350.

Absolute Analog
Esoteric T1 Turntable
The Japanese company pulled out all the stops in creating this entirely new turntable for the 21st Century. Michael Fremer offers an in-depth look.

Hana Umami Blue Phono Cartridge
Andre Jennings reports on this great-sounding and relatively affordable cartridge from Japan's Hana.

Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement V2.1 Phono Cartridge

Equipment Reports
NAD C 3050 LE "Stereophonic" Amplifier
NAD's new integrated amplifier merges modern features and performance with a retro look. Neil Gader reports on the joys of an old-school look-and-feel combined with contemporary capabilities.

McIntosh MC451 Monoblock Power Amplifier
This innovative amp combines tubes and transistors, but not in the way you think. Rather, the MC451 combines separate tube and solid-state amplifiers in one chassis, along with a crossover network, to optimally drive speakers that can be bi-amped. Anthony H. Cordesman puts this unusual amplifier to the test.

NuPrime AMG One Power Amplifier
Dick Olsher finds much to like in this affordable and technically innovative Class D amplifier.

Manufacturer Comments

Music
Higher Ground
Bruce Cockburn talks about his latest album, O Sun, O Moon, with Greg Cahill.

Dorothy Ashby
Derk Richardson discusses a new six-LP compilation by a musician who took the harp to new places.

Sinfonia Antartica
Ted Libbey's back story to a Ralph Vaughan Williams symphony will send a chill up your spine.

Winning The War And Getting The Last Laugh
The Berlin Philharmonic recently recorded some Shostakovich symphonies with a dark history. Stephen Estep fills us in.

Frampton Is Feeling It
Peter Frampton discusses some remastered Intervention titles with Greg Cahill.

Rock, Etc.
Warren Zevon, Rickie Lee Jones, Feist, Tracy Nelson, Paul Simon, Lana Del Rey, Cowboy Junkies, Dale Ann Bradley, Molly Tuttle, The Cars, 100 gecs, and Mike Zito / Albert Castiglia.

Jazz
George Coleman, Champian Fulton, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Watts, Taiko Saito, Mark Dresser, Orrin Evans, Sun Ra, and a tribute to Gennett Records by the Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra.

Classical
Sonatas for violin and piano by C.P.E. Bach, piano concertos by Beethoven, orchestral music by Rachmaninoff, coronation anthems, a lieder collection, and guitarists RaphaëlFeuillâtre and Ben Verdery.

Q&A
Bruce Lunde Of ATC Loudspeakers

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