Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.32 No.8

Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.32 No.8

The August 2009 issue of <i>Stereophile</i> is now on newsstands. See that spiffy-looking integrated amplifier/USB DAC thingamajig on the cover? That's the Peachtree Nova. When I was at <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/david_solomon_and_the_peachtr… Exchange</a> a couple of months ago, Novas were just flying off the shelves. Old guys were digging them, young guys were digging them, and girls were digging them, too. Everyone wanted one. Can't blame 'em, really. The Nova offers a lot in a tidy, attractive package. Look at that styling, all retro-modern Eames with its high profile and its real-wood veneer wrapping round those perfect curves!

AUDIO VERITY

AUDIO VERITY

If you can find some of the oldest issues of Stereophile, you'll see that several of the covers hold a short, sweet, often humorous "AUDIO VERITY." These nuggets of hi-fi wisdom were written by Stereophile founder, J. Gordon Holt.

What media player software do you use?

I read an article in another magazine about Media Monkey having it all over Windows Media Player so I downloaded it and gave it a shot. I have most of my cds ripped at full rez and a growing collection of 24 bit 96 vinyl rips. They sound great through WMP, so I was quite eager to hear the highly praised Media Monkey.

It sucked. It sounded like I was listening to badly recorded cassettes. No highs, it was flat and lifeless. My wife made a face from the kitchen and asked me what I had done to ruin the sound.

Mostly Coltrane

Forums

I just want to second Fred Kaplan's glowing review of Mostly Coltrane.

(Find it here: 'Mostly Coltrane' review.)

I'm really tired of tribute albums. No matter how wonderful Ellington/Monk/Mingus are, the vast majority of tributes are unavoidably backward-looking - and jazz has done so many, it sometimes feels like the majority of players spend their time looking over their shoulders.

Ellington - Smithsonian sets

Forums

When I first got very serious about jazz, I lusted after - but couldn't afford - a series of lps from the Smithsonian that documented Duke Ellington in 1938, 39 and 40.

Instead, a while later I got "Braggin' in Brass," the Columbia collection of the 1938 band.

It was overshadowed by "The Blanton-Webster Band" on RCA, but I have always had a soft spot for the 1938 band. It was lighter, poppier maybe, but I wouldn't trade a dozen or so of the performances.

Component recommendations

Hi,

I am new to this forum and I'm sure you folks are inundated with questions similar to mine.

I love listening to music and unfortunately my tastes in electronics are bigger than my wallet allows. I am looking to build a system however the opportunity to listen to the system is limited where I live. There are few high end dealers. So, I thought I'd ask for your input...

I listen to more midrange music. I particularly like acoustic music - the likes of Amos Lee, Sarah Harmer... and classical - baroque or pieces that the cello is center stage.

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