May 2017

CanJam SoCal, Montreal Audio Fest, AXPONA And HIGH END Munich
Plus what does audio mean for 2017?
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

  While music festivals are gaining strength worldwide, so are audio shows. As many of you know, have reported on approximately 130 high-end audio, AES or the like events and never before can I recall a time when there were more (higher number) of events one could attend. So far in 2017 alone Enjoy the Music.com has reported on CES 2017, CanJam NYC, Montreal Salon Audio Fest, CanJam SoCal, and AXPONA, with HIGH END Munich beginning May 18th and then LAAS in early June. We've actually missed reporting on a show or two somewhere in the world already! If by chance you're in a country that has a great audio show we haven't covered, e-mail me us as we'd love to star you and your thoughts on the event.

During AXPONA there was a wonderful seminar moderated by publisher of Hi-Fi+ magazine Chris Martens. Conor Cawley, senior writer for Tech.co, Steve Guttenberg who writes The Audiophiliac blog for CNET.com, Jason Victor Serinus who is a contributing Editor for Stereophile, plus myself were panel members. Chris Martens did an excellent job with well-pointed questions for us panel members. There is no doubt that 2017 is a very exciting time for audio! We discussed everything from vinyl records to Hi-Res Audio and music streaming. Chris' questions were augmented with excellent enquiries from the audience. There is no doubt that shows, and many music formats, are gaining strength in every direction. Vinyl playback is constantly breaking new sales records for the past decade, CD is hanging on, plus we have cassette and reel-to-reel tape creeping back in the mix as well. Music streaming is making big waves as the preference for many modern music lovers.

There is much love for all the great advancements in high-end audio. Everything from analog to digital have been showing great improvements, with technology trickling down to reasonably priced gear. Soon we may see hi-res vinyl LPs as a new way to produce metal stampers gets finalized. The ability to purchase Hi-Res Music, and dare we giggle to ourselves as we say streaming too, is now becoming more mainstream. Well, that is if we count Tidal and a few niché players, yet rest assured by the end of 2017 they'll be at least two more companies in the Hi-Res Music streaming game. My fave friend Madam Moisha with her crystal ball predicts it, so you know it must be true.

Let us also not forget to mention the efforts by The DEG. While it has been about three years since they first began their Hi-Res Audio endeavor, am sure we'll be seeing more about the ability to Stream The Studio in magazines. Who knows, maybe one day we'll see TV commercials featuring highly influential musicians and singers buzzing about the beautiful benefits of Hi-Res Audio. How it makes you feel a closer connection to the music when enjoyed in higher resolution. You can more easily embrace the emotion, and artist's expressive intent, of their music as you Stream The Studio. High-enders know what I'm talking about, and now it is time to spread the word far and wide that Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Music is finally here! More Stream The Studio online music sites will be heard about later in 2017, yet by educating your friends about it now you'll look like one of them-there smart guys who knows the future. You'll also be helping friends enjoy the music.  :-)

In This Issue
This issue has reviews of this, and that too. Golly, really wish we had a show report to, you know, fill in the empty spaces. Oh, wait, you mean we have three show reports, and another one in a few weeks. Well... I'll... be... darned. World premiere gear reviews? Like, no way! Now now Steven, don't be teasing the readers!

Ok, enough schtick and here's the deal within the May 2017 issue of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine. We got you tubes-o-philes all happy with a world premiere review of the aurally ravishing VAC Renaissance Preamplifier Mk V with MM/MC phono stage. Reviewer Ron Nagle feels that it redefines the cutting edge of what is possible. Editor Tom Lyle goes solid-state with the Merrill Audio Christine Reference stereo preamplifier and says the sound of the unit is addictive!

Am proud to say we have the one and only galactic world premiere review of Elly Audio's upcoming loudspeaker. This just-launched on Kickstarter loudspeaker has style and substance, and we're the first ones in the world to try 'em out! Rick LaFaver gushes, "If this is what these guys can deliver, I am going to get in on the ground floor." We haven't forgotten personal audio as Dave Hanson shares his thoughts on the Periodic Audio Beryllium in-ear monitors. So how good are these $299 universal IEMS you ask? i'll give you a hint: Dave feels they are loads of fun! You'll have to read his review for more details within his fun and informative review. As always, in the end what really matters is that you...

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin