High-End Audio, High Fidelity Audiophile Industry News

 
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10 / 31 / 14

Enjoy the Music.com's TAVES Live Coverage Begins Today
From October 31st to November 2nd, the TAVES Consumer Electronics Show at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in downtown Toronto, Canada, is the ultimate event for Canadians passionate about technology. TAVES features the latest devices in technology for home audio, home theater, electronic gadgets, digital photography, and a special preview of many products not yet available! For this 2014 event, products of interest never before available at TAVES Consumer Electronics Show will be included within the New Technology Arena, Jolt Art Gallery, a digital photography / imaging area as well as a dedicated headphone / portable audio section. Introduced for the first time in 2014, the New Technology Arena will enable visitors to see groundbreaking electronic products and prototypes – many funded by Kickstarter and Indiegogo crowd-funding campaigns. "TAVES is delighted that Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV will be offering coverage to their readers, including live video coverage, of the TAVES Consumer Electronics Show" said Suave Kajko, President of TAVES Consumer Electronics Show. "For the first time, we will have live coverage streaming online to help inform and educate consumers on the wide variety of electronics available in the marketplace today. Enjoy the Music.com has always provided a wonderful written perspective of our event and we expect that the live streamed video coverage will take this to the next level. The timing couldn't be better since this year TAVES will offer a greatly expanded show floor, with many new product categories featured for the very first time including holographic displays, 3D printing, replicating, Oculus Rift, Tesla, and more. We look forward to the unique perspective and insight that Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV offers." See our TAVES coverage here.

Walker Audio Procession Phono Amp
Walker Audio just announced their Procession Phono Amp ($8000) with dual mono continuously-variable linear cartridge loading for use with moving coil cartridges. This two-piece component has two dials, one for each channel, which can be adjusted during play and set anywhere between 0 and 2.5 kOhms, making this the company's easiest-to-use phono amp ever. "Most adjustable-loading phono amps only allow large fixed incremental adjustments such as 100, 300, 500 or 1000 Ohms," says Lloyd Walker, founder and President of Walker Audio. "These are all compromises and not the absolute best setting for any cartridge or system. The best setting is somewhere in-between." The Procession's dual channel continuously-variable loading allows users to personalize their system's performance by selecting the loading for each channel that is ideal for their cartridge and their listening style and music. Walker Audio thinks that very rarely are cartridges perfectly balanced in both channels. The Procession phono amp allows users to increase the loading in one channel to correct for a slight imbalance or to adjust for less-than-perfectly-recorded LPs. "A small adjustment on one or more channels can significantly increase your listening pleasure," says Walker. "If an LP is bright-sounding, lower the dials a bit. Lowering the dials also will give you a more laid-back sound. If you want more excitement, increase the load settings."

Long Island Hall of Fame Fifth Induction Ceremony
The Long Island Hall of Fame's fifth induction ceremony at The Paramount Theater in Huntington (NY) included legendary musicians, singers, songwriters, producers and record label executives. Record producer and music executive Clive Davis was inducted by Dionne Warwick, who thanked her saying, "Dionne should be the next one to be inducted into the hall of fame." Davis also introduced his newest artist, Avery Wilson who we first heard on NBC's, "The Voice." Among other inductees was the Billy Joel Band, who performed on the Paramount's stage for the first time in 25 years sans Billy as he was out of town. Band members Richie Cannata, Liberty DeVitto, Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer, who were thrilled in their acceptance of the induction, performed with Billy Joel Tribute singer, Dave Clark, and brought the crowd to their feet. Hip-hop pioneer and founding member of the group Run-D.M.C., Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels performed his remake of the Harry Chapin classic "Cat's in the Cradle" with Chapin's daughter Jen Chapin. McDaniels who was previously inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, accepted the 2014 Harry Chapin Award, which was presented to him by Chapin's wife, Sandy Chapin. Inducted by Pink Floyd co-founder and legendary musician Roger Waters, was decades long concert promoter Ron Delsener, who brought concerts to Central Park and brought rock and roll to the Jones Beach Marine Theater; Rapper Kurtis Blow; singer Debbie Gibson; lyricist Gerry Goffin and producer Steve Thompson were also among the 2014 inductees. LIMHoF Gala Producer, Founding Member and Vice Chair James Faith said, "It's been an honor to be a part of this organization from its inception. As producer of the past five galas, it's humbling to not only celebrate our history, but play a part in making it! This year's gala may be the most historic event to date." Special guests included Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Susan and Peggy Stegmeyer, Denis McNamara, Ron Alexenburg, Carlos Alomar, Brian Koppelman, Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult. Jen and Sandy Chapin, up and coming, singers Tina DeCara and Maria, Apollo Salazar, Fred Davis, EGC's Ernie and Nicole Canadeo, State Assemblyman Joseph Saladino, musician / DJ Joe Rock, and WBAB's DJ Fingers. A highlight of the evening was an announcement that the LIMHoF will finally establish its first permanent museum in Wyandanch in the near future which would serve as the home for the hall of fame.

10 / 29 / 14

Lyn Stanley Potions [from the 50s]
Lyn Stanley, the wonderful jazz singing phenomenon, has attracted a large number of devotees with her beautiful, sultry alto voice. Discovered in 2010 by world-class jazz pianist Paul Smith, Lyn Stanley began self-producing her debut album entitled Lost In Romance. Now, a year later, Lyn is a worldwide sensation selling thousands of albums in various formats for audiophiles, music lovers and the casual listening market. Lost In Romance is the #1 selling album on DownloadsNOW and is ranked in the top 100 albums played by jazz and radio stations across the USA. Lost In Romance is engineered by Tommy Vacari, Al Schmitt, and Bernie Grundman. Working together, they produced an album of jazz standards drawn from the Great American Songbook with a line up of musicians specially assembled to perfectly match each interpretation. Armed with more audio knowledge than most singers, Lyn Stanley decided to embrace her supportive audience and all they taught her and take the ultimate leap into analog recording. Potions [from the 50s], Lyn's latest album, celebrates the composers of the 50's and was record to analog tape to make the music more authentic. Lyn hired world-renowned jazz pianist/composer and producer Kenny Werner to play on and produce the album, adding Bill Cunliffe and Mike Lang. Cunliffe and Lang, along with Steve Rawlins and Tamir Hendleman were the album's arrangers. Song selections were primarily Lyn's choice. Lyn then secured the talents of some of Los Angeles and New York's finest musicians to participate. And returning to the elements that made her first album so successful, she hired Al Schmitt, this time as both the recording and mixing engineer, along with Bernie Grundman to master the album. The microphone chosen in Los Angeles and New York for vocals was a Neumann U47, and the vocals recorded at Capitol used the same Neumann U47 that Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra used. The end result graciously captures Lyn's talents as she performs a collection of classic 1950s music. The album contains 15 tracks, with 12 being pure analog from musicians through vocals, mixing and mastering. Two of the tracks on Potions [from the 50s] were original musician and vocal recordings in ProTools (192kHz/32-bit). Every song on the album was mixed and mastered on analog tape. Initially, the album is being released as a stereo SACD hybrid produced by Sony DADC's plant in Austria. In early November 2014, the double vinyl, 180 gram 45 RPM album will be released. The pressing plant is Record Technology Incorporated (RTI), which has already begun the platting process of the mastered lacquers within two hours of their completion by Bernie Grundman. RTI will press these records on their #4 pressing machine and have hourly quality tests during the run. This initial pressing of Potions [from the 50s] will include 1000 individually numbered and signed units and 1200 non-numbered albums sold through quality USA and International record distributors. The album will also be available, in a limited numbers, as 1/4" two-tape 15ips IEC reel to reel album only through her website.

