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The Absolute Sound
Issue 250   February 2015
The Enduring Legacy
Editorial By Robert Harley

 

The Absolute Sound Issue 250 February 2015  The death of The Absolute Sound (TAS) Founder Harry Pearson on November 4 was a shock. Although Harry had been ill for several months, the finality of his passing came as a blow to me and the entire staff of The Absolute Sound. In case you missed it, Jonathan Valin's moving tribute to Harry in the previous issue is essential reading.

We continue our remembrance of HP in this issue with a piece by TAS owner Tom Martin, who recounts how he came to buy the magazine in 1998. Neil Gader, in a story I'd never heard before, shares with us how he met Harry in early 1973, just weeks before Harry launched The Absolute Sound. Neil's heartfelt piece beautifully encapsulates their four-decade relationship. Our remembrance includes the publication of the Super LP List, Harry's evolving distillation of the best-sounding records extant. The Super LP List became iconic; HP's mention of an out-of-print LP would instantly cause the title's price on the used market to skyrocket. The Super LP List is a window into what a great music lover and listener Harry was—his musical taste and sonic sensibilities are front and center. We conclude our tribute by publishing selected comments about Harry from readers and industry insiders, first posted on a special section of our website called the Wall of Remembrance. I invite you to post your own thoughts about the impact that TAS and Harry Pearson had on your life.

Harry created an institution that survives him, and we on the staff are entrusted with the mission of ensuring that the magazine and the ideals it represents thrive well into the future. Toward that end, I'm pleased to announce that two exceptional individuals have joined our staff. The first is Julie Mullins, who has taken the full-time (and newly created) position of Managing and Digital Editor. Julie brings to TAS a wealth of experience in writing, editing, and publication management, and is also steeped in the audiophile culture from growing up with her father, an avid TAS reader since the magazine's early days. As you'll see in Julie's first review in this issue of the Magnepan .7 loudspeaker (and in her Rocky Mountain show report, also in this issue), she has a keen insight into music reproduction along with a delightful wit.

The second new member of our team is Greg Weaver, who made his debut with last issue's review of the Esoteric E-03 phonostage. Although Greg is new to TAS, he is a veteran audio reviewer with a long resume going back to 1989. He founded a small high-end magazine in that year called The Audio Analyst, and has contributed to many other high-end publications over the past 25 years. A TAS reader since Issue 2, Greg is very much a "hands-on" guy, having repaired audio gear professionally, designed and installed ultra-high-end automotive systems, and built large theater installations. Greg has a special passion for the LP format, and is highly skilled at turntable setup. We look forward to bringing you Greg's experience and insight.

As we look back at TAS' legacy in this issue, and simultaneously welcome a new generation of contributors, it seems fitting to reflect on the state of the magazine as 2014 draws to a close. I'm pleased to report that The Absolute Sound has never been stronger. In 2014, TAS set new records in every single metric for magazine performance. One of those metrics, the number of editorial pages published in a year, is particularly significant because it means that we're able to deliver more equipment reports, show coverage, feature articles, music features and reviews than ever before.

The magazine staff has a responsibility to uphold and further the great traditions and ideals embodied in TAS' creation back in 1973, while also exposing a new generation of music listeners to the joys of great-sounding equipment. Our goal is for The Absolute Sound, along with its perspective and principles, to prosper for as long as people appreciate music. As we enter 2015 with the wind at our backs, a bolstered editorial team, and a clear view of our mission, I'm confident that in another 41 years these pages will continue to celebrate music and the quality of its reproduction.

 

 

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