Stereophile Staff

High-end audio retailer Listen-Up is holding two evenings of music seminars and audio demonstrations at its Denver location (685 South Pearl Street) Tuesday April 7 and Wednesday April 8, from 5pm to 9pm. As well as Stereophile editor John Atkinson (above left) and Shawn Britton of Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (above right), who will be talking about how recordings are made and how to make them sound the best in your home, presenters will include Sandy Gross (GoldenEar), Wendell Diller (Magnepan), Paul Barton (PSB Loudspeakers), Owen Kwon (Astell&Kern) Doug Henderson (Bowers & Wilkins), Dave Nauber (Classé), Costa Koulisakis (Simaudio Moon), Steve Silberman (AudioQuest), Matt Reilly (Devialet), and John Hunter (REL Acoustics).

Register to win an Audioengine B2 Bluetooth Speaker (MSRP $299) we are giving away.

According to the company:

"The audio quality of most Bluetooth products isn't usually very inspiring and their limited range can be frustrating. The B2 solves these problems by implementing the aptX codec, which is a high-quality audio converter designed specifically for audio. The B2 also has special circuitry and a precision-tuned antenna to extend the wireless range, providing much more versatility than other Bluetooth speakers."

[This sweepstakes is now closed.]

Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28, 4pm–midnight (or later!): Filtronique (9343 Rue Lajeunesse, Montreal) will host two special parties, featuring guests and products from AudioQuest, dCS, Kronos, Magico, Simaudio, Tidal, and Wilson Audio Specialties.

Components listed here have been formally reviewed in Stereophile and have been found to be among the best available in each of four or five quality classes. Whether a component is listed in Class A or Class E, we highly recommend its purchase.

Each listing-in alphabetical order within classes-is followed by a brief description of the product's sonic characteristics and a code indicating the Stereophile Volume and Issue in which that product's report appeared. Thus the May 2014 issue is indicated as "Vol.37 No.5."

The Audio Shoppe (2 Keith Way, Suite 4, Hingham, MA—behind the Derby Street shops just off Exit 15, Rt3) is promising a day and evening of great, vinyl-based music and hospitality this coming Saturday, from 1pm–8pm. The system will include electronics from Zanden Audio, Verity Audio loudspeakers, TW Acustic analog components, and Ortofon cartridges. Representatives of the above companies will be present as well as the owners of High Fidelity Services and High Water Sound.

The title of the Daft Punk song on the Pono Player’s screen says it all: "Give Life Back to Music." John Atkinson’s review of this little gem reveals that it is the least-expensive means of enjoying music in true high-resolution. And with reviews of a 300B SET amplifier, an affordable, big-bottomed, tower speaker, two inexpensive powered speakers that punch above their weight, and, of course, the latest edition of "Recommended Components," and you will see why we think the April 2015 issue is a keeper!

Crescendo Fine Audio (6760 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033) will be hosting a digital music seminar 4:00–8:00pm on Saturday, March 14, featuring products by Dynaudio and Plinius Audio. Dynaudio representative Mick Tillman will be on hand to explain the digital technology implemented into the Dynaudio Focus XD (pictured above at the 2015 CES with Dynaudio founder Wilfried Ehrenholz) and Xeo loudspeaker ranges. These will be demonstrated with a variety of sources, showing off the speakers’ wireless and hard-wired functionality and capabilities.