Table of contents for July 2021 in Stereophile

Stereophile|July 2021

MQA again

THIS ISSUE: MQA surfaces. MQA has once again floated to the surface of the perfectionist-audio pond—not belly-up as some have hoped but forced there by relentless pursuit by anti-MQA predators posing as impartial jellyfish. In case you’ve been living amidst the seaweed at the bottom of the pond, MQA is a thing that’s done to digital audio data—sort of a codec that is said to reduce the “blurring” repeated digital conversions cause. For high-resolution audio, MQA compresses data into a much smaller file or stream while retaining, it is said, the sonic benefits of the original high-rez audio (and also of “deblurring”). MQA appears to be genuinely clever and legitimately new, implementing post-Shannon developments in sampling theory that have not previously been applied to digital audio.1 MQA is controversial, for…

4 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Dynamic Sounds Associates “Lab Grade” Phono III preamplifier

THIS ISSUE: Mikey auditions a versatile, low-noise phono preamplifier from DSA, aka Dynamic Sounds Associates. First, a power update: The generator and transfer switch bypass plan has been solidified, the town permit has arrived, and the work will commence soon. I’m pretty sure what I’ve learned through this debacle will help other audiophiles improve both their power and their system’s sound. Now, on to this month’s column: Revisiting an updated product from a small company can be a rewarding experience. For startups in our competitive, niche marketplace, just remaining in business is a challenge. Many undercapitalized startups founded by well-meaning idealists/hobbyists disappear in just a few years if not faster. Stereophile’s willingness to review a product depends to some degree on a company’s track record and staying power, for good…

15 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Magico A5

It’s rare for a Stereophile reviewer to review two loudspeakers in a row from the same manufacturer, but then these are unusual times. Because of the pandemic, Magico’s M2s got stuck here for a year (I know: poor me). By the time they were packed up and shipped out, it was time for a long-scheduled review of the less-expensive, more-massive Magico A5 ($24,800/pair). At $63,600/pair equipped with the no-longer-optional M-Pod footers,1 the now-departed M2 costs roughly 2.5 times what the newly arrived A5 costs. (The A5 comes with mere spikes.) Like all current Magico speakers, both are sealed-box, acoustic suspension designs, which means that at the bottom end, the response falls off at 12dB/octave—slow enough to have useful output a full octave below where the low bass starts trending down.…

17 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Esoteric Grandioso C1X

Even as I was admiring some of the handsomest audio gear I’d ever set eyes on, my thoughts kept returning to equipment of a very different sort. Flash back maybe 40 years to my one-bedroom apartment on Elgin Park in San Francisco during the period when I was whistling for my supper and performing Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro” in the Emmy-nominated Peanuts cartoon, “She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown.” Cue the constant din of an elevated four-lane freeway, since demolished as a blight on humankind, which I tried to pretend was the sound of water in the accompaniment to one of Schubert’s many “water and fish” songs. Enter a reporter from the College of Marin newspaper, poised to write a preview of my forthcoming performance at his school. As…

17 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Michi by Rotel M8

In an April 2020 press release, the McIntosh Group announced that its subsidiary brand Sumiko, which was cofounded by the late Dave Fletcher and distributes Sonus Faber and Pro-Ject among other high-performance brands, had secured distribution rights for Rotel Electronics in the US and Latin America. That press release prompted memories of a Rotel RP-3000 direct drive turntable I once owned, fitted with a Lustre GST arm. On that ’table, Rotel put a massive AC direct-drive motor—not quartz-locked—fitted with a lightweight, not-particularly-well-damped platter mounted to a rudimentary wood plinth and sold it for a very affordable price. It was an atypical Japanese product that could be heavily modified and improved, which many buyers did. I filed away the Rotel news until recently when a press release announced the American rollout…

12 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Vincent Audio SV-737

Founded in 1995 by Uwe Bartel, Vincent Audio is owned by Sintron Distribution GmbH. Vincent launched its LS-1 preamplifier and D-150 hybrid stereo power amplifier the year the company was founded. Vincent “offers two ‘electrical concepts,’” states the Vincent website. “One side is solid state transistor products. The other is a hybrid technology featuring vacuum tubes on the input stages combined with solid state transistors in the output stage.” The Vincent Audio SV-737 integrated amplifier ($3499.95) is on the hybrid side. It has a “class-A/AB” output stage—biased to deliver 10W in class-A—said to be capable of 180Wpc into 8 ohms (10Wpc of that in class-A) or 300Wpc into 4 ohms. The SV-737 does digital, with a Burr-Brown PCM5102 DAC chip capable of PCM playback up to 24-bit/192kHz via TosLink or…

12 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Line Magnetic LM-845IA

If you’ve ever paused in front of a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, you may have noticed that the canvas seems to glow. Everything in Rubens’s paintings celebrates abundance. A golden light bathes his landscapes, and his figures are epitomes of radiant health—the women ample and voluptuous (a body type sometimes called “Rubenesque”), the men vigorous and athletic. Invariably, these expanses of rosy European flesh appear to be in motion, an effect Rubens mastered more thoroughly than arguably any artist of his age. Rubens’s life was as much of a testament to plenitude and vigor as his art. After several hours of sleep, he worked from 4am to 5pm; as he painted, an assistant read aloud to him from works of classical literature, and afterward Rubens rode one of his…

13 min

Stereophile|July 2021

FOLLOW-UP

THIS ISSUE: Sasha Matson retrofits his Bricasti M1 DAC with a new processor board. BRICASTI DESIGN M1SE MDX The greater my own longevity, the more I admire that very quality—longevity, that is. An “upgrade path” is similarly appealing—if, regrettably, rarely available to humans, who are stuck with the equipment we were born with, give or take a prosthesis or two. Hi-fi upgrades are less rare than upgrades for us humans, and yet they are far from common. A realistic, practical upgrade path is a factor I consider in any hi-fi purchasing decision—not the only factor, certainly, but an important one. A product that’s upgradeable can stay in your system—your audio system—for a long time. Bricasti Design introduced its first consumer audio product, the M1 D/A converter, in 2010. More than…

8 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Select recordings by Pat Metheny

BRIGHT SIZE LIFE (ECM, 1976) With bassist Jaco Pastorius and drummer Bob Moses on his ECM debut, 21-year-old Metheny blasts off with an original sound and compositional style, performing original compositions plus Ornette Coleman’s “Round Trip/Broadway Blues.” The freshness, hardcore swing, and clearheaded inventiveness of Bright Size Life landed it at the National Recording Registry—a literal treasure. 80/81 (ECM, 1980) If there was any doubt as to Metheny’s status as a brilliant jazz guitarist and composer, 80/81 settled the issue. Joined by four of the other greatest musicians in jazz—Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, and Jack DeJohnette—Metheny wrote specifically for each player, covering folk, avant-garde, free-ish jazz, and hard bop. OFFRAMP (ECM, 1982) Recorded with percussionist Naná Vasconcelos as the first Pat Metheny Group was disintegrating, Offramp combines sensuousness,…

2 min

Stereophile|July 2021

JAZZ

PUNKT.VRT.PLASTIK Somit Kaja Draksler, upright pianos; Petter Eldh, bass; Christian Lillinger, drums, percussion Intakt 353 (CD). 2021. Kaja Draksler, Petter Eldh, Christian Lillinger, prods.; Martin Waschkowitsch, eng. There’s a lot to unpack with Punkt. Vrt.Plastik, but doing so doesn’t feel like a struggle. Unfortunately, doing so doesn’t quite make things crystal clear. First the name. “Punkt” is Swedish for dot. “Vrt” is Slovenian for “garden.” “Plastik” is German for “plastic.” The three words represent the nationalities of the three players: bassist Petter Eldh, pianist Kaja Draksler, and drummer Christian Lillinger. The album’s title, Somit, translates as “consequently.” If that’s all vaguely suggestive while remaining intriguingly confounding, then we’re on the right track. Punkt. Vrt.Plastik is a piano trio. Somit sounds like jazz, but again, it’s not as easy as that.…

