High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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03 / 31 / 23

Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest Show Report Part 1
Rick Becker's Montreal Chronicles 2023.
Report By Rick Becker
As in past years, I wandered through the Adirondack Mountains on the way to Montreal, where I found more ducks in the wilderness atop the Bonaventure Hotel than I saw within the Blue Line. Arriving before 10am on Saturday, it was not surprising to see a line to get into the show that stretched all the way back to the elevators. What was surprising was how crowded the rooms became as the day wore on. Friends in the industry greeted me as I swapped the RMA lanyard on my press pass for an orange Enjoy the Music.com lanyard that was standard issue at the recent Florida show. It almost felt like a college reunion — and rightly so. I've been coming to Montreal for a long time and it felt good to be back again.
---> Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest Show Report Part 1.

03 / 29 / 23

CanJam Singapore 2023 Show Report
Large attendance brings long wait times to hear personal audio gear.
CanJam Singapore 2023 Show Report By Kok Chieat Wong
With more countries opening up for international travel, CanJam Singapore 2023 saw more international brands exhibiting. This year, the sixth edition of CanJam Singapore was held at the same venue, Pan Pacific, on the 25th and 26th of March. Many companies will showcase their latest products and innovations in head-fi across all price ranges. Same as last year, the event took place within the massive Pacific Ballroom, with booths spanking all sides and the middle.
---> CanJam Singapore 2023 Show Report.

Spin-Clean's Vinyl Records Consumer Education Program
With vinyl LP now selling through to consumers better than the compact disc (CD), Spin-Clean International has launched their first Consumer education program featuring analog expert Michael Fremer. Designed to inform young vinyl music enthusiasts about the importance of cleaning and maintaining their record collections, the new Spin-Clean consumer program is based upon landmark research conducted last year by MusicWatch, a leading USA research and analytics company. Among the study's key findings is that an estimated 18 million consumers purchased vinyl during 2021, a 27% increase over the previous year. Approximately 46% of these purchasers were between 18 and 34 years of age (the fastest growing vinyl music segment). Additionally, when asked why they haven't played or intend to play some of their vinyl records, over 43% of these respondents said that "they want to preserve or keep them in pristine condition for their collections". This could be due to the vinyl's value when new/sealed new versus being open and played.

The Spin-Clean consumer outreach program will begin this Spring and run through the end of the year. The official introduction of the new Spin-Clean model will take place at AXPONA 2023 in April. Spin-Clean executive Mark Mawhinney will be participating in a special Vinyl Record Care webinar, which will be held from 2pm to 3pm on April 19th. The workshop, sponsored by MusicWatch and hosted and moderated by vinyl icon Michael Fremer, also features executives from other vinyl record cleaning companies.

03 / 28 / 23

Bobby Owsinski's Recording Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition
Are you a music lover, musician, or recording engineer? If so, then Bobby Owsinski's The Recording Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition is for you. Bobby is a highly-respected musician and recording engineer for many decades who literally wrote the book to help others achieve their goals. His 5th Edition of this popular book reveals multiple mic'ing techniques for recording, the secrets of getting great sound from inexpensive gear, tips for a great headphone mix and so very much more! If you love classic mics, Bobby give you a brief history about them. For those still learning about recording techniques, this book gives you the tools to record tracks that can sound as good as any major label release. Bobby Owsinski's Recording Engineer's Handbook is a music industry standard found in college classrooms and at the workstations of world renowned engineers.

A new, fully updated 5th Edition has been published which reveals the most comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the art of audio recording. Written with today's technology and workflows in mind, this book is a must-have resource for anyone interested in recording and for music lovers to better understand the efforts it takes to produce a great-sounding song / album. In Section 1, you'll uncover everything from how microphones work to specific techniques for recording drums, over 70 different instruments, lead and background vocals, and more. In Section 2, you'll get a peek "behind the curtains" with a host of famous recording professionals including all-time greats like Al Schmitt, Eddie Kramer, Michael Bishop, Sylvia Massy and many others. You won't find any theory or "fluff" in any of this, just the hardcore recording secrets you can begin using today to level-up your music. You can learn more and get your copy of The Recording Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition at this link.

03 / 27 / 23

AXPONA 2023 Show Features Anne Bisson
AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2023 takes place from April 14th through 16th at the The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. The three-day experience features multiple hotel floors packed with over 190 listening rooms according to the show promoter. The Expo Hall featuring 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'll find everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds.

