High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

06 / 30 / 21

Hi-Fi+ July 2021 High-End Audio Magazine
Hi-Fi+'s July 2021 issue features reviews of the following:
Naim Audio Solstice turntable system
FinkTeam Kim stand-mount loudspeaker
Kroma Audio Mimi stand-mount loudspeaker
Technics Reference Class SU-R1000 integrated amplifier
ModWright KWH 225i integrated amplifier
KEF LS50 Meta stand-mount loudspeaker
Sennheiser IE 900 universal fit in-ear monitors 
Ansuz Acoustics D2 series cables, conditioner, network switch, etc.
McIntosh MHA 200 headphone amplifier
MonoPulse Type SA active floorstanding loudspeaker
Quiescent Apex 40/Peak Speaker Modules microphony couplers
AudioQuest Pearl 48, Carbon 48, Dragon 48 HDMI cables
Neederland TrueStand headphone stand

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says, "Every few years, the same tale is told, just with a slightly different spin. This year, it came from yet another team of neuroscientists; the secret to happiness, it seems, is to set low expectations. Those who set themselves lofty goals are rarely fully satisfied, and those who set their sights to more attainable and realistic aspirations are more likely to have longer, happier and more fulfilling lives. This doesn't sit right with the pursuit of musical excellence, but might explain the ever-shifting sands of 'audiophilia nervosa'. Let's be honest here; it's in the very nature of enthusiasm to have at least one eye on the next big thing in your hobby, be it that high-tech derailleur, the next 'must have' camera lens, or the latest kitchen gizmo. And there is nothing wrong with a spot of aspirational dreaming; even if you'll never own that new Ferrari, it's part of the dream and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that at all." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

06 / 29 / 21

The HiFi Summit Q2 2021 By Joe N Tell
For the third time within two years, the audio community has an excellent high-quality online streaming show resource for 2020, 2021, and beyond! The HiFi Summit, produced by Joe N Tell (Joe Mariano), brings modern features that are expected when showcasing the best in high-fidelity audio and home theater gear. Excellent seminars and group chat are joined by questions from viewers within their Lobby Discussion and YouTube live stream. When talking about their very first event, Joe said, "This is the first online trade show and worldwide conference the HiFi industry has ever seen. Although we created this in response to COVID-19, we believe this is the future of HiFi trade shows. If there's doubt, consider how crazy online shopping seemed 20 years ago. We've created a trade show that companies deserve and an expo that consumers will love. Get ready for an entertaining, engaging, and educational time. Although we can't be together in person, we're glad you're here with us."
---> See our The HiFi Summit Q2 2021 show report.

06 / 25 / 21

InfoComm 2021 Registration Is Now Open
AVIXA's (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association), the producer of InfoComm shows globally, is setting the stage for their 2021 event at the Orange County Convention Center in Florida. Set for October 23rd through 29th, the InfoComm trade show provides resources, relevant webinars, training, certification, AV performance standards, white papers, market intelligence and more. You may step into the Audio Pavilion to discover the latest products and solutions in audio technology from some of the biggest brands in the industry. This includes acoustic materials, amplifiers, signal processing, headphones, in-ear monitors, loudspeakers, microphones, multi-room audio, and of course music systems. Registration is now open for attendees to reserve their space to attend InfoComm 2021 in Orlando, Florida.

Discounted Tickets For AXPONA 2021 Are For Sale
AXPONA 2021 is scheduled at an unusual time of year, as they moved their Spring event to the Fall where other events historically take place. Scheduled for October 29th through 31st near Chicago, the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center once again hosts this event. Right now you can save 15% on current pricing for one, two, or three day tickets with code INSIDER21. The special rate is valid until July 31, 2021. AXPONA is committed to the health and safety of their exhibitors, attendees, partners, and staff. Note that if you purchased a ticket for AXPONA 2020 and opted to use your ticket for AXPONA 2021, your ticket is still valid and active. Printed tickets will still grant admission and there's no need to reprint your ticket. Ticket holders for AXPONA's cancelled 2020 show should contact the event as their may be added freebies for 2020 ticket holders. You may be able to bring a friend free, or help someone who is waiting to buy a ticket to give them your free added benefit for holding onto your 2020 ticket for their 2021 event. There's no word of special Halloween costumes, events for children, a costume party, etc for the October 31st date.