8 min

Stereophile|July 2021

LETTERS

TAKE HEED! Unless marked otherwise, all letters to the magazine and its writers are assumed to be for possible publication. Please include your name and physical address. We reserve the right to edit for length and content. The closing of Lyric Hi-Fi So sorry to read about the closing of Lyric Hi-Fi. It was one of the last of the great audio dens. There were so many in the NYC area back in the late ’70s. I never had the nerve to go in by myself; I thought everything they carried was beyond the economic reach of a college student, and that I’d be bounced out like Jay Jay French. I do remember going in with my dad. He eventually purchased a pair of KLH 5’s with real walnut cabinets…

5 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Magneto Analogue

THIS ISSUE: A heavy-metal phono stage with LCR EQ and two recent phono cartridge entries from Sumiko. KITSUNÉ HIFI LCR-1 MK5 PHONO STAGE In my world, the quiet ritual of choosing a record and placing it carefully on the platter is always followed by a sequence of three rough sounds. With the volume at listening level, I hear the bristle-by-bristle rasping of my stylus brush as it drags across the exposed tip of the cartridge cantilever. Next, as I dip the diamond in Onzow gel, I hear a little suction cup pop and feel the compliance of the cantilever’s rubber-tire suspension. Finally, my brain registers that sizzle sound as the stylus contacts the grooved surface. These sounds are tattooed on my brain. They “cue up” my consciousness, preparing it for…

15 min

Stereophile|July 2021

MEASUREMENTS

Because of the Magico A5’s bulk and weight, I drove my test gear to Jim Austin’s apartment to perform the measurements in situ. As always, I used DRA Labs’ MLSSA system, an Earthworks microphone preamplifier, and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Magico A5’s behavior in the farfield. (We maneuvered one of the 180lb speakers, serial number 000407, onto a dolly and rolled it so it fired across a room diagonal and was maximally distant from the sidewalls.) I used an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield and spatially averaged in-room responses. (For the latter, the loudspeakers were in the positions where JCA had auditioned them.) Magico specifies the A5’s sensitivity as 88dB for 2.83V at 1m. My estimate was slightly lower, at 86.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. The A5’s impedance is…

7 min

Stereophile|July 2021

MEASUREMENTS

I measured the Esoteric Grandioso C1X’s performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It”1) and checked some results with the magazine’s more-recent APx555 system. The C1X’s massive power supply chassis sat on the floor, as far away from the preamplifier chassis as I could arrange with the long umbilical cables. I took a complete set of tests using the balanced inputs, repeating some tests using the single-ended inputs. As set up with the Menu by JVS, the display showed the volume in accurate 0.1dB steps from –99.9dB to +12.0dB. The maximum gain was exactly 12dB for the balanced and unbalanced inputs to the balanced outputs. The preamplifier preserved absolute polarity (ie, was noninverting) with both balanced and unbalanced inputs. (Its XLR jacks are…

4 min

Stereophile|July 2021

MEASUREMENTS

I performed a full suite of measurements on one of the Rotel Michi M8s (serial no 256-9511006) using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It”1). Because I don’t have a test load with sufficient thermal capacity to handle the Michi amplifier’s very high power, I wasn’t able to perform my usual preconditioning of operating it at ⅛ power for 30 minutes, let alone the more demanding ⅓ power for 60 minutes. But with its fans and massive heatsinks, the M8 remained cool throughout the testing. The heat-sink temperature was 80.0°F/26.7°C during the low-power testing and had risen by just 10°F when I examined the maximum power capability. The Michi M8’s voltage gain at 1kHz into 8 ohms was 29.6dB for the balanced input and…

