Ariel Bitran

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Nick Drake's Mama.
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  Feb 28, 2013  |  10 comments
I would be ashamed of myself if I did not share this with you.
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Nordost Premiers the Valhalla 2
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  May 28, 2013  |  133 comments
Rune Skov shows off the new Nordost Valhalla 2 interconnect ($9799/2m pair) next to his sweet Nordost tattoo.

On Tuesday May 28th, 2013, Nordost premiered the Valhalla 2 cable lineup at Lyric Hi-Fi in New York City. Rune Skov, International Product Training & Sales Support Manager for Nordost, gave a demonstration to a garrulous group of audiophiles who joyfully suggested what differences they heard as Skov switched out each old Valhalla cable for the new one.

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Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.35 No.3
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  Feb 14, 2012  |  0 comments

The March 2012 issue of Stereophile features the stunning Sonus Faber Amati Futura loudspeaker on the cover.

As we sent the March issue for delivery to the printing presses, the April issue sat in queue for multiple rounds of edits. At the same time, the editors, writers, and a lowly editorial assistant lay the building blocks for the May issue to be released two months away. With the constant influx of communication regarding dates present, future, and future’s future, it is hard to know what month we are ever really living in, and it is a time-bending wonder whenever the new issue of Stereophile shows up on our desks. So with great excitement, we announce to you Stereophile March 2012, Volume 35, Number 3.

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Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.35 No.4
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  Mar 22, 2012  |  4 comments

It has been a strange winter. Now approaching what is formally known as spring, I’m not sure if we ever even made it out of autumn! Forty-five degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of February in New York City? What in the hell is going on?

Similar to how the seasons from 2011 to 2012 have melded together into the longest autumn, the shipping out of each issue of Stereophile becomes a blur as well. As I discussed in my last on newsstands March article, we are never really sure what month we are living in here at the Stereophile office, much less the month of the issue we are working on, except for when we are compiling April Issue. We always know when we’re working on the April.

Why’s that?

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Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.35 No.5
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  Apr 26, 2012  |  0 comments

Wabaam! Another month, another Stereophile. My how time flies when you are reviewing hi-fi.

Compared to the enormous April issue that hosts our chunky Recommended Components listing, May is petite but still packs a powerful punch loaded with insights and audio enhancers. Enhancers you ask? What might those be? Well how about bell bronze gongs! And magic fuses! And audio to make you cream…I mean, P.W.B.’s Electret Cream, which according to AD, just might work if you rub it in the right place.

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NY Audio Show 2013: Getting There From Brooklyn
Ariel BitranNY Audio Show 2013
Ariel Bitran  |  Apr 13, 2013  |  0 comments
It had already been a long week at Stereophile. I trucked through three thirteen-hour workdays plugging in code for the Recommended Components iPad app and had my first dentist appointment in five years. Holes had been burned through my eyes and scraped through my teeth. Luckily, my ears were still there dangling. But the rain, the rain, THE RAIN! I could have done without the rain this morning.
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NYC Concert Ticket Giveaway from Logitech | UE
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  Aug 24, 2012  |  4 comments
Logitech | UE have some big surprises in store for Fall 2012, and if you are in the New York City area, you could be one of the first audiophiles to hear them. Comment on this post for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the Logitech | UE promoted Milo Greene concert at the Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St, New York, NY) on Wednesday, August 29th. Milo Greene play airy indie-pop with ambient choruses of background vocals, spacious piano, and relaxed snare drums accents. Not only will you be able to tread into Milo Greene’s easy-flowing songs, you’ll also get a sneak peak at just what Logitech | UE have in store for the new season. Concert ticket winners will be emailed further details. Remember to comment on this post if you would like to win!
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Orson Wins a Benchmark!
Sweepstakes
Ariel Bitran  |  Mar 19, 2013  |  4 comments
Our sweepstakes for the Benchmark DAC2 HGC Digital-to-Analog Converter was one of our most popular contests yet receiving a total of 685 entries! You’re telling me that 637 more people wanted Benchmark’s new DAC than were begging for the Fela Kuti LP boxset? Stereophile.com members, your priorities are skewed.
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Paperclip Transmission
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  Aug 26, 2008  |  10 comments

“Good news!” Stephen exclaimed, the second I walked into his office. I saw my Usher S-520s plopped lovingly in my cubicle. “Check your email,” he instructed.

An email from JA read:

I couldn't find anything wrong, Ariel. I measured both speakers and also listened to them…they match very closely—as well as the individual responses of the tweeter and woofer of the sample that didn't have the biwiring jumpers connected.*

Could that have been the problem?

Could this have been the problem…

Could this have been the problem?

COULD THIS HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM?!

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Passion
Ariel Bitran
Ariel Bitran  |  May 30, 2013  |  9 comments
This guy cares a lot about his headphones. Though ludicrous, the Beats tattoo is admirable. He's saying, “Music runs through my veins and the Beats pumps that blood.” Would you tattoo “Vandersteen” in cholo lettering in an arch across your back? Would you inscribe “S-O-U-N-D” and “S-T-A-G-E” on each of your knuckles so that if someone insulted your system, your beat-down would arrive in stereo?

How much do you care about your hi-fi?

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