High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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06 / 25 / 24

Home Audio Market Will Grow By ~$19B Globally
According to a recent report, "The global home audio equipment market size is estimated to grow by USD 18.96 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.34% during the forecast period. Rapid adoption of home audio equipment is driving market growth, with a trend towards microphones segment... The home audio equipment market is experiencing significant growth due to the increase in remote work and learning, as well as the rise in TV productions and content creation."

Technavio says the home audio equipment market is very much thriving with a wide array of innovative technologies and devices. We all know that consumers are looking for high quality, high-fidelity sound quality, and for those with portable audio devices also desire longer battery life. Simply said, people want higher sound quality and to enjoy the music for longer periods of time. With true lossless Hi-Res Music of 24-bit/88kHz and higher now widely available via the best music streaming services, we expect the new Immersive Audio format to also being it's climb upward as legacy stereo will be with us for many generations to come. Music lovers desire Hi-Res Audio devices within their life. According to Technavio, consumers today also "demand for Dolby Atmos technology in home theaters is on the rise. Overall, the home audio equipment market is witnessing significant growth and innovation."

06 / 24 / 24

Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2024 In November
As Washington DC's premier high-performance audio event, the Capital Audiofest (CAF) is set to take place at the Hilton Rockville (Maryland) from November 8th through 10th. Capital Audiofest started out in 2010 as a very casual show and has evolved into a well-organized and well-attended event, while also being recognized as a fun, friendly, and family-oriented high-end audiophile show. Families can casually stroll from room to room listening to music, auditioning gear, and browsing many bins of vinyl LP records, CDs, and hi-fi accessories. During the evenings, CAF 2024 will have live music in the bar area. See Enjoy the Music.com's Capital Audiofest 2023 show report. 

Capital Audiofest, held at the Hilton Rockville in Rockville, MD, is a beautiful venue and conveniently located next to a metro station. This provided quick access to Washington DC. With over 35,000 square feet of flexible conference space, the Hilton Rockville offers plenty of room for exhibitors and attendees to explore the latest audio products and technology. Plan ahead as discounted sleeping rooms are now available only to Capital Audiofest 2024 attendees. See the Capital Audiofest website for more details.

06 / 21 / 24

Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) On June 21
Coinciding with the summer solstice, Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) is a day for musicians and music enthusiasts to celebrate and enjoy the music! Since music is a 'common language' globally, World Music Day seeks to strengthen musical diversity and bring together Earth's music community for a day of festivities. According to Wiki, "The Fête de la Musique, also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day, or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun and not for payment."

Originated by Jack Lang, then Minister of Culture of France, as well as by Maurice Fleuret, Fête de la Musique was celebrated within Paris during 1982. Today, it is celebrated within ~120 countries around the globe. Wiki says, "In October 1981, Maurice Fleuret became Director of Music and Dance at the French Ministry of Culture at Jack Lang's request. He applied his reflections to the musical practice and its evolution: "the music everywhere and the concert nowhere". When he discovered, in a 1982 study on the cultural habits of the French, that five million people, one young person out of two, played a musical instrument, he began to dream of a way to bring people out on the streets. It first took place in 1982 in Paris as the Fête de la Musique." As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!

audioXpress' July 2024 Issue
Editorial: Making Music Louder
WiiM Amp Int. Amp And Multiroom Streamer
Automotive Audio Bus (A2B) Part 1
For the Love of Music: Loudness Normalization
Designing A Powerful Speech Compressor
Acoustical Window Treatments
The Orange Valve Tester MKII
Power, Efficiency, And Flexibility
ICEpower: Audio Amplifier Product
High-Quality Class-D – The Hypex Way
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "I doubt many of our readers have a deep understanding about how music is "made" these days. Yes, a lot of music elements are still fundamentally recorded in studios where everything from microphones to preamps, to dynamic processors, and well-treated rooms are vital. Human voice remains one of those key elements, but even the "voices" we hear are far from what was recorded. A lot of the music we listen to today is done from pre-existing sound elements that are either sampled or synthesized, often overlayed with actual recorded parts. There's hardly any long section of music that relies on a continuous recorded element that stays true to what was recorded. Basically, everything is transformed, stretched, pitch-manipulated, then sequenced, and heavily processed, before being mixed. Many times, multiple mixed elements are further sampled, inserted in the sequence and remixed."
---> audioXpress' July 2024 Issue.

