2nd Edition
Ida Levin RIP
I am sad to report that, 19 years to the day after I recorded her performing Schulhoff's Sonata for Solo Violin for Stereophile, Ida Levin passed away on Friday November 18, after a lengthy battle with leukemia. She was 53.
Devialet Opens First Standalone US Store in SoHo, NYC
This past Friday, November 17, critically acclaimed French audio startup Devialet officially opened the doors to their first US standalone store right here in SoHo, NY. This store joins five other standalones globally and, as of yet, no future plans of additional US locations have been disclosed.
Musicians As Audiophiles: Dan Weiss
Drummer/composer Dan Weiss has wide-ranging musical tastes, superb skills, and a rocking little Rega-based system in his cozy Brooklyn, New York apartment. Dan has drummed with many jazz greats, but it's his own projects that have generated the greatest interest.
Prima Donna Leontyne Price in all her Remastered Glory
Just in time for the holidays and the soprano's 90th birthday, Sony Classical has gifted every confirmed or budding opera lover amongst us with Leontyne Price: Prima Donna Assoluta.
dCS Rossini Player & Rossini Clock
It has been 20 years since I first became aware of the British company Data Conversion Systems, which manufactures audio products under the dCS brand. Rather than use off-the-shelf conversion chips, the groundbreaking dCS Elgar D/A converter, which I reviewed in our July 1997 issue, featured a then-unique D/A design that they called a Ring DAC.
Listening #168: Ortofon SPU #1S phono cartridge
I'm a progressive who enjoys the company of his conservative friends, a Catholic who's thankful for his atheist friends, and a carnivore who cherishes his vegetarian friends. I'm also a vintage-audio enthusiast who loves his audiophile friends who aren't so inclined.
Take Two Grateful Deads and Call Me in the Morning
My friend was in dire straits. What had been rare occurrences of panic attacks--one every year or so--had turned into a full-blown panic disorder that made it impossible for him to enjoy peace of mind.
Recording of December 2016: Made in Brooklyn
The invite from David Chesky was simple enough: "Hey Robert, John McEuen, David Bromberg and a lot of other people are going to make a record in this abandoned church that a friend of mine owns in Brooklyn, you wanna come by?"
The 1965 New York Audio Show
As our coverage of the 2016 New Audio Show has just been posted, I thought it would be interesting to post our report from the 1965 show, in particular to see which brands are still around 50 years later.--John Atkinson
1st Edition
New York Audio Show 2016
The Stereophile crew reports live from the Park Lane Hotel in NYC!
Perspective
Then, a lone capsule filled with liquid anxiety, outfitted in wobbly heels and a blanket of sweat aimlessly wandered through the halls of hotel hi-fi. She had recently interviewed for her dream job at her dream publication, Stereophile, but had not heard back yet.
Let There Be Rock (and Roll)?
For your consideration. It's the time of year when both the Grammy nominations and those for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame are due. For the moment, I'll leave the annual Grammy debacle--the nominations come out on Dec. 6--for a later rant.
JL Audio Fathom f212v2 powered subwoofer & CR-1 crossover
It was all so familiar. In "Music in the Round" in the January 2016 issue, Kal Rubinson praised JL Audio's latest subwoofer, the Fathom f113v2. He raved about its amplifier's higher power over the original f113, its beefier 13" woofer, its improved, 18-band Digital Automatic Room Optimization (DARO), and its significantly improved deep-bass response in-room.
PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium power amplifier
Let us pretend . . . you have a pair of loudspeakers that have proven themselves to sound articulate and musically responsive in your room, without excess boom, bloom, or frail leanness. They mate with your decor and impress your friends. But maybe you're bored, and feel certain that your speakers would sound better with a better amplifier than the one you have now.
Shure KSE1500 electrostatic in-ear headphone system
I wrote several issues back that my first high-end headphones were Koss Pro4AAs, which I bought in 1972 following a positive review in the British magazine Hi-Fi News. Although that review didn't mention that the Pro4AAs were relatively fragile (footnote 1), I nonetheless loved their sound.
Music in the Round #81: Classe Sigma Mono amplifier, Sony UHP-H1 universal player
Last spring, when I was listening to Bowers & Wilkins's 802 D3 Diamond loudspeakers, Classe Audio offered a pair of their new Sigma Mono amps for the review. They claimed a synergy--B&W's D3 series had been developed using Classe amps.
A Visit to YG Acoustics
When Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2016 (RMAF)the hot hi-fi rager of the Wild Westcame to its close, I had one more official stop to make: YG Acoustics. Located just 30 minutes from Denver in the city of Arvada, is the YG Acoustics facility--including the factory, showroom, and offices.
Source Stereophile
