THE LATEST
Starts, Stops, Disasters, Celebrations and Redemption
March and April are typically a busy time for us at the Prairie Audio homestead, and it's been a little more hectic season for us this year. As a full-time educator, the close of the third quarter has its share of grades, burnout, and a brief respite in the form of spring break in March, followed by a rash of birthday celebrations in April. However, this year, I took on a heftier load of review projects and recently suffered a small setback that brought things to a grinding halt.
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As the Platter Turns
As I ponder the hours creating and uploading documents, reformatting them, emailing and documenting electronically, I am reminded of John Naisbitt's 1983 book, High Tech, High Touch. Required reading for my bachelor's degree, it spoke to the pitfalls of lives dominated by technology, as well as an increased need for personal -- and even tactile -- connections.
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AXPONA 2024 to Welcome Dozens of New Exhibitors, Showcasing the Very Best in High-End Audio April 12th-14th
SCHAUMBURG, IL, March 16, 2024 -- AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), the largest consumer audio show in North America, returns to the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel April 12-14. The show attracts nearly 300 exhibitors featuring 700 brands coming from 40 different countries including dozens of first-time exhibitors making their debut at the 2024 show.
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In Lifestyle & Sport: Gloves Off Debuts March 15 on Prime Video with Gloves Off: Thurman-Tszyu/Rolly-Pitbull
NEW YORK— March 14, 2024—Today, Prime Video announced the launch of Gloves Off, an all-new special series that will bring fight fans revealing, behind-the-scenes access in the lead-up to highly-anticipated PBC on Prime Video boxing events. The first installment, Gloves Off: Thurman-Tszyu/Rolly-Pitbull, narrated by Barry Pepper, will premiere on Prime Video this Friday, March 15.
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Usher UA-50 Speakers, SOTA Turntable, and Merryweather's Open Baffles Captivate at Chicago Audio Society Meeting
MOUNT PROSPECT, IL –- SOTA Turntable's proprietor, Christan Griego, delivered a masterful presentation of his prototype direct drive turntable to an appreciative crowd of 35 at a Chicago Audio Society meeting at the Unitel Technologies offices this past Sunday, February 18.
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Photo of the Day: Bluesman on the Moon!
A Little Masking Tape and Elbow Grease: Tightening the Spindle on My Micro Seiki Turntable
I recently purchased a used Micro Seiki BL-91 turntable, and although I was overall pleased with its performance, I noticed that the spindle could be moved about an eighth of an inch. I spoke with a more experienced turntablist, and he suggested wrapping the spindle with tape to hold it firmly in place for optimal playback. So, that's exactly what I did!
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Quick Reflections and Looking Ahead...
Goodness! It's already mid-February and I'm just now posting a Prairie Audio update. The year seems to be getting away from me. My apologies! This year's start is bustling. I have a handful of reviews in my pipeline, the day job is a little hectic, and my wife, Belle, and I are currently recovering from COVID-19. Ugh.
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In Life Tones: Baby with Trisomy 18 Given the Death Sentence
By Lila Rose
Founder and President, Live Action
Founder and President, Live Action
Kate Cox and her husband were happy to learn they were pregnant with their third child—and then devastated to learn that the baby was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder caused when a person has three copies of chromosome 18 instead of the usual two.
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Next-generation Record Doctor X Cleans Records with Greater Efficiency
GRAND RAPIDS, MI, November 20, 2023 – Pangea Audio, a developer and manufacturer of high-performance, high-value audio accessories, announced today a new edition of its acclaimed Record Doctor vacuum record cleaning machines that simultaneously cleans both sides of a record, saving time and effort over current versions.
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Looking for a Christmas or Holiday Gift? Jim Smith's 'Get Better Sound' an Audiophile Treasure Trove!
I've heard it repeatedly: more important than loudspeakers, DACs, and other audio gear, the most important factor in getting optimum sound from your system is your ROOM! And nine pages into his tome, Get Better Sound, audio veteran Jim Smith nails down that point. However, he also adds, "Most of us don't have the luxury of selecting from several good rooms. We only have one, and it may not be wonderful. So the question becomes, how can I make my system play its very best with the room that I have?" And then in the balance of the book, he goes about addressing exactly that with the grace and aplomb of a wise and seasoned audio industry professional.
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Long Mogami XLR Runs, Micro Seiki Turntable, Pass Labs HPA-1 and More at Prairie Audio!
As winter approaches, there are changes afoot at Prairie Audio!
With a new job teaching English Language Learners this fall, ACCESS tests (standardized tests on ELL students' abilities in listening, reading, speaking, and writing) two weeks away, and a small collection of reviews winding down, I'm happily busy.
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With a new job teaching English Language Learners this fall, ACCESS tests (standardized tests on ELL students' abilities in listening, reading, speaking, and writing) two weeks away, and a small collection of reviews winding down, I'm happily busy.
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Wartime Worries? Pray, Process, Proceed, and Put on a Record
In light of the recent procession of earthquakes, fires, floods, and the latest tragedy in Israel and the Gaza Strip, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
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Qobuz Partners with the Memphis Listening Lab to Provide Hi-Res for Music Exploration Space
Qobuz, the music lovers’ high-quality streaming and download provider, is teaming up with The Memphis Listening Lab to bring its Hi-Res audio to Memphis, Tennessee’s only non-profit music exploration space. Founded in 2021, the Memphis Listening Lab was created to honor the memory of and house the 10,000+ LP record collection of John King. King, who died in 2022, co-founded Memphis’ Ardent Records and was a veteran music promoter and radio historian.
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It was 'Fun In the Sun' at Jeff Kenton's Riverside Chicago Audio Society Meeting!
It was a mix of ""something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". This past Sunday, August 27, 2023, retired capital equipment salesman and full-time audiophile Jeff Kenton hosted the Chicago Audio Society at his riverfront home in a far corner of Chicago's northwest suburbs.
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In Lifestyle and Sport: Book Now Out – Homicide Hank: The Life of Boxing Legend Henry Armstrong
They called him “Homicide Hank,” “Hammerin’ Hank,” “Hurricane Henry,” “The Black Blitzkrieg,” and “The Human Buzz-Saw,” for he was the most ruthless destroyer of champions and challengers the sport has known.
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TAD Labs Introduces the Evolution Series TAD-GE1 Speaker System
HANOVER, MA – Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. (TAD Labs, TADL) today announced the TAD-GE1 (Grand Evolution One) floorstanding speaker system as the newest addition to its Evolution Series of hi-fi audio components. Borrowing internal technology and design language from TAD’s top-of-the-line Reference TX Series as well as the distinguished wood-grain finish of the critically acclaimed CE1TX standmount speaker, the GE1 epitomizes the very best of TAD.
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Photo of the Day: the Dan Clark Audio Stealth Headphone in Repose
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An Interview with the New Pass Labs President, Anastasia Protopappas
Like corporate golf outings, the hi-fi consumer audio industry has remained one of the last vestiges of a boy’s club, however in this present age, that’s slowly changing. And as with Fortune 500 companies, that's beginning to impact its leadership. For the first time on January 1, 2023, female CEOs broke the 10 percent barrier in terms of Fortune 500 CEOs; historically, it’s hovered around eight percent (Shrm.org). And in a 2021 survey of 70 music companies, 13.9 percent of the Presidents, CEOs, and chairs were women (annenberg.usc.edu).
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Photo of the Day: a Flashback to an Earlier System
Here's a photo from an earlier iteration of my reference system a handful of years ago, in our former home.
Trinnov Audio to Introduce WaveForming at CEDIA Expo
Paris, France and East Hampton, Connecticut, USA, August 15, 2023 -- Trinnov Audio, the market leader in the design and manufacture of reference audio processors for home theaters, high-end hi-fi, professional audio and commercial cinemas, is pleased to announce the first U.S. demonstration of its breakthrough WaveFormingTM technology at CEDIA Expo 2023.
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Taliesin Wisconsin: An Architectural Gem in Wisconsin’s Wilderness
If you enjoy lushly-treed hills, valleys, and hidden architectural gems–and you don’t mind a drive–the Taliesin Wisconsin might just be the thing for you! A National Historic Landmark tucked away near Spring Green, Wisconsin, it’s roughly a 3 ½ hour ride from downtown Chicago. The 800 acre estate features Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature 37,000 square foot house, and architectural school. The Taliesin Preservation that oversees it offers several tour packages, some including buildings by Wright from just about every decade of his career extending from the 1890s to the 1950s.
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Qobuz’ David Solomon to participate in “Trends In High-Performance Audio” panel - Saturday 8/5, 2 pm
Qobuz, the music lover's go-to Hi-Res music streaming and download platform, will be the official streaming partner of this year’s Audio Advice Live, the premier audio and video experience (August 4-6, 2023 in Raleigh, NC). At this year’s event, Qobuz will participate in a special panel focused on the latest trends in high-resolution audio, the latest advancements in high-performance loudspeaker technology, and the ways in which these developments are affecting the high-end audio landscape.
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TAD Labs Introduces the Evolution Series TAD-C1000 Preamplifier
A stereo masterpiece that shares design language with the critically acclaimed Evolution Series
Hanover MA – Iconic Japanese audio brand, Technical Audio Devices Laboratories (TAD Labs) officially announces the TAD-C1000 preamplifier, the newest addition to its Evolution Series of hi-fi audio components. Sharing design language with existing Evolution Series components including the TAD-D1000TX disc player, TAD-DA1000TX DAC, and TAD-M1000 power amplifier, the TAD-C1000 masterfully amplifies signals from any source component without compromising accuracy and purity in signal processing, transmission, and output amplification.
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Hanover MA – Iconic Japanese audio brand, Technical Audio Devices Laboratories (TAD Labs) officially announces the TAD-C1000 preamplifier, the newest addition to its Evolution Series of hi-fi audio components. Sharing design language with existing Evolution Series components including the TAD-D1000TX disc player, TAD-DA1000TX DAC, and TAD-M1000 power amplifier, the TAD-C1000 masterfully amplifies signals from any source component without compromising accuracy and purity in signal processing, transmission, and output amplification.
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Watching the PPV Spence vs. Crawford Fight with an App -- the Perils, Thrills and Takeaways
LAS VEGAS, NV--It was five years in the making but, finally last Saturday, these two undefeated rulers of the red-hot welterweight division were set to collide. From Mike Tyson to Mario Lopez, everyone was talking about this fight. That night in Las Vegas' jam-packed T-Mobile Arena, Terrence "Bud" Crawford dominated, savaged, and stopped Errol Spence Jr. in nine rounds. In the process, three division champion Crawford become the first undisputed welterweight champion in this era of four belts by adding Spence's IBF World, WBA Super World, and WBC World Welterweight titles to his WBO World Welterweight trinket in this Showtime Pay Per View event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
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The McGary SA1E Amp – a Euphonic Experience!
I first heard the aural impact of a McGary amplifier at the Dr. Vinyl room at AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2023 held this last April at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois. Together with a Sikora turntable, DS Audio cartridge with phonostage, the McGary SPA1 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier and MA1 Vacuum Tube Monoblock amps enchanted with the music they channeled through a pair of Usher Audio ML-801 loudspeakers. Now, I own the pair of Usher ML-802s that I reviewed last year (you can read that HERE), and had reviewed that same pair of ML-801s previously, so I was familiar with their signature sound. However, hearing them with McGary amplification was an extraordinary experience!
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Photo of the Day: Martin Logan Neolith Loudspeakers at ABT Store
A Holiday Plan I Couldn't Screw Up
I've been reading this book, You Can't Screw This Up, by Adam Bornstein, a bestselling author, nutritional expert and consultant to stars like LeBron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cindy Crawford as Belle and I prepared to fly south to Tampa, Florida on holiday. Arnold Schwarzenegger had recommended it in his newsletter, "Arnold's Pump Club." Unlike the Keto Diet, Atkins and several others, Bornstein's approach was more forgiving, accommodating restaurant takeout for example, so I decided to bring it along for encouragement as we sought to have a fun, but healthy break from our daily lives.
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Seen at T.H.E. Show: Usher and Pass Labs in Katli Audio Room
I recently spotted this post by Kent English on Facebook spotlighting a special room at T.H.E. Show (The Home Entertainment Show), held in Costa Mesa, CA this past June 9th through 11, 2023.
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HifiMan Acquires Goldenwave, Debuts New Goldenwave Serenade Desktop DAC/Headphone Amplifier!
BELLMORE, NY, June 21, 2023 – HIFIMAN, a leader in high fidelity personal audio, today announced both the acquisition of a respected audio designer/manufacturer and the debut of a new DAC/headphone amplifier that takes full advantage of HIFIMAN’s acclaimed Hymalaya Pro ladder DAC.
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MUSE: Precision Audio Control On the Go!
MUSE is the new name for Roon’s sound engine and audio processing suite. And now MUSE has landed in ARC – with bold styling and sound quality never before seen or heard in a mobile music app!
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Amps, Damps, and Gramps
Although it's been largely quiet on these pages lately, it's been far from inactive at Prairie Audio headquarters. Between work, audio commitments, and time with family and wee grandchildren, it's been a whirlwind! Yes, Belle and I have been spending time when we can with the kids and grandkids, who are growing up fast! But, coming up quickly, there will be a flourish of activity popping up at Prairie Audio Man Cave, as well.
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Spring Tinkering at Prairie Audio
Transformers are massive, hypertrophied Sci-Fi action fighting robots that can morph into cars, and if they were real and played hockey, I could see them using Carbide Base Audio Isolation Feet for pucks. The Carbides are that big -- and speaking as someone who, though embarrassed, admits to watching several of their movies -- they are that space age cool. Marveling at their quality look, feel and finish fresh out of the box, I felt like a 12 year-old wanting to play with the latest Transformer toy. Only, instead of hoisting shiny Hasbro monstrosities and making whooshing noises from my lips, I am tucking Carbide footers under my Usher ML-802 loudspeakers and making marvelous music with their drivers.
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Top 10 Things to Experience at 12th AXPONA on April 14-16, 2023
SCHAUMBURG, IL, March, 2023 - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will return for the 12th edition, April 14-16. Audiophiles, music lovers, musicians and collectors will unite at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center to experience a record breaking show featuring 500 exhibitors and brands, 200+ interactive listening rooms, an expanded Expo Hall, Ear Gear Experience, Live Concerts, Seminars and much more.
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Contemplating My Current COVID Crash
By Juan C. Ayllon
As an educator, I've been dutiful in getting vaccinated, boosted and re-boosted, and after remaining unscathed for roughly a year and a half through remote and hybrid teaching models, I caught a mild dose of COVID-19. I thought I was done.
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What’s the Big To-Do About the ‘Analog Sound’ Anyways?
By Juan C. Ayllon
“Neil Young famously said years ago that digital sounded like nails being driven into his brain. And now we find out that the late Steve Jobs only listened to vinyl at home, preferring that warm old-school sound to any digital device, including the ones he helped revolutionize and change people’s listening habits forever,” Tom Schnabel wrote for KCRW, National Public Radio’s flagship Southern California station in 2012 (www.kcrw.com) He added that Jobs had been working with Young to create “a warmer, more analog sound for iPods and computers, but death cut him short.”
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I'm a Melomaniac and Didn't Know It!
By Juan C. Ayllon
This morning, I opened an email from Wordgenius.com entitled, Word of the Day: Melomaniac. It read, "Definition: A person who loves music." Clicking on the link to read more, it provided the following examples of that word used in sentences:
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My Turntable Platform Procurement Adventure
By Juan C. Ayllon
Since selling my living edge turntable isolation platform this last year, I've had a gnawing desire to find a replacement that would go better with our modern minimalist family/ A/V room.
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Usher Audio's Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary with Release of UA-50 Monitor Loudspeakers
Usher Audio was established in 1972 -- exactly 50 years ago. Now, to celebrate their success and thank their fan base, they designed and released their limited edition UA-50 speakers to commemorate this momentous event.
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Marvelous in Magnesium: The Usher ML-802 Loudspeakers
By Juan C. Ayllon
Real estate tycoon Donald Trump, 46, was honing his brand with his new book, Trump – the Art of the Deal in 1989. His 58-floor, 664 feet high (202 meters) tower on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, was the world’s tallest reinforced concrete shear wall core structure when completed in 1983, and like his helicopter, bore his name in all caps—a perfect metaphor for the 80’s, with its overblown hair, music, attitude, and art.
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Another Review Bites the Dust
By Juan C. Ayllon
Audio reviewers often get a bad rap for, amongst other things, approving anything that comes their way. Everything's wonderful, or so you'd think, based on their vast preponderance of work.
In all fairness, some reviewers (and, apparently, some periodicals) can be bought; free product and hefty advertising and/or other fees often lead to favorable reviews, I am told by close friends in the industry.
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In all fairness, some reviewers (and, apparently, some periodicals) can be bought; free product and hefty advertising and/or other fees often lead to favorable reviews, I am told by close friends in the industry.
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Polishing Our Soundstage and Other Things Heard ‘Round the Cave
By Juan C. Ayllon
Last Saturday, I was polishing an interview with Dave Malekpour, president and founder of Professional Audio Designs, for another website, and something he said has been swirling in the eddies of my mind.
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Vacation Wind Down: An Anniversary Dinner, Storms, Petting Zoo, Road Trip and Listening with Friends
It’s six in the morning on Sunday, the day after my 11th wedding anniversary, I am wide awake, and it’s little wonder.
It’s been a whirlwind year. I wrapped up summer school teaching STEM to third and fourth graders last week. I've got a pile of reviews to tackle, basement storage to sort out and, in a week and a half, I will begin my new teaching position. So, although there’s plenty to be thankful for, I’ve got a lot on my mind these last several days.
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It’s been a whirlwind year. I wrapped up summer school teaching STEM to third and fourth graders last week. I've got a pile of reviews to tackle, basement storage to sort out and, in a week and a half, I will begin my new teaching position. So, although there’s plenty to be thankful for, I’ve got a lot on my mind these last several days.
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'Speakerfest' Saturday, August 27th, 2022, at Arizona's Fountain Hills Community Center
Press Release
FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ -- The Arizona Audio/Video Club announces SpeakerFest 2022 held Saturday, August 27th, 2022, at the Fountain Hills Community Center. Located at 13001 N. La Montana Drive, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268, it is roughly a 30 minute drive from SkyHarbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona.
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It's Jumpin' in July -- Well, Sort of!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Spring has sprung, and July is jumping, and when my wife gets home, we feel like...binge watching---TV, that is!
