High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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05 / 26 / 23

Boston Audio Society Tests ATSC 3.0 Tuners
The Boston Audio Society (BAS) this weekend will discuss testing of two new ATSC 3.0 tuners, one from ZapperBox and the other from HDHomeRun. Six Boston television stations launched NextGen TV broadcasts that marks the expansion of NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 signals into another major USA markets. This new audio / video system is poised to replace the existing USA digital television delivery system (ATSC 1). This new form of hybrid, over-the-air, and broadband-connected TV is now available in many USA television markets. The BAS tests will report on their distance pickup, features including immersive multi-channel audio, and multipath rejection.

ATSC 3.0 supports three video formats: legacy SD video, interlaced HD video, and progressive video. Progressive video supports resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 and supports HEVC Main 10 profile at Level 5.2 Main Tier. Progressive video supports frame rates up to 120 fps and the Rec. 2020 color space, and HDR. Unlike the current standard, the ATSC 3.0 standard is Internet Protocol (IP) based and thus promises to expand the potential for broadcast spectrum capacity to support new services beyond traditional over-the-air video in ways that will complement the nation’s burgeoning 5G network. If you'd like to join this meeting, learn more and contact the BAS at this link.

Jason Kennedy's HIGH END 2023 Show Report
Europe's largest, and most attended, premium audio show!
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Jason Kennedy
A year after Europe's biggest high-end audio show returned to the MOC exhibition center in Munich there was some question over whether it would remain as popular as it had been before the pandemic, as it turned out that question was answered on the first of the four days with a substantial turn out from exhibitors and visitors alike. Last year there were very few companies from the Far East at HIGH END 2023, as they returned in force with one brand, ESD, bringing the biggest system ever seen at the event and taking over the largest room.
---> Jason Kennedy's HIGH END 2023 Show Report.

The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 10
Third floor thrills with great sounding stereo systems.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
Well, It seems I screwed up again today, starting about halfway down the side of the aisle, probably thinking this was where I left off on Saturday (up on the 4th Floor). I'm going to have to cover Capital Audiofest incognito lest the hit squads of some of these rooms catch up with me. Of course, it may simply have been the case that the guys running these first few rooms were late to work.
---> The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 10.

05 / 25 / 23

Videos Part 3: HIGH END 2023 Show Coverage
Al Di Meola meeting the man and meeting his music, plus gear coverage of TEAC + Esoteric, Supatrac, and Troy Audio.
High End Society's videos from HIGH END 2023
Enjoy the Music.com is proudly showcasing various videos from the HIGH END 2023 show in Munich, Germany. Within the videos below, we're featuring Al Di Meola meeting the man and meeting his music, plus gear coverage of TEAC + Esoteric, Supatrac, and Troy Audio. As always... enjoy the music.
---> Videos Part 3: Al Di Meola, TEAC + Esoteric, Supatrac, and Troy Audio.

High End Society's HIGH END 2023 Show Breaks All Records
The HIGH END show in Munich, an internationally renowned audio trade show by the High End Society, has released the figures from their recent 2023 event. Held at the M.O.C. Event Center in Munich from May 18th through 21st, the 40th HIGH END had a total of 22,137 visitors from ~100 different countries. There were a record 550 exhibitors from 54 nations. Overall, this was the highest number of visitors at a HIGH END show ever recorded by the High End Society.

According to the High End Society, the HIGH END 2023 show was a hive of activity characterized by its captivating, positive and emotional atmosphere. Judging by the feedback received by the man behind the show, Stefan Dreischärf, and his team during this event, it was the best and most outstanding show they have ever hosted. "The response to this year's show is truly overwhelming. Every single person I have spoken to was impressed by the fantastic atmosphere in the M.O.C.," reports Dreischärf. "We had hoped to be able to repeat the terrific success of the last HIGH END but didn't expect to even go one better." Learn more and see Enjoy the Music.com's HIGH ND 2023 show report at this link.

Q&A With Richard Chycki Award-Winning Recording/Mixing Engineer & Immersive Audio Specialist
Best known in the surround-sound music community for his 5.1 surround mixes of Rush's back catalog, Richard Chycki continues to innovate in the realm of immersive audio with Dolby Atmos.
Article By Immersive Audio Album (IAA)
Richard Chycki is a multi-platinum mixer and engineer whose clients include such rock royalty as Rush, Aerosmith, Dream Theater, Skillet, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, Pink and many more. Known for his pioneering mix work in multichannel audio, prog icons Rush entrusted Chycki to remix the multi-million selling 2112 (1976), their career pinnacle Moving Pictures (1981), as well as A Farewell To Kings (1977), Hemispheres (1978), Signals (1982), Snakes & Arrows (2007) and Fly By Night (1975) in 5.1 surround sound. More recently, he's mixed Moving Pictures and The Tragically Hip's Road Apples (1991) for their respective 40th and 30th anniversaries.
---> Q&A With Richard Chycki Recording/Mixing Engineer & Immersive Audio Specialist.