AXPONA is thrilled to announce that Canadian Jazz singer/songwriter Anne Bisson will be taking stage to close the first day of their show on April 14th. The charismatic pianist and television star from Montreal, Quebec is leading her world class jazz trio with new songs and covers. Fresh from the success of her single "Killing Me Softly" from her previous album Keys to My Heart, Anne Bisson has decided to perform and record more standards from the American jazz songbook, as well as new arrangements of classic songs that were so much a part of her teen-age years. Be My Lover, Anne's seventh album that's set to debut in March 2023, is a savory feast of original compositions and classic songs in her own bold new arrangements for her acoustic trio. The concert is open to all AXPONA visitors, so don't miss the chance to attend this highly anticipated performance in Chicago. Learn more at our AXPONA 2023 show report page.

03 / 24 / 23

Superconductor Cabling For High-Luminosity LHC At CERN
Since most premium audio home systems rely on physical cabling, the search for the perfect conductor / conductibility is of paramount importance for signal transfer integrity. At CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) they probe the fundamental structure of particles. This is considered by some to be the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments. With signal accuracy down to the very smallest of scale being of paramount importance, CERN research has brought about a flexible cryostat and the first series of high-temperature superconducting magnesium diboride cables. These will form an innovative electrical transfer line to power the HL-LHC inner triplet magnets.

According to CERN, "The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, is also the largest single machine operating in the world today that uses superconductivity. The proton beams inside the LHC are bent and focused around the accelerator ring using superconducting electromagnets. These electromagnets are built from coils, made of niobium–titanium (Nb–Ti) cables, that have to operate at a temperature colder than that of outer space in order to be superconducting. This allows the current to flow without any resistance or loss of energy. The High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), an upgrade of the LHC, will for the first time feature innovative electrical transfer lines known as the 'Superconducting Links'." You can learn more about superconductivity for High-Luminosity LHC here.

03 / 23 / 23

Best Integrated Amplifiers Below $3000
We've been listening to a lot of integrated amplifiers over the past 12 months, and these four are some of the best below $3000.
Review By Ian White
In our first collaboration video with Tarun, A British Audiophile, we picked our best budget integrated amplifiers priced under $1000. But what if your budget can be stretched a little further? We have listened to a wide range of amplifiers between $1000 and $3000 over the past 12 months and while a number of other integrated amplifiers in this range were very impressive including the Rotel A14MKII and Cambridge Audio CXA61 — we were quite smitten with the following.... The Ragnarok 2 continues Schiit's mission of offering American-made equipment that is both modular, well designed, and affordable.
---> Best Integrated Amplifiers Below $3000.

Ten Misconceptions About Loudspeaker Spikes
Clearing up misunderstandings regarding loudspeaker feet.
Article By Norman Varney
I have been working professionally in both the sound and vibration, and consumer electronics industries for decades. As an acoustical engineer and manufacturer of mechanical vibration isolation products, I feel compelled to address the misconceptions of incorporating spikes (or any rigid materials) with loudspeakers and/or other audio equipment. These misconceptions do not exist in the sound and vibration industries, and are very rare in the pro audio world, however they are very prevalent in the audiophile world. There are many physical, acoustical, and perceptual disciplines involved here- we are only going to address the primary ones, and in only a general way, meaning we won't discuss the secondary or additional attributes that may come into play. There are some key concepts of physics to be applied.
---> Ten Misconceptions About Loudspeaker Spikes.

03 / 22 /23

Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 In Sydney
Brought to you by Australian Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi? and Sound+Image magazines, the Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 will celebrate the latest and greatest in the hi-fi and AV industry. This show gives 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 will surely have a lot to look forward to. The Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 in Sydney will take place from April 28th through 30th at the 4.5-star boutique Novotel Sydney Central hotel located within the heart of the city.

There will be ~40 exhibitors showcasing over 100 brands, including Hisense, Yamaha, Sonus Faber, McIntosh, Goldmund, Kyron Audio, Perreaux, Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins and more – all showcasing their latest audio wares to display and demo. If you're looking for another good reason to come along, attendees will also have the chance to win some of the latest gear from Perreaux, Richter, Denon, Bowers & Wilkins, AudioQuest and Yamaha. Australian Hi-Fi is one of What Hi-Fi?'s sister titles from Down Under and Australia's longest-running and most successful hi-fi magazines, having been in continuous publication since 1969. Now edited by What Hi-Fi?'s Becky Roberts, every issue is packed with authoritative reviews of hi-fi equipment ranging from portables to state-of-the-art audiophile systems and everything in between.

03 / 21 / 23

FLAX 2023: My First Show In Decades!
My wife and I enjoy our fun Florida International Audio Expo 2023 adventure.
Show Report By Rufus Smith
The 2023 Florida International Audio Expo (FLAX) marked my return to an audio show for the first time since the late 1990s. I was looking forward to seeing old friends, making new ones, seeing impressive systems, and discovering new music. Making this trip more enjoyable was that I was not responsible for a show report, allowing me to explore leisurely. Arriving in Tampa Thursday night, my wife and I connected with Steven R. Rochlin and his lovely wife, Heather. After the hellos, Steven informed me that the writer who was supposed to cover the show could not make the trip and asked if I would cover the show in his place. Of course, I agreed. After a hearty breakfast the following day, my wife and I started our adventure with the Scott Walker Audio Room.
---> FLAX 2023: My First Show In Decades!

