Special Sony 20 CD Box Set Featuring
Legendary Conductor John Williams John Williams Conducts is a new 20-CD box set that features all of his definitive recordings for Sony Classical including The Star Wars Trilogy, The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration, Yo-Yo Ma Plays the Music of John Williams, American Journey, Summon the Heroes and more plus a 40 page perfect-bound book. This new box set celebrates an essential American composer from a fresh perspective – his parallel career as an essential American maestro. Featuring Williams at the helm of the Boston Pops, London Symphony and other renowned orchestras – with soloists that include Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell – John Williams Conductor explores the breadth of Williams's art and craft as a conductor, as well as celebrating a diverse variety of American music, from film to pop and from Broadway to classical, in the twentieth century and beyond. John Williams Conductor is available February 2, 2018. In his ongoing career, now in its sixth decade, John Williams is best known as the dean of American film composers. He has won five Academy Awards, seven BAFTA (British Film Academy) awards, four Golden Globes, and 23 Grammy Awards for his film scores. In December 2017, he received his 67th Grammy nomination, and his 25th nomination for a Golden Globe. His 50 Academy Award nominations, as of 2015, are a record among composers, and he is second only to Walt Disney in holding the most Academy Award nominations by an individual artist. Williams developed his craft as a composer and conductor on the soundstages of Hollywood. In 1980, he stepped into a very public spotlight as Principal Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, succeeding the legendary Arthur Fiedler. What followed was a rich, fourteen-season partnership with the orchestra, documented by a series of recordings for Sony Classical that forms the basis of John Williams Conductor. "It has been a continuing joy and privilege to perform concerts and make recordings with so many of our country's magnificent orchestras," said John Williams.
"These great ensembles not only are arts organizations of the highest caliber... they're also national treasures in which we all can take great
pride." The new Sony John Williams 20
CD box set is available to order on Amazon.
01 / 30 / 18
Velvet Underground 50th Anniversary Six Vinyl LP Album Box Set To celebrate the Velvet Underground's 50th anniversary, Verve Records/UMe is releasing The Velvet Underground, a limited-edition career-spanning box ($179.98) that collects all four of the pioneering band's studio albums, Velvets collaborator Nico's debut LP, Chelsea Girl, and a reconstruction of the fabled "lost" 1969 album, making it available on vinyl for the first time. The six albums housed in a special black slipcase will be pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and feature stereo mixes and meticulously reproduced original cover art. The box will also include an exclusive 48-page booklet, featuring vintage photos, lyrics and a new foreword penned by founding member Maureen "Moe" Tucker. Assembled by Grammy-winning reissue producer Bill Levenson, The Velvet Underground incorporates six classic records from the band's vintage heyday including 1967's The Velvet Underground and Nico, their landmark debut, produced by the band's mentor Andy Warhol and includes such Velvets classics as "Sunday Morning," "I'm Waiting for the Man," "Venus in Furs" and "Heroin;" Nico's 1967 full-length solo debut Chelsea Girl, featuring songwriting and instrumental contributions from Velvets members Reed, Cale and Morrison as well as a young Jackson Browne; 1968's explosive White Light/White Heat, the group's final album with co-founder Cale; 1969's relatively restrained, introspective The Velvet Underground; and 1970's Loaded, which was the band's commercial breakthrough as well as its final studio album, with such beloved Reed anthems as "Sweet Jane" and "Rock & Roll." To honor the band's half a century legacy, Levenson has loving recreated the Velvet Underground's much-mythologized "lost" album, 1969, specially for this set. Nearly 50 years later, much remains unclear about these mysterious recordings. The Velvets' revolutionary body of work stands as a one of rock's most distinctive catalogs and today their influence looms larger than ever. Limited to 1000 copies worldwide, the box set, which will be released February 23, is available for pre-order now exclusively at
uDiscover.
01 / 29 / 18
Gryphon Audio Designs Sonett Dual Mono MM And MC
Phono Stage Gryphon Audio Designs
of Denmark continues to maintain their consistent commitment to vinyl reproduction, which stared in 1985, and now continues with the launch of the Gryphon Sonett Phonostage
(€5990). In the words of founder Flemming E. Rasmussen, "The LP holds a very special place in our hearts here at Gryphon, having been the inspiration for our very first product, the now legendary Gryphon Head Amp. For many people, the LP remains the finest high fidelity medium ever offered for home use with a catalogue of titles that will never be rivaled by the compact disc, let alone download music." In a concerted effort to bring the performance of the reference level Gryphon Legato Legacy
phono stage to more affordable price points, Gryphon designed the Phonostage Module for straightforward installation in the Gryphon Diablo 300 and Diablo 120 integrated amplifiers. This proven phono module is significantly improved with its own cabinet and dedicated dual mono power supply. This new stand-alone version of the
phono stage that would make the fruits of Gryphon's explorations into the latest circuit topologies, low-noise component breakthroughs, and power supply innovations more widely accessible. This new true dual mono zero negative feedback
phono stage handles both Moving Coil (MC) and Moving Magnet (MM) cartridges. Moving Coil load impedance can be set externally with left/right switches on the back panel, while internal switching between MC and MM is provided for. Polypropylene capacitors are used within RIAA correction stages, discrete components for analog stages, and a DC-coupled topology from input to output stage. Two-layer printed circuit board has thick 70mμ copper on both sides, while PCB-mounted sockets eliminate wiring and shorten signal path. Gold-plated phono sockets with Teflon insulation for left/right input and output. Like every Gryphon product, Gryphon Sonett is designed by Gryphon founder and CEO Flemming E. Rasmussen and manufactured in Denmark.
