Vivid Audio Introduces Giya Cu Loudspeakers

KEF Debuts New Finishes for Blade One Meta and Blade Two Meta

Sennheiser Drops HDB 630 Wireless Headphones

Sponsored: Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 | Technology Introduction

PSB BP7 Subwoofer Unveiled

Apple AirPods Pro 3: First Impressions

LATEST ADDITIONS

Fred Kaplan

Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields

Fred Kaplan Jun 04, 2015

As readers of this space know, I'm a huge admirer of Maria Schneider's music, but her latest, The Thompson Fields (on the ArtistShare label), breaks through to a new level. It's her most ambitious recording, and her most accomplished; it places her in the pantheon of big-band composer-leaders, just below Ellington, Strayhorn, and Gil Evans at his very best; it's a masterpiece...The Maria Schneider Orchestra is playing at Birdland, in Midtown Manhattan, through June 6.

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

THE Show Newport 2015: That's A Wrap

Jason Victor Serinus, Sasha Matson, Thomas J. Norton Jun 03, 2015

One of the most delightful annual surprises of the now departed Las Vegas installment of THE Show was stumbling upon the NFS (Not For Sale) room. Assembled by the distinguished personage known as Buddha, it allowed visitors to become submerged in a combination of post-psychedelic revelry, good sound, lots of free booze, and a total absence of hawking...

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

Jason's Day 3 at THE Show

Jason Victor Serinus Jun 03, 2015

Resolving to get an early start, I skipped breakfast and hit the show floor at 10:30am on Sunday. Will Kline of Fine Sounds (left) and Sunil Merchant (right) of Covina, CA's Sunny's Components were justifiably proud of the simply beautiful midrange created by the marriage of Wilson Audio Alexia loudspeakers ($52,000/pair) and Audio Research components. This wasn't the most transparent of systems I auditioned, but it was unquestionably among the most musical.

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

THE Show Day 3: the Reichert Report

Herb Reichert Jun 03, 2015

Photo: Jason Victor Serinus

During THE Show, the Woo Audio/MA Recordings room became my restful oasis. I am an extreme fan of MA Recordings and its most worldly proprietor, Todd Garfinkle (right above in Jason's photo). Todd makes perfect-sounding recordings of real in-the-world music. Not audiophile recordings of some faux chanteuse in clown makeup singing songs she doesn't understand for an audience that cares more about sonics than poetic expression. In contrast, Todd Garfinkle picks up gypsies in the Paris Metro and brings them home. He shares his best food and wine with themand finally, when they are properly "prepared," he turns on his recorder and gets them to chant, shout and play wedding songswith tubas, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, accordions, drums and fierce stomping boots!

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

Sasha Matson's Day 3

Sasha Matson Jun 03, 2015

Sunday morning may be a time of rest for some people, but not at THE Show Newport 2015. I felt a bit like an earnest medic making my room rounds: "Morning, I'm Doctor Matson. And how is our stereo feeling today?" My first patient was doing just fine, and ready to be discharged. PBN Audio, out of San Diego, led by designer/owner Peter Bichel Noerbaek (above)...

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

Horns and Heaven: Jason's Day 2 in Newport Beach

Jason Victor Serinus Jun 02, 2015

If I were forced to spend a week alone on a desert island, with my only companions a small, battery-powered player and one person's music collection, I'd have a tough time setting between the libraries of Jeffrey Catalano (High Water Sound, in the room above), Philip O'Hanlon (On a Higher Note), and John DeVore (Devore Fidelity). While their musical predilections certainly vary, all have impeccable taste when it comes to repertoire and artistry...

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

Tom Norton's Day 2 Report

Thomas J. Norton Jun 02, 2015

Headphonium, Earphonium, Canjam. Every audio show has its own name for a section set aside to serve headphone enthusiasts, an increasingly active audiophile sub-segment. The one at this year's Newport show was smaller than the one I recall at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest show last fall. But among the newcomers were headphones from Mr. Speakers (like the $1499 planar designs shown here)...

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

More of Matson's Day 2

Sasha Matson Jun 01, 2015

In the AudioQuest room I found my good friend and audio guru Joe Harley (Had to take a selfie of myself, left, and Joemy original high-end gururight.) Along with Garth Powell, brilliant current designer of recent AudioQuest hardware, I listened to another really fine system. Debuting at the show was the new AudioQuest Niagra 7000 Conditioner ($7000), which Joe Harley told me has changed his life. And when Joe tells me things about audio, I pay attention...

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

Sasha Matson's Day 2 at the Newport Show

Sasha Matson Jun 01, 2015

My very full second day at THE Show Newport continued with some wonderful quality time and listening. Had a good visit with designer/owner Keith Herron (left), of appropriately named Herron Audio. This company is based in St. Louis, and Mr. Herron is particularly interested in the musical aspects of his gear, and stated to me that he felt musicians respond particularly well to it. Being a composer myself, I think he is spot-on.

T.H.E. Show Newport 2015

Herb Reichert's Day Two at THE Show

Herb Reichert Jun 01, 2015

I am having my second morning coffee in the LAOCAS hospitality lounge and a man walks in and announces loudly, "I am officially blown away!" Everyone looks. Ok? So what did you hear? He stands there grinning. "Have you been to the Elac room?"