It's good to laugh, isn't it? In light of the incomprehensible shootings in nearby Highland Park three days ago on the Fourth of July, even as we mourn, it's good to periodically distract, laugh and savor the good things in life before resuming the struggle to right wrongs and tackle hard issues in our troubled society.
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It's good to laugh, isn't it? In light of the incomprehensible shootings in nearby Highland Park three days ago on the Fourth of July, even as we mourn, it's good to periodically distract, laugh and savor the good things in life before resuming the struggle to right wrongs and tackle hard issues in our troubled society.
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My Audio Journey So Far
By Scott Enslen
As I spent time reflecting on when I got interested in listening to audio systems and where it has taken me, I have to go back to 1971. I have two older siblings, and I remember like it was yesterday: my sister bringing home Carol King’s Tapestry album and listening to it over and over again.
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Faces in the Crowd: Brandon Price and His 'Early Morning Sports Talk Podcast'
I had walked into the VIP Room at AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2022 back in April and began chatting with this delightful gentleman behind the counter who, it turned out, runs his own sports podcast.
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'Tis The Season to Unplug
By Juan C. Ayllon
With summer upon us, many have plans to get away and unplug from our harried schedules. That said, it is also a season when there’s a sharp rise in thunderstorms, hence nowadays I find myself unplugging my hi-fi from electrical outlets more often than usual.
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No Superman in the Real World or Audio
In the aftermath of boxing superstar Saul Canelo Alvarez’s May 7th upset defeat by Dmitry Bivol for the latter’s WBA Lightheavyweight World Title, I watched former trainer and boxing analyst, Teddy Atlas, expound on reasons for his loss on a YouTube video. And in the midst of his bombastic diatribe, he uttered something profound:
“There’s no Superman in real life,” he said. “No one has an ‘S’ painted on their chest.”
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“There’s no Superman in real life,” he said. “No one has an ‘S’ painted on their chest.”
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The Weekend After
By Juan C. Ayllon
SCHAUMBURG, IL – AXPONA has come and gone. Canceled two years straight due to COVID, Audio Expo North America connected hifi audio and A/V lovers with top brands in over 140 rooms at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center last weekend. And what a packed show it was!
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AXPONA Kicks Off Today!
Don't miss out on the best three days of the year with great music, exhibits, concerts, giveaways and special events. The Renaissance Schaumburg will be packed with 10 floors of audio gear including loudspeakers, amplifiers, headphones and cables. So give your ears the treat of a lifetime and join us this weekend!
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Listening and Anticipating
By Juan C. Ayllon
I don't know about you, but I am filled with anticipation. With AXPONA around the corner, upcoming speaker and equipment reviews, and the arrival of new speakers, there's a lot to look forward to in the coming days.
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A Dynamic Duo Bedroom System!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Most audio aficionados reserve their most prized equipment for a media or living room while their bedroom systems, if any, are a mere afterthought. But, not this guy!
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The Wright Stuff – Wisconsin Style
By Juan C. Ayllon
I have been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright since 1979 when, as a freshman in architecture at Iowa State University, I discovered his genius. Ultimately, I switched schools and majors several times over, ending up a writer and educator instead. However, my admiration for this master architect has never left me.
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Heard Round the Cave: AV Room Piece, AvantGarde and Hello Wisconsin -- Perlisten and Madison Madness!
As a longtime fan of the TV series, That 70s Show, I feel like Ashton Kutcher’s ditzy character, Kelso, when he yells, “Hello, Wisconsin!” at the end of their theme song. I am that giddy.
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TOP 10 THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN PERSON AT 11th ANNUAL AXPONA, APRIL 22-24
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will return for the 11th edition - April 22-24. Audiophiles, music lovers, musicians and collectors will unite at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center to experience 500 exhibitors and brands,130+ interactive listening rooms, an expanded Expo Hall, Ear Gear Experience, Live Concerts, Seminars and much more, Add these 10 “must-do’s” to your agenda to experience the best of AXPONA 2022:
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Radio Silence…for the Moment
By Juan C. Ayllon
It’s been uncharacteristically quiet around The Cave the last week, but it’s not for lack of activity.
Belle returned from Florida last Thursday, so we’ve been catching up, binge watching a few shows, and taking long walks with the dog. I’ve been chipping away at a piece for another online journal on our basement transformation.
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Belle returned from Florida last Thursday, so we’ve been catching up, binge watching a few shows, and taking long walks with the dog. I’ve been chipping away at a piece for another online journal on our basement transformation.
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AXPONA Just 5 Weeks Away!
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- There’s so much to see and hear at AXPONA 2022! Experience thousands of products including loudspeakers, audio components, vinyl and headphones, all in one place. Reconnect with friends and the community that share your love for all things audio!
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Anticipating the Arrival of My New Usher ML-802s
By Juan C. Ayllon
There’s something special about discovering a sublime, to-die-for audio component that excites you, wringing your hands with the pros and cons, placing the order, and awaiting its arrival.
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Photo of the Day: Chillin' at Prairie Audio on a Saturday Night
Several weeks ago, Juan Ayllon snapped this photo of Belle chatting with her mother on her cell phone while watching a show on a Saturday night.
Coming to Prairie Audio Soon: The Usher Audio ML-801 Loudspeakers!
The new Usher Audio ML-801 Loudspeakers are slated to arrive at Prairie Audio Man Cave's listening/AV room in the next several weeks.
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Speaker Placement, Toe-In Tweak Has a Startling Impact on Performance
By Juan C. Ayllon
Earlier today, my friend, Joe, dropped by to visit and listen to my two channel stereo system, however, if I thought this would merely be a show and tell, I was in for a very pleasant surprise.
With years of experience in audio sales, setting up audio shows, and sound engineer work, he suggested tweaking my speaker toe-in and positioning in the room.
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With years of experience in audio sales, setting up audio shows, and sound engineer work, he suggested tweaking my speaker toe-in and positioning in the room.
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‘Green Book’ Movie Delivers a Punchy, Poignant Message and a Masterful Pianist
By Juan C. Ayllon
Last night, Belle and I watched a movie she’d saved on our Hulu Live app. Produced by Peter Farrelli in 2018, the premise behind Green Book seems entertaining enough: Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, a bouncer from the Copacabana nightclub in New York City serves as driver and bodyguard to a classical and jazz pianist on a tour of the deep south in 1962.
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It's Wartime in Ukraine
By Juan C. Ayllon
“She woke up to (the sound of) bombs,” said Eddie, a senior student at Moody Bible Institute. Interviewed on the Karl and Crew Mornings Moody Radio broadcast in Chicago this morning, this young expatriate described his mother’s friend’s experience this morning in Ukraine.
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Reza’s Restaurant Instagram Posting Sparks Poignant Memories
By Juan C. Ayllon
Recently, I was thumbing through the Instagram feed on my iPhone when I spotted a posting by Chicago’s hip Mediterranean eatery, Reza’s Restaurant, showcasing some of their specialties, including their herb flatbread, hummus, shishliek (charbroiled filet mignon shish kabob), beef koubideh (ground sirloin kabob), boneless chicken kabob and dill rice (basmati rice with dill and lima beans).
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A Boon to My System: Herbie's Audio Labs Extra Thick Titanium Cone/Spike Puckies
By Juan C. Ayllon
Details matter -- even the little ones -- and yet, sometimes, in dealing with the day-in and day-out battles with the urgent, it's so easy to overlook and forget them.
Several years back, I had heard about Herbie's Audio Lab Cone/Spike Puckies, as well as their Cone/Spike Gliders, and was anxious to try them out.
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Several years back, I had heard about Herbie's Audio Lab Cone/Spike Puckies, as well as their Cone/Spike Gliders, and was anxious to try them out.
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A Short Tale About a Vinyl Reboot and the Soup Nazi in Lake County
By Juan C. Ayllon
Like many Baby Boomers, I enjoyed the TV sitcom, Seinfeld, as well as one of its offbeat characters, the “Soup Nazi”, a gifted, but volatile restauranteur renowned for dismissing clients who violated his strict soupline rules with the quip, “No soup for you!” Brilliant in his niche, his lack of people skills came to mind yesterday on several levels.
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Slow Down
By Juan C. Ayllon
We’ve all been there. Making good time on my morning commute, I was excited about sipping coffee while getting extra work done, however, just as I approached my turnoff, a large yellow school bus sauntered into my lane and turned on its left turn signal.
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Reflections from the New Cave -- Balance, Compromise and Perspective Key to Long Term Happiness
By Juan C. Ayllon
My late grandmother Doughty once said that life is about cycles; it’s about a long journey with its ebbs and flow, peaks and valleys, and the wise learn to savor the joys and make peace with its difficulties. And in this season, I find myself more acutely aware of life’s precious and fleeting nature. My mother, in her eighties, though mentally sharp, relies on a cane and a walker to augment unsteady steps.
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Buco EAW Speakers, SLS Arrays, Mixing Boards, Lighting and More Tantalize in Pro Audio Liquidation Sale
By Juan C. Ayllon
COVID has taken a huge toll on businesses worldwide, and pro audio shows and support concerns certainly were no exception. Barreling down a country road in northeast Illinois yesterday, I spotted a sign announcing a "Pro Audio Liquidation Sale." With my experience in church sound booths and DJ'ing, this grabbed my attention, so I pulled over to this warehouse on the outskirts of Antioch, IL. I was not disappointed.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Canelo Defeats Plant, Becomes First Undisputed Super Middleweight Champ at Sold-Out MGM Grand
LAS VEGAS, November 6, 2021 –- Saul “Canelo” Álvarez, boxing’s biggest superstar and consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, made history by becoming the first Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion when he stopped IBF champion Caleb Plant Saturday night live on SHOWTIME PPV in front of 16,586 screaming fans at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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System in Storage? Headphones May Offer a Temporary Fix
By Juan C. Ayllon
I have been both excited and dreading this time. Our village permit was approved, and our carpenter has began setup for framing and drywall installation for our basement refinishing project. That's where my listening room resides, and once it's finished, it should be sounding and looking better than ever, but for now, my system sits cloistered in storage -- and will remain so for the better part of two months. And that's a challenge for me.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Oscar De La Hoya Down But Not Out vs. COVID-19
By Juan C. Ayllon
Despite the naysayers, COVID-19 is a formidable adversary that doesn't discriminate, and one of its latest victims is all-time great boxer, Oscar De La Hoya, who was set to fight again next Saturday. A partner of Golden Boy Promotions at 47, he was to face Brazilian Vitor Belfort, 44, a former boxer and Mixed Martial Artist with an an MMA record of 26 wins (18 knockouts), 14 losses and one no contest.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Oscar De La Hoya Rocks Open Workout in Preparation for Showdown vs. Vitor Belfort
LOS ANGELES, CA, August 25, 2021 -- Boxing Legend, ‘The Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya, hit the XBOX Plaza at LA LIVE on Tuesday evening, August 24 to host an open workout for a huge crowd of adoring fans and a massive contingent of local and international media. Looking in exceptional form, De La Hoya worked the mitts for the cheering crowd and brought a couple fans into the ring to join him during the entertaining event.
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Kenton's Quarters Shine, Provide Lovely Backdrop for Chicago Audio Society Meeting
By Juan C. Ayllon
The Waze app is generally reliable, but after it announced I'd arrived, parked outside an iron gated estate at the end of a winding road several digits shy of my destination in the northeastern Illinois sticks, I am forced to thumb through emails on my iPhone to find the invitation's detailed directions. Several minutes later, I pull up to the correct address and, walking in, am greeted by hellos, handshakes and a full-bodied and detailed-rich aural experience.
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Quest to Build New Listening Room Takes a Musical Twist
By Juan C. Ayllon
Traditionally in America, when you retire, you downsize your home, simplify, slow down, maybe take a part-time job, settle into a hobby like golf, and indulge in nostalgia.
In keeping with the script, having recently retired as an educator in Illinois, I recently sold our home and together with Belle, moved into a smaller one. That said, I still have a lot left in the tank and have set a goal of working another 10 years full-time, but otherwise, I am pretty much on target with the norm.
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In keeping with the script, having recently retired as an educator in Illinois, I recently sold our home and together with Belle, moved into a smaller one. That said, I still have a lot left in the tank and have set a goal of working another 10 years full-time, but otherwise, I am pretty much on target with the norm.
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Budget Tip: Old Receiver and Speakers May Suit Your Living Room TV Just Fine
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Do you have boombox speakers and an old receiver in storage, awaiting donation or purging some day? If so, you just may find them handy!
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Designing My New Basement Listening and A/V Space
By Juan C. Ayllon
I was excited about building my new listening space. I had the ideal dimensions. I had a plan. I even marked off some tentative new wall boundaries in blue tape on the basement's unfinished cement floor. And then, following an innocuous conversation between Belle and our adult daughter, Colleen, they were scuttled.
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Transitions: Listening in a New Makeshift Cave
By Juan C. Ayllon
Two weeks ago, Belle and I downsized, selling our former home and moving into a smaller one. Now, we had agreed to complete the unfinished basement (where my listening space goes), however, with construction costs inflated by the real estate craze, we suspected that our plans may be delayed for a long while.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Oscar De La Hoya, Boxing’s Own 'Golden Boy', Returns to Fight Vitor Belfort Saturday, Sept. 11 at L.A.'s Staple Center
Kick Off Press Conference Tuesday, July 27, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA -- ‘The Golden Boy’, Boxing Legend Oscar De La Hoya of East Los Angeles, CA will face former UFC Superstar, Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, September 11 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA and broadcast globally on FITE.TV, and through all leading Cable, Satellite and Telco Providers in the U.S. and Canada via iNDemand, it was announced today by Triller Fight Club. The event will be a professional boxing bout, not an exhibition, testing the fighting skills and will of these two greats in combat sports history, competing in the light heavyweight division in a scheduled eight-round bout.
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Ascendo Introduces CCRM15 Coaxial Cinema Monitors
15” Point Source Axi-symmetrical Speaker Now Available in Beryllium with Passive and Active Versions
PORTLAND, OR - July 27, 2021 - SUTHERLAND AV MARKETING, owned by industry veteran Todd Sutherland, today announced that Ascendo Immersive Audio has introduced four versions of the much-anticipated CCRM15 speaker systems, now available in passive and powered active models and with Titanium or Beryllium drivers.
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Beans on Toast for Breakfast -- What's Next?
By Juan C. Ayllon
This morning I ate beans and toast for the first time in my life. Honestly, I thought it sounded awful, but at Belle's insistence, I caved and tried out what she claimed is a staple breakfast dish in Ireland.
"My kids loved it growing up," she said, and to back up the veracity of her statement, she texted me a screenshot of an online recipe for beans on toast. It actually wasn't half bad, and savoring the experience, I wondered what other delights I might explore in the coming seasons.
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"My kids loved it growing up," she said, and to back up the veracity of her statement, she texted me a screenshot of an online recipe for beans on toast. It actually wasn't half bad, and savoring the experience, I wondered what other delights I might explore in the coming seasons.
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Roon Labs Celebrates a Huge Expansion of Its Audio Device Ecosystem
The cadence of new Roon Ready certifications has increased tenfold since the start of the pandemic. In 2020, just a handful of new products were certified each month, and in the first half of this year Roon Labs is already announcing over 100 new Roon Ready and Roon Tested devices. Forty new brands have submitted products for certification in that timeframe. This includes key product ranges and new launches from notable audio manufacturers, including Arcam, Astell & Kern, Cambridge Audio, and JBL.
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Lifestyle & Sport: Photo of the Day: Pacquiao Trains for Showdown with Spence
Returning after a Long Overdue Break
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you're like me, the last year has been a whirlwind. On my end, I just wrapped up a 20 year career teaching in Illinois public schools, commenced a new job search, interviewed, fielded several job offers, explored downsizing, and accepted a new art teaching position just across the Illinois-Wisconsin state border. It was time for a break!
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Spring Tinkering with Room Aesthetics
By Juan C. Ayllon
For many, coming out of a long, cold winter's thaw, springtime is a great time to spruce things up and make some fresh, new changes. And, for our household, we're no different.
Last year, we shoveled truckloads of river rock around several sides of our home, repainted our deck and replaced our living room furniture, and now, in our ongoing efforts to make our home more comfy, Belle and I are redecorating and simplifying our family room (which serves as our listening and media space) in search of a cleaner, more modern aesthetic.
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Last year, we shoveled truckloads of river rock around several sides of our home, repainted our deck and replaced our living room furniture, and now, in our ongoing efforts to make our home more comfy, Belle and I are redecorating and simplifying our family room (which serves as our listening and media space) in search of a cleaner, more modern aesthetic.
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Systems in the Crowd: Thurston's Bastanis Mandela Speakers Setup
Check out Thurston's Bastanis Mandela speaker setup HERE.
The Lumin T2 Network Player Review -- An Audiophile Trophy for Your Living Room
By Juan C. Ayllon
In the fall of 2010, I was sitting in the Chicago Loop office of Phillip Saville, partner at New York Jewelers, designing a wedding ring for my upcoming engagement to Belle, when I glanced up and there it was: resplendent in red, the actual nose of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F1 race car mounted on the wall! Despite the lack of utility, I just wanted one. Bad.
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LIFETONES: Watch an Amazing Recreation of the 'Top Gun Maverick' Movie Trailer in LEGOS!
Click HERE to see this amazingly creative remake of a movie trailer in LEGOS.
LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Brandon Adams Scores Sensational Upset, Stopping Undefeated Serhii Bohanchuk!
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, March 4, 2021 – Former world title challenger Brandon Adams scored the biggest win of his career with a stunning eighth-round technical knockout to upset blue-chip rising star Serhii Bohachuk in the main event of Ring City USA’s inaugural 2021 event from Felix Pagan Pintor Gym in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and live on NBC Sports Network.
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Why I am Returning to Solid State
By Juan C. Ayllon
For some years, I volunteered as a sound engineer at church, where I was trained to adjust numerous settings, gain, and sliders to avoid clipping and yield a mix that best served our worship experience. Although one volunteer who'd toured with bands professionally preferred harder-edged mixes, for most working the sound board, the more natural sounding, the better. We often made EQ adjustments at various frequencies--attenuating this and enhancing that--to achieve that desired result, often ferreting out unexpected distortions on the fly. The crisp impact on the snare drum, the full-bodied thump of the toms, the rich timbre of the vocals, a full lower end, and the strummed acoustic guitar and their levels relative to one another were often key points of interest. With lead singers, we boosted effects, adding the warmth and resonance of a large cathedral, but muted them during spoken passages.
