Should Stereophile cover more vinyl playback products?
With Michael Fremer's "Tracking Angle" column and periodic vinyl product reviews from many others, should <I>Stereophile</I> be doing even more in this area?
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Red Shift: Doppler distortion in loudspeakers
In the world of digital audio, jitter has been a focus of audiophile attention for well over a decade. It is blamed for many of the sonic ills of which CD and other digital media have been accused. But here's a puzzle: The major source of frequency intermodulation distortion in audio systems—the loudspeaker—has largely escaped such withering inquiry. Why?
Totem Acoustic Rainmaker loudspeaker
I have concluded that I am blessed.
Classé Omega Omicron monoblock power amplifier
Non-audiophile friends and relatives raised their eyebrows when they saw the Classé Omega Omicron monoblocks. Not only is the Omicron more expensive than any other amp I've used; at 108 lbs, it's heavier than some of the <I>speakers</I> I've used. The Omicron is Classé's next-to-top-of-the-line amp in its Omega series, but is still definitely a "statement" product. Brian Damkroger reviewed the Omicron's big brother, the Omega Mono, in the July 2003 <I>Stereophile</I>. I refer you to <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/878">that review</A> for a more detailed description of the Omicron's basic circuitry.
Krell Resolution 1 loudspeaker
Sometimes you have to make peace with a loudspeaker. You have to accept it on its own terms rather than ask it to bend to your sonic wishes, or to be something it's not. This is especially true when you're auditioning a seemingly endless succession of them, as I have this year. Like beauty-pageant contestants parading across the stage, all different-looking yet all enticing in one way or another, each speaker I've listened to of late has sounded different from the rest, and each has had a unique combination of strengths and weaknesses—yet each has been sufficiently "in the pocket" to paint a credible musical picture. Nonetheless, some required more bending on my part than did others, in order for me to <I>believe</I> the musical portraits they were attempting to create.
Comfort Vol.1: New Christmas CD from Cantus
John Atkinson and Cantus are at it again. Last June, John and <A HREF="http://www.cantusonline.org">Cantus</A>, the Minnesota-based male vocal ensemble, traveled to Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, to record an adventurous two-volume Christmas CD. <I>Comfort and Joy: Volume One</I> is being released this week.
Do you have acoustical pianos or electric keyboard instruments at home?
Being the keyboard fanatic that he is, John Marks would like to know how many of our readers actually have a piano or electric keyboard instrument of some type in their homes.
Recording of November 2004: Dummy
<B>NRBQ: <I>Dummy</I></B><BR>
Edisun ED-17 (CD). 2004. NRBQ, prods.; Billy Shaw, prod., eng.; Alan Stockwell, Joey Interlande, Chris Anderson, engs. AAD? TT: 37:11<BR>
Performance <B>****½</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>
Speed Limits & the Music Biz
"Bugger!" A Pennsylvania state trooper had stepped out from behind the overpass on the Turnpike and was aiming his radar gun straight at me. I reflexively jammed on the anchors, which was a) pointless and b) downright dangerous, considering I was in the middle of a phalanx of cars and trucks all cruising 5-10mph over the speed limit. But what can you do?
Naim CD5x CD player
Naim Audio has a reputation for making products that are truer than most to music's temporal content: rhythm, pacing, the beat almighty. Beginning with their classic solid-state amps of the mid-1970s, Naim's designers have stressed, above all else, the reduction of distortions that puff up and pad the attack and decay components of musical sounds: Getting rid of those additives seems to clarify the timing relationship between different notes in a line, making music more compelling and easier to enjoy. That their gear has historically favored musical content over sonic attributes is no shock to the Naim faithful.