4 min

Stereophile|July 2021

MEASUREMENTS

I tested the Vincent SV-737 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It”1). I first preconditioned the amplifier by following the CEA’s recommendation, operating it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes. At the end of that time, the top panel was warm, at 104.6°F (40.3°C), and the heatsinks hotter, at 113.9°F (45.5°C). I then performed my usual thermal stress test by running the amplifier at one-third power into 8 ohms for an hour. At the end of this time, the heatsinks’ temperature had risen to 121.3°F (49.6°C). The Vincent amplifier has enough thermal capacity for its power rating, though, due to the significant biasing of its output stage into class-A, it runs warm. Be sure to give this amplifier…

9 min

Stereophile|July 2021

MEASUREMENTS

The Line Magnetic LM-845IA looks identical to the company’s LM-518IA integrated amplifier that Herb Reichert reviewed in October 2015.1 However, there are many differences in the details. The amplifier still uses a single 845 directly heated triode for each channel’s output stage. (It was fitted with the stock tubes when I received it.) I followed the instructions in the manual for setting the bias current for these tubes at the recommended 70mA. After the amplifier had been operating for 30 minutes, I shorted the inputs to ground and adjusted the hum-balancer controls to minimize the noise in each channel’s output. (Care must be taken when making these adjustments, as the trimpots are close to the output tubes, which run very hot.) I measured the amplifier with my Audio Precision…

7 min

Stereophile|July 2021

WHAT DOES MAHLER THINK?

I thought it would be illuminating to listen to a Mahler symphony—I chose No.7—but with a different recording, orchestra, and venue for each movement, to show the kinds of distinctions the M1SE MDx is capable of facilitating. To level the aural playing field, I made sure that all the recordings were streaming at 24/96 resolution, via Qobuz. Here are some of my listening notes, both plusses and minuses. Mvt.I “Langsam.” Kubelik/Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. (Deutsche Grammophon, 1989; appears in Mahler: 10 Symphonies): Sounds compressed and overly dry. Little of the sense of space that benefits this music. Top and bottom ends are missing in action. A fine performance, though. Mvt.II “Nachtmusic.” Haitinck/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. (Decca, 2019, appears in Mahler: The Symphonies & Song Cycles): Now we’re talking! Lovely, very wide…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

More cowbell

THIS ISSUE: A MoFi One Step reissue of the second Blood, Sweat & Tears album. Blood, Sweat & Tears began as Al Kooper’s dream of a rock band with horns. By the time he realized the concept—on the band’s 1968 debut, Child Is Father to the Man—it had become much more: an engaging hybrid of New York soul, Greenwich Village folk, and innovative jazz arrangements. With producer John Simon at the helm, Child was a virtual definition of the possibilities inherent in the heady musical experimentation of the late 1960s. Kooper’s writing and arranging for that record (including the monumental “I’ll Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know,” later a hit for Donny Hathaway) is one of the high points of his storied career. The record was justifiably praised as…

4 min

Stereophile|July 2021

CLASSICAL

HEXAGON Les petits nerveux BRIDGE 9079 (CD). 2021. Max Wilcox, prod., eng. Apparently, this is a recent disinterment of an older production. The exhumation proves worthwhile. French composers have favored wind timbres since the oboe and bassoon colors of the Baroque. In the 19th and 20th centuries, this evolved into a predilection for wind-and-piano chamber music. Saint-Saëns reveled in the instruments’ capacity for virtuosity. A century later, Poulenc alternated uneasy, precarious sustained passages with others evoking a carefree, boulevardier mood. Even Roussel, whose symphonic writing can leave a sour taste, is atypically charming here. The New York–based ensemble Hexagon, comprising five wind instruments and piano, plays with full-throated expertise and a remarkable unity, with perfect handoffs among players. In the Saint-Saëns, the upper instruments’ kaleidoscopic runs and flourishes dazzle. The…