Audio Group Denmark @ FLAX 2023
Three outstanding exhibit rooms delivered immense musical satisfaction.
Show Repot By Steven R. Rochlin
Saving one of the very best rooms for last, the Audio Group Denmark had multiple rooms during the Florida International Audio Expo 2023 in Tampa. Having very extensive product lines means they truly needed multiple rooms just to showcase a fraction of the products offered by Aavik, Ansuz, and Børresen. Instead of going room-by-room multiplied by three separate exhibit rooms with listening impressions, as the sound was close to the same (per se) for all rooms, here are my overall impressions. Fast, very fast transients. Very dark / black / quiet background, and from that came a very dynamic and harmonically 'neutral' sound. Any deviation from perfection, which we know no system regardless of price is perfect, so the AGD systems error on the side of a touch of musicality to perfection.
---> Audio Group Denmark @ FLAX 2023.

03 / 20 / 23

T.H.E. Show 2023 SoCal In Orange Country
Enjoy the Music.com is delighted to share exciting The Home Entertainment Show (T.H.E. Show) 2023 updates with you. As many of you have been aware, T.H.E. Show has been undergoing a re-brand and their new website is finally up and live! T.H.E. Show SoCal 2023 takes place from June 9th through 11th at the Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa (CA), and 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 is 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. For those who wish to secure an exhibit room, a brand new marketing packet is available to you on their website under the 'Show Details' link on their website. If you wish to secure an exhibit room, please contact info@thehomeentertainmentshow.com with your company info and type of room you are seeking. For our esteemed members of the press, T.H.E. Show has their press registration open as well. To learn more visit our T.H.E. Show 2023 show report.

03 / 17 / 23

Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023 Exhibitor / Press Party
Enjoy the Music.com, premium audio's celebrated online publication for 28 years and a leader in providing industry news, high-end audio reviews, and luxury show reports is pleased to announce we're once again sponsoring Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest's Exhibitor / Press Party. Show exhibitors and members of the press are invited to join us for fun friends, delicious drinks, and melodic music! The Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023 celebrates the impressive 34th edition of its popular annual meeting from March 24th through 26th at the Bonaventure Hotel.
---> Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors Salon Audio Montréal Audiofest 2023 Exhibitor / Press Party.

03 / 16 / 23

FLAX 2023: In the Groove
Super values and sound at the Florida International Audio Expo 2023.
FLAX 2023 Show Report by Maurice Jeffries
As other parts of the country struggled under the piercing bite of record low temperatures, brutal snow loads, toxic train derailments, and fractured partisan politics, the Florida International Audio Expo (February 17th through 19th), now a settled and mature occasion, enchanted by not surprising. The balmy Tampa weather delighted locals and Snowbirds alike, just as it had in years past. The Embassy Suites Westshore's sub-par wi-fi capacity frustrated all, but enraged none, seasoned room attendees now hip to the need to lug CD and SACD players and digital files to offset their inability the stream. Booze flowed freely, the post-pandemic vibe mandating civility over rancor, decorum over bombast.
---> FLAX 2023: In the Groove Part I.

Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier Review
The night the lights went out in Long Branch,
Is the Rotel A12MKII the ideal amplifier to build a $3000 stereo system around with 2 great sources? I would say you're foolish not to try it.
Review By Ian White
Have you ever been listening to your system and the lights go out? It's not a good feeling because there is always the risk that when the power comes back on that something will be amiss. I've used power line conditioners for almost 20 years but our experience with Hurricane Sandy here on the Shore was not a good one. My wife thinks that I missed my calling as a Weather Channel talking head because I'd scare the living crap out of everyone with my forecasts, but I had a bad feeling about Sandy with our home only blocks from the ocean and so many trees surrounding our property. We didn't tell anyone that we were expecting our third child (Jewish custom is to wait three months) at the time so it was on me to get the house ready and get anything of value out the way and on really high shelving in our garage.
---> Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier Review.

World Premiere Review!
FiiO E10K-TC And K3 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier Review
Going back to school.
Review By Paul Schumann
If you have read any of my previous reviews, you know that I am a fan of Classical music. Sure, I listen to rock, pop, and jazz, but classical music is where I will always be grounded. I'm sure it is because I grew up listening to my father's music. While he did listen to a mixture of stuff as I was growing up, it was mostly classical, especially Bach. By the time I reached high school, I found prog-rock, which of course had a heavy classical influence. And while my Dad prefers his baroque music, as I got older, I started leaning towards the romantics. I think it is fair to say that Brahms was my favorite composer through my 20s, 30s, and 40s. But while I still love that music, there are only so many times one can listen to Brahms Violin Concerto or Beethoven's 5th Symphony before they lose their mystery. So, in my 50s, I started branching out in my musical journey with 20th- and 21st-century composers. What made this exploration possible was the internet.
---> FiiO E10K-TC And K3 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier Review.

