Stephen Mejias

A New Angle to an Old Discussion

Stephen Mejias Jul 24, 2009

If you're new to hi-fi, you might not be aware of the fiercely controversial and seemingly endless argument regarding the importance of blind listening in determining a component's worth. Essentially, there are those who believe that if differences in sound cannot be perceived while listening blindfolded, or under similarly exhausting, stressful, and inhumane conditions, then differences do not exist, and we're all just full of shit when we tell you that the $30,000 Musical Fidelity Titan sounds nothing at all like the $159 Sonic Impact Super T, that, in fact, they're basically the same amp, so you might as well buy the cheaper one.

Stephen Mejias

Destination: The Needle Drop

Stephen Mejias Jul 23, 2009

I like to stop by <a href="http://theneedledrop.blogspot.com/">The Needle Drop</a>, where usual dude, Anthony Fantano, offers his interesting, thoughtful, and often very funny takes on new music and music technology. Check it out.

Stephen Mejias

Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.32 No.8

Stephen Mejias Jul 23, 2009

The August 2009 issue of Stereophile is now on newsstands. See that spiffy-looking integrated amplifier/USB DAC thingamajig on the cover? That's the Peachtree Nova. When I was at <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/david_solomon_and_the_peachtr… Exchange</a> a couple of months ago, Novas were just flying off the shelves. Old guys were digging them, young guys were digging them, and girls were digging them, too. Everyone wanted one. Can't blame 'em, really. The Nova offers a lot in a tidy, attractive package. Look at that styling, all retro-modern Eames with its high profile and its real-wood veneer wrapping round those perfect curves!

Stephen Mejias

J. Gordon Holt

Stephen Mejias Jul 23, 2009

In 1962, J. Gordon Holt started a magazine based on the simple, beautiful idea that the quality of an audio component should be measured, first and foremost, by how it sounds. That magazine, of course, was Stereophile.

Stephen Mejias

AUDIO VERITY

Stephen Mejias Jul 23, 2009

If you can find some of the oldest issues of Stereophile, you'll see that several of the covers hold a short, sweet, often humorous "AUDIO VERITY." These nuggets of hi-fi wisdom were written by Stereophile founder, J. Gordon Holt.

Stephen Mejias

Real Sound for Real People

Stephen Mejias Jul 17, 2009

A happy family. The all-new PSB Image Series (from left to right): The B4, B5, and B6 monitors; the T6 and T5 towers; the C4 (top) and C5 center channels; the S5 surround.

Stephen Mejias

Lost + Found

Stephen Mejias Jul 15, 2009

I've realized why the opening few moments of Tom Abbs & Frequency Response's "Lost" make me want to just stop and cry. I find those moments so painfully beautiful because they remind me of my grandmother (my mother's mother) singing to me when I was a child. At first, I thought it was "You Are My Sunshine," but now I realize that it's "All the Pretty Horses." Listening again, I wish now I had someone to sing it to, someone to play it for.

Stephen Mejias

Blackman

Stephen Mejias Jul 14, 2009

Special surprise guest at a recent Monkeyhaus: Blackman. Photo by Michael Lavorgna. (The camera had been drinking.)

Stephen Mejias

Flash

Stephen Mejias Jul 14, 2009

Photo: Michael Lavorgna

Stephen Mejias

A House of Monkeys

Stephen Mejias Jul 14, 2009

The success of any party depends on just a few things: the venue, the guests, the food and drink, and (of course) the music. Evenings at John DeVore's factory at the <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/111806wander/">Brooklyn Navy Yard</a> are invariably successful. More than that, they are fun. You love the place. You enjoy the company. The food is delicious and the drinks do the trick. And (of course) the music is intoxicating. You want to be there.