10 / 28 / 14

World Premiere!  Pass Laboratories XA30.8 Amplifier Review
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted a sneak peek to our November Review Magazine with a world premiere review of the Pass Laboratories XA30.8 power amplifier! This 30 Watt Class A amp conveys an involving musical intimacy. Yowzer, Yowzer, step right up ladies and gentlemen! Come listen to the eighth wonder of the world! You should not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity with the all new, and revolutionary, XA30.8 amplifier from Pass Labs! See the complete review here.

Blues Masters at the Crossroads 2014

Marquise Knox

10 / 27 / 14

Blues Masters at the Crossroads 2014

VIDEO: Big George Brock With Marquise Knox

Hi-Fi World December Edition Sneak Peek!
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted a sneak peek world premiere of Hi-Fi World's December 2014 edition including the complete editorial and table of contents. This issue includes reviews of the Oppo BDP-105D Blu-ray player, Cocktail Audio CA-X30, Acoustic Energy 103 speakers, Naim Mu-So powered speakers, Yamaha A-S701 integrated amplifier, Epiphany Atratus II & III cables, Clearaudio Ovation turntable, Miyajima Artisan MC mono cartridge and Hi-Fi World's New York Audio Show report. The editorial, Talking About Bests, by Noel Keywood says "Talking about beasts we haven't yet reviewed brings me onto one of the world's biggest domestic loudspeakers. In this issue you can read a news item about Tannoy Westminster Royals in a London bar and we hope to review this particular pair after their residency. They'll either be fully run in or destroyed (!), so again no promises. However, a review of this loudspeaker is a rare event, that we dearly hope to bring you, although you can hear them for yourself in any case beforehand, if you can make it to Merchants Tavern in East London. " See the complete December table of contents and editorial of Hi-Fi World by clicking here.

OPPO PM-3 Planar Magnetic Headphones And HA-2 Portable Headphone Amplifier
OPPO Digital has revealed their new PM-3 planar magnetic headphones and HA-2 portable headphone amplifier. OPPO's new products are still under development and their PM-3 is a lightweight, closed-back planar magnetic headphone that provides "excellent sound quality and portability" while the HA-2 is a portable headphone amplifier with built-in rechargeable battery designed to pair with mobile phones and portable music players. Following the company's successful launch of the PM-1 and PM-2 planar magnetic headphones, OPPO continues to develop their planar magnetic driver technology. Technological breakthroughs achieved during the PM-1's development, such as the seven-layer double-side voice coil diaphragm design and FEM-optimized neodymium magnet system, have enabled OPPO to further reduce the weight of the planar magnetic drivers while maintaining high fidelity sound quality and high sensitivity. As a result, the new drivers are said to be "even more suitable for a portable product and can be easily driven with any smartphone or portable music player". New to the PM-3 is its closed back design, which will allow consumers to enjoy their favorite music anywhere while being isolated from outside noise. For users who need more power and better performance than a typical smartphone or portable music player can offer, the HA-2 portable headphone amplifier may be an excellent choice. Featuring a hybrid class AB amplifier and a USB DAC supporting 384kHz PCM and DSD256, the HA-2 offers high performance digital-to-analog conversion for both Apple's iPhone/iPod and many Android devices. A 3.5 mm input works with the remaining portable music players that do not have a USB-compatible digital output. Convenience features such as 30-minute rapid charging and a mobile device power bank make the HA-2 a true companion for music on the go.

Industry News 10 Years Ago
Life for four major recording labels shows that history appears to repeat itself. EMI, Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music have been handed a subpoena from the New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer accusing the music labels of payola. This is an illegal practice where bribes are given from the music labels to influential persons in exchange for airplay. This is not the first time such things have occurred within the music industry and proves how major recording labels may attempt to control the airwaves. It also should send a signal to congress to disband such companies as Clear Channel because they own over 1,200 radio stations, with investments in 240 radio stations globally. In fact Clear Channel is in 248 of the top 250 radio markets, controlling a staggering 60 percent of all rock programming. This makes payola all the more frightening and why many people are choosing to support independent radio stations.

10 / 26 / 14

Blues Masters at the Crossroads Concert
From the Blues Masters at the Crossroads concert we have just posted a new article and two videos. We are working on mastering two more performances today and hope to bring them to you as soon as we can. This is a long, and painstaking, process. Thus if only one gets done today we will be extremely happy. Thank you for your patience, we truly do appreciate it.

Recording and mastering the Blues Masters at the Crossroads 2014 concert.

Videos

Rip Lee Pryor

Moreland & Arbuckle

 
Joe Beard & Lazy Lester With Marquise Knox

10 / 24 / 14

Blues Masters at the Crossroads Video Featuring Rip Lee Pryor
Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV presents live concert footage from Blues Masters at the Crossroads 2014 by Acoustic Sounds and Chad Kassem. The Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, now in its 17th year as the preeminent authentic blues concert in the world, has the very best in blues music. Our first video from this incredible event features Rip Lee Pryor. Editor and Creative Director of Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV, Steven R. Rochlin, painstakingly mastered the audio and video to deliver the very best experience. We want you to feel as though you are at this amazing live concert event! As always, in the end what really matters is that you... Enjoy the music! Click here to see the video.

CanJam Report By Michael Mercer Plus More RMAF 2014 Videos Too!
Enjoy the Music.com proudly celebrated our eleven years of reporting on the highly popular RMAF 2014 event (Rocky Mountain Audio Fest), the CanJam 2014 event was also held from October 10th through 12th at the Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel. CanJam specializes in portable media devices (PMP) such as headphones, in-ear monitors (IEM), computer/portable DACs and amplifiers, etc. Operated by the online discussion board Head-Fi, this was without a doubt the most diverse and largest CanJam in history! In fact they had so many exhibitors wanting to attend that their normal, extremely large space couldn't contain it all. As such, various manufacturers had tables in the Atrium area, which is just outside the main CanJam area. The sheer quantity of new product announcements and special product reveals was also at an unprecedented level! Attendees could also enjoy a special Saturday Night Social filled with music, food, drink and of course comradery with many designers, manufactures and equipment importers. See our special Michael Mercer / video CanJam page and we added 8 more videos from RMAF 2014 here.

Pandora AMP Connects Artists To Their Fans
Online streaming music service Pandora has introduced AMP (Artists Marketing Platform). This new initiative helps artists understand where their fans are located, to then better target their audience. "Solving this problem has always been one of the great promises of the web, and it is a founding mission of Pandora," says Pandora, "Our goal is to connect artists with fans who will love their music. And now, almost 10 years in, we are at a scale where we can begin to really make a difference. More than 76 million listeners tune in on average for well over 20 hours per month to listen to their favorite musicians. We have 125,000-plus artists playing on Pandora, and 11,900 of them have over 100,000 unique listeners that have thumbed up their music. That audience and engagement presents a great opportunity for artists, and that's why we're so excited to launch our artist marketing platform, AMP. With AMP, we hope to make the day in and day out easier for artists by eliminating the guesswork. From finding out what songs are performing well to inform singles or set lists, to mapping where an artist's fan base is to inform tour schedules, our ultimate goal is to help artists across the spectrum build and maintain their careers. We're just getting started, but we have a strong vision for where this can lead and are excited to watch it take shape."

