News

Reference Recordings: New Website, Downloads, Recordings

Jason Victor Serinus Feb 20, 2017 First Published: Feb 20, 2017

For the first time in a decade, Grammy Award-winning audiophile label Reference Recordings (RR) has updated its website. Filled with new features, including new blog posts and an "Audiophile Corner," the website offers physical media and hi-rez downloads of a host of Reference Recordings made by legendary, Grammy-feted recording engineer/digital pioneer Keith O. Johnson, along with Sean Royce Martin, and other recordings on the RR Fresh! label recorded by the SoundMirror team.

News

Universal Music Group Goes MQA

Jason Victor Serinus Feb 16, 2017 First Published: Feb 16, 2017

On February 16, Universal Music Group and MQA announced a multi-year agreement that will encode UMG's huge catalog of master recordings in MQA. In the language of the press release, the agreement promises "to make some of the world's most celebrated recordings available for the first time in Hi-Res Audio streaming." UMG's labels include ECM, Interscope, Geffen, A&M, Capitol, Island, Def Jam, Decca, Verve, Blue Note, Virgin, and EMI.

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Marching Into Our Lives: The March Issue

Stereophile Staff Feb 11, 2017 First Published: Feb 11, 2017

The March issue kicks off with a look by Jason Victor Serinus at the state of audio shows in 2017 and Auralic's innovative and affordable streaming Altair D/A processor takes pride of place on the March Stereophile's cover. However, loudspeakers dominate this issue's interior, with reviews of super stand-mounts from Aerial, Bowers & Wilkins, and Wharfedale and an intriguing, room-friendly tower from the Swedish Larsen company.

News

Dealer Events Saturday in Chicago, Falls Church, Phoenix, La Jolla

Stereophile Staff Feb 09, 2017 First Published: Feb 09, 2017

Saturday February 11, 17pm, Kyomi Audio (Itasca, IL) is presenting the debut of Vivid's new flagship speaker, the G1 Spirit with designer Laurence Dickie; 125pm, Command Performance AV (Falls Church, VA) is holding a Rogue Audio event presenting Rogue's RH-5 headphone amplifier; 16pm, Esoteric Audio (Phoenix, AZ) is holding a Digital Audio Event featuring Roon 1.3 and dCS's new Network Bridge; 14pm, Deja Vu Audio West (San Diego CA) is holding an Open House.

News

Naxos Opens ArkivJazz.com, Shutters ClassicsOnline

Jason Victor Serinus Feb 07, 2017 First Published: Feb 07, 2017

Naxos, owner of online classical recording retailer ArkivMusic.com, has now launched ArkivJazz.com. A one-stop shopping destination for an international coterie of jazz lovers who seek CDs, vinyl, and DVDs, the site sells recordings from "all labels, major and independent." In addition to exclusive interviews and editorials, ArkivJazz also offers a VIP subscription that includes free US shipping and member-only specials, plus a complementary subscription to Downbeat magazine.

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"Do Cables Really Matter?" Event in Florida Saturday

Stereophile Staff Feb 03, 2017 First Published: Feb 03, 2017

Saturday, February 4, 11:00am1:00 pm, Encore Home Entertainment Systems (2115 Siesta Drive, Sarasota, FL 34239) is hosting Joe Perfito, president of Tributaries and Clarus Cable, for a discussion on the importance of cables.

News

Phono Cartridge Event in Phoenix Saturday

Stereophile Staff Jan 26, 2017 First Published: Jan 26, 2017

Saturday January 28, 16pm, Esoteric Audio (111 West Monroe Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85003) is presenting the first public showing of the DS Audio DS 002 Optical Phono Cartridge System. This is a lower-priced version of the DS Audio Master1 that Michael Fremer reviewed for Stereophile in September 2015.

News

Dealer Events in New Jersey Thursday and Chicago Saturday Sunday

Stereophile Staff Jan 25, 2017 First Published: Jan 25, 2017

On Thursday January 26, from 58:30pm, Hi-Fi Sales (1732 Route 70, East Cherry Hill, NJ 08003) is hosting an event featuring the Technics Premium C700 Series of components and the new SL-1200GAE/G turntable.

On Saturday January 28, 10am7pm, and Sunday January 29, 11am5pm, the Paragon Sight & Sound Fine Audio Show will present world-class, high-performance, home-audio products in the private rooms of Chicago's world-renowned Symphony Center (220 South Michigan Avenue).

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Sprint Invests in Tidal

Jason Victor Serinus Jan 24, 2017 First Published: Jan 24, 2017

On January 23, 2017, telecoms company Sprint acquired 33% of the Tidal music streaming service. According to the press release jointly issued by the two companies, the deal guarantees that Tidal, which now claims a catalog of over 42.5 million songs and 140,000 "high quality videos," will become available to Sprint's 45,000,000 retail customers, who will gain "unlimited access to exclusive artist content not available anywhere else."

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On Its Way 2U: the February Issue

Stereophile Staff Jan 04, 2017 First Published: Jan 04, 2017

Hitting newsstands, tables, and mailboxes next week, the February 2017 issue features the 27th edition of our perennially popular "Records 2 Die 4," where the magazine's writers and editors each list two recordings that they will take with them when they go. And we haven't forgotten the hardware: John Atkinson waxes lyrical over the Magico S5 Mk.II speaker; Ken Micallef does likewise over the unique NEAT Iota Alpha; Mikey Fremer drives his Wilsons with humongous Boulder monoblocks; Art Dudley and Herb Reichert listen to idiosyncratic digital components from EAR and Schiit; and Herb Reichert auditions Rega's new Planar 3 LP player.