01 / 26 / 18
Leema Acoustics Classic Hydra II Power Amp Anniversary Edition Leema Acoustics, the Welsh high-performance audio specialist founded by two ex-BBC sound engineers, has launched a special Anniversary Edition of its Hydra II power amplifier (£4,795), celebrating 10 years since its classic powerhouse amplifier made its debut. The new Hydra II Anniversary Edition is a significantly upgraded version of the popular original. The enhanced amplifier has been sympathetically improved and updated by Leema Acoustics' co-founder Lee Taylor, who has returned to the original design and refined it for even greater sonic performance. In addition to multiple internal upgrades, the Anniversary Edition also benefits from a number of aesthetic enhancements to include a new front panel with a machined and chrome-plated solid billet Leema Delta logo, and an 'Anniversary Edition' badge. Leema Acoustics' Hydra II Anniversary Edition produces 148 Watt rms at 8 Ohms (292 Watt rms @ 4 Ohms). Its dual-mono design uses two massive toroidal power transformers, one for each channel, together with a separate transformer for the control circuitry. The highly refined output stage benefits from very low output impedance. This, coupled with a high current capability, ensures vice-like grip and precise control of loudspeakers, even at very high levels. Full
LIPS implementation (Leema's proprietary communication system) allows for flexible integration with other Leema Acoustics products. Internally, the amplifier features upgraded printed circuit boards with twice the amount of copper to further reduce the resistance of PCB traces and improve power delivery. All relevant capacitors have been upgraded to Nichicon's high-quality audio-grade MUSE Series and the PCB-to-speaker-terminal wiring is Leema's Reference 2 cable which features 16 woven cores plus multi-strand high-purity copper with individual strand silver-plate. All transistors are hand-selected and precision-matched in amplifier sets for optimal performance and the lowest distortion. The power amplifier transformers are Noratel 'xtra quiet' units, ensuring perfect power delivery without undesirable hum or excessive heat-generation. There are three unbalanced RCA stereo inputs, one set of balanced XLR inputs, plus stereo pre-out. As an Anniversary Edition, each amplifier will be supplied with a passport-style system of documentation integrated into the manual, where three key stages of production are signed off by the engineer responsible along with the inclusion of the unit's measured results.
01 / 25 / 18
CanJam NYC 2018 In Times
Square On February 17th / 18th CanJam NYC 2018 is set to feature well over 100 of the world's most innovative headphone and personal/portable audio brands. CanJam Global, one of the world's premier headphone audio show, returns to New York City from February 17th through 18th at the New York Marriott Marquis. This is in the heart of the world famous Times Square!
Featuring over 100 of the headphone audio industry's leading brands in over 30,000 sq ft. of exhibition space, CanJam NYC 2018 will showcase the latest products and innovations in headphones and personal/portable audio and is the biggest headphone audio show in the United States. Open to the public, the event allows visitors to listen to their favorite music on the world's best headphone audio systems at prices ranging from $49 all the way to $55,000.
Experience the latest product innovations from manufacturers all around the world. The headphone audio industry, one of the hottest trends today in Consumer Electronics, is expected to grow over 60% to reach USD $18 billion by 2023.
See last year's CanJam 2017 NYC report at this
link.
Intelligent Audio Products To Produce Rosewood Bases For VPI Turntables Intelligent Audio Products, makers of branded and OEM indoor / outdoor speakers and audio furniture has taken on a new project for turntable manufacturer
VPI Industries of New Jersey. This new partnership will bring beautiful rosewood bases for VPI's high-end Prime Signature turntables ($6799). The Prime Signature is the latest in VPI's Prime line, which features an upgraded JMW 3D-10 Reference arm in a metallic black gloss finish with Nordost Reference wire. The chassis consists of an aluminum plate sandwiched between faux rosewood veneer composite plinths for improved dampening. "We wanted to get back to our roots and focus on our existing audience with a table that offers quality hi-end sound at an affordable price," said a representative of VPI Industries. Intelligent Audio Products President Art Powers said, "Our family-owned business producing these Rosewood bases in our U.S. factory for another family-owned high-end U.S. audio manufacturer just feels right, and adds another dimension to the ultra-premium Prime Signature turntable. This is a perfect project for IAP, and the kind of assignment we're now taking on."
01 / 23 / 18
Bryston Model T, Middle T & Mini T Active
Series w/BAX-1 Active Crossover Bryston has announced the introduction of their Active Loudspeaker lineup, featuring three speaker models of different sizes (Model T Active, Middle T Active and Mini T Active) mated to a sophisticated DSP-enabled active crossover (BAX-1) and Cubed Series Bryston amplifiers. Bryston's Model T Active system, comprised of the BAX-1, a pair of 21B3 amplifiers and a pair of Model T Active loudspeakers is $33,770 and will be available Q1, 2018. The Bryston Middle T Active system, including the BAX-1, a 24B3 amplifier and a pair of Middle T Active loudspeakers is $20,230 and will be available Q2, 2018. Lastly, Bryston's Mini T Active system, featuring the BAX-1, a 24B3 amplifier and a pair of Mini T Active loudspeakers
is $17,690 and will also become available Q2, 2018. With two new amplifier models, the three-channel 21B3 and six-channel 24B3 have been created especially for the Bryston Active systems. The Bryston Active Loudspeaker System leverages decades of research into the science of acoustics and the fine art of audio component design in order to recreate each recording with stunning realism. Each system has been optimized using an anechoic chamber, generating over 300 measurements that reside within the system's software. Bryston Active represents a highly refined audiophile listening experience unlike anything available on the market today. At the heart of every Bryston Active system is the BAX-1 crossover. The Bryston BAX-1 is a state-of-the-art digital crossover containing proprietary software for each active loudspeaker model. The BAX-1 receives a full-range analog audio signal from the preamplifier and performs the three-way crossover functionality and driver correction for each channel, also applying any user-selected filters for tailoring the bass response of the loudspeakers. The signal is then sent to each amplifier channel. Like all Bryston digital components, the BAX-1 is backed by a five-year warranty. Most active speakers utilize an amplifier built into the speaker enclosure, however the Bryston Active solution utilizes full-size, zero-compromise outboard amplifiers engineered to deliver best performance. Two 21B3 amplifiers are required to drive a pair of Bryston Active Loudspeakers. The Bryston 24B3 is a single chassis solution offering six-channels of amplification, yet delivering less total system power than two 21B3s. All Bryston Active Loudspeakers are available in rich veneers such as Black Ash, Natural Cherry and Boston Cherry. Custom veneers are available with an upcharge. The Model T Active is a 52.5-inch tall floor-standing three-way loudspeaker featuring three high-excursion 8-inch woofers, two 5.25-inch midranges and two 1-inch tweeters. The Middle T Active is a 39.5-inch floor-standing three-way loudspeaker featuring two high-excursion 8-inch woofers, a 5.25-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter. The Mini T Active is a large 22.5-inch bookshelf speaker that also works wonderfully on a speaker stand. The Mini T Active features a high-excursion 8-inch woofer, a 5.25-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter. All Bryston loudspeakers are backed by a 20-year warranty.