06 / 24 / 21

World Premiere Review!
PrimaLuna DiaLogue Six Monoblock Power Amplifier Review
Worth every penny of their asking price.
Review By Tom Lyle
When I'm shipped a piece of equipment such as the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Six monoblock I'm reminded that audiophiles are a lucky bunch to be participating in this "hobby" at this period of time. No matter what you choose (or do not choose) – analog or digital, dynamic or electrostatic, tube or solid-state – all of these contenders have advanced to the point that it is a matter of listener preference more than anything else. As far as tube amplifier design goes, auto-biasing that is used in many of the top manufacturers of these amps (including a more advanced type in the PrimaLuna), baby-sitting the tubes have become a thing of the past. But this feature would be of little use without the fact that at the same time the price-to-sound ratio (or simply, value) is getting so incredulously high that recommending cost-no-object gear, let alone on-the-high-side of mid-priced gear very difficult to justify.
---> PrimaLuna DiaLogue Six monoblock power amplifier review.

Moth Audio si2A3 Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier Review
Like a moth to a flame...
Review By Steven R. Rochlin
How do you make a great product even better? How do you make it less expensive? How do you offer one of the most cost-effective ways to reach your audience? If you said "the internet" than you could very well be right. Moth Audio first grabbed the eye of the industry at the Hi-Fi '97 show in San Francisco. In fact i personally found their gear to be very refreshing as the visual appeal of retro-looking solid construction was a well needed relief from the usual black or silver box. Here we have the second generation of this Moth Audio amplifier now called the si2A3. The si2A3 is a single-ended zero-feedback "Class A" three watt per channel tube amplifier. This new model is a good evolution as the customers have asked for more than one input and the rectifier tube to be more accessible... and Moth delivered this and more!
---> Moth Audio si2A3 vacuum tube integrated amplifier review.

06 / 23 / 21

The HiFi Summit Q2 2021 By Joe N Tell Starts Tomorrow
As the third live streaming show by Joe N Tell, they celebrate the audio community in having an excellent high-quality online show resource for 2021! The HiFi Summit, produced by Joe N Tell (Joe Mariano), brings modern features that are expected when showcasing the best in high-fidelity audio and home theater gear. Excellent seminars and group chat are joined by questions from viewers within Discussion and YouTube live stream. Unlike Facebook, Instagram, and other types of live streaming, Joe N Tell's The HiFi Summit videos are available worldwide on YouTube both for live viewing during their event and for on-demand viewing too! This is what high-end and home theater online streaming should be in 2021. Everyone at Enjoy the Music.com celebrates this new generation of online show events! See their past two events right now on Enjoy the Music.com with our coverage of The HiFi Summit Q4 2020 and The HiFi Summit Q2 2020 By Joe N Tell.

06 / 22 / 21

T.H.E Show 2021 Exhibition Room Report
Celebration, resolution, and re-commitment to champion audiophile and music enthusiast journeys.
Show Report By Emiko, T.H.E. Show's Director Of Marketing And Social Media
I find myself deleting the opening sentence of my piece, "It's 7am and I'm drinking coffee in a veritable ghost town." No sooner had I settled into my choice table and chair, in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel, Ralph Sorrentino of CH Precision popped up out of thin air. I swear that man is a wizard! My second sentence was lined up. "A blazer? Can a blazer style with yoga pants? This is the first time I'm faced with wearing 'real clothes' in over 14 months." You see, I am the Director of Marketing for T.H.E. Show and we are (now were) the first show in the US to open after the pandemic shut down and, if I understand correctly, the first audio show in the world to complete its run from start to finish (Guangzhou did launch before us but we understood it, unfortunately, closed after the first day.) On Wednesday, June 10th, after more than a year of sleepless nights, I packed up my suitcase with - gasp - real pants and shirts, and double gasp - drove down to the hotel where T.H.E. Show 2021 was about to kick off.
---> T.H.E Show 2021 exhibition room report.

06 / 21 / 21

CEDIA Expo 2021 Registration Is Now Open
EmeraldX's CEDIA Expo 2021 is to be held from September 1st through 3rd at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. The event will feature networking, training, brand exposure, and product launches. This is an opportunity to reunite with 15,000 connected technology pros to share valuable insights and seek solutions. You can discover the smart home's hottest connected products and explore new streams of revenue. Gain valuable education through both CEDIA and exhibitor led product training. CEDIA conferences are from August 31st through September 2nd as they plan to bring together thousands of home tech pros and 300+ exhibitors to the leading event in smart and home technology.

06 / 18 / 21

Auction: You Can Buy The Entire Internet
For Enjoy the Music.com's Fun Friday News, Sotherby's is offering you the chance to buy the entire Internet! While some uninformed Americans might mistakenly think Al Gore created the Internet, it was in fact during 1989 that British computer scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in a moment that changed the world forever. From June 23 through 30, Sotheby's will auction the first historical artifact relating to this landmark moment ever to be sold, giving people the opportunity to look into the bare bones of the architecture of the web's creation. Titled 'This Changed Everything' is a one-of-one NFT including pivotal, timestamped documentation of the Internet's creation by Sir Tim. And in a interesting turn of events, you can use cryptocurrency to buy it! The sale will benefit initiatives that Sir Tim and Lady Berners-Lee support.