World Premiere Review!
Black Ice Audio Fusion F100 Monoblock Vacuum Tube Power Amplifier Review
Plus a great story about Jim Fosgate's Odyssey circuit.
Review By Ron Nagle
To tube or not to tube? Strange as it may seem, that age-old question is still relevant. Today new materials and innovative designs have taken vacuum tube audio components to a higher level. When I first saw the Black Ice Fusion F100 in room 504 at the Capital Audiofest, they were powered with Russian Tung-Sol KT150 beam tetrodes. This innovative tube is only one type of power tube the F100 can use, each with a different musical voice. This ability has a substantial fundamental advantage. Unlike solid-state amplifiers, you need not be stuck with one solid-state sound. Like a fine wine, the sound of vacuum tube audio components can appeal to many diverse tastes.
---> Black Ice Audio Fusion F100 Monoblock Vacuum Tube Power Amplifier Review.

05 / 24 / 23

The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 9
Fantastic fun on the fourth floor.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
It's now very late I the afternoon on Saturday as YG Acoustics introduced their new Peaks series more than a year ago and my first couple of exposures to it were interesting. My impression took a big step up here at the AXPONA 2023 show with their smallest floorstander, Talus ($14.2k), driven by Bel Canto electronics. I heard more deep bass and the reason is that YG Acoustics added their Descent active subwoofer with DSP filter ($7800), which made its debut at this show. It features an 11" BilletCore driver, a 3" voice coil with titanium former, and a 1000-Watt amplifier with a 124dB S/N ratio. It weighs in at 110 pounds so this is a pretty serious sub.
---> The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 9.

05 / 23 / 23

T.H.E. Show SoCal 2023 In June
T.H.E. Show SoCal 2023 (The Home Entertainment Show) takes place at the the Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa from June 9th through 11th. Now with a very exciting re-brand, T.H.E. Show SoCal is the destination where music, entertainment, tech, and media meet in an integrated, state-of-the-art experience trade show. Spotlighting a breadth of brands spanning from classic industry leaders to up-and-coming rising stars, T.H.E. Show plans to be no ordinary luxury audio event. With an ever-expanding online community, year-round VIP, and luxury experience events, their 2023 event has a lot going on for all to enjoy.

T.H.E. Show is the culmination of understanding that consumers and attendees want more than just the latest and greatest components and gear. They want an emotional experience. They want to feel the music. T.H.E. Headphonium section specialized on personal / portable audio including DAPs, headphones and more, and is presented by Enjoy the Music.com partners eCoustics! Cars are back! After a bit of a hiatus, they are excited to announce that the automotive portion of T.H.E. Show is back and better than ever! You can expect classical cars, vintage cars, supercars, and specialty cars on exhibit, so stay tuned! Of course an expanded vinyl section will be available for purchase for all you vinyl junkies. Learn more about T.H.E. Show SoCal 2023 at their website.

Videos Part 2: ALTI Association 2023 Show Coverage
Designing BAYZ Audio's radial tweeter, OEM 180Grad radial speaker, composite sound engineering thin-ply carbon, developments in linearity, and hearables update in D/A conversion.
ALTI Association At HIGH END 2023
Enjoy the Music.com is proudly showcasing various videos from the ALTI Association event that was part of the HIGH END 2023 show in Munich. ALTI Association's goal is to be the hub of the global loudspeaker and related technologies industry by providing representation, create networking opportunities, promoting new technologies, and bring the industry together with a common goal of promoting continuous growth and to uphold our industry at the center of the audio world. The below videos feature selected audio professionals and engineers who create various parts and designs for the very best premium audio equipment.
---> Videos Part 2: ALTI Association 2023 Show At HIGH END Munich.

05 / 22 / 23

Videos Part 1: HIGH END 2023 Show Coverage
Stein Music, TAD, Aretai, ESD Acoustic, and "Future-FI - What's Next?"
High End Society's videos from HIGH END 2023
Enjoy the Music.com is proudly showcasing various videos from HIGH END 2023 show in Munich, Germany. These videos feature selected manufacturers, brand distributors, and various seminars too.
---> HIGH END 2023 Videos: Stein Music, TAD, Aretai, ESD Acoustic, and Future-FI - What's Next?.

