High-End Audio / Hi-Res Audio (HRA) Audiophile Industry News

     
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10 / 31 / 16

CanJam London 2016 Show Report
Head-Fi CanJam London 2016 Show Report

Australian Hi-Fi Magazine's December Issue Is Now Available
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted the December 2016 issue of Australian Hi-Fi! This issue features reviews of the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 90 loudspeakers, Lumin D1 network audio player, Prism Sound Callia DAC, Krix Acoustix MkII loudspeakers, Redgum Magnificata amplifier system, Audio Analogue Maestro Anniversary integrated amplifier, Music Hall mmf 9.1 turntable, Garrott Bros OptimFGS phono cartridge, M&K Sound V12 subwoofer, and the Sony MDR-1000X Bluetooth NC headphones. Within his editorial Why Hi-Res Is Not 'Hi-Res', Greg Borrowman says "All of which means that there's a lot of jiggery-pokery going on with the audio signal before it reaches your loudspeakers, even if you're paying a premium for so-called 'high-res' files. And in a sombre note for fans of DSD, all this jiggery-pokery is taking place in the PCM domain, because it's not possible to do this with DSD. So the huge majority of so-called 'pure DSD' recordings currently available have been, at some time in their life, PCM. I am told that a handful — literally! — of DSD recordings have been made that were recorded in DSD and kept in this format (so no editing, no volume adjustments, no splicing, nada...) but it's literally a handful. So basically, our so-called 'hi-res' music has been 'compressed', 'de-essed', 'gated', 'peak limited', and had its dynamics reduced before we even get it." See what's within this issue of Australian Hi-Fi at this link.

10 / 28 / 16

Hi-Fi World's December Issue Is Now Available Online
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted the December 2016 issue of Hi-Fi World! This issue features reviews of the Luxman PD-171a turntable, Roksan TR-5 S2 loudspeakers, Schiit Modi multi-bit DAC, Yamaha R-N602 network stereo receiver, Audiolab M-One amplifier, Wooden Bull Disc Mat / Harmonic Resolution Clamp, Final F7200 earphones, Fostex TH-610 headphones, plus show coverage of the Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2016. Within his editorial LP Revival And What's Wrong With Digital?, Noel Keywood says "Is it LP that is enjoying a revival, or analogue audio in general? As hi-fi shows spin by – Rocky Mountain Audio Fest Denver and Indulgence Show London in the last two weeks – there's still no shortage of analogue around, open-reel tape decks being the latest direction of interest. I hope this lasts because there is a need for an all-analogue recording device I believe, not because I am anti-digital, but because digital needs a standard against which it can be compared to keep it on course. High-speed master tapes are that standard. They are something we can all believe in – including a digitally obsessed music business that is now starting to see old analogue as a way forward – and also make a profit. You can't e-mail an LP to a mate or hand it away free on Pirate Bay." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World at this link.

10 / 27 / 16

Dysonics RondoMotion And RondoMic Provides 360 Degree Hi-Res Audio
For over 15 years, Dysonics core team has pursued academic research in human audio perception and spatial sound capture / reproduction, culminating in a number of patented technologies. In 2012, Dysonics emerged from the UC Davis technology incubator (ETTC) to bring-to-market a revolution in 3D audio & motion-tracking for headphones. Dysonics is a startup in the VR audio space looking to build the hardware and software workflows that give VR content creators high-fidelity solutions to bringing top-notch audio into their content. Dysonics has procured Series A investment with leading funding by Intel Capital in combination with Rawah Partners. Dysonics currently offers RondoMotion, a head-tracking system specially developed for delivering an immersive 360 audio experience. Their RondoMic is a high-fidelity microphone array that captures sound for VR experience and is available for rent from Radiant Images. Dysonics' RondoMic employs an array of eight customized Telefunken M60 FET microphones to capture sounds at Hi-Res Audio quality. RondoMotion allows you to interact with sound relative to your head movement, just like you do in real life. The result is a fully immersive 360 degree audio experience that puts you there. Rondo360 is the world's most powerful audio toolset for cinematic VR and 360 video. From pristine spherical capture to next-gen tools for spatial audio mixing and playback.

10 / 26 / 16

RMAF 2016 Show Report By Kemper Holt

RMAF 2016 Show Report Introduction

Alta, Aqua, Clones, AntiCables, And Well Pleased @ RMAF 2016

10 / 25 / 16

TAVES 2016 Consumer Electronics Show Begins This Weekend!
Enjoy the Music.com has five years of TAVES coverage now online and we're gearing up for our sixth consecutive year providing extensive reporting. This year, 2016, celebrates our sixth annual TAVES Consumer Electronics Show report featuring high-end audio and high technology! Starting Friday, October 28 and running through the 30th, TAVES is Toronto's largest consumer electronics show that takes place in the heart of the area's high-technology center. TAVES Consumer Electronics Show is Canada's ultimate technology showcase, connecting trade professionals, media and consumers. This world-class exposition attracts companies from around the globe and showcases cutting edge technology and innovation spanning a broad range of categories, including high-end audio, robotics, wearables, smart devices, video gaming hardware and software, home and personal hi-fi, home theater, 3D printing, drones and much more! TAVES presents an unrivaled opportunity for all companies – from major brands to crowd-funded startups – to launch prototypes, new products and beta software to a wide range of mainstream and specialist media outlets. In 2014, TAVES received remarkable television exposure thanks to news coverage from CBC, CP24, CTV, CityTV and Global TV. Last year's show (TAVES 2015) was also covered by the largest number of specialist media to date. No other Canadian technology trade show can claim this kind of success!

10 / 24 / 16

SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Hi-Res Audio Click & Pop Vinyl Removal
SweetVinyl's SugarCube SC-1 ($1500) is the company's next addition to their product line which enhances the enjoyment of vinyl records. The SC-1 packages SweetVinyl's pioneering click & pop removal technology into an audiophile grade component allowing any combination of turntable and phono stage to play older records as brand new. The SC-1, shown with their SugarCube SC-2 vinyl recording platform, includes the same click & pop removal technology as the SC-1. The SugarCube SC-1 and SC-2 are said to be the first audiophile products to feature real-time, non-destructive, click & pop removal on any vinyl LP record. SweetVinyl's sophisticated algorithm is able to detect, isolate and remove only unwanted noise separate from the music. Previous demonstrations of the SugarCube's live removal of clicks & pops has garnered rave reviews from press and attendees at other events. The SugarCube SC-1 is a stand-alone component with RCA line-in and line-out and can easily integrate with other analog components. It brings together many unique features including a user controllable strength of Click & Pop removal setting, pushbutton audiophile-grade internal bypass, iOS and Android mobile apps for controlling the device, and a 192kHz/24-bit Hi-Res Audio digital processor.

