High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

05 / 31 / 21

Audio Research's Making The Music Glow Book By Ken Kessler
Audio Research is honored to partner with author Ken Kessler in releasing a book timed to the company's 50th anniversary. Audio Research: Making the Music Glow ($150) describes the people behind the company, designing, manufacturing, fine-tuning, and marketing the audio amplification and source components that have been regarded perpetually as among the best in the industry. Celebrating their first half-century, Audio Research's book tells the story of a manufacturer that helped define high-end audio, with the sole purpose of elevating the sound quality of music in the home.

William Zane "Bill" Johnson established Audio Research in 1970, basing its products on what was then considered by many to be obsolete technology: vacuum tubes. Guided by his passion for music and quality listening with a refusal to fall victim to fashion and design trends of the times, Johnson was revolutionary in sound reproduction. With open access to the company's archives, the participation of employees, and the support and insights of Bill's wife, Nancy, Audio Research: Making the Music Glow is filled with rare images, curated reprints of period interviews, the definitive product listing, and a study of what the experts have determined to be the company's 25 greatest achievements, augmented by fresh photography of each model. Within the pages are the stories of the company's roots, its development, its evolution, and its tenacious hold on delivering industry standard in music playback. You can buy Making The Music Glow book by Ken Kessler from Audio Research's website.

05 / 27 / 21

Magnepan MG 3.6 Magneplanar Loudspeaker Review
Getting thin for the summer.
Review By Steven R. Rochlin
Loudspeakers come in all shapes and sizes. From small stand mounted minimonitor to the huge room hogging 500 lbs. monolithic "Dream Reference Statement". Virtually every high-quality speaker has many areas it excels in and areas it leaves a bit to be desired. For it is only you who knows which part(s) of the music you can live with and without. Nothing is perfect my friend. Bassheads need not venture into Minimonitor Land while small jazz ensemble lovers probably can do without the 32 drivers per channel "Dream Reference Statement." Then there are people such as myself who want it all. From small duets during the quiet moment in life to big rave club action for those Saturday night techno parties. Can one pair of speakers suit all my needs... or yours? In the end is it true what they say, "size matters?" It is well known the optimum driver would be of extremely little weight, extremely rigid and have the ability to respond to electrical signals at blindingly fast rates without over or undershoot.
---> Magnepan MG 3.6 magneplanar loudspeaker review.

World Premiere Review!
VAC Renaissance Preamplifier Mk V With MM/MC Phono Stage Review
For serious music lovers living at the cutting edge of what is possible.
Review By Ron Nagle
The letters VAC is not an abbreviation for vacuum, although the VAC Renaissance Mk V does have five miniature twin triode vacuum tubes on board. The company banner is actually an acronym for, Valve Amplification Company. This Mk V preamplifier is something entirely new in the VAC lineup for 2017. There is a basic MkV line stage preamplifier without the phono stage that sells for $9990. That configuration uses just two miniature Dual Triode tubes. The Renaissance Preamplifier Mk V, under evaluation here, contains an optional MM/MC (moving magnet and moving coil) phono amplification stage that adds three additional 12AX7 tubes. With the optional phono stage on board, the cost increases to $12,990. Interestingly, the VAC company are not very specific about the exact type of tubes required. The specification tells us that you can substitute the following, 6DJ8 / ECC88 / E88CC / 6922 / 7308 as these are once again all similar miniature dual/twin triode vacuum tubes.
---> VAC Renaissance Preamplifier Mk V with MM/MC phono stage review.

IFA 2021 In Berlin Has Been Cancelled
Due to the global health uncertainties, this has forced the cancellation of IFA Berlin 2021. Their next trade show for consumer and home electronics will return from September 2nd through 6th, 2022. "The decision was made following detailed conversations with public health experts and multiple stakeholders," says the IFA. "Ultimately, several key global health metrics did not move as fast in the right direction as had been hoped for - from the rapid emergence of new COVID-19 variants, for example in South Asia, to continued uncertainties about the speed of the rollout of vaccination programmes around the world. This in turn is adding uncertainty for the companies that were committed or interested in coming to Berlin, as well as media and visitors – all of whom have to plan well ahead with regards to budgets, investments and travel – not just for IFA, but all similar events around the world."