Work Includes:
Original archive of dated and time-stamped files containing the source code, written between 3 October 1990 and 24 August 1991. These files contain code with approximately 9555 lines, the contents of which include implementations of the three languages and protocols invented by Sir Tim; HTML (Hypertext Markup Language); HTTP (Hyper Transfer Protocol); and URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers), as well as the original HTML documents that instructed early web users on how to use the application.

Animated visualization of the code being written (video, black & white, silent), lasting 30 minutes 25 seconds.

An Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) representation of the full code (A0 841mm wide by 1189mm high), created by Sir Tim from the original files using Python, with a graphic representation of his physical signature at lower right.

A letter written in the README.md file (in "markdown" format) by Sir Tim in June of 2021, reflecting upon the code and his process of creating it.

06 / 17 / 21

World Premiere Review!
Chisto Easy Groove Solutions
Concentrate, Virgin Concentrate, Extreme, Enzycaster, Concentrate, Spray & Wipe, Disk Analoguer, and Hi-End Show-Gloss.
Review By Tom Lyle
For the last few years, I've been cleaning my records by using a VPI 16.5 wet/vacuum record cleaner. My record cleaning liquid of choice has been for quite some time a simple solution of distilled water and a surfactant (the surfactant reduces the solution's surface tension, making it spread more easily on the surface of the record). Before the VPI, I used a Nitty Gritty record cleaner, and before that, an Audio Advisor record cleaner. With those machines I've tried countless solutions sold by many different companies. None were worthy of a review. A couple of months ago, a variety of record cleaning solutions arrived at my doorstep made by a brand called Chisto. Chisto also makes products they call "Digital Care" for CDs and DVDs, solutions to clean the cabinets of audio/video gear, as well as a product that reduces static-electricity on one's audio and video components. Chisto is manufactured in Ukraine. In Russian, "chisto" means "clean."
---> Chisto Easy Groove Solutions for vinyl LP cleaning.

Loudspeaker Mega-Tweakfest
Featuring Synergistic, Bybee, Soundeck And More!
Rick Becker reviews the Synergistic Research Cable Risers, XOT Transducers, HFT Speaker Kits, Plus Bybee Technologies Quantum Clarifiers. Also included are the Soundeck Damping Feet, Synergistic Research Tranquility Pod, and MiG SX Footers.
Review By Rick Becker
As I said at the beginning of my previous review, the Synergistic Research Tweakfest, my original plan was to review a bunch of speaker mods that would negate the need for a $10,000 to $20,000 speaker upgrade. Surely a couple of thousand dollars-worth of tweaks could bring my speakers up to acceptable standards? In light of the crippled economy during the COVID 19 pandemic, what could be a more noble effort — short of making face masks and providing PPE to hospitals and meat processing plants? Given that I can barely pour scotch on the rocks, much less come up with a vaccine, the best I can do is self-isolate and not become part of the problem. So here are some findings that may lead you to musical bliss in these tough times or at least give you something to think about until times get better.
---> Loudspeaker mega-tweakfest featuring Synergistic, Bybee, Soundeck and more!

06 / 16 / 21

HIFICRITIC's Latest Issue Features Reviews & More
This issue of HIFICRITIC features:
Roy Gandy -- Rega's Founder
Stan Searches For The Ultimate Speaker
Vertere Techno Mat Review
Vertere SG-1 Turntable
Wilson Audio Sabrina X 
Dali Oberon 7C 
Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition
KEF KC62 
High-End Focal Clear Headphones
Kerr Acoustics KC300 Mk3 
Rotel Michi X3 
KEF LS50 Wireless MkII 
Kudos Cardea C10 Speakers
Rogers E20A/II Valve Int. Amp.
Dynaudio Special Forty Anniversary
...and much more!

Within his editorial, Martin Colloms says, "Wishing our readers good health and relaxed reading for this, our Summer edition, our audio scribes have continued their work, ears pinned and pens at hand, to deliver yet more knowledge and opinion on matters audio. Brexit is having an impact on audio commerce, delaying imports and exports: some electronic components are in short supply meaning the production of designs has been delayed or halted, while export red tape has led to some companies setting up depots in the EU at significant cost, to ensure delay-free sales and delivery into Europe. Unquestionably prices have risen over the last year, up to 10% in some cases, but it's also the case that some items are simply unobtainable. Recently a pre-production review sample interconnect from Europe arrived on my doorstep courtesy of UPS – or rather it didn't, since I was asked to pay £150-odd to receive it, even thought it was unclear from the paperwork what the charge was for." See what's within this issue of HIFICRITIC at this link.