5 min

Stereophile|July 2021

INDUSTRY UPDATE

SUBMISSIONS: Those promoting audio-related seminars, shows, and meetings should email the when, where, and who to stletters@stereophile.com at least eight weeks before the month of the event. The deadline for the October 2021 issue is July 20, 2021. US: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA Jim Austin Al Schmitt, whose career as a recording engineer spanned decades and generations of music, and who many justifiably call the most successful recording engineer ever, died April 26 at age 91. While still a child, Schmitt began working at his uncle’s New York studio, Harry Smith Recording, said to be the first independent recording studio on the East Coast. The studio’s clients included Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. At age 19, Schmitt began working at Apex Studios in Manhattan as an apprentice to Tom Dowd. In…

14 min

Stereophile|July 2021

BOOK REVIEW

THIS ISSUE: Recording legend Bill Schnee’s autobiography. CHAIRMAN AT THE BOARD: RECORDING THE SOUNDTRACK OF A GENERATION, by Bill Schnee. Backbeat Books, 2021. 219pp. $24.49, hardcover; $21.49, Kindle e-book. It was September 2012, and Sasha Matson and I were in Los Angeles to record the singers for his jazz opera, Cooperstown. We had already recorded the instrumental backing with engineer Mike Marciano at Brooklyn’s Systems Two studio, and the venue for the vocal tracking sessions was Bill Schnee’s studio in North Hollywood. I knew Bill’s name from his work recording Sheffield Lab’s legendary I’ve Got the Music in Me direct-to-disc LP1 in 1975 with Thelma Houston and his two Grammys for Steely Dan’s Aja and Gaucho. What I was not expecting when we entered his studio was the wall of…

6 min

Stereophile|July 2021

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

Analog sources Thorens TD 124 turntable (reconditioned by Schopper AG) with Thomas Schick 12” tonearm; Ortofon Xpression cartridge; SME 30/12 turntable with V-12 tonearm and Ortofon Windfeld Ti cartridge (in for review). Digital sources Intel NUC computer with SSD drive running Roon Optimized Core Kit; Denafrips Avatar CD transport; Synology DS918+ Diskstation 4-bay Network Attached Storage device with 16TB; TP-Link 8-Port Gigabit network switch (unmanaged); PS Audio DirectStream DAC. Preamplification Auditorium 23 Standard step-up transformer, Sutherland Engineering prototype phono preamp, Pass Labs XP-22 line preamplifier; Zesto Leto Ultra II line preamplifier. Power amplifiers Pass Labs XA60.8, darTZeel NHB-108 model 2 (in for review). Cables Digital AudioQuest Carbon & Cinnamon & Coffee, Comprehensive Connectivity DXLRP-DXLRJ-6EXF (all USB). Interconnect: Auditorium 23, Clarus Crimson (RCA, XLR). Speaker: Auditorium 23. Accessories PS Audio Power…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

Digital sources dCS Rossini SACD/CD transport, DAC, and Clock; Synology 5-bay NAS 1019+; Roon Nucleus+ music server, Uptone Audio etherRegen, Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModule, TP-Link gigabit Ethernet media converters (2) with multimode duplex fiberoptic cables, Linksys routers (2), and Arris modem, all powered by (3) 300W four-component linear power supplies; external hard drives, SSD USB sticks, iPad Pro; Apple 2017 Macbook Pro computer with 2.8 GHz Intel i7, SSD, 16GB RAM. Preamplifier Dan D’Agostino Momentum HD. Power amplifiers Dan D’Agostino Progression monoblocks. Loudspeakers Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia 2. Headphones Audeze LCD-X with Nordost Heimdall 2 headphone cable. Cables Digital: Nordost Odin 1 & Odin 2 & Valhalla 2 (USB) & Frey 2 (USB adapter), Wireworld Platinum Starlight Cat8 (Ethernet). Interconnect: Nordost Odin 2. Speaker: Nordost Odin 2. AC: Nordost…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