05 / 21 / 23

Munich HIGH END 2023 Show Report
A newbie's hi-fi adventure at HIGH END 2023 in Munich.
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Ray Chowkwanyun
Just made it to Munich from Vienna before the car broke down. Pondering how to get back. My vision of the Munich HIGH END 2023 hi-fi show is that it would be me sitting down with the exhibitor and doing a leisurely A/B of Linda Rondstadt's "You're No Good" met with loud guffaws from show veterans. This is not a casual gathering of your neighborhood audiophiles. This is serious business. A trade show in short, full of serious-minded folks in grey suits bent on the pursuit of the almighty Deutschmark.
---> Munich HIGH END 203 Show Report.

05 / 19 / 23

Friday's Photos: HIGH END 2023 Show Report
More photos from HIGH END 2023 thanks to our friends at HiFi Media.
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Andrija Ćurković
Our wonderful European friend Andrija Ćurković of our partner magazine HiFi Media chimed in with some excellent photos from HIGH END 2023 in Munich. HiFi Media is a multi-media magazine that covers almost all aspects of modern audio/video media with a particular accent on music and film. They began print publication in 1996 and has online readers in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, BiH, and Macedonia. The annual Zagreb Audio Video Show is the largest of its kind within the area and is closely connected to the publisher of HiFi Media. We're sure you'll appreciate his pics, with Andrija's full show report to be published on Enjoy the Music.com shortly after HIGH END 2023.
---> Friday's Photos: HIGH END 2023 Show Report.

05 / 18 / 23

Thursday Photos From HIGH END 2023 Show Report
High End Society's HIGH END 2023 Event In Munich Germany
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Ray Chowkwanyun
Here are some incredible pics from today's (Thursday) HIGH END 2023 show in Munich, Germany. Show reports with text / etc will be coming soon! Enjoy the Music.com wanted to share these photos with our global readers ASAP. Scroll down and as always... enjoy the music!
---> Thursday Photos From HIGH END 2023 Show Report.

Motorworld München @ HIGH END 2023 Show Report
Historic automobiles were only steps away from the show at M.O.C.
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Ray Chowkwanyun
Motorworld München was opened during 2021 and brought forth an automotive experience like no other! Both novices and hardcore enthusiasts alike can bask within the special driving culture as only Germany can do! Home of the autobahn lifestyle, you can enjoy seeing over 30 of the most valuable and exclusive vehicle brands. Motorworld München is located on the 75,000 m² site of the former Deutsche Bahn repair shop in Munich-Freimann. This is directly across the street from the M.O.C. where the HIGH END show takes place. Motorworld München is the largest self-supporting historic steel halls in Europe, plus admission is free 365 days a year! I hope you enjoy the photos.
---> Motorworld München @ HIGH END 2023 Show Report.

Preview: HIGH END 2023 Show Report
We give you a sneak peek at what's being shown at HIGH END 2023.
HIGH END 2023 Show Report By Ray Chowkwanyun
We've arrived at the exciting HIGH END 2023 show in Munich! Our exclusive reports will be posted online as they flow in throughout the weekend and beyond. We look forward to seeing everyone there! Until then, here's a very special sneak peek on what will be showcased at HIGH END 2023 in Munich. Our reporter Ray Chowkwanyun grabbed some photos during Wednesday's setup. Enjoy!
---> Preview: HIGH END 2023 Show Report.

HIGH END 2023 Munich Show Report
From May 18th to 21st, 2023, the very special 40th HIGH END trade show in Munich will once again shine the spotlight on luxurious premium music reproduction systems, inspiring listening enjoyment and exquisite audio technology. For many years, the HIGH END has been providing both the big players in the industry and smaller owner-managed companies with their ideal presentation platform as the world's leading audio trade show. It is the perfect place to establish business relationships, expand networks and exchange ideas and experiences with other industry experts.
---> HIGH END 2023 Show Report.

The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 8
The fascinating 5th floor of premium audio gear.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
This was an interesting speaker for folks who don't wish to obstruct a view any more than necessary. That's a premium full-range Cube Audio F10 driver mounted in the acrylic baffle with a downward-firing floor-coupled dipole woofer. Acrylic has its vulnerability to dust and scratches over time, though there is a special polish for it. The $5900 (plus shipping) speaker is also available with gray or bronze tinted baffles which offer interesting possibilities. The wood supports are available in custom colors as well. The woofer was a 15" Eminence Kappa Professional Series 1200W woofer and out back there was an integral 500-Watt DSP amp / crossover / EQ.
---> The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 8.

