Many are deejays—professional or only-in-their-minds. Whatever their status, they are the most dedicated crate diggers, content to spend hours laboriously going through boxes of 7 inch 45s, looking for their holy grail. Although garage rock fans are obsessed, it's the R&B fanatics who become most consumed. Finding that elusive, unknown, super cool jam that no one else has, drives them into basements, thrift stores and swap meets.
The market for rhythm & blues,…
The sound in the room that featured the Daedalus Apollo 11 speaker ($22,800/pair), a selection of tubed electronics from ModWright, and cabling by WyWires was superb: detailed without sounding etched, and pleasantly liquid and warm, with good texture and a really great, spacious sense of scale. On top of all that, the gear from both brands is gorgeous: as rich and colorful in appearance as in sound.
But when I entered the room and sat…
Although in exhibit room numbers, the show remains virtually unchanged from last year, there is one major difference. The hotel's ballroom, which last year was divided up to host vendors, seminars, and an exhibit from…
One of the great things about train travel is that it's conducive to writing: I spread all of my handwritten notes and the brochures and business cards I've collected on the seat next to me—this also serves to discourage potential seatmates, some of whom enjoy conversation—then power up my laptop and get to it. But: Often I rifle through that pile…
When I walked into the VK Music room, I was jealous and embarrassed. I was jealous, because obviously VK Music's Victor Kung was doing something I admire; I was simultaneously embarrassed that I had never heard of his British Columbia-based operation. Not only that, I was jealous because his TU-8600…
In this Reviewer Profile, Tyll shows us his Headphone Wall of Fame, where he does most of his reviews, and…
Actually, my day as a Stereophile employee started before that, when I went down to the lobby level for breakfast, and to greet our panelists. Blackie Pagano, perhaps the best-known, best-loved tube-amp technician in New York, was first to show up, and while Herb stepped away to deal with some luggage, Blackie and I went into the dining area for coffee and breakfast. A number of people…
And of course, the most hamfest-tubealistic of all is (…
With quick auditions at shows, and especially in noisy CanMania…
I remembered Charney Audio from a previous show: based in Somerset, New Jersey and run by designer Brian Charney, they specialize in horn-loaded, full-range speakers and low-power amplifiers—and the last time I heard their products, I thought the company had considerable promise. Based on what I heard at CAF 2017, Charney has upped his game even further: the sound from…