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The Beatles, aka the "White Album," was first released on November 22, 1968. On November 9, 2018, in honor of that event, Apple Corps Limited issued the new 50th Anniversary Edition. My comments here refer to listening to the two-LP edition of the newly remixed The Beatles, pressed for Apple by…

Born in Trenton, NJ, Antheil initially made his considerable mark in Europe. After a number of riot-causing concerts in Paris, including the infamous 1926 premiere of his Ballet…

What Thiel didn't have and what Ayre does have is institutional memory. As is often the case…

Description: Two-channel integrated amplifier with optional AES/EBU, S/PDIF, USB, and Roon Ready Ethernet digital inputs. Analog inputs: 1 pair balanced, 2 pairs unbalanced. Digital inputs: 1 coax, 2 TosLink S/PDIF (PCM 16/20/24-bit, 44.1–192kHz, DSD64 on DoP); USB (PCM 16/20/24-bit, 44.1–384kHz, DSD64/DSD128 on DoP); network (PCM 16/20/24-bit, 44.1–192kHz, DSD64); digital. Outputs: 1 pair speaker binding posts; 1 pair each XLR/RCA preamplifier out; ¼" unbalanced headphone, 2x3.5mm balanced headphone, word clock. Continuous power output: 100Wpc into 8 ohms (20dBW…

Digital Sources: Roon Nucleus+ media server, iPad mini running Roon 1.5; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP disc player; Chord Electronics Qutest, PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A processors.
Integrated Amplifier: Cambridge Audio Edge A.
Power Amplifiers: Lamm M1.2 Reference monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: KEF LS50, Rogers LS3/5a (1978), Wharfedale Diamond 11.2, Tidal Akira.
Headphones: Audeze LCD-X.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Coffee (USB) & Vodka (Ethernet), generic 15' TosLink, Esperanto Audio (S/PDIF). Interconnect: Canare (unbalanced).…

I measured Ayre Acoustics' EX-8 Integrated Hub with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Before performing any testing, I updated the firmware over my network and ran the EX-8 at one-third power into 8 ohms. At the end of that period its top panel was warm, at 107.1°F (41.8°C). However, the bottom panel, which acts as the heatsink for the output devices, was hot, at 124.8°F (51.6°C). EX-8 owners should make sure the amplifier is well ventilated.

Looking first at the line-level analog inputs: With the volume control at…

Now, 28 years…

Van Morrison/Joey DeFrancesco: You're Driving Me Crazy
Van Morrison, vocals, alto saxophone; Joey DeFrancesco, soprano saxophone, Hammond organ.
Exile/Legacy 19075820041 (CD). 2018. Van Morrison, Joey DeFrancesco, prods.; Jim Stern, eng. DDD. TT: 70:35

The 39th studio album by Sir George Ivan Morrison, OBE, was recorded live to Pro Tools at 24-bit/96kHz in a Sausalito studio over two days. It has a wonderfully loose feel, as Van Morrison and Hammond organist Joey DeFrancesco's quartet—the other players are Troy Roberts, soprano & tenor…

Jonathan Antoine: Tenore
Jonathan Antoine, tenor; Latvian National Orchestra, London Session Singers, Julian Reynolds
Portrait 88843085372 (CD). 2014. Anna Berry, prod.; Neil Hutchinson, Andris Uze, Gary Thomas, engs. DDD. TT: 45:21

Jonathan Antoine first came to prominence in 2012 as one-half of the duo Jonathan and Charlotte, on the British TV show Got Talent—which some opera pundits might consider automatic disqualification for serious consideration as an opera singer. If so, in my opinion, the pundits would be wrong. Tenore, Antoine's…

Ray LaMontagne: Part of the Light
RCA 19075837892 (24/96 download). 2018. Ray LaMontagne, prod.; Kevin Ratterman, eng. DDD. TT: 46:07

The way I figure it, Ray LaMontagne was dropped on his head sometime last year and woke up days later, thinking it was 1971, he was Pink Floyd, and he had to go into the studio right now and make an album. Granted, his guitar soloing never reaches Floydian genius level, but LaMontagne's sensual Americana tendencies mesh perfectly with this album's mellow Meddle-era vibe. His breathy, Gilmour-ish vocals wrap you in a…