Analog sources OMA K3, SAT XD-1, and TechDAS Air Force Zero turntables; SAT CF1-09, CF1Ti-09, Schroeder OMA, Kuzma 4Point, and Graham Elite tonearms; HiFiction X-quisite ST, TechDAS TDC01Ti, Lyra Atlas λ Lambda SL, Ortofon MC Century, Anna Diamond, A95, A90, Grado Epoch3, Miyajima Labs Infinity (mono), Grado Epoch (mono), Sculpture A.3 cartridges. Digital sources dCS Vivaldi One SACD player DAC; Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter; Roon Nucleus server; Pure Vinyl and Vinyl Studio software.  Preamplification darTZeel NHB-18S, Ypsilon MC-10L, MC-16L, and MC-20L step-up transformers; DSA Phono III, Ypsilon VPS-100, CH Precision P1 with X1 PSU, MR Labs Vera phono preamplifiers.   Power amplifiers darTZeel NHB-468 monoblocks. Loudspeakers Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX. Cables Interconnect: TARA Labs Zero Evolution, Zero and Air Evolution, Analysis Plus Silver Apex, Stealth Sakra & Indra, Luminous…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

Analog sources Kuzma Stabi R turntable & Kuzma 4Point 11” tonearm; Koetsu Rosewood MC phono cartridge. Thorens TD 124, Jelco TS-350S 9” tonearm, Denon DL 103 MC cartridge. Digital sources Asus laptop running Roon and Tidal, Wyred 4 Sound μLink, Denafrips Ares II DAC, Tascam CD-200iL CD player. Integrated amplifier Parasound Halo Hint 6. Loudspeakers Golden Ear BRX, Klipsch Forte III, Spendor BC-1. Cables Interconnect (RCA): Triode Wire Labs Spirit II, Shindo Laboratory. Digital: AudioQuest Forest. Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: manufacturers’ own. Accessories Kuzma Plastis 65 isolation platform, IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius line conditioner, Salamander five-tier rack; IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards (under preamp, turntable, power amps); mahogany blocks (2" × 2" × 0.5") under boards; 3"-thick studio-treatment damping foam on ceilings and walls. Listening room 12' L × 10'…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

Analog sources Garrard 301 turntable in a Box Furniture Co. plinth; Thomas Schick 12” tonearm; Ortofon SPU Classic G cartridge; Zu/Denon 103 cartridge. Digital sources Denafrips Terminator DAC; Sonore optical-Rendu; Roon Nucleus+; Small Green Computer sonic Transporter i5 server running Roon Core. Preamplification Shindo Aurieges preamplifier; Parasound Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifier; Auditorium 23 SPU step-up transformer. Power amplifiers Shindo Montille; single-ended amplifier with triode-wired 307A output tubes built by Oliver Sayes. Loudspeakers Altec Valencia 846A, DeVore Orangutan O/96. Cables Interconnect: Auditorium 23; Speaker: AudioQuest William Tell Silver; AC: AudioQuest Thunder and Hurricane; USB: AudioQuest Diamond; Ethernet: AudioQuest Diamond. Accessories Box Furniture Co. Heritage stand; AudioQuest Niagara 3000 power conditioner; Sonore opticalModule; Uptone Audio ISO REGEN USB filter; DJM Electronics GigaFOILv4-INLINE Ethernet filter; Vinnie Rossi MINI PURE-DC-4EVR 9-Volt DC Power…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

PAT METHENY

WHEN PAT METHENY WAS GROWING UP IN THE SMALL MISSOURI TOWN OF LEE’S SUMMIT, HIS FAMILY’S HOME STOOD WITHIN CAN’T-EVEN-HEAR-YOURSELF-SHOUTING DISTANCE OF THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD. TRAINS, TORNADOES, FREEZING WINTERS, HOT SUMMERS, SMALL-TOWN ISOLATION—ALL FED AN IMAGINATION THAT (COMBINED WITH PLENTY OF PRACTICE) FED A LEGENDARY MUSIC CAREER. Metheny is one of the best-selling jazz artists ever. He has three gold albums, several Downbeat awards (including in 2020 as best guitarist and for the best jazz album, for From This Place), and 20 Grammy Awards: He’s the only person ever to win Grammys in 10 categories. He’s also a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. Metheny has recorded his compositions for his Pat Metheny Group, in duets with Jim Hall and Charlie Haden, for solo guitar and robot…

