The why behind most artist-owned labels tends to be a thicket of motivations. They have more adventurous tastes. They are more artist friendly. They are anxious to be the ones in charge of the money for a change. For jazz trumpeter Charles Tolliver, co-founder of the record label Strata-East, the motivation was a combination of all these factors and more.

During a break in the hectic schedule that preceded the April 2025 release of 32 reissues from the famed Strata-East catalog—including the work of Charlie Rouse, Pharoah Sanders, and Cecil McBee—I caught up with Tolliver and his son Ched, who's now in charge of the label's rebirth.

For Warner Music Group, the Doors have been a deep vein of music gold. Their albums have never been out of print, and the catalog has enjoyed regular reissues for decades. Each new version of the Doors' first six albums sells well enough to prompt another trip to the vaults.

The latest moonlight drive down love street is a series of all-analog LPs from Rhino High Fidelity (RHF). A limited-edition numbered box set version sold out in days; un-numbered single LPs will sell until the production parts wear out. Cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Mastering using his Studer A-80 tape machine and Neumann VMS-66 lathe with Technics quartz-drive motor, they were plated and pressed at Optimal in Germany and are housed in the heavy-cardboard gatefold jackets used throughout the RHF series.

Impressively full-range sound was the hallmark of a fine system dominated by Aequo Audio's new three-driver Ensium speakers with active, room-corrected bass ($44,900/pair, or approx. $40,000/pair in the passive version). Connected by AudioQuest cabling (approx. $100,000), with Aequo's own Ferroguard power cables ($4100) for the woofers, the Dutch company's speakers absolutely sang. As I discovered from playing musical chairs, the sound was at its best in the front row; there, on Yello's "Till Tomorrow," colors were the most saturated and involving.

This massive system—anchored by the world premiere Avalon Acoustics SAGA Signature loudspeakers, amplification from Nick Doshi, and Acustica Applicata's Volcano Modular Variable Resonator—produced deeply involving sound.

Ortofon's Louis Dorio was demoing the brand's new cartridge lineup, featuring the MC X10 with elliptical stylus ($299), MC X20 with nude elliptical stylus ($499), MC X30 with nude fine-line stylus ($699), and MC X40 with nude Shibata stylus on a boron cantilever ($999).

Jacky Lee, CEO of French manufacturer Revival Audio, presented a fine system that included an Electrocompaniet ECM 1 MKII high-end DAC and music streamer ($5800, all prices approximate when converted from Euros), an EMC 1 MKV Reference CD player ($7300), an EC 4.8 MKII Reference preamplifier ($5700), and Electrocompaniet's AW 800 M Reference stereo/monoblock amplifiers ($24,000 each).

At High End Munich, the shared booth of Prague-based Remton Audio and Fonolab inevitably caught my eye. Beautifully crafted phono gear always stands out, especially when it reflects deep analog passion.

After meeting Thuono Audio co-founder Eleonora Bonollo at the brand's static display in 2024, it was a pleasure to see the Italian entrepreneur demonstrating a full playback system at this year's High End Munich.

Lansche Audio just celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking the occasion by unveiling a carefully curated system at the Munich show. The setup integrated new products from two renowned analog companies: Klaudio of Japan and Reed of Lithuania.

This system, largely composed of Viva Audio components—including three world premieres—was supported by a mix of modest and high-end source components.