01 / 22 / 18
SoZo Silver Mica Capacitors For
That
Classic Sound Of Yesteryear Consumer
Electronics Distribution and SoZo Capacitors are pleased to announce the immediate release of their new SoZo Silver Mica capacitors. This new capacitor line is claimed to offer superior musicality and
linearity over classic designs, plus they are modeled after well sought out vintage picofarad
(pF) capacitors of yesteryear. "These custom designed capacitors have the same electrical characteristics and sound of the ones from the past" says the company. "The characteristics of SoZo silver micas are clear, smooth, vocal, clean and linear top end. SoZo caps are smooth without forward treble, i.e., the top end voicing does not add the treble harshness like standard silver mica caps tend to do. Also, standard silver mica caps often have excess energy and ringing in the out-of-band audio frequencies which creates a disconnected strident metallic high end in any amplifier circuit. The SoZo design eliminates this excess energy and ringing in the out-of-band audio frequencies; therefore, with the SoZo caps, the treble does not detach from the fundamental note and does not create sibilance like modern components do. In every audition performed, the new SoZo silver mica capacitors were the preferred
high frequency component in every audio application."
01 / 19 / 18
AXPONA 2018: New Larger Location,
Concerts, Seminars, And More AXPONA 2018 is set for April 13th through 15th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center and will be our eighth annual coverage by Enjoy the Music.com. All audiophiles, music lovers, vinyl collectors, audio engineers and musicians can attend three jam-packed days of incredible sounds, technology, presentations, design, and the very latest products in the industry. Now in its ninth year, AXPONA is one of the defining high-end audio show within the United States. This event caters to dealers, distributors and manufacturers, as well as music lovers and audiophiles.
AXPONA's new state-of-the-art venue will feature an expanded Exhibit Hall plus a new Record Shop and Master Class Theater. AXPONA will once again offer something for everyone – from the novice music lover to the seasoned audio expert looking to enhance their sound with the latest technology.
As their largest show to date, AXPONA Seeks to meet the increasing demand from attendees looking for the very best brands within the music world under one roof. The expanded Exhibit Hall, which is home to the Marketplace and Ear Gear Expo, is an outstanding 30,000 square feet and will showcase a vast array of turntables, cables, accessories, racks and stands, tonearms, cartridges and the latest headphones and associated equipment in the growing world of mobile and high-end personal
listening. Enjoy
the Music.com's AXPONA 2018 show coverage will begin the first day of the
event. To learn more, plus read our previous reports, see our special AXPONA
2018 show report page at this link.
01 / 18 / 18
Wynn Audio To Feature Goldmund At Toronto's Interior Design Show Luxury high fidelity audio showroom
Wynn Audio will feature high-end audio brand Goldmund at the
Interior Design Show (IDS) 2018
will in Toronto. Booth 722 has been specially designed to provide both an open feeling, and a proper environment to enjoy high quality music. Open from Jan 18th through 21st, IDS 2018 at the Metro Toronto
Convention Center is going to be one of the best spaces to offer such a unique experience. The concept revolves around the "The Golden Record". Since the Golden Record was sent into space back in the 1977 with the sounds of the earth, we want to take that experience into the IDS floor. Wynn Audio will be a listening both where people will go in and peek their heads inside the booth and listen to the Golden Record. Inside will be dark with a fire rated sparkle velvet curtain with a few hints of light (lighting the product and the perimeter of the ceiling). The outside is a full brushed gold laminate exterior resembling a shape of a modern gramophone. The Goldmund speakers featured at the Wynn Audio space include ultra luxe price point (could go up to $700,000 per pair). Appearing within NYC's MOMA in 1987, this visionary concept / design is nearly impossible to become outdated. "Words can not describe the sound these speakers produce; and once you experience it, it stays with you for the rest of your life. This is also why we are creating this space to reference the Golden Record, because both of them marks history and are symbols of human excellence" says Wynn Audio.