03 / 15 / 23

audioXpress April 2023 Magazine
Editorial: New Frontiers In Wireless
Remote Recording In The Rock Era
Acoustic Topology Optimization For Vibroacoustics Applications
Vintage Op-Amp Noise Simulation Part 1 — Deviation From Realistic Noise
Monoblock Power Amplifier With Precision Bias Control Part 1 — The Design
Building A Soundbase
Power Transformer Parameters, Selection, And Testing Part 6
State Of The Hearables Industry
More Choices For Headphones Test & Measurement
Wrong Things "Everybody Knows" About Acoustics
New Microphone Technology — Flat Response Curve, Set Sensitivity
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "Often I find myself explaining why I remain optimistic and enthusiastic about what we do at audioXpress and the audio industry overall, particularly to those who insist that the "good old, golden days" are behind us and/or that "nothing is as it used to be." At the beginning of the year when I returned from CES full of energy and inspiration, I repeatedly heard the same statements, "...but, there were hardly any audio companies left at CES!" And that's the reason why I explain—and strongly recommend — not to limit one's perspectives. That's why I need to get out there, and follow the many professionals in the audio industry who are thriving and living the "golden days" while others are just starting. Yes, nothing stays the same. Things evolve and in a world of technology, that's precisely what you would expect."
---> audioXpress April 2023 Magazine.

03 / 14 / 23

Tears For Fears The Hurting 40th Anniversary Edition
We have this news from singer, song writer, musician, and mastering engineer Steven Wilson: Today (May 12th) marks the 40th anniversary of the release of one of the all-time great debut albums, The Hurting by Tears for Fears, featuring the hit singles 'Mad World', 'Change' and 'Pale Shelter'. I'm happy to say that I have remixed the album for the occasion in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and instrumental stereo.

The Dolby Atmos mix will be available for streaming, but the 5.1 and instrumental mixes will be included (along with the Atmos mix) on a limited edition standalone Blu-ray audio disc issued by Virgin/UMR and exclusively for sale via superdeluxeedition.com. The Blu-ray will additionally feature the original stereo master. As if that wasn't enough my stereo mixes of two recently rediscovered earlier recordings of 'Mad World' & 'Watch Me Bleed' made at sessions with producer Mike Howlett prior to the album versions will also be exclusive to the Blu-ray. These tracks were found on the multi-track reels, possibly having never been mixed before. Even Roland and Curt had not heard them for 40 years!

The Blu-ray will only be available from this link (warning, supplies are very limited and may be sold out). It will be pressed based on demand and because of the short lead time between now and going to press you have just a 10 day pre-order window to make sure you get a copy. If you like this album this is surely the definitive version, so don't miss out!

In related news, there's also a very special half-speed mastered vinyl LP engineered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios! Great care was taken using a half-speed mastering technique, which produces a superior vinyl cut and higher sound quality. Amazon has the vinyl LP in stock and ready to ship.

03 / 13 / 23

RIAA 2022 Music Industry Revenue Report
According to the RIAA, "Recorded music revenues in the USA in 2022 continued to grow for the seventh consecutive year. Total revenues grew 6% to a record high $15.9 billion at estimated retail value. Streaming continued to be the biggest driver of growth with record levels of engagement in paid subscriptions, continued growth in ad-supported format revenues, and growing contributions from new platforms and services. Streaming grew 7% to $13.3 billion, and comprised 84% of revenues in 2022. The number of paid subscriptions to on-demand music services grew 10% to reach a new high, averaging 92.0 million in 2022, versus 84.0 million the prior year. At wholesale value revenues grew 5% and exceeded $10 billion for the first time ever."

Streaming continued to account for a large majority of recorded music revenues in 2022. Revenues from paid subscription services grew 8% to $10.2 billion in 2022, exceeding $10 billion annually for the first time. They accounted for 77% of streaming revenues, and nearly two-thirds of total revenues. Yes the decline in Compact Disc (CD) sales has now been supercedes by the growing vinyl LP sales. Total physical revenues of $1.7 billion were up 4% versus the prior year. Revenues from vinyl records grew 17% to $1.2 billion – the sixteenth consecutive year of growth – and accounted for 71% of physical format revenues. For the first time since 1987, vinyl albums outsold CDs in units (41 million versus 33 million). After a 2021 rebound versus the Covid impacted 2020, revenues from CDs fell 18% to $483 million in 2022.