Contrast Audio Soul Floorstanding Loudspeaker System
Contrast-Audio, based in Ukraine, new Soul loudspeaker (€7000) is a floorstanding acoustic passive system type. Contrast's Soul combines all previous experience from the company on the creation of an acoustic system for audio production. With a cabinet constructed with MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), the main cabinet features piano black finish with a front real wood panel. The front base panel is made of solid beech wood and mounted via a cork gasket to provide vibration isolation. Within a low-frequency section Contrast Audio chose to use a resonant "Nozzle of Laval" port they claim provides more accuracy and a linear characterization in a lowermost frequency range. Reaching down to 27Hz, when combined with midrange and tweeter the entire system reaches to 20kHz. (+/-3dB). Overall speaker dimensions are 990 х 200 х 323 (HxWxD in mm) and weight is 75 lbs.

Industry News 15 Years Ago
Apple Computer Announce The iPod That Can Store 1000 Songs
Apple Computer has just released their new iPod portable music player ($399). Claiming to provide "1,000 songs in your pocket", the iPod incorporates a slim 5GB hard drive to store not only music files, but can also be used as a computer file storage unit. Weighing only 6.5 ounces, the iPod can store up to ten hours of music and provides an amazing twenty minutes of "skip protection". Due to using a FireWire connection, a single music CD can be transferred to the iPod in only ten seconds! The pocket-sized unit (2.43" x 4.02" x 0.78") has an informative LCD capable of displaying six lines of text. A white light-emitting diode (LED) backlight helps visibility during low-light situations. The iPod also includes Apple's award-winning iTunes 2 software for ripping MP3 files and transferring them to the iPod unit. A built-in equalizer is also included while the iPod can play back MP3, MP3 VBR, AIFF and WAV audio files.

10 / 21 / 16

Join The Fun And Share Within Enjoy the Music.com's Facebook Page
Have fun showing us your audio system plus be the first to learn about new reviews and show reports via Enjoy the Music.com's Facebook page. Share your love of music, post pics of your audio system, meet other enthusiastic audiophiles and much more! You'll also be among the first to see the many great prizes we give away within our contests too! Come join the party, like our  Facebook page, and discuss your fave tunes with our music-loving crowd. All this and more, so come join the fun and as always, enjoy the music!

Ultrasone Handmade Edition 8 EX And Jubilee 25 Edition Headphones
Ultrasone's new handmade newcomers, Edition 8 EX and Jubilee 25 Edition ($2199 and $5999 respectively) are both closed-back deluxe headphones with reduced emissions using the ULE standard (Ultra Low Emission) and S-Logic EX technology. Ultrasone's Jubilee 25 Edition has high-gloss ear cups made of Makassar ebony and finished with piano lacquer. The finely-crafted decorative inlay is of high-gloss polished 925 sterling silver. An engraved logo adorns the matt chrome housing. The ear cushions and the pad of the solid aluminum headband are made of finest dark grey leather from Ethiopian long-haired sheep. The supplied premium case provides protection when storing and safe transportation. Impedance of the Edition 8 EX is 32 Ohms and it has a frequency range from 5Hz to 46kHz. Drivers are 40mm titanium-plated Mylar with NdFeB magnets. Weight without cable is 314 grams and the detachable premium cable has four core wire that is three meters long with LEMO connectors and gold-plated 3.5mm jack, plus a screw-on 6.3mm adapter is included. Ultrasone's Jubile 25 is their top model made in Germany with high-gloss chrome-plated and PVD-coated ear cups. The cups are adorned with polished ceramic inlays and an engraved logo. Finely crafted, matt chrome decorative rings round off the elegant design. Both the ear cups and the cushioning on the solid aluminum headband are furnished with dark grey premium leather from Ethiopian long-haired sheep. The magnetically attached ear cups can be detached. A high-quality aluminum case guarantees safe storage and secure transport. Impedance is 38 Ohms and they have a frequency range from 5Hz to 46kHz via a 40 mm titanium-plated Mylar driver. Weight without cable is 330 grams and the Edition 8 EX comes with a detachable premium four core three meter premium cable with LEMO connectors, a gold-plated 3.5mm jack and screw-on 6.3mm adapter.

10 / 20 / 16

NAD C 388, C 368 And C 338 Have Hybrid Amplification And Bluetooth
NAD Electronics has three new hybrid digital integrated amplifiers that cover a wide range of technologies, power and price points. NAD's C 338 ($649) is a compact stereo amp that produces 150 Watts per channel (350W Dynamic @ 4 Ohms) while the C 368 stereo amp offers 80 Watts per channel (240W Dynamic @ 4 Ohms). Wireless network and streaming audio are fully supported by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The C 368 ($899) and C 388 ($1599) are future proof Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifiers that are as intelligent as they are powerful. A modular design construction ensures these are future ready for feature upgrades. BluOS Wireless Multi-room Audio is one feature that handles Hi-Res Audio option for streaming music. The C 388 and C 368 have inputs including MM Phono, Stereo Line, Optical Digital and Coax Digtal. Their advanced amplifier stages include many cutting-edge technological breakthroughs developed by NAD over decades of creating affordable ultra-high performance audio components. All three models can connect instantly with Bluetooth allowing them to stream music wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled device. The high performance aptX codec is fully supported on the top two NAD models. The advanced Bluetooth can also be used to listen to other sources connected to the amp via wireless Bluetooth headphones. There is even a control app that allows smartphones or tablet to control all functions of your NAD amp.

