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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 274, July / August 2017 table of contents and
editorial.
Articles & Reviews In This Issue
10 Letters
16 Guest Editorial
Allen Moulton shares some thoughts on vinyl’s timeless and growing appeal.
20 TAS Legacy
Robert Harley on John Curl’s Vendetta Research SCP-2 phonostage.
122 Manufacturer Comments
22 The 2017 AXPONA Show
High end returns to the Windy City, and we’re there to bring you the hottest new products.
Equipment Reports
64 Technics SL-1200G Turntable
One of the most iconic turntables returns in name and look — but with significant new technology. Robert E. Greene has the details.
72 DS Audio DS 002 Optical Phono Cartridge
Jonathan Valin listens to a remarkable cartridge that uses light to turn the modulations engraved in LP grooves
into music.
78 AMG Giro Turntable
The German company whose Viella 12 set a new price-to-performance standard introduces a baby brother. Wayne Garcia brings you the good news.
82 Acoustic Signature Challenger Mk3 Turntable
Julie Mullins evaluates this beautifully made turntable from Germany’s second-largest ’table manufacturer. Plus: Inside the Acoustic Signature factory.
90 Follow-Up: Klaudio KD-CLN-LP200 Ultrasonic Record Cleaner
Robert Harley on the effects of ultrasonic LP cleaning.
92 Record Doctor V Vacuum Record Cleaner
Julie Mullins discovers an effective and affordable LP cleaner that’s easy to use.
93 AudioQuest Conductive Fiber Record Brush
Jonathan Valin on a new and improved version of a genuine classic.
94 Continuum Audio Laboratories Obsidian Turntable and Viper Tonearm
Building on the legacy of its highly regarded Caliburn turntable and Cobra tonearm, Continuum Audio Labs introduces a compact record player with advanced technology at one-quarter the price of its illustrious predecessors. Jonathan Valin takes the new Obsidian turntable and Viper tonearm for a 33rpm spin.
Cables
108 Morrow Audio 5-Series and Cardas Iridium Interconnects And Speaker Cables
Andre Jennings listens to these affordably priced new interconnects from Morrow Audio and Cardas.
The Cutting Edge
112 Music Interface Technologies ACC 268 Articulation Control Console
And MA-X SHD Interconnects
These mega-priced speaker cables and interconnects introduce a new concept to the category. Robert Harley offers an assessment. Plus: MIT founder Bruce Brisson explains the technology behind the Articulation Control Console.
Music
126 Primephonic
Andrew Quint interviews Veronica Neo, primephonic’s Head of Business Development.
132 Pure McCartney, the Musical Rogue Planet
David McGee thinks the 4-LP McCartney anthology has been overlooked by critics.
136 Download Roundup
Andrew Quint reviews classical downloads.
138 Rock Etc.
John Lee Hooker, Father John Misty, Noam Pikelny, Beoga, Arto Lindsay, Rodney Crowell, Harry Nilsson, Somi, Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge, Hans-Joachim
Roedelius / Tim Story, and three new psychedelic albums.
144 Jazz
Marc Copland, Dayna Stephens, Gerald Clayton, the Speakers Corner reissue of Charles Mingus’ The Clown, previously unreleased Thelonious Monk on vinyl, and MoFi’s One-Step version of the Bill Evans Trio’s Sunday at the Village Vanguard.
149 Classical
Vaughan Williams, Rubbra, brass quintet / ensemble works by (and inspired by) John Corigliano, a jazz-influenced piano concerto by David Rabowski, the beautiful cello sound of Laura Metcalf, and chamber works by Marteau and
Zemlinsky.
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