06 / 20 / 24

This Is The Best Time To Be A Music Enthusiast
Product development, reviews, and true lossless hi-resolution on the rise!
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Over 25 years ago when I started Enjoy the Music.com there was very little info about high-end audio / audiophiles online. Today, that has all changed as we have thousands of websites from the latest and greatest gear to vintage audio, DIY, headphones, etc. In addition, we now have more manufacturers than in the history of our hobby! It is virtually impossible to keep up with it all, let alone report on every new piece of high-end audio equipment. I'd be slapped silly by not mentioning that true lossless high-resolution music, without the 'need' for typical music BUSINESS lossy compressed scams and schemes, is now mainstream and not limited to only a few niche' streaming music players. Without a doubt, this is the best time to be a music enthusiast! Way back when in the 1980s and 1990s there were only a tiny few small digest-sized print publications plus Audio and Stereo Review (to name a few) here in the States. Europe and other parts of the globe had their fave publications. It was like we were part of a super-secret hobby we all love. There was a tribal feeling about it all too!
---> This Is The Best Time To Be A Music Enthusiast.

CrystalConnect Monet Network Ethernet Cable Review
With just a taste of their Diamond network cable as well.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
Asking an audio reviewer to review a network cable is sort of like asking a car reviewer to review an alternator belt or a particular gasoline (although gasoline would likely equate more correctly to power cords in this scenario). I might even liken speaker cables or interconnects to tires if I continue the analogy; which have a more direct connection to the signal path, or similarly connect the engine, chassis, and suspension to the road. Under most circumstances, I humbly and politely pass when asked to formally review cables. Not because I don't think they make a massive difference in the system's performance (which they unquestionably do), but because in most cases cables affect an overall sense of voicing and presentation that is personal and subtle. And, because people seem to marry themselves to a particular cable manufacturer who has won their devotion, and I don't feel that reviews affect a change in the interest the way that reviews of components do. Also, if I'm being honest, it's sorta painful reviewing cables. I have heard fantastic performances from many cable lines in my listening room....
---> CrystalConnect Monet Network Ethernet Cable Review.

06 / 18 / 24

TIDAL Removes MQA And Sony 360 Reality Audio
TIDAL, a music streaming platform that has offered hi-res music files for years, is removing the proprietary music formats MQA and Sony's 360 Reality Audio on July 24th. As many Hi-Res Audio enthusiasts know, FLAC is a long-trusted and known lossless audio standard. FLAC is also royalty-free, plays on all modern devices, plus there are no added licensing costs to encode / decode proprietary file types. According to TIDAL, "For stereo sound, FLAC was chosen as the format we'll support going forward because it is open source – meaning any artist can deliver their music in high quality directly to TIDAL without the involvement of a third party. This makes it easier for their fans to experience music in the highest possible sound quality on all their devices."

And while music lovers enjoy the longstanding stereo format, modern immersivephiles can enjoy Dolby Atmos as the chosen format on TIDAL. Overall, TIDAL may be making these choices to "support the very large number of compatible devices, catalog availability, and artist adoption of the format. Through our continued partnership with Dolby, we've given artists the opportunity to expand on their sonic vision, allowing their fans to experience their music like never before." Those with playlists that have MQA track(s) will have them automatically substituted with the highest quality FLAC version on TIDAL. Please note, "If you have an MQA track or album downloaded for offline access, you will need to update to the latest version of the app on July 24. You will then be prompted to redownload these tracks. This will download the replacement FLAC version of any MQA track you previously downloaded." See TIDAL's upcoming changes page for more information.

06 / 17 / 24

Pacific Audio Fest 2024 Show In September 2024
The Pacific Audio Fest (PAF) returns to Seattle for their third great year! From September 6th through 8th, you can experience the very best in high-performance high-end audiophile gear at the biggest and best audio show on the Northwest coast of the USA! With over 200 exhibitors showcasing great audio gear, there will be millions of Dollars is audio gear, from very reasonably priced to cost-no-object, to hear and enjoy. Taking place at the Doubletree-Hilton Sea-Tac / Seattle, PAF is the USA's very best Northwestern premium audio event.

