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Nordost & Cambridge Audio Seminar in Pittsburgh Saturday

Stereophile Staff Feb 07, 2018

Saturday, February 10, 10am3pm, Northern Audio (3003 Babcock Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15237) welcomes Mike Marko of Nordost Corporation and Bob Scranton of Cambridge Audio for their "2018 Audio Innovations" seminar. Mr. Marko will provide the latest product demonstrations and cable comparisons, while Mr. Scranton will present how the right gear makes music lovers' lives better.

Robert Baird

When Linda Ronstadt Became a Star

Robert Baird Feb 07, 2018

Mobile Fidelity reissues Heart Like A Wheel...

Digital Processor Reviews

Counterpoint DA-10 digital processor

Robert Harley Feb 06, 2018

Someone interested in buying a digital/analog converter today must make tough choices. Not only are there several competing technologies to choose frommulti-bit, 1-bit, hybridbut every converter also has its own musical signature. When someone buys a converter, they're locked in to both the technology and the sound.

Recording of the Month

Recording of October 1974: Bax Symphony No.5

William Marsh Feb 06, 2018

Bax: Symphony No.5 in c sharp
London Philharmonic Orchestra; Raymond Leppard, conductor.
Musical Heritage Society MHS-1652 (LP, From Lyrita SRCS-58).

Sir Arnold Bax (18831953) completed his fifth symphony in 1932 and dedicated it to Sibelius. Its first performance was conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham in 1934. Have any of our major orchestras ever played it? Not to my knowledge, and after over 40 years, it's about time. At least we have it on disc now, in addition to The Garden of Fand and Tintagel. Lyrita has even more Bax in their catalog.

Interviews

Musicians as Audiophiles: Jerome Sabbagh

Ken Micallef Feb 05, 2018

Chances are, if you're a regular Stereophile reader, you're already a fan of tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh. How so? Because our astute crew of writers, editors, and all-round trendsetters have their collective fingers on the pulse of music that matters. Stereophile Contributing Editor Fred Kaplan reviewed Sabbagh's 2015 vinyl release, The Turn, bringing his honed insight to bear on a recording he describes as "spectacular. Sabbagh's sax floats palpably between the speakers, Ted Poor's drumkit crashes and sizzles . . .Ben Monder's guitar sparkles or wails. . . and Joe Martin's bass plucks and thumps like an anchor. Everything is clear, in a wide, deep, seamless space."

Jason Victor Serinus

Jordi Savall Illustrates History with Music

Jason Victor Serinus Feb 04, 2018

Jordi Savall, the gifted viola da gamba player and ensemble founder who, together with his late wife, soprano Montserrat Figueras, infused early music with inestimable life and color, has released his 16th high-resolution musical history book for Alia Vox. As one might expect from an artist dedicated to promoting music as the great unifier, the 37 tracks on the two-hybrid SACD set, Venezia Millenaria 7001797, along with its copious illustrations and five comprehensive essays in six languages, explore the history of the water-surrounded refuge.

Headphone Reviews InnerFidelity

Advanced Alpha Over-Ear Open Planar Magnetic Headphones

Tyll Hertsens Feb 03, 2018

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

One of a nice handfull of $500ish planar magnetic headphones at the show, I was impressed with the Advanced Alpha at CanJam@RMAF last October. In my report I said:

Maybe it was just the show conditions, or maybe I was just in the right mood, but holy smoke these sounded really good to me on first listen. I've been wrong at shows before so don't take this as gospel, but I sure liked these Advanced planar magnetic cans.

Well, time to find out if we can trust my ears at shows.

Robert Baird

Classic Rock Landmark Finally Reissued on 180 gram LP

Robert Baird Feb 02, 2018

Joe Walsh before the Eagles . . .

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Pass Laboratories XA25 power amplifier

Herb Reichert Feb 01, 2018

The XA25 stereo amplifier is the latest addition to Pass Laboratories' XA series of amplifiers and, at $4900, the lowest priced. It weighs only 45 lbs, has single-ended inputs only, and outputs 25Wpc into 8 ohms, 50Wpc into 4 ohms, or 100Wpc (!) into 2 ohms. According the XA25's well-written owner's manual, it will deliver 50W peaks into 2, 4, or 8 ohmsin class-A.

Audacious Audio Tube Power Amp Reviews

Jadis JA200 Mk.II monoblock power amplifier

Jason Victor Serinus Feb 01, 2018

"How natural the sound," wrote Jonathan Scull in March 1994, in his Follow-Up on the original Jadis JA 200 monoblock amplifier, which then cost $18,990/pair. "How easy it was to follow the musical line and fall into the music. How deep, controlled, tight, and satisfying the bass. How magnifique the midrangethe traditional strength of the Jadis presentation. How full and satisfying the lower midrange. How open, airy, how right the highsnot at all hard, but very extended and natural. How involving their presentation. How full, how harmonically correct, how wonderfully compelling. How magical."