Music That Makes You Dumb
Though a bit dated, this 2009 research by Virgil Griffith correlates between musical tastes and dumbitude (smartitude too). The equation is as follows: Music <=> Colleges <=> Average SAT Scores. Then plot the average SAT of each "favorite music" choice and discard those with too few samples to have a reliable average. It does come up with some interesting data as we look at the charted person's intelligence relate to the type of music they listen to. While this research is from 2009, it would be quite interesting to see an updated version conducted by a college or independent researcher. Of course all generalizations are wrong, as relying on averages in this type of technique has flaws. Perhaps a better way to correlate data is via questionnaires to 1,000,000 people over a broad spectrum of society and geographic locations. You can see the full charting at the link above. Below is the exact action/formula employed by Virgil Griffith:

1.Get a friend of yours to download, using Facebook, the ten most frequent "favorite music" at every college via that college's Network Statistics page on Facebook (manually -- as not to violate Facebook's ToS). These ten "favorite musics" are perhaps indicative of the overall intellectual milieu of that college. 

2.Download the average SAT/ACT score (from CollegeBoard) for students attending every college.

3.Presto! We have a correlation between musical tastes and dumbitude (smartitude too)!
Music <=> Colleges <=> Average SAT Scores

4.Plot the average SAT of each "favorite music", discarding those with too few samples to have a reliable average.

5.Post the results on your website, pondering what the Internet will think of it.

Industry News 10 Years Ago
It appears various legal events have come to the forefront within the online high-end audiophile community. One situation is with Monster Cable Corporation is in legal entanglements with an online vintage cloths store. Another is the recent events concerning Atma-Sphere's founder Ralph Karsten and the new majority share holders Glacier Audio. We at Enjoy the Music.com have released our November editorial a few days before the full issue concerning these matters. To read our commentary concerning the aforementioned matters please click here.

10 / 23 / 14

RMAF 2014 Videos!
Enjoy the Music.com celebrated our eleven years of reporting on the highly popular RMAF 2014 event (Rocky Mountain Audio Fest)! RMAF 2014 that featured high-end, high fidelity audio equipment at the Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel from October 11^th through the 13^th. Enjoy the Music.com live streamed well over 20 hours of exciting video from the RMAF 2014 hi-fi, high-end audio show! We visited a variety of rooms / exhibition spaces and streaming it all live to our worldwide audience. Each day we'll be adding more video excerpts from our live coverage so click here to see them all.

Thorens TD 203 Vinyl LP Turntable
Thorens entry level TD 203 turntable €699 ($890) is a high-quality yet affordable out-of-the box solution for vinyl LP playback. The Thorens TD203 turntable comes fully assembled and works straight out of the box. A clever packaging system means that it takes no more than five minutes from opening the box to playing the first music from a vinyl LP record. The motor is decoupled from the plinth by means of rubber elements, and the bearing is made from bronze, which ensure longevity and years of listening pleasure. The belt tension can be easily re-adjusted if required, the pick-up cartridge changed in a matter of minutes, and the platter speed fine-tuned by simply turning a screw. One you get the Thorens TD203 turntable, you open the box, place the turntable on a rack, level its sub-chassis, loop the belt around the sub-platter, place the platter on the sub-platter, set the correct tracking force and get ready to re-discover your record collection. While the TD 203 is factory-set to provide exceptional out-of-the-box performance, it leaves aficionados room to fine-tune and adjust the performance to their personal preferences. The tonearm, for example, offers facilities to adjust the height (vertical tracking angle, a.k.a. VTA) and the cartridge's perpendicularity to the record's surface (azimuth). Along with the TD 203, Thorens is launching the TP 82 tonearm. The TP 82 is a uni-pivot design – a first in this price class. The TP 82's bearing is a carbide tip resting within an intricate arrangement of five very small bearing balls. This configuration allows the arm to move freely and without friction in both the vertical and the horizontal planes while providing an extremely high degree of stability. This, again, also ensures longevity. The turntable/tonearm combination comes pre-installed with the THORENS® TAS 257 cartridge, a high-quality moving-magnet pick-up suitable for all MM phono inputs. Included are a cartridge alignment protractor and a stylus gauge (used to set the correct tracking force) as well as a specially designed 4mm strong transparent Perspex dust cover. Thorens entry-level MM 002 phonostage is available as an option. The Thorens TD 203 will be available from specialist retailers in high-gloss red, black or white.

10 / 22 / 14

The Absolute Sound November Issue
Enjoy the Music.com just posted The Absolute Sound's November edition filled with many great equipment and music reviews plus think pieces. This issue includes their 40 Greatest Bargains in High-End Audio (and where to find them in this issue). TAS picks the greatest values in high-end audio today including speakers, preamplifiers, amplifiers, phonostages, CD/SACD players, music servers, portable media players, turntables and much more! Equipment reviews include the Bluesound wireless multi-room audio system, Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSDse DAC, and the Magnepan 3.7i loudspeaker. In his editorial, Robert Harley says "We live in a world of astonishing technological advancements, but one aspect of this landscape that doesn't get much attention paid is just how easily humans adapt to, and even take for granted, startling technologies that only a short time before would have been the stuff of science fiction. We casually incorporate into our daily lives each successive innovation as though it were in the natural order of things. But once in a rare while, something shocks our tacit sense of acceptance and causes us to take a step back and think about just how fantastical the world has become." See the November issue of TAS by clicking here.

Cream: 1966 – 1972 Vinyl LP Box Set
Universal Music Enterprises will be releasing Cream: 1966 – 1972 box set that includes six studio and live LPs brought together for the first time on November 24th. Each LP will have exact reproductions of original artwork to retain authenticity, and will be pressed in 180-gram heavyweight audiophile vinyl and contained in a rigid slipcase box. The British rock supergroup was formed in 1966, and consisted of bassist/singer Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker, and guitarist/singer Eric Clapton. Their sound was characterized by a hybrid of blues rock, hard rock and bourgeoning psychedelic rock, combining imaginative lyrics, often written by poet Pete Brown, Eric Clapton's innovative blues guitar playing, Jack Bruce's operatic voice and fluid bass playing and Ginger Baker's jazz-influenced drumming. The group soon evolved further creating a trademark approach built around each musician's virtuoso playing. Their live performances soon became renowned for lengthy improvisational pieces based on traditional blues structures such as "Crossroads'" and "Spoonful," modern blues such as "Born Under a Bad Sign," and their own songs such as "White Room" and Ginger Baker's powerhouse showcase "Toad." Non-stop touring saw Cream breakthrough in America where Wheels of Fire, released in August 1968, topped the United States charts for a month and was the world's first platinum-selling double album. By the end of 1968, however, Cream had disbanded after less than two and a half years during which time they set new standards in rock musicianship and generally raised the bar for rock music as a credible and critical form. In 2006 Cream received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contribution to, and influence on, modern music. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and worldwide album sales are estimated at 17 million.