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'Fruit of the Loom' -- Straight Wire Delivers a Real-World Reference System
By Anthony Chiarella
My first high-end system was held together with Straight Wire. After college, once I’d landed my first gig on Wall Street, I immediately maxed-out my credit cards and bought a DB Systems’ Preamp and Monoblock amplifiers, Rogers LS-6 Loudspeakers with matching stands and for cables, a pair of Straight Wire Teflon 12 Speaker Cable and LSI Interconnect. I had that system for half a decade and still recall how sweet it sounded.
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Great News! The Pass Labs X250.8 Review Releasing This Week and the Lumin T2 Network Player, the Ayre QB-9 Twenty and More Coming Soon!
EVEN as a deep cold envelops the Chicagoland area, we are staying busy and warm, electing to remain indoors as much as possible,
One of the benefits to our readers is that my review of the Pass Labs X250.8 is currently being edited and, awaiting some final comments from Nelson Pass before being released this week. The piece includes a surprisingly candid interview with him, along with a number of papers he submitted that include schematics! Honestly, I was blown away by that, as well as his comment in an email, "Great review," when he saw a draft I sent to him and his publicist. The piece will appear at Positive Feedback.
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One of the benefits to our readers is that my review of the Pass Labs X250.8 is currently being edited and, awaiting some final comments from Nelson Pass before being released this week. The piece includes a surprisingly candid interview with him, along with a number of papers he submitted that include schematics! Honestly, I was blown away by that, as well as his comment in an email, "Great review," when he saw a draft I sent to him and his publicist. The piece will appear at Positive Feedback.
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New Reviews & Experiences in Trying Times
By Juan C. Ayllon
The near coup at Washington D.C. courtesy of Trump and extremists; 4,000 dead in the U.S. yesterday courtesy of COVID-19, making it the highest death toll in one day; struggling businesses and families with the economic turmoil created by this pandemic; and people of all ages struggling with increased isolation -- these are crazy times. And, so, we process, then turn to our comforting distractions which, for many of us, has a large dose of audio indulgence.
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Photo of the Day: Belle's French Toast Brunch Fuels High Octane Binge Watch
By Juan C. Ayllon
Some Fresh Looks Coming Up at the Man Cave
By Juan C. Ayllon
Christmas and the winter holidays are fast approaching, and with the uncharacteristic decline in social gathering, shopping and other public activities due to COVID concerns, this translates to more time spent at home than usual. Here at Prairie Audio, that means remote teaching, an online Spanish class, lifting weights in the basement, binge-watching with Belle, tying-off some reviews, preparing for others, and shaking things up in the equipment rack.
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Newsflash: Heeding a Chirping CO Detector May Avert Disaster
By Juan C. Ayllon
With the winter holidays, COVID-19, and the myriad of distractions of living in our 21st Century post modern world, it's easy to disregard seemingly inconsequential warnings that, left unheeded, could prove more costly or disastrous than we'd ever imagine.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: In an 'I AM Athlete' Podcast, Former Heavyweight Champ Evander Holyfield Says He Should be Facing Mike Tyson Tonight and Not Roy Jones Jr.
MIAMI, FL -- In an exclusive interview on the I Am Athlete podcast, former undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield tells host Brandon Marshall it should be him facing fellow great Mike Tyson this weekend, and not Roy Jones Jr.
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New Mac Mini with M1 Chip Up to 3 Times Faster CPU Time to Hit Market Nov. 17th
Often used by audiophiles as their music server, now the latest iteration of the Mac Mini now boasts their new M1 chip that promises to boost CPU speed up to three times faster than previous models.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: George Kambosos Jr. Ready for World Title Challenge vs. 135 Lb. King Teofimo Lopez
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- ‘Ferocious’ George Kambosos Jr., (19-0, 10 KOs), lived up to his brash confidence winning a 12-round decision over Lee Selby, (28-3, 9 KOs), this past Saturday night, October 31 at the Wembley Arena in London, England. With the dominant victory, Kambosos became the IBF Mandatory Challenger to 135lb. Undisputed World Champion Teofimo Lopez.
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Vienna Acoustics Rolls Out the New Beethoven Baby Grand Speakers
The new Beethoven Baby Grand Reference loudspeakers are the culmination of a three year effort by founder and designer Peter Gansterer to deliver the most life-like musical performance with convincing scale from a relatively compact enclosure.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Tito Mercado's Journey to the Gold
POMONA, CA, October 28, 2020 -- Forgoing the start of his professional career, 18-year-old amateur standout Tito Mercado of Pomona, CA has elected to seek the Gold Medal at the 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, it was announced today.
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: 'Toe the Line 2' Bare Knuckle Event This Friday, October 16 in Plant City, FL
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- ‘Toe The Line’ presents another action-packed bare knuckle event This Friday, October 16 from the White Sands Fitness Center in Plant City, FL. Advance tickets starting at $55 can be purchased through EventBrite. The White Sands Fitness Center is located at 2011 N. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. EDT with the first bell at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
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Listening -- a Joy to Pass Onto the Generations
By Juan C. Ayllon
Listening to great music on high fidelity equipment is a sublime pleasure in and of itself -- of this there is no doubt. Quiet moments alone in the morning, late night listening sessions or simply playing in the background while working remotely from home -- it's all good.
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Bluebird Music to Distribute Weiss DACs in U.S. and Canada
BUFFALO, NY -- Bluebird Music, distributor of high-performance audio products since 2000, is pleased to announce their appointment as US and Canadian distributor of products from Weiss Engineering, a leader in digital audio technology for 35 years. Weiss will be the seventh brand distributed by Bluebird, joining AVM (Audio Video Manufaktur) electronics, Jadis vacuum tube electronics, SME tonearms and turntables, Questyle personal audio products, and loudspeakers from Vienna Acoustics and Spendor.
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Hi-Res Re-Issues on Qobuz include 'The Replacements', Linkin Park and 'The Doors'
Rediscover The Replacements, Linkin Park, and The Doors in deluxe reissues and check out Rory Gallagher’s catalog, available in Hi-Res for the first time! Don't miss this week's new music from Metz, John Lennon, Carla Bruni, Yo La Tengo, Brothers Osborne and much more.
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Lachy Doley Announces Free Live Stream This Friday Night and Saturday
Lachy Doley has just announced a free live stream show to be broadcast live on Friday, 6:00 PM to 4:00 AM (Pacific Time) or Saturday at 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Australian EDT).
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Unified Welterweight World Welterweight Champion, Errol Spence Jr., Faces 2-Division Champ, Danny Garcia, in Headline Fox Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Bout Saturday, Dec. 5th
ARLINGTON, TX -- Unified welterweight world champion Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr. will duel two-division world champion Danny "Swift" Garcia in the blockbuster main event of a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Saturday, December 5 with fans in attendance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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Goodbye, Mr. Van Halen
By Juan C. Ayllon
No doubt, you've heard the news: yesterday, Eddie Van Halen passed away. In an era characterized by the brash and bold -- big hair, oversized art, a tycoon trumping sensibilities with his name plastered large on books, buildings and helicopters, and electric guitar riffs driving Top 40 hits, he was an icon. His solo on Michael Jackson's mega hit, "Beat It", cemented his legacy with the mainstream crowd in the early 80s, and he'd go on to greater heights in the coming years with albums such as For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in 1991.
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A Tip of the Hat to National CD Player Day
Take a peak at our photo of the day celebrating National CD Player Day HERE.
Zesto Announces New ESP Supply Upgrade to 3 Preamp Models
THOUSAND OAKS, CA, September 16, 2020 -- Zesto Audio is pleased to announce their new product upgrade, the Energy Source Power Supply, named the ESP Supply available on three of their preamplifiers, the Andros II Phonostage, the Andros Deluxe II Phonostage and the Leto Ultra II Preamplifier.
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'In the Ring With Jack Dempsey – Part I: The Making of a Champion' a Thorough Account of the 'Manassa Mauler'
In the Ring With Jack Dempsey – Part I: The Making of a Champion, by Adam J. Pollack is the most thorough and detailed book ever written about former world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. This book (the first of two) chronicles Dempsey’s life and career from its start up to his winning the world heavyweight championship, fight by fight, as told by those who saw the contests and reported on them at the time, utilizing multiple local next-day newspaper reports. This includes training, predictions, pre-fight hype, and discussions about the opponents.
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Undefeated Knockout Artist Serhii ‘El World Ranked KO Artist Serhii Bohachuk to Battle Again This Friday, Sept. 25th
LOS ANGELES, September 21, 2020 -- Undefeated Knockout Artist Serhii ‘El Flaco’ Bohachuk, (17-0, 17 KOs), returns to battle on Friday, September 25 defending his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Title against once-beaten Mexican veteran Alejandro ‘Pajaro’ Davila, (21-1-2, 8 KOs), in the ten-round main event from the Grupo SIPSE TV Studios in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
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A Little House Music Playing with the Pass Labs XP-12 & X-250.8
Check out a little after work House music jam session courtesy of the Pass Labs XP-12 preamp and X-250.8 amp HERE. It's pretty impressive!
Are You a Clicker, a Flipper, or a Day Tripper?
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Open grasslands, barns, clusters of cows and fields boasting quarter mile long pivot irrigation pipes off I-80 whizzed by as we drove from Chicagoland to Iowa City to visit Belle's son, Ryan, a senior at the University of Iowa. We'd only been dating a few months and I thought this was the perfect chance to show support and get to know her better. Turns out, the drive was a more revealing than I'd anticipated.
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'Toe the Line' Bare Knuckle Event Saturday, Sept. 26 in Tunica, MS
Press Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 16, 2020 -- ‘Toe The Line’ presents an action-packed bare knuckle event on Saturday, September 26 from the Tunica Arena and Expo Center in Tunica, MS. Advance tickets starting at $40 can be purchased through EventBrite. The Tunica Arena and Expo Center is located at 3873 Highway 61N, Tunica, MS 38676. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. CST with the first bell at 7:00 p.m. CST.
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Striking a Balance Between Form and Functionality
By Juan C. Ayllon
When you step into a Ferrari dealership, you're not shopping for reliable transportation, but a glimmering aluminum, steel and carbon missile that corners like a Grand Prix racer and wows you with its eye-popping, Italian designer looks. When you dine at a five star restaurant, you don't expect basic nutritional roughage that smells and tastes good, you want sublime flavors, textures and a lovely presentation served up in gorgeous environs. And when you are looking to buy relatively expensive audiophile gear, you don't want it to look like they were pulled from someone's Do-It-Yourself workshop, cobbled together with stringy wire, alligator clips and exposed circuits atop breadboards,
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: BKFC-13 Announced for Saturday, Oct. 10 from Salina Kansas
PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 9, 2020 -- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, (‘BKFC’), The World’s Fastest Growing Sport, presents BKFC-13 on Saturday, October 10 from Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina, KS and broadcast live exclusively on the Bare Knuckle TV App.
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Experimenting with Front Wall Panels for First Order Reflections
By Juan C. Ayllon
As some of you know, I recently replaced my center front wall acoustic diffuser panel with an absorption one made of rigid, 1" thick Owens Corning 703 fiberglass insulation (a local custom starlit acoustic cloud installer sold me some inexpensively) , and the results were very satisfying -- a deeper soundstage that Belle and I both noticed immediately whether listening to music or watching an HD movie.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: A Journey from Boeing Propulsion Engineer to NASA Astronaut
For audio enthusiasts, there's an invisible line separating engineers and scientists from the typical lay person, creating some tension in their ranks and leading some to say, "You really don't need to be a rocket scientist to know something and enjoy this hobby!"
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Hear Blues Rock Hammond B-3 Player Lachy Dooly's Dynamic New Release, 'Voodoo Child'
Lachy Doley is a premier Australian Blues Soul Rock Organ Player of note. A zany player with a unique use of a whammy bar on his organ that makes him sound like a lead guitarist at times, together with his group, Doley has played over 300 shows and festivals around the world since the first release in 2011. You can hear his latest in the Youtube file above and hear firsthand what the clamoring is all about. Enjoy!
Let's Make Art, Not War
By Juan C. Ayllon
KENOSHA, WI -- "Make Love, Not War" was a popular anti-Vietnam War slogan in the 1960s and in light of recent protests, looting and violence across the U.S., artwork that sprang up over boarded-up stores, commercial buildings and churches in downtown Kenosha suggests another spin on it -- make art, not war!
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: This Wednesday, Paige Vanzant Visits Philadelphia to Announce Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Partnering with the Travis Manion Foundation
Press Release
PHILADEPHIA, PA, August 31, 2020 -- This Wednesday, September 2, Combat Sports Superstar Paige VanZant will visit Philadelphia, PA to formally announce the partnership between Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), the world’s fastest growing sport and the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF). Two media events are planned for this announcement; at 9:00 a.m. EDT at the Freedom Square in Doylestown, PA and at 1:00 p.m. EDT on the ‘Rocky Steps’ of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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Have a Laugh, Breathe, and Enjoy
By Juan C. Ayllon
Sometimes, I can be a real knucklehead. But, can't we all?
Recently, I received shipment of heavy equipment strapped down on a wooden pallet. Working from home, I was dressed in a Polo shirt, shorts and sandals, and it occurred to me that it just might be a good idea to put on some solid shoes, but I dismissed it. Keeping one foot on a wheel, I tucked the ledge of my hand truck under one end, lifted and began rolling it forward.
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Recently, I received shipment of heavy equipment strapped down on a wooden pallet. Working from home, I was dressed in a Polo shirt, shorts and sandals, and it occurred to me that it just might be a good idea to put on some solid shoes, but I dismissed it. Keeping one foot on a wheel, I tucked the ledge of my hand truck under one end, lifted and began rolling it forward.
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Nelson Pass Introduces First Watt's F8 Power Amp, Successor to the Venerable J2
AUBURN, CA, August 10, 2020 -- The new First Watt F8 power amplifier has been created as an updated version of the earlier J2 amplifier, introduced in 2009.
Like all First Watt designs, it is a relatively low power [25W/channel into 8-ohms] simple Class A circuit, designed with an unusually low parts count. It is the 21st product from First Watt, since its founding in 1998 by the acclaimed amplifier designer and founder of Pass Labs, Nelson Pass, who treated First Watt as his “personal laboratory.”
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Like all First Watt designs, it is a relatively low power [25W/channel into 8-ohms] simple Class A circuit, designed with an unusually low parts count. It is the 21st product from First Watt, since its founding in 1998 by the acclaimed amplifier designer and founder of Pass Labs, Nelson Pass, who treated First Watt as his “personal laboratory.”
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Catch Kurt Elling Live Broadcast from Chicago's Green Mill Aug. 28 & 29
Click HERE for more information.
Unpacking Some Exciting Reviews in the Upcoming Months
By Juan C. Ayllon
The next season promises to be an exciting bustle around the cave, as we prepare for another round of reviews.
The pipeline includes The Torus Power AVR-2 ELITE 20 Power Isolation Transformer, the Pass Labs X-250.8 amplifier, Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier, and Pass Labs XP-17 phono stage.
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The pipeline includes The Torus Power AVR-2 ELITE 20 Power Isolation Transformer, the Pass Labs X-250.8 amplifier, Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier, and Pass Labs XP-17 phono stage.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: BKFC 12 Announced for Friday, Sept. 11 in Daytona Beach, FL!
PHILADELPHIA, PA, August 26, 2020 -- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (‘BKFC’), the world’s fastest growing sport, will mark its fourth appearance in Florida on Friday, September 11 with BKFC-12 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach and broadcast live exclusively on the Bare Knuckle TV App. Tickets, starting at $35 are Now On-Sale through BareKnuckle.TV. The Ocean Center is located at 101 N. Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach. For more information please visit their website at www.OceanCenter.com.
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: RSVP to Join Us at This Year’s Crusade
Press Release
Do you miss going out on the weekends? Concerts, Sunday church, and movies are just a few of the things that were closed due to COVID-19. For us, it went a step further into canceling this year’s SoCal Crusade. But with optimism and a whole lot of help, we have been able to bring the crusade experience to you!
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LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Highlights from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship S. Florida Press Conference
COCONUT GROVE, FLA, August 19, 2020 -- In front of a packed house on Tuesday afternoon of local media at American Top Team in Coconut Grove, FL, Dave Feldman, President of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) held court for a South Florida Press Conference. Also on hand were Former UFC Superstar Paige VanZant, 14-Year UFC Contender Thiago Alves and Former UFC Contender Hector Lombard.
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Another Storm Bites the Dust
By Juan C. Ayllon
The severe weather warnings were ominous: threats of severe storms bearing winds up to 100 miles per hour were racing towards Chicago and, moreover, out west in Iowa, some cars were flipped over on I-30. At the time, Belle, our Goldendoodle, Liam and I were watching an HD movie in the basement when our cell phones alerted us to a tornado warning for our area until 5:45 PM. Moments later, our power went out. Peaking through the blinders at the back of the room, we saw tree branches whipping in the strong wind.
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: A Look Back at a Sportsman's Life Well-Lived
By Austin Killeen
It has come to our attention that former 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist, professional boxer and Massachusetts Boxing Commissioner passed away at age 81 on August 6, 2020. In honor of this extraordinary man, we are share a look into his life written by Austin Killeen at the Cyber Boxing Zone on May 13, 2009.
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'Inheritance' a Terrific Thriller and First Rate Entertainment
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you want to enjoy a contemporary, well-crafted thriller, look no further than Inheritance.
Starring Patrick Warburton (who played Putty on Seinfeld) as Archer Monroe, the patriarch of a wealthy and influential family who passes from an apparent heart attack, his Manhattan District attorney daughter, Lauren (played by Lily Collins), discovers that he has a secret prisoner, "Morgan" (Simon Pegg), chained in an underground lair following the funeral and reading of the will. Things go from dicey to dark -- and worse -- in quick succession.
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Starring Patrick Warburton (who played Putty on Seinfeld) as Archer Monroe, the patriarch of a wealthy and influential family who passes from an apparent heart attack, his Manhattan District attorney daughter, Lauren (played by Lily Collins), discovers that he has a secret prisoner, "Morgan" (Simon Pegg), chained in an underground lair following the funeral and reading of the will. Things go from dicey to dark -- and worse -- in quick succession.
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Report on Straight Wire and Specialty AV Cable Factory Tour Now Up at Positive Feedback!
By Juan C. Ayllon
As promised several weeks ago, my report on a tour of Straight Wire, Inc. and a specialty AV cable factory with Steven Hill, Straight Wire's president, is now up at Positive Feedback. Having been an avid user of Straight Wire for some years and running a loom of their cables in my reference system, I found it both gratifying and edifying seeing how their products, as well as others, are produced.