Industry News 15 Years Ago
RIAA Wants Legal Right To Hack Your Computer
While the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has reported seizing 1,257,796 counterfeit/pirated CD-R discs during legal raids in the first half of 2001, more than double of last year's 539,130 during the same period, the RIAA now wants to legally hack computers. Seemingly trying to take advantage of the September 11 events and the fast-paced laws that are being passed, the RIAA was hoping to add their own self-serving legislation to allow them to hack computers they feel are being used to illegally share copyrighted music files. After being thwarted from adding their special interest legislation, RIAA lobbyist Mitch Glazier said in defense of the RIAA's recent actions "It will not be some special exception for copyright owners. It will be a general fix to bring back current law." Glazer also said "We might try and block somebody if we know someone is operating a server, a pirated music facility, we could try to take measures to try and prevent them from uploading or transmitting pirated documents." What disturbs many people is that if the recent RIAA legislation passed, it would limit the RIAA's liability for damages caused by their deliberate hacking. Hacking a computer system can cause both software and hardware problems and could add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

10 / 19 / 16

RMAF 2016 Show Report
Part 5 By Steven R. Rochlin

Audio-Technica AT-ART1000 Direct Power Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge
Audio-Technica has just introduced their new flagship phono cartridge, the AT-ART1000 Direct Power Stereo Moving Coil Cartridge ($4999). The AT-ART1000 is an innovative design that has been refined over the years to culminate in an exceptional hand crafted high-end cartridge. The ART1000's Direct Power System places its dual moving coils directly on top of the stylus tip, enabling the cartridge to deliver extraordinary fidelity, musical detail and transient response. Each of the ART1000's two moving coils is made of 20 µm diameter PCOCC (Pure Copper by Ohno Continuous Casting) wire, wound eight turns to form two loops only 0.9 mm in diameter. The coils are placed in an extremely small (0.6 mm) gap of a powerful magnetic circuit, enabling them to generate an 0.2 mV (milliVolt) stereo audio signal. The assembly procedure requires extreme precision and must be performed by Audio-Technica's most skilled technicians. The ART1000 employs a high-performance line-contact stylus and solid boron cantilever for superb accuracy in tracking the record groove. The support base for the magnetic circuit, stylus and cantilever is made from lightweight, highly rigid titanium. The base, and the cartridge's aluminum housing and hard plastic cover all operate in conjunction to disperse any internal resonances that would otherwise affect sound quality. Each ART1000 is individually tested and verified to ensure optimum performance and long-time listening satisfaction. According to Audio-Technica, "The total result is a cartridge with exceptional sonic purity, ability to resolve the most subtle musical details and remarkable transient response, combined with a smooth tonal balance with a wide 15 Hz to 30 kHz frequency response. The ART1000 delivers rich, natural full-bodied reproduction of vocals and instruments with precise imaging on an immersive soundstage. It's the ideal complement to the finest turntable setups and analog playback systems."

CTA Says Headphones To Be The Most Popular Gift For Holiday 2016
According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), more consumers than ever plan to give technology gifts this season. CTA says that 68 percent, or roughly 170 million people – plan to buy technology gifts this holiday season, a six percent increase over last year, according to the latest annual research from the CTA. The 23rd Annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns Study shows emerging technologies including drones, virtual reality and wearables will pervade holiday wish lists this year. According to CTA's holiday retail forecast, spending on tech will increase 3.1 percent to reach $36.05 billion during the 2016 holiday season. The forecast also shows overall retail sales in November and December, excluding gas and restaurant sales, are expected to increase a strong 3.8 percent to $824.8 billion year over year. CTA estimates total online holiday sales will grow by 16.4 percent to $84.2 billion, while online sales through mobile devices like smartphones and tablets will grow by 45.2 percent to $20.1 billion. CTA's study found more than half (57 percent, up two percentage points) of consumers are likely to shop for tech online this year. Physical stores remain the main source of tech gift purchases, with 74 percent of consumers likely to purchase from a brick-and-mortar location – down three percentage points from last year. Once again, CTA expects headphones (40 percent) to be the most popular tech gift given this year, driven in part by tech industry movement toward wireless audio devices. The 23rd Annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns Study was designed and formulated by CTA Market Research. CTA fielded the survey in September 2016 using a telephone sample of 1,005 U.S. adults (18+).

10 / 18 / 16

Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2016 Show Report
Part 4 By Steven R. Rochlin

Spinal Tap Bassist And Co-Writer Sues Vivendi For $125,000,000
Harry Shearer, bassist for the fabled rock back Spinal Tap has filed a lawsuit within the Central  District Court of California for $125,000,000 claiming Vivendi of "fraudulent accounting for revenues from music copyrights". While it does not take a genius to realize that from 1989 through 2006 that total income from soundtrack music sales for the four creators is worth far more than the $98 in total he was paid, the upcoming jury trial will be quite enlightening about how Vivendi handles their accounting and paying royalties to their clients. Harry Shearer co-created the film This Is Spinal Tap. He also co-wrote the soundtrack and starred as the Spinal Tap band's bassist, Derek Smalls. Hope you are sitting down as there is also a claim he was only paid $81(!) by Vivend and "asserts that the four creators' share of total worldwide merchandising income between 1984 and 2006 was $81". "Shearer is concurrently filing notices of copyright termination for publishing and recording rights in Spinal Tap songs he co-wrote and co-recorded, as well as in the film itself". Vivendi has "failed and refused, and continues to fail and refuse, to provide Plaintiff with proper and accurate accountings reflecting the amount of revenues derived from the distribution and exploitation of the Film and associated music and merchandise rights" says Shearer. Within the legal complaint, it is alleged that Vivendi also "engaged in a pattern of anti-competitive and unfair business practices" and "willfully concealed and manipulated years of accountings to retain monies due and owing to [Shearer]". Harry Shearer says, "Tap's a movie I'm very proud to have had a part in creating," he said in a video released on Twitter. "A lot of people seem to live it and it seems to have made a considerable amount of money in film and music distribution for some corporation – but not for its creators." You can see the lawsuit legal papers in PDF here. "This is a simple issue of artists' rights," added Shearer, who is attempting to turn his lawsuit into a pro-artist campaign with the new Fairness Rocks website.