Bowers & Wilkins T7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Bowers & Wilkins T7 ($349.99) combines Bluetooth wireless streaming with compact size, rechargeable convenience and high-quality sound. This is the company's first commercial application of their Micro Matrix technology, which is derived from the Matrix internal bracing used in the reference 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers and developed as part of Bowers & Wilkins next-generation automotive audio concepts. The Micro Matrix honeycomb structure provides substantial cabinet stiffening and a solid platform for the T7's drive units. The T7 uses two patent-pending force-canceling high-output bass radiators to extend low frequencies, which help deliver depth and richness to the sound. The T7's two highly optimized 2" drive units are the result of a very long evaluation process undertaken by some of the very best listeners in the business and acoustic engineers. aptX Bluetooth ensures high-definition detail isn't lost in wireless transmission when streaming audio directly from any Bluetooth-enabled PC, tablet or mobile phone. Easy-to-use, yet unobtrusive, controls are supported by a unique collection of audio cues developed in collaboration with Mira Calix, an international composer, artist, and performer who works with sound across a range of formats. T7 is the most portable standalone speaker Bowers & Wilkins has ever produced and is the size of a hardcover book for high portability. The T7's rechargeable battery grants you the freedom to take it with you wherever you go, for up to 18 hours at normal listening levels. High-performance digital-to-analogue converters (DACs) ensure audio is as faithful as possible to the source material. Digital signal processing ensures sound is carefully controlled. Two filterless Class D amplifiers are said to deliver smooth and open sound with high detail and tight bass.

TRON Electric Atlantic 300B Vacuum Tube Amplifier
TRON Electric, a UK-based company that designs and builds amplifiers to deliver a musically emotional experience, is now offering their new TRON Electric Atlantic vacuum tube amplifier (£7250 including custom flight case to ship anywhere in the world). Every amplifier is designed and hand built by Graham Tricker, who selects each individual component based on one criterion alone: what will deliver absolute sound quality to free the soul of the music. The Atlantic is a "platform" amplifier meaning that the case and circuit design can be made available as a vacuum tube power amplifier using the 300B, 2A3, 45, etc and as an integrated amplifier. It can also be configured as a monoblock power amplifier. The first version is a 300B stereo power amplifier and is the company's smallest 300B amps with a footprint of just 40cm x 25cm. Power output is around 9 Watts across the audio spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with a usable bandwidth up to to 95 kHz (-3dB). The chassis is made from CNC machined Aircraft grade alloy, designed so that no nuts, bolts or fasteners are show. It is fitted with two unique DC filament supplies for heating the 300B output valves. The Atlantic is an extremely low noise design so perfect for any high efficiency loudspeaker including horns. C-Core output transformers, C-Core chokes and D3a driver stage are just some of the design highlights. Teflon valve/tube bases, CMC input RCA connections and a very short signal path continue the features of this high fidelity audio amplifier design.

10 / 21 / 14

Schiit Audio Mani Photostage
Schiit Audio's new Mani phono preamplifier ($129) is their most flexible inexpensive phono preamp on the market. There are four different gain levels to accommodate virtually any cartridge from moving coil to Decca, plus selectable loading too. Mani features a fully passive RIAA network with two separately switchable gain blocks, for 30, 42, 48, and 59 dB settings. There are separate low-noise and low-distortion amplifier stages to deliver high performance and a vanishingly low noise floor. High-output cartridges, even the renowned Deccas, are easily accommodated, as are other moving magnet, moving coil and low-output moving coil cartridges. "A lot of people ask me 'why is the father of audiophile digital moving into analog now?'" says Schiit Audio designer Mike Moffat "The truth is, I never really left. People forget there was a Theta Electronics before Theta Digital, and I did a lot of work on tubes, and on phono preamps. Now, it makes sense to come back to it with a really affordable, flexible, and great-sounding product." Frequency response is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the Mani's dimensions are 5" x 3.5" x 1.25" and it weighs 1 lb.

TIDAL CD Quality Online Streaming Music
TIDAL is making waves as their CD quality streaming music service partnerships and integration expands. TIDAL can be found in 16 home audio brands and is working closely with its integration partners to ensure that music lovers will be able to register and experience their catalog of over 25 million tracks at CD quality sound. Their music service is available within Sonos, Denon HEOS, Harman Omni, Bluesound & NAD, Meridian, Auralic, Electrocompaniet, Simple Audio, Raumfeld, Dynaudio, Audiovector, Pro-ject, Airable by Tune In Media, HiFiAkademie and ickStream. Users simply need to sign up to the service for access. The company plans to add more brands across a wide variety of platforms in the near future. TIDAL also has dedicated apps available for iOS and Android phones and tablets plus web playes for PC/MAC platforms. "The reaction from the home audio industry to TIDAL has been exceptional and we are really excited that our first 16 confirmed partners are such highly-considered brands in the industry, " said Andy Chen, CEO at TIDAL. "Experiencing TIDAL on high-quality home audio systems and headphones proves just how good high-quality music streaming can sound. We will therefore offer TIDAL across the broadest selection of home audio systems with these premium partners and more to come." As an advertisement-free, lossless, CD-quality music and HD music video streaming service with extensive curated editorial expertise, TIDAL will be available in the UK and the United States of America for a monthly subscription of £19.99 / $19.99 starting in autumn 2014.

Legacy Audio V Speaker
Legacy Audio new model V high performance floorstanding loudspeaker is their "groundbreaking achievement" four-way system. This is their first to use the Legacy Wavelet Processor, which is an advanced speaker and room resonance correction system with DAC/Preamplifier. The V features open air dipole midrange, dual subwoofers with internal amplification, two Legacy 4" long AMT tweeters in a specially optimized post convergent array and carefully crafted finish options. The Legacy V is their first to use a 4" long Legacy AMT neodymium tweeters, arranged in a specially optimized post convergent array that has a frequency response that extends to 30 kHz. Dual 6" curvilinear driver with phase plug are configured in dipolar array. V also features two open air dual 14" carbon/pulp drivers and two 12" drivers. The bass section includes 2,800 Watts of the latest generation of ICEpower amplification. The Legacy Wavelet Processor is a preamp and four-way crossover with time alignment that provides a complete speaker and room resonance correction system. The Preamp and DAC can also be bypassed at the touch of a button. Wavelet optimizes the loudspeaker/room acoustic transfer function in both the frequency and time domains. Working with new algorithms, it starts with a psychoacoustically based measurement method with the provided calibrated microphone. Alignments are then individually optimized within a 40ms window by way of a wireless iPad, smart phone or computer. The result is audibly improved transient response that allows the V system to operate accurately and consistently in virtually any listening environment. The intricately crafted cabinet features optional high gloss, real wood veneer and aluminum extrusions. The elegant design is highlighted by a gentle illumination (with on/off switch) from within the center of each tower. Frequency response is from 16 Hz to 30 kHz and sensitivity is 98dB/W/m. Cabinet dimensions are 72" x 18.75" x 19" (HxWxD). 

10 / 16 / 14

Enjoy the Music.com Tours Acoustic Sounds
Enjoy the Music.com now offers a very special, and exclusive, 45 minute hi-res video tour within Acoustic Sounds' inner sanctuary! We join owner Chad Kassem in what is perhaps the most in-depth and informative tour of Acoustic Sounds... including a very rare look inside their inner vault! As a leading retailer, recording studio owner and hi-res online music store, there is no doubt Acoustic Sounds it a leading force ranging from music creation to retailing and all in-between. We give you an inside look at their entire main office; with yet another exclusive hi-res video soon to follow of their vinyl LP pressing plant! Come see our video and many just-posted pics within Enjoy the Music.com's pre-show coverage of the Blues Masters at the Crossroads concert. We'll be netcasting their entire blues concert this weekend so be sure to tune in to that starting Friday at 7:30pm Salina, KS time. We look forward to seeing you there! You can chat with us during the event too as we'll have a live widown for you to ask questions and comment on this event as it happen. You can tag us on Twitter, too, via #BluesMastersAtTheCrossroads! As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!