05 / 17 / 23

audioXpress June 2023 Magazine
Editorial: The Sound Of Silence
Audioscenic: From Vision To Product
The AP-2 Amplifier With Analog Signal Processor
Misconceptions In The Audio Industry
A (Z)OTL with 300Bs Part 2 — The Final Details
Power Transformer Parameters, Selection, And Testing Part 8
The Changing Audio Ecosystem In Electric Vehicles
Perspectives On Automotive Sound Design
DSP Module Application And Tuning Procedure In Automotive Audio
An Exploration Of Rock And Pop Venues
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "Automotive audio is a fascinating topic that audioXpress has been increasingly exploring. We have received an enthusiastic response from both our readership and the industry, but our strongest motivation has been the unprecedented level of activity and innovation taking place. Looking back 10 years, when we envisaged the new format and the roadmap for this publication, I confess that this was not something I anticipated. Yes, Tesla started selling its Model S in 2012 and we should have foreseen how fully electric vehicles would impact the audio experience as the familiar noise of the combustion engine was suddenly removed."
---> audioXpress June 2023 Magazine.

05 / 16 / 23

Throwback: HIGH END 2000 In Frankfurt
With the High End Society's HIGH END 2023 show in Munich only a few days away, we felt it was time to take a look back at their event decades ago. Enjoy the Music.com published the world's largest HIGH END 2000 show coverage from Frankfurt Germany online! Audio enthusiasts from all across Europe, both trade and consumer, have gathered here from June 1st through June 4th, 2000 in Frankfurt Germany to attend the HIGH END at the Kempinski Hotel. Attendees were able to listen to the great Hi-Fi and Home Theatre brands many have only read about in magazines and on the Internet.
---> Throwback: HIGH END 2000 In Frankfurt.

The Absolute Sound May / June 2023
From the Editor: Inside The Sausage Factory
Cover Story: Rockport Technologies Orion Loudspeaker Review
Show Report: The Florida International Audio Expo 2023
Kuzma Safir Tonearm
Lyra Etna Lambda Phono Cartridge
Ortofon Diamond Phono Cartridge
Schiit Audio Loki Max Equalizer
AGD Productions Alto Preamplifier And Tempo Power Amplifier
United Home Audio Ultima5 Open-Reel Tape Player
MoFi SourcePoint 10 Loudspeaker
...And Much More!

Within his editorial, Robert Harley says "How do we choose products for review in The Absolute Sound? Why do we review certain products and not others? What are the criteria for inclusion in the magazine? I'm sure that many readers have asked these questions, so I'll share with you some of the decision-making that goes into the process. I'll also let you in on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that sometimes occurs as manufacturers jockey for position in the magazine. Although we publish many more product reviews than other magazines, TAS can review only about 80 to 90 products per year. That math dictates that we must be very selective in choosing review products out of the many hundreds of new-product introductions every year. The selection criteria start with whether we have reason to believe the product will be outstanding."
---> The Absolute Sound May / June 2023.

05 / 15 / 23

Berklee's Free Music Theory Handbook
With music lovers wanting to learn more about the tunes they love, the legendary Berklee School is offering a free Music Theory Handbook. Their online award-winning learning platform, and master musical techniques / concepts through video lectures, brings higher education to everyone. You may download the Music Theory Handbook free of charge and start you own journey into education. Start gaining a command of music theory, harmony, and ear training by accessing Berklee Online's award-winning curriculum! The Handbook features lessons pulled straight from Berklee Online's 12-week courses, which are taught by the same instructors who teach at Berklee College of Music, as well as seasoned music industry professionals.

Beginner to advanced-level courses in music theory, from Music Foundations to Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm. There's also professional certificates in Music Theory and Composition; and Theory, Harmony, and for audiophiles you can learn and benefit from Ear Training. Since 2002, Berklee Online has been the premier innovator of worldwide music education, earning a 97% student satisfaction rate, while offering fully accredited online music courses, certificates, bachelor's, and master's degrees at a fraction of the cost of Berklee's campus programs. You can download the free handbook here.

The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 7
Many very exciting 6th floor sound systems at AXPONA.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
Continuing along around mid-day on Saturday.... I met Don Thomas of Wathen Audiophile out of Houston, Texas, who presented two completely different speakers in a rig that drew considerable attention from people who ventured into this room. Wathen is not a household name in the high-end... yet. The speakers were powered by Decware amps, 20 Wpc on the left and a 6 Wpc amp on the right, which the guy was photographing. These are rarely seen at shows and the production wait list is backed up to the time you will retire.
---> The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 7.