Joseph Audio, Doshi Audio, And Cardas Audio @ FLAX 2023
Exceptional audio and video for the modern musicphile.
Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Jeff Joseph makes truly incredible loudspeakers. His unique crossover design and use of top-quality drivers have earned many awards over the decades. Jeff is also one of the early internet guys, so we met first met decades ago during a GTG in NYC. We all had a great time, and over the decades Jeff has fine-tuned his designs to near perfection! During the Florida International Audio Expo 2023 Jeff was playing his Pulsar2 Graphene stand-mounted speaker ($9999 per pair). The front end consisted of Doshi Evolution Series Line Preamplifier ($19,995) and Evolution Series Stereo Amplifier $21,995, with cabling by Cardas Audio (Clear Beyond series. Cardas Audio Nautilus Power Strip and Clear Network Ethernet cables were put to great use with Aurender's impressive A20 Network Player for streaming.
---> Joseph Audio, Doshi Audio, And Cardas Audio @ FLAX 2023.

Endow Audio Bravura 12 Speakers @ FLAX 2023
Immersive musical pleasures from this exceptional new design.
Show Repot By Steven R. Rochlin
Endow Audio had a great showing here at the Florida International Audio Expo 2023 with their Bravura 12 loudspeaker ($14,000 per pair). This is a follow-up to their highly-regarded T35 ($19,900 per pair). Within Brett Rudolph's review of the T35 he said, "The second selection was Billy Joel Songs In The Attic [Mobile Fidelity] song title "Miami 2017 (Seen the lights go out on Broadway)." The live track is another one of my favorites because it tends to have a vast range of sounds and tends to cause speakers to lose their cohesiveness. Additionally, in many cases, the sound stage tends to compress and become somewhat uninvolving instead of what should be exciting to the listener."
---> Endow Audio Bravura 12 Speakers @ FLAX 2023.

03 / 10 / 23

SCORE: A Film Music Documentary
Thanks to Gravitas Ventures we have a great documentary about music within movies and how it 'moves' an audience.
This documentary, which earns an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, showcases Hollywood's very best composers as they give us a peek at the creative process plus the many challenges of creating film music / scores. According to their website, "SCORE is inspiring students around the world to pursue careers in music at a time when funding for the arts is at an all-time low in public schools. An understanding and appreciation for the arts are essential to a well-rounded education in our modern media-saturated world, and the SCORE team is working to encourage students to pursue their passions in music, music education, and film composition."
---> SCORE: A Film Music Documentary.

03 / 09 / 23

LampizatOr, Tobian Soundsystems, And Westminister Labs @ FLAX 2023
Vacuum tubes plus horns equals glorious music.
Show Repot By Steven R. Rochlin
With so much to see, do, and hear during the Florida International Audio Expo 2023, it's easy to see why this is a very successful premium audio luxury show. Bringing a glorious mix of vacuum tubes, horn speakers, tweaks, and more, the music was sensational! My wife Heather loved the styling of Tobian Sound Systems 12 Signature Edition horn speakers. This two-way design uses a 12" woofer mated to a TI-4.0" mid-high compression driver. As expected, you don't need a lot of amplification power as they are ~99dB/W/m sensitive and have a wide frequency range from 20Hz to 22kHz. The horn speakers were being driven by the Westminster Labs REI Class A monoblock amplifiers, which use the company's proprietary iBias and CCS systems.
---> LampizatOr, Tobian Soundsystems, And Westminister Labs @ FLAX 2023.

Ayon Audio CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music Server Review
Two very versatile, and impressive, performers.
Review By Bob Grossman
The Ayon Audio CD-35 II as reviewed here, is the latest introduction to a long lineage of CD players that have been well regarded going back to the various models in the 3 and 5 series, along with ideas derived from their special edition CD35HF. But the CD-35 II is more than a CD player – it is also a fully functioning preamplifier and DAC. It is a single-ended triode pure Class A design using a 6H30 and a 5687 tube for each channel, and a GZ30 tube as a rectifier for the power supply. It is also a zero-feedback design. Ayon Audio's CD-35 II built-in DAC can be used to play music files from your computer via the USB connection. The DAC also has a coaxial RCA input for S/PDIF, I²S, BNC, AES/EBU, and three other BNC inputs for DSD. For this review I also evaluated the USA Labs RS9 music server to coordinate streaming of music from Qobuz.
---> Ayon CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music Server Review.