10 / 14 / 14

Enjoy the Music.com Teams Up With TAVES Consumer Electronics Show
From October 31st to November 2nd, the TAVES Consumer Electronics Show at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in downtown Toronto, Canada, will be the ultimate event for Canadians passionate about technology. TAVES will feature the latest devices in technology for home audio, home theater, electronic gadgets, digital photography, and a special preview of many products not yet available! For this 2014 event, products of interest never before available at TAVES Consumer Electronics Show will be included within the New Technology Arena, Jolt Art Gallery, a digital photography / imaging area as well as a dedicated headphone / portable audio section. Introduced for the first time in 2014, the New Technology Arena will enable visitors to see groundbreaking electronic products and prototypes – many funded by Kickstarter and Indiegogo crowd-funding campaigns. "TAVES is delighted that Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV will be offering coverage to their readers, including live video coverage, of the TAVES Consumer Electronics Show" said Suave Kajko, President of TAVES Consumer Electronics Show. "For the first time, we will have live coverage streaming online to help inform and educate consumers on the wide variety of electronics available in the marketplace today. Enjoy the Music.com has always provided a wonderful written perspective of our event and we expect that the live streamed video coverage will take this to the next level. The timing couldn't be better since this year TAVES will offer a greatly expanded show floor, with many new product categories featured for the very first time including holographic displays, 3D printing, replicating, Oculus Rift, Tesla, and more. We look forward to the unique perspective and insight that Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV offers." See our press release here. 

Enjoy the Music.com / Enjoy the Music.TV Blues Masters at the Crossroads
Enjoy the Music.com's sister site Enjoy the Music.TV is right now on-location at the Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios! We just posted many photos of the concert hall, with special attention paid to the inner recording studio section. Scheduled to appear includes performances by Rip Lee Pryor, Moreland & Arbuckle, Marquise Knox, Big George Brock, Kim Wilson, Joe Beard, Lazy Lester, Mighty Sam McClain, Sonny Green, Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn, and Bernard Allison. Taking place in Salina, Kansas, October 17th and 18th at a converted 1925 church sanctuary, the musical gospel continues to resonate within the walls of this historic building. You can see Enjoy the Music.com's pre-show and recoding studio photos here. Keep checking back as we will be adding more photos, perhaps a few teaser videos, etc right up until our live stream! We'll be making blues music history as Enjoy the Music.com's sister site, Enjoy the Music.TV, will be live streaming Acoustic Sounds' Blues Masters at the Crossroads concert for the entire world to enjoy the music. Yet that is not all, as after the concert we'll be moving our studio to a special remote location hotel where these incredible blues musicians jam out all night long! This after-concert event has never been recorded in hi-res, let alone streamed online too, and we plan to broadcast this for you to join us in the fun! Oh, you want more? Ok, how about we give you the opportunity to interact live with many of these great blues musicians via our integrated Internet chat! Adding to that, we also have Twitter integration and you can connect with us live at #BluesMastersAtTheCrossroads!

10 / 13 / 14

RMAF 2014 Live Video Report
Enjoy the Music.com live streamed well over 20 hours of originally-produced video from the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2014 event. We visited a variety of rooms / exhibition spaces and streaming it all live to our worldwide audience! In the coming weeks, we will be posting videos within our YouTube Channel in a more one-by-one basis per manufacturer / seminar. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!

Enjoy the Music.com Posts Rick Becker's NYAS Part 4 Show Coverage
Enjoy the Music.com just posted part 4 of photojournalist Rick Becker's extensive NYAS 2014 show report. Rick's final installment covering this Brooklyn event in not to be missed!

10 / 09 / 14

Enjoy the Music.com Posts Rick Becker's NYAS Part 3 Show Coverage
Enjoy the Music.com just posted part 3 of photojournalist Rick Becker's extensive NYAS 2014 show report. We added yet another two more pages with excellent information on the products seen during the New York Audio Show 2014 in Brooklyn. Rick Becker gives you wonderful reporting on all the sights and sounds at the NYAS 2014! Remember to click on the photos with a red circle on the lower right so you can see our hi-res details of all the visually stunning gear that was seen and heard at NYAS 2014.

10 / 08 / 14

T+A Elektroakustik PDP 3000 HV SACD/CD Player With DAC
T+A Elektroakustik PDP 3000 HV ($20,000) SACD/CD player plus DAC is in the company's flagship HV (High Voltage) series and has been developed specifically to reproduce high-resolution audio data without any trace of compromise. The T+A engineering team has equipped the PDP 3000 HV with an excellent disc mechanism that reads CD and SACD media, and then transfers the data to the PDP 3000 HV's high-performance PCM and DSD converters. The unit comes equipped with seven digital inputs for a wide variety of digital sources. T+A Elektroakustik's PDP 3000 case is crafted out of solid aluminum and no ferromagnetic materials. Aluminum dividers separate five shielded sub-compartments, which house the disc mechanism with decoder board and digital inputs, the D/A converter with analog output stage, the analog mains power supply, the digital mains power supply and stored within the solid aluminum front panel is the control section with its ultra-bright screen and sensor buttons. The disc transport mechanism is mounted on just two close-tolerance pushrods, which completely de-couple it from the outer case. This in turn prevents the transmission of external pressure waves, vibration or structural sound from the mounting surface to the electronics and disc mechanism. A high-torque synchronous motor moves the disc carrier block smoothly and quietly by means of a precision-made de-coupled spindle. The loading mechanism makes it easy to insert discs without damaging them; they are held in securely in place by an anti-resonance puck. The heart of the PDP 3000 HV is a quadruple double-differential DAC based on the same converter employed in the company's T+A MP 3000 HV model. The converter features a supplementary signal path for processing DSD signals. Digital input signals pass through T+A's jitter-reduction stage, which receives the data from either the CD/SACD transport or any of the seven digital inputs before being processed by the converter. The USB input is equipped with the latest USB interfaces and is capable of handling PCM and DSD audio. DSD data is passed directly to the converter modules. The current/voltage transducers, which are downstream of the D/A converter, are fully discrete. Analog output stages include unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR.

10 / 07 / 14

Enjoy the Music.com / Enjoy the Music.TV Will Live Stream Blues Masters at the Crossroads
The Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, now in its 17th year as the preeminent authentic blues concert in the world, will feature performances by Rip Lee Pryor, Moreland & Arbuckle, Marquise Knox, Big George Brock, Kim Wilson, Joe Beard, Lazy Lester, Mighty Sam McClain, Sonny Green, Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn, and Bernard Allison. Taking place in Salina, Kansas, October 17th and 18th at a converted 1925 church sanctuary, the musical gospel continues to resonate within the walls of this historic building. To bring the 'good word to the streets', Enjoy the Music.com's sister site Enjoy the Music.TV will be live streaming Blues Masters at the Crossroads for the first time in recorded history, so the world can see and hear the live sound of true, authentic blues music during this momentous event. "Blues Masters at the Crossroads has always been a treat for the ears and eyes, so it's going to be an incredible event that is being streamed live on Enjoy the Music.com's sister site Enjoy the Music.TV," said Acoustic Sounds Founder Chad Kassem, who has presented the Blues Masters at the Crossroads concerts for the past 16 years. "The venue, the performers, and of course the music, will all work together to give viewers a powerful experience. We're all fired up about taking our blues concerts to the next level."

"Words can not truly describe just how much Enjoy the Music.TV is looking forward to live streaming Blues Masters at the Crossroads," said Editor and Creative Director of Enjoy the Music.com Steven R. Rochlin. "We will be broadcasting musical performances from authentic, well-respected blues musicians who have truly lived this unique genre of music that originated within African-American communities located in deep South of the USA. When hearing the blues, it resonates deeply with one's soul. As a genuinely American sound, there is no doubt that once you hear the blues you are hooked for life. It is our honor to stream this event live for the first time in blues music history. We also hope to have a few of the musicians answer questions within our live chat and via Twitter #BluesMasters2014." See our full press release here.