Klipsch's New Capitol Heresy III Special Edition Horn Loudspeaker Klipsch and
Capitol Records, two iconic voices both celebrating over seven decades of bringing sound to life, have created a timeless speaker series as a tribute to the integral role music plays in shaping our lives. Klipsch's Capitol Heresy III three-way loudspeaker ($1299 each) is a testament to the quality that Klipsch demands from each and every one of its audio products to bring the live music experience into the home. Heresy III special edition is available in ebony wood finish with salt & pepper grille cloth or Blonde wood finish with light tan grille. The Heresy was originally introduced in 1957 as a compact
three-way design utilizing a 12" woofer and horn–loaded midrange and tweeter. In 2006, the Heresy III was upgraded with a more powerful woofer, bi–wire network, as well as midrange and tweeter compression drivers, featuring a titanium diaphragm for smooth and accurate definition. In the current configuration, the new Klipsch Capitol Heresy III hornspeaker uses a K–107–Ti 1" (2.54cm) titanium diaphragm compression driver for high frequencies, a K–53–Ti 1.75" (4.45cm) titanium diaphragm compression driver for midrange, and a K–28–E 12" (30.48cm) fiber–composite cone woofer. Special edition badge plus a free vinyl record redemption code is
part of this package. With an impressive 99dB/W/m sensitivity, virtually any amplifier with a few
Watts of power can drive them. Klipsch's Capitol Heresy III are designed and assembled within the USA. Frequency
response is from 58Hz to 20kHz, each one weighs 4 lbs, and dimensions are 23.81" x 15.5" x 13.25 (HxWxD).
01 / 16 / 18
PIEGA Premium 301 Standmount,
501 And 701 Floorstanding Speakers The combination of the latest
PIEGA chassis technology with their aluminum
housing seeks to produce a wonderfully virtuoso in sound quality. The listening experience can be enjoyed with the new Premium trio series of loudspeakers, which has been developed for a range of different requirements and room sizes. To refine its appearance, Swiss designer Stephan Hürlemann has created a straightforward and functional formal harmony between the front cover and housing. The Premium series fits into every room. PIEGA's Premium 701 is for those who want more! The Premium 701 is equipped with the latest PIEGA tweeter technology, the refined 3056 LDR ribbon, and can be turned up quite a bit! The two 140mm MDS bass drivers also do a great job for lowermost frequency support. PIEGA's Premium 501 is a smaller design, yet is more than just an eye-catcher. The Premium 501 also doesn't mind being used as a surround system – naturally with the center from the same series. As the smallest model within this new series, the Premium 301 seeks to deliver a cool, outstanding-quality sound that is rich and dynamic, plus has good bass performance too. Designed as a shelf speaker, the Premium 301 looks extremely elegant on its base.
01 / 15 / 18
Lyngdorf Audio TDAI-3400 Stereo Amplifier And FR-1 Loudspeakers Lyngdorf Audio will soon unveil two new products – the TDAI-3400 amplifier and the FR-1 loudspeaker. Their TDAI-3400 is the company's most versatile processor and amplifier combination on the market and built for the demanding audiophile with 2 x 400 Watts of power with an impressive feature set. Seven digital inputs, including a balanced AES/EBU, allow for optimal connection to digital audio sources and a USB input connects to music stored on external media. An optional HDMI upgrade module allows for 4K support on three inputs and one output. There is also a built-in media player that connects to services like Spotify Connect and Airplay. Through the network or via the USB connectors, one can access music libraries through the DLNA/UPnP enabled player. The TDAI-3400 comes complete with proprietary RoomPerfect technology including a new voicing tool which allows users to create up to 32 unique EQ voicings. Lyngdorf Audio's first on-wall full-range loudspeaker, the FR-1, is a full range loudspeaker that focuses on optimal dynamic performance combined with genuine musicality. Free from the need for a subwoofer, the FR-1 offers "exceptionally open voices and tight, clean transients supported by a new driver and larger cabinet than Lyngdorf Audio's MH-2 loudspeaker" says the company.
Industry News 15 Years Ago
Pass Labs Introduces Their New Rushmore Loudspeaker Pass Labs
has introduced their Rushmore loudspeaker system. The Rushmore (pictured
here with Nelson Pass) is an active, four-way system featuring a 15-inch woofer, 10-inch lower midrange, 5-inch upper midrange, and a 4-inch ribbon tweeter. Each unit includes four independently adjustable low wattage "Class A" amplifiers plus a four-way active electronic crossover to achieve approximately 120dB of ultra-wide bandwidth music reproduction with extremely low distortion. Frequency response is approximately 20Hz to 40kHz and each loudspeaker weighs 300 lbs. with
dimensions of 50 x 18 x 28 (HxWxD in inches). Pricing is set at $40,000.
01 / 12 / 18
Remembering When... CES Was An
Important High-End Audio Event
Hi-Res Audio Achieves Significant Milestone During CES 2018 At a special press update at CES 2018 from The Digital Entertainment
Group (DEG), a number of Hi-Res Audio devices and services - including a premium automotive music system from The Lincoln Motor Company and compatible smart phones from LG Mobilecomm and Sony Xperia - were shown in the Hi-Res Audio Pavilion sponsored by Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, in cooperation with A2IM, the RIAA, the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing and DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group. All of these products reflect the rapid growth in Hi-Res Audio - the "studio quality" listening experience that enables music fans to enjoy their favorite recordings as the artist, producer and engineer intended.
The event also underscored that Hi-Res Audio continues to be embraced by consumers; as well as the electronics and music industries. In a report issued last fall by the NPD Group, U.S. sales of hi-res devices in dollars increased 77 percent in 2016 versus 2014; while unit sales grew by 118 percent in the same period. In addition, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) recently forecast that nearly 11 million buyers would be shopping for a Hi-Res Music player during the 2017 holiday season. The demonstration at CES of a hi-res compatible automotive OEM system, along with a variety of smart phones, addresses the increasingly important role that mobility plays in the emerging hi-res market.
According to Alan Norton, Senior Technical Leader at Ford Motor Company "The growing acceptance of Hi-Res Audio by music enthusiasts creates an opportunity for Lincoln. It enables us to demonstrate the capabilities of our Revel sound system in the most impactful way possible, while providing our customers with an incredible listening experience".
