Carney contains Russell's biggest hit single, "Tight Rope" but Side Two opens with the very short all-instrumental…
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Live records are for playing the hits. And studio records are the place for experimentations (and a hit or two). Or at least that's what the late Leon Russell believed. The man was an oft-unacknowledged master of the live record, having made many that are a pleasant if sonically variable listen. But Carney, produced by Denny Cordell, is Russell's best studio album until his final closing statement, 2014's Life Journey, though 1975's Will O' The Wisp also has its charms.
Saturday February 11, 1–7pm, Kyomi Audio (Itasca, IL) is presenting the debut of Vivid's new flagship speaker, the G1 Spirit, at a private location. Hosted by concert pianist Professor George Vatchnadze, the event will feature guest speakers including Vivid's designer Laurence Dickie and Stereophile editor John Atkinson. Space is limited. Please RSVP here or call (312) 513-2759.
From noon to 5pm, Command Performance AV (115 Park Avenue, Suite 2, Falls Church, VA 22046) is holding a Rogue Audio Event. Rogue's Mark O'Brian and Bill Magerman will demonstrate Rogue's highly…
There is a tendency in magazine publishing to concentrate on the present. Writers generally downplay what happened in the irretrievable past as being of lesser importance compared with the new and exciting, their enthusiasm pretty much tied to the ever-in-motion time-line. I instituted Stereophile's annual "Products of the Year" feature, therefore, to give recognition to those components that had proved capable of giving pleasure beyond the formal review period. To confound confusion, there are just five individual categories: "Loudspeakers" (including subwoofers); "Amplification Components…
Loudspeaker of 1993
Thiel CS3.6 ($3990/pair; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.16 No.5, May 1993 review)
There were 56 loudspeakers and subwoofers eligible for "Loudspeaker of 1993." From this intense competition, a winner quickly emerged: six of the 15 writers—twice as many as favored the other leading contender—gave it their three votes. In some ways, the Thiel CS3.6 is the best loudspeaker yet to come from designer Jim Thiel. Its dual-membrane midrange and bass units and metal-dome tweeter are joined in musical harmony with a first-order acoustic-slope crossover, which, in…
Amplification Component of 1993
Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Signature preamplifier ($4950; reviewed by Jack English, Vol.15 No.12, December 1992 Review)
The mighty C.A.T. preamplifier typifies all that is good about the High End: inspired design, attention to detail, tube circuitry, and magnificent sound. It also, perhaps, typifies some of the problems of the High End: limited production, limited availability, tube circuitry, and a high price. But it's the sound that matters; in Jack English's words, "stunning timbral realism...superb rendition of dynamic shadings...[low]…
Joint Digital Sources of 1993
C.E.C. TL 1 CD transport ($4650; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.16 No.7, July 1993 Review)
Mark Levinson No.31 CD transport ($8495; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.16 No.6, June 1993 Review)
I had reorganized the voting strategy this year to minimize the possibility of a tie. Yet in this category, the Mark Levinson and C.E.C. transports remained continually nose-to-nose as the ballots trickled back from the writers. But with hindsight, how could it have been any different? Though each transport sounds quite different from the other, both stand…
Analog Source of 1993
Basis Ovation turntable ($4395; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.7, July 1993 Review)
If you don't live in New York or Los Angeles and you've mislaid the July '93 Stereophile, which featured Guy Lemcoe's survey of mail-order LP sources, vinyl must have been pretty thin on the ground in 1993. Yet Stereophile ended up reviewing more LP playback components this year than we'd ever expected. The Basis Ovation turntable may have got the lion's share of the writers' votes, but the other analog nominees were close on its heels. Nevertheless, with the Ovation…
Accessory of 1993
Lexicon CP-3 THX surround-sound processor ($2995; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Vol.15 No.12, December 1992)
This is the most heterogeneous group of products featured. The Combak Harmonix "magic dots" actually got the highest number of nominating votes, but when it came time for the writers to cast their votes for real, the CP-3 became the well-deserved winner. It could be argued that the Lexicon more properly belongs in the "Amplification" category, due to its preamplifier-like nature, or in the "Digital Source" category, as it performs its Dolby Pro-Logic…
Budget Component of 1993
Sumiko Blue Point Special phono cartridge
The voting was very close; all five products are bargain-basement winners. The Comet and AMC, in particular, are shoo-in recommendations to non-audiophiles who might be tempted by high-end sound quality. But it was Sumiko's Blue Point Special phono cartridge that nosed ahead in the voting. There were some early doubts over its manufacturing consistency, but this high-performance, bodiless, high-output MC has turned out to be a safe recommendation to anyone with a yen for better sound from vinyl. "Open, dynamic,…
1993 Component of the Year
Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Signature preamplifier
1993 was a strong year for both innovation and good sound. Every contender was unbelievably strong. Yet it was the mighty C.A.T. preamp that nosed ahead of the others to get the ultimate crown. Kudos to its designer, Ken Stevens. We can't wait to hear his long-awaited power amplifier.
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
C.E.C. TL 1 CD transport
Jadis Defy-7 Mk.II power amplifier
Mark Levinson No.31 CD transport
Thiel CS3.6 loudspeaker
Symphonic-Line RG-8 cartridge…