LessLoss C-Mark Entropic Firewall 640x / Bindbreaker Review
Products for pure sound.
Review By Rick Becker
Where do I begin? It's been such a complex and intriguing journey. It started by chance with my rave review of the High Fidelity Cables NPS 1260 3D contact enhancer. A stranger, Jörg Stanislawski from Germany emailed me with nine questions about NPS 1260 which I promptly answered. Jörg says he reads internet magazines because the German print magazines limit themselves only to products that have a distributor in Germany. This cuts out a lot of products from other countries, particularly those who deal factory direct. For Jörg the world is his marketplace. (See Step 1, above.) Before long, I learned all about how the beer industry in Dortmund had shrunk down to two main breweries, and that I should avoid beer made with malt extract, which is from the crap at the bottom of the vat. He also shared how he ordered an amp from Decware here in the USA and was placed #400 in line.
---> LessLoss C-Mark Entropic Firewall 640x / Bindbreaker Review.

03 / 08 / 23

TriangleArt's Terrific Sound @ FLAX 2023
Analog heaven for vinyl, vacuum tube, and horn speaker lovers.
Show Repot By Steven R. Rochlin
By now virtually every longtime audiophile and music gear lover knows of Triangle Art. Headed by the charismatic Tom Vu, their team includes DR. Khoi Tran as an engineer, Gustavo Gonzales for programmer engineering, and Roberto Lambert who is an excellent machinist, According to the company, "The principle design philosophy at TriangleArt has always been a "think it out" approach combined with continual refinement. At TriangleArt constant innovation, and the use of the highest quality materials, combined with precision manufacturing techniques and technology result in truly 'High End Products, Made in USA'." All products are designed by Tom Vu, his engineering consultant Dr. Khoi Tran and the rest of the TriangleArt team.
---> TriangleArt's Terrific Sound @ FLAX 2023.

SVS Immersive Sound System @ FLAX 2023
A great surround sound system for those with a more modest budget.
Show Repot By Steven R. Rochlin
SVS showcased what many know is the future of immersive music. Stereo will be with us forever, yet the future has opened up a plethora of newfound true lossless hi-resolution audio. Featuring a 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos surround sound system, this immersive object-based surround sound was equally at home with music as it is with movies. Also on the aural menu were the SVS Prime Wireless Pro powered speakers ($899.99) and Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase ($699.99). The Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase is a reimagining of the stereo integrated amplifier for hi-res music streaming. With 150 Watts per channel, the built-in stereo amplifier is mated with a lossless 24-bit/192kHz DAC. Of course it also features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay 2, and Chromecast compatibility.
---> SVS Immersive Sound System @ FLAX 2023.

AES Conference On Audio Archiving, Preservation & Restoration
The Audio Engineering Society (AES), founded in 1948, is devoted to audio technology. The AES unites audio engineers, creative artists, scientists and students worldwide by promoting advances in audio and disseminating new knowledge and research. Their 2023 conference concerning audio archiving, preservation, and restoration presents a remarkable opportunity to bring researchers and practitioners together for three days. During the June 1st through 3rd conference at the US Library Of Congress they will discuss critical preservation issues and focus on strategies, that will support and encourage collaboration and interoperability between industry and the preservation, restoration and archiving communities.

Call for submissions deadline is this Friday (March 10th) for the AES 2023 International Conference on Audio Archiving, Preservation & Restoration. Proposals describing work in any area of audio archiving, preservation, and restoration and related sciences will be considered for inclusion in conference sessions. These include digitization and restoration of historical obsolete disc formats. Optical capture of obsolete media and preservation and digitization of analog and digital multi-track recordings will also be discussed. Another important factor is the handling and storage of analog audio carriers plus physical/object based preservation , material science, and new trends in material research that help maintain /restore legacy analog and digital audio equipment. One thing we're sure Enjoy the Music.com readers appreciate is the AES discussing the best practices for metadata creation and capture. This ensures when you are seeking certain relevant data concerning the music you love, is it easy to find via detailed and organized metadata.

03 / 07 / 23

Universal Music Group 2022 Financial Results
Without a doubt the music business is very lucrative and highly profitable as Universal Music Group, one of the s leading music companies that operate within more than 60 countries, has reported their 2022 financial results. Revenue of an impressive €2942 million ($2.942 billion) shows an increase of 16.7% as compared to 2021. This is an 8.8% growth rate in constant currency, which was driven by growth across all segments. Music Publishing / Recorded Music subscription revenue grew 20.6% year-over-year, or 11.4% in constant currency and streaming revenue grew 13.3% year-over-year, or 1.8% in constant currency. Top sellers for the Universal Music Group includes Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Drake, Seventeen, and Lil Baby.