"Another consideration is the fact that Messe Berlin continues to support the fight against COVID-19 by converting parts of its exhibition area into a vaccination centre and an emergency hospital facility; both are now likely to be required for longer than originally anticipated..... The organisers of IFA are now working with their partners from industry, trade and media to get everything ready for IFA 2022, which will be held as a full-scale live event at the Berlin exhibition grounds."

05 / 26 / 21

Auction! Jimi Hendrix Platinum And Gold Discs
Coming up for auction tomorrow, May 27 (2021) are Jimi Hendrix platinum and gold discs belonging to Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell expected to sell for thousands. One platinum and two gold discs originally belonging to the drummer of the Jimi Hendrix Experience are expected to take thousands of British Pounds in Ewbank's Auctions. Mitch Mitchell, who completed the classic Jimi Hendrix Experience line-up alongside Hendrix himself and Noel Redding, played on the bands hits including "Hey Joe", "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary", "Voodoo Chile", and "All Along the Watchtower".

Disc being offered include when Hendrix died Mitchell continued to work on the material they had been putting together from earlier in the year for the next studio album. This led to the posthumous release of The Cry of Love in March 1971. It eventually went platinum, but before it did so, it went gold, commemorating the sale of 500,000 copies of the album and cassette. The second gold disc is for Crash Landing, another posthumous Hendrix album, released in 1975, which Dee Mitchell has also confirmed came from her husband's estate. Perhaps most exciting is Mitchell's platinum disc for Bold As Love, the second studio album of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in December 1967, which made the top ten in both the USA (number three) and UK (number five) charts.

05 / 25 / 21

Dan D'Agostino MAS Progression M550 And S350 Amplifiers
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems has announced the second generation of Progression Series Amplifiers. First shipped in 2016, the new Progression models take advantage of technology advancements and circuit concepts utilized in the flagship Relentless Mono Amplifier. The new Progression M550 mono amplifier and S350 stereo amplifier ($44,950 per pair and $25,950 respectively) feature improved cooling ability to keep the internal circuitry operating efficiently, all the way to full output. Their Progression M550 monoblock features upgrades to the input stage, output stage, and heat sink design to deliver 550 Watts into 8 Ohms, doubling to 1100 Watts into 4 Ohms (doubling to 2200 Watts into 2 Ohms). The Progression S350 stereo amplifier outputs 350 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and then doubles to 700 and 1400 into 4 and 2 Ohms respectively.

Both amplifiers employ 48 output transistors powered by a nearly 2000 VA power supply transformer and 100,000 microfarads of power supply storage capacitance. A new power device provides the foundation for an upgraded output stage. This new transistor, first used in the company's Relentless mono amplifier, is said to extend high frequency response, increases power handling by a factor of four and features tighter tolerance gain matching between complementary NPN / PNP pairs. A wider safe operating area and superior gain linearity provides greater thermal stability throughout the amplifiers' power delivery. Coupling the new output device to the high efficiency heat sink design affords an increase in operating bias. The higher bias specification has increased the Class A operating range of the amplifiers to 70 Watts for the Progression M550 and 45 Watts for the Progression S350. The result is said by the company to be improved instrument timbre and tonal reproduction for a great percentage of listening.

05 / 24 / 21

Auction! Michael Hobson Classic Records Personal Archive #1
Michael Hobson's Classic Records personal archive #1 will be auctioned off during May/June 2021. Their press release says, "From the time Michael Hobson started Classic Records in 1994 until it was sold to Chad Kassem's Acoustic Sounds in 2010, Hobson methodically collected "MH Personal ARCHIVE" copies of every Classic Records release in various versions including different vinyl formulas, colored vinyl, 180 gram, 200 gram, Flat profile, Super Vinyl Profile and 45rpm editions. As with all archives, no matter how hard the Collector (Hobson) tries, inevitably a few things slip away or develop legs and escape, so the bottom line is that few collections are ever complete. The MH Personal Archive is only missing a few items and as such is undoubtedly one of the most complete collections of Classic Records output in existence."

More importantly, as those who know Hobson and his obsession with making the "BEST" records possible will attest, he was equally obsessed with having his MH Personal Archive copies be from, not only the 1S (first) stamper, but from the prime point (sweet spot) in the first stamper pressings which was determined to be between 100 and 150 copies from the start of the pressing run. As such, the MH personal archives pressings represent "THE BEST of the BEST". Interested parties can obtain a spreadsheet of all items in the collection and details of the upcoming auction by e-mailing mhclassicrecordsarchive1@gmail.com.

