2nd Edition
Esoteric Grandioso C1X line preamplifier
Even as I was admiring some of the handsomest audio gear I'd ever set eyes on, my thoughts kept returning to equipment of a very different sort.
Bricasti Design M1SE MDX D/A processor
The greater my own longevity, the more I admire that very quality--longevity, that is. An "upgrade path" is similarly appealing--if, regrettably, rarely available to humans, who are stuck with the equipment we were born with, give or take a prosthesis or two.
Magico A5 loudspeaker
It's rare for a Stereophile reviewer to review two loudspeakers in a row from the same manufacturer, but then these are unusual times. Because of the pandemic, Magico's M2s got stuck here for a year (I know: poor me).
Line Magnetic LM-845IA integrated amplifier
If you've ever paused in front of a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, you may have noticed that the canvas seems to glow. Everything in Rubens's paintings celebrates abundance.
Recording of July 2021: The Who Sell Out
This 5-CD box-set version of The Who Sell Out is the latest iteration of a 54-year-old work-in-progress. It contains an unrivaled wealth of recorded information covering the period between the Who's second album, A Quick One (Happy Jack in the US), and the monumental rock opera Tommy.
T.H.E. Show 2021: A Really Fine Show
"We are so proud of everyone who made T.H.E. Show 2021 come to life," texted show coordinator Emiko Carlin about what was the first post-pandemic audio show to take place in North America. "After more than a year of unprecedented losses, this was no doubt a true celebration of audio and musical connection.
1st Edition
MQA again
MQA has once again floated to the surface of the perfectionist-audio pond--not belly-up as some have hoped but forced there by relentless pursuit by anti-MQA predators posing as impartial jellyfish.
Rhiannon Giddens: Phoenix Rising
Not even a pandemic lockdown could keep Rhiannon Giddens from seeking new projects. Between making a new album with her partner, Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi, and engaging in strategic planning in her new role as artistic director of the Silkroad Ensemble, the musician and activist seems as busy as ever even if she rarely leaves her house.
Clearaudio Concept Active Wood turntable
My friend Courtney Grant Winston has led a storied life. A photographer by trade, Courtney has a gift for revealing his subjects' spirited personalities. He has photographed actor Morgan Freeman, Le Bernardin co-owner Maguy Le Coze, and celebrity chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Alain Ducasse, and Anthony Bourdain.
AVM Ovation A 6.2 ME integrated amplifier
During my 100 years on earth, I've owned mostly separate amps and preamps, but only because that is where I started--or I should say, that is where my audio-savvy friends directed me when I began asking for guidance.
Revinylization #18: Deja Vu all over again
The central question behind Deja Vu was "How do you top a classic?" The eponymous debut album by Crosby, Stills & Nash was a case of magic musical synergy meeting the perfect moment. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200, won the Grammy for Best New Artist, and opened the door for the trio's legendary performance at Woodstock.
Rediscoveries #1: Archie Shepp's Ballads
A review of the Archie Shepp/Jason Moran duet album Let My People Go, in the April issue, may have startled some readers. Shepp is a tenor saxophonist known for tearing across the fiercest climes of the avant-garde (his seminal album is called Fire Music); yet at 83, he's playing standards, spirituals, and slow blues.
Source Stereophile