Hi-Res Audio for Every Lifestyle Need
Building on this momentum, the Hi-Res Audio Pavilion also features key technology provider MQA Ltd., as well as a record number of electronics companies including Astell&Kern, Audeze, AudioQuest, Audio Technica, Bluesound, dCS, Definitive Technology, DTS, ELAC, Kimber Kable, LG, Marantz, Mytek Digital, Pioneer Onkyo and Sony. These participants will demonstrate their latest hi-res compatible devices for use at home, in the car and on-the-go, with many of these products supporting music streaming as well.
On-demand digital streaming is now the most popular way to listen to music, surpassing AM/FM radio, digital downloads and physical media. With the recent introduction of Hi-Res Music streaming, the latest research from MusicWatch shows that "studio quality" premium services have the potential to reach nearly 30 million subscribers. Other recent studies have also shown that "sound quality as good as the recording studio" is a key factor in motivating younger music fans to purchase subscription services.
Michael Nash, Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy at Universal Music Group, said, "Passionate fans around the world are seeking new, exciting ways to experience the music they love, and with Hi-Res Audio streaming they're able to listen to music on their consumer electronics devices as it sounds in the recording studio. With an expanding number of Hi-Res Music titles available, the industry is working closely with device manufacturers and digital services to make studio quality sound widely available to everyone. We're very proud to advance those efforts this year at CES with The Lincoln Motor Company by demonstrating the broad consumer appeal for Hi-Res Audio in vehicles."
'Stream the Studio' Experience
More than 500 hi-res titles, across every genre, will be on display at the Hi-Res Audio Pavilion, from both major and independent labels, with many of these recordings being played at listening stations throughout the exhibit. Both Tidal, a leading hi-res streaming platform; and Qobuz, one of Europe's biggest music providers, are also making their CES debut in the Pavilion.
The Pavilion also incorporates a Stream the Studio stage which will showcase a number of one-of-a-kind presentations, including a hi-res session conducted by Lincoln and panel discussions sponsored by The Recording Academy Producers and Engineers Wing featuring award-winning Dave O'Donnell, Ryan Ulyate, Ed Cherney, Richard Furch, Chuck Ainlay and Greg
Penny.
Additionally, the Pavilion will host executive roundtables sponsored by the RIAA and MQA; plus special appearances by STYX lead guitarist and vocalist Tommy Shaw and country singer/songwriter Clare Dunn.
The Hi-Res Audio Pavilion, located in booth #14735 in the LVCC Central Hall, is the latest in a series of hi-res events that have been conducted globally by the music industry over the past year, in collaboration with key partners. Other venues include NAMM, Mobile World Congress, SXSW, AXPONA, Music Biz 2017, High End Munich, the LA Audio Show, MIDEM, IFA Berlin, CEDIA Expo and AES New York.
01 / 10 / 18
Nordost Launches Their New High Speed Red Dawn USB 3.0 Cable Nordost
is proud to announce the introduction of the new, Red Dawn USB Cable ($274.99 for 0.3 meter, other lengths available). The Red Dawn USB Cable is the first of Nordost's USB options to offer USB C plug compatibility, which is quickly becoming an industry standard due to its adoption by Apple in its newest line of laptops. Nordost's Red Dawn USB Cable is the perfect solution for
hi-fi audio enthusiasts integrating computer audio into their sound systems when using components that require USB C connectors. The Red Dawn USB Cable uses silver-plated 99.9999%, OFC signal conductors, optimally designed for digital signal transfer. Each conductor is precision wound to correspond accurately with USB's unique, hybrid twisted pair/non twisted pair geometry. The new Red Dawn cable also utilizes Nordost's proprietary FEP Micro Mono-Filament technology, which allows it to transcend the speed and precision necessary for higher bandwidth and high speed, digital signal transmission. The conductors are then shielded with a dual layer of braid and foil shielding, in order to eliminate EMI and RFI and surpass USB 2.0 standards. This cable is available terminated with C to Standard B (2.0), Mini B (2.0), or Micro B (2.0) plugs. The Red Dawn USB ensures that all the necessary information will be delivered with the efficiency and diligence needed to maintain the correct impedance to dramatically lift your hi-fi system to a new level of performance. Designed, manufactured, and hand-terminated entirely in the USA, the Red Dawn USB Cable guarantees the accurate construction required to produce the best possible performance from computer audio equipment.
01 / 09 / 18
Special Limited Edition Sgt. Peppers Vinyl LP Jukebox Holds 70 LPs Sound
Leisure's new limited edition Sgt. Pepper's jukebox (12,995) celebrates
this iconic British band. About 50 years ago The Beatles releases the hit album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In celebration, a vinyl jukebox wrapped in the iconic album art was created
to pay tribute to a staple album. This full sized floorstanding unit features a remote control, Bluetooth connection and holds 70 of your fave Beatles, or dare we mention other bands, single (7") vinyl records. The unique Vinyl Mechanism is the only vinyl jukebox mechanism being manufactured anywhere in the world. It holds seventy 7" records giving the user the option to select the A or B side (140
selections). Sit back and watch as the psychedelic swirls spin to life alongside The Beatles in all their Sgt. Peppers uniformed
splendor. The revolving title rack allows easy access to your favorite records and custom software gives you a quick and easy way to create and print your own jukebox labels. Track selections can be made directly from the jukebox button bank or via the infra-red remote control which also offers control of the volume, reject, shuffle mode and lighting controls. As for the audio system within the cabinet, it is four channels of Class D (no power rating given), two midrange and tweeters, plus a single 12" twin cone bass speaker. All machines are hand built to the highest standard in the UK and are individually numbered. Dimensions are 27.5" x 30.7" x 55.5" (LxWxH) and it weighs 265 lbs.