10 / 17 / 16

RMAF Show Report Part 3 By Steven R. Rochlin

Wireworld Starlight Category 8 Ethernet And Helicon 16 Speaker Cable
Wireworld Cable Technology is pleased to announce the availability of Starlight Category 8 Ethernet cables ($210 for 1 meter length) for high speed media network applications and Helicon 16 loudspeaker cable (Oxygen-Free Copper is $88 and OCC Copper is $210 for 2 meter length pair). Wireworld's Starlight Category 8 Ethernet cables utilize a new conductor geometry developed by Wireworld to support higher transmission speed for "more lifelike reproduction of streamed music and video" says the company. Starlight Ethernet is the first cable to incorporate Wireworld's patent-pending Tite-Shield Technology. This design replaces the conventional twisted conductors with triple-shielded parallel conductors to improve the most critical parameters of digital signal transmission. In addition to improving performance, the flat structure is extremely flexible and thin enough to hide under carpet. The proposed standard for future networks is Category 8 (CAT-8), which extends network speeds to the staggering rate of 40 Gigabits per second. Wireworld Cable Technology's Helicon 16loudspeaker cable is said to "deliver accurate sound reproduction, in a small and easy to use design that overcomes limitations of conventional designs" says the company. Helicon 16's two flat insulated conductors are stacked together then twisted and enclosed within a thin clear jacket. The two flat conductors house 16 parallel copper strands arranged in eight pairs. Wireworld says, "The small gaps between those pairs are essential, because they create an efficient pathway for electromagnetic signal energy, improving audible and measurable fidelity. Helicon 16 is also extremely easy to strip and connect to internal or external speaker terminals. This innovative cable is available with Oxygen-Free copper conductors for the basic configuration and the high-end version offers the best available Ohno Continuous Cast 7N copper conductors."

Industry News 15 Years Ago
DVD Format Is Said To Be The Fastest Selling CE Product
According to the results of a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA, now called the Consumer Technology Association in 2016), DVD players have not only achieved remarkable sales levels in the four years since their introduction, earning the title of " fastest selling consumer electronics product of all time", but may already have penetrated into as much as one-third of all U.S. households. Additionally, the "DVD Ownership and Market Potential" survey finds that interest in owning DVD technology is staggeringly high among current non-owners. Nearly three quarters of those without a DVD player (73 percent) state an interest in purchasing one, and almost half of non-owners (46 percent) say they plan to do so within the next year. The study finds that currently more than two-thirds of owners feel that all or most of some form of DVD technology is present in one-third of all U.S. households. Among the formats included are stand-alone DVD players, DVD-enabled game consoles, and/or PC-based DVD-ROM drives. The largest contributing factor in the rapid adoption of DVD appears to be word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied current owners. The survey finds that an amazing 94 percent of DVD owners are satisfied with their player and are telling others. In fact, family and friends were second only to product displays in stores as an information resource used when making a DVD purchase decision. Previous research showed that concern over a lack of available software titles was an impediment to adoption of DVD technology but that this appears to no longer be a problem.

10 / 15 / 16

RMAF 2016 Show Report
Part 2 By Steven R. Rochlin

10 / 14 / 16

RMAF 2016 Show Report
Part 1 By Steven R. Rochlin

KEF Celebrates 55 Years With Their LS50 Wireless Speaker System
In celebration of its 55th anniversary, KEF proudly presents LS50 Wireless ($2199.99). This complete and fully active music system shares the same winning acoustic features of KEF's renowned LS50. The new LS50 Wireless system enables music lovers to easily enjoy excellent music reproduction. Now celebrating their 55th anniversary, KEF has developed a complete, fully active system that retains all the acoustic features and benefits of the passive LS50 within an active system that has been designed to allow a multitude of connectivity options. The FEA-designed cabinet, Uni-Q driver, constrained layer damping bracing, precision-made curved baffle and elliptical flexible sound port are all part of the LS50 pedigree. New additions include an end-to-end 192kHz/24-bit high-resolution digital signal path, two dedicated DACs per channel, a streaming preamplifier and factory-optimized amplification in a bi-amplification dual-mono configuration (200 + 30 Watts per speaker). Combined with a time-correcting DSP crossover, the incredible award-winning sound of Uni-Q is taken to the next level. To make the LS50 Wireless a total high-performance music system, a comprehensive range of connection options are available, including 2.4GHz/5Ghz dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX codec, Asynchronous USB Type B input, TosLink optical and RCA line-level analog inputs. A dedicated app for LS50 Wireless, available on both iOS and Android, enhances the user experience during network setup, music streaming, playback, and control. The app also includes three user levels of customizable EQ settings for personal music preference.

Dynamic Sounds Associates Amp I Monoblock Produces 125 Watts
Dynamic Sounds Associates new Amp I monoblock amplifier ($25,000 per pair) is said to provide a "supremely musical rendering of the original source." Each DSA Amp I produces 125 Watts of pure Class A power and is of solid-state design employing an all-JFET/MOSFET design using DC coupled circuit topology following a source follower input. There are blocking capacitors to provide a constant input impedance and prevent input DC offsets from damaging speakers. The amplifier has no loop feedback to prevent transient intermodulation distortion and to provide a very wide power bandwidth without concern for output phase shifts caused by speaker loading or amplifier time delay. The massive output driver uses eight of the legendary Hitachi power MOSFETs in a push-pull configuration with a bias current of 3 Amperes to achieve 125W of Class A power output into an 8 Ohm load. Each unit has separate power transformers, power supplies and voltage regulators for the amplifier, driver, and output stages. With internally mounted, fan cooled, power heat sinks, the small footprint chassis is 17" x 11" x 18" (WxDxH). Separate power transformers, power supplies and voltage regulators for the amplifier, driver, and output stages. DSA's Amp I output stage has 100,000uF of total filter capacitance including 80,000uF following the output stage voltage regulators. The output stage is configured around two internally mounted heat sink "towers" cooled by ultra-low noise fans to provide many years of reliable operation. An ultra-low noise chassis fan provides air circulation to maintain a low internal ambient temperature. The output DC offset voltage, output stage bias current and voltage can be monitored using a built in volt meter behind the front panel hinged door. Frequency response is up to 200kHz (-3dB) and inputs include both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA.

10 / 13 / 16

CanJam Denver @ RMAF 2016 Show Report
Denver CanJam 2016 Report By Dave Hanson

Astell&Kern Firmware Adds TIDAL, Vinyl LP Recording And aptX HD
Astell&Kern adds new features for the AK70, AK300, AK320 and AK380 portable high-resolution audio players via a new firmware update. The new features being added to players include one of the most requested features from Astell&Kern users, support for TIDAL will make its debut on Astell&Kern’s full line of portable high-resolution audio players. TIDAL streaming music service is available in more than 52 countries, with more than a 42.5 million song catalog and 140,000 high quality videos. This week's firmware update for the AK70 and AK300 series players will add support for Qualcomm's aptX HD protocol. aptX HD supports streaming of 24-bit/48kHz high-resolution audio over Bluetooth. Astell&Kern is the first portable high-resolution audio player manufacturer to feature support for high-resolution audio streaming via Bluetooth. Also new via firmware is as update for the AK300 series players, as the AK Recorder now features a new LP Recording feature that will separate songs recorded from vinyl into individual tracks and then add full album information and artwork via Gracenote lookup. Now it is even easier for you to take your entire music collection with you, anywhere in the world. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the new Astell&Kern AK380 at this link.

