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Welcome to The Abso!ute Sound online! We explore music and the reproduction of music in the home. We believe that the sound of music, unamplified, occurring in a real space is a philosophic absolute against which we may judge the performance of devices designed to reproduce music. Our goal is to provide the resources consumers need to judge how a component's sound either honors or departs from the music's truth, and to make sound purchasing decisions that maximize their experience of reproduced sound. Below is our Issue 178, January 2008 contents and editorial.
Read this edition's editorial by clicking here.
Articles & Reviews In This Issue
8 Letters18 Future TAS
New products on the horizon.22Industry News
Wilson’s flagship X-2 Alexandria undergoes a major upgrade; Olive and MusicGiants team up to deliver lossless DRM-free music; Seattle’s Definitive Audio hosts the third annual Music Matters extravaganza.26 Start Me Up
Wayne Garcia listens to NHT’s $600 Classic Two loudspeaker and Vincent’s $799 integrated amplifier.32 iTAS
Neil Gadner evaluates high-end headphones from Grado, along with two headphone amplifiers. Also, Robert Harley reports on B&W's Zeppelin iPod speaker system.40 Mainstream Multichannel
Chris Martens on the Definitive Technology Mythos ST, a multichannel speaker system equally at home with music or movies.137 Manufacturer Comments
TAS Journal
44 Digital Signal Processing and the Future of Audio Technology Robert E. Greene explains why digital signal processing is destined to be in our audio future.52TAS interview: Keith Jarrett The great pianist talks about the new release of old recordings, musical expression, sound quality, and his impact on the world of music.
Equipment Reports
63 Cover Story: Product of the Year Awards
We pick the best audio components of 200790 Dynaudio MC 15
Active Speaker Arnie Williams on a powered mini-monitor for the desktop.94 PS Audio C-100
Control Amplifier "Persuasive musicality" is how NG sums up this affordable new integrated amp from high-end veteran PS Audio96 Manley Shrimp
Preamplifier This $1880 tubed preamp is a whole different kettle of fish, says Sue Kraft.100 Audyssey Sound
Equalizer REG on a sophisticated new DSP room-correction system.104 Spectron Musician
Ill Signature The latest amplifier from the pioneer in Class D amplification lives up to its name, NG reports.106 GamuT L-3
Mini-Monitor Jonathan Valin on a beautiful-sounding two-way from Denmark.120 Revel Ultima Salon2 Loudspeaker
Robert Harley reports on a tour-de-force in loudspeaker design.
The Cutting Edge
113 Revel Gem2
Loudspeaker Neil Gader on the versatile little brother of Revel’s Ultima Salon2, the Ultima Gem2.133 TAS Interview: Kevin Voecks RH talks to Revel’s head man.
138 HP’s Workshop
HP on an $7900 loudspeaker that pushes all his buttons; an improved version of the Lab/47 Pi Tracer CD player; the Lumen White Silverflame loudspeaker; and the Sequerra Metronome MET 7.7 mini-monitors.
Music
152 Recording of the Issue
Harmonia Mundi’s Fiftieth Anniversary Boxed Set.152 Classical
Vadim Repin and Martha Argerich play Beethoven’s "Kreutzer" Sonata, Richard Egarr tackles Bach’s We//-Tempered Clavier, Järvi takes on Beethoven symphonies, IKancheli’s Styx and Tavener’s The Mjrrh-Bearer, Danielle de Niese sings several Handel arias, Preisner’s Silence, Night & Dreams, Haitink conducts Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, and a smattering of Mahler SACDs.162 Rock
Reviews of new CDs and LPs from Serj Tankian, Radiohead, the Fiery Furnaces, LCD Soundsystem, Six Organs of Admittance, Band of Horses, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Annie Lennox, Youssou N’Dour, Opeth, Nappy Brown, Kid Rock, and Dwight Yoakam. Plus, collections from Bob Dylan and Luther Vandross, Rhino’s Joy Division reissues, James Taylor on audiophile vinyl, and the verdict on Universal Japan’s LPs.180 Jazz
Coverage of hot releases from McCoy Tyner, Blue Chamber Quartet, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Queen Latifah. And, new box sets from Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and John Coltrane, and a 180-gram LP from Dexter Gordon.
Back Page
192 We talk with Sandy Gross, President Emeritus of Definitive Technology.
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