Net cash that is provided by operating activities pre-tax of €1987 million increased 42.4% compared to €1395 million in 2021. Free cash flow of €1086 million increased an eye-popping 70.2% compared to €638 million in 2021. Subject to UMG's shareholder approval, a final dividend proposal of €491 million (€0.27 per share), which would bring total dividend for 2022 to €926 million (€0.51 per share). Global artist success across platforms, including: four of the top five and 15 of the top 20 IFPI Global Artists of the Year; four of the top five global artists on Spotify; and seven of the top 10 albums in the USA on the Billboard 200. Of note is that relationships with long-term partners including Amazon (Twitch), Meta (Revenue Sharing), and Apple (Spatial Audio) have been very beneficial. Using newly implemented technology to drive business and profit opportunities for catalogue artists (ABBA Voyage digital avatar concert, Elton John's Beyond the Yellow Brick Road experience on Roblox, The Beatles' Revolver Spatial Audio release) have brought in additional revenue.

03 / 06 / 23

House Of Stereo Is Your Home For Music
Fun times at the Florida International Audio Expo 2023.
Show Repot By Steven R. Rochlin
Virtually every Floridian within the area knows of Jacksonville retailer House Of Stereo. Yours Truly shopped there decades ago within their shop when the red-headed kid who previously worked for chain store Sound Advice (anyone in Florida remembers them?) helped me with a vacuum tube amp. Today House Of Stereo has a far larger, and more modern shop with a wide variety of gear to suit your every need. While both exhibit rooms I went into sounded great, and Naim makes wonderful audiophile equipment, my fave was without a doubt the audio system with the Avantgarde Acoustic Duo GT horn speakers.
---> House Of Stereo Is Your Home For Music.

Retailer Just Audio At FLAX 2023
Florida International Audio Expo 2023 In Tampa.
Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Here at the Florida International Audio Expo 2023 were a few retailers of course. This room featured Just Audio, which is a large home audio and home theater store on the East coast. They offer an extensive line of products from various brands, all of which are showcased within multiple sound rooms at their Middle River, MD shop. Just Audio also has both brand-new and used gear for sale. With highly-regarded gear being a hot commodity nowadays, including both vintage and pre-owned, the past few years have showcased the value of high-end audio products.
---> Retailer Just Audio At FLAX 2023.

Hi-Fi+ March 2023 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: Pigeonholing Is Still Going On
Meet Your Maker: Ideon Audio
JMF Audio PRS 1.5/HQS 9001 Pre And Amp
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 Standmounted Speakers
Soulnote D-2 Hi-Res DAC
Audio Research I/50 Integrated Valve Amplifier
Triangle Magellan Quatour 40th Anniv. Speakers
AVM CS 8.3 Black Edition Integrated System
Karan Acoustics Master Collection PHONOb Phono Stage
Ortofon MC Diamond Moving Coil Cartridge
Stax SR-X9000/SRM-T8000 Electrostatic Headphone/HeadAmp
Synergistic Research Foundation SX Cables
And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "It's strange. While a lot of audio is truly universal in its approach, there is still a lot of pigeonholing going on. Somewhere along the way, it's easy to fall into the trap where you think one country has some kind of exclusive hold over what is and isn't good in audio. Often, but not always exclusively, that just happens to be your home turf. This is (hopefully) not simple xenophobia at work. While the mechanics of our listening mechanisms remain unchanged from country to country, we often grow up in very different musical environments and that can reflect in the audio we choose. That even holds across the years; recent studies suggest those who grew up with heavily compressed music from the 'loudness war' era are struggling to come to terms with the more realistic, less compressed sound of acoustic instruments and voices without auto-tune. But I think we can overstate the case for locally-tuned audio equipment." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

03 / 02 / 23

Pass Laboratories XP-22 Line Pre & XP-27 Phono Pre Review
Colossal soundstage and the pinpoint imagining prowess!
Review By Tom Lyle
I began to assemble my first "real" audio system while still in high school. I made it chiefly from DIY components and other "vintage" gear I could scrounge from friends and family. At that time, I don't think I heard anyone use the term "audiophile." All I knew was that I wanted to hear music at home on a better system than the mass-market stuff sold at department stores. This was also about the same time I discovered a high-end audio showroom near my parent's suburban home. Every once in a while, I would quietly enter their store. There was no way I would have been able to sit in the comfy chair in front of one of the active displays and listen to a system. But I did walk among the array of components on display, and when no one was looking, turn the knobs up and down and flip the switches on the front panels of a component or two while it was muted or its power was off.
---> Pass Labs XP-22 Line Pre & XP-27 Phono Pre Review.

Noble Fokus TWS In-Ear Monitor (IEM) Review
Last year I gave the Noble Falcon Pro True Wireless IEM a well-deserved Headphone.Guru 2021 Product of the Year Award because it was the most convenient, most comfortable, and best-sounding True Wireless IEM I had been given the opportunity to listen to. Now, Noble has one-upped themselves by offering the Noble FoKus Pro True Wireless IEM, a true audiophile quality multi-driver, hybrid IEM bringing Bluetooth and True Wireless to a whole new level. Designed by the "Wizard" John Moulton (AU.D. CCC-A), one look at the Noble FoKus Pro True Wireless IEM tells you that this is a much more refined, much higher-end product than the Falcon Pro.
---> Noble Fokus True Wireless In-Ear Monitor (IEM) Review.

