Audiophile Audition Archive
The Origin of Audiophile Audition, Part 2
The history John Sunier and his Audiophile Audition Vision…
The Origin of Audiophile Audition, Part 1
The first installment of a sweeping presentation of the life John Sunier and Audiophile Audition.
Editorial Page for February 2017
Our February free drawing is for a four-SACD box set, Piano Works of the Russian Futurist Movement, donated by Cybele Records. Futurism was a movement in which Russian and Italian artists and poets adopted the principles of Filippo Marinetti’s Futurist Manifesto in 1909. The word applied to those who “consciously reject the most elementary traditions and continuity in the relatively narrow sphere of their own art.” elementary traditions and continuity in the relatively narrow sphere of their own art.” These works provide attempts for the composers to express themselves in a new and contemporary language. Thomas Günther is the pianist on all four volumes. All you need to do to enter the drawing is simply to click on Register To Win and fill out all the few fields we request. The lucky winner of the hi-res set will be announced here next month. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. February 2017 is […]
January 2017 Editorial Page
Our January free drawing is for a 24-CD box set featuring famed conductor Charles Groves in British music, from Warner Classics. It includes such favorite works as Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra and Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus conducted by Groves and performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra along with the Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. Here is a listing of all the recordings on this 24-CD set, plus a review if it. All you need to do to enter the drawing is simply to check below on the “Register To Win” banner and fill out all the few fields we ask. The lucky winner of the Groves set will be announced here next month. The two winners of the Naxos-donated CD albums – the 9-CD My First Classical Albums, and the My First Christmas Album – our December drawing – are: Glenn Marceil of Winston-Salem, NC and James Le Blanc of Houston, TX. Congrats to both! EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 […]
Editorial for December 2016
Our free drawing for December is for two of Naxos’ My First Classical Albums – each a 9-CD boxed set that will be an ideal springboard for a lifelong journey thru classical music. Famous selections by Mozart, Beethoven,Tchaikovsky and Bach feature violin, orchestra, ballet orchestra, piano and lullabies as well as unexpected gems. The accompanying booklet has information on each piece of music. You will also be getting another Naxos CD, My First Christmas Album. It features some of the most popular carols as well as some other surprises. All you need to do to enter the drawing is simply to check below on the Register To Win banner and fill out all the few fields we ask. The two winners of the 10 CDs will be listed below early next month. The winner of the 17 SACD/Binaural set – our November free drawing – titled The Max Reger Edition, is Brian Camp, of North Little Rock, AR. Congrats! EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September […]
Editorial for November 2016
The complete pipe organ works of Max Reger in hi-res stereo, surround & binaural (17 SACDs) is the November free drawing here, as furnished by Cybele Records. It comes with a complete bound book and an interview with the organist. We reviewed it here. All you need to do is click on the Register To Win banner on the Home Page and fill out our simple form. We will list below the winner of the November drawing in early December. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. November 2016 is our 212th issue! All disc reviews are added thru the month as written and received, often daily, amounting to nearly 100 a month. The Home Page lists the latest published reviews. Vinyls, Pure Audio Blu-rays and other hi-res formats are included in the SACD/Hi-Res Section. We are staying with physical discs rather than downloads. The site has been redesigned and improved. Please […]
Editorial for August 2016
For this August our free drawing is five complete Rossini operas on Blu-ray from Opus Arte: The Italian in Algiers, Il Signor Bruschino, The Silken Ladder, Moses in Egypt and Cyrus in Babylon. Claudio Scimone and Ewa Poldes are among the performers. The Italian in Algiers is considered one of the funniest operas ever written. Here is a link to the Amazon site where the box set is offered. All you need to do is click on the Register To Win banner on the Home Page and fill out our simple form. The winner of our July drawing for the lavish DGG package entitled The Mono Era 1948-57, consisting of 51 CDs, is Alan Craig of Grand Junction, CO. Congrats! (And note that the mono DGGs are considered superior to the later stereo CDs.) EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. August 2016 is our 209th issue! All disc reviews are added thru the month as […]
July 2016 Editorial Page