10 / 12 / 16

TAVES Consumer Electronic Show Begins October 28th
Enjoy the Music.com's sixth annual TAVES Consumer Electronics Show report celebrates high technology! Starting Friday, October 28 and running through the 30th, TAVES is Toronto's largest consumer electronics show that takes place in the heart of the area's high-technology center. TAVES Consumer Electronics Show is Canada's ultimate technology showcase, connecting trade professionals, media and consumers. This world-class exposition attracts companies from around the globe and showcases cutting edge technology and innovation spanning a broad range of categories, including high-end audio, robotics, wearables, smart devices, video gaming hardware and software, home and personal hi-fi, home theater, 3D printing, drones and much more! TAVES presents an unrivaled opportunity for all companies – from major brands to crowd-funded startups – to launch prototypes, new products and beta software to a wide range of mainstream and specialist media outlets. In 2014, TAVES received remarkable television exposure thanks to news coverage from CBC, CP24, CTV, CityTV and Global TV. Last year's show (TAVES 2015) was also covered by the largest number of specialist media to date. No other Canadian technology trade show can claim this kind of success!

Leema Acoustics Sirius Hi-Res Audio Streaming Music Server
Leema Acoustics has developed their new Sirius (£3955) high-quality streaming music server system for discerning music lovers. The new Sirius is a hi-fi-grade streaming music server system that provides a high-performance solution for the storage and playback of digital music. Developed in partnership with Innuos, Leema's ex-BBC engineers have combined audiophile performance with the convenience of a UPNP/DNLA-compatible music server. Sirius is the latest edition to Leema's flagship Constellation range. It features a raft of audiophile-grade components centred on a powerful server-grade main circuit board with a high-speed quad-core processor with up to 8 GB of system memory. The app-controlled server is available with huge storage reserves in two gigabyte increments up to an impressive eight terabytes. Sirius incorporates a high-performance TEAC optical drive for the one-time bit-perfect transfer of CD data to the hard drive. Its straightforward operation makes digitizing large music libraries simple. Sirius offers backup for CD audio, right up to lossless FLAC files and supports WAV, AIFF, ALAC, OGG Vorbis, AAC and MP3; USB 3.0 is available for audio backups. A key feature of the Sirius is its high-quality DAC. The server benefits from an integrated asynchronous USB DAC based on a high-end ESS Sabre DAC chip and Xmos USB interface. The DAC supports 16, 24 and 32 bit-depths, from 44.1kHz up to 384kHz with DSD 64, 128 and 256 also supported. For consumers already invested in a high-end DAC, the Sirius' ultra-low-noise USB output offers Class 1, Class 2 and DoP external connections. Balanced outputs via XLR and unbalanced outputs via RCA are also offered.

The Recording Academy's GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends
In collaboration with Great Performances, The Recording Academy presents their GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends, a special all-star concert offering a primetime spotlight for The Academy's 2016 Special Merit Awards recipients. The awards ceremony and tribute concert will feature rare performances by honorees and never-before-seen renditions by those they've inspired. The celebration, recorded at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, will air Friday, October 14th starting at 9pm on PBS. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Ruth Brown, Celia Cruz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Jefferson Airplane, Linda Ronstadt, and Run DMC. John Cage, Fred Foster and Chris Strachwitz are Trustees Award honorees; and EMT and Dr. Harvey Fletcher are Technical GRAMMY Award recipients. Also being honored is Phillip Riggs, this year's recipient of the Music Educator Award. Along with never-before-seen video packages celebrating each of the honorees' contributions to the music industry and our cultural heritage and heartfelt testimonials from presenters, the star-studded event features performances by Patti Austin, Ry Cooder, Lila Downs, Earth, Wind & Fire, David Foster, Andy Garcia And The CineSon All Stars, Herbie Hancock, Jefferson Airplane, J'Nai Bridges, Kris Kristofferson, Lucrecia, Shelby Lynne, Magnolia Sisters, Martina McBride, Naughty By Nature, Anthony Parce, and JD Souther. Other presenters include David Crosby, Foster, Jimmy Jam, LL Cool J, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Don Was. Among numerous highlights, psychedelic rock pioneers Jefferson Airplane take fans back in time as they play some of their most memorable hits that shaped much of the San Francisco scene in the 1960s and earned them international mainstream success. Standing in for legendary frontwoman Grace Slick (who is present to accept her award) is GRAMMY-nominated rock songstress Cathy Richardson.

Metaxas' Stellavox Analogue Tape Reference Recording Samples
Metaxas is now offering their Stellavox analogue tape reference recording samples for free! According to their pres release, "From late 2003 after returning from a 4 year stint in London & New York I embarked on a very ambitious project - to create my own library of reference recordings which could be used to create the ultimate playback system. Here are free samples of Hi-Rez wav files of these concerts I'd like to share with you. Many of these tracks are already being used by manufacturer colleagues to help "voice" their equipment. For the 2003/2004 recordings, you will read [as I'm updating the gear] mics were B&K 4033 [1/2" capsules 200V instrumentation mics] - only a pair straight into Stellavox SM8, then I used the faster B&K 4135 1/4" capsule pair. 2003/4 Concerts. For the 2006-2011 recordings, I used either two pairs of modified Neumann TLM50s [ 1 pair in AB - ~4metres apart and 1 pair in XY ~ 30-40cm apart] or 1 pair Neumann TLM50 and 1 pair Neumann M150 tube version. They would go through a Stellavox AMI48 Mixer [modified] then to the SM8 Tape recorder. 2006 concerts with video. Their first and main machine has always been a Stellavox SM8 [128kHz oscillator] which I purchased directly from Stellavox in 1986, my 2nd machine -- Stellavox SU8 [128kHz] and 3/4/5th SM8's were purchased on eBay and refurbished by JP Gurtner in Switzerland before I added my modifications. Some of these recordings were featured on a DVD which accompanied Roland Schellin's book on Stellavox -- Voice of the Stars."