06 / 15 / 21

Huddersfield's Listening Test Interface HULTI-GEN Version 2
The University of Huddersfield offers a variety of very useful resources including Virtual Hemispherical Amplitude Panning (VHAP), 3D Microphone Array Recording Comparison (3D-MARCo), and now offer their Huddersfield Universal Listening Test Interface Generator (HULTI-GEN V2). This is a new version of HULTI-GEN as the Max-based tool features a number of new improvements over the previous version, including the addition of psychophysical testing methods (e.g., 2I-2AFC, ABX, Yes-No, etc. in adaptive and non-adaptive procedures) to the existing ITU methods; playback of multi-channel stimuli (up to 64 channels). There's also a SOFA-based, real-time binauraliser with headphone equalization filters, statistical-analysis-ready results files, and an open-source framework for experimenters to modify the existing tests or design their own test methods for HULTI-GEN. The tool is designed so that the setup, testing, and results gathering processes are effortless. You can learn more within the video below.

06 / 14 / 21

Densen Audio Technologies Has Been Sold
Densen Audio Technologies, founded in 1993 in Esbjerg (Denmark), has been sold to Casper Reinhold and Ditlev Leth. Company founder of the Densen brand, Thomas Sillesen, has been seeking a buyer of his high-fidelity audio company and has sold it to two new partners. The sale includes all IP rights from Densen. Ditlev Leth has worked for Thomas Sillesen for a number of years, while Casper Reinhold is a perennial Densen fan and owner of the EMS company Tridane, who have an extensive expertise within electronics development and manufacturing. "The ambitions for Densen are large, and the ideas for the future are many," says their press release, "but the old virtues of Densen are not forgotten in the past. Densens trademarks with incredibly well-build amplifiers, and the idea of a 100% Danish brand with everything developed and build in-house in Denmark, will not be changed – Densen will be kept a 'made-in-Denmark' brand."

Utilizing Casper Reinhold's production capabilities in Tridane, Densen plans to move every step of the production in-house, after parts of the production has been outsourced for some years. Everything from the first resistor placed on the PCB, to the final screw in the cabinet, will be done in-house by Densen technicians in the Northern region of Jutland in Denmark. Though the outsourcing was done with internationally recognized Danish companies, moving everything back in-house will allow for even tighter quality control in every single step in the production line, which further improves the production quality.

06 / 11 / 21

T.H.E. Show 2021 In Long Beach California Starts Today
Exhibitors at T.H.E. Show 2021 in California are ready to demonstrate the very best high-end audio gear during this weekend's event at the Hilton Long Beach from today through Sunday. This event is already almost at capacity for advance ticket sales, so please don't wait! An impressive seminar schedule is planned as well featuring Dr. Mark Waldrep, Jiles McCoy, Emiko, Merge Creative, David Solomon, Wayne Carter, Mr. Julian Margules, and Leonard Dodd. Food trucks will be on site daily to provide a variety of delicious dishes for everyone. Designed to connect music, entertainment, tech aficionados, trade professionals, and media from around the world in an integrated state-of-the-art exhibit, this event will showcase the latest products and innovations from industry-leading brands. Experience a variety of sounds ranging from $500 headphones to the $500,000 stereo setup.

T.H.E. Show would like to thank Qobuz, the official streaming sponsor for providing a very special free 90 day trial with purchase of a three day pass to this event. T.H.E. Show has a press morning exclusively for members of the media / press this morning (Friday) at 10:00am. Following all health and safety guidelines, they are adhering to a population cap and strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets ASAP. They ask you to please follow various health and safety rules that are in adherence to the guidelines set forth by the City.

06 / 10 / 21

TBT: North America Premiere Review!
Nagra Classic Preamp Review
For those who have a system that can appreciate its ultra-luculent and musical sound.
Review By Tom Lyle
Nagra is a Swiss company that has a well-established reputation as a leading manufacturer of professional recording equipment. They were founded about 60 years ago, but it wasn't until 1997 that they also started making high-end audio equipment for home use. I was already afflicted with the audiophile bug back when Nagra introduced their first components for the high-end market, and it was then that I knew that I wanted to own one, or, at the very least hear one. I finally have a Nagra component in my system, their very attractive looking Class A vacuum-tube powered Classic Preamp. Of course, this isn't Nagra's first preamp. In fact, they say that used their previous preamplifier model, the JAZZ, along with Nagra's HD DAC as a reference to ensure that the newer preamp outperformed the older models. And so here it is, the latest preamplifier from Nagra.
---> Nagra Classic Preamp review.