Our free July drawing is for the 51-CD lavish package from DGG entitled The Mono Era 1948-1957. Each CD is in a cardstock sleeve with the original tracks and description on the back. Performers include many of the greats of the 1950s: Kempff, Jochum, Furtwanger, Fricsay, Markevitch, Maazel, Oistrakh, Richter, Haskil, Fischer-Dieskau, Hindemith, Martzy and Varnay. In the set is a 150-page booklet in English, German and French, and many artist and production photographs. Here is Amazon’s page on the Mono Set. All you need to do is click on the Register To Win banner on the Home Page and fill out our simple form. The June winner of our drawing for the complete Wagner Ring Cycle on 8 PentaTone SACDs with booklet etc. is: Mayson Stewart, Charleston SC. Congrats! EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. July 2016 is our 208th issue! All disc reviews are added thru the month as […]
Oppo Universal 3D Blu-Ray Player BDP-105D SRP: $1299
Oppo Universal 3D Blu-Ray Player BDP-105D SRP: $1299 Specs: Firmware Version: BDP10X-38-1220 (Jan. 2, 2013) Dimensions: 16.8” W x 12.2” D x 4.8” H Weight: 17.3 pounds Voltage: 120/240 (for use anywhere in the world) Passive Cooling (i.e., no fan) Power Consumption: 55W, .5W (standby) Warranty: 2 years Rating: ***** Full Specs: https://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-105/blu-ray-BDP-105D-Overview.aspx Oppo Digital 2629 Terminal Blvd., Suite B Mountain View, CA 9404 (650) 961-1118 (650) 961-1118 https://www.oppodigital.com ——————————————————————— Audiophile Audition has already published an excellent review of the Oppo 105 player. I will be reviewing the 105D version of the player. The main difference is the addition of the Darbee video enhancement chip and the USB asynchronous DAC. I will also give my opinions of the sound and video quality of the unit. For features and special abilities, you should read the above review or go to the Oppo web site above. Oppo is an audio company that has my highest regards. They always produce quality equipment at a very good price. I did my first Oppo review in 2007 on their DVD-970 DVD-based universal player. In some areas it out-performed players costing up thousands of dollars more. Its price was $149. Now you see Oppo players in systems of […]
Editorial for May 2016
The imported, limited edition 64-CD Leonard Bernstein Collection Vol. 2 is our May free drawing. The repertoire is supplemented by five American Decca CDs, analyses/performances of Beethoven’s Erocia, Schmann’s Second, Dvoraks’ New World, Brahms’ Fourth and Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique. It is rounded off with original cast selections from Fancy Free and On The Town. It is an original jackets collections and comes in an LP-size box with deluxe book filled with striking photos. Complete repertoire here. The winner of the April drawing will be listed below soon. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. May 2016 is our 206th issue! All disc reviews are added thru the month as written and received, often daily, amounting to nearly 100 a month. The Home Page lists the latest published reviews. Vinyls, Pure Audio Blu-rays and other hi-res formats are included in the SACD/Hi-Res Section, as well as xrcds. We are staying with physical discs rather […]
Editorial Page for March 2016
Our lavish March drawing is for “Opera baroque” – a 39-DVD plus 4-CDs boxed set from Harmonia mundi consisting of over 47 hours of wonderful music, with top soloists and such directors as René Jacobs & William Christie. 17 complete operas are included in the set. This is a set you will treasure for a lifetime. The five lucky winners of the set of two CDs by The Alexander Quartet on Foghorn Classics – our February drawing – are: Charles Volstad, Eden Prairie MN; Will Leben, Emeryville CA; Seth Shapiro, Snohomish WA; Gary Walker, Sanford NC; and Gregory Weis, Aiken OH. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. March 2016 is our 204th issue! All disc reviews are added thru the month as written and received, often daily, amounting to nearly 100 a month. The Home Page lists the latest published reviews. Vinyls, Pure Audio Blu-rays and other hi-res formats are included in the SACD/Hi-Res Section, […]
Home Page for December 2015
Our free drawing for December is for the largest collection we have ever offered: the 65-CD set of a giant cross-section of compositions by George Frederic Handel, except for his Italian operas. There are 12 oratorios, cantatas, odes, anthems, areas, duets, oboe concerti, plus the complete harpsichord music, complete organ concerti, complete Concerti Grossi, Water Music and Royal Fireworks Music. The comprehensive booklet for the set is available on the Brilliant Classics website in .pdf form. Here is the Amazon page for this impressive $117 retail set, which includes several reviews. To be considered for the drawing you need to register using our very simple form Here. Last month’s winners will be announced on our current Editorial Page, where you will also find more details on the drawing for this month.
