Sidebar: Specifications
Description: Turntable stand, formed from rectangular-section steel tubing, with MDF shelf.
Dimensions: 17.75" W by 13.75" D by 19" H (latter figure approximate and includes bottom and top stainless-steel spikes).
Price: $200 (1990); no longer available (2016). Approximate number of dealers: 30 (1990).
Manufacturer: ArchiDee, Italy. Distributor: Audiophore, Chicago, IL 60614 (1990). No US distribution (2016).
Let's face it: If you're one of those sedentary audiophilic types or you have a genetic disposition to growing pear-shaped later in life (genetic . . . right, that's it: nothing to do with couches or hooch), it's wise to adjust your fashion sense accordingly. And nothing says "portly gentleman in disguise" like a guayabera—a shirt that, I have just discovered, blues guitarist Bob Margolin and I both love. He even wears one on the cover of his new record, My Road.
"I love 'em because my manager thinks I'm dressed up when I wear them."
"My wife thinks the same thing," I chime in…
Today, January 4, at "CES Unveiled" in Las Vegas, MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) launched major partnerships with Morten Lindberg's multiple Grammy Award-nominated, audiophile record label/download store 2L and playback partners Auralic, Aurender, and Bluesound. The entire 2L download catalog, starting with one of Lindberg's first recordings, made in 1993, and extending through his latest DXD (352.8kHz) recordings, has been scrubbed clean and born anew with MQA.
On the playback front, MQA also announced the first MQA-equipped smartphone, HTC's One A9 (above). HTC smartphone…
All Photos: Amy Grantham
The premise is simple: how would a seasoned musician react to the sound of their new album on a variety of audiophile systems at CES?
I tossed the idea to Graham Nash, and he agreed to participate in the experiment, more than a little curious about this thing called high-end audio. Graham is always full of energy and very articulate, so should provide some very interesting perspective for Stereophile readers.
The plan is to bring an HD 24/96 version of his new (and not yet released) album to as many rooms as we can fit into a day at CES.…
Kicking off CES early, AudioQuest held a press conference Wednesday morning to present their three new portable DAC/Headphone amps to the public for the first time. Designer Gordon Rankin and AudioQuest's Steve Silberman were on hand to explain the new products and run a brief demo.
First up is the Dragonfly Black at $99, which is the new updated version of the Dragonfly. The big change is that in addition to a lower price, instead of just working with high-powered computer USB connections, the Dragonfly can now work with phones and tablets. Both iOS and Android are supported. One of the…
The day before the opening of CES is devoted to press conferences, mostly by the big boys: Sony, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, etc. These are generally of little interest to Stereophile readers, so our detailed show coverage doesn't start until the official CES opening.
The exception is the Sony press conference. Sony is a kind of "elder statesman" among manufacturers, and its history is one of innovation. The Sony press conference was, as usual, well attended, and several of the announcements drew applause from the crowd. Alas, the emphasis at Sony has largely shifted from audio to video and…
When the presentation turned to audio, Sony's Michael Fasulo referred to consumers' desire for "an even better listening experience," and that this was illustrated by the progression from LP to compact cassette, and then to CD, and to MP3. I must admit that I was taken aback by this statement. These changes in recorded music media may well represent a search for increased convenience, but few audiophiles would argue that a change from LP to compact cassette or from CD to MP3 represents "even better listening experience."
But there is evidence for Sony's commitment to sound quality in their support of Hi-Res audio. Fasulo reported great interest on the part of major record labels in higher quality recording technology, a need that is met by Sony's development of Hi-Res audio.
On the consumer side, Sony introduced at CES the PS-HX500 Stereo Turntable System. It can play LPs (Sony's nod to the resurgence of interest in vinyl) in "high audio quality," and allows the recording of LPs in Hi-Res, presumably DSD, up to 5.6MHz. The turntable features a "newly developed Sony straight tonearm." The PS-HX500 on…
Delta flight 2820: At 497mph the ambient noise in the cabin averaged 94dB and registered 101dB peaks. That is at least 40dB louder than a candlelit night in my listening room. Artur Schnabel brings it up to (at most) 90dB and the loudest I have ever played Led Zep on the Magnepan .7s is 102dB. Now, I can't wait to rinse that crazy engine noise from my ears and hear some clean clear beautifully toned hi-fidelity music at maybe 103dB—or more! But these clear-sounding components must be moderately priced—because I am a cub reporter and new products that cost less than $5k is the assignment I…
The reemergence of Technics on the world audio scene is, I believe, the biggest audio news of 2015–2016. I reviewed their SB-C700 stand mounted monitor speakers in the January 2016 issue and they already feel like my 2016 nomination for Stereophile's Product of the Year; but obviously it is still way early. Nevertheless, Technics is back with two lines of stylish excellent sounding equipment: a Reference R1 Class Series which will be described by my associate Jason Victor Serinus; a Premium Class System that can be purchased with the SB-C700 speakers I reviewed, an integrated amp that I loved…