Vinnie Rossi LIO Modular Hi-Fi Audio Stereo System
Vinnie Rossi, with their first product at the upcoming RMAF 2014 show, will be debuting their new LIO modular high fidelity audio stereo system. The LIO starts out as a base chassis/power supply ($1995) and then you can build out with a Headphone Amp, MM/MC Phonostage and/or tube stage ($595 each). You could also add a DSD/PCM DAC and/or MOSFET amp ($695 each). For volume control, you can get a Resistor Volume Control (RVC, $295) or an Autoformer Volume Control (AVC, $1395). Analog inputs are $295 and lastly Remote Cartridge Loading (RCL) is $395. Vinnie Rossi's LIO includes an all-new, patent-pending power supply design that completely isolates all audio circuitry from the AC mains power at all times. LIO's internal power supply uses Rossi's groundbreaking "PURE DC-4-EVR" technology that employs ultracapacitor banks in place of conventional AC power or batteries. While one bank of ultracapacitors is feeding pure DC current to the audio circuits, the other bank is charging. This approach is said by the manufacturer to "provide dramatic performance and durability advantages over every other power supply technology whether AC or battery". The modular design eliminated multiple boxes as users can configure a system that perfectly combines all of their current audio needs into one chassis. When ready to add functionality or upgrade to new technology, a user simply adds and/or changes plug-in modules (no soldering or special electronics knowledge needed). The MOSFET stereo amplifier module produces 45 WPC @ 4 Ohms. Of note is that the "base" LIO module includes the chassis with power supply, line-level output module, brushed DuPont Corian front & side panels, aluminum knobs and bottom, top and rear panels, Bluetooth wireless control module (allows control via a smart device with LIO app), dedicated remote control handset and external power adapter. At least one of the following Performance Modules must be selected to make LIO a functional component: Phonostage, DSD/PCM DAC, MOSFET Amp, or Headphone Amp. Vinnie Rossi's LIO is hand crafted in the USA and will be available for sale in mid-November directly from the manufacturer.

Astell&Kern Blue Note 75th Anniversary Package: Limited Edition
Astell&Kern worked with Blue Note to offer their 75th Anniversary Package: Limited Edition. Astell&Kern, the industry's leading hi-res portable music player that delivers recording studio sound quality, has announced a special package partnership with Blue Note Records to commemorate the record company's 75th anniversary in the world of Jazz and Blues. A total of 75 legendary Blue Note jazz albums, which have been remastered in 24-bit/192kHz digital format, will include five special Blue Note albums that make their exclusive hi-res audio debuts with this release. These five special titles include Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Mosaic, Tina Brooks True Blue, Don Cherry Complete Communion, Andrew Hill Point Of Departure, and Bobby Hutcherson Components. This truly phenomenal collection spans Blue Note's storied history, from Thelonious Monk's first sessions in 1947 to Grammy Award-winning jazz legend Gregory Porter's Liquid Spirit. Each album, stored within a high resolution on a microSD card, come with an accompanying acrylic glass case with original album artwork. These are all stacked in a stylish, decorative tower that can be placed within your home decor. All 75 albums are pre-loaded on the included within Astell&Kern's top-of-the-range AK240 high-resolution audio player. A special hardbound book is filled with original album art (front and back cover) for the 75 titles, as well as Richard Havers' new book, Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the AK120 and AK240.

Tears For Fears Songs from the Big Chair Super Deluxe Edition Box Set
Tears For Fears Songs from the Big Chair six-disc Super Deluxe Edition Box Set will be released on November 11th from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and is the band's most extensive reissue to date! The six-disc set includes previously unreleased material and 5.1 surround sound tracks mixed by recording engineer Steven Wilson. Tears for Fears' 10,000,000 selling second album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), marked a transition in the band's sound and catapulted them into international prominence. As a group, Tears for Fears led pop music in the mid-80's in both the United States and Europe with songs from the album that dominated the radio airwaves. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" led the Songs from the Big Chair single releases, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985. "Shout" was the band's second single and stayed at No. 1 for three weeks. The album inevitably went straight to No. 1, selling 5-million copies in the United States alone. Songs from the Big Chair peaked at No. 2 on the United Kingdom album charts and remained in the Top 10 for over six months. Soon to be available in five extended formats, this is the most comprehensive reissue of Songs from the Big Chair to date. The six-disc, deluxe edition box set features a multitude of remixes and B-sides, plus a disc of nine previously unreleased tracks and a 5.1 surround sound version of the album mixed by renowned musician and audio engineer Steven Wilson. Tears for Fears are currently in the recording studio working on their first album in nearly a decade, with a release tentatively slated for 2015. Pre-orders for the Digital Super Deluxe Edition will receive an instant download of the full original remastered album when the album is released. The complete physical box set includes: 

A six disc Super Deluxe Edition Box Set that features four CDs and two DVDs
A 30 page replica tour program plus 32 page booklet
Two CD Deluxe Edition
One CD remaster
One 180-gram vinyl LP
Pure Audio Blu-ray Edition

XTZ Headphone Devine Includes DSP Technology
XTZ, a company that specializes in high quality audio devices, has begun their new Kickstarter campaign for their Headphone Devine, which is the world's first wireless headphones that includes built-in digital signal processing (DSP) plus Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC pairing. The built-in DSP sound optimization includes an algorithm for both frequency and impulse response. Bluetooth 4.0 technology with aptX codec means no more cables to tangle or break. With the ability for NFC pairing, your headphones can easily connect to any mobile device such as those with the Android OS or new Apple products. So why use DSP? According to XTZ, "In all mechanical systems, there are physical constraints. As headphones are by nature a combination of electrics, mechanics and acoustics, it is impossible to avoid these constraints entirely. That's why we use the help of a digital sound processor (DSP) – this technology enables us to move these physical limits even further and thus to optimize your sound experience. Although the development of our DSP technology demanded time and money, the application on the products is rather inexpensive. We already have a DSP app for iOS in use, but would need to align this app with our new Headphone Divine. DSP is not just DSP! There is a broad range of quality when it comes to DSP algorithms. Dirac has spent many years to optimize their software algorithm. Thereby, it advanced to be the best algorithm provider on the market. That's why many other famous brands also use their DSP technologies... With our DSP app from Dirac, you can customize your own sound experience. No matter whether it's noisy or silent around you; with the possibility to choose between our five different characters, you can always adjust the sound individually to your surroundings." By enabling Bluetooth 4.0 technology, XTZ gives listeners the freedom to enjoy your music without any cables up to 33 feet away. For the best wireless quality, they add aptX audio coding that delivers virtual CD-quality wirelessly over Bluetooth. A multi-function key adjusts volume, play, pause, and answer. An internal battery provides up to 14 hours of continuous play. The headphone's ear-cushions and headband are made with soft Korean leatherette for comfort. XTZ's Headphone Divine weighs 170 grams, accepts industry standard micro USB cable for charging and has a microphone for answering a phone call and sound recording.

