January 2014

In This Issue...
More show coverage, Dolby remembered, Horowitz and world premiere reviews.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

  It brings me joy to welcome in 2014, as this year will be filled with incredible new digital-based equipment, consumer show reports and many new ventures! While we all wait for our upcoming T.H.E. Show / CES 2014 Show Report, have already been given quite a bit of advance info. We will be seeing a huge push for 4K TV on mainstream sites while we high fidelity audio guys can bask at all the new under $1000 DACs.

During T.H.E. Show Newport Beach in June 2013 i said we will be hitting 'DAC-of-the-month' club and of course my prediction is already coming true and will continue in 2014. Every month a new DAC will be touted in some way or another as the 'best', so forget the numbers and just find a great sounding unit with the features you desire that works for you. After all, these things are just computers with an analog stage, as like all computers you'll probably be buying a new one every two to three years. Within my Senseless Ramblings i discuss how media, in many forms, will be available everywhere. Industry veteran and all-around great guy Roger Skoff talks about the need for aspirin and it is truly great read!

i'd like to take this opportunity to give our most humble and sincerest thanks to Dr. Bill Gaw for his many years of contribution within Enjoy the Music.com. His incredible writings have been within the Review Magazine since day 1 and you can see all his articles at this link. He has retired and, wisely, moved away from the cold of New England for far warmer climates. He loves his present audio system and thus retiring while enjoying the music. Color me a touch jealous and wish Bill all the very best. Enjoy the sunshine all year around Bill as we shovel out another two feet of snow here!

There are also a few interesting articles within this month's viewpoint section. First we have Shaking The Foundations Of The Audio Industry by Esa Meriläinen that provides some perspective on amplifier/speaker current demand. Then we have Your Music Enjoyment by Craig Allison of PAtH that talks about music, vibration energy and how it related to wellness.

Equipment reviews are filled with great gear including our world premiere of the Sonus Faber Olympica III loudspeaker and Triode Lab 2A3-S vacuum tube power amplifier. Both these units are incredible and a must-read! Adding to those, we have Woo Audio WTP-1 CD transport And WDS-1 DAC, Trends Audio BA-10 bi-amplification bundle, a truly eye-opening audiophile AC power outlet comparisons and Wayne Donnelly does a follow-up to his Wells Audio Innamorata amplifier review.

Had wanted to publish an article concerning the passing of Ray Dolby just after he passed away, yet it was a bit difficult to get someone from Dolby Labs to pen it at the time. The great news is that our partner Boston Audio Society has Ray Dolby Remembered written by Mark F. Davis who is a Senior Research and Development Engineer at Dolby Laboratories. On the music side we have our great classic reviews plus very special behind the scenes notes for the Carnegie Hall CD set written by the man behind them Mr. Jon M. Samuels.

Oh yeah, and adding to all this Enjoy the Music.com 's new sister site Enjoy the Music.TV features two new videos and am sure you'll enjoy our preview and first episode. Within our first episode we feature Herbie Hancock, recording engineer Kevin Reeves of HDtracks of Sterling Sound, Michael Mercer of Audio360.org, Scot Hull of Part-Time Audiophile... plus of course music! So welcome to Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV in 2014; it is going to be one hell of a fun year ahead! As always, in the end what really matters is that we all...  

Enjoy the Music,

Editor and Creative Director, Enjoy the Music.com