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Audio News for April 11, 2017

by | Apr 11, 2017 | Audio News

Hi-Res Streaming on Smartphones, PCs, and Tablets –  Qpbuz Sublime+ will offer hi-res streaming next month for about £300 annually. It will offer 24-bit hi-res streaming of 60,000 albums. Currently the highest Qobuz tier is Sublime, offering CD-quality 16/44.1 audio for £190 per year. If you want to purchase any hi-res album via downloading, there will be permanent discounts for Sublime+ subscribers. Tidal introduced hi-res streaming of its Masters-quality albums on desktop-only PCs in January using their MQA format. “WAV could Become the New Record Player” – says Dustin Bates of Starset, whose new album, Vessels, is available in a 360-degree mix for maximum VR enjoyment. He says you can definitely tell the difference between 16-bit and 24-bit recordings. He also says he sees the streaming of WAVs and FLACS as being the inevitable standard. And that he finds it encouraging that the major labels have reached consensus regarding making hi-res streaming options the standard operating procedure. And that the cost of storage of files is an irrelevant argument at this point. He says their good songs, especially with all the sampled strings, sound their best in hi-res form. Several Starset sci-fi videos are available on YouTube (in compressed audio, […]

Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – audio-only Blu-ray & SACD

Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – audio-only Blu-ray & SACD

by | Mar 13, 2017 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Music for trumpet and piano in sparkling sound. Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – Pure Audio Blu-ray – 5.1 surround + stereo + mShuttle /+ SACD multichannel and stereo – 2L-130, 53:10 ea. (2 discs) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Recorded in the accommodating acoustics of Sofienberg Church & Jar Church, Norway during 2012 and 2013, this recital of music for trumpet and piano by Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge impresses in its variety. The Holberg Suite, Op. 40 (From Holberg’s Time) by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was written in 1884 and comes across as a nineteenth-century take on eighteenth-century dance music.  While it was conceived as a suite for a string orchestra, Grieg made that orchestration only after its original publication as a suite for piano.  The arrangement here, for trumpet and piano, works remarkably well and gives plenty of opportunity for Antonsen to display his excellent technique. The arrangement of three songs by Kosaku Yamada (1886-1965) and Hardingtonar by Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) provide a more relaxed interlude of folk-music inspired works with some sensitive playing by the duo.  The second and fourth parts […]

Audio News for January 31, 2017

by | Jan 31, 2017 | Audio News

Philip Glass is 80; But Some Classical Music Lovers Hate His Music – His productivity has been amazing: there are ten symphonies, 14 operas, seven string quartets, film scores, 20 piano studies, 11 concertos, and much else. He is also the greatest collaborator among composers since Stravinsky. One of the famous ones was with notorious Robert Wilson, the theatre director with whom he did the five-hour Einstein on the Beach. He is considered the father of minimalism. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is Into Classical Music Too –  He is a close friend of concert pianist James Rhodes and a lover of classical music. Together, they have released a series called Piano Night. They talk about what Cumberbatch loves about classical music and why Rhodes thing Chopin is the greatest. Video Surveillance Growth – is partly due the demand for IP-enabled security cameras in physical security. They allow users to remotely survey their property and appeal to both individual consumers, government agencies, and industry verticals. They provide superior video quality as well as hardware and software scalability. Recent innovations in systems integration, such as data storage, have grown this area faster. The global market is also growing, especially in India and China, though […]

Audio News for October 21, 2016

by | Oct 21, 2016 | Audio News

Musical America 2017 Awards – went to pianist Juja Wang for Artist of the Year, to Andrew Norman for Composer of the Year, to Finnish Susanna Mälkki for Conductor of the Year. to bass-baritone Eric Owns for Vocalist of the Year, and to Eighth Blackbird for Ensemble of the Year. Noisy Audiences and Music – The Irish Times has a current article on Noisy Audiences and Classical Music. A couple in front of the reporter kept up an intermittent conversation thruout the entire concert. A few seats away a man was constantly swigging water from a large plastic bottle, while others here and there were busy texting away with their phones in silent mode.  Irritating clapping – applause for the sake of applause – broke out after each movement of a symphony only added to the overall atmosphere of casual inattention.  And the article didn’t even mention movies, where many of the audiences act just as they do at home watching TV, with everyone talking out loud. Ah, the advantages of listening to recorded music… Bluetooth Audio Set for Big Improvements – The people behind Bluetooth will move all audio applications into a new low-energy radio, called BLE for Bluetooth […]