10 / 11 / 16

Audio Engineering Society 141 LA Show Report

World Premiere Review!
Hands On Review: Sony NW-WM1Z Hi-Res Audio Walkman
The new King of Sony Walkman will set you back $3199. Is it worth it?
Review By Steven R. Rochlin

The Absolute Sound's Special High-End Audio Buyer's Guide
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted the November 2016 issue of The Absolute Sound! This issue features their very special High-End Audio Buyer's Guide featuring over 650 reviews! Within his editorial, Robert Harley says "Welcome to our annual Buyer's Guide. In this issue you'll find capsule reviews of those products that we recommend most highly, in every category and price range. This year's product listing includes a whopping 650+ components, ranging from $6 accessories to state-of-the-art mega-speakers, and everything in between. Whatever your budget, lifestyle, or level of engagement with quality audio, you'll find exactly the right components for you in this special issue. This year's product recommendations reflect a growing trend in the industry—a price escalation at the very top of the market coupled with the proliferation of outstanding gear at the entry level. Today's budget products offer stunning sound quality and value; technology keeps improving and economies of scale bring prices down. In this guide you'll find more than 65 components that cost less than a thousand dollars each—and that's not including headphones, cables, accessories—all of which are capable of delivering outstanding sound quality and providing immense musical enjoyment." See what's within this issue of The Absolute Sound at this link.

Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2016 Show Report

RMAF 2016 Was Incredaliciously Scrumptious
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Industry News 10 Years Ago
Furman Sound's Recording Studio-Grade Balanced Power Filtration
Furman Sound is entering the power conditioner arena with its new Reference Series of Balanced Power and AC Regulator units. The first product in this line is the Model IT-Reference ($3000) that's claimed to offer more than 24dB of AC-line noise attenuation and 80dB of RF noise rejection with four individually isolated, electrostatically shielded, symmetrical power banks for equipment with low to intermediate power needs. High power components, such as power amplifiers and powered subwoofers, are supplied separately via a high current bank, providing ultra-low impedance, filtered, non-symmetrical AC. Symmetrical (balanced) power operates at +60 and -60 VAC (rather than +120 VAC and neutral) to cancel common-mode line noise. Highest industrial quality "super-spec" isolated-ground outlets used throughout, and all symmetrical power banks are individually ground-fault (GFCI) protected. A power correction circuit provides protection from equipment-damaging spikes and surges via a precision high inrush magnetic circuit breaker. The IT-Reference is claimed to provide in excess of 8 Amps of current "headroom" for the most extreme peak power demands. Current Capacity: Continuous - 12 Amperes, with a peak of  20 Amperes. Dimensions are 5.5" x 16.9" x 15.9" (HxWxD) and the unit weighs 80 lbs. Enjoy the Music.com reviewed the Furman Sound IT-Reference discrete symmetrical / balanced AC power source at this link.

10 / 06 / 16

Hi-Fi+'s October Issue Features Many Reviews And CanJam London
Enjoy the Music.com has just posted the October 2016 issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine! This issue includes CanJam London 2016 show coverage and focuses on many loudspeakers too. High-end audio gear reviews include the Devialet Gold Phantom networked active loudspeaker, Vivid Audio Giya G4 floorstanding loudspeaker, Vienna Acoustics The Music floorstanding loudspeaker, Linn Products Klimax DS/3 digital network stream player, Focal Sopra No.3 floorstanding loudspeaker, MarkAudio-Sota Viotti One standmount loudspeaker, Revel Concerta 2 F35 floorstanding loudspeaker, Audiovector QR3 floorstanding loudspeaker, Vandersteen Audio TREO CT floorstanding loudspeaker, Origin Live Sovereign / Enterprise turntable and tonearm, 1More E1001 and C1002 capsule-type earphones, and the Quadrasphere X-Reference equipment support system. Within his editorial, Alan Sircom says "Loudspeaker development is at something of an impass. The products, measuring systems, and design programs have become so good that there is a lot of commonality between the bigger brands. A good loudspeaker often sounds like other good loudspeakers. This can be viewed in two ways: either there is convergence because we are getting closer to a notional ideal, or speakers are getting a wee bit bland in their old age! Personally, I think both sides of the argument hold a lot of water. The technology used in the latest loudspeakers is in constant development, but many manufacturers are relying on the same handful of drive unit suppliers for their latest cabinet. If you use the same tests with the same drive units in a similar sized cabinet, you'll get similar results. Not identical, and there are significant variations to be had in terms of cabinet rigidity, chambering, porting, damping, and crossover tweaking, but the breed stock is relatively fixed." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ at this link.

10 / 05 / 16

Bowers & Wilkins Top-Line P9 Signature Luxury Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins new P9 Signature headphones are the company's best sounding and most luxurious to date. Conceived to celebrate Bowers & Wilkins 50th anniversary, the P9 Signature headphones deliver a unique and superior audio experience; bespoke technologies provide precision at high frequencies and astonishing bass for the ultimate audio experience. Engineered by the same team responsible for the class-leading 800 D3 loudspeaker, P9 Signature is Bowers & Wilkins' largest over-ear headphone and exemplifies all of the acoustic and design innovation amassed during its 50-year journey. Part of this crystal-clear listening experience is created through the innovative placement of the transducer, which is positioned to provide a more natural listening experience. The company says "The wearer hears sound as if they are listening to a pair of stereo speakers rather than headphones, with a sense of imaging, depth and clarity that is truly breath taking". The headband adds strength, but is cleverly decoupled from each ear cup, thus eliminating unwanted vibration from distorting the sound while also offering the very best in comfort. Every element has been designed by Bowers & Wilkins engineers to work seamlessly together to create the highest-quality listening experience. The headphones are crafted from Italian Saffiano leather, using a 'stamping' technique that gives the material a distinctive cross-hatch finish. Memory foam cushions in the ear pads help isolate noise from the outside world and mould to the shape of the user’s head over time, providing both an acoustic seal and an incredibly comfortable listening experience. P9 Signature's aluminum arms make them ideal for music on the move thanks to their innovative foldable design and material choice, which adds greater durability. An included luxurious case is the perfect partner for the flagship headphone; crafted from Alcantara with its elegant suede-like feel, and Saffiano leather detail, it will protect the headphones while also reflecting their beauty. Bowers & Wilkins P9 Signature headphones come with a variety of high performance cables suitable for use at home and on the go. An additional Lightning cable is in development and will be out from early 2017 free of charge to those that have registered their P9 Signature.