Scheduled for the Pacific Audio Fest 2024 is live music on Friday and Saturday nights, with NW regional wine and beer tastings, and ~100 rooms of quality audio, Marketplace, Record Fair, HeadZone and much more! The Pacific Audio Fest show is located at a top tech hub and one of the fastest growing communities in the USA, plus it is a vacation paradise in the summer months. The Seattle area has great demographics for the audio industry too! Reserve your place for PAF 2024 now before they sell out! Plus every ticket purchase enters you in a raffle to win high-performance audio gear! Get your PAF 2024 tickets here. You definitely want to stay in the venue!" The Discount Hotel Reservation link is here. Please contact PAF if you have any problems booking and they will assist you in taking care of it. Learn more at Enjoy the Music.com's Pacific Audio Fest 2024 show report page.

06 / 13 / 24

Aavik I-180 Integrated Stereo Amplifier Review
You call this entry-level?
Review By Michael Lang
With the integrated amplifier from the entry-level 180 series, Aavik took a radical turn: leaving behind heavy castles of aluminum in favor of natural materials and shapes derived from musical instruments. Aavik is the electronics side of a company-triumvirate, the other two being Børresen as a loudspeaker brand and Ansuz as a supplier of cables and accessories. Regular STEREO readers might be familiar with Aavik thanks to the impressive U-300 integrated amplifier equipped with a phono stage and DAC. Or maybe also due to the D-180 DAC or R-180 phono preamp, which has already received excellent reviews recently. The device featured here has almost nothing in common with the U-300 – neither the martial exterior nor the idea of amplifiers having to have "everything under one roof" made its way into the here and now. Beyond that, no stone was left unturned either!
---> Aavik I-180 Integrated Stereo Amplifier Review.

The White House Recording Library
The forgotten vinyl LP collection.
Featuring John Chuldenko, the grandson of President Jimmy Carter
Video By The 1600 Sessions
A donation from the Recording Industry Association of America to the Nixon White House, the White House Recording Library was comprised of 2000 LPs, and overseen by a committee of scholars, journalists, and musicians. The library was then stored away and forgotten. John Chuldenko, the grandson of President Jimmy Carter, recalls hearing stories of the collection and began his search to uncover the lost music. He shares his quest and discovery with White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin. This video is hosted by the  White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin, with guest John Chuldenko, Grandson of President Jimmy Carter.
---> The White House Recording Library.

06 / 12 / 24

Glastonbury Festival 2024 June 26th Through 30th
The very first music Festival was held the day after Jimi Hendrix passed. It marked the beginnings of a music festival at the Bath & West Showground, which then inspired Michael Eavis to commence his own music event, yet on a smaller scale. Today, the Glastonbury Festival brings many thousands of music fans and their families together to enjoy the music. Due to tremendous popularity of this exciting music event, Glastonbury Festival 2024 tickets are already sold out. Dua Lipa will bring her special Pyramid Stage debut as the Friday night headliner, which will also showcase both LCD Soundsystem and PJ Harvey too.

Also on the schedule are Coldplay, who will make their first Saturday night Pyramid Stage appearance since 2016 and have become the first act to headline the Glastonbury Festival five times! Before Coldplay comes on stage, Little Simz also comes back to the festival to perform her biggest hits on stage. Sunday night's special headline musical artists is SZA, which is considered a hot hip hop / R&B act. Sunday sets from Afrobeats megastar Burna Boy and Janelle Monáe also fill the schedule, as do many, many other music performances and bands. This year's Sunday teatime legend will be Shania Twain, who makes her first trip to Worthy Farm for what, according to the show promoters, promises to be one of the most popular sets of the weekend. Many more acts and attractions are still to be announced, so see the Glastonbury Festival 2024 website for more details.

06 / 10 / 24

Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook (LIS) 2024 Edition
Thanks to our friends at audioXpress, the very special 2024 edition of the Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook (LIS) is now available. Within this year's edition they include updated listings of suppliers, service providers, and vendors. There's also a highly valuable overview of the loudspeaker industry, plus op-ed articles from Audio & Loudspeaker Technologies International (ALTI) encouraging industry innovation, and the perspectives of the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) too. This publication is a valuable resource for everyone working in research and development, driver manufacturing, marketing, sourcing, and sales of loudspeakers / high-end audio industry products and services.