But, don't take my word for it-- read all about it HERE!
But, don't take my word for it-- read all about it HERE!
Bass Player & Vocalist, Jim Ferguson, Sings 'Better Times'; Free Downloads of Other Versions of Song Available!
Song's Writer, Janis Ian, Offers Free Files
By Juan C. Ayllon
I first discovered Jim Ferguson in the late 90s, when I heard his song, "Another Early Autumn" (Jim Ferguson. Not Just Another Pretty Bass. A-Records, 1999) playing on National Public Radio. That song quickly became a staple of dinner music sets at weddings where I served as DJ at the time and, later, appeared in some of my audio equipment reviews (you can read my review of his collaboration with the late Mundell Lowe, Haunted Heart, HERE).
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All That Glitters
By Juan C. Ayllon
In audio, there are all sorts of marketing claims made -- some bordering on the incredible. And in evaluating such claims, audiophiles fall somewhere along a continuum that, at one end, has scientific objectivity as king (i.e., an allegiance to measurability, blind A/B testing, etc.) and a very subjective viewpoint on the other (i.e., if you hear -- or think you hear -- a difference, it's valid).
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A Fall Man Cave Cleanup in the Works?
By Juan C. Ayllon
Last year as part of our ongoing home makeover, Belle and I did some interior repainting in warmer, earthier tones. Then this last week, we revisited a sticky point of divergence: how we want our family room (i.e., my listening and home theater space, AKA the man cave) to look.
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Reflections on Recent Visit with Straight Wire, Inc.'s Steven Hill
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
HOLLYWOOD, FL -- We are sweating, sitting on a short wall separating the concrete walkway from the white sands, facing the Atlantic Ocean some 50 yards away. Clad in a baseball cap, navy tee, khaki shorts, black walking shoes, and a COVID-19 mask pulled down, teeth clenching a cigar, Straight Wire's president, Steven Hill, 63, is taking a break from our five-mile walk, fielding a business call on his cell. Formerly a North Shore high school hoops player who braved bullets and threats of bodily harm to up his game playing pickup ball against DuSable High's best on Chicago's South Side, he is hairy and thick through his torso and arms.
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An Excellent Short Movie: 'Jaco Pastorius - Bass Players You Should Know. Ep3'
The late Jaco Pastorius is one of the giants of modern jazz who cast a long shadow, influencing many after he was long gone.
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Apple's Hiked Fees on iPhone Qobuz App, a Straight Wire Cable Swap and More Heard Round the Cave
By Juan C. Ayllon
Yesterday, I cued up Cliff Richard's album, Love Songs, to airplay for my mother-in-law, Mary, on her smart TV with the Qobuz app on my iPhone. It was a selection I've often streamed for my wife, Belle; as a child in Belfast, Ireland, she often listened with her family to Sir Cliff, who went on to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1995.
"Oh, I like that," Mary said while playing a game of Trouble nearby.
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"Oh, I like that," Mary said while playing a game of Trouble nearby.
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Response to 'Margins and Making Room for Life' Blog Post
By Bess D. Ayllon
EDITOR'S NOTE: As some of you read in my recent piece, 'Margins--Making Room for Life', my mother, Bess Ayllon, underwent heart surgery a few days ago (if you haven't read it, you can see it HERE). Thankfully, her operation was a success, she's doing much better now in her hospital room, and should be returning home in the next several days.
Mom liked my post and texted me a fascinating response that I thought some might want to read, as well. So, with her permission, I attached it as a post-script to my "Margins" post and am sharing it below.
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Mom liked my post and texted me a fascinating response that I thought some might want to read, as well. So, with her permission, I attached it as a post-script to my "Margins" post and am sharing it below.
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: From the CBZ Files -- Touching Gloves with Joey Ruiz
By Daniel Hanley
Back in the mid-’80s, while working as an amateur boxing judge, I spotted a kid at a show whom I had been hearing about professionally. Dressed in a white blazer and looking like an Hispanic version of Sonny Crockett – hey, it was the ’80s – I found him very forthcoming on his career to date.
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Margins and Making Room For Life
By Juan C. Ayllon
I am tense but trying not to be. Seated in a hospital room in a light ochre modern rocker, with its tan walls, beige Stryker hospital bed, wires, charts, serene lake metal-framed print, the light green privacy curtain pulled back with a lustrous, faux oak flooring below, I am overcome with the large institutional vibe, the low drone of whooshing forced air, muted chatter from a nurse's station, electronic beeps, the closing of heavy, metal doors and passersby clad in blue scrubs, some pushing heavy equipment, marking the time. I am waiting for my mother, Bess Ayllon, to be wheeled in following a successful trans-catheter mitral valve replacement.
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Essential Albums from The Rolling Stones Available Now in Hi Res on Qobuz
The Rolling Stones' essential albums are available now for the first time in Hi-Res! Check them out below along with other notable releases, playlists, panoramas, and a special download sale.
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Peter Kahn's Fight Game Advisors Sign Heralded Super Featherweight Prospect Demichael Harris
MIAMI BEACH, FL, June 29, 2020 -- Peter Kahn’s Fight Game Advisors has announced the signing of heralded super featherweight prospect DeMichael Harris, 3-0, 3 KOs), of Atlanta, Georgia.
Said Peter Kahn, "I am very excited to be working with DeMichael Harris. DeMichael has the physical attributes, natural power, work ethic and mindset to be very competitive in the super featherweight division. He has a strong and hungry team behind him which is a perfect recipe for success."
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Said Peter Kahn, "I am very excited to be working with DeMichael Harris. DeMichael has the physical attributes, natural power, work ethic and mindset to be very competitive in the super featherweight division. He has a strong and hungry team behind him which is a perfect recipe for success."
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Summer Breeze Makes Me Stream Fine (Well, Sort Of)
By Juan C. Ayllon
Summer is great for enjoying the outdoors, gardening, exercising and open air dining, and when it rains or gets too hot, binge-watching shows like Netflix's Queen of the South, spinning and streaming tunes in the comfort of air conditioning. With a caveat, that is!
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In LIFESTYLE & SPORT: Salita Promotions Reaches Agreement with Lennox Lewis Promoter Panos Eliades to Display Most of Lewis’ Legendary Career on Salita Promotions YouTube Channel
Salita Promotions proudly announces another high-profile addition to the extensive library of classic fights on their YouTube Channel after reaching an agreement with Lennox Lewis’ long-time promoter/manager, Panos Eliades of Panix Promotions, to display nearly all of Lewis’ hall-of-fame career, free of charge to boxing fans.
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A Wondrous Look Back at David Sanborn's 'Love & Happiness' 1985 Concert
It's only fitting that as summer kicks into full swing that we bring out the balmy music, and this one fits the bill--and then some!
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Architecttura Sonora Brings Luxury Audio Outdoors
June 22, 2020 - SUTHERLAND AV MARKETING, owned by industry veteran Todd Sutherland, today announced the availibility of Architecttura Sonora loudspeakers. Architettura Sonora revolves around a creative team of acousticians, engineers, architects and landscape designers sharing the enthusiasm to radically redesign the experience of space and landscape through a meaningful and more emotionally charged sound diffusion. Each speaker is individually and meticulously produced by skilled craftsmen and is a unique piece of sound art, offering advanced sound, combined with innovative and expressive design.
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Qobuz Gives You a Peek at Brubaker's 'Glassforms'
After Glass Cage in 2000 and Glass Piano in 2015, New York Julliard graduate pianist Bruce Brubaker returns to his obsession with Philip Glass. Brubaker taught Francesco Tristano, who went on to create many bridges between classical and electronic music. He is also one of Philip Glass’ specialists, a composer that he has played and reinterpreted many times.
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IN LIFESTYLE &SPORT: Radzhab Butaev Comments on Alexander Basputin's Failed Drug Tests
LOS ANGELES, CA, June 23, 2020 -- World Ranked Welterweight Contender Radzhab Butaev has spoken out following the recent details of Alexander Basputin’s failed drug test results from their WBA Welterweight World Championship fight on November 30, 2019 in Monte Carlo. Recently, Butaev and his team were informed that the ‘B’ sample from Basputin also contained LGD-4033(Ligandrol). The ‘A’ sample contained the same prohibited drug when the finding was announced in January. Basputin was declared the winner of their hard-fought bout by unanimous decision by scores of 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards.
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Gold Note PA-10 Amp Review Now Finished, Looking Ahead
By Juan C. Ayllon
Now, you may ask what a photo of Michelangelo's David statue is doing here. To find out why, you'll have to go to my review of the Gold Note PA-10 amplifier review at Positive Feedback HERE. For several months, I had a pair of them plugged into my system serving as monoblocks. Generating up to 600 Watts, they definitely added a little extra headroom and oomph to music and HD movies. I was a little sad to see them go, but that's the nature of reviewing!
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Bluebird Music to Distribute Questyle in USA and Canada
Press Release
Buffalo, NY, June 19, 2020 -- Bluebird Music, distributor of high-performance audio products since 2000, is pleased to announce their appointment as US and Canadian distributor of products from Questyle, a specialist in ultra-high performance personal audio products, including DACs and headphone amplifiers. Questyle will be the sixth brand distributed by Bluebird, joining AVM (Audio Video Manufaktur) electronics, Jadis vacuum tube electronics, SME tonearms and turntables, and loudspeakers from Vienna Acoustics and Spendor.
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Chicago Audio Society Hosts Haniwa Audio and Michael Fremer at Virtual Zoom Session Sunday, June 28th
Press Release
We are delighted to have Bob Bean from Haniwa Audio set up a Zoom meeting with us featuring the unique current loop moving coil cartridge that has been reviewed by Michael Fremer in Stereophile. Bob presented the entire Haniwa audio system to us in 2018 and Michael Fremer did his great turntable setup presentation for us several years back. It's great to welcome them both back. Dr. Tetsuo Kubo, the designer and founder of Haniwa Audio will also be with us from Japan. At about 3:30PM there will be an LP raffle by Haniwa of four Michael Fremer recommended LPs.
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Catch Day 2 of WorldWide Audio Fest on Instagram Today
Press Release
An Instagram Live Audio Festival for music lovers, enthusiasts and the audio industry. Connect from your home to the world’s best audio brands, all online for two days.
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'Satisficing' -- What is Better? 'Good Enough' for Now, or Buying with a Longer Term Perspective?
By Juan C. Ayllon
Back when I was tan and fit, working on my Bachelors degree in Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona in the 80s, I encountered the concept of "Satisficing." It was a hybrid term espoused by a textbook guru that combined the words, "sufficing" and "satisfying." The overarching idea was that in business, often decisions with big ramifications must be made against hard and fast deadlines, and often the best outcome was not ideal, but one that sufficed and was generally satisfying. Through subsequent years in industry and, later, education, I have seen companies and school districts execute this concept countless times.
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Systems in the Crowd: Michael's Intimate Listening Room Anchored by Usher SD-500s
By Juan C. Ayllon
Earlier this evening, I visited my friend, Michael, to return his Schiit Modi 2 DAC that I borrowed and, in turn, picked up a passive preamp and pair of cables I'd lent him. With a nod to the COVID-19 pandemic, we maintained safe distance while discussing recent car acquisitions and our stereo systems. Michael was particularly excited about the performance of his Usher SD-500 monitors with their diamond tweeters in his two channel system and invited me in for a listen.
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Introducing the New Jadis JS2 Mk IV DAC
BUFFALO, NY -- June 5, 2020. Bluebird Music is proud to announce the availability of the new JS2 MkIV DAC, from famed French audio manufacturer Jadis.
The MkIV iteration of the popular JS2 provides features and technology derived from the JS1, Jadis’ flagship two-box DAC. The JS2 now provides much of the JS1’s award-winning sound quality and versatility at a lower price point, and in a single component.
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The MkIV iteration of the popular JS2 provides features and technology derived from the JS1, Jadis’ flagship two-box DAC. The JS2 now provides much of the JS1’s award-winning sound quality and versatility at a lower price point, and in a single component.
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SPORT: Peter Kahn's Fight Game Advisors Signs Undefeated Super Middleweight Prospect, Junior Younan
MIAMI BEACH, FL, June 5, 2020--Peter Kahn’s Fight Game Advisors has signed Undefeated Super Middleweight Junior Younan, (15-0-1, 10 KOs), of Brooklyn, NY to an exclusive managerial contract, it was announced today.
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And It's a Wrap! A Short Highlight Reel on This Quarter's Art Classes and Hints of Possible Future Audio Review Videos
By Juan C. Ayllon
Yesterday was the last official day of my 2019-2020 school year, and this last quarter was a real doozie! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my students got their first taste of remote learning I taught my art classes over the internet. Though very different from the traditional classroom, all in all, it was a very positive experience for all.
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AV Room Service's Norm Varney Talks About His Audio Pilgrimage and Acoustics
Hear about industry insider and acoustic engineer, Norm Varney, got into audio and acoustics, as well as some of his thoughts on these matters.
Watch the video HERE...
Watch the video HERE...
Mio-My, How Time Has Flown! Down to the Wire and Reflecting on Paper Form Tiles
By Juan C. Ayllon
The last several months have been a swirl of activity and adaptation, and suddenly, I find myself fast approaching the end of my time with a pair of Gold Note PA-10 amplifiers configured as monoblocks that I"ve been reviewing. It's been a fun ride, but as I finalize my notes and observations for my review at Positive Feedback, I find myself thinking about the diffuser panel utilizing Mio Acoustic Paperform tiles on my front wall between my speakers.
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Carla Bley Wins the JJA Jazz Award for Lifetime Achievement
By JJA Editor
Composer, arranger, bandleader and pianist Carla Bley just won the 2020 JJA Jazz Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz. You can read more about that HERE.
Photo of the Day: Kenneth Krieger with a Massive Horn Speaker
By Juan C. Ayllon
Longtime friend and reader, Kenneth Kreiger, is seen here standing next to a 450 lb. horn loudspeaker by Destination Audio several years ago when he lived in the Chicago suburbs and was visiting the Man Cave.
Systems in the Crowd, Done Up Florida Style!
Check out Kenneth Krieger's rocking little system HERE.
Sometimes Spinnin' is Winnin'!
By Juan C. Ayllon
COVID-19 hit us with the ferocity of a large ocean wave upending, then slamming a distracted wader headfirst into the submerged sand. We are disoriented, choking on the horror and chaos, and all the political and media wrangling, like a tossed floatation ring, just doesn't help.
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Friday Musing at Prairie Audio
By Juan C. Ayllon
FRIDAY'S here and with recent plantings and a load of river rock at our entryway, tonight's projected dip in temperature to 29 degrees Fahrenheit suggests some hasty covering in the garden, but also cozy listening and viewing pleasures in the man cave this evening. But that's just the tip of things to come.
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A Look Back at 'Hands of Stone' -- An Interview with Roberto Duran
By Juan C. Ayllon
I was eleven years old when I first glimpsed him on TV. Lanky and muscular, this short, seething brown skinned bundle of energy captivated me with the raw violence and power with which he dispatched opponents. As a Latin American middle schooler alienated and marginalized by the white majority, Roberto Duran's victories were both vicarious and inspiring -- as no doubt they were for many others who cheered him on.
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Photo of the Day: Vintage Martin Logan reQuest Speakers Play Backdrop to Boxing Pay-Per-Viewer
By Juan C. Ayllon
Almost 10 years ago, I had friends over to watch a boxing Pay-Per-View event and during an intermission, one of my guests, with a beer in hand, took it upon himself to mimic the boxers in the ring. This resulting photo was priceless. And standing behind him with its huge, transparent electrostatic panel, one of my vintage Martin Logan reQuest speakers, which my wife Belle had gifted me with, served as silent witness as he shadow boxed for our entertainment.
SPORT: King Carlos Promotions Streams Live Pro Boxing Saturday, May 23 from Michoacan, Mexico
Press Release
PATZCUARO, MICHOACAN, MEXICO--Former Junior Middleweight Champion of the World, ‘King’ Carlos Molina and King Carlos Promotions in association with Roy Jones Jr. Promotions presents an evening of world class professional boxing on Saturday, May 23 from Patzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico.
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A Little Gardening Here, and a Little Tube Rolling There
Text and photo by Juan C. Ayllon
So for me, this past weekend was more about shoring things up around the homestead than audio: mowing the lawn, getting information on river rock for our garden at several landscaping supply yards, visiting several nurseries, purchasing a pair of potted exotic flower arrangements, digging up some dead knockout roses and replacing them with five more. And then of course, being Chicagoland, overnight the temperatures dropped, threatening our new exotic florals, so we brought them inside for the time being.
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Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) Officially Canceled
Press Release
With the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc and taking toll on thousands of lives, as well as economies, another large consumer event, AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), succumbed. A very popular festival attended annually by thousands of enthusiasts, with the losses incurred to JD Events and a number of vendors who had planned on displaying their wares and services running deep, it remains to be seen how this will impact future shows. We certainly wish everyone well and hope to see AXPONA and its attending merchants bounce back.
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Musings While Enjoying the Music This Friday Morning
By Juan C. Ayllon
This morning before work, I fired up my system and opened the curtains at the rear of my listening room. Now normally, I keep them pulled closed, as they absorb and dampen high frequencies bouncing off the glass. However, it’s Friday and, darn it, I want to take the dark cavern out of “man cave” and let in the sun!
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Sell, Just Don't Lie to Me
By Juan C. Ayllon
We've gained quite a reputation for vivid imaginations, unsubstantiated claims, puffery, and outright chicanery in the audiophile world -- and some of it is well-deserved.
As a sometime writer who went from covering boxing to hi-fi, the similarities are sometimes uncanny. Like many boxers I've met, there are a lot of decent, hard-working designers and businessmen in audio just trying to get ahead; however, as with the slimy handlers, managers and promoters who infiltrate and give pugilism a black eye, there are those in audio who lie, cheat and fleece its denizens to turn a profit.
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As a sometime writer who went from covering boxing to hi-fi, the similarities are sometimes uncanny. Like many boxers I've met, there are a lot of decent, hard-working designers and businessmen in audio just trying to get ahead; however, as with the slimy handlers, managers and promoters who infiltrate and give pugilism a black eye, there are those in audio who lie, cheat and fleece its denizens to turn a profit.
