2nd edition
UMe Announces Fall Release Schedule, Plunges Into Vinyl 33 1/3 Speed Ahead
September 9th's scheduled "Back to Mono" Beatles box is far from Universal Music Enterprises' only late summer vinyl venture. UMe today announced an ambitious vinyl release schedule for September and October.
Balanced Audio Technology VK-P6 Phono Preamplifier Does MM
First off, to clarify: I am a big Mel Tormé fan. If I describe a product as producing a "velvet fog" (Mel's nickname), it's meant as a compliment! Some readers emailed wondering how I meant the expression. I meant it as a compliment and I used it because the VK-P6's sonics reminded me of Mel's smooth, sonorous voice.
Balanced Audio Technology VK-P6 Phono Preamplifier Produces A Luxurious, “Velvet Fog”
Last year's purchase of Balanced Audio Technology by Jim Davis, who also owns Music Direct and Mobile Fidelity has resulted in major product upgrades and lower prices. This new VK-P6 phono preamplifier is an example of what the newly revitalized company can do given an adequate infusion of resources.
The VC Audio Labs MB-45 KT120 Monoblock Power Amplifier Kit
Putting in monetary perspective this $1095, 45 watt RMS mono block all-tube amplifier kit manufactured in Detroit, Michigan USA: back in 1960 a Dynakit Mark IV 40 watt mono block all-tube amplifier kit manufactured in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA cost $60. That's about $500 in today's dollars.
T-Bone Burnett-Produced Lost On the River: The New Basement Tapes Set For November 11th Release
Back in March while out in Los Angeles to help with the Audio Fidelity TRON reissue, I followed up on Al Schmitt's invitation to visit him at Capitol Studios where he was working on a still secret all-analog production. Schmitt took me on a tour of Capitol 's famous studios--the site of so much recorded history--and I captured most of it on video.
MONOCHROME Recordings Takes Vinyl Exclusivity to New Extremes
Monochrome Recordings is a new vinyl label with a seriously exclusive business model.
Nick of Time Flawlessly Reissued By Capitol Records
Bonnie Raitt’s “Nick of Time” views in a darker, more melancholic light time’s passage. Its release in 1989 struck a morbid, resonating chord with baby boomers then approaching or having hit 40.
1st Edition
Polish Progressive Rock Band INDUKTI's Debut Gets Double 180 Vinyl Release
Not being heavily steeped in progressive rock, I can't say in what esteem the Polish group INDUKTI is held but thanks to the persistence of one young man, Robert Guilarte-Mantellini and his Sunspot Record label (not to be confused by the Washington, D.C. Reggae label of the same name that shuttered in 1994), the band's debut album S.U.S.A.R. (Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reactions) has gotten a double 180g vinyl release.
Volto! Aims to Tear Your Woofer Cones From Their Surrounds
The late Rick Griffin's mischievous rodent cover art isn't the only retro aspect of this prog-rock/jazz fusion recording debut by a group that's been together for more than a decade. (Griffin is best known for his Grateful Dead work including the Aoxomoxoa cover).
Chasing the Dragon : A Man and His Microphones
Recording engineer Mike Valentine produced and recorded an old-fashioned audiophile demo disc using 50 year old Neumann tube microphones and a high resolution Nagra digital recorder all connected together with ZenSati cables from Denmark. One track was recorded using a 1/2" Studer analog deck running at 30 IPS.
The DSA Phono II MM/MC Phono Preamplifier
I reviewed Dynamic Sound Associate's $12,000 solid-state phono preamp in Stereophile's "Analog Corner" October, 2013. It was a "Class A" product all the way other than a few "burps".
Reite Audio PS-1 MC Phono Preamplifier and PSU-1 Power Supply
Reite Audio is a relatively new company created by electronics designer Bob Reite and musician Ed Sheftel. Sheftel first imported to America and distributed the Welsh-made Tom Evans Audio Design line of electronics. One of its products, The Groove phono preamp had, at the turn of the century, what could fairly be described as a “cult following”.
Ernst Benz R.I.P.
Ernst Benz founder of moving coil cartridge manufacturer Benz Micro passed away on July 5th, 2014 in his Neuhausen-am-Rheinfall, Switzerland home at age 82, surrounded by his family.
The Audio Technica AT-LP120-USB Turntable Shames the Plastic Competition
Off the audiophile pedestal and into the “real world” we go, with a review of Audio Technica’s easy to set up $299.95 ("street" price $250) AT-LP120-USB turntable.
"Redbook" 16 bit/44.1K Version of Vivaldi Track Added to Mat Test
Analogplanet.com readers requested we post the "rebook" version of the Vivaldi Mandolin piece so there's a reference at the same sampling and bit rate as the "needle drops".
The Big Brush Off! Three Dry Record Brushes Compared
This is hardly a scientific comparison, but I spent a few days comparing, in order of price, the Audioquest carbon fiber brush ($24.99), the AcousTech The Big Record Brush ($36.95) ($52.95 with grounding wire) and the Levin Design ($335 appx.).
Source AnalogPlanet