TBT: World Premiere Review!
Sound Lab Majestic 545 Full-Range Electrostatic Loudspeakers Review
The quest for realistic sound from a pair of speakers is likely to end here.
Review By Tom Lyle
The same pair of Sound Lab loudspeakers have been my reference for about 15 years. The reason I acquired them is simple: Back in the day, I heard a pair of Sound Lab A-1's in a friend's large system, and fell in love. To this day, these speakers are the best I've ever heard of any type, as they produce a sonic hologram of the recording that I can visualize with my ears. But I didn't immediately go out and purchase a pair of A-1s. This was not only because they cost much more than I could afford at the time, nor was it because they weighed nearly 200 pounds. It was because of their size. The massive Model A-1's are over seven feet tall, three feet wide, and at their base about two feet deep. Our living room at the time, which was also our listening room, in no way could accommodate them. Eventually the planets aligned, and I purchased a pair of Sound Lab speakers. Fortunately the Sound Lab Majestic 545 electrostatic speakers as reviewed here bring things down to size nicely.
---> Sound Lab Majestic 545 electrostatic speaker review.

06 / 09 / 21

The HiFi Summit Q2 2021 By Joe N Tell
As the third live streaming show by Joe N Tell, they celebrate the audio community in having an excellent high-quality online show resource for 2021! The HiFi Summit, produced by Joe N Tell (Joe Mariano), brings modern features that are expected when showcasing the best in high-fidelity audio and home theater gear. Excellent seminars and group chat are joined by questions from viewers within Discussion and YouTube live stream. Unlike Facebook, Instagram, and other types of live streaming, Joe N Tell's The HiFi Summit videos are available worldwide on YouTube both for live viewing during their event and for on-demand viewing too! This is what high-end and home theater online streaming should be in 2021. Everyone at Enjoy the Music.com celebrates this new generation of online show events! See their past two events right now on Enjoy the Music.com with our coverage of The HiFi Summit Q4 2020 and The HiFi Summit Q2 2020 By Joe N Tell.

06 / 08 / 21

Sonos pyFLAC Python Free Lossless Audio Compression
In the same spirit as the industry's widely accepted lossless FLAC file type, Sonos has released a completely free-to-use simple Pythonic interface for libFLAC. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a free lossless, not lossy or proprietary like pay-for-play formats, file type that compresses digitzed audio without any loss in sound quality. pyFLAC allows you to encode and decode raw audio data directly to/from a file, or in real-time using callbacks. Supported platforms include MacOS, Linux, RPi Zero/2/3/4, and of course Windows 7/8/10. pyFLAC comes bundled with a command line tool to quickly convert between WAV and FLAC files. Sonos has made their pyFLAC widely available for music lovers to use and enjoy without cost to you or the recording industry.

"There are many different existing Python implementations for FLAC encoding / decoding," said Joe Todd, Senior Software Engineer for Advanced Technology at Sonos. "However, these tend to operate on files, rather than real-time streams, which is no good for continuous processing. Of course, we should never reinvent the wheel; instead, we can use CFFI to expose the functionality of libFLAC in Python. So, welcome to pyFLAC: a Python library for realtime lossless audio compression using libFLAC. In the spirit of open-source, we are releasing pyFLAC as a free-to-use package which can be installed directly from PyPi using pip."

06 / 07 / 21

audioXpress And Voice Coil Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook
Now available online for subscribers of audioXpress and Voice Coil is their special Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook 2021. In the best tradition of the Sourcebook, the 2021 edition contains company listings and so much more. In this edition, readers will find several must-read articles from some of the finest industry leaders, interviews with audio professionals on trending industry topics, and their annual industry reports about the state of the industry. Your annual subscription to Voice Coil or audioXpress or your status as a Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook vendor includes a complimentary copy of the 2021 Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook.

06 / 04 / 21

YouTube Paid $4 Billion To The Music Industry
During the previous 12 months YouTube has paid $4 billion total, with 30%being sourced from user-generated content (UGC). YouTube added more paid members in Q1 2021 than any quarter since launch. According to YouTube, "I've seen this industry evolve from an audio business, to an audio-visual business, and now – as my friend Chuck D puts it – to a visual-audio business. As a visual-audio platform, our goal is to become the leading revenue generator for the music industry and to help artists around the world build a career making music. We are uniquely positioned to achieve this goal because YouTube monetizes the end-to-end music experience globally. YouTube is the world's largest stage, and advertisers are eager to tap into the deep music engagement that the platform enables."

