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Sure, it’s warm here at a time when the northeast is still chilly. Added to that, you can willingly drown yourself in music. Over five days and nights, somewhere north of 2200 bands, solos and everything in between take their shots. And of course it’s always good see friends and colleagues in what is left of both the music and publishing businesses. But none of that is the essence of what Austin’s now monstrous South By Southwest Music melee is really about— at least for the first 24 hours. My needs are simpler. And hotter. For me and many others it’s all about the Migas
The Audio Shoppe (2 Keith Way, Suite 4, Hingham, MA—behind the Derby Street shops just off Exit 15, Rt3) is promising a day and evening of great, vinyl-based music and hospitality this coming Saturday, from 1pm–8pm. The system will include electronics from Zanden Audio, Verity Audio loudspeakers, TW Acustic analog components, and Ortofon cartridges. Representatives of the above companies will be present as well as the owners of High Fidelity Services and High Water Sound.
Questions? Call—(781) 749-2999, (781) 987-3434—or email Paul Manos at paulm@theaudioshoppe.com.
During the day at South by Southwest, whenst the music vampires (better known as registrants) emerge from their tequila scented lairs to brave the sunshine and find fresh migas to feed upon, there are what is known as “day parties.” This is code for FREE, mostly beer and rotgut spirits. And of course there is music. In the history of SXSW, no one has consistently thrown better parties than the good folks from LOO-siana and this year’s bash by the City of Lafayette was no exception. C.C. Adcock was a terrific headliner veering between rock ‘n’roll, swamp pop, and flecks of about every other…
Just on the strength of Neil Young alone, it's clear that Canada has its own way of doing things. It’s a curious mix of the conservative and the outright goofy, which is exactly what I ran into when I tottered into the annual Canada bash where tequila, that legendary spirit of the north woods, mixes freely with another Canadian tradition, Shiner beer from Texas. There, bedecked in tall marching band hats, was The Wet Secrets, a name that made all the females in the posse I was hanging with, exclaim, Ewwwww!
Despite the umm, zany outfits, The Secrets were a loud, sweaty rock ‘n’ roll band…
Probably best to draw your own conclusions about what the state of music in Mexico says about the current socio-political scene there, but after hearing a number of bands and duo acts at South By Southwest from south of the border, I have to say that the sounds of Mexican rock, dance and electronic music are among the most creative, assaultive, imaginative and outright bizarre music being made on this planet today.
Stereophile Contributing Editor John Swenson and I make an annual ritual out of finding the weirdest Mexican acts and this year we hit paydirt the first time out. Tijuana’s…
Components listed here have been formally reviewed in Stereophile and have been found to be among the best available in each of four or five quality classes. Whether a component is listed in Class A or Class E, we highly recommend its purchase.
Each listing-in alphabetical order within classes-is followed by a brief description of the product's sonic characteristics and a code indicating the Stereophile Volume and Issue in which that product's report appeared. Thus the May 2014 issue is indicated as "Vol.37 No.5."
Some products listed have not yet been reported on; these are…
Sidebar: How to Use the Listings
The classes each cover a wide range of performance. Carefully read our descriptions here, the original reviews, and (heaven forbid) reviews in other magazines to put together a short list of components to choose from. Evaluate your room, your source material and front-end(s), your speakers, and your tastes. With luck, you may come up with a selection to audition at your favorite dealer(s). "Recommended Components" will not tell you what to buy any more than Consumer Reports would presume to tell you whom to marry!
Class A: Best attainable sound for…
Turntables
Editor's Note: We strongly recommend those interested in LP playback visit our sister website, www.AnalogPlanet.com, which is edited by Michael Fremer.
A+
Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn: $200,000 with tonearm and stand ✩
"Part New Jersey diner, part Wurlitzer jukebox," the 160-lb Caliburn is the brainchild of Mark Doehmann, whose clever, purposeful design is based on rigorous scientific methodology using finite-element analysis computer programs. While the only serious competition for the Caliburn is the Rockport System III Sirius, MF decided, "The…
SACD, DVD-A, CD Players & Media Servers
Editor's Note: SACD, DVD-A, and media player ratings are based on how they sound with their respective hi-rez media, not CD.
A+
Bryston BDP-2: $2995
Essentially a beefed-up BDP-1, the BDP-2 replaces the original's 0.5GHz processor with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N450 and upgrades its single-amp linear power supply with a larger toroidal transformer specced to provide 10 amps of peak current. In addition, the BDP-2 has two Ethernet connectors (instead of the BDP-1's one), six USB ports (instead of four), a new eSATA connector, and…