Editorial for December 2015
Our December drawing is one of Brilliant Classic’s Handel Collection, a 65-CD set of works by one of the giants of the Baroque era, George Frideric Handel. It’s the most comprehensive Handel Edition on the market, just released in September. Among the terrific performances are by Concerto Köln, English Chamber Orch., Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum, King’s College Choir, L’Ecole d’Orphée and leading soloists, including harpsichordist Robert Loreggian. [Made possible by Naxos distributors.] In order to be the winner of this $117 set, you need only to register using our simple form here. The lucky winner will be listed below next month. Here are the four winners of the 11-CD Complete Shostakovich Symphonies set on Naxos – our November drawing. Congrats to all.: Frank Segars, Garland TX; Michael Donovan, Rockford IL, Robert J. Gonzalez, Napa CA; Paul Dale, Minneapolis MN. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. December 2015 is our 201st issue! All disc reviews are […]
Home Page for November 1, 2015
Our November free drawing is for four sets of the Complete Shostakovich Symphonies, conducted by Vasily Petrenko on an 11-CD boxed set from Naxos. The 15 symphonies of Dmitry Shostakovich stand as one of the 20th century’s greatest musical achievements. They encapsulate the Soviet experience. Here is our review of the set. This is a $77 set at Amazon. To be considered for the drawing you need to register using our very simple form Here. Last month’s winners will be announced on our Editorial Page, where you will also find more details on the drawing for this month.
Editorial for October 2015
For October our drawing is for six sets of the complete opera A Death in the Family, by William Mayer, as recorded by Albany Records. The original book is by James Agee, and the opera is considered one of the best and most poetical opera librettos ever. Although done by the Manhattan School of Music, nothing about the recording sounds the least bit like a conservatory effort. Diction is clear, the text settings are sensible, and this is a fine combination of folksong and whimsy. All your need to do is to register this month using our simple non-intrusive form, being sure to include your correct email and street address. The six winners will be announced in this space next month. Here are the three lucky winners of the Itzak Perlman 3-CD set, our September drawing: James Strange, Bellevue WA; David Hollingsworth, Fayetteville NC; Robert Rosenman, Derrfield Beach, FL. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this […]
Editorial for September 2015
For September our free drawing is for three copies of the 3-CD boxed set The Perlman Sound – a selection of items from the new complete 59-CD comprehensive set of everything the famous violinist has recorded for Warner, EMI and Teldec over 30 years. Some of his collaborations with the world’s greatest orchestras and soloists are included, including Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn. All the analog recordings have been remastered in 96K/24-bit digital format at Abbey Road Studios and the designs reflect the original jackets. All you have to do to be considered as the winner of this set is to register this month using our simple non-intrusive form (and be sure to list your accurate address and email address). The three lucky winners will be announced in this space next month. The lucky winner of the 53-CD Mercury Living Presence Vol. 3 set from Decca/Universal – our August free giveaway – is Joe Higday of Leawood, KS. Congrats – you have a lot of great listening there! [audaud-hr] EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years […]
Editorial for August 2015
Our August drawing is for one set of the huge Mercury Living Presence Vol. 3 set of 53 reissue CDs (issued by Decca Records), including ten never before released. Here is our review of the set, and here are details on all 53 discs. All you have to do to be considered as the winner of this huge set is to register this month using our simple non-intrusive form (and be sure to list your accurate address and email address). The lucky winner will be announced in this space next month. The two winners of the 7-CD set of all nine symphonies of Antonin Dvorak conducted by Jose Serebrier – our July drawing – are: Mark Brauer, St. Paul MN, and Lawrence Schulman, Mount Desert, ME. The sets will be shipped out soon. Congrats to both! [audaud-hr] EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public radio and commercial stations. In September 1998 its web site for program listings was expanded to this free Internet publication. August 2015 is our 197th issue. All disc reviews are added […]
Home Page for August 2015
Our August drawing for all visitors here is the 53-CD Vol. 3 of the Mercury Living Presence Collector’s Edition boxed set, which completes the entire series of releases by this pioneering audiophile label. HERE is our review of it, and HERE is the detailed listing of every single CD in the 53-CD reissue package. They have mostly been remastered by Wilma Cozart Fine, using the equipment originally used to master the three-channel original tapes to two channels for LP release. Ten albums are included in the set for the very first time. The 192K/24-bit format was used thruout for the processing of the reissues. To be considered for this month’s free drawing you must register using our simple form HERE. (And please give us your full name and your address or we won’t know where the send your recordings if you are one of the winners.) The winners of last month’s drawing for two 7-CD sets of the Dvorak symphonies conducted by Jose Serebrier are now announced on our Editorial Page, where you will find more details on this month’s drawing.
