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Recording of September 2026: Miles Davis: <I>Miles '56: The Prestige Recordings</I>

Miles Davis: Miles '56: The Prestige Recordings
Miles Davis, trumpet; Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, tenor saxophone; Tommy Flanagan, Red Garland, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Art Taylor, Philly Joe Jones, drums
Craft 7274563/4, CR00693 (3 CDs, 4 LPs, 24/192 PCM files). 1956/2026. Nick Phillips, Bob Weinstock, prods.; Paul Blakemore, Jamie Howarth, John Chester, Rudy Van Gelder, engs.
Performance *****
Sonics *****

Following Miles '54 and Miles '55, Craft's previous 70th anniversary box-set reissues of Davis's Prestige recordings, this year's concluding set, which coincides…

Intimate Machines

In this space in the September 2025 Stereophile—exactly a year ago—I wrote about bicycles. I was researching a bicycle purchase, and the more I read about bikes, the more parallels I saw between bikes and hi-fi, especially economic parallels between that industry and this one. I'll recount some of that here.

At their best, bicycles and hi-fi components have this in common: They are fine machines that are unusual in how people commune with them; enthusiasts spend many hours with them each week. In very different ways, they facilitate intense experiences. Some of us form relationships with…

Rega's Royal Analog Experience at Audio Advice Live 2026

At Audio Advice Live 2026, The Sound Organisation's Rick Williford talks about the gear in this room at the show, which includes Rega's Planar 6 RS turntable, Elex MK4 integrated amplifier, and Aya loudspeakers, in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel.

I could hear it from the hallway at Audio Advice Live 2026. It was the sound of music—not an audiophile's wet dream of treble and bass extension, not an AV lover's vision of bombs bursting under the floor, and not active loudspeakers cranking and combusting. No, it was something else…

Fyne Audio and Harmonia Distribution are in Fine Harmony at Audio Advice Live 2026

At Audio Advice Live 2026, Harmonia Distribution's Jeff Coates talks about the gear in the company's room at the show, with a special focus on its fine array of Fyne Audio loudspeakers, in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel.

Though sitting atop each other on a hotel room coffee table at Audio Advice Live 2026, the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 powered bookshelf speakers cast a wide if diffuse stage. Treble rolled off, yet there was also ample and solid bass.

With those caveats aside, the Cubitts were firebreathers of punch,…

Welcome to Audio Advice Live 2026!

Ken Micallef talks with Scott Newnam about what we can expect to see and hear at Audio Advice Live 2026 in a video interview that's now posted on our YouTube channel.

Marten Goes Extreme

In the Marten Audio room—where Marten loudspeakers partnered with Audia Flight electronics and Jorma cabling—the main objects of attention were the striking Marten Coltrane Quintet Extreme loudspeakers. At $415,000/pair (all prices approximate when converted from euros) and with a production limit of just 10 pairs, these speakers are for listeners who don't merely gawk at unobtanium—they bring it home and plug it in.

The Coltrane Quintets were driven by Audia Flight Strumento N°8 Signature monoblocks ($98,000/pair) and a Strumento N°1 Signature preamp ($52,000). The rest of the…

Focal Attains Utopia at Audio Advice Live 2026

At Audio Advice Live 2026, Focal and Naim's Chris Shaw talks about the gear in this room at the show, which includes the North American debut of Focal's Scala Utopia Evo M loudspeakers, in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel.

Sometimes, I must admit, mega-luxury components really are all they're cracked up to be. However, these beautiful Focal behemoth Scala Utopia Evo M speakers, connected to classic Naim electronics in this room at Audio Advice Live 2026, created a palpable sense of synergy, flow, and projection that was undeniable…

Playback Distribution Presents a Grand North American Vienna Acoustics Loudspeaker Debut at Audio Advice Live 2026

At Audio Advice Live 2026, Playback Distribution's Rob Standley talks about the gear in this room at the show, which includes the North American debut of Vienna Acoustics's Schubert Grand Sonata loudspeakers, in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel.

Playing Frank Sinatra on a Dual CD 529 turntable fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge through the Vienna Acoustics Schubert Grand Sonata loudspeakers in this Playback Distribution room at Audio Advice Live 2026, I practically felt the space around Ol' Blues Eyes's skull, rife with the…