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SPORT: Uzbekistan Rising Star, Israil Madrimov Wants World Champ, Jeison Rosario When Boxing Returns
LOS ANGELES, April 27, 2020 -- Uzbek star Israil ‘The Dream’ Madrimov, (5-0, 5 KOs), is in his native Uzbekistan staying in shape for when boxing returns and is emphatic about what the next steps in his career should be.
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Sometimes Less is More
Text and lead photo by Juan C. Ayllon
You'd think that with the mandated Stay at Home orders in effect, that I'd be all over my high fidelity system playing music 24/7. However, after being stuck at my house for the better part of six weeks, there are whole days that I don't give it the time of day. Hold the phone! Why's that?
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SPORT: Ray 'Boom Boom'Mancini -- Born to Box
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, April 27, 2020 -- As the son of a prizefighter, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee ("Class of 2015") Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini was born to box, and the Youngstown, Ohio fighter climbed to the top of the sport's mountain, capturing the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title in 1982.
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Grandkids -- the Joy, Blessings, and Adaptations for This Audiophile
By Juan C. Ayllon
Having rushed in the first time at the ripe age of 35 and divorced a year and a half later, my prospects for love and marriage weren't looking too bright as I approached 50. All that changed in 2010, when I asked Belle, a feisty mother of three, out for coffee.
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My System was MODI-fied, Rocked and Rolled
Text and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
The invisible, toxic sandstorm of COVID-19 was overtaking Chicagoland, and I was very fortunate to drop off my beloved Lampizator Big 7 DAC at my technician's shop across the state line in Racine, Wisconsin just before Illinois' Governor Pritzker issued his Stay in Shelter order. That was a month ago.
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'Bar Grooves Alfresco' -- An Upbeat Aural Serum for Treating the Blahs
By Juan C. Ayllon
With many of us under "Stay at Home" orders, it's hard not to get down. So, we stay busy, doing what work we can from home; we clean, organize, exercise, and tackle long put off projects and chores. We also distract, watching TV, listening to music, tinkering with our audio systems, reading, emailing, and playing on social media. And, of course, with so much time on our hands, we get introspective -- which can be good or bad.
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Wasted Away in Audiovirusville
By Juan C. Ayllon
There really should be a 12-Step Recovery Group for audiophiles. I mean, when you think about it, so many of us are obsessive types. It’s not good enough to have a decent or very good system, but we want the best we can get and, when we get our system dialed-in, we are elated for about two weeks, and then we begin fretting about the next possible improvement. It could be as simple as a tweak, or maybe swapping out something minor like new tubes, cables, or other accessories. Or, it could be major -- a new set of speakers, a preamplifier, amp, a DAC, or turntable. The list of potential improvements goes on. If we’re really honest, for many of us, this is an addiction.
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Systems in the Crowd: Jeffrey Kenton's Infinity RS-4.5 Dipoles
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you are in Chicago's northwest suburbs fortunate enough to walk into Jeff Kenton’s sprawling listening room, you can’t miss them: standing 65" tall, 27" wide, 15” deep, the blonde oak Infinity RS- 4.5 dipole speakers employ ribbon tweeters and dual 12: drivers covered in sheer black grill cloth to flood the serene, sea foam green-tinted space with a luscious, vivid wall of sound, wrapping you in a velvety aural blanket that’s deep, detailed and natural, not harsh, inviting you to lounge and listen for a spell. Ensconced in a well-crafted addition that he built with his brother-in-law in this woodsy, riverside community, their rustic allure is timeless and undeniable.
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Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) Rescheduled to August 7 through 9!
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- AXPONA has been rescheduled from April 17-19 to August 7-9, 2020 out of concern for the health and safety of all participants due to the growing coronavirus situation. This decision was made following an outpouring of feedback from the AXPONA community over the last 72 hours.
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JD Events CEO Davis' Open Letter: with Sensitivity to Stakeholders, AXPONA to Go On As Scheduled
MARCH 5, 2020 -- With concerns over the Corona Virus proliferating and affecting travel and large events, JD Events' CEO, Joel Davis, issued the following open letter to clear up any ambiguity over their upcoming events, including the Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) show scheduled in April.
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Qobuz Releases James Taylor's 'American Standard' in 24-bit/96kHz and More
Press Release
Don't miss James Taylor's excellent new album American Standard in 24-bit/96kHz Hi-Res, available today on Qobuz, to get a good, old-fashioned dose of the American songbook from a highly respected modern songwriter. Consisting of 14 carefully curated interpretations of the American songbook from the five-time Grammy winner, they served as a bedrock to Taylor's works.
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SPORT: Female Boxer, Zulina 'Loba' Muñoz, Looks to Regain World Title This Year
By Joe Serrat
Many say you should never stop dreaming. That is definitely the case for 32-year-old former WBC super flyweight champion Zulina “La Loba” Muñoz (51-3-2, 29KO). Hailing from Mexico City, the mother of two has her sights set on becoming a two-divisional world champion this year looking for an opportunity for a bantamweight world title. The first step towards that goal is getting past Valeria “La Pequeña” Perez (12-7, 2KO) for the WBC International 118-pound title on March 8th.
From there Muñoz would like an opportunity for a world title.
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From there Muñoz would like an opportunity for a world title.
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AXPONA 2020 On Schedule, Addresses Coronavirus Concerns
Press Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL (February 28, 2020) -- AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will take place as scheduled April 17-19 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center.
As always, the health and safety of our customers is our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from these agencies and the local health departments. We will be reinforcing recommended measures on-site regarding appropriate hygiene standards and following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local health authorities.
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As always, the health and safety of our customers is our number one priority. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from these agencies and the local health departments. We will be reinforcing recommended measures on-site regarding appropriate hygiene standards and following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local health authorities.
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New Ear Gear Experience, Designer Vignette, Live Musical Performances, and Seminars added to Chicagoland's AXPONA, North America's Largest High End Audio Expo, on APRIL 17-19
Press Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL (January 17, 2020) - - Calling all audiophiles, music lovers, vinyl collectors, audio engineers and musicians, AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will open April 17-19 at theRenaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center offering attendees three jam-packed days of incredible sounds, technology, presentations, design, and the very latest products in the industry.AXPONA is the largest high-end audio show in North America, which caters to dealers, distributors and manufacturers, as well as music-loving consumers. AXPONA’s state-of-the-art venue will feature 200 Listening Rooms, an expanded Expo Hall featuring the ever popular Record Fair and Master Class Theater, the Ethan Allen Design Showcase, a NEW Ear Gear Experience, robust Seminar schedule, and Live Music nightly.
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HARMAN Announces Executive Management Changes Dinesh Paliwal to step down as President and CEO
Stamford, CT, Feb. 3, 2020 -- HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., focused on connected technologies and solutions for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, today announced that Dinesh Paliwal will step down on April 1 after nearly 13 years with the company as President & CEO (including ten years as Chairman and CEO of the NYSE-listed Harman International). Harman’s Board of Directors has unanimously elected Michael Mauser to succeed Paliwal, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mauser will join the company’s board of directors, effective April 1. To ensure a smooth and seamless transition, Paliwal has agreed to remain with Harman as Senior Advisor to the board of directors and to the CEO until December 2020.
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Saturday Audio Exchange Seminar on Subwoofers -- Not Just for Movies!
This Thursday Night
PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO, February 17, 2020 -- This Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday Audio Exchange will host a seminar on subwoofers.
Here is possibly the easiest "no brainer" audio upgrade in your system! If you have an issue it's probable that a Subwoofer can fix it. Typically the most misunderstood component in audio, once THE way to upgrade your 2 channel system, then Home Theater came along and subwoofers became relegated to movies only!
Come see why we use them in virtually every system we demonstrate in the store every day. (Always one of our most popular seminars, what can I say - no one ever didn't ever enjoy truly full range sound & we'll prove that with some awesome demos.
We will be showcasing subwoofers from GoldenEar and JL Audio.
Here is possibly the easiest "no brainer" audio upgrade in your system! If you have an issue it's probable that a Subwoofer can fix it. Typically the most misunderstood component in audio, once THE way to upgrade your 2 channel system, then Home Theater came along and subwoofers became relegated to movies only!
Come see why we use them in virtually every system we demonstrate in the store every day. (Always one of our most popular seminars, what can I say - no one ever didn't ever enjoy truly full range sound & we'll prove that with some awesome demos.
We will be showcasing subwoofers from GoldenEar and JL Audio.
Saturday Audio Exchange
1021 Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(800) 970-4434
info@saturdayaudio.com
1021 Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(800) 970-4434
info@saturdayaudio.com
Hail to the Brick and Mortar!
By Juan C. Ayllon
You have to hand it to these guys. They put up their money to bring the latest in listening pleasure in hopes of making a living. And many do a terrific job. I'm talking about the brick and mortar stores where you can actually see, touch and listen to the products first hand and, quite often with a mere deposit of your credit card, borrow them to hear them in your listening space.
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Balance, Bullets and Blessings
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you’re like me, sometimes it takes the painful prick of disappointment to get you to take a hard look at what you’re doing. I’m turning 59 in a couple months and with the specter of retirement not far off, I still spend great gobs of spare time listening to music and evaluating stereo equipment. And it’s not like I’m getting rich doing that, as my wife reminds me.
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The Ultimate Hi-Fi System? You Decide!
New Living Edge Shelf to Help Protect Components from Tiny Reaching Fingers
By Juan C. Ayllon
It's no secret that I've been a bit nervous with our toddler grandchild, who's crawling and learning to pull himself up on things, spending more time at our home. And towards that end, I recently acquired a long, living edge board to use as a shelf C-clamped to a pair of weight lifting racks just behind my media stand to help give several components extra distance from his hands, should he manage to meander by my hi-fi system in a momentary lapse of supervision.
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AXPONA, NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST HIGH END AUDIO EXPO, RETURNS APRIL 17-19, 2020 TO CHICAGO
Press Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL (January 17, 2020) - - Calling all audiophiles, music lovers, vinyl collectors, audio engineers and musicians, AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will open April 17-19 at theRenaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center offering attendees three jam-packed days of incredible sounds, technology, presentations, design, and the very latest products in the industry.AXPONA is the largest high-end audio show in North America, which caters to dealers, distributors and manufacturers, as well as music-loving consumers. AXPONA’s state-of-the-art venue will feature 200 Listening Rooms, an expanded Expo Hall featuring the ever popular Record Fair and Master Class Theater, the Ethan Allen Design Showcase, a NEWEar Gear Experience, robust Seminar schedule, and Live Music nightly.
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Fifth Street Gym Bananas Over Rosario's Upset TKO over Julian Williams for 154 Lb. Crown
Press Release
MIAMI, FL, January 20, 2020 -- Editor's Note: boxing is regular viewing fare at the man cave, and last week's upset victory by Jeison Rosario over highly favored 154 lb. Champ, 'J-Rock' Williams, reminds us why they fight the fights and what makes boxing so much fun.
It's been about 60 Years since the 5th St. Gym Opened. 40 years since Muhammad Ali trained there and about 8 years since Angelo Dundee passed away. Seventeen world champions had been trained at the 5th St. Gym and by Angelo.
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It's been about 60 Years since the 5th St. Gym Opened. 40 years since Muhammad Ali trained there and about 8 years since Angelo Dundee passed away. Seventeen world champions had been trained at the 5th St. Gym and by Angelo.
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Kicking of the Weekend with a Little Metheny on Piano Jazz
You don't have to be a fan of Pat Metheny -- or even jazz fusion guitar -- to enjoy this interview of one of the more innovative and prolific players of our time. Originally hosted in 2006 by National Public Radio's Marian McPartland on her show, Piano Jazz, this interview provides the listener a rare and fascinating porthole into his world, along with as well as an impromptu live, on-air performance of some of his music.
Coming Soon: A Look at the 'Vinyl Vac' -- a Low Cost Record Vacuuming and Cleaning Product
For those who desire thorough album cleaning, but whose budget does not allow for an expensive record vacuuming machine, there is a low cost alternative: the Vinyl Vac. With audio funds stretched perilously thin, we decided to give it a spin.
Sometime very soon, we will be announcing our findings. Stay tuned.
Sometime very soon, we will be announcing our findings. Stay tuned.
A Look Back: Jazz Singer Kurt Elling Shines, Speaks Candidly at College of DuPage's MAC Center
By Juan C. Ayllon
GLEN ELLYN, IL, December 2009 -- Grammy-nominated Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and his quartet had just mesmerized a swollen crowd of 767 at the College of DuPage’s McAninch Art Center. In the lobby now, with his four year-old daughter coloring at a table merchandising his CDs, he signs autographs and visits with several hundred admirers.
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Join Pat Metheny for the 'Cuba Experience'!
Press Release
Are you a fan of jazz fusion guitar, Pat Metheny or exotic, Latin-flavored music? If so, a rare tour to experience Cuba with the 20-time Grammy Winner and music legend has come up. As part of the Fiesta del Tambor Rhythm and Dance Festival in Havana, he offers you a unique opportunity to experience his music, up close and personal, as well as a safe and legal travel to the beautiful country of Cuba.
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Coming Soon: Review on Upgrading to the Big 7 Mk 2 DAC
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you're like me, you find yourself wanting to upgrade your hi-fi equipment on a fairly regular basis. That's the nature of the audiophile disease, after all. For me, I had purchased the Lampizator Lite 7 Digital to Analog Converter back in 2015 (you can read my review HERE), but the following year at Audio Expo North America (AXPONA), I found myself drooling over it's bigger sibling, the Big 7 DAC. Unlike some fixations, this has been my lingering, secret obsession since then.
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You Can Preview the Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) Exhibitors Now
PRESS RELEASE
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- AXPONA 2020 will have over 200 listening rooms - more than ever before! And check out the new Ear Gear Experience with everything you need for your personal audio rig as well as The Expo Hall with turntables, cartridges, cables and more. At AXPONA you will see the largest gathering of high-end audio brands in North America.
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Full Circle -- Audio Appreciation Goes Round and Round
By Juan C. Ayllon
I was perhaps three as I sat, marveling, as my father, a chemical engineer and strict disciplinarian, sang and played Spanish ballads with great abandon on his guitar next to me on our living room couch. His impassioned tenor vocals, accompanied by the warm, rich tones emanating from the sound hole of this massive, resonant, yellow and brown, yummy looking object he was strumming moved me so that I scooched over and took a bite—and then another, crunching tiny indentations along the edge of the guitar’s body. Amused but undeterred, my dad played on.
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Ushering in the New Year with Changes and a Few Reviews
By Juan C. Ayllon
New Year is a time of celebration, great fun and reflection. We laugh, we eat too much, spend too much on presents, but also take time to reassess and make some resolutions, right?
We're no different. In addition to revisiting new year fitness goals, refining career objectives, and building better connections with friends, family and community, there's the usual holiday rush. For me, it was fun but hectic, catching up with some review work, a few new surprises, and a trip to Florida for several days where Belle and I visited with my mother-in-law, Belle's sister, celebrated New Year's Eve, and got a little vacation break from the frigid Midwest tundra.
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Final Touch Callisto USB Cable Reviewed
By Juan C. Ayllon
The Final Touch Audio Callisto USB Cable, which has been garnering some buzz online for its purported impact on the playback of digital music files, is the subject of one of the first reviews to kick off the 2020 year at Positive Feedback.
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WK Audio ‘The Two’ Power Cable a Great Bang for the Buck
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you want a premium power cable, but don’t want to pay top dollar, WK Audio’s ‘The Two’ is worthy of your consideration.
Over the course of numerous review sessions the last several years, “The Two” has played a strong support act to its more expensive siblings, “The Air” and “The One”, adding synergy in bringing out the best in my reference system.
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Over the course of numerous review sessions the last several years, “The Two” has played a strong support act to its more expensive siblings, “The Air” and “The One”, adding synergy in bringing out the best in my reference system.
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Review on the Triangle Art Anubis Now Published
After roughly a semester in the Man Cave, we have a final verdict. As you will see, setup was a little tricky and involved, but the results were well worth it. You can read all about it on our review, which has gone live on the pages of Positive Feedback.
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AXPONA 2020 Announces New Ear Gear Experience with Best Headphones, Industry Talks, Meet-Ups and More
Press Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL (December 20, 2019) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), taking place April 17-19 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in the Chicagoland area, announces a brand new Ear Gear Experience, which will be the largest area in the country dedicated entirely to personal audio. There are more explorations into the art of audio than ever before, and the headphone is no exception. From dedicated home listening systems to the best possible sound you can squeeze out from a smart phone, the growth for personal audio knows no limits.AXPONA organizers recognized a need to expand the headphone offerings and organized an Ear Gear Advisory Board tasked with creating the biggest and best user experience for AXPONA attendees.
The new expo area will feature an Ear Gear Theater, Industry Talks, two Networking Lounges, a Café and the latest and greatest in personal audio. Everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, cables and players that go into a personal audio rig will be on display at the Ear Gear Experience. Leading global brands and manufacturers such as Schiit Audio, Focal Naim North America, Audeze, Jerry Harvey Audio, HIFIMAN, Astell & Kern, Lenbrook and more will debut new products and have dedicated booths on the expo floor.
The new Ear Gear Theater gives attendees an opportunity to see the latest product launches and hear from industry experts. The theater will also feature daily meet-ups on a variety of topics to give the personal audio community a chance to network with each other and industry experts.
There will also be a Café to purchase beverages, two lounges to take a break, and the Ear Gear & Beer Tastingon Saturday, April 17 with a local craft brewery.
The Ear Gear Advisory Board is comprised of industry leaders in personal audio who advise on industry trends and provide expert opinion on programming and panels for the new Ear Gear Experience. The Board consists of the following members:
· Wally Kilgore, Sennheiser
· Bevin Mehrbach, ZMF
· Owen Kwon, Astell & Kern
· Denise Martin, Schitt Audio
· Andy Regan, Dan Clark Audio
AXPONA is North America’s largest audio expo, welcoming music enthusiasts from around the world to meet exhibitors from well-established and emerging product categories.In all, more than 500 world class exhibitors will be at AXPONA to connect with serious audiophiles, newcomers to high-end audio, and music lovers looking to explore, shop and enjoy the music.
For more information on ticketing and ticketing options, please visit www.axpona.com/register.
ABOUT
AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) is North America’s largest event for audiophiles, manufacturers of high-end audio equipment, musicians and music lovers. The three-day experience features over 200 high fidelity listening rooms, providing guests the enviable opportunity to experience the newest technology in high-end consumer audio products. Attendees are encouraged to go from room to room and sit, listen and compare the various systems. The Expo Hall and Ear Gear Experience play host to thousands of products and accessories from cables to headphones to LPs and SACDs. Beyond the exhibits, AXPONA includes live musical performances and educational seminars with industry experts and demonstrations.
