The acoustic environment for music reproduction is easily the most overlooked source of sonic degradation. Many fine playback systems are compromised by room-induced anomalies that severely color the reproduced sound. When we live in a world of directional wire, high-end AC power cords, and $4000 CD transports, paying attention to the listening room's contribution to the musical experience takes on greater urgency.
<I>Stereophile</I>'s seventh CD of Minnesotan male choir Cantus, called with delightful originality <I>Cantus</I> (CTS1207) and recorded at 88.2kHz with 24-bit resolution, is now available from our <A HREF="http://ssl.blueearth.net/primedia/home.php">e-commerce page</A>, for $16.95 plus S&H.
<i><b>Trilla</i></b><br>
Deadly Dragon Sound
As in any community bound tightly together by shared enthusiasms, the High End is regularly swept by tides of fashion. Some of the fads prove to be based on something of value, and outlast the initial burst: loudspeaker spikes and Tiptoes, for example, or the resurgence of tube designs, or making use of high-quality passive components. Other fads, particularly if not based on good engineering, fall by the wayside. (Does anyone still use a <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/miscellaneous/784/index4.html">Tice Clock</A> in their system? Or suspend their cables and interconnects on little acrylic bridges?)
Bagheera doesn't think either. She <I>plots</I>.
In Hucklebery's case, it's deceptive. He's not really a thinker, that cat.
Actually, he has been guest blogging over at Powell's website, drumming up publicity for <I>The Stupidest Angel</I>.
I’m making my way, too slowly, through the latest set of Naxos’ “Jazz Icons” DVDs, taken from TV broadcasts of great American jazz musicians on European tours in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Some time ago, I <A HREF="http://blog.stereophile.com/fredkaplan/092607jazz/">wrote</A> about <I>Charles Mingus: Live in ’64</I> (a terrific companion piece to his CD, <I>Cornell 1964</I>, recorded just before and released just last year). Tonight I watched <I>Dexter Gordon: Live in ’63 & ’64</I>, and recommend it highly, too.