05 / 12 / 23

Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 Highlights Report
The best bits from the brand-new Sydney audio and AV show!
Australian Hi-Fi Show report by Becky Roberts plus contributions from Jez Ford
Well, my ears had a very good weekend. Yours would've too no doubt, if you also spent your Friday, Saturday, or Sunday attending Future's first-ever Australian Hi-Fi Show. Visited on multiple days? Good for you, I hope you managed to cover most of the 100+ brands that were on display and being demonstrated. Brought to you by Australian Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi?, and Sound+Image magazines, the Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 took place from April 28th through 30th and celebrated the latest and greatest in the hi-fi and AV industry. This show gave visitors the opportunity to see and hear a range of audio products from all around the world. With over $10,000 in hi-fi prizes up for grabs at the 2023 Australian Hi-Fi Show, attendees surely had a lot to look forward to.
---> Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 Highlights Report.

05 / 11 / 23

Where Do We Go From Here?
Classic Audiophiles Versus Modern Music Lovers
Will 360-degree audio change the face of old-school stereo 'philes?
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Modern times bring modern solutions. First came recording audio over 100 years ago using a now-primitive needle scraping wax. Eventually we humans invented the microphone, to eventually amplifying musical instruments to the point of going full-out synthesizing via Moog and others producing 100% electronically-created musical instruments. Music lovers over the generations have gone from the wax cylinder and vinyl LP recordings to today's pure digital Hi-Res Music. What was once a challenge to find that special rare vinyl LP record within your 2000+ collection has become to today's computer search feature that instantly streams your fave tune from the millions of albums available online. How are those 'Classic Audiophile' types going to accept the 'Modern Audiophile' is still yet to be fully grasped imho.
---> Where Do We Go From Here? Classic Audiophiles Versus Modern Music Lovers.

Lossless Streaming Music: Welcome To 20 Years Ago
Today we're only 10 years behind the curve, and here's why...
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Welcome to the February 2019 edition of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine. Yada yada new reviews, some other bits here and there you may enjoy in this issue, plus of course a wonderful think piece by Roger Skoff. There's a World Premiere Review of the ultra-fi, and incredible, $73,000 per pair Triangle Art TA-200M Class A monoblock power amplifiers, plus bargain vinyl lovers can enjoy our review of Sumiko's $149 Rainier moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge. MrSpeakers Ether 2 over-the-ear headphones, etc, etc, and yes etc. Look, just insert all the usual (boring) stuff that always seems to appear within an editorial about whatever the heck is within that magazine's monthly issue.
---> Lossless Streaming Music: Welcome To 20 Years Ago.

05 / 10 / 23

One Trillion Music Streams During Q1 2023
According to Luminate, an entertainment data and insights company with data compiled from hundreds of verified sources, says that global music streams reached an impressive one trillion (1,000,000,000,000) during the first three months of 2023. This is a new all-time record for the most amount of music streaming in three months. Luminate says, "Global music On-Demand Audio streams crossed the one trillion mark on Friday, March 31, 2023, marking 2023 as the first year for that milestone to be reached in just three months. The news follows Luminate's 2022 Year-End Report data that showed a +22.6% growth in On-Demand Audio streams year-of-year from 2021." To put this into perspective, music listeners enjoyed ~960,000 years of streaming music during those first three months.

The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 6
Premium audio sound systems on the 7th floor.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
With the drop in altitude, the air was easier to breathe on the 7th Floor. Nonetheless, it must have been difficult for the guys in the first room that normally reside at sea level. This was listed in the program as "Wolf Systems" but it was actually (or co-) sponsored by the House of Stereo that came all the way up from Jacksonville, FL, with a very special rig. TAD has only recently returned to the USA and it was one of only a couple of brands sold by House of Stereo that were not seen elsewhere at the AXPONA 2023 show.
---> The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 6.

05 / 09 / 23

A Music Professor's Assessment Of AXPONA 2023
Great memories of music plus a renewed energy, and inspiration for the art of premium audio.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Dr. Michael Bump
The audiophile-faithful descended once again on Schaumburg, April 14th through 16th, for North America's largest gathering of high-end designers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts of all levels and backgrounds. AXPONA 2023 is now officially in the books as the largest to date, with public relations/media coordinator, Natalie Stanichuk, reporting just over 9,000 attendees with over 500 companies exhibiting. Over two hundred rooms distributed over 12 floors of the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center provided opportunity to experience and celebrate some of the finest home audio designs in the world.
---> A Music Professor's Assessment Of AXPONA 2023.

05 / 08 / 23

Bluetooth 5.4 Adds More Bandwidth For Hi-Res Audio
The Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) is a global community of over 38,000 companies serving to unify, harmonize and drive innovation in the vast range of connected devices all around us.  They recently gave an overview of the advances and changes to Bluetooth technology to make way for future developments. The Bluetooth Core Specification defines several concepts that collectively constitute the Bluetooth data transport architecture. Among these concepts are the Physical Transport, Physical Channel, Physical Link, Logical Link, and Logical Transport. 