05 / 21 / 21

ALTI-EXPO 2021 In Orlando (FL) During October
ALTI-EXPO 2021 (Audio and Loudspeaker Technologies Industry, AE 2021) will return to DoubleTree by Hilton at Universal Orlando, Florida on October 24th and 25th. The industry has grown accustomed to a world class presentation program at their events, and they need your help to deliver again in 2021. ALTI-EXPO seeks to provide a vibrant and interactive forum to discuss current and future. Happening just before InfoComm, their show hopes to have crossover events and content to make your trip doubly effective. According to the show promoter, "The October timeframe will be perfect as the virus restrictions will be all but gone by then. However, your safety is still paramount at ALTI. We are making changes to allow for social distancing and increased sanitary maintenance."

2021 is ALTI's 60th year serving the audio and loudspeaker technologies industry. It will also mark a return to doing business in that critical face to face format. On October 23rd is exhibitor registration check-in and set-up. Attendee registration is the same day, while on October 24th is the first day of AE 2021. Day 1 includes a full day of seminars, papers, advertorials, and the Speaker Builders Workshop. The annual ALTI Banquet and Awards is this evening. October 25th (day 2) includes another full day of seminars, papers, and advertorials, as well as the Business Builders Workshop. All Access Pass holders and Exhibitors receive Breakfast and Lunch both days as well as the Annual ALTI Banquet included at no extra charge.

Future Plc Consolidates Pro Sound News And Mix Magazines
Pro Sound News and Mix magazines, owned by Future plc, are consolidating into a single publication effective July 2021. For the time being, this will be accompanied by an increase in the number of pages for the monthly print edition of Mix plus "enhanced technology coverage and a significant expansion in digital audience through daily SmartBriefs, social media outreach, a combined and redesigned website, and targeted in-person/virtual events" says the company. All media distribution, including the assets and content of websites, will be combined under the newly expanded Mix online.

05 / 20 / 21

TBT: World Premiere Review!
Synergistic Research Tweakfest
With the Orange Duplex, Carbon Fiber Duplex Cover, Tranquility Pod, MiG SX footers and Ground Block.
Review By Rick Becker
Originally, I wanted to write an article about turning my aging speakers into a more contemporary version with the addition of some tweaks for tens of thousand dollars less than buying a new pair. I called up Andy Wiederspahn at Synergistic Research and gave him my wish list. Although he was willing to help, he politely twisted my arm and convinced me to first review the quartet of hot new products they have just released. How could I refuse? Conventional knowledge says you should only put one item for review into your system at a time, but to me, that's kind of like playing checkers. Chess is more challenging and to up the ante, Andy added their Ground Block for convenience. What could go wrong? After all, Synergistic Research is one of the cutting edge companies in high-end audio. I have a lot of their gear in my rig already and their 'house sound' aligns with my personal preferences for high resolution, vivid tonal color, and a glorious sense of spaciousness.
---> Synergistic Research Orange Duplex, Carbon Fiber Duplex Cover, Tranquility Pod, MiG SX footers and Ground Block review.

TBT: World Premiere Review!
Bob Carver Cherry 180 Tube Monoblock Amplifier
One of the most significant tube amplifiers of the past 60 years!
Review By Dick Olsher
Everyone, I'm sure, has by now heard that the innovative and dare I say legend in his own time, Bob Carver, is back! Carver LLC is about tube amplifiers, and soon loudspeakers. It is really the tale of two Bobs: Bob Carver the designer, and Bob Farinelli the business and marketing hub. Two tube monoblock amps are currently shipping: the Cherry 180 and Black Beauty 305. Both share the same chassis, but the 180 is optimized for a KT88 output stage while the 305 is designed specifically for the KT120. Although promoted as a nominal 180 Watt amp, Carver tells me that the Cherry 180 will deliver about 270 Watts. Although on the surface they may appear to be conventional push-pull Class AB power amps, there's much more here than meets the eye. They should be understood as Formula 1 racing car designs, optimized for high-power performance. Throughout this review I've taken the liberty of quoting from Bob Carver responses to my many questions.
---> Bob Carver Cherry 180 tube monoblock amplifier review.