For more information including updates on AXPONA’s exhibitors and schedule, visit axpona.com or call 203-371-6322.
The new expo area will feature an Ear Gear Theater, Industry Talks, two Networking Lounges, a Café and the latest and greatest in personal audio. Everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, cables and players that go into a personal audio rig will be on display at the Ear Gear Experience. Leading global brands and manufacturers such as Schiit Audio, Focal Naim North America, Audeze, Jerry Harvey Audio, HIFIMAN, Astell & Kern, Lenbrook and more will debut new products and have dedicated booths on the expo floor.
The new Ear Gear Theater gives attendees an opportunity to see the latest product launches and hear from industry experts. The theater will also feature daily meet-ups on a variety of topics to give the personal audio community a chance to network with each other and industry experts.
There will also be a Café to purchase beverages, two lounges to take a break, and the Ear Gear & Beer Tastingon Saturday, April 17 with a local craft brewery.
The Ear Gear Advisory Board is comprised of industry leaders in personal audio who advise on industry trends and provide expert opinion on programming and panels for the new Ear Gear Experience. The Board consists of the following members:
· Wally Kilgore, Sennheiser
· Bevin Mehrbach, ZMF
· Owen Kwon, Astell & Kern
· Denise Martin, Schitt Audio
· Andy Regan, Dan Clark Audio
AXPONA is North America’s largest audio expo, welcoming music enthusiasts from around the world to meet exhibitors from well-established and emerging product categories.In all, more than 500 world class exhibitors will be at AXPONA to connect with serious audiophiles, newcomers to high-end audio, and music lovers looking to explore, shop and enjoy the music.
For more information on ticketing and ticketing options, please visit www.axpona.com/register.
ABOUT
AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) is North America’s largest event for audiophiles, manufacturers of high-end audio equipment, musicians and music lovers. The three-day experience features over 200 high fidelity listening rooms, providing guests the enviable opportunity to experience the newest technology in high-end consumer audio products. Attendees are encouraged to go from room to room and sit, listen and compare the various systems. The Expo Hall and Ear Gear Experience play host to thousands of products and accessories from cables to headphones to LPs and SACDs. Beyond the exhibits, AXPONA includes live musical performances and educational seminars with industry experts and demonstrations.
For more information including updates on AXPONA’s exhibitors and schedule, visit axpona.com or call 203-371-6322.
UPDATE: Pat Metheny to Tour Europe with Up and Coming Artists in 'Side Eye' Project
He Headlines Separate March Tour in Asia, Australia, S. America and Mexico
Press Release
Pat Metheny is launching a new playing environment called “Side-Eye” for this upcoming season.
Pat explains “I wanted to create an ongoing setting to feature a rotating cast of new and upcoming musicians who have particularly caught my interest along the way.”
Pat continues “From my earliest days in Kansas City onward, I was the beneficiary of so many older musicians giving me a platform to develop my thing through the prism of their experience and the particular demands of what their music implied. I have been feeling like I wanted to have a specific platform to focus on some of the many younger musicians I have enjoyed recently who I have felt some kind of a kinship with.”
“I hear regularly from new players on the scene who have professed an influence from my records and tunes and I often invite them up to my house to play. Very often, it is really natural and organic to the music to play with them, they have literally grown up with it. I find myself inspired by how they deal with the musical challenges that come with the territory of some of those older tunes, and at the same time I find myself intrigued with the possibilties of what might be possible in writing new music just for them. This band setting is what that will be all about.”
This edition of Side-Eye will feature James Francies (keyboards, piano) and drummer Marcus Gilmore.
Metheny will do a separate tour in March, traveling through Asia, Australia, South America and Mexico, according to Jordan Fritz of The Kurkland Agency.
Click HERE for tour details.
Pat explains “I wanted to create an ongoing setting to feature a rotating cast of new and upcoming musicians who have particularly caught my interest along the way.”
Pat continues “From my earliest days in Kansas City onward, I was the beneficiary of so many older musicians giving me a platform to develop my thing through the prism of their experience and the particular demands of what their music implied. I have been feeling like I wanted to have a specific platform to focus on some of the many younger musicians I have enjoyed recently who I have felt some kind of a kinship with.”
“I hear regularly from new players on the scene who have professed an influence from my records and tunes and I often invite them up to my house to play. Very often, it is really natural and organic to the music to play with them, they have literally grown up with it. I find myself inspired by how they deal with the musical challenges that come with the territory of some of those older tunes, and at the same time I find myself intrigued with the possibilties of what might be possible in writing new music just for them. This band setting is what that will be all about.”
This edition of Side-Eye will feature James Francies (keyboards, piano) and drummer Marcus Gilmore.
Metheny will do a separate tour in March, traveling through Asia, Australia, South America and Mexico, according to Jordan Fritz of The Kurkland Agency.
Click HERE for tour details.
Photo of the Day: The WK Audio 'The Two' Power Cable
The WK Audio "The Two" is a very fine power cable, and is one of several products that we will be highlighting in days to come. Keep posted for details!
Pre-Winter Holiday Mashup
By Juan C. Ayllon
We are brown leaves circling a storm drain in an early thaw. Entering the vortex of the winter holidays, there’s shopping, end of the year deadlines, planning, family gatherings, scheduling conflicts and, of course, seasonal colds, to boot.
Last week while home sick, I indulged an extended A-B comparison between the Straight Wire USBF power filtered USB cable and the Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable that I am currently reviewing. It was a very informative session. A couple friends had warned me that I wouldn’t hear any differences, that as long as they were properly made, the USB protocols designed into them by real world engineers eliminated variances in performance related to materials employed in their construction.
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Last week while home sick, I indulged an extended A-B comparison between the Straight Wire USBF power filtered USB cable and the Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable that I am currently reviewing. It was a very informative session. A couple friends had warned me that I wouldn’t hear any differences, that as long as they were properly made, the USB protocols designed into them by real world engineers eliminated variances in performance related to materials employed in their construction.
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New Releases, Reissues and Reduced Pricing at Qobuz
It's a great week for new releases and reissues, with a 50th Anniversary reissue of The Band's eponymous second album alongside a plethora of new releases from Warp Records, a new Lady Antebellum album, and a new Arthur Russell album from his archives.
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The Audio Art SC-5 ePlus Cryo Treated Speaker Cable and Jumpers Reviewed
By Juan C. Ayllon
After several months in the man cave system, I have a pretty good feel for the Audio Art Cable SC-5 ePlus speaker cables. What follows is my formal review.
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Review of the New Audio Art Statement e2Plus Power Cables
Juan C. Ayllon takes a close look at the brand new Audio Art Statement e2Plus Power Cable at some length in the latest issue of Positive Feedback.
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Photo of the Day
Here's a recent photo of the Man Cave with the new Triangle Art Anubis reference turntable dialed in for its extended review.
Review on the WK Audio 'The Air' Now Up at Positive Feedback
By Juan C. Ayllon
It didn't go off without a hitch, but it proved a memorable experience. My review on the WK Audio The Air premium power cable has gone up on the popular audiophile site, Positive Feedback. You can read it here.
Qobuz Provides Neil Young's New Release, Colorado in 24-Bit/96kHZ and Now Supports Android Auto!
Press Release
Hi-Res evangelist Neil Young has released his new album Colorado, his first recording with the band Crazy Horse since 2012's Psychedelic Pill. The world-class band's studio performance was captured in real time with few overdubs using a vintage, analog Universal Audio 610 console connected to Hi-Res digital gear for mixing and mastering.
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A Quick Shout Out from the Cave
By Juan C. Ayllon
Life--and death--happens. Of this, there is no doubt, and, like time, it marches on. The last couple months have been a vortex of emotions and activity around here: hospice, the passing of my father-in-law, grieving and distracting, visits with family and a new grandchild, a new furniture set upstairs resulting an update in the man cave with the former living room set and the end of the first quarter and grading where I teach. And, now, there’s the inevitable pre-holiday rush of reviews awaiting completion with the arrival of the latest--the reference Triangle Art Anubis turntable, which weighs a whopping 150 lbs.! It’s going to be a fun but hectic season.
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Music Marks the Passing of a Good Man
By Juan C. Ayllon
Music has a way of interweaving in our subconscious with key life moments.
Bolivian folk music conjures childhood memories of laughter, loud conversations, dancing adults and thumping bass keeping me awake with vinyl spinning late into the night; Pat Metheny’s This Way Up, takes me back to 2010 with the intertwined fingers, passionate kisses, and long drives home from Belle’s with it blaring in my Mitsubishi Montero. And, most recently, songs from Karrin Allyson’s In Blue--which was streaming just before we received the news--along with Andreas Bocelli’s live rendition of “Amazing Grace” and Bette Middler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" will be forever conjoined with memories of the recent passing of my father-in-law, William Stevenson.
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Bolivian folk music conjures childhood memories of laughter, loud conversations, dancing adults and thumping bass keeping me awake with vinyl spinning late into the night; Pat Metheny’s This Way Up, takes me back to 2010 with the intertwined fingers, passionate kisses, and long drives home from Belle’s with it blaring in my Mitsubishi Montero. And, most recently, songs from Karrin Allyson’s In Blue--which was streaming just before we received the news--along with Andreas Bocelli’s live rendition of “Amazing Grace” and Bette Middler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" will be forever conjoined with memories of the recent passing of my father-in-law, William Stevenson.
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HD Boxing Viewing from the Man Cave: Light Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol Hits Chicago for Saturday Title Fight on DAZN!
CHICAGO, October 8, 2019 -- For those familiar with this man cave, a lot of HD boxing viewing occurs within these walls, and this Saturday is no exception. Outstanding World Boxing Association Light-Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol, (16-0, 11 KOs), has arrived in Chicago from his training camp in Los Angeles ahead of his 12-round title defense against Dominican Lenin Castillo, (20-2-1, 15 KOs), this Saturday night, October 12. Bivol vs. Castillo is one of the featured bouts on Matchroom Boxing’s return to Chicago’s Wintrust Arena and will be telecast live on DAZN.
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A Quick Comparison of the Straight Wire Expressivo AG and Serenade 3 Audiophile Interconnects Dished Up!
By Juan C. Ayllon
Audio cables act as passive filters, affecting the performance of a high fidelity speaker system for better or worse, depending on interactions with the room, first, the electronics, second, and personal tastes of the listener, third.
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Usher Audio TD-10 Diamond Midrange Speakers Headline Chicago Audio Society Meeting Today!
SEPTEMBER 15, 2019, Highland Park, IL -- TOSKA AUDIO is hosting this month's Chicago Audio Society meeting, featuring the USHER AUDIO TD-10 DMD Loudspeakers served up with Tube and Solid State and the Triangle Art Hathor turntable, as well as Audio Solution Figaro XL Loudspeakers and Bob Carver Crimson 350 Tube Monoblock amplifiers.
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MartinLogan Unveils Flagship Masterpiece CI Series of Custom Installation Speakers
Denver, Colorado – September 12, 2019 – MartinLogan is pleased to announce the new Masterpiece CI Series of custom installation speakers including the flagship Statement 40XW line source in-wall speaker, three ultimate-performance in-wall speakers, and a sophisticated ultimate-performance in-ceiling speaker.
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Coming Soon to the Cave
In several weeks, a brand new Triangle Art reference level turntable will arrive at the Man Cave, kicking off another season of reviews.
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Photo of the Day
Exhibitor at AXPONA 2014
By Juan C. Ayllon
Here's a photograph I snapped at my first Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) show back in 2014. You can read my account of that event by clicking here.
Review of the Usher TD-10 Loudspeaker
By Juan C. Ayllon
The Usher TD-10 loudspeaker is a downsized F-86 Sabre Jet wing on steroids. Swept back and shiny, it looks built for speed and, at just under four feet tall, this handsome 180lb bruiser surfs the sound waves atop a thick wooden plinth on brass spikes.
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An Approaching Autumn Ramble
By Juan C. Ayllon
It's been quite some summer.
My last two reviews are finished and with that, both the Triangle Hathor turntable and the Usher TD-10 loudspeakers have left the building (you can view the Hathor piece here). Part of me is sad to see them go, but that's the deal.
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My last two reviews are finished and with that, both the Triangle Hathor turntable and the Usher TD-10 loudspeakers have left the building (you can view the Hathor piece here). Part of me is sad to see them go, but that's the deal.
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'It's a Dog's Life'
Photo of the Day
By Juan C. Ayllon
Liam, Juan Ayllon's goldendoodle, snoozes on the area rug in front of his system and the very impressive Usher TD-10 speakers that he's been reviewing for the last several weeks. The results will be posted on Positive Feedback very soon. A link to the piece will be posted after it goes up.
Review of Triangle Art Hathor on Positive Feedback
By Juan C. Ayllon
After spending several months at the Man Cave, the Triangle Art Hathor turntable made an impression on Juan C. Ayllon. Read his thoughts at length in his review at Positive Feedback by clicking here.
Like a Little Salsa with Your Blue Chips?
By Juan C. Ayllon
I read an article the other day where the author advised new audio enthusiasts on purchasing gear. His recommendation was to stick with well-established companies with advertising budgets -- blue chip companies, as he put it -- as this made for better resale value when upgrading to more expensive gear; obscure brand equipment produced in garages are less likely to hold value, he maintained.
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Eight Years of Making -- and Listening to -- Great Music Together
By Juan C. Ayllon
She wowed me at church for years and, after I’d mustered the courage to ask her out and she married me, she bought me a pair of towering vintage Martin Logan electrostatic speakers for my birthday.
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Review Sneak Peak: The New Usher TD-10 Diamond Midrange Speakers Noodling a Jazz Run in the Man Cave!
Almost a week into my review of the brand new Usher TD-10 speakers, I decided to cut this video of them rendering a brief passage from Anthony Wilson's Savivity album in DSD128 (available from NativeDSD Music, you can find out more here).
The formal review should be coming out here in early to mid-August.
The formal review should be coming out here in early to mid-August.
Coming Soon to the Man Cave!
CHICAGOLAND -- In several days, the brand new Usher T-10 speakers will be fast-tracked to a review held at the Prairie Audio Man Cave following its showing at the Chicago Audio Society this Sunday at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum (click here for more details).
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Faces in Audio: Merlin Hahn
By Juan C. Ayllon
MUNDELEIN, IL -- Most weekends, Merlin Hahn, 56, is either selling or rummaging through record bins at flea markets, seeking hidden vinyl gems. After returning home, he systematically cleans, evaluates, re-packs and crates his finds according to category -- VG+/Mint, VG+, VG, G+ and G. It’s an exhausting process, but it’s a labor of love.
A fit and affable divorced father of four living in Mundelein, a northern suburb of Chicago, Hahn stays busy. He’s a substitute teacher at District 75 Mundelein, an actor and instructor at Improv Playhouse in nearby Libertyville, as well as a passionate collector and reseller of vinyl. Having been at it for decades, he brings a wealth of experience to bear on his business, On Demand Vinyl Wishlist and his online store on Discogs, Merlinhahn, where he has a 100 percent five star rating. (Editor’s Note: Hahn told me he’s considering changing platforms for hs online store).
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A fit and affable divorced father of four living in Mundelein, a northern suburb of Chicago, Hahn stays busy. He’s a substitute teacher at District 75 Mundelein, an actor and instructor at Improv Playhouse in nearby Libertyville, as well as a passionate collector and reseller of vinyl. Having been at it for decades, he brings a wealth of experience to bear on his business, On Demand Vinyl Wishlist and his online store on Discogs, Merlinhahn, where he has a 100 percent five star rating. (Editor’s Note: Hahn told me he’s considering changing platforms for hs online store).
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Online Vinyl Auction from the Prairie Audio Man Cave July 9, 2019!
It’s official: this Tuesday, July 9th at 6:00 PM CST, Hahn will broadcast a records auction from Prairie Audio Man Cave. I am excited! You can catch it on Facebook live by joining his page, On Demand Vinyl Wish List (click here to join).
Good Things Come in Small Cabinets --the New Diamond Usher SD-500 Monitor Reviewed
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
The Usher SD-500 monitor experience is akin to test driving a 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman -- whatever reservations you may have about its entry level status fade as it handles difficult passages with ease (fittingly, our review sample arrives in sports car red). This is one serious bookshelf speaker.
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Quality Digital and Vinyl -- It’s All Good!
Text and photo by Juan C. Ayllon
I would be lying if I said that since downloading a slew of DSD128 albums from Native DSD Music last year, listening to quality recordings like Anthony Wilson’s Savivity --- notes hanging in the air, tickling my senses, palpable and present -- isn’t one of my sublime pleasures. Rendering it with my Lampizator DSD Komputer and Lite 7 DAC, there’s no digital hash -- just vivid, unadulterated music. And streaming high res music via Qobuz, I enjoy revisiting long lost treasures and discovering new ones -- which is all to say that I’m hooked on digital playback.
But, wait, there’s more!
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VPI Industries Prime Scout: High End Performance, Sans the Price Tag
Text by Juan C. Ayllon
Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
and courtesy of VPI Industries
Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
and courtesy of VPI Industries
VINYL is the audio enthusiast’s version of Tai Chi, slowing life down with a Zen-like routine, ushering in a fulfilling musical experience.
Removing a record from its sleeve, spindling, wiping, gingerly lowering the stylus and listening for several minutes, then the retrieval and rejacketing -- the ritualistic process takes little time and conscious effort, but the aural rewards of full music waveforms versus digital sampling are not subtle.
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Removing a record from its sleeve, spindling, wiping, gingerly lowering the stylus and listening for several minutes, then the retrieval and rejacketing -- the ritualistic process takes little time and conscious effort, but the aural rewards of full music waveforms versus digital sampling are not subtle.
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AXPONA 2019 --- a 21st Century Audio Bazaar
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Boasting an ultramodern wraparound stainless steel fireplace ensconced in an expansive, white atrium, overlooking hallways and sequoian columns reaching to the heavens, the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center is surely a far cry from Chicago’s historic Maxwell Street Market.
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SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Boasting an ultramodern wraparound stainless steel fireplace ensconced in an expansive, white atrium, overlooking hallways and sequoian columns reaching to the heavens, the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center is surely a far cry from Chicago’s historic Maxwell Street Market.
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'Secrets of the White Album' Thomas Mulready Presentation at AXPONA This Sunday!