During their recent live briefing (seen here), they discussed new and upcoming Bluetooth features and capabilities and the impact they will have on emerging use cases and markets, including the Ambient IoT, electronic shelf labeling, and access control. They also discussed higher bandwidth rates to support lossless audio technologies. Also discussed was how LE Audio and Auracast broadcast audio are powering a wide range of exciting use cases across the audio streaming market. Eventually there will be no need for lossy compression, especially those that come from proprietary formats shielded in a grey-like mystery. Open standards and true lossless is obviously the way forward. You can download the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 5.4 PDF at this link.

05 / 06 / 23

The AXPONA Chronicles 2023: Part 5
Gold Pass suites and more on the 11th floor.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
The 11th Floor was a short floor with only eight rooms plus the Gold Pass Suite. I've raved about the rig here before, giving it a Best Rooms award at Capital Audiofest as I recall. Just sitting in the chairs, much of the holographic sound quality goes to the JansZen speakers which have electrostatic divers in the middle of the front baffle as well as woofers above and below. But you can also see small side-firing speakers and I believe there is also a rear-firing driver as well which all contribute to creating a realistic ambient space for the music.
---> The AXPONA Chronicles 2023: Part 5.

05 / 05 / 23

AXPONA 2023 Was Bigger, Better, And Bolder
Taking it from the top with the uppermost floors Part 1.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver
The message containing the official attendance for this year's edition of AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) landed in my Inbox Wednesday, April 19th, at 3:35 pm. Coincidentally, that was just about the same time that Audio Group Denmark's Peter Hansen and I had decided to take a cigar break. Peter had swung by my place with a pair of the new Børresen X3 loudspeakers and an assortment of their Ansuz Noise reduction gear... but that is another story.
---> AXPONA 2023 Was Bigger, Better, And Bolder.

hi-fi+ May 2023 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: Let's Talk About Music
Michael Fremer: The Legendary Vinyl Guru Speaks!
The hi-fi+ Analogue Awards
The History Of LP
Setting Up A Turntable
VPI Industries Avenger Turntable
Origin Live Voyager Mk4 / Renown Turntable And Tonearm
Gold Note PH-5 Phono Stage
Reed 5A Tonearm
Vertere Acoustics Phono-1 Mk II L Phono Stage
The Funk Firm 20/20 Turntable Upgrades
And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "It's hard to imagine a time without the LP now. It's not just that the format is 75 years old, but that it is so damn durable. Even if the LP went through another fallow period like it did in the 1990s and early 2000s, it's still likely to rise, phoenix-like, once again. There's good reason for this, and it's a stealth example buried in this very issue. To illustrate our long history with record players – which goes back to the very first issue – we needed to trawl our archive of text, layouts and photos. Except we couldn't. First, some of that archive had been stored on SyQuest drives that are long since dead. Even if we could access the drives, the machines are beyond repair, use a connection long out of favour with computer companies and replacements are impossible to find." See what's within this issue of hi-fi+ magazine at this link.

05 / 04 / 23

Enjoying The Music
Roger Skoff writes about what it's all about.
Article By Roger Skoff
We all read this publication; I even write for it, but have you ever thought about what our title actually means? For example, is "Enjoy the Music" an offer? Or an encouragement? Does it refer to any particular kind or genre of music? Or to the people who play it? Or to the gear that – if we listen in recorded form – it's played on? Is the emphasis on the music? Or on the enjoyment? Or is there not any emphasis at all? Should there be? And, if so, what? In the just-short-of 150 years since the invention of the phonograph and, coming with it, our first ability to record sound and make it into an enduring artifact, both music and the ways that people have experienced, enjoyed, and participated in it have changed radically>
---> Enjoying The Music.

Focal Celestee Closed-Back Headphones Review
A wide front row soundstage with little depth.
Review By Gary Alan Barker
It has been a long wait to get a review sample of the Focal Celestee Closed-Back Dynamic Headphone, over a year in fact, due to the extreme popularity of Focal's latest closed-back design, but it has certainly been well worth waiting for. Focal has a long history of designing and manufacturing some of the world's highest-performing loudspeakers and headphones. As a driver designer/manufacturer they have a certain advantage over those who need to outsource their drivers, and it has shown in their delivered product. One constant with Focal headphones going back to the original Spirit is a level of refinement of sound not found in comparably priced headphones, and on this score, the Celestee is no exception. The Focal Celestee Closed-Back Headphones are the latest offering in their closed-back designs, which are unique in that they offer the more open soundstage of open-backed headphones....
---> Focal Celestee Closed-Back Headphones Review.