Since audioXpress carefully monitors and follows current market trends, the 2024 Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook provides an article prepared by an expert team at Analog Devices, which is focused upon the latest development in digital signal processing (DSP) as it is applied to loudspeakers. Jennifer Shockley, Executive Director of the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) addresses immersive and spatial audio. As professional audio companies are fostering the creative possibilities of immersive audio productions, Chris Hansen (Harman International), Gary Boss (Audio-Technica US), David Fuller (QSC), and Marc Lopez (d&b audiotechnik) assess the impact of immersive audio and product development. We want to thank audioXpress and their excellent LIS 2024 resource book, as it highlights the critical loudspeaker industry milestones plus celebrates the businesses that continues to bring success for the audio industry.

06 / 07 / 24

hi-fi+ June 2024 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: The Passing Of Milan Karan And Andrew Singer
AURALiC VEGA S1 Network Streamer, DAC, Preamp
Axxess Forté 1, 2, And 3 Integrated Amplifiers
Burmester 111 MKII Music Server, Streamer, DAC, Pre
Gold Note IS-10 And PA-10 EVO Integrated & Power Amp
Conrad-Johnson Classic Phono Preamplifier
Hegel Music Systems H190v Integrated Amplifier
Graham Audio LS3/5a Loudspeaker
Accustic Arts Power III Integrated Amplifier
Van den Hul Carbon Elite XGW MC Phono Cartridge
And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "As much as I try to avoid the Editorial becoming an Obituary page, sadly, sometimes there is no other option. This month, the audio industry lost two big names; one in the high-end amplifier world, and another at one time the high-end audio retailer. High-end amplifier designer Milan Karan of Karan Acoustics fame passed away just before the AXPONA Show in Chicago. I spoke to Karan's close friend Branko Bozic of Audiofreaks, "On the 10th of April this year, the high-end audio world lost a precious and gifted designer and artisan when Milan Karan left us at an early age of 58 in his native Novi Sad (Serbia) after a relatively short and ruthless illness. And, much more than that, the world in general and I personally have prematurely lost a good fellow human being, long-standing and close Friend and brother in arms. Instead of Living (Only) Twice, we just live only once... or less." See what's within this issue of hi-fi+ magazine at this link.

06 / 06 / 24

Why Music?
Roger Skoff writes about the most basic question of all.
Article By Roger Skoff
Many years ago, when I had a different audio company, I was absolutely shocked – something that really doesn't happen very often – when one of my dealers told me that he didn't like music. At first, I thought that I must have heard him wrong or misunderstood what he said and that it must be some particular piece of music or some style or instrument that he didn't like. But, when I asked him what he meant by that, and to please clarify, he told me straight-out that he found music of any kind to be annoying and didn't like to listen to it.
---> Why Music?

Video: McIntosh Laboratory Factory Tour
Gramophone gives us a look at a legendary premium audio company.
Founded in 1949, McIntosh Laboratory offers premium home audio systems that produce an exceptional audio experience. While the company initially focused on stereo system, in modern times they have expanded to offer stereo and immersive audio multi-channel audio products. McIntosh Labs is best known for their signature blue Watt output meter and green logo. McIntosh Labs' products are designed and handcrafted at their Binghamton, New York factory by passionate employees who love music. Furthermore, McIntosh Labs has powered moments in music history and pop culture including the USA's then President Lyndon Johnson's inauguration speech to the first Woodstock music festival. Many also know the company for helping power the now-famous Grateful Dead 'Wall of Sound'.
---> Video: McIntosh Laboratory Factory Tour.

06 / 05 / 24

Pacific Audio Fest 2024 Show In September
The Pacific Audio Fest (PAF) returns to Seattle for their third great year! From September 6th through 8th, you can experience the very best in high-performance high-end audiophile gear at the biggest and best audio show on the Northwest coast of the USA! With over 200 exhibitors showcasing great audio gear, there will be millions of Dollars is audio gear, from very reasonably priced to cost-no-object, to hear and enjoy. Taking place at the Doubletree-Hilton Sea-Tac / Seattle, PAF is the USA's very best Northwestern premium audio event.