COMSOL Day's Acoustics: Multiphysics Simulation
Join COMSOL Day as their free full-day online event features a special focus on acoustics. You will have the opportunity to meet with COMSOL technical staff and customers from around the world, engage in product demonstrations, and gain insight into upcoming projects and focuses within acoustics research and industry. Topics include the analysis of loudspeakers, ultrasound and non-destructive testing (NDT), microacoustics, room acoustics, vibrations, as well as convected acoustics. We will also address topics like optimization, meshing, and solving of large acoustic models. During the presentations you will be encouraged to ask questions. Engineers from COMSOL will be able to answer and present best practices. Learn more at this link.

05 / 19 / 21

Hi-Fi+ May 2021 High-End Audio Magazine
Hi-Fi+'s May 2021 issue features reviews of the following:
Magico M6 Floorstanding Loudspeakers
Moon BY Simaudio 680D Streaming DAC
Linn Klimax DSM Network Streaming Preamp
Rotel A11 Tribute / CD11 Tribute
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Speaker
Børresen Acoustics 01 Silver Supreme Edition Speaker
Amphion Argon 3S Stand-Mount Speaker
Line Magnetic LM-512 CA Preamplifier
Line Magnetic LM-845 Premium
REL Serie T/7x Subwoofer
Xavian Quarta Evoluzione Floorstanding Speaker
Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire Headphones
Rogers LS3/5A SE Stand-Mount Speaker
Cardas Audio Clear Beyond X2 Phono Cable
Russ Andrews RANS-1 Network Switch
Origin Live Silver Hybrid 2 Interconnect

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says, "It's strange; really good audio equipment is like London buses; you wait for the longest time, then several come along all at once. So it is with this issue. We had already arranged reviews of some really high-performance audio (such as the Magico) when from out of almost nowhere, Linn approached us with the striking new Klimax DSM streamer. These and others are truly ground-breaking products, born at a time when good audio had become popular for the same reasons designing and making good audio had become difficult! It's exciting and interesting to see just what's been happening during the planet's most fallow period in more than a century, and those products are finally coming to fruition. Granted there might be some problems along the way – right now, it's hard to find enough decent cardboard to package up new products because Amazon bought all it could in 2020 – but what were a few months ago giant icebergs in the way of getting good audio are increasingly melting away." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

05 / 18 / 21

The New York Audio Show 2021 In December
This just in from the Chester Group as they are very pleased to confirm the New York Audio Show date for this year's show. It is set for December 3rd and 4th at their wonderful new venue at the AMA Conference Center within New York City. Exhibitors and visitors alike are welcome for this event's NYC and international significance. There are also a plethora of dealers usually there as well to buy from. The Chester Group hopes the quality of attendance and the business that is always generated will be of great value to music lovers. Various members of the high-end audio press will be attendance too.

"If you love great music and want to hear it from some of the finest equipment around the world shows like ours are absolutely unique for that. Not only do they allow you to see, hear and touch the very latest technology but you will be able to do so in a whole range of one to one rooms in complete comfort, just like being at home. No pressures; just surrounded by like-minded enthusiasts be they visitors, exhibitors, press, or industry, who are all there for the same reason, enjoyment. In the words of that famous song 'you have all the time in the world' so stay as long as you like and revisit as many rooms as you like."

05 / 17 / 21

Free* Apple and Amazon Lossless / HD Streaming Music
It has just been announced by Apple, and not to be left behind Amazon's announcement afterward, that Apple One customers will be able to enjoy lossless music without any extra cost (*free). Not to be outdone, Amazon announced that they will be extending their Music HD for all ($7.99/month for Prime members, $9.99/month for non-members). To quote Apple's press release, "Apple Music announces Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos; will bring Lossless Audio to entire catalog. The next generation of sound on Apple Music is coming to subscribers June 2021 at no additional cost."

Remember Steven R. Rochlin's editorials here on Enjoy the Music.com about Immersivephiles™, "Apple is bringing Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos to Apple Music. Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary, immersive audio experience that enables artists to mix music so the sound comes from all around and from above. By default, Apple Music will automatically play Dolby Atmos tracks on all AirPods and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip, as well as the built-in speakers in the latest versions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple Music will be adding new Dolby Atmos tracks constantly and will be curating a special set of Dolby Atmos playlists to help listeners find the music they love. In addition, albums that are available in Dolby Atmos will have a badge on the detail page for easy discovery." You can read Apple's press release at this link.

