August 2013

In This Issue....
Three world premieres, revisiting my Memo, the much anticipated AK120 review and more!
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

  First, my most humble apologies for not having our show coverage of the Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2013 online as we released the August issue. It is now online and you can see our report right now online! All-around great guy Kemper just finished writing it. Rest assured he is working very hard  on part 2 as we have Top Men handcuff him to the computer. So to the many of you waiting for our CAF 2013 coverage, part 1 s now online and part 2 is coming soon. Besides, we just hired the Great and Knowing Kemper as an equipment reviewer (yeah!) so he understands the clock is tic-tic-ticking along.

My Memo To The Industry in last month's issue has caused quite a good stir within the industry. Many of us are seeking ways to better reach the ever-changing, and growing younger, customer base. There have been quite a few excellent suggestions and great ideas from our readers too! Once i can dig out from the massive workload here will write a follow-up; hopefully in the next few days and will post it in the Review Magazine accordingly. So remember to stop back in a few days as we will have quite a bit more online for you reading pleasure.

In this issue we have world premieres of the impressive $3000 LKV Research Phono 2-SB phonostage that operates in Class A and conquers its task using a combination of JFETS and bipolar transistors. Our next world premiere is the $3500 Arte Forma Audio Elyssa tube integrated amp that uses some straightforward design work with excellent parts specs. Out last world premiere solves the age-old problem of the dreaded warped LP. This has happened to us all and the $2550 Furutech DF-2 Disc Flattener is extremely effective at solving this problem. Other reviews in this issue include Cary's Audio Electronics Hercules EL34 tubed amp, and the $1295 Rogue Audio Sphinx hybrid integrated amplifier. So if you are in the market for a reasonably-priced small amplifier or integrated, this issue is jam packed with units for you to lust over!

The Triode Wire Labs folks have always been very upbeat and it brings me joy to have a review of their Plus Power Cords in this issue. Lastly, the cool bro's @ Zu Audio slided us a stupid-good pair of their Union loudspeakers. Thanks guys! Seriously, these Zu guy are on something. I mean on to something ;)  Michael Greene, a man who has immense experience and has helped audiophiles for many years with his great MGA/RoomTune products, chimes in on my Memo To The Industry article. As i stated before, the article has stirred many in the industry and have been doing my best to reply to each and every one of your e-mails and Facebook/Twitter messages. Michael shares his feeling within Enjoy the Music.com's our August issue. Of course we also have Dr. Bill Gaw's Audiolics Anonymous as he reviews the PurePower+ 3000 and PurePower+ 1500 Regenerators for AC power. Audio authority Roger Skoff never lets us down and he gives us some tasty treats in his article Skoff'ing Up Food For Thought with the small stuff. And yes a few music reviews too.

Many readers have been waiting for my review of the AK120 and you are in luck! So, where do I begin with my review of the Astell&Kern AK120 portable digital music player? Well, best bet is to read the review and come to your own conclusions. Me? Love it! And this brings up the many great possibilities of high fidelity freaks finally being able to take true master tape quality music on-the-go. Have waited for this day to come for decades quite frankly. Is it ‘perfect sound forever'? Well, some of us are a challenging and fickle bunch of music lovers and may never find nirvana. Others of us (read: me and hopefully you too) have found it and are simply seeking ways to either enhance or extend our possibilities.

And on that note, and as always, in the end what really matters is that you...

 

Enjoy the Music (am off to the sunny side of the street with the car's top-down and AK120 singing a sweet tune...),

Steven R. Rochlin