HANDEL: Messiah (complete) – Soloists/Mormon Tabernacle Choir – CFN – (2 CDs + DVD)

HANDEL: Messiah (complete) – Soloists/Mormon Tabernacle Choir – CFN – (2 CDs + DVD)

by | Aug 30, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

The third complete Messiah recording from this legendary ensemble. HANDEL: Messiah – Sonya Yoncheva (soprano), Tamara Mumford (mezzo-soprano), Rolando Villazon (tenor), Bryn Terfel (bass), Mormon Tabernacle Choir/ Orch. at Temple Square/ Mack Wilberg – Mormon Tabernacle Choir CFN 1631-2 (2 CDs) + Bonus DVD – 320k or FLAC download, TT: 2:23:26, 40:17 (DVD) (3/4/16) ****: The saga of the Mormons and their trek across America is indelibly etched into the psyche of all people in this country, regardless of what one’s opinion is of the religious tenets behind the faith. Mormons, not universally recognized by the Christian population of the United States—or the world—as a Christian religion, have struggled to become mainstream accessible for many, many years, and their success in this endeavor is much higher today than it was fifty or sixty years ago. But one of their most fruitful efforts was in the creation of the Tabernacle Choir, a highly sophisticated amateur ensemble of great size that enjoyed superior technical finesse, beauty of sound, and a repertory that spoke all aspects of the American experience. Founded in 1847, only a month after arriving in Utah, and building their unique tabernacle in 1867, the group consolidated into one of […]

Audio News for August 5, 2016

by | Aug 5, 2016 | Audio News

Cadillac CT6 Bose Panaray Audio System – The $3700 optional audio system puts 34 tiny speakers around the cabin to create an immersive soundstage. It succeeds where most surround sound systems fall short: it perfectly blends the discrete channels into a uniform soundstage. The system’s center channel silently rises from the center of the dash when you start the car. The system even levels out satellite radio, dialing back the overly sharp tones and injecting a bit of life into the clinical sound. The Panaray system shines most when fed hi-res audio. An optical drive is a $250 option. Without an SD card the only other way to play back hi-res files is thru a connected smartphone. The iPhone doesn’t support FLAC and there was a difference between a high-quality CD rip and an audio file purchased on iTunes. The exact wattage is not revealed, but there is enough power to achieve pounding bass and crisp high end. Luxury vehicles have long strived to provide occupants with surround sound, and the Panaray system delivers on this promise better than most others. Warner Licenses MQA – The technology allows for audio files small enough to stream or download, and WEA veteran […]

Audio News for August 2, 2016

by | Aug 2, 2016 | Audio News

Yamaha Adds 4K Blu-ray Players With Stereo SACD – The BD-S681 offers 3D playback, 4K upconversion, Wi-Fi networking, and compatibility with hi-res audio formats (in stereo). It retails for $329.95. The Aventage BD-A1060 adds a 192K/32-bit DAC, a high-purity power supply and independent circuit boards to reduce signal noise. Both players reduce disc vibration by 30%, and Wi-Fi Direct allows streaming of music from a mobile device to the player for viewing on a TV. The USB port on both decodes DSD streams up to 5.6 MHz, FLAC and ALAC music files. The A1060 is $549.95. The Gramophone Classical Music Awards Shortlist – The list is not short at all; recordings were selected in each of several categories by their panel of critics. Here is most of it for what it’s worth: Baroque Instrumental: Bach in Montecassino’ – Luca Guglielmi (Vivat) JS Bach Organ Works – Masaaki Suzuki (BIS) WF Bach Harpsichord Concertos – Il Convito / Maude Gratton (Mirare) Biber Rosary Sonatas – Rachel Podger et al (Channel Classics) Lawes The Royal Consort – Phantasm (Linn) Vivaldi Four Seasons etc.- Adrian Chandler / La Serenissima (Avie) Baroque Vocal: JS Bach Magnificat in E flat etc. – Dunedin Consort/ John […]