As for Amazon, we have their press release: Amazon Music today announced that going forward, its high-quality streaming tier, Amazon Music HD, will be available to all eligible Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers at no extra cost, unlocking access to the highest-quality streaming audio for even more music fans. In 2019, Neil Young called the launch of HD audio for Amazon "the biggest thing to happen in music since the introduction of digital audio" and now, even more fans can stream music with all of the depth, vibrancy, and emotion from artists' original recordings....

With Amazon Music HD, customers can stream more than 70 million lossless, High Definition (HD) songs, with a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44.1kHz (CD quality). Customers can also stream more than 7 million songs in Ultra HD (better than CD quality), with a bit depth of 24 bits and a sample rate up to 192 kHz, which reveals even more nuances that were once flattened in files compressed for digital streaming. Amazon Music HD has added more than 5 million songs to its Ultra HD catalog since its 2019 launch, providing customers with the largest selection of music in Ultra HD. With Amazon Music HD, customers also have access to a rapidly-growing catalog of songs remixed in 3D Audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and Sony 360RA. Listeners can stream these 3D mixes when listening on Amazon's groundbreaking high-fidelity smart speaker, Echo Studio. Music in 360RA can also be streamed via Amazon Music HD on Sony's RA5000 and RA3000 speakers by using Alexa Cast. You can read Amazon's press release at this link.

RMAF Show 2021 Update May 17th, 2021
This just in from RMAF: Well, we feel so much better now! Last week we met with the staff of the Gaylord and learned more about their plans for opening conferences this summer. Perhaps the most important thing we learned is that beginning this month, the standard 6' social distancing requirement will be reduced to 3'. Following a 90-day evaluation period monitored by the Tri-County Health Department, the Gaylord staff expects the distancing requirement will be lifted completely. People will be asked to use good judgment when encountering indoor crowds. Although we are under no illusions that the need for caution is over, we are relieved to feel that something akin to "normal" is in our future!

And so, while we would never want to minimize anyone's concerns regarding their safety or that of their staff, we are feeling more and more confident that we can move forward with planning our show with our usual optimism. With that in mind, here are some early answers to the questions we've been fielding. Read more on our RMAF 2021 show report page.

05 / 14 / 21

audioXpress' June 2021 Issue Is Now Available
audioXpress' June 2021 issue features:
Using Line Arrays to Control Directivity
KEF LS50 Meta Loudspeaker
Measuring Vibration with Piezoelectric Sensors (Part 3)
Noise Is Everywhere — Even In MC Input Transformers (Part 2)
The Science and Physics of High-End Mic-Preamp Design (Part 5)
Class-D Amplifier Output Filters For Next-Generation Audio Devices
Automotive Audio Solutions
Tech For The Automotive Framework
The Changing Automotive Environment in 2021
Vehicle Electrification And Active Noise Cancellation
And much more!

Within his editorial, J. Martins titled A Glimpse Of The Future, Inside A Car, he says "A year and a half later, the devastating global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still far from over. Fortunately, the successful take-up in vaccines and new treatments, innovations in products and services, and overall strong social and business resilience, afford us relatively high levels of optimism for a strong global economic resurgence. Most macroeconomic and industry reports tell us that while demand for many products was drastically reduced, changes in consumer behavior have also accelerated, and major trending shifts created strong opportunities. As most countries and large economies start to gear up for what promises to be a very strong post-pandemic economic recovery, it becomes clear that the pandemic accelerated technologies and consumer trends by at least a few years." See what's within this issue of audioXpress.