"Of the more than $4 billion generated for artists, songwriters, and rights-holders in the last 12 months, over 30% has come from UGC. Fan-powered videos have always flourished on YouTube, helping artists grow their audiences and break songs around the world. We're thrilled it's now also become a meaningful and incremental source of revenue alongside premium music content. Finding new sources of revenue: We're continuing to innovate with direct-to-fan products such as ticketing, merch, memberships, paid digital goods, and virtual ticketed events. Blackpink's paid virtual concert – The Show – sold nearly 280,000 channel memberships across 81 countries and helped the group earn 2.7 million new subscribers to their official artist channel."

Hi-Fi World's July 2021 Reviews & Think Pieces
Hi-Fi World's July 2021 issue features your chance to win a pair of Audio Vector QR1 Ribbon loudspeakers worth £1000. Reviews within this issue include:
Triangle Antal 40TH Anniversary Edition Loudspeakers
Mission LX-4 MK2 Loudspeakers
Naim Uniti Star all-in-one system
Topping L30 Headphone Amplifier
Synthesis Roma 96DC+ Amplifier
Black Rhodium Waltz S Loudspeaker Cables
Soundeck Cartridge Enabler / Pro-Ject LP
Martin Pipe looks at early digital 'surround-sound' processor
Paul Rigby looks at The Poet from Bobby Womack.
Synthesis Roma 79DC Phonostage
iBasso SR2 Headphones
Paul Rigby rounds up the latest audiophile CD releases
...and much more!

Within his editorial Noel Keywood says, "Big loudspeakers like Triangle's Antal reviewed on p10 are usually a gripping experience. As in gripping the side of the settee as they shake the room with seismic bass. And that's what we all want to hear, because it brings a sense of scale to the sound, making music big and bold. The really deep bits are, with Rock music, mostly concentrated in the 30Hz region our spectrum analyser shows, for the simple reason recording engineers commonly raise level here to give their mix some weight. The Antals reached this low and really thundered at times. I mention Leak 3090s in the review but in truth they were a tad overwhelming compared to the Antals, being designed at a time pre-dating computer optimisation." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World at this link.

06 / 03 / 21

Hi-Fi+ June 2021 High-End Audio Magazine
Hi-Fi+'s June 2021 issue features:
Meet your maker with Nigel Payne of Quiescent.
Gear reviews include:
Robert Koda K-15 EX line preamplifier
Cardas Audio Clear Beyond
Karan Acoustics KA Reference Phono
Master Collection Linea
Kuzma Xl DC
Linn Klimax DSM
Wilson Audio Sasha DAW
Manley Labs Stingray II integrated amplifier
Boenicke W8 SE+ floorstanding loudspeaker
Allnic H-5500 valve phono stage
SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo SE, TX-USB Ultra SE, SPS 500 SE
ProAc K1 stand-mount loudspeaker
Gold Note PH-1000 phono stage
Keith Monks Audio Prodigy record cleaner
Farad Super3 supercapacitor power supply
Rosson Audio Design RAD-O planar headphones

Within this month's editorial Alan Sircom says, "In recent years, an appreciation for classical music has waned in the general public. The classical charts are dominated by 'Mellow Moods' compilations and movie soundtracks. While there's nothing wrong with a well-turned score and we all need to 'chillax' from time to time, the classical canon is far, far broader and richer than that. Regardless, year after year, the best-selling classical recordings often have sales that barely top a few thousand worldwide today, and in our own cloistered little branch of music enjoyment, classical music replay is at an all-time low. With the recent postponing of Munich due to continuing problems with COVID-19, it looks doubtful that there will be a large-scale, international audio show in Europe this year. But, back when such audio shows were still a thing, it was fast becoming clear that – with a few notable exceptions – playing anything classical was best used to clear a room rather than showcase what equipment can do. Some of that comes down to changes in taste and an age-related shift away from classical music in general (if you go to a classical concert, you will often struggle to find anyone under 60 in the audience), but we would hate to see enthusiasm for classical music get sidelined as an 'OK Boomer' thing." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

06 / 02 / 21

A Note From Roger Waters To Pink Floyd Fans
This just in from the legendary musicians Roger Water: As I am banned by Dave Gilmour from posting on Pink Floyd's Facebook page with its 30,000,000 subscribers, I am posting this announcement here today and in full on RogerWaters.com. First, a warm welcome back to our little band of brothers and sisters who have always kept an open mind, let's hope some of the fans whose access to my words is suppressed by Gilmour find their way here and discover some truth.