10 / 06 / 14

TARA Labs Evolution Series Cables
TARA Labs new Evolution Series is the company's "new watershed in the art and science of audio cable design". There are three distinct levels of audio cables in the Evolution Series, starting with the AIR Evolution Interconnects and Speaker Cables. The AIR Evolution Interconnect uses the multi-lumen air-tube concept invented by TARA Labs as used in the AIR Series Interconnects originally developed in 1986. The next level in the Evolution Series is the all-new ZERO Evolution Interconnect and OMEGA Evolution Speaker Cable. The ZERO Evolution Interconnect replaces TARA Labs' ZERO Gold Interconnect, and the OMEGA Evolution Speaker Cable replaces the OMEGA Gold Speaker Cable. The new Evolution Interconnect boasts a remarkably low capacitance figure of just two pF per foot. This means that the new ZERO Evolution Interconnect should deliver extended high frequency bandwidth says the company. The ZERO Evolution Interconnect uses the same displaced and Floating Shield design together with a HFX Ground system to provide greater absorption of RF/EMI and a vanishingly low background noise. TARA Labs' Grandmaster Evolution Interconnect has a greater displacement between the shield and the conductors within the cable. This reduces the shield to conductor capacitance from any RF/EMI noise in the shield for a "truly silent, black noise floor". The Grandmaster Evolution Speaker Cable is a very large loudspeaker cable design; the result of nearly 30 years of audio cable design and understanding. Each positive and negative run, comprises eight conductor groups helixed around Teflon air-tubes for a total of 288 conductors per channel. Imagine a cable that is 000 AWG, or 85 square millimeters per channel, and is able to transfer high voltage and current.

DEQX PreMate+ And HDP-5
DEQX Pty Ltd will be exhibiting at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) introducing their PreMate+ and HDP-5 ($5995 and $6495 respectively), both featuring a 4.3" 24-bit LCD touchscreen display. The new DEQX PreMate+ is for two-channel audio for those whose room may require certain compromises in loudspeaker placement and/or cost. This full-function preamp/processor includes comprehensive loudspeaker and room calibration plus full preamplification functionality with a hi-res DAC. The unit calibrates your listening space by removing audible distortion with subsequent room compensation. The results are proper timing, phase and amplitude accuracy. DEQX's HDP-5 provides the company's best audio quality and highest level of functionality including volume control, Forensic Tone Control, and supports three-way DEQX XO Active Crossovers. Using DEQX XO, the HDP-5 replaces the loudspeakers' crossovers and tailors each tri-amplified channel for their individual drivers just as in pro audio. The DEQX achieves results with linear-phase crossovers. A new A8 ARM 1GHz CPU with a 4.3" 24-bit LCD touchscreen offers 480 x 272 resolution and provides volume control, input, profile selections, and input VU levels or peak levels for all inputs and outputs. A settings page allows user-defined display options including dimming and turning the display off.

Beats Banned By The NFL Due To Bose Sponsorship
Hot news off the press is that a recent deal formed between Bose and the NFL (National Football League) is that the NFL will not allow players the freedom to wear whatever headphones they desire. Bose's deal forces players, team staff, etc to only wear Bose or no headphones at all while on camera during game day and press conferences. Deals such as these have been made elsewhere in the world, including that between FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) concerning players not being able to wear Beats headphones on game days or during media events. As the controversy goes, FIFA attempted to ban Beats headphones ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, yet various players went against said ban and thus wore Beats headphones anyway. Beats has earned approximately 61% of sales within the USA for headphones that cost over $100 according to the NPD Group. Beats said, "Over the last few years athletes have written Beats into their DNA as part of the pre-game ritual. Music can have a significant positive effect on an athlete's focus and mental preparedness and has become as important to performance as any other piece of equipment."

Enjoy the Music.com Posts Rick Becker's NYAS Part 2 Show Coverage
Enjoy the Music.com just posted part 2 of photojournalist Rick Becker's extensive NYAS 2014 show report. We added two more pages filled with excellent information on the products seen during the New York Audio Show 2014 in Brooklyn. Rick Becker has far more to add within his NYAS 2014 report and we'll of course let you know when we post more of his extensive show report right here on Enjoy the Music.com.

Docet-Lektor DLS-1 DSD Hybrid Module
Docet-Lektor now offers a new DLS-1 DSD hybrid module for active filtering. Features of this new module include DSD USB v-1, v-2 , v-3 and input direct. The data stream inputs are electrically isolated whilst there is an active modulator for direct DSD. There is also an analog current/voltage output plus analog stereo mode for balanced output. The Docet-Lektor DLS-1 is a high speed hybrid module CMOS devices for DSD direct native input. It is specified in compliance with DSD standards and accepts the DSD data and clock without digital to analog converter. It outputs analog audio, which is available in both current and voltage mode, both as single-ended or balanced. Docet-Lekto's DS-1 fully balanced filter is for direct interface with an analog stage. The DLS-1 handles DSD input resolutions of 64/2.8224 MHz and 128/5.6448 MHz. Applications include use as a DSD pure modulator and filtering converter unit, update for PCM DAC converters with R2R DAC with USB-DSD input too.

10 / 05 / 14

Von Schweikert Audio VR-55 Aktive Loudspeaker
Von Schweikert Audio will be at the RMAF 2014 with a world premier of a their new VR-55 Aktive ($42,000) loudspeaker that features technology never before seen within their products. This all-new mid-sized system utilizes Finite Element Analysis (FEA) designed ceramic sandwich midrange and woofer drivers combined with a customized beryllium tweeter driven with neodymium magnets. The system is said to have distortion that is below 0.5% at normal listening levels. Von Schweikert Audio's new VR-55 Aktive also features their 'bubble of sound' dispersion pattern to produce a life-like 3-D image focus. "Due to our proprietary 'active' noise reducing Triple Wall cabinet design, along with other proprietary engineering advances, the VR-55 will astound you in every aspect of sound reproduction," says the company, "This clarity is not achieved with a 'hot' tweeter but is the result of engineering solutions to reduce distortion."

10 / 04 / 14

Apple Going To Court Over Their Use Of DRM
Apple will finally be facing the music due to their Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Years ago Apple forced iTunes users to be bogged down by their DRM technology ironically called "FairPlay". According to Wikipedia, "DRM is a class of technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders, and individuals with the intent to control the use of digital content and devices after sale." In other words, the music your purchased is controlled and limited by Apple in the way you use it. While DRM within the iTunes store is long gone, it can still be found at a variety of APPs and eBooks sales sites. Due to the alleged illegalities of employing DRM, Apple is now subject to a $350 million anti-trust lawsuit that is said to interfere with market competition. Furthermore, iMore says that "U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers denied Apple's request for summary judgment and now the lawsuit filed by RealNetworks over Apple's use of DRM on iPod devices will be sent to trial. At stake is $350 million with accusations by RealNetworks that Apple had stifled competition by locking customers into its iPod and iTunes ecosystem when it used FairPlay and repeatedly updated software to prevent RealNetworks' Harmony DRM content from being played on the iPod." The long story short is that Apple knowingly caused damage by using FairPlay to use brute force by "lock in" Apple customers to their own ecosystem of products. Apple's FairPlay repeatedly blocked songs purchased on RealPlayer from being used legally within iPods and limited on what devices songs purchased on iTunes could be played back. Apple thwarted customer's ability to play music. According to a PDF of the filed lawsuit, "In July 2004, an Apple competitor in the online music market, third party Real Networks ("Real"), introduced a new version of its own digital-song manager, RealPlayer. RealPlayer included a feature called Harmony. Harmony made songs downloaded from Real's online music store mimic FairPlay, and thus made music purchased from Real playable on iPods. Apple responded to Harmony by taking technological countermeasures to stop Harmony rom mimicking FairPlay. First, in October 2004, Apple issued an iTunes update denominated "4.7." The 4.7 update, among other things, thwarted Harmony's ability to mimic FairPlay. The Court previously held 4.7 to be a genuine product improvement and therefore lawful, and entered summary judgment in favor of Apple to the extent plaintiff's Section 2 claim rested on Apple's introduction of 4.7. iPod III, 796 F. Supp. 2d at 1146. It is Apple's second instance of disabling Harmony that forms the basis of plaintiff's present Section 2 claim. Following Apple's release of 4.7, Real modified Harmony such that it could again mimic FairPlay and make any new songs purchased from Real's online music store playable on iPods. Thereafter, in September 2006, Apple released another iTunes update that introduced a variety of features while also disabling Harmony—namely, "7.0." In an earlier summary judgment order, the Court found a triable issue of fact as to whether 7.0 was a genuine product improvement so as to not be anticompetitive... ultimately it amounts to a charge that Apple's release of 7.0 unlawfully maintained Apple's monopoly in the market for portable digital media players by making demand for iPods less elastic. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that 7.0 resulted in an increased "lock-in" effect for iPod owners who purchased songs online. Lock-in, according to plaintiffs' principal economics expert, "is a form of foreclosure that arises from actions that increase the cost to consumers of switching to a product that has better quality and/or a lower price." The court date is set for November 17th. 

