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03 / 20 / 23

T.H.E. Show 2023 SoCal In Orange Country

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 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 Part I Super values and sound at the Florida International Audio Expo 2023. FLAX 2023 Show Report by Maurice Jeffries

FLAX 2023: In the Groove Part I
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

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.

 

 

FiiO E10K-TC And K3 USB DAC Headphone 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 Magazine April 2023

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

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

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.

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 Speaker @ FLAX 2023 Immersive musical pleasures from this exceptional new design.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 2023 Conference On Audio Archiving, Preservation & Restoration

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

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.

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.

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

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 Preamplifier And XP-27 Phono Preamplifier Review

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 True Wireless In-Ear Monitor (IEM) 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

 

 

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