05 / 03 / 23

Pacific Audio Fest 2023 Show In June
The Pacific Audio Fest (PAF) 2023, taking place at the Doubletree-Hilton Sea-Tac / Seattle from June 23rd through 25th, is still open for exhibitor registration. "Most vendors are returning so get on board ASAP," say show promoter Lou Hinkley. There will be live music Friday and Saturday nights, with NW regional wine and beer tastings, and ~80 rooms of quality audio, Marketplace, Record Fair, HeadZone and much more! The Pacific Audio Fest show is located at a top tech hub and one of the fastest growing communities in the USA, plus it is a vacation paradise in the summer months. The Seattle area is said to have great demographics for the audio industry and incredible natural beauty to make this a great destination for the audio enthusiast and their families.

PAF show Director and Founder Lou Hinkley has nearly thirty years experience as an exhibitor in music trade shows and festivals with his company Daedalus Audio. The show collaborators include Gary Gill, Founder of Capital Audiofest, and other notables in the audio industry, together we will make this a fun and extremely high quality event for attendees and vendors all the while keeping this show to a scale that works for everyone. As with all industry-operated shows within the USA and Canada, Enjoy the Music.com is sponsoring the Thursday night exhibitor and press party, so free drinks on us! We look forward to seeing you there!

05 / 02 / 23

The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 4
The 12th floor was filled with glorious sounds.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker
Business seemed to be booming for Geshelli Labs as I've noted in previous years. They target a younger audience with affordable gear and that bodes well for the industry. Their banner across the window at the end of the hall was a real attention grabber. In one of their two adjacent darkened rooms, they had headphone listening opportunities with a variety of headphones. A display case housed numerous versions of their products clad in Plexiglas. And for the more playful among us, they had a DAC in a wood chassis with a colorful confetti finish.
---> The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 4.

Sales Of Music On Cassette Tape Near A Two-Decade High
According to the BPI, an organization that represents the UK's recorded music industry, has reported that in 2022 that both artists and fans embraced the analog cassette audio format within the UK and UK-based artists. Artists including Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine and Harry Styles lifted UK cassette sales to their highest level in nearly two decades last year, according to new analysis from the BPI. Based on Official Charts Company data, sales of the retro format grew for a tenth consecutive year in 2022, reaching annual totals not seen since 2003. This was back when the year's two most popular titles were Now That's What I Call Music compilations and Daniel O'Donnell had the top artist album.

While sales of cassettes remain quite a bit lower than vinyl, having grown by 5.2% year-on-year to 195,000 units in 2022, according to the BPI the format is playing a significant role in the sales mix of some brand-new album releases. On 10 occasions last year, the format accounted for over 10% of the chart sales of the No. 1 album on the weekly Official Albums Chart. Some of these chart-topping albums sold more copies on cassette than on vinyl when they debuted at No.1! This includes Florence + The Machine's Dance Fever and 5SOS5 by 5 Seconds of Summer. More than a fifth of each album's first-week chart sales were claimed by cassette.

05 / 01 / 23

Enjoy the Music.com's May Review Magazine
Decades ago there were only a handful of shows around the world. With the tremendous growth of luxury and technology, in 2023 audio enthusiasts and music lovers enjoy more luxurious premium audio shows around the world than ever before! Within our May issue, we felt it best to focus on the many shows happening all around the world. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!
---> See Enjoy the Music.com's May 2023 Review Magazine.

AXPONA 2023 Show Report
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Coverage
AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2023 took place from April 14th through 16th at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. This three-day experience featured multiple hotel floors packed with over 190 listening rooms according to the show promoter. The Expo Hall features The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and seminars. Whether you're a serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you found everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds.
---> AXPONA 2023 Show Report.

Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023 Show Report
Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023 Event Coverage
The Salon Audio Montreal Audiofest 2023, scheduled from March 24th through 26th, brought in more than 5000 visitors who want to hear, see and touch over 300 brands of audio products under one roof. It's the biggest get-together of audio/video industry manufacturers, distributors and retailers in Canada. Exhibitors are eager to share their passion for music with you by demonstrating some of the world's best sound systems from $5000 to $500,000. Montréal Audiofest presented their 34th edition of its popular annual meeting at the Bonaventure Hotel in Montreal. Located in the heart of downtown Quebec, the recently renovated hotel will once again be transformed into a multitude of listening rooms to accommodate thousands of music lovers and nearly 100 exhibitors, representing more than 300 brands of products from the world of high-fidelity audio.
---> Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023 Show Report.

Show Reports Coming Soon!