Audio News for July 29, 2016

by | Jul 29, 2016 | Audio News

Finnish Composer Rautavaara Dies –  At age 87 the composer of many inspirational works passed away, and left this statement: “It is my belief that music is great if, at some moment, the listener catches ‘a glimpse of eternity through the window of time’… This, to my mind, is the only true justification for art. All else is of secondary importance.” Xbox One S to Launch August 2 –  It will be the first console to support UHD video and the new larger-capacity Blu-rays, and the smaller version will initially be up available in 25 different countries. Thee will be three different models: a 500GB version for $299, a 1TB version for $349 and a 2TB version of $399. According to Microsoft “availability is limited and demand is high” and they suggest preordering the console soon. Investigation Finds That Millions of Consumers Are Targeted by Malware Operators –  A Digital Citizens investigation has found that malware operators and content theft website owners have teamed up to target consumers, with an unexpected assist from U.S.-based tech firms. One in three content theft websites expose consumers to dangerous malware that an lead to ID theft, financial loss and ransomware. The report found […]

Audio News for July 5, 2016

by | Jul 6, 2016 | Audio News

Panasonic Has a $699 UHD Blu-ray Deck – The DMP-UB900 has 60fps playback, HDR support, and can stream UDH content from Netflix and YouTube. Audio specs include hi-res playback of WAV, FLAC, DSD and ALAC files, digital tube-sound with up-sampling, isolated twin HDMI ports for audio and video, and 7.1 analog audio output. Samsung also has one, at about half the price, and the new Xbox One S will support UHD Blu-ray playback for as little as $300 later this year. What Does a Classical Conductor Do? – The Helsinki Conservatory is the unique center for training of classical conductors. In many countries, student conductors rarely get to practice their conducting on professional orchestras, and the Conservatory solves this. To some audiences, orchestral conductors seem to dramatically wave their arms with no discernible effect on the music. In reality, they undergo rigorous conservatory training, followed by further feedback on the job as they move up the career ladder. What they learn, however, remains a mystery to most non-musicians, and what constitutes good conductor training even more so. Students come from all over the world to study at the Helsinki Conservatory. One of them said: “…you have to learn the mechanics, […]

SCHUBERT: Complete Symphonies, Masses & opera Alfonso und Estrella – Soloists/Berlin Philharmonic/ Nicolaus Harnoncourt – Berlin Phil. – (8 SACDs + 1 Blu-ray stereo only)

SCHUBERT: Complete Symphonies, Masses & opera Alfonso und Estrella – Soloists/Berlin Philharmonic/ Nicolaus Harnoncourt – Berlin Phil. – (8 SACDs + 1 Blu-ray stereo only)

by | Jul 2, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

FRANZ SCHUBERT: Symphonies, Masses and Alfonso und Estrella (TrackLists below) – Berlin Philharmonic Orch./Nikolaus Harnoncourt – Berlin Phil. BPHR 15006 [Distr. by Naxos] – The set contains 8 CDs, and identical content on one Blu-ray audio disc in 2.0 PCM + Bonus video: Nikolaus Harnoncourt in conversation [in German w/ English subtitles] (38 min) HD 1080P 16×9 – Region free – TT: 613:30 (6/5/15) ****: For Schubert completists – all the symphonies, two masses and a rather unknown  complete opera . This is a ‘monster’ set of all the Schubert Symphonies, along with Schubert’s final two masses, plus there is a a rare recording of the opera Alfonso und Estrella. This massive set contains 8 SACDs, 1 Blu-ray audio disc that has all the music from the SACDs in DTS-HD MA 2.0. That disc also contains a video interview with conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt. [$123 on Amazon…Ed.] If you want to download the music, the set gives you a code to download FLAC files in 24/48 for any digital devices you own that can support the format. The performances were recorded between 2003 and 2006. I listened to everything contained in the set over several days, and found the performances consistent […]

Audio News for May 31, 2016

by | Jun 6, 2016 | Audio News

Oppo Introduces Its First Speakers – The compact Sonica Wi-Fi speaker comes equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and AirPlay capabilities, and there are compatible smartphones and tablet apps making it easy to manage multiple speakers on the same network. Drivers, amps and chassis have all been designed for a deep, pure and engaging sound that can be further optimized with built-in presets using the Sonica app. It is capable of decoding audio files up to 192/24 and supports FLAC, WAV and Apple Lossless. The companion app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store, while the Android version is available from Google. Retail price is $299. New Superior Classical Music Platform – Primephonics’ lossless audio and meticulous metadata offers a perfect solution for classical music listeners and audiophiles. The vast catalog of the Netherlands-based company has expanded to include Sony Classical titles. The music downloads range from WAV to FLAC or DSD – with no compressed files or degraded sound, and later this year a high-quality streaming service will also be offered. The primary problem with iTunes and other services is that they really fall apart when needing to classify classical music. Dirk Jan Vink is Managing Director or […]