Audeze iSINE LX Joins Award-Winning iSINE Line Of In-Ear Headphones Audeze's
new iSINE LX ($199) is the newest member of the acclaimed iSINE series of in-ear
semi-open headphones. iSINE combines innovative technology and avant-garde design to create an in-ear headphone that delivers "astonishingly clear, accurate, and spacious sound" according to the company. The iSINE LX shares the same engineering DNA as the company's iSINE10 and iSINE20, yet features a new bold, modern look. Audeze's new iSINE Series barely weighs 20 grams, contains all our exclusive patented technologies including power enhancing Fluxor Magnets and ultra-thin diaphragms with patented Uniforce voice-coil technology. This planar magnetic drivers makes use of NASA material to provide lower distortion, better bass response, and a wider soundstage than many other in-ear headphone. With their semi-open back design, it is said that the iSINE produces a spacious and authentic sound that will give you the sensation of experiencing a live, in-studio
performance. Frequency response is from 10Hz to 50kHz and it presents a 16 Ohm
load to your phone / headamp. You can add the optional CIPHER Lightning cable ($60) to connect your iSINE LX to your iPhone via the Lightning port. It takes digital audio directly from your iPhone and uses an integral DAC and amplifier to deliver enhanced voice call quality and superior audio. The built-in microphone can be used for both phone calls and Siri voice control, while the inset buttons provide volume and media playback controls.
01 / 08 / 18
Technics Announces SL-1000R To Join SP-10R
Direct Drive Turntable Technics just announced their SL-1000R
($20,000) will be
joining their previously announced SP-10R ($10,000) direct drive turntable. According to Technics, these systems "continue the legacy of outstanding vinyl performance". This includes Ultimate precision with their legendary direct drive engine redesigned with coreless double stator and twin rotor. A stable rotation via heavyweight-class turntable platter utilizes inertial mass at its best to improve rotational stability. And lastly, a retrofit design turntable and control unit that are completely interchangeable with the previous Technics SP-10MK2 and SP-10MK3 (for SP-10R).
With Technics SP-10R already announced on August 30th
(2017), we'll focus on the SL-1000R. The Technics SL-1000R system features an S-type universal tonearm with a lightweight, high damping magnesium tonearm pipe. The gimbal suspension construction tonearm uses high-precision bearings, and highly-skilled Japanese craftsmen handle all assembly and adjustments to achieve a high initial-motion sensitivity to precisely trace the grooves cut into the records. To further ensure the production of highly-vivid sounds, OFC is used for internal wiring, so that the music signal relayed from the cartridge is not dampened and the musical energy cut into the record is not lost. The tonearm base, to which the tonearm is mounted, is strongly integrated with the turntable. To safeguard exceptional tonearm performance, the tonearm bearings, turntable bearings and needle position remain constant – providing a structure in which the vibration caused by the rigidity of the turntable base materials has minimal effect.
Sennheiser Finally Officially Announces Their HD 820 Headphones As one of the worst kept 'secrets' for the past six months, and still
having to wait yet another six months to bring to market is Sennheiser's new HD 820 closed-back headphones
(€2399 / $2400). According to Sennheiser, their new HD 820 closed-back dynamic stereo headphones "deliver astonishingly transparent sound, thanks to a unique glass transducer cover that minimizes resonances – an innovation that ensures an incredibly realistic and natural sound field.... The HD 820 establishes a new reference standard for its class, with an incredibly realistic and natural sound field. This breakthrough performance has been achieved through a special innovation: Over each of the legendary Sennheiser Ring Radiator transducers are unique glass covers. Revealing the acoustics within, the patent-pending curved Gorilla glass serves to reflect the sound waves from the rear of the transducer to two absorber chambers, which results in minimal resonance. Manufactured in Germany, the headphones feature a robust metal headband with an inner damping element, and silver-cladded OFC cables and gold-plated plugs. Meanwhile, the ear pads have been handcrafted from high-quality non-allergic synthetic leather and microfiber to cushion and insulate the listener from ambient noise." Both HD 820 and HDV 820 feature Pentaconn connectors, which is Sennheiser's new standard for balanced outputs said to provide lower contact resistance than all other connections for headphones.
JBL's L100 Classic Is An Update To Their Iconic JBL L100 Loudspeaker Harman
International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung
Electronics, has just announced their JBL L100 Classic, a modern take on the all-time best-selling JBL L100 loudspeaker. As with the legendary L100 three-way bookshelf loudspeaker released in 1970, itself a consumer version of the popular JBL 4310 Pro Studio Monitor, the new L100 Classic follows on the heels of the successful 4312SE 70th Anniversary Studio Monitor model that was originally released in 2016. JBL's new L100 Classic loudspeaker system ($4000 per pair) features an attractive, 1970's-style retro design, with vintage JBL styling including an iconic Quadrex foam grille in a choice of three colors — black, orange, or blue — all with a black and bronze JBL logo. The enclosures are finished in a genuine, satin walnut wood veneer with black front and rear panels. The fundamental compact
12" three-way design is maintained within the L100 Classic as improvements made to the transducers, enclosure tuning, and crossover network design bring modern sound quality. Designed by Chris Hagen, the same acoustic system engineer that created the L100T3 in 1988, the L100 Classic benefits from decades of JBL engineering prowess along with the
world's most advanced acoustic engineering resources available in Harman's Northridge, California design center. The L100 Classic uses the newly developed JT025Ti1
1" (25mm) Titanium dome tweeter mated to a waveguide with an acoustic lens for optimal integration to the JM125PC
5" (125mm) cast-frame, pure-pulp cone midrange driver located directly below. The vertical HF and MF transducer arrangement is slightly offset to the right of the woofer below, with HF and MF attenuators located on the upper left of the front baffle. Low frequencies are delivered by the 1200FE
12" (300mm) cast-frame, white pure-pulp cone woofer operating in a bass-reflex enclosure system that is tuned via a single, front-firing port tube with flared exit. Connections are made via a pair of gold-plated binding post terminals located on the rear-panel. JBL's L100 Classic has cabinet dimensions of 25.5" x 15.5" x 13.75" (HxWxD) and can be oriented either vertically or horizontally. Optional black metal floor stands are available with included adjustable carpet spikes.