Scheduled for the Pacific Audio Fest 2024 is live music on Friday and Saturday nights, with NW regional wine and beer tastings, and ~100 rooms of quality audio, Marketplace, Record Fair, HeadZone and much more! The Pacific Audio Fest show is located at a top tech hub and one of the fastest growing communities in the USA, plus it is a vacation paradise in the summer months. The Seattle area has great demographics for the audio industry too! Reserves your place for PAF 2024 now before they sell out! Plus every ticket purchase enters you in a raffle to win a turntable and/or much more! Get your PAF 2024 tickets here. The Discount Hotel Reservation link is now live. Please contact PAF if you have any problems booking and they will assist you in taking care of it.
---> Learn More @ Enjoy the Music.com's Pacific Audio Fest 2024 Show Report.

06 / 03 / 24

T.H.E. Show SoCal 2024: 180 Brands On 5 Floors
North America's longest running hi-fi audio trade show, T.H.E. Show, is set to take place this weekend (June 7th through 9th) at the Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa. With an impressive 180 brands exhibiting on five floors, there's also a substantial seminar lineup and live music entertainment schedule too! For gearheads, there will be world premiere releases, North American premieres, raffles, and more! T.H.E. Show 2024 is truly elated to create for you a three day music, audio, and entertainment experience. Enjoy your favorite tunes and learn about new ones from exhibitors and other music fans. Note that attendees will also be entitled to a special parking rate of $20 per day per vehicle (last year it was $28 so they are pleased to offer an even deeper savings). Armed Forces and children under 12 receive complimentary entry (with proof of service).

T.H.E. Club Lounge will be open for members of all audio societies and music clubs! Please bring proof of membership and you will be welcomed in for complimentary beverages, snacks, networking, and relaxation. Additionally, T.H.E. Show SoCal 2024 are excited to share with you all that T.H.E. Women's Lounge is back! We welcome our HiFi Sisters to join us in this special lounge where we will be serving complimentary beverages, snacks, and some special surprises for T.H.E. Ladies! Learn more about T.H.E. Show SoCal 2024 at this link.

06 / 01 / 24

June High-Performance Audio Review Magazine
We have finalized our in-depth AXPONA show coverage and are still quite busy adding to our very extensive HIGH END 2024 report. Roger Skoff's editorial 'Words? Music? Both? Neither? What Do You Listen For?' asks you which is more important when listening to a song. Even with classical music, where every note to be played by every individual instrument is written down and unchanging, isn't every different performance by every orchestra or every conductor still different!

HIGH END 2024 At Munich M.O.C. Show Report
High End Society's HIGH END 2024 Event In Munich Germany
From May 9th to 12th, 2024, the 41st HIGH END trade show in Munich will once again shine a spotlight on luxurious premium music reproduction systems, inspiring listening enjoyment and exquisite audio technology. HIGH END continues to be one of the most important marketplaces and trading rendezvous for the audio industry, with many international trade visitors from around the world. Music lovers from over 90 countries visit Munich to discover high-performance audio industry trends, exchange views, learn the latest news, plus network and do business. For industry experts, audiophile enthusiasts, and music enthusiasts, the HIGH END four-day event in Munich will once again be a spectacular event.
---> HIGH END 2024 At Munich M.O.C. Show Report.

AXPONA 2024 Show Report
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2024 three-day experience featured a multitude of floors, with a total of approximately 200 listening rooms. Special showcases include the Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and a variety of seminars. Whether you're a very serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you found everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds. The Ear Gear Experience is the place to go to find everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, as well as cables DACs and players. You can also shop audio accessories, turntables, cables and more in the Expo Hall. Plus find new and vintage vinyl in AXPONA's own Record Fair.
---> AXPONA 2024 High-End Audio Show Report.

With so much effort going towards show coverage, we still found time to review the impressive Acora Acoustics QRC 2 floorstanding loudspeaker. Enjoy the Music.com's Rick Becker has become a big fan of Acora Acoustics, including bestowing upon them a very special Best Rooms award within his Chicago show report. These loudspeakers look and sound sensational! 

We also have the North America premiere review of Simaudio's MOON 641 Integrated Amplifier and 681 Network Player / DAC. MOON gear is designed to deliver a lovely listening experience in clarity and depth. Special features include their Distortion-Cancelling Amplifier (MDCA) circuitry, which employs an independent circuit and signal correction to lower noise and distortion. They also designed in high-performance dual-mono configuration to ensure top-quality channel separation. All this and much more inside Enjoy the Music.com's June 2024 Review Magazine. Be sure to join us for more fun and bonus content within our Facebook and Instagram social media pages.

Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

Previous High-End Audio News
For previous high-end audio and music industry news click here.