One Week Until Enjoy the Music.com / Enjoy the Music.TV's Live Stream Of RMAF 2014
Colorado's Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will feature high-end, high fidelity audio equipment at the Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel from October 11th through the 13th. Attendees will enjoyed 8 floors and over 170 exhibit rooms, totaling many millions of dollars in gear to hear, see, and experience. While two-channel high fidelity audio gear takes center stage, there is a special CanJam headphone/portable media players (PMP) section plus various conferences, seminars and live music entertainment too! Enjoy the Music.com will be live streaming at the upcoming RMAF 2014. We will be visiting a variety of rooms / exhibition spaces and streaming it all live to our worldwide audience. Soon after the RMAF event, we will be providing true 1080 high resolution videos of our live streams. We look forward to reporting on exhibitors in Denver during this event. Companies showcasing their products who want to appear within Enjoy the Music.TV's live stream should contact us. You can see our RMAF 2014 / Enjoy the Music.TV press release here.

Blues Masters At The Crossroads Tickets & Live Stream
Got tickets? Blues Masters at the Crossroads tickets, that is. Join us at Acoustic Sounds/Blue Heaven Studios October 17th and 18th for the rockingest, most exciting blues show in the Midwest! You can also see how vinyl LPs are made at Quality Record Pressings and shop Acoustic Sounds' warehouse full of LPs, SACDs and more great music. Sound like a good time? You bet! Enjoy the Music.TV , sister site to Enjoy the Music.com, will be live streaming the incredible blues event! Want more? We have you you covered as may be able to chat live with the musicians between performances too!

10 / 03 / 14

Thom Yorke's Tomorrow Modern's Boxes Has Been Downloaded 1,100,000 Times
Turning the music industry on it's head, Thom Yorke's new solo album has been downloaded over 1,100,000 times on BitTorrent during the past six days. As Radiohead lead singer, his second solo album Tomorrow's Modern Boxes sold for $6 and includes a video plus a free single too. We're not sure the numbers of sold units versus freebies, as Thom Yorke has not released official breakdown of the sales figures. Tomorrow Modern's Boxes is only available via BitTorrent as a type of interesting experiment, since major record labels pay only a small fraction of the profits to musicians and streaming music services are even more challenging. "It's an experiment to see if the mechanics of the system are something that the general public can get its head around," said Thom Yorke. Of course vinyl sales are also available for those who love 12" analog music replay. BitTorrent bundles is a way for musical artists to directly benefit from their artistic creations without any added costs that result from major recording labels or the added costs of physical distribution. You can download free music or buy the BitTorrent bundle at this link. Musicians wishing to sign up and sell their music via BitTorrent bundle can do so at this link.

Hegel Music System's H160 Integrated Amplifier Includes DLNA And Apple Airplay
Hegel Music System's new H160 ($3500) stereo integrated amplifier produces 150 wpc and includes both DLNA and Apple Airplay. The unit also includes the ability to stream 24-bit/192kHz audio files over DLNA. This is the company's most recent example of their strive to design and engineer a 'one-stop solution' for their customers. Based on the core principles of Hegel Music Systems other integrated amps such as the H80 and H300, they are pushing the envelope in terms of performance and features. The H160 inherits the platform from the H80, but with significant upgrades. One is the quality of the DAC as the chips are the same, yet the implementation of them are not. Another factor is the internal power supply and power output of 150 wpc. Also uprated are the output stages, which have been improved with brand new, ultra-fast transistors. Upgrades have also been made within the preamplifier section that is said to result in less high frequency distortion and thus produce a smooth and more detailed sound. Functionality wise, there is a very high quality headphone output that can drive the most difficult headphones such as the HiFi-Man HE-6. There is a balanced input via XLR, unbalanced RCA analog input and a Home Theatre input that can be configured within the H160's software. There are also both fixed and variable line level outputs. On the digital side there are one S/PDIF coaxial, three TosLink optical, plus a USB and Ethernet network input. The network input is used for DLNA and Airplay. Dimensions are 7.72" x 16.93" x 16.15" (HxWxD) and the unit weighs a hefty 42 lbs. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the Hegel SUPER USB DAC / Headphone Amplifier and Hegel Music System HD10 DAC.

Industry News 15 Years Ago
DVD-Audio delayed! That's right, the long awaited audio format for audiophiles, DVD-Audio, seems to be delayed until the first quarter of 2000. While hardware may be available before the holiday season, three of the five leading recording companies are reported to delay the release of software for the new format until late first quarter 2000. BMG, EMI, and WEA are said to not be releasing titles this fall while Universal Group Music Group may have a small amount of titles available. Sony had no comment on the matter.

10 / 02 / 14

Hi-Fi+'s October Issue Is Now Online
Enjoy the Music.com just posted Hi-Fi+'s October edition filled with many great equipment and music reviews plus think pieces. This issue includes equipment reviews of the Aurender W20 network music server, Arcam irDAC, KEF LS50 speakers, Devialet Ensember integrated amp/loudspeaker system, Triangle Antal Anniversary speaker, HRT Airstreamer, AURALiC Gemini 2000 headphone amplifier/DAC/stand, Aaron Cineast / Millennium preamp & stereo amp, Koetsu Pure Onyx MC cartridge, OPPO PM-1 planar magnetic headphones with revised earpads and much more! In his editorial, Alan Sircom says "It goes by the slightly clunky term 'coopetition' and it's short for ‘cooperative competition'. It means, you view your competition as fellow travellers on the same path... at least, when it suits! It dates back to the time of the Danelaw, when traders used to fight to the teeth before and after their longboat journeys, but were the best of friends when it came to securing the best rates from the longboat captains. If the Vikings could do it, why can't we?" See the October issue of Hi-Fi+ by clicking here.

Enjoy the Music.com Posts More New York Audio Show 2014 Coverage
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted more information and photos within our industry leading 2014 New York Audio Show report. Bring an abundance of bandwidth as we have added many new hi-res photos plus part 1 of Rick Becker's extensive NYAS 2014 report.  Editor and Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin posted over 40 more photos that provide incredible product detail. Photojournalist Rick Becker's coverage has just begun and his part 1 spans three pages filled with many photos.