Australian Hi-Fi 2023 Sidney Show Report
Brought to you by Australian Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi?, and Sound+Image magazines, the Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 took place from April 28th through 30th and celebrated the latest and greatest in the hi-fi and AV industry. This show gave visitors the opportunity to see and hear a range of audio products from all around the world. With over $10,000 in hi-fi prizes up for grabs at the 2023 Australian Hi-Fi Show, attendees surely had a lot to look forward to. This show in Sydney took place at the 4.5-star boutique Novotel Sydney Central hotel located within the heart of the city. We're looking forward to the Australian Hi-Fi team chiming in soon with their show coverage here at Enjoy the Music.com.
---> Australian Hi-Fi 2023 Show Report Is Coming Soon!

HIGH END 2023 Munich Show Report
From May 18th to 21st, 2023, the very special 40th HIGH END trade show in Munich will once again shine the spotlight on luxurious premium music reproduction systems, inspiring listening enjoyment and exquisite audio technology. For many years, the HIGH END has been providing both the big players in the industry and smaller owner-managed companies with their ideal presentation platform as the world's leading audio trade show. It is the perfect place to establish business relationships, expand networks and exchange ideas and experiences with other industry experts.
---> HIGH END 2023 Show Report Is Coming Soon!

Holes: It's All Subjective
Roger Skoff writes about why we own our systems.
Article By Roger Skoff
A friend of mine once told me that nobody wants to buy a drill. What they really want to buy, he said, is holes; it's just that they have to buy the drill in order to get them. He's wrong, of course. There are people out there who buy drills just for the pleasure of owning drills. They're called "drill collectors", and this article isn't about them – although there might be a little of the drill collector in some of us, too. For the rest of us, though – at least most of the time – what we want is the holes, and for audiophiles and music lovers, "the holes" are "musical enjoyment" and "the drill" is whatever it is that we have to buy, do, or have in order to 'get it'.
---> Holes: It's All Subjective.

Make It Worth It!
Thankfully, products announced about a year ago are finally becoming available.
Editorial By J. Martins
In this Glass Audio Special issue of audioXpress we are proud to offer two high-quality tube amplifier projects from two renowned tube experts from both sides of the Atlantic. The first project by Menno van der Veen is another amplifier designed under the auspices of the author's TubeSociety initiative. The other comes from Thomas Perazella and in this case details a remake of a famous David Berning ZOTL amplifier. Both are of remarkable quality and value to all tube/valve enthusiasts at a time when it becomes increasingly more risky (and expensive) to build your own projects, unless we already know that the results are truly exceptional.
---> Make It Worth It!

New LPs Acquired During Record Store Day
Time to spin some new records.
Editorial By Becky Roberts
By the time this issue lands in your letterbox, and hopefully by the time it lands in your lap, Record Store Day will be just days away. The annual celebration of the independent record store and everyone involved in it — the staff, the customers, the artists — takes place globally on Saturday 22nd April and, keeping with tradition, will see hundreds of special release vinyl (over 400, in fact) become available to purchase in stores on that day (and in some cases, online in the following days). If this comes as news, or indeed an unexpected reminder), to you, and you consider yourself a passionate spinner of the good wax stuff....
---> New LPs Acquired During Record Store Day.

Investing In Premium Audio Gear
Welcoming a new generation of music loving audio enthusiasts.
Editorial By Alan Sircom
In recent years, it has become fine for people to embrace their inner nerd in almost every hobby or interest. Except audio. In audio, it's still unacceptable in some circles for someone to spend money on good audio without being pillaried for being at once a credulous sap and obsessed by 'bling'. And I'm not sure why we are the exception. Here's what I mean. British actor Henry Cavill (best known for playing Superman and his roles in The Witcher and Mission Impossible - Fallout) is known as an avid gamer and unashamed fan of Warhammer 40,000. He has spoken about this extensively in chat shows recently. Only a few years ago, his fanaticism over painting plastic spacemen would have been met with scorn and ridicule, but now it's met with genuine interest, even among non-fans.
---> Investing In Premium Audio Gear.

The Sweet Spot
The listening position exactly between a pair of speakers.
Editorial By Robert Harley
Just about every audiophile knows that the "sweet spot" is the listening position exactly between a pair of speakers and equidistant from each. That's the location where the sound from each speaker arrives at your ears at about the same time, allowing your brain to create a three-dimensional soundstage with a centrally placed image (if those qualities exist in the recording). Move the listening position slightly to the left or right, and the center image loses its tangibility and the glorious three-dimensional soundstage collapses. The sanctity of the sweet spot is vividly embodied in the description by a 45-year industry veteran, who likened sitting in front of a pair of speakers to "worshipping at the triangular altar."
---> The Sweet Spot.

Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

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