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Darcy James Argue has one of the most original big-band sounds in recent years. His 2009 CD, Infernal Machines, may be the most promising jazz debut of the decade. But his world premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music this week—an hour-long suite, accompanying a mix of animation and live painting by graphic-novel artist Danijel Zezelj, called Brooklyn Babylon—puts the composer and his 18-piece big band, Secret Society, on the verge of a quantum leap.

It's an odd multimedia show that doesn't quite hang together in ways you expect but somehow does in…

On an early Thursday morning on November 10th, 2011, NHT’s John Johnsen presented his new SuperPower powered desktop loudspeaker ($398/pair) to members of the hi-fi and consumer electronics press. The NHT SuperPower is an expansion on their SuperZero 2.0 loudspeakers, reviewed by Stephen Mejias in Entry Level #10.

This active desktop speaker houses a 90-watt Class-D amplifier in the rear of an extended SuperZero 2.0 cabinet. NHT will also offer 10-gauge steel SuperPower DeskStands ($59/…

The December 2011 issue of Stereophile is now on newsstands. Here are 60 reasons to buy it:

1. In “As We See It,” Tom Conrad responds to Steve Guttenberg’s May 2011 opening essay, in which he argued, “Digital audio mortally wounded recorded music’s creative mojo in 1982, and the record industry never fully recovered.” Tom offers a sunnier point of view and makes the case that jazz lives.

2. In the “Letters” section, I am not criticized for hanging out with women, talking about music, or cursing.

3.–7. In “Industry Update,” we bring you lots of audio news,…

Before he can answer, I recall something George Avakian once told me over the phone. "Goddard Lieberson [former president of Columbia Records] said, 'I'm tired of sitting in A&R meetings with record guys. Get me some lawyers and accountants who don't want to argue about music.'"

"I don't remember saying that, but that's very interesting," Avakian says with a mischievous smile of recognition.

Renowned as a producer and engineer, and the first man to record a collection…

The enormous sky above Brooklyn's Prospect Park was a dazzling watercolor. Warm, soft shades of yellow, orange, and violet swept across a saturated canvas as the sun slowly dissolved into the horizon and day reluctantly gave way to night. It was the second week of August and, though no one wanted to admit it, the days had become noticeably shorter.

I walked alone through turnstiles that led to the…

Boston Acoustics, 300 Jubilee Drive, Peabody, MA 01960. Tel: (201) 762-6429, (508) 538-5000. Web: www.bostonacoustics.com.
Energy Speakers, Klipsch Group, Inc., 3502 Woodview Trace, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Tel: (800) 544-1482, (317) 860-8100. Fax: (317) 860-9170. Web: www.klipsch.com.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., PO Box 1540, Long Beach, CA 90801-1540. Tel: (800) 421-1404. Web: www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Friday, December 2, 6–9pm: Whetstone Audio (2401 East 6th Street, #1001, Austin, Texas) will host an evening of music with Bob Clarke of Profundo (Heed, Transfiguration, VivA, Trenner & Freidl, Silent Source) and Colleen Cardas of Colleen Cardas Imports (Unison Research, Opera Loudspeakers).

Brian Di Frank of Whetstone Audio says this is just “the first of many hootenannies” and he offers a warm invitation:

Thursday&#150Sunday, December 1–4: The second Hi-Fi Expo Sophia will take place at the Grand Hotel Sophia in Sophia, Bulgaria.

Last year’s show featured more than 250 high-end brands, and the show’s organizers expect bigger numbers for 2011. A look at the manufacturer list reveals many familiar names: Wilson Audio Specialties, Spiral Groove, Sonos, Rega, Nordost, Koetsu, dCS, and Ayre are just a few.

For more info, visit www.hifiexpo.bg.