Hi-Fi World's November Issue Is Now Available
Hi-Fi World's November 2016 issue features reviews of the Martin Logan Eelectromotion ESL X, Onkyo TX-8150 receiver, Blue Aura PS40 loudspeaker, Gear4 Black Stream 1 powered network loudspeaker, Prism Callia USB2 DAC, Chord Dave DAC, Icon Audio Stereo 30SE single-ended valve amplifier, Urbanista Seattle Dark Clown headphones, Black Rhodium Quickstep loudspeaker, and the Elusive Audio Acryss Mat / Sorbothane isolation feet. Within his editorial, Noel Keywood says "Funny thing, hi-fi. We all know what is right – and what is right is what we like. Yet in this simple landscape there are some glaring disparities. One of them is why an electrostatic loudspeaker sounds so different to a box loudspeaker, when they do basically the same job, measuring alike. My first electrostatic, Braun's version of the Quad ESL-57, I was in two minds about – until I swopped back to box loudspeakers after getting used to them. Oh! That's when I realised everything experts said about electrostatics was true; they are a league apart. Explaining why Martin Logan's most affordable hybrid electrostatic, the Electromotion, has sold well in Britain. The company now capitalise on this success by adding an uprated version, the new ESL X. See what we found when using it, in our exclusive review on p11." See what's within this issue of H-Fi World at this link.

10 / 04 / 16

Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2016 Show Is This Weekend
The Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) takes place at the Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel from October 7th through the 9. Enjoy the Music.com is proud to celebrate our 13 years of reporting on the highly popular RMAF show. Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2016 and CanJam Denver 2016 have once again teamed up to feature high-end, high fidelity audio equipment and portable audio. The RMAF and CanJam 2015 show will feature an abundance of products sure to resonated with everyone. The 13th Annual Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF 2016) is the largest consumer audio and home entertainment show within the Mid-West United States. Denver's own audio wonderland will feature over 160 exhibit spaces representing more than 400 companies from North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. "RMAF has a full slate of booked exhibitors for both the two-channel and CanJam features of the show, alongside a host of industry vendors. The show is packed to the gills! We can't thank the audio community enough for coming together to generously support us. We are also grateful to the Marriott DTC for their dedication to housing an exemplary show, despite challenges due to the ongoing renovations. Thanks to the Marriott and our exhibitors, the annual Audio Fest is slated for another enormously successful show October 7th through 9th, 2016."

Hi-Res Audio Promo: Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing
The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing continues to gain traction with its advocacy and awareness-raising initiatives through 2016. Building on new research that shows many consumers want access to higher quality audio for their music and are willing to pay for it, the P&E Wing is helping to move the industry forward by providing high quality listening opportunities and recommendations for best practices for recording Hi-Res Audio. The Wing has also driven serious progress towards making proper crediting for music creators an integral part of the music business ecosystem by supporting the development of the DDEX (Digital Data Exchange) recording metadata standard RIN (Recording Information Notification), set to be officially published on October 13, 2016. P&E Wing professional events aim to support the recording community overall, providing education and networking across the country, from Studio Summits in Dallas, New Orleans and Seattle, to Up Close & Personal interviews with Diplo in Philadelphia; Butch Walker and Dave Cobb in Atlanta; and listening sessions in Chicago, Memphis, Nashville and San Francisco, to name just a few. This year, propelled by research that provides evidence regarding the large number of teenagers at risk of hearing loss from how loud they've been listening to music over the last 15 years, the P&E Wing has also partnered with The Recording Academy's MusicCares foundation to create a new, educational Grammy Hearing Health initiative. As part of this new effort, MusiCares provided a mobile van with free hearing tests on site at the convention floor of the Los Angeles AES Convention.

Industry News 10 Years Ago
Loudspeaker Driver Manufacturer Wavcore Starts Offering Products
Wavecor, located in the Southern Guangdong province of China, is a newly established loudspeaker driver company with roots in the Danish speaker industry. The company's two first lines cater to the high-end audio market, where sound quality is first priority, and a line for the car audio market. The WAVE line is specially designed for audiophiles and manufacturers with no-compromise designs suitable for home hi-fi, home theater and multi-media systems. The SOUNDtuning line is aimed at the mobile audio industry. Individual drivers are available for the DIY community for those who choose to design their own system. Wavecor can also provide complete speaker system turnkey solutions for those who desire kits.

10 / 03 / 16

AURALIC POLARIS Wireless Hi-Res Audio Streaming Stereo Amplifier
AURALIC is proud to introduce their new POLARIS wireless streaming amplifier (from $3799 on up). POLARIS has seventeen inputs channels comprising streaming, digital and analog sources. The internal DAC, incorporating AURALiC Flexible Filters and Femto Master Clock, supports Quad-Rate DSD and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz. The powerful internal stereo amplifier module can deliver 120 Watts per channel @ 8 Ohms (180Wpc @ 4 Ohms) continuous power with exceptionally low distortion. POLARIS utilizes AURALiC's award-winning Lightning Streaming Platform. Launched in 2014, Lightning Streaming is industry's first streaming solution that supports Quad-Rate DSD, PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz through Wi-Fi network. Lightning Streaming offers several innovative and unique features such as Gapless Playback, On-Device Playlist, Memory Cache and Bit-Perfect Multi-Room functions. This on-going platform is maintained, and continually developed by AURALiC's in-house software R&D team to ensure customers are regularly updated with new features through the product’s automatic software update system. AURALiC is introducing another innovative technology: Hybrid Volume Control within the POLARIS. The Hybrid Volume Control uses both analog and digital volume control together for optimum audio performance and the best possible sound quality. The analog attenuators reduce the signal level in 12dB steps whilst the DAC's internal digital volume control handles small amounts of volume change within each step. By using this technology, the DAC chip always operates in the best performance range, bringing much lower distortion, better dynamic range and high sound quality at low volume levels. POLARIS is equipped with two pairs of multi-function RCA connectors - these two stereo pairs of analog channels can be configured as a phono stage input, a line stage input or pre-amplifier output through the product settings menu. Digital inputs include AES/EBU XLR, S/PDIF coaxial, TosLink optical, plus a USB connection to a computer working as a standalone USB DAC. When purchasing POLARIS from a dealer or directly from AURALiC, you can specify a 1TB SSD for internal music storage as an option at extra cost, turning POLARIS into a fully functioning music server. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the award-winning AURALiC VEGA digital audio processor and MERAK monoblock power amplifier.

Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 120 Solid-State Stereo Integrated Amplifier
Gryphon Audio Designs' new Diablo 120 stereo integrated amplifier produces 120 Watts per channel @ 8 Ohms (440Wpc @ 2 Ohms) and has optional Hi-Res Audio DAC and MM/MC phono stage. As a true dual mono design with zero negative feedback, the microprocessor-controlled 46-step relay volume attenuator provides outstanding sonic performance featuring only (up to) six resistors in series with signal at all levels. The optional MM/MC phono stage provides a variety of adjustments for all modern cartridges. AN optional DAC handles all the latest PCM/DSD up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD512 (22.5792MHz). Digital inputs include USB, BNC S/PDIF, AES/EBU and optical. Gryphon Audio Designs' Diablo 120 takes advantage of ultra-short signal path with minimal internal wiring. There are two to four-layer printed circuit boards with up to 70µm copper, dual mono Holmgren toroidal transformer and PCB-mounted sockets that eliminate wiring and shorten signal path. There are gold-plated Swiss Neutrik XLR sockets for one balanced analog source and gold-plated phono sockets with Teflon insulation for four analog inputs plus a Tape output. Fixed-level AV throughput provides uncompromising integration with surround preamplification. The front graphical vacuum fluorescent display provides large font type for improved legibility, which is adjustable in intensity (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and Off). Industry standard 12VDC link input and output for is also provided. Flash memory upgrades via Key-Fob ensures the unit is easy to update. Power output details start at 120Wpc @ 8 Ohms, with 240W @ 4 Ohms and finally 440W @ 2 Ohms. Output impedance is 0.030W, frequency response is from 0.1Hz to 250kHz and overall power supply capacity is 120,000µF in total. Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed the award-winning Gryphon Audio Designs Kalliope DAC and the Gryphon Atilla integrated amplifier, Scorpio CD player and Mojo loudspeaker system.

10 / 02 / 16

USB-IF Releases Their Much-Anticipated Type-C Audio Specification
USB-IF, the organization that facilitates the development of high-quality compatible USB devices including compliance testing, has announces USB audio device Class 3.0 specifications. USB Audio over USB Type-C offers a standardized solution for all digital audio applications. USB Audio over USB Type-C is expected to be the primary solution for all digital audio applications, including headsets, mobile devices, docking stations, gaming set-ups and VR solutions. Device manufacturers can eliminate the need for multiple ports and efficiently deliver data, power and video over a single connector with USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery. To further support a single-cable solution, USB Audio over USB Type-C provides a standardized approach to deliver compelling user benefits, device interoperability and ease-of-use across all digital audio applications. "USB is the simplest and most pervasive connector available today, making USB Type-C the logical choice for the future of digital audio," said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President and COO. "We encourage companies interested in adopting USB specifications to take advantage of USB-IF resources to reduce time-to-market and deliver reliable USB products." There are special multi-function processing units (MPUs) that handle host and synchronization, digital-to-analog conversion, low-latency active noise cancellation, acoustic echo canceling, equalization, microphone automatic gain control, volume control, etc. Programmable preamplifier and amplifiers are supported as well. USB Type-C ADC 3.0-compatible MPUs will also support USB Audio Type-III and Type-IV formats, yet will retain compatibility with formats supported by ADC 1.0 and 2.0. The USB Audio Device Class 3.0 specification makes it easier to support digital audio over USB, add capabilities to reduce power consumption and add support for new features such as hotword detection. It defines minimum interoperability requirements across analog and digital solutions to minimize user confusion when not all hosts or devices support audio consistently. USB Audio over USB Type-C allows OEMs to remove the 3.5mm analog audio jack, shaving up to a millimeter off product designs and reducing the number of connectors on a device. Fewer connectors will open the door for innovation in countless ways and make it easier to design waterproof or water-resistant devices.

10 / 01 / 16

Enjoy the Music.com's October High-End Audio Review Magazine

Enjoy the Music.com's October Review Magazine feature Editor Tom Lyle's review the Pass Labs HPA-1, which excels in every area of what makes being a headphone loving audiophile so attractive in the first place. It places us within the recording, makes us part of the recording, and lets us hear what the artist intended for us to hear.

Dave Hanson excellent review the gorgeous Questyle Golden Reference System includes the CAS192D Golden DAC, CMA800R Golden Amplifier, and their CMA800P Golden Preamp. Then we have Rick Becker who gets invited to a dealer to spend the day listening to the new four tower $266,000(!) YG Acoustics XV loudspeaker system.

Rick Becker reports on two great system tweaks, the Codia Acoustic Design Stage 3000 BAB Audio Rack along with the AmCam Audio Isolator Footers, which impresses him enough to purchase the entire lot.

Within last month's issue we finalized our coverage of the Capital Audio Fest, where Kenneth Holt does an excellent one-man report. Instead of simply mentioning the highlights of the show, he goes room by room with photos and descriptions that is bound to make one feel as if they were at the show with him. If you were lucky enough to attend CAF 2016, you can find the room you've visited and compare your reactions with Kenneth.

The Hong Kong show report covered by Cheung Roger is a sight to behold. Talk about envy! The Hong Kong Audio Visual Expo/Show is held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (in Wan Chai, Hong Kong) and spans three floors totaling 80,000 square feet of display area. Cheung Roger does an amazing job covering this show, and of course, he provides lots of great photos!

Make sure you stand by for our report on the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) and the show-in-a-show CanJam Denver 2016, which covers headphones and associated gear starting October 7th when the show opens. There will be plenty of rooms covered and am sure oodles of high quality photos too!

Getting back to gear reviews, Ron Nagle gives you his World Premiere review of the outstanding Emotiva BasX A-300 solid-state stereo amplifier plus we have think pieces by audio guru Roger Skoff and Enjoy the Music.com's Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin. See all our show reports, articles, and gear reviews within the October 2016 edition of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine now available online.