It all began with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi inviting The Beatles to Bangor, Wales to take part in a conference on Transcendental Meditation (TM) in 1967. The Beatles embraced TM, renounced their use of drugs, and learned their manager Brian Epstein had died of an accidental overdose back in London. They subsequently traveled to Rishikesh in the foothills of the Himalayas to study TM further with the Maharishi, Mick Jagger, Donovan, Mike Love, Mia Farrow and her sister Prudence.
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Hum, Buzzing or Ground Loop Issues? A Look at the Jensen CI-2RR Ground Isolator and the Less Costly -- and, Now, Unavailable -- ExtremPro
By Juan C. Ayllon
The hum was driving me nuts. At normal listening volumes, it wasn’t apparent, however, when I played HD TV movies or music shows like “The Voice”, I had to turn up the volume on my PrimaLuna Prologue 3 preamplifier to at least the 10 o’clock position due to the lower gain on my cable TV feed -- and that’s when I’d notice it: a notable 60 Hz hum during quiet moments or when shows were paused.
Now it wasn’t a ground loop between the AT&T cable hardwired to my system, as a router and wireless access point fed the signal to a wireless TV receiver, which then connected to the TV via HDMI cable and out to my Lampizator Lite 7 DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) via optical (Toslink) cable.
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Now it wasn’t a ground loop between the AT&T cable hardwired to my system, as a router and wireless access point fed the signal to a wireless TV receiver, which then connected to the TV via HDMI cable and out to my Lampizator Lite 7 DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) via optical (Toslink) cable.
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Martin Logan Introduces New Line of Custom Installation Speakers
MartinLogan is pleased to announce the relaunch of their Installer Series of custom installation speakers including two ultra-compact in-ceiling speakers with 3.5-inch woofers. Completely redesigned, the new Installer Series features 9 models, including five in-ceiling and two in-wall models designed for indoor use and two in-ceiling models designed for all-weather applications.
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AXPONA 2019 Welcomes Over 50 First Time Exhibitors with the Best in High End Audio on April 12-14
Press Release
Schaumburg, IL -- AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), the largest consumer audio show in North America, will take place April 12-14 at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel with over 50 first-time exhibitors making their debut.
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Muscling Up: Tube Rolling in My DAC with 300-Bs
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGOLAND -- It was a teenager in 1977 when seven-time Mr. Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger -- also a burgeoning actor at the time -- denounced my hero, Steve Reeves. Bodybuilding was as socially acceptable as midget wrestling, but wanting muscles, I mail-ordered the Universal 12 Week Bodybuilding Course. It worked. Then on a hot summers night in Greenbriar Elementary's parking lot, former classmates Troy and Jeff took drags from their cigarettes and, looking around, slipped the over-sized book, Pumping Iron, out of a paper bag and showed me photos of Arnold. My mind blown, I became addicted to weights, muscle magazines, protein powders and the annual Midwest Open Bodybuilding Championships -- which I attended all four years of high school (I actually met Arnold when he guest posed there).
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A/V RoomService Equipment Vibration Protectors -- Yes or No?
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Straight off, vibration is not a big issue in my 20’ x 16’ listening room. Located in our basement, the vinyl, faux hardwood floors rest on a cement slab. With a hallway to the left and a fireplace on the right, I employ a large area rug, large acoustic absorption panels, acoustic curtains, several bass traps and an acoustic diffusion panel, as well as sound dampening Dacron Fiberfill behind paintings and thick recycled denim insulation behind my diffusion panel and curio cabinet to deaden the room. They have served my wife, Belle, and me well, whether listening listening to jazz down low on weekend mornings, louder blues, rock and other genres during the day and quite loud when taking in HD movies, The Voice (our favorite reality TV singing competition that starts again on Monday), or or simply dancing to the music.
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What's the Buzz about Qobuz?
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
On weekends, my wife, Belle, listens to music while showering and preparing to head out. It’s usually country or gospel. She presses a button on her six inch tall cylindrical bluetooth speaker, requests an artist or a genre and, moments later, music envelopes our master bath.
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New at AXPONA 2019: Ear Gear Expo, Mobile App, Guest Appearances & Major Product Debuts
SCHAUMBURG, IL, February 19, 2019 -- AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will celebrate its 10thanniversary April 12-14 at theRenaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, marking the biggest show to date with NEW and exciting features. The 2019 show will include an Ear Gear Halldedicated solely to Headphones,Mobile Appto help navigate the show, Guest Speakers, Live Musicnightly, major International Exhibitors, and 100’s of Product Debutsfrom top manufacturers. Now in its tenth year, AXPONA is the premier, high-end audio show in the United States, which caters to dealers, distributors and manufacturers, as well as music-loving consumers.
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Listening at Eric's
By Juan C. Ayllon
Main photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Additional photos by Eric Krupp and John Lumley
Main photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Additional photos by Eric Krupp and John Lumley
CHICAGOLAND -- This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining Gudebrod Audio’s Eric Krupp and John Brunner, as well as their friend, John Lumley (who designs and builds vacuum tube preamplifiers and amps, as well as speakers through Lumley Reference) at Eric’s house for a listening party. Showcased up front were the Gudebrod Audio 3T12V preamplifier, Eric’s revamped JBL L112 speakers and, alternatively, five watt prototype tube amplifiers built by Krupp and Lumley. A Pioneer DVD-7400 digital transport feeding into a Mytek Stereo 192 DSD DAC handled sourcing, while a pair of Gudenbrod AC/120/3 AC line filters ensured clean sound. The sound was incredibly detailed, nuanced, full-bodied and lively.
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AXPONA Friday Night Concert Announced!
Press Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- AXPONA ticket holders are invited to an evening with Seth Walker, an American electric blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter.
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Roon 1.6 is here with new Roon Radio, Qobuz, and much more
Press Release
What better way to kick off the new year than with our biggest update yet?
Version 1.6 brings the brand new Roon Radio, integration with the Qobuz music service, and an improved user experience across several areas of the application.
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Does Going Vintage with the Jupiter Copper Foil, Wax and Paper Cap Make Sense?
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Lead photo courtesy of www.tubeampdoctor.com
Lead photo courtesy of www.tubeampdoctor.com
The smell of silver solder and flux hung in the air. “Whatever you do, don’t let that lead touch the circuit board,” he cautioned, warning that a painful shock and serious equipment damage could result.
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Hsu CCB-8 -- The Little Black Speakers that Can -- and Then Some!
CHICAGO -- I already had their impressive subwoofer, so my interest was piqued with their curious looking satellite speakers when I heard them at AXPONA two years ago. I was impressed! Then, late this last summer and fall, I had a chance to audition a pair of the Hsu CCB-8 coaxial bookshelf speakers in my home.
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New Beginnings with the Odyssey Khartago Extreme
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
My heart sunk. I had just received the bad news: it was inoperable. And, like that, my vintage Mark Levinson amplifier was gone. Sold for “parts or ambitious DIY project.” I was heartbroken. I had searched for her high and low. How could I ever replace her?
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Photo of the Day: A Little Holiday Cheer
The Home screen of Qobuz's online media player is seen here, cast upon our Vizio flat screen TV, playing some vintage Pat Metheny over the Usher Mini Dancer Two DMD speakers, with Christmas lights adorning our fireplace's mantel.
KEF Announces Spotify, Connect and Roon Streaming Integration With LSXA
Marlboro, NJ – November 19th, 2018 – KEF proudly announces the addition of Spotify Connect and Roon streaming playback to LSX, the mighty two-speaker, all-wireless music system that puts the high-end sound KEF is known for in an affordable system easily integrated into virtually any listening room or lifestyle.
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Smartcasting ROON’s Video Display onto Your Smart TV
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you’re like me and you use the music player, ROON, for management and playback of your digital music library, you were thrilled with news that an update enables casting a video display of what’s playing onto your TV (or other Chromecasting enabled device), but grew frustrated when you couldn’t make it work.
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WK Audio ‘TheOne’ Power Cable -- Emperor’s Clothes or a Real Improvement?
Text and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
“Clearly, you’re not an engineer,” a friend texted via Facebook Messenger when I wrote that I was reviewing a premium set of power cables.
The notion that power cords can make a difference in a high fidelity sound system is polarizing. Those disagreeing argue if there’s hundreds of feet of copper wire between the power pole and your equipment, what’s an additional six feet of expensive cable going to matter? But, Paul McGowan, co-founder and CEO of PS Audio, claims the paradigm of powered equipment being at the end of a long power chain is incorrect. (McGowan)
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Sneak Preview of 'The Sweetest Sound' Recording
This video from Native DSD caught my eye the other day in my inbox. The following description came with it:
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Can the Mini Dancer 2 ‘Hold Me Closer’ to the Music?
A Look at the Usher Mini Dancer Two DMD Speakers
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Text and photos by Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGO -- The Usher BE-10 speakers first drew my attention to the brand. A beryllium tweeter, a five-inch mid-bass driver and an 11-inch ETON driver studded piano black angular fronts, curved strips of wood wrapped around swept back bodies that look like muscular versions of an F-16’s wing turned on end, protruding from curved black bases with spikes beneath.
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AXPONA to Keep Shows in April
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- The principals of Audio Expo North America (AXPONA), held at the Renaissance Hotel, had recently announced that they will be moving their show to the fall after being "...encouraged by many exhibitors in recent years to move far away from Munich, to add a trade day and to make it easier for international vendors to exhibit." However, after complaints of disruption of fall schedules and inordinate burdens on merchants, they have decided to return to hosting AXPONA to the month of April.
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Photo of the Day
I spotted this lovely photo of Robert Gaboury's listening space on Facebook this past weekend and had to ask if I could post it up here. He was gracious and said, "Of course!" Turns out, he's the President of Arteluthe, the makers of these lovely Artheluthe Stiletto speakers based out of Quebec, Canada, as well as Business Owner at Surfaces Écocast.
Anthony Wilson Trio Soothes and Shines in Native DSD128 Download Album, ‘Savivity’
Text and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
I know that Anthony Wilson was Diana Krall’s longstanding, pedigreed guitarist, but from the first luscious licks on his hollow body guitar in the bluesy, perky mid-tempo “Fleur d’Ennui,” I sit amazed. Mark Ferber’s ride cymbals join in, and Joe Bagg’s Hammond B-3 comps, laying down a wondrous backdrop to Wilson’s virtuosic lead, then several measures later, serves up a sassy, solo with equal aplomb. The two engage in an intoxicating dialog rounded out by Ferber’s toms, ride and crash cymbals, making this a thoroughly satisfying and savory sonic appetizer that could easily be a meal, but tantalizes about what lies ahead in the rest of their album, Savivity.
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AXPONA Makes the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center Its Permanent Home, Moves to Fall Dates in 2020 and Beyond!
SCHAUMBURG, IL (September 10, 2018) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) is pleased to announce its permanent home at the first-class Renaissance Schaumburg venue in the Chicago area, facilitating a transition to fall dates and accommodating a new dedicated "Trade Day" beginning in 2020. Following the upcoming April 12-14, 2019 AXPONA, the next event will be held October 29-November 1, 2020.
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Haniwa Audio to Present at Chicago Audio Society Meeting on Sept. 9th
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL -- On Sunday, September 9th, Dr. Tetsuo Kubo from Haniwa Audio in Japan and Bob Bean from Haniwa Audio USA will be presenting at the Chicago Audio Society. Dr. Kubo is the founder and designer of Haniwa Audio. The company has received acclaim for their unique moving-coil cartridge designs and is now introducing an entire complete analog and digital system based on Dr. Kubo's ongoing research and development.
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The Gudebrod Audio 3T12V Preamp -- No White Zin, but a California Red?
By Juan C. Ayllon
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL -- The music swirled about the room like wine in a sommelier’s mouth.
I’d first heard them in a packed Arlington Room at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum this last February. The frozen, yellow grass out front was thawing and inside, principals Eric Krupp and John Brunner were demonstrating their Gudebrod Audio 3T12V preamplifier and AC/120/3 line filters to the Chicago Audio Society with a pristine pair of Sonus Faber Amati Olympica 3 speakers.
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I’d first heard them in a packed Arlington Room at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum this last February. The frozen, yellow grass out front was thawing and inside, principals Eric Krupp and John Brunner were demonstrating their Gudebrod Audio 3T12V preamplifier and AC/120/3 line filters to the Chicago Audio Society with a pristine pair of Sonus Faber Amati Olympica 3 speakers.
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An Architected Marvel -- the WK Audio Record Clamp!
Text and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
It was early spring when I received a WK Audio record clamp to review. Designed and handbuilt by Plichtow, Poland Architect Witold (“Witek”) Kaminski, 45, who owns WK Audio, it seems fitting that the results of his laborious testing resembles a miniature 21st Century spin on a Mesopotamian tower. As with his power cords, anti-vibration platforms and accessories, they are the result of long, laborious hours of testing.
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Does the PS Audio BHK Preamplifier Reveal the Whole Truth?
Photos and text by Juan C. Ayllon
He couldn’t have summed it up better.
“What we hope for in any piece of hi-fi equipment is sonic transparency. We get there by practicing the Hippocratic oath, ‘First, do no harm’,” Paul McGowan, CEO of Boulder, Colorado-based PS Audio, writes Elaborating, he asserts that the manufacturers of high fidelity audio equipment should strive to “...leave as small a musically agreeable footprint as possible—to do no harm, and what little impact we have should be toe-tapping good.” (McGowan)
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“What we hope for in any piece of hi-fi equipment is sonic transparency. We get there by practicing the Hippocratic oath, ‘First, do no harm’,” Paul McGowan, CEO of Boulder, Colorado-based PS Audio, writes Elaborating, he asserts that the manufacturers of high fidelity audio equipment should strive to “...leave as small a musically agreeable footprint as possible—to do no harm, and what little impact we have should be toe-tapping good.” (McGowan)
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The VPI Prime Signature Turntable -- a Real World Class Solution to Vinyl Playback?
Text and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon
Last night on the eve of our wedding anniversary, my wife and I were enjoying the romantic movie, Nights in Rodanthe (2008), when it happened.
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My Path to Audio Enlightenment
By Oscar Johnson
Guest Columnist
Guest Columnist
I was in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Japan from September 1975 through April 1984 when I began my serious foray into the audiophile world. I had visited several of the local jazz shops, when I discovered that the Japanese were very very fond of American jazz recordings from the golden era of 1953 through 1962, where vacuum tubes were employed in the recording process. Unfortunately, the tides would change around late 1962 with the introduction of transistors due to the world's demands for more power, bandwidth and reliability.
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A Summers Purge and a TIDAL Wave of Love
By Juan C. Ayllon
Living in the Midwest, summer is a festive season for us. It’s as if we emerge a cold winters thaw and come out to play. It is a time when we especially enjoy entertaining family and friends. Yesterday, was an especially gratifying celebration of family and music.
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Stageek Cable Raceway Kit a Good Fit or Not for Cable Management?
By Juan C. Ayllon
Recently, my wife, Belle, and I replaced her beloved armoire entertainment center in our family room with a wall mounted 65 inch flatscreen TV and a Simpli Home Skylar 60 inch TV stand below to house our components. As impressive as the changes were, cable management was a mess.
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Introducing Two brand new loudspeakers from Aequo Audio
Aequo Audio announces two more loudspeaker models extending the current product family at both ends of the price range, with the GLADIUM (left): a more affordable fully passive 3-way, and D I L U V I UM (right) as the newly redesigned outcome for Aequo's production of the ultimate flagship loudspeaker.
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Music and BBQ at Audio Consultants
EVANSTON, IL -- On Saturday June 16th, from 11 to 3, we will be spinning vinyl on the new Technics SL1200GR turntable and playing it through the Sonance Sonarray outdoor speaker system. We will also provide some grilled food, sides and drinks.
The Technics SL1200GR is a modern version of the famous Technics SL1200 and the Sonance Sonarray is a new and exciting outdoor speaker system.
The Technics SL1200GR is a modern version of the famous Technics SL1200 and the Sonance Sonarray is a new and exciting outdoor speaker system.
Aequo Audio launches new loudspeaker in Munich: Stilla
This year at the High End show in Munich, the Dutch loudspeaker brand Aequo Audio, known by its lightning start with several international awards and rapid worldwide expansion, will launch a slightly more affordable new loudspeakers model called: Stilla. This new and very stylish floor standing speaker is built by hand from high-tech materials developed in-house. Its beautifully curved cabinet is formed by temperature and pressure from special artificial stone with excellent acoustic properties.
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Paul Simon's 'Homeward Bound' Evokes Memories and Insights of My Own Musical Journey
By Ken Slauf
CHICAGO -- Last night at the United Center, my entire adult life passed before my eyes -- at least all the good parts. This experience was facilitated by Paul Simon on his Homeward Bound: The Farewell Tour. Mr. Simon, 10 years my senior, whose songs have been part of not only my musical consciousness, are woven into the fabric of my life. From strumming late night, alone in a dorm room, along with the car radio, a quiet romantic evening or to playing with band mates, Mr. Simon's lyrical genius hold up a mirror to many of my life's most poignant moments and helped to explain those same emotions where my own words were MIA.
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The Man Cave -- and Perhaps the Site -- is Getting a Makeover
By Juan C. Ayllon
This past April, my wife, Belle, and I attended Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) and one unexpected benefit was that our listening/media room ended up getting a makeover (click here for more details). This is no small feat: getting my wife to move her beloved media center armoire from the man cave to another room was huge and immediately impactful on the sound in the space, which is now less congested. Moreover, it now sports a cleaner, sleeker look that Belle and I were looking to get. It is a work in progress.
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Simpli Home Skyler 60 Inch TV Media Stand Revitalizes Our Family Room Look and Function
By Juan C. Ayllon
Fifteen years and three houses ago, my wife, Belle, bought her beloved mahogany media center armoire and shelving units. After we married in 2011, it was a media room mainstay in our first and, now, our second home together.
Being an audiophile reviewer, friends urged me to get rid of it, as it interfered with the sonic characteristics of the listening room. Moreover, snaking cables behind and into the heavy, oversized entertainment center was tricky and downright frustrating as I swapped review gear around. However, Belle wouldn’t allow it.
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Being an audiophile reviewer, friends urged me to get rid of it, as it interfered with the sonic characteristics of the listening room. Moreover, snaking cables behind and into the heavy, oversized entertainment center was tricky and downright frustrating as I swapped review gear around. However, Belle wouldn’t allow it.