Home Page for June 2015
Our June drawing for all site visitors are two new CDs from Navona Records for six of our readers who register this month using our simple form here. First is Book 1 of Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, performed by pianist Kimiko Ishizaka, plus Voyage by composer Pierre Schroeder – which is the 200th Navona Records release. Pianist Ishizaka was called by The New York Times “a gifted and obviously devoted Bachian.” Voyage, for 11 players, uses jazz, blues, and folk idioms but is still grounded in classical form. Please fill out the simple non-intrusive form completely and see our current Editorial Page for more details. [audaud-hr]
Editorial for June 2015
Navona Records is donating two of their new CD releases to six Audiophile Audition readers this month. They are Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1 and Voyage by Pierre Schroeder. The first is from a German-Japanese pianist known for her Bach performances, and the second is a captivating sonic journey using a variety of musical styles in a classical form. Schroeder is a French native who as a child came to music by transcribing movie themes by Nino Rota, Morricone, and others on the family piano. Navona is known for presenting winning artists and undiscovered voices in the classical tradition. To be eligible for the two new CDs, you must register this month using our simple form. (We do not share your information.) The six winners will be listed below in early July. The three lucky winners of the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas (8 CD set) performed by Maurizio Pollini (our May drawing) are: Stanley Schwab, Northfield IL, Kelly Beck, Riverside NJ, and Richard Rodrick, Hillsboro OR. EDITORIAL AUDIOPHILE AUDITION began as a local program in San Francisco and then in 1985 as a weekly national radio series hosted by John Sunier, and aired for 13½ years on up to 200 public […]
Home Page for May 2015
Our drawing for May is the just-released DGG complete set of all the Beethoven Piano Sonatas performed by Maurizio Pollini on 8 CDs. His playing has a heft and muscularity that complement the works perfectly. (The average customer reviews at Amazon for this $32 set were 5 out of 5 stars.) Here is our review of the boxed set. Three AUDIOPHILE AUDITION readers who register this month using our simple form will receive the albums. [Please fill it out entirely.] Go to our current Editorial Page for details on this drawing and (soon) the winner of last month’s drawing.
Editorial for May 2015
Deutsche Grammophon is donating three copies of their new release of the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas played by Maurizio Pollini as our May drawing. The 8-CD boxed set was recorded between 1975 and 2014 and most are studio recordings, except for Sonatas Nos. 12 & 21. Here is our review of the set. The complete set will go to three of our readers who register this month using our simple form. The winners will be listed below in early June. The lucky winner of the Brilliant Classics 50-CD set – our April drawing – of the compositions of George Philip Telemann is Neal Arluck, Astoria NY. [audaud-hr] GUEST EDITORIAL by Dr. Mark Waldrep of AIX Multichannel Music and High-End DACs Multichannel music is an avenue that audiophiles should explore and embrace. AIX and our partners demonstrated a real high-resolution audio system in the Lakeshore B Ballroom at Axpona and I know that Emotiva also featured surround sound sourced from an OPPO BDP-105. It’s coming…no, it’s already here! There are millions of home theater systems in homes around the country with surround sound. There are at least 16 different automobiles that can deliver surround sound and I count at least a dozen systems for delivering surround sound through a […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