05 / 13 / 21

First Watt Model SIT-1 Monoblock Power Amplifier Review
The power of the First Watt digs deeply into the fabric of music to communicate soul, drama, and passion.
Review By Dick Olsher
Imagine a single-ended Class A power amplifier comprising a single transistor, that is devoid of any feedback, and which behaves similarly to a power triode? Does this scenario sound too good to be true? Well, that's exactly what the First Watt SIT-1 is all about. It deploys a unique type of device, a variant of the JFET, referred to as a static induction transistor (SIT). It was invented in the early 1970s by Jun-ichi Nishizawa, a true genius who is considered the "father of Japanese microelectronics." The SIT enjoyed a brief audio career in power amplifiers by Yamaha and Sony, but has continued to evolve since then mainly for UHF and S-band applications in radar and communication satellite systems. It is a voltage controlled device whereby the signal modulates the electrostatic potential barrier produced by the gate – the grid like element of the SIT. Unlike an ordinary FET whose current-voltage characteristics are pentode like, those of the SIT are triode like. One important consequence of this is the low output impedance even in single-ended operation. And because of its inherent low-voltage and high-current characteristics, no output transformer is required for matching the output stage to a loudspeaker.
---> First Watt Model SIT-1 monoblock power amplifier review.

Quad PA-One+ Triode Vacuum Tube DAC / Headamp Review
The quintessential audiophile tube amp for headphones.
Review By Gary Alan Barker
When I reviewed the Quad ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphone I knew that Quad had made the occasional tube amp over the years, but considered them to be a speaker manufacturer, what I didn't know (until I had researched for the ERA-1 review) was that they had started as an amplifier company, such are the pitfalls of redefining loudspeaker technology and producing one of the best sounding and highest respected speakers of all time, the ESL (Electrostatic Loudspeaker). As fate would have it Quad is, in fact, an audiophile amplifier company who also designs and builds speakers, hence when I discovered the Quad PA-One+ at RMAF 2018, I agreed to hold onto the ERA-1 until a review sample could be sent.
---> Quad PA-One+ triode vacuum tube DAC / headamp review.

05 / 12 / 21

RIAA Special 301 Report Protecting Creators And Innovators
From the RIAA press room: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) issued the following statement today by its Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier on the release of the annual Special 301 Report today by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

"The 2021 Special 301 Report highlights both the contributions of American creators to U.S. job creation, wages and economic growth, as well as the continuing challenges we face around the world. Importantly, it also reflects the Biden Administration's commitment to strong trade policies that protect copyright, boost our nation's economic prosperity, and foster our cultural leadership.

RIAA welcomes the report's focus on the role that creators and innovators play in creating high-wage jobs and fueling economic recovery. We also appreciate its focus on music community priorities, including challenges to copyright in South Africa and the implementation of the USMCA free trade agreement. And while we continue to believe the United Arab Emirates should be maintained on the Watch List for its longstanding refusal to comply with copyright requirements, we appreciate the report's clear call for the UAE to implement a meaningful licensing regime and urge the U.S. government to engage intensively with the UAE to resolve this chronic abuse of copyright.

RIAA applauds the rigor and extensive deliberations that went into this report and thanks Ambassador Tai, the USTR and interagency teams that worked tirelessly on today's achievement."

Recording Industry Action Against Vimeo For Music Content
From the IFPI news room: Recording industry takes action against Vimeo for making available infringing music content.

IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, together with its Italian national group FIMI and the Italian anti-piracy organisation FPM, has coordinated a legal action on behalf of its record company members against online content sharing service Vimeo in Italy. The action is based on Vimeo's failure to prevent unlicensed music appearing on its platform.

Commenting on the action, IFPI Chief Executive, Frances Moore, said: "Vimeo has fallen short of its obligation as an online content sharing service to take effective steps to prevent unlicensed music from being made available on its site. Significant amounts of unlicensed music are being uploaded and reuploaded to its service. That is why the recording industry has taken action against Vimeo in Italy.

Record labels invest heavily in discovering, nurturing, and promoting artists. The making available of unlicensed sound recordings harms their ability to secure a return on their investment which is crucial to their ability to invest in new artists."

05 / 11 / 21

Siltech Classic Legend Series Of Cables
Siltech's Classic Legend Series is a revision of the company's multi-award-winning Classic Anniversary Series, which was first launched in 1997. As the company's best-selling product line, the new Classic Legend series incorporates innovations including the latest development of silver-gold alloy called G9. G9 is said to provide better conductive qualities and improved cable run-in times, meaning far less time is needed for the conductors and insulators to achieve their optimum performance. A new three-layer insulator approach consists of Teflon combined with PEEK (polyether ether ketone). Their research has found that combining specific insulation materials can deliver significant reductions in distortion and improvements in sound.