What precipitated this note is that there are new James Guthrie Stereo and 5.1 mixes of the Pink Floyd album Animals, 1977. These mixes have languished unreleased because of a dispute over some sleeve notes that Mark Blake has written for this new release. Gilmour has vetoed the release of the album unless these liner notes are removed. He does not dispute the veracity of the history described in Mark's notes, but he wants that history to remain secret. This is a small part of an ongoing campaign by the Gilmour / Samson camp to claim more credit for Dave on the work he did in Pink Floyd, 1967-1985, than is his due. Yes he was, and is, a jolly good guitarist and singer. But, he has for the last 35 years told a lot of whopping porky pies about who did what in Pink Floyd when I was still in charge. There's a lot of "we did this" and "we did that," and "I did this" and "I did that." You can read Enjoy the Music.com's exclusive interview with Roger Waters at this link.

WBT Nominated For German Innovation Award 2021
WBT-Industrie has been nominated for the German Innovation Award 2021 in the medium-sized companies category for its development of the process "3D gold-plating of connectors using PVD plasma" (PVD = Physical Vapour Deposition), internal brand name: WBT-PlasmaProtect. With this plant technology it has, for the first time, been possible to develop a significantly more environmentally-friendly process to use instead of the electroplating process used previously. The effectiveness was increased from 20 to 80% by a new 3D process, the energy requirements were reduced by around 26% and resource consumption was reduced by about 35%. At the same time, the contact quality was improved by a thin but extremely pure (high vacuum) and still elastic layer of gold (Hertzian stress). The German Innovation Award is one of the prestigious awards for new developments "made in Germany", and is allocated jointly by Accenture, EnBW and the magazine Wirtschaftswoche. Awards are given to companies that change technology and markets with their innovative strength.

Volunteering During RMAF 2021 In Denver
This just in from RMAF: The Colorado Audio Society (CAS) has always been the heart and soul of RMAF. Our original mission of creating an international, affordable and welcoming trade show is only possible because of our volunteers. Over the years our volunteers have expanded from the original CAS crew to encompass friends from all over the world. The volunteers are a gift to all the exhibitors and attendees. Their vast knowledge of the audio industry and willingness to share this knowledge and enthusiasm enhances the RMAF experience. The volunteers wear the RMAF brightly colored t-shirt every year so they are easily recognizable. This year's shirt will be purple. If you are interested in becoming an RMAF volunteer, all you have to commit to is one or more four-hour shift(s) and a friendly attitude. Please click to see the detailed Volunteer job descriptions and Volunteer job schedule.

06 / 01 / 21

Enjoy the Music.com's June 2021 Review Magazine
This month's Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine features Tim Ingham, founder of Music Business Worldwide, writing about how the music industry just took a step backwards with 'free' high-resolution lossless music. Reviews within this issue include CrystalConnect Monet Network Ethernet cable, Furutech NCF Clear Line AC Power Line Optimizer, plus a North America Premiere review of the Lindemann Limetree Phono II phonostage. All this and much more within Enjoy the Music.com's June Review Magazine available at this link.

The Music Industry Just Took A Backwards Step On Streaming Pricing... In Glorious HD
Editorial By Tim Ingham
Founder Of Music Business Worldwide
Amazon's Echo Studio launched in Q4 2019 at a $199.99 price point in the US. "In 2019, Amazon launched Amazon Music HD, a high-quality audio streaming offering that is available to customers at a premium price in the United States. We believe the value proposition that streaming provides to consumers supports premium product initiatives." This, from Warner Music Group's pre-IPO filing last year, is a key part of the modern music industry's big sell to investors. Just you wait, it says: streaming is $9.99-a-month today, but tomorrow, oh man, the possibilities for building on this price-point are endless. Today (May 17), those possibilities hit the floor with a thud. A thud captured in stunning HD sound. It was a noise that hurt my ears – and reiterated a troubling power balance between music rightsholders and Big Tech.
---> The Music Industry Just Took A Backwards Step On Streaming Pricing... In Glorious HD.

CrystalConnect Monet Network Ethernet Cable Review
With just a taste of their Diamond network cable as well.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
Asking an audio reviewer to review a network cable is sort of like asking a car reviewer to review an alternator belt or a particular gasoline (although gasoline would likely equate more correctly to power cords in this scenario). I might even liken speaker cables or interconnects to tires if I continue the analogy; which have a more direct connection to the signal path, or similarly connect the engine, chassis, and suspension to the road. Under most circumstances, I humbly and politely pass when asked to formally review cables. Not because I don't think they make a massive difference in the system's performance (which they unquestionably do), but because in most cases cables affect an overall sense of voicing and presentation that is personal and subtle. And, because people seem to marry themselves to a particular cable manufacturer who has won their devotion, and I don't feel that reviews affect a change in the interest the way that reviews of components do. Also, if I'm being honest, it's sorta painful reviewing cables. I have heard fantastic performances from many cable lines in my listening room....
---> CrystalConnect Monet Network Ethernet cable review.

