Welcome to The Abso!ute Sound online! We explore music and the reproduction of music in the home. We believe that the sound of music, unamplified, occurring in a real space is a philosophic absolute against which we may judge the performance of devices designed to reproduce music. Our goal is to provide the resources consumers need to judge how a component's sound either honors or departs from the music's truth, and to make sound purchasing decisions that maximize their experience of reproduced sound. Below is our Issue 269, January 2017 table of contents and editorial.
Jonathan Valin, Robert Harley, and Julie Mullins bring you the highlights from the Tokyo International Audio Show.
Lavish Hi-Fi in Santa Rosa, CA, showcases GamuT Audio's Zodiac loudspeaker and hosts a Robert Harley book signing.
Roger Skoff on super-tweeters and musical realism.
Art Lintgen examines a new 23-CD set by an "extremely talented" conductor.
On Rhino's new box set Bowie becomes re-inspired, says Jeff Wilson.
Jeff Wilson interviews Mike Valentine, head of a new direct-to-disc label.
Alan Taffel and Andrew Quint review hi-res rock and classical downloads.
New music by Wilco, The Pretenders, Alejandro Escovedo, Melissa Etheridge, Kristin Scott Benson, and Fiona Boyes, plus an Everly Brothers DVD, a Josh White vinyl reissue, Stockfisch's latest Analog Pearls release, and MoFi's new UD1S edition of Santana's Abraxas.
New releases by Jane Ira Bloom, Mary Halvorson, Catherine Russell, Clare Teal, and Norah Jones, plus vinyl reissues by Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson, and McCoy Tyner.
Eighth Blackbird, the Poulenc Trio, and the music of Arvo Pärt, plus chamber music by Rózsa and Kodály and PentaTone's new SACDs of Mozart and Bizet.
Vade Forrester auditions these planar-magnetic wonders from HiFiMan.
Steven Stone reports on a newly updated version of his long-term in-ear reference.
The Hafler brand is back! Julie Mullins puts the revived company's first product — a $599 phonostage — through its paces.
Paul Seydor on an exceptional record-playing system from Helmut Brinkmann.
Rotel's powerful and capable RA-1592 redefines the mid-priced integrated amplifier category, says Neil Gader.
Long renowned for its superb build-quality and excellent sound, PrimaLuna raises the bar with its new preamp and power amps — all tube, of course. Greg Weaver offers his assessment.
Paul Seydor has purchased two loudspeakers in the past 25 years. One of them is Harbeth's new 40.2. Find out why he found this monitor so compelling.
Has Class D amplification come of age? Steven Stone thinks so, if that Class D amplifier is the Bel Canto REF600M.
Neil Gader listens to three sets of upper-end cables and interconnects.
Kirk Midtskog on a new preamp and powerhouse solid-state amplifier from Bryston.
With the Wavelet DSP processor, Legacy has vaulted the superb Aeris system into new territory sonically. Anthony H. Cordesman brings you a full evaluation of this unique technology.