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Heard 'Round the Man Cave: The Cypher Labs Prautes Headphone Amplifier Reviewed
By Juan C. Ayllon
Sitting down to listen to the Cypher Labs Prautes headphone amplifier/preamplifier warming up in my system, I feel like I just emerged from the vortex of a Category 5 storm -- concluding my two year cycle tenured teacher evaluation, healthcare concerns with the inlaws, audio reviews and AXPONA (Audio Expo North America). It is time to catch my breath and, as I hear Samba licks on an acoustic guitar, a little piano and Diana Krall crooning over my system, my shoulders relax. Just breathe. There’s just something about that classic warm tube sound paired with an excellent recording that soothes as aloe on sunburned skin.
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No Barbershop Quartet Act, Audio Expo North America Rocks the Northwest Suburbs with Its Exquisite Electronics Show
Photos and text by Juan C. Ayllon
BARRINGTON, IL -- The middle aged proprietor at Barrington Barbershop was cutting my hair some time ago when he told me about his musician friend’s Leslie speaker that employs a motor to spin its treble horn and woofer for an unusually pleasing effect.
“Would you believe he spent over $2,000 for that?” he said, fascination turning to disbelief.
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“Would you believe he spent over $2,000 for that?” he said, fascination turning to disbelief.
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Changing It Up and a look back at Speakers in My Living Spaces
By Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGOLAND, IL -- Life has been a whirlwind of professional and personal activity since Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) last month at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL with my wife last month. I feel that I am just now catching my breath, allowing me to process and post up a belated report in the days to come.
One of the unexpected byproducts of attending this year’s AXPONA was my wife’s pronouncement that after seeing the sleek audio racks showcasing high end gear, we should get a clean new look and replace her beloved entertainment center that has resided in my listening and media room the last several years.
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One of the unexpected byproducts of attending this year’s AXPONA was my wife’s pronouncement that after seeing the sleek audio racks showcasing high end gear, we should get a clean new look and replace her beloved entertainment center that has resided in my listening and media room the last several years.
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Is It Live -- or is it...a Super Komputer?
By Juan C. Ayllon
It was incredible: John McLaughlin, Paco DeLucia and Al Di Meola were actually seated in my family room, jamming flamenco style, their fingers whirring blindingly fast on their acoustic guitars. As long as I live, I will never forget it.
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Can Jam in the House: Audio Art HPX-1SE Cables, Audeze LCD-3 and Sennheiser HD 800S Headphones Rock the Man Cave!
By Juan C. Ayllon
He probably doesn’t remember, but I first met the affable, San Diego, California-based Rob Fritz at his Audio Art Cable booth at my first AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) show in 2014. I enjoyed our chat and since then have received periodic marketing emails from him. Recently, when I saw his ad on their new HPX1-SE headphone cables, I asked to review them.
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Music -- a Soul Quenching Companion to Me Through the Years
By Juan C. Ayllon
Acclaimed Jazz and sessions guitarist, Larry Carlton, once said, “Blues are good for the soul,” but, I would expand his statement to include listening to good music, period. Live or reproduced -- it doesn’t matter.
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Why Do I Listen to Records?
By Michael Laurance
This last Saturday was a rather rough day. Roofing contractors were working in my neighborhood, got the wrong address, and mistakenly began tearing the roof off my house. I awoke at 7:25 am to people ripping holes right above my bedroom. It was only a 4 year old roof. Now, they have since come back, and done a marvelous job repairing their damages, but let me tell you, it made for a stressful day.
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A Sneak Peak at the VPI Industries Prime Signature Turntable playing a Clip from Larry Carlton's Album, 'Last Nite'
It's downright gorgeous, but don't be fooled -- it's not just a pretty face. It plays well, too and, like Larry Carlton, it can rock the room with the best of them.
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Automation Comes to Nucleus by Roon Labs
(PRESS RELEASE) -- High-performance audio products and home automation have always been difficult to integrate, or at worst, totally incompatible. With Nucleus and Nucleus+ music servers, Roon solves that problem. Using our Control4 and Crestron drivers, you can now choose premium products from over 60 of the most respected brands in audio and they'll work as part of a robust whole-home audio solution.
Control4
With our two Control4 drivers, you can use Control4 to browse a Roon library on Nucleus or Nucleus+ (including files and TIDAL streams) and control devices set up as Roon zones/
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Control4
With our two Control4 drivers, you can use Control4 to browse a Roon library on Nucleus or Nucleus+ (including files and TIDAL streams) and control devices set up as Roon zones/
Learn more...
Jean-Luc Ponty's 'Imaginary Voyage' Ageless, Brings Back Magic of Youthful Listening Sessions
By John M. Crossett III
One of the few joys that come with being an older music lover/audiophile is finding LP’s in your collection that you haven’t listened to in forever, but that, at one time, contained some of the most important music of your life.
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Lionel Hampton's 'Newport Uproar' Reissue a Mind-Changer
By John M. Crossett III
I will freely admit, I’ve never been a big Lionel Hampton fan. Never cared for musicians who felt they had to pander to the crowd for appreciation (if the music isn’t enough, then playing the crowd can’t help). But I may have misjudged Lionel.
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Art Garfunkel Hit High 'Watermark' in Album Sans Simon
By John M. Crossett III
When Simon & Garfunkel broke up, most of the attention was paid to Paul Simon’s career. But Art Garfunkel wasn’t about to slide quietly off the stage, and he began his own solo career.
This album, “Watermark,” was one of the highlights of said solo efforts. No, Art never got the publicity Paul got - Art wasn’t the songwriter Paul was. But what Art had, and still does is that superb voice. Yes, it works much better playing off Simon’s, but albums like this show it could stand perfectly well on its own.
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This album, “Watermark,” was one of the highlights of said solo efforts. No, Art never got the publicity Paul got - Art wasn’t the songwriter Paul was. But what Art had, and still does is that superb voice. Yes, it works much better playing off Simon’s, but albums like this show it could stand perfectly well on its own.
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Netflix’s ‘Seven Seconds’ Rivets and Delivers
By Juan C. Ayllon
We’ve all been there. A relative in distress. A baby on the way. We rush to the hospital in a panic. In a hurry. And, by the grace of God, we arrive, unscathed, to tend to our loved one.
Only in this story, it does not play out that way.
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Only in this story, it does not play out that way.
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Jason Vitelli's 'Head Above Tide' Album Pushes Boundaries and Draws You In!
By John M. Crossett III
Jason Vitelli can be something of a musical enigma. If you listen to his music you hear echoes of musical inspirations that vary from classical to jazz to the more adventurous music from the late 1970’s to early 1980’s to the Seattle music scene of the 1990’s. But what this scribe hears most of all are strong overtones of progressive rock - even though Jason says he’s not a big fan of that musical genre (though he does profess an interest on King Crimson and Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel, and Brian Eno.) One thing he is not, however, is predictable. His music covers a wide area, which makes listening both challenging and enjoyable at the same time. Challenging due to that unpredictability. Enjoyable due to the fact that no two songs are the same, so each new tune is an invitation to a new musical adventure. His music is also not your daughters pop/rock. This is adult music, music that makes you sit and listen. This is not background music, it’s so well crafted that it demands you listen and pay attention. The reward, a music that reveals itself on multiple levels depending on how deeply you choose to listen.
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Gudebrod 3T12V preamplifier, Setup a Hit at 'Chicago Audio Society' Feb. 17th Meeting!
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL, February 17, 2017 -- It sat atop an equipment rack on a raised dais at in a grey carpeted lecture hall at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, a smart board behind it and an American flag off to the right. Its oversized, aluminum chassis sporting three utilitarian knobs and buttressed by dark wooden sides, the rectangular Gudebrod 3T12V preamplifier looked ordinary, but captivated some 20 attendees this Sunday afternoon.
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The Three Sounds 'Groovin' Hard' Album Lives Up to Its Name
By John M. Crossett III
For Record Store Day in 2016 Resonance Records released this album of music by The Three Sounds recorded over a five year period (1964-68) at The Penthouse in Seattle, Washington. These 10 tunes, mostly jazz standards, capture the original band (made up of pianist Gene Harris, bassist Andy Simpkins, and drummer Bill Dowdy [the 1964 recordings] - drummers Kalil Madi [the 1966 numbers] and Carl Burnett [the 1968 tunes] play three tunes each) on four of the ten number with the other drummers taking turns on the rest. But no matter the lineup, this is The Three Sounds, mainly because both Harris (the real leader) and Simpkins are there using decades worth of playing together to keep the sound of the band on target.
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NEW AT AXPONA 2018: RECORD FAIR, MASTER CLASS THEATER, EXPANDED EXHIBIT HALL, INDUSTRY LOUNGE AND MAJOR PRODUCT DEBUTS
SCHAUMBURG, IL (PRESS RELEASE) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will open April 13-15 in a new location at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, boasting fresh and exciting features and dedicated areas to highlight breakthrough products in the music world. The 2018 show will include a Record Fair, Master Class Theater, expanded Exhibit Hall, Industry Lounge, 100’s of Product Debuts, and Seminars by TOP leaders in the industry. Now in its ninth year, AXPONA is the defining, high-end audio show in the United States, which caters to dealers, distributors and manufacturers, as well as music-loving consumers.
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Jonny Lang Tickets at Madison, WI March 4th -- 2 Free Tickets Available!
MADISON, WI (PRESS RELEASE) -- At the Madison Blues Society we are all about sharing great blues music and here's an upcoming show we don't think you should miss! In fact, we have TWO pairs of tickets to give away to two lucky fans!
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LIVE MUSIC for All Attendees at AXPONA Saturday, April 14, 2018 | 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Formed in 2013, The Corey Dennison Band has become a favorite attraction at Chicago blues venues, including twice-weekly appearances at Kingston Mines. Led by Corey Dennison’s soulful voice and muscular guitar, the band released its self-titled studio debut for the legendary Delmark Records in 2016 after honing 13 original songs night after night on the bandstand. Corey’s decade-long stint with Carl Weathersby and Gerry Hundt’s tenure with Nick Moss are evident on the disc but blend effortlessly into a dynamic new Chicago sound, anchored by Aaron Whittier and drummer Joel Baer.
Attendance is free to all AXPONA attendees.
Read more about the featured artists here.
Attendance is free to all AXPONA attendees.
Read more about the featured artists here.
Serving Guests for a Memorable, but Wallet Friendly Listening Party
By Juan C. Ayllon
if you are like me, you enjoy hosting with a little panache, but don’t like a big fuss or expense. With the high costs of living -- and audio -- these days, it just makes sense to economize.
No matter how great the acoustics, equipment and music sources, at some point, people need refreshment. While you can always order out pizza, takeout Chinese or Mexican, these costs can add up quickly. However, with a little creativity, you can provide first rate vittles and entertainment without breaking the bank.
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No matter how great the acoustics, equipment and music sources, at some point, people need refreshment. While you can always order out pizza, takeout Chinese or Mexican, these costs can add up quickly. However, with a little creativity, you can provide first rate vittles and entertainment without breaking the bank.
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Justin Timberlake's 'Super Bowl' Halftime Show was Likeable
By Juan C. Ayllon
I have to come clean. I like Justin Timberlake. He’s a talented, hard working, Grammy Award winning pop artist who just seems nice. And his Super Bowl halftime performance last Sunday seemed intent on cementing this likeability factor with mainstream America.
It conjured a scene from the 90s movie (back when Timberlake was first a chart topper), The Big Night, where successful restaurateur Pascal, counsels his friend, Secondo (his partner/brother, Primo, is a brilliant but quirky chef) whose own Italian restaurant is on the brink of bankruptcy, “A guy works all day, he don't want to look at his plate and ask, ‘what the [expletive] is this?’ He wants to look at his plate, see a steak, and say ‘I like steak!’
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It conjured a scene from the 90s movie (back when Timberlake was first a chart topper), The Big Night, where successful restaurateur Pascal, counsels his friend, Secondo (his partner/brother, Primo, is a brilliant but quirky chef) whose own Italian restaurant is on the brink of bankruptcy, “A guy works all day, he don't want to look at his plate and ask, ‘what the [expletive] is this?’ He wants to look at his plate, see a steak, and say ‘I like steak!’
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Mundorf Madness -- a Look at the Impact of a Capacitor Upgrade on a DAC
By Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGO -- I searched the halls of Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2014 for a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) to link to a dedicated computer server for music playback (you can read about it here) and, fast forward to last fall, I had a world class loudspeaker and component designer I’d met there, upgrading my converter in my living room.
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Audio Expo North America Comes to the Suburbs in April
By Juan C. Ayllon
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- I was soldering a pair of high end Mundorf capacitors into my digital to analog converter several months ago, when the scent of the molten silver alloy took me back to 1972. Then 11, I watched with wonder as my late father, solder iron in hand, fused components onto a circuit board of a HeathKit receiver. It was meticulous, but rewarding, producing wondrous music in our living room for years. He was an engineer, after all. That HeathKit, anchored by a Garrard turntable, introduced me to FM radio and instilled a love for music and its reproduction.
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The Baked Potato Revisited, Courtesy of Larry Carlton’s ‘Last Nite’
By Juan C. Ayllon
If you are familiar with Larry Carlton, you know that he was a legendary sessions man that rose through the ranks in the 1960s and exploded onto the albums of chart toppers like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many others in the 70s and 80s before going onto a stellar solo career. Most often, this winner of Grammy Awards and The Guitar Player Lifetime Achievement Award (2008) is known for his precision, silky smooth, emotional, focused and lyrical style. (Gress)
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One of My Favorite Mixes — Mark Farina’s ‘Mushroom Jazz Live, San Antonio
By Juan C. Ayllon
I first discovered DJ Mark Farina in the late 90s while cruising the CD listening stations at the Borders Bookstore in Gurnee. At the time, I had my own mobile DJ service and had been asked by the leader of Single Adults Ministry to play some music on Thursday nights after the singles groups let out.
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The World Is My Oyster- Pro-Ject One Turntable
By Michael Laurance
As a guy in my late forties, the record player, turntable as we prefer, is not a new novelty. It’s how I grew up listening to music. It was my introduction to all the great things in life. For me, it never went away. I never threw mine in the trash and went without. There has always been, and will always be, a turntable in my system. In fact, there are no less than 4 of them running in my home. Yes, I’m addicted.
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Ortofon Celebrates a Century in Audio
Cheap Tweaks: Do It Yourself Ball Bearing Vibration Isolation Pucks
By Juan C. Ayllon
I read that Mark Levinson first introduced a preamp without tone controls in the 1970s, but suspect it was a paramour, tired of being ignored while he adjusted knobs, who was the prime mover. No doubt, this backfired. Like the twitching of a squirrel’s tail, since then audiophiles worldwide have obsessed over ways to tweak and improve their sound systems’ performance.
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Top Ten Reasons Why 'Aja' is Steely Dan’s Greatest Album
By Jeffrey Collazo
On September 3, 2017, just 20 days short of Steely Dan’s 40th anniversary of the release of their landmark recording, Aja, co-founder Walter Becker passed away, which is ironic as this album marked the pinnacle of Steely Dan’s creativity. So much ink has been spilled on the significance of this record. To understand and appreciate it, let’s delve into why this is a standout among millions of recordings.
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Is a Fuse Just a Fuse -- or Not?
By Juan C. Ayllon
For some, the idea of using a specialty electrical fuse to improve the performance of a stereo is preposterous and on the level of wearing a tin foil hat to protect one’s brain from mind reading, mind control and electromagnetic fields.
Recently, Bernd Ahne of the Berlin, Germany-based firm, Hifi Tuning, challenged my friend, Barry, an electrical engineer and one of my fellow administrators at The Audiophile Group on Facebook, to simply try some of his audiophile fuses and make his own conclusions.
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Recently, Bernd Ahne of the Berlin, Germany-based firm, Hifi Tuning, challenged my friend, Barry, an electrical engineer and one of my fellow administrators at The Audiophile Group on Facebook, to simply try some of his audiophile fuses and make his own conclusions.
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High Definition Audio Comparison -- Can You Really Tell the Difference?
By Ethan Winer
There's a lot of interest in "high definition" (HD) audio by both audiophiles and professional recording engineers. Standard CD-quality recording uses a sample rate of 44.1 KHz with a bit depth of 16 bits. Sampling at 44.1 KHz allows capturing frequencies slightly higher than the accepted upper limit of around 20 KHz (for young people), and 16 bits provides a very low noise floor 96 dB below the music. Read More...
AXPONA Early Bird Tickets Available!
SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Discounted tickets for the extremely popular upcoming Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) show, held this year for the first time at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center are now available on a discounted basis if you buy them now. Read more...
ROON Labs has Job Openings in IT
January 5 -- Roon Labs, the makers of the popular music player software, has several exciting job openings in Information Technology -- specifically in hardware ecosystems and software development.
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Roon Labs was founded in January 2015 by a team that started working together ten years earlier. Their first company was Sooloos, which produced an embedded multi-room music server system with storage, audio playback, and touchscreen kiosk devices. Upon its launch in 2006, Sooloos received critical acclaim and became the gold standard in high-end audio systems. READ MORE.
Launching Prairie Audio Man Cave in 2018
. CHICAGO, December 22, 2017 -- It seemed simple enough.
"Why don't you have a dedicated site for audio?" my friend, Sam, asked. Just keep the other site for boxing and other stuff, he suggested.
For the last several years, I had been running www.ayllonmedia.com as a catch-all for my various writing, reviewing and artistic pursuits. Indeed, why not?
Often marginalized, high end audio is a niche unto itself and feels a bit odd lumped together with boxing, consumer good reviews and art as I've done at www.ayllonmedia.com . It's like shopping for Ferraris at Walmart or a cigar shop. I get it.
Granted, there are lots of other audiophile sites out there. However, I have my unique voice and take on things, and I aim to express it here as best I can. And, with the help of a few friends, I hope to entertain and provide a viable online site on the enjoyment of high end audio and music.
Come, join us for the ride.
"Why don't you have a dedicated site for audio?" my friend, Sam, asked. Just keep the other site for boxing and other stuff, he suggested.
For the last several years, I had been running www.ayllonmedia.com as a catch-all for my various writing, reviewing and artistic pursuits. Indeed, why not?
Often marginalized, high end audio is a niche unto itself and feels a bit odd lumped together with boxing, consumer good reviews and art as I've done at www.ayllonmedia.com . It's like shopping for Ferraris at Walmart or a cigar shop. I get it.
Granted, there are lots of other audiophile sites out there. However, I have my unique voice and take on things, and I aim to express it here as best I can. And, with the help of a few friends, I hope to entertain and provide a viable online site on the enjoyment of high end audio and music.
Come, join us for the ride.
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