These multiple layers possess unique properties such as superior thermal stability and physical ruggedness during production and over the life of the cable, as well as better electrical shielding at audio frequencies and more. A third improvement found in Classic Legend is the use of substantially larger conductors. On average, these conductors are approximately double those of the previous generation's cables. Larger conductors contribute to lower resistance throughout the length of the cable and greater current carrying capability when necessary.

05 / 10 / 21

Sonova Acquires Sennheiser's Consumer Division
Sonova Holding AG has signed an agreement to acquire the Consumer Division from Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG (Sennheiser). According to the press release, "The Sennheiser Consumer Division, which concentrates on the business of headphones and hearables for private customers, is an excellent fit with Sonova's strategy to lead innovation in hearing experience and to engage consumers early on their hearing journey. The strength of the brand and the well-established complementary distribution network of the Sennheiser Consumer Division represent strong assets to further the strategy of Sonova. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2021."

"The deal will allow Sonova to further expand its attractive portfolio of products; to capture growth opportunities, in particular in the fast-growing market for true wireless headsets and the emerging segment of speech enhanced hearables; and to further expand its channel presence and customer base. Sonova will leverage the combination of its audiological expertise together with the strong Sennheiser brand and competence in delivering a high-quality sound experience. The Sennheiser Consumer Division, with currently around 600 employees contributing to this business area worldwide, generates sales of around €250 million annually through a broad online and in-store distribution network."

05 / 06 / 21

Understanding Digital Room Correction
Article By Mitch Barnett Of Accurate Sound
Modern Digital Room Correction (DRC) is an often misunderstood subject area. I have seen many articles written on the subject that don't answer basic questions such as what problem is DRC trying to solve? How does DRC work? And why, as an audiophile, should I care? This article endeavors to answer these questions. Let's start off with what problem DRC is trying to solve. One can identify the problem fairly quickly by listening to the bass response of your loudspeakers in your room. Try it along with me. Find some music that has a variety of bass notes. The more the variety, the more frequencies we are testing, just by listening to music.
---> Read more about understanding room correction.

05 / 01 / 21

Enjoy the Music.com's Controversial May Review Magazine
This month's Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine features three world premiere reviews, a few think pieces, and two very special videos. While our headline editorial will surely gain attention to both the industry and our readers, we have a controversial video feature that is assured to get everyone within the industry talking. See Enjoy the Music.com's May Review Magazine at this link.

Opinion: Matter Of Trust
Marc Rushton explores the delicate balance between press freedom and industry support.
Editorial By Marc Rushton, StereoNET Founder & Publisher
The hi-fi and home cinema industry has not traditionally partaken in paid-for reviews – where manufacturers give money to 'journalists' to 'review' their products. That's partly down to the liberal publishing ethos that prevails in the English-speaking world and because hi-fi tends not to be sold on platforms such as Amazon, where this practice is commonplace. Until now, that is. StereoNET makes no secret that we are funded by the industry – including retailers, manufacturers, and importers/distributors. That's because we are a commercial business with salaried staff and freelance contributors to pay, the latter being our major expense. We're proud of this, as the particular way it is done gives us the last word. We can review anything we like from anyone, and conversely, any brand can approach us to request a product review.
---> Opinion: Matter Of Trust by Marc Rushton.

Karan Acoustics KAS 600 Stereo Amp And
KAL Reference MK3 Preamp Review
Enjoying all genres of music at the highest level of fidelity.
Review By Gregory Petan
It seems like a lifetime ago I reviewed the Karan Acoustics KAS 450 stereo amplifier. My conclusion was "This is an amplifier I could live with for the long haul," and was planning on adding it to my system. If not for a train wreck of an experience with a speaker manufacturer who took a $20,000 down payment for new speakers after I sold my reference, I would have happily added the KAS 450 to the system. Failing to fulfill his promise to deliver my new speaker in eight weeks, I had to sell one of my amplifiers in order to fill in the speaker gap left for the next 10 months. When the new speakers finally arrived, the varnish crackled not just once, not twice, but three times, each taking a month in between to fix.
---> Karan Acoustics KAS 600 amp & KAL Reference MK3 preamp review.