Audio News for April 29. 2016

by | Apr 29, 2016 | Audio News

Audiophile-grade Streaming From Auralic Aries Mini – For about $550 the Chinese-made AURALiC Aries Mini comes in black plastic or white, hooks up to an existing DAC or amp and pulls music from the cloud or home-based data storage. There’s an optional low-noise linear PSU for $299 additional. The Aires Mini is also free to work with Bluetooth or Airplay. It is a Wi-Fi-cable NAS drive and plays lossless hi-res streaming from Qobuz and Tidal. Tidal Hifi is even an added free bonus for U.S. buyers for a year. John H. Darko in REVIEWSSOURCES thinks it’s analog outputs even sound better than the much more expensive Sonos system. See his review if you have an iPhone or iPad and are into hi-res streaming. Onkyo Has New DP-X1 Hi-Res Audio Player – It follows the Android system, sports separate DACs and amps for each channel, handles up to DSD and the new MQA formats and is only $899. It has 32GB built-in storage and can support up to 432GB. You have access to the Google Play Story and can plug into most any hi-res streaming system out there, including Tidal and Onkyo’s own OnkyoMusic. The main difference from a typical smartphone […]

“The Return” = Preludes of RACHMANINOFF, Works of BABAJANIAN – Raffi Besalyan, p. – Sono Luminus CD & audio-only Blu-ray

“The Return” = Preludes of RACHMANINOFF, Works of BABAJANIAN – Raffi Besalyan, p. – Sono Luminus CD & audio-only Blu-ray

by | Feb 23, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Riveting sound and brilliant performances add up to a most desirable set. “The Return” = RACHMANINOFF: Prelude Op. 3, No. 2 in C sharp minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 5 in G minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 6 in E flat major; Prelude Op. 23, No. 7 in C minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 5 in G minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 10 in G flat major; Prelude Op. 23, No. 12 in G sharp minor; Étude-Tableau, Op. 33, No. 6 in E flat minor (published as No. 3); Étude-Tableau, Op. 39, No. 1 in C minor; Étude-Tableau, Op. 39, No. 5 in E flat minor; Étude-Tableau, Op. 39, No. 6 in A minor; Variations on a theme of Corelli, Op. 42; ARNO BABAJANIAN: Prelude; Melody and Humoresque; Elegy; Vagarshapat Dance – Raffi Besalyan, piano – Sono Luminus DSL-92187, 65:42 (CD + audio-only Blu-ray – 5.1 & 7.1 DTS, 2.0 PCM with FLAC and MP3 files downloadable) *****: I had no idea that such a powerhouse pianist as Raffi Besalyan worked so close to me. Just downtown from where I live, as Assistant Professor of Piano at Georgia State University, resides this technical wiz and bold Rachmaninoff master. On the […]

Astell & Kern AK Jr. Digital Audio Player

Astell & Kern AK Jr. Digital Audio Player

by | Dec 22, 2015 | Component Reviews

Astell & Kern AK Jr. Digital Audio Player SRP: $500.00 A high end but relatively low cost DAP. Specs: Body Material: Aluminum Display: 3.1″ WQVGA (240 x 400) Touchscreen Storage 64 GB storage built in, up to 200 GB in aux slot with mini SD cards Output Level: 1.95Vrms Supported Audio Formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE (Normal, High, Fast), AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF Sample rate: FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AIFF: 8kHz – 192kHz (8/16/24bits per Sample)/ DSD: DSD64 (1bit 2.8MHz), Stereo (DSD to PCM) It was almost exactly a year ago that I reviewed my choice for an iPod replacement, the FiiO X1. Cheaper than the iPod Classic (now discontinued by Apple) the FiiO had the advantage of playing high resolution music files. I just recently put the FiiO in my car to replace my aging iPod, and I’m quite pleased. On my car screen I get album art just as I did with the iPod, and I get the benefit of playback of higher quality files. With the FiiO in the car, I started looking for another digital audio player for home listening on my headsets. I looked at some of the higher priced FiiO gear, but […]

Audio News for June 9, 2015

by | Jun 9, 2015 | Audio News

Naim Offers Tabletop Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Speaker; Walmart Tries to Improve CE Sales; Global Shipments of UHD TVs Quadruple; French Multiroom Audiophile Speakers Coming to U.S.