My Favorite Things

My Favorite Things

Feb 05, 2009

Friend and neighbor, Tris McCall, has been posting the results and analysis of his annual <a href="http://www.trismccall.net/critics_poll_2008_results.htm">Critics Poll</a>. My favorite bit&#151<a href="http://www.trismccall.net/critics_poll_2008_miscellany.htm">Miscellaneo… Categories</a>&#151went up today. I am even mentioned in the analysis. Always a thrill. Oddly, however, Tris notes that I am an "audiophile."

The End of an Era

Forums
The Great Beyond
Submitted by John Atkinson on

www.scena.org/columns/lebrecht/090204-NL-decca.html.

Sad news, given the English company's pioneering work, including the first and still in some ways the best complete Ring, and the first Petrouchka on LP. Somewhere in my tape archive I have a private recording of an orchestral piece the late Antal Dorati wrote on the notes D.E.C.C.A.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Professional Near Field Monitors - used as Hi-FI (Dynaudio BM 6 or BM 15)

Forums
General Rants 'n' Raves
Submitted by jmsoto on

I am setting up a Hi-Fi in my office, around my MacPro.
I already have a Grace Design GRM902 Reference Headphone Amplifier, to be used as DAC, and Pre-Amp. I am thinking to but a Creek Destiny Integrated.

The problem is with speakers. I dont have much space, or freedom to place them on the floor, so I might need to use bookshelf speakers... so here is the question:

A P.S. on Keith Jarrett

A P.S. on Keith Jarrett

Feb 04, 2009

Keith Jarrett has also just released a trio CD called <I>Yesterdays</I> (on ECM), featuring Gary Peacock on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums, with whom he’s been playing for decades. The album might be described as outtakes from the group’s 2001 concert in Tokyo—portions of which were released the following year on a double-disc recording called <I>Always Let Me Go</I>—except that the new album is dramatically different. <I>Always</I> consisted almost entirely of improvisations; but it turns out the trio also played standards that night (the group is known as Jarrett’s “standards trio”), and they’re all assembled on <I>Yesterdays</I>. Often when a musician releases an album of previously unreleased takes, it’s clear why they didn’t make the original cut. But that’s not the case here. In fact, this is one of Jarrett’s loveliest albums, especially the ballads (“You’ve Changed,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” and “Stella by Starlight,” as well as the title tune). Whatever one might say about the man’s antics and idiosyncrasies, his artistry cannot be disputed. I can’t think of another jazz pianist alive, and only a few from any era, who displays such seamless virtuosity, across so many styles of music, and still conveys the vibrant rhythms and true emotion of a song.

CD Players

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by rhmy on

Hi guys,

Recently, I've been interested in CD players but I'm not too sure what should I look out for in a good CD player. I came across Loit Eagle Neo-Retro CD Player. I thought it looked pretty decent but I don't want to rush into getting it and am thinking of exploring other alternatives. Anyone heard of it? Or any recommendations for a newbie like me? Would appreciate advices. Thanks!

PS Audio DAC

Forums
Digital Sources
Submitted by Welshsox on

Hi

Ive been trying the PS audio DAC on the outputs of an older Pioneer DV-45 DVD player, ive tried it on the optical and the COAX outputs.

This unit has been well reviewed, the problem im having is that any differences in sound between the DAC output and the analogue L/R of the DVD player are minimal. In a very close A/B comparison you could possibly detect subtle differences but it would be impossible to detect in a blind test. I have a policy of not changing kit if I cant hear a difference, i was really surprised that it did not improve on my sound.

Hope and Change

Submitted by ohfourohnine on

After enjoying involvement with the members of this forum for some time, I stopped visiting the forum several months ago and cancelled my subscription to Stereophile. I had two reasons: the content of the magazine and the forum included what I felt was excessive political commentary by the writers and the Editor, and much of the interaction in the forum was decidedly uncivil.

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