World Premiere Review!
Charisma Audio Musiko Tonearm, Soundeck, And Audio Machina Accessories
A killer combination forced me to overcome my fear and buy the review sample.
Review By Rick Becker
Just when I thought I was done with my Linn Turntable Project, Bernard Li of Charisma Audio called and asked if I'd like to try his new Musiko tonearm, which conveniently was already on the USA side of the border. George Merrill had been playing with it on his new Gem Dandy PolyTable down in Tennessee. Bernard knew I was impressed with it when I saw it at the last Toronto and other shows during 2019. Dropshipping it from George would save two border crossings and give me a chance to hear it. Charisma Audio's Musiko arrived in a well-crafted wooden box. Inside, the various components and tools were neatly partitioned in foam. A long Plexiglas measuring tool was taped to the outside bottom of the box to be used in measuring and drilling a blank arm board to the proper specs. The 9.33" tonearm has a 222mm pivot to spindle distance, same as a Rega, but you will need to enlarge the main hole on a Rega table and drill new holes to mount the flange.
---> Charisma Audio Musiko tonearm, Soundeck, and Audio Machina accessories review.

World Premiere Review!
Rogue Audio RP-9 Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier
Exceeding the listener's expectations.
Review By Bob Grossman
Rogue Audio's RP-9 is the latest flagship preamplifier from the ingenious designs of the American manufacturing workshop of Mark O'Brien.  Having an interest in doing this review of the new RP-9 was a simple decision as a long-time user of the Rogue RP-7.  I have been using the remarkable powerhouse Rogue Apollo Dark Amps for several years as both a sonic and output upgrade to my previously owned Rogue 180 Amplifiers that were used to run Magnepan 3.6 speakers.  I replaced the Maggie 3.6 speakers with their 20.7 models several years ago and needed more powerful amps. I wondered if the increased musical experience of moving further up in the Rogue Amplifier line was going to be repeated with their new preamplifier by going from the RP-7 to the RP-9 model. However, before proceeding and hearing the RP-9, I wondered what was going on since the RP-7 has received numerous accolades, recognition, and rewards. Could designer Mark O'Brien improve upon the noteworthy RP-7 that I have been enjoying?
---> Rogue Audio RP-9 vacuum tube stereo preamplifier review.

Allnic Rose Moving Coil Phono Cartridge Review
The essential elements of what makes music sound so good!
Review By Tom Lyle
I agreed to review the Allnic Rose low-output moving coil cartridge largely because its reputation precedes it. This cartridge is designed and made by the same company that makes the award-winning Blue Note Best Of 2020 H-7000 vacuum tube phono stereo preamplifier that I reviewed that year. After listening to this phono cartridge for only a couple of weeks, I was already quite impressed, even before it was fully broken in.  During the first few weeks of listening to this phono cartridge, for some reason, I thought that its price was $5999, which I thought was fair, given how impressed I was so early in the review. One can imagine how surprised I was when I discovered that this Allnic Rose cartridge sells for $2900. I had to recalibrate my way of thinking. To make things easier on myself, I attempted not to think about how much this cartridge cost but simply reviewing the cartridge and telling you about my experience with it in my system.
---> Allnic Rose moving coil phono cartridge review.

STEREO Exclusive First Worldwide Review!
Cambridge Evo 150 Integrated Streaming Amplifier Review
Remarkable. Truly remarkable.
Review By Tom Frantzen
Road To Perfection – Cambridge Audio recently dropped quite a bombshell. Not in the literal sense, of course, but the newly presented Evo 150 simply has it all and could (r)evolutionize many a living room. STEREO reports to you with the exclusive, worldwide first review! The Cambridge Evo 150 is the larger of two models, both of which Cambridge Audio itself labels as "All-in-One". It comes at a price of around 2500 Euros, the very similar Evo 75 – lacking the XLR input and having about half of the output power, which should still be sufficient in most cases – will cost 500 Euros less. The likewise slightly different DACs in both devices are each hailing from the top supplier ESS Sabre. Going with our own naming conventions, what we have here should of course be thought of as an integrated amplifier with a built-in network player, an "integrated streaming amplifier" in short. It is worthy to note that the British company will also supply an optional, suitable CD drive with a proprietary interface in the course of this year.
---> Cambridge Evo 150 integrated streaming amplifier review.

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