Furutech NCF Clear Line AC Power Line Optimizer Review
A skeptic gets his comeuppance.
Review By Paul Schumann
If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know that I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to audio. More than one time I've read about some amazing piece of gear, rushed down to the high-end audio parlor (remember those?) to take a listen, and came away disappointed. It's not that it always sounded bad (although, sometimes it did), it just didn't wow me as I was expecting. Where I especially cast a wary eye is an accessory item that promises to improve the overall sound of the system. The Furutech NCF Clear Line is just such a product. So when Steven asked if anyone wanted to review it, of course, I said yes. Okay, full disclosure here, I have been wanting to review a power conditioning device for quite a while. One area I have been remiss in the development of my system is the AC end of things. I've almost bought one a couple of times, but always backed off. Then during the middle of summer, when the AC quality goes dramatically down because of all the air conditioners I start kicking myself. Yet I never seem to pull the trigger on getting one when I have the chance.
---> Furutech NCF Clear Line AC Power Line Optimizer review.

North America Premiere Review!
Lindemann Limetree Phono II Review
Small package – Big impression!
Review By Clive Meakins
Lindemann is very well versed with digital technology and Class D amplifiers. For some people, they've been "flying under the radar" with their Phono stage. The Limetree Phono II is the successor to the well-regarded Limetree Phono. Being very candid; my initial reaction to the suggestion to review the Phono II was, "another relatively affordable Phono stage – I really hope it stands out from the crowd". What I will say at this point is that I'm very pleased I accepted the challenge! A Phono stage can make or break a vinyl-playing system – it needs to match the deck and cartridge electrically plus be a good match in terms of character. It's not hard to put together a couple of OpAmps with an RIAA correction network in between and voila, you have a Phono stage... but that's not to say it'll be a good one that makes systems shine. I've already hinted that auditioning the Phono II was a good use of my time so rest assured that if you are looking for a Phono stage at around €600, finding out more about the Phono II will be very worthwhile. The Lindemann Limetree range covers the Bridge, Network, Headphone, and Phono II....
---> Lindemann Limetree Phono II review.

The Art Of Listening
The emotional power of sound.
Article By Frederick J. Ampel of Technology Visions Analytics
Original article was aimed at custom installers, yet this information is also beneficial to audiophiles and videophiles alike.
Listening to and experiencing an audio environment is a unique and intense multilevel encounter. Stephen Handel, Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee, put it as well as anyone in the preface to his wonderful book: Listening: An Introduction to the Perception of Auditory Events (MIT Press, 1993, ISBN13: 978-0262081795, $62): "Listening puts me in the world. Listening gives me a sense of emotion, a sense of movement, and a sense of being there that is missing when I am [just] looking. I am more frightened by thunder than by lightning, even though I know that thunder is harmless and lightning is deadly. I feel far more isolation living with ear plugs than living with blinders. Listening is centripetal, it pulls you into the world. Looking is centrifugal, it separates you from the world." Let's understand precisely what Handel is saying: If the audio system's re-creation capability is working correctly, it can and should pull the listeners into the presentation with the power to make them believe that they are "there," wherever there might be.
---> The Art Of Listening.

The Intro
Editorial By Art Dudley
Recently I received some new CD re-issues from JVC who have begun applying their very nice XRCD process to the RCA Victor catalog of classical recordings from the 1950s and 1960s. Among this batch was a personal favorite: Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony orchestra performing Beethoven's Symphony No.7. I enjoy this one the most of all the Sevenths in my collection, and the fact that my copy is a mono LP isn't something I ever gave all that much thought to. In fact, until someone corrected me on the point, I half assumed that LM-1991 might be one of those recordings in the RCA catalog that never came out in stereo in the first place. (I am not the sort of record collector who concerns himself with such details, although I am often thankful for the knowledge of those who are.) I also remember thinking that a stereo version of this LP, with that big, gaudy LIVING STEREO banner across the top, must surely suffer by comparison in terms of its cover art, which is Botticelli's La Primavera, reproduced on a sturdy fold-over sleeve the likes of which I haven't seen on any other record.
---> The Intro by Art Dudley of Listener magazine.

Read All Articles, Hi-Fi Gear Reviews, Etc.
We have more wonderful high-end audio equipment reviews, think pieces, etc within this month's Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine available at this link.

Previous High-End Audio News
For previous high-end audio and music industry news click here.