Australian Hi-Fi
Magazine's January / February Issue This issue of
Australian Hi-Fi features show
coverage of The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest plus reviews of the Dali Zensor 5 AX wireless speakers, Marantz SA-14S1 SE SACD player, Audio Analogue AAcento integrated amplifier, Q Acoustics Concept 500 loudspeakers, Moon Neo 230HAD headphone amplifier and more.
Within his editorial Fighting About MQA, Greg Borrowman says "It's always been easy to start a fight in an audiophile bar, pretty much from back when Edison invented the phonograph (well, his version of it, but that's a tale for another column). Back in those times, audiophiles (but they called them music-lovers back then) would argue about which needles sounded the best, the ones made of bamboo, or those made of steel. (And they did call them 'needles' back then... the word 'stylus' only came along many years later.)
When the phonogram was electrified, the opportunities to start fights in audiophile bars increased enormously. Direct drive vs. idler (rim) drive. Belt drive vs. direct drive. Triodes vs. pentodes. Valves vs. solid-state. Class-A vs. Class-AB. Class A vs. all the
other amplifier Classes (Class-D, Class-H, Class-G, etc). Cassette vs. Elcaset. CD vs. MiniDisc."
See what's within this issue of Australian Hi-Fi at this
link.
01 / 05 / 18
BPI Says Rising UK Music Consumption Enjoys Fastest Growth BPI, an
organization that represents the UK's recorded music industry, says that "Home-grown acts, a surge in streaming & resilient demand for physical formats fuel a 9.5% rise in music consumption in 2017. 35.1 million albums or their equivalent were either streamed, purchased or downloaded in 2017. 68.1 billion audio streams were served – now accounting for over half of UK music consumption.
Second week in December sees new milestone of more than 1.5 billion audio streams in a single week. Vinyl up 26.8% as unit sales hit 4,000,000 mark; LPs now account for almost 1 in 10 physical purchases. UK acts make up 8 of top-10 best-selling artist albums; 13th year in a row top-seller is from UK." The official figures released this week by record labels' association the BPI, based on Official Charts Company data, reveal a strong year for British recorded music. UK consumption across all formats in 2017 was growing at its fastest rate this millennium. Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards said, "Demand for music in the UK is growing fast, driven by brilliant British artists such as Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Rag'n'Bone Man, Little Mix, Stormzy and Dua Lipa and the innovative music industry that supports them. Whilst the rapid growth of streaming and resilient demand for physical formats gives us confidence for the future, it is important to remember that the music industry still has a long way to go to recover fully. Structural challenges must be overcome if long-term growth is to be sustained. First we must continue to fight the
'Value Gap'5, so that all digital platforms pay fairly for their use of music. Second, Government must ensure our musicians are able to tour freely even after we leave the EU. Finally, we should make the UK the best place to invest in new content by forging an online environment that is safe for consumers and where illegal sites cannot flourish. If we do this, the future for British music, which is already one of our leading exports, will be very bright." Streaming now accounts for over half of UK music consumption. Though still relatively small compared to streaming (50.4%) and even CD (30.8%), vinyl increasingly occupies a growing niche that now accounts for 3% of the music consumed. The format has become part of an established multi-channel landscape.
Nielsen 2017 Music Consumption
Shows Streaming And Vinyl LP Growth According to
Nielsen, "The surge in music streaming continued throughout 2017. Overall consumption of albums, songs and audio on-demand streaming grew 12.5% year over year. A 59% increase in on-demand audio streams offset track and album sales declines. For the first time ever, R&B/Hip-Hop became the most dominant genre, with seven of the top 10 most-consumed albums coming from that genre. The popularity of R&B/Hip-Hop was powered by a 72% increase in on-demand audio streaming. Highlights from the 2017 U.S. Music Year-End Report include: Ed Sheeran's Divide was the leader in total volume (albums + track equivalent albums + on-demand audio streaming equivalent albums), followed by Kendrick Lamar's
DAMN. "Despacito" was the biggest song of the year in terms of total activity (sales + on-demand audio streaming equivalents), followed by Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" and "Humble." by Kendrick Lamar. Vinyl had a
renaissance at retail by experiencing sales growth for the 12th consecutive year, comprising 14% of all physical album sales. The top-selling vinyl LP of the year was the re-release of The Beatles'
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." During 2017 there were
14,300,000 albums sold, as compared to 13,100,000 during 2016. The big winner is on-demand audio streaming, which increased 63%! Physical
album sales, overall, are down 16.5%. The largest consumer of audio streaming are those who listen to electronic / dance, R&B / hip-hop, and Latin music. Classical music, children, and jazz are
among the least streaming music genres. To learn more, get
the PDF from Nielsen at this link.
01 / 04 / 18
Hi-Fi+'s January Magazine
Features Many High-End Audio Reviews Hi-Fi+
Magazine's January 2018 issue features show coverage of both the Warsaw Audio and Zagreb AV
events. Gear reviews within this issue are variety of floorstanding speakers including the Magico S3 Mk II, YG Acoustics Sonja 2.2, Focal Kanta No2, Audiovector SR3 Avantgarde Arrete Raw LE, Bowers & Wilkins 702 S2, and Chartwell LS6f. Other high-end audio reviews include the Meridian Audio Ultra DAC, Kuzma 4Point 9 tonearm, HiFiMAN Susvara planar-magnetic headphones, Auris Audio Fortino 6550 valve integrated amplifier, IsoTek EVO3 Ascension power cord, and STST Mouts II / Vetex direct drive turntable and tonearm.