Pink Floyd The Dark Side Of The Moon 50th Anniversary
Without a doubt the March 1 (1973) release date of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon changed the music world forever. As the most influential album produced at the time, with help from none other than sound engineer and visionary Alan Parsons, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon continues to find new audiences globally. As the band's eighth studio album, it was released within the USA on March 1st, and later in the UK on March 16th. Taking the band's new material recorded in 1972 and 1973 at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road studios) in London, the outer album cover depicts a prism spectrum designed by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis and drawn by George Hardie. Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon has sold over 50 million copies worldwide to date.

As a deluxe box set to celebrate 50 years since the release of one of the best-selling albums of all time, the newly remastered box set is now available worldwide. The new deluxe box set includes CD and gatefold vinyl of the new 2023 remastered studio album and Blu-Ray + DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. The set also includes additional new Blu-ray disc of Atmos mix plus CD and LP of The Dark Side Of The Moon - Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974. You can buy it from our affiliate Amazon (we make a small bit from the sale) and have it delivered to your door this week.

03 / 01 / 23

Enjoy the Music.com's March Review Magazine
Within our March issue, we feature our fantastic Florida International Audio Expo 2023 show coverage, various editorial, and gear reviews. Check back often as we have much more FLAX 2023 coverage to post in the coming weeks. Soon we'll be at the marvelous Salon Audio Montreal Audiofest 2023 show followed by April's AXPONA event in Chicago. Be sure to read Greg Weaver's exciting visit to Audio Group Denmark. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!

Fantastic Fun At The Florida International Audio Expo 2023
Great growth within the premium audio experience.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Decades ago many of you reading this would have had to wait months to find out what was happening at luxury audio shows. We'd be champing at the bit waiting for the next issue of whatever print magazine(s) we were subscribed to hoping to learn about the latest and greatest gear. It brings me immense joy knowing many of you reading this might not remember those days decades ago. It's also proof of the amazing progress we've all been enjoying thanks to the internet. Back then there were only two main shows within the USA, plus a small handful of others around the world. Today there are so many shows that it is (literally) impossible to have one person report on them all!
---> Fantastic Fun At The Florida International Audio Expo 2023.

It's A Matter Of Attitude
Something that we all have, but many of us never really think about.
Article By Roger Skoff
What's your home sound system like? Is it two-channel (stereo) or multi-channel plus video? (Home Theater) How many systems do you have? Is your system (or any of your systems) used just for music? When you're listening to music, what else, if anything, are you usually doing? Do you normally listen by yourself, or with other people? How many other people? How long have you had your system(s)? When do you expect to replace or upgrade all or any part of it or them? Why?
---> It's A Matter Of Attitude.

Visiting Audio Group Denmark (AGD)
A technology overview of remarkable products.
Manufacturer Visit Report By Greg Weaver
If  you've been paying attention to recent industry trends, you'll be aware that the Audio Group Denmark's three audio product lines, Ansuz, Aavik, and Børresen Acoustics, have been getting a shite load of attention of late. And if you've followed my show reports here, you've seen my highly favorable coverage of them several times now, from my inaugural Pacific Audio Fest report to my Capital Audiofest coverage, where they stole the show with the introduction of simply remarkable $11,000 Børresen Acoustics X3 loudspeaker. This sleek, sexy-looking, small foot-print loudspeaker was driven with something on the order of another $90,000 worth of their Aavik electronics and Ansuz cabling, power and grounding solutions, network switches, noise suppressors, and resonance control devices. And – it was stunning!
---> Visiting Audio Group Denmark (AGD).

FiiO R7 Desktop Digital Music Streamer, Preamplifier, And Headphone Amplifier Review
A superb DAC, streamer, preamplifier, and headamp designed for music lovers.
Review By Steven R. Rochlin
When FiiO sent me an e-mail showcasing their new R7 desktop stereo music streamer, preamplifier, and headphone amplifier it was perfectly timed. As a longtime classically-trained musician, I've been using a slightly 'outdated' source unit to stream music to play along to tunes. This could be via headphones/IEM or through a stereo pair of QSC KS10.2 mains and KS112 subwoofers thanks to the R7's true balanced XLR outputs. In addition, this is a relatively portable piece of gear, which means when it wasn't being used for the percussion / drum set, it was easy to bring it into my home audio system or use it as a dedicated desktop headphone amplifier when tinkering with mechanical timepieces upstairs within my workshop.
---> FiiO R7 Desktop Digital Music Streamer, Preamplifier, And Headphone Amplifier Review.

More reviews & articles within our Review Magazine.

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