Jose Ramirez (aka Dr. Vinyl) always knows how to make his listeners feel at ease. It doesn't matter if you are a member of the press or not—we're all here to have a good time. You feel it the moment you walk in the room. His system featured the Pear Audio Blue Reference preamplifier ($6495), Reference amplifier ($6495), Kid Howard/Cornet 2 turntable/tonearm ($4995), and Small Platform ($795), with a Hana SL cartridge ($750), Bob's Devices Sky…
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Day three began with me feeling sick and beaten down. I needed to pay a visit to the doctor. Dr. Vinyl. (But also probably a real doctor, too.)
Vana Ltd. had two rooms at RMAF. Both rooms had stereo systems set-up, but the first room I entered was filled by a hoard of standing, chattering people of all sexes. It looked like they were making big business deals so I decided to not eavesdrop or interrupt.
However, the sound of music coming from the Vana room next door was inviting. I slipped in and was greeted warmly by Nancy Weiner and Audio Physic's Manfred Diestertich. Manfred and I chattered about the German company's early days. I told him how one day, way back, Audio Physic founder, Joachim Gerhard, showed up at Sound by…
Sunday afternoons at audio shows are when the good sound is just kicking in. The rooms' components have recovered from the trauma of travel and are starting to purr. Unfortunately, that's when the toys go back in the boxes. That is also when this humble reporter looks like he's been dragged behind a car.
And this Sunday, just when I thought I was done being dragged, I get this mad call from an out-of-breath Jason Victor Serinus, saying, "Herb! Get your ass up to room 1125 (the Parasound-Tekton room). The sound is amazing, and you must listen to this speaker. Hurry up!"
I arrived…
"It was a love-fest all around!"—Herb Reichert
With those succinct words, Herb Reichert aptly summarizes the special spirit that is Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. There may be US shows with greater attendance, but there is a special energy about the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest that sets it apart from the rest, and keeps exhibitors and dedicated audiophiles returning year after year.
Thus was it fitting that, at the end of the Rocky Mountain International HiFi Press Awards (RIHPA) on the first night of the show, Gabi Rijnveld of Crystal Cable (left above) presented show organizer…
With no fewer than 42 pages of audio equipment coverage! Astell&Kern's Ultimate potable player is featured on the cover and gets a workout from Mikey Fremer on multiple road trips. On the domestic front, we have reviews of digital products from Naim, Oppo, and Benchmark, Reed's Muse 3C turntable, and amplification from Rogue and Margules, while Jim Austin lives with Devialet's groundbreaking Phantom Gold wireless speakers.
The issue kicks off with an examination of the reviewer's role, while on the music side of things, Robert Baird comes to grips with the reissue of the Rolling…
Ahmad Jamal: Marseille
Ahmad Jamal, piano; James Cammack, double bass; Herlin Riley, drums; Manolo Badrena, percussion; Abd Al Malik (track 4), Mina Agossi (track 8), vocals
Jazz Book/Jazz Village [PIAS] JV 33570142.43 (2 LPs). 2017. Ahmad Jamal, Seydou Barry, Catherine Vallon-Barry, prods.; Vincent Mahey, eng. ADA? TT: 59:33
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Ahmad Jamal, piano; James Cammack, double bass; Herlin Riley, drums; Manolo Badrena, percussion; Abd Al Malik (track 4), Mina Agossi (track 8), vocals
Jazz Book/Jazz Village [PIAS] JV 33570142.43 (2 LPs). 2017. Ahmad Jamal, Seydou Barry, Catherine Vallon-Barry, prods.; Vincent Mahey, eng. ADA? TT: 59:33
Performance *****
Sonics *****
While cities like New York, Detroit, and Philly all get more press for their jazz history and connections, Pittsburgh has a rich history as the birthplace of many notable swing and bebop jazz players. Bassist Ray Brown…
How many times have I asked myself what the purpose of music is? And what music really is, and what exactly I am trying to convey. What feelings? What ideas? How can I explain something that I myself cannot fathom?—Gabriel Fauré, letter to his wife, August 31, 1903
In writing reviews for Stereophile, I face a challenge. Whether I'm evaluating an audio component, a recording, or a live performance, I'm confronted by the fact that, when all is said and done, no one fully understands why or how the sound of a particular component, composition, or artist can affect us as powerfully as so many…
The Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show (TAVES) has changed its venue. The show that now bills itself "North America's ULTIMATE Technology & Hi-Fi Show" has moved from the suburban Sheraton/Best Western location of the past two years to the Toronto Congress Centre, near the airport.
Why the move? Suave Kajko, President of TAVES, cites several reasons: the venue wanted to literally double the price for the large rooms; the Best Western hotel was the source of many complaints from exhibitors, and, in any case, is scheduled for demolition, and the show was bursting at the seams in…
People often ask me how I listen to music when I travel. I play MP3s on my iPhone.
That answer always surprises, and sometimes disappoints: "You listen to MP3s?"
The response is moderately tempered when I add that I use good in-ear monitors (IEMs)—either Westone ES50s (ca $995) or Jerry Harvey Audio Laylas (ca $2725), both with eartips made from molds of my ear canals.
Those multiple-balanced-armature IEMs perform incredibly well, and the custom eartips make seals that are measurably better at rejecting noise than the noise-canceling, over-ear phones worn by Bose-fanboy…
None of this would be worth a damn if a full charge of the SP1000's battery pooped out too soon, but A&K claims it will last 12 hours. Using a 9V, 1.67A charger (not supplied), fully charging the completely drained battery should take no longer than 140 minutes. A 5V, 2A adapter did the job in five hours. A 12V charger won't work, and could damage the SP1000. Supported operating systems are Windows XP/7/8/10 (32/64 bit) and Mac OS10.7 and up.
Setup
For every reason I hate iTunes, I loved the A&ultima SP1000's Android-based operating system. An hour with the SP1000 made me…