Within his editorial, Hi-Fi+'s Alan
Sircom says "Welcome to 2018. The audio world has seen some changes good and bad in the last 12 months. We suddenly lost a spate of exceptional audio designers in November, but also audio is returning to being just a little bit cooler than it was a few years ago, thanks in no small part to turntables and headphones. It used to be slightly more of an uphill struggle for loudspeakers, but even that is changing for the better.
It's not hard to see why when faced with the bumper crop of transducers in this issue. The great part of this is the diversity of the loudspeaker world; although we have concentrated on floorstanders in this issue, the loudspeaker market has really remained a diverse space where huge floorstanders can rub cabinet side panels with models that really live up to the term
'bookshelf' and there is more to come."
See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ Magazine at this
link.
Hi-Fi World's
February
2018 Issue Features Great Articles And Reviews Hi-Fi
World's February 2018 issue features a special competition here you could win a pair of MarkAudio Sota Cesti B loudspeakers! Noel Keywood explains why and how to play DSD files.
Reviews in this
issue include T+A G 2000 R turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box BT E, PMC twenty5.2 speakers, KEF LS50 wireless loudspeakers, FiiO Q1 Mk2
2nd generation headphone amplifier, AURALiC Streaming DAC, Luxman LX-380 hybrid valve amplifier, Astin Trew AT2-2100 integrated amplifier, Chord TToby power amplifier, QED XT25
loudspeaker cables and more. Within Noel
Keywood's editorial he says, "They've all been looking in the wrong place perhaps. Whilst loudspeaker manufacturers vie with one another to deliver a knockout blow to passing bats, to increase sales in Transylvania perhaps, PMC voice their loudspeakers the other way around – to deliver obvious bass. Perhaps that's where their rivals should also be looking; at least it would seem so after listening to PMC's twenty5.24 loudspeakers Jon Myles reviews on p17. These are bass machines worth hearing.
By happy happenstance – I think I can say! – the PMCs worked wonderfully with Luxman's LX-380 hybrid integrated valve amplifier I review on p10. This gorgeously built and finished amplifier doesn't boast massive bass in its specification, but PMC's twenty5.24s were just the solution. From not so many wonderful valve Watts I was regaled by a powerful delivery, full of life and dynamism from this pairing. You really have to listen to a uniquely different product like the Luxman to fully appreciate how lush and lovely music can sound."
See what's within the February 2018 issue of Hi-Fi World and read the complete editorial at this link.
01 / 02 / 18
Asahi Kasei Microdevices New AK4493EQ Top-Line 32-bit/768kHz DAC Asahi Kasei
Microdevices' AK4493Q is a new premium high-end DAC chip for processing and decoding digital audio. As an upgrade from the AK4490EQ, which has been adopted by many audio products since the launched in 2014, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation has developed the AK4493EQ, a 32-bit stereo premium D/A converter. With an outstanding SNR of 123dB and THD+N
is a very low -113dB, this new DAC chip can decode sampling rates from 8 to 768kHz and supports DSD to 22.4MHz. Applications for this new DAC includes high-end Audio, professional audio, AV receivers, CD/SACD players, network audio, USB DACs, USB headphones, etc. AKM's new AK4493EQ adopts an improved VELVET SOUND architecture, achieving high performances that is even greater than the AK4490EQ, by optimizing the circuit design. The AK4493EQ also adopts AKM's same original dedicated audio process as the flagship DAC, the VERITA AK4497EQ. This process has improved the original acoustic sound expression that can be found in the sound strength and the data amount. In addition, the AK4493EQ corresponds to high-resolution sound sources, accepting a 22.4MHz DSD maximum input.
01 / 01 / 18
January's Review Magazine
Features Three World Premiere Reviews Enjoy the
Music.com's January Review
Magazine celebrates a brief look back at 2017, as we also look
ahead to 2018. We've been busy adding many updates to Kemper Holt's
in-depth Capital
Audiofest report, with more updates coming soon! Roger Skoff, a
man with many years of industry experience, asks if audio is a hobby or
many things. Roger also presents his view of where he thinks our hobby is going.
For 2018 Enjoy the
Music.com is bringing back our Sound Practices monthly
features! We'll be adding new articles into our Sound Practices
library during 2018! In addition, we're once again offering manufacturers
the opportunity to share their knowledge, wisdom, and experience. These
articles will range from basic electronics understanding to an in-depth
look at specific circuitry design and implementation.
We all love gear reviews, and
this month there's three world premieres! Recording producer and studio
owner Jeremy Kipnis praises PureAudioProject's Quintet15 Horn1 modular
open baffle speaker as it delivers what he feels is the pure essence of music.
Ron Nagle's world premiere review of Wells Audio Majestic integrated
amplifier with MM phono stage is joined by Tom Lyle's world premiere
review of Audio By Van Alstine DVA 4-2 amplifier and DAC MK 5 system. Tom
says that AVA delivers a one-two punch towards producing excellent sound
quality.
Everyone want more of what
they love, and so we also have reviews of Pass Labs' XP-12 and XA30.8
system, Line Magnetic's 218ia vacuum tube stereo integrated amplifier plus Dave Hanson's excellent review of MrSpeakers AEON open back headphones. Dave feels these are the absolute best sounding open headphones money can buy for
$799.
Everyone here at Enjoy the
Music.com wish you and yours a wonderful New Year and
prosperous 2018. As always, in the end what really
matters is that you...
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