13 min

Stereophile|July 2021

RECORD REVIEWS

This 5-CD box-set version of The Who Sell Out is the latest iteration of a 54-year-old work-in-progress. It contains an unrivaled wealth of recorded information covering the period between the Who’s second album, A Quick One (Happy Jack in the US), and the monumental rock opera Tommy. At the package’s core are remasters of the original album in mono and stereo. It also includes alternate takes and unreleased tracks related to the project, singles and their B-sides, and preparatory Tommy material. Forty-six tracks, including 14 of Townshend’s wonderful home demos, have never been released before. Sonically, some of the partial takes, rehearsals, and demos are rough, but they fit the spirit of this package perfectly. Some key songs can be heard from demo through rehearsals and alternate takes and on…

4 min

Stereophile|July 2021

POP/ROCK

IMELDA MAY 11 Past the Hour Decca/UMO (16/44.1 stream, Qobuz). 2021. Cam Blackwood et al., prods., Dan Moyler, eng. 11 Past the Hour breaks a four-year studio hiatus for Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May. Her 2017 album Life Love Flesh Blood was notable for moving into ballads and away from her earlier debt to rockabilly; this new venture shows off her husky voice’s bluesy shades. May has an ear for collaboration, as she demonstrates doubly on the Southern rock–inspired “Just One Kiss.” Noel Gallagher, lead vocalist from Oasis, holds his own in a spirited duet, while Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood contributes a grinding backing line and a couple of searing solos. Miles Kane sings on “What We Did in the Dark,” bringing in a heavier element that emphasizes May’s vocal flexibility…

1 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Are You Experienced?

THIS ISSUE: Hanson Audio Video cultivates in-home experience. Change, it seems, is a byword for audio dealerships that aim to stay afloat, and Hanson Audio Video has seen its share of changes. Events and unconventional outreach are now integral to the company’s approach. I spoke with Greg Hanson and Showroom Manager Josh Gwin by phone then followed up with a (postvaccine) visit to their Cincinnati showroom to find out what’s going on there. Hanson and Gwin call the showroom an “experience center,” because they want people who visit to have an experience, whether it’s a new customer’s first-ever high-end audio demo or a long-timer’s regular check-in. Like many audio companies, Hanson AV is a family business. It’s helmed by Greg Hanson and his son, Troy; Greg runs the business, and…

4 min

Stereophile|July 2021

MANUFACTURERS’ COMMENTS

THIS ISSUE: Representatives of DSA, Sumiko, Kitsuné HiFi, Esoteric, and Vincent Audio respond to our reviews of their products. Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono III What we celebrate as “The Analog Lover’s Dream Come True” has just received a thorough and engaging review by Michael Fremer in the pages of this magazine. As he indicated, small companies such as DSA can live or perish at the hands of reviewers, and we are grateful for his efforts. As he dealt with the unexpected issue of the Phono III’s loading settings having a mind of their own in his environment, we had some great conversations. These led to identifying and resolving this problem for his and all future units. His willingness to try different options and participate in some “long distance experiments”…

5 min

Stereophile|July 2021

Liverpool Fantasy

GOOD AND BAD, I DEFINE THESE TERMS QUITE CLEAR…—BOB DYLAN THIS ISSUE: Lennon’s first solo record, reimagined. Last week, I had a puzzling dream. When I woke, the vision remaining from the dreamscape was of a single thread of conversation, almost oracular, with no context. Ringo was telling me, “That was actually John singing on that one, mate.” I searched for a hidden message. Maybe it was one of those naked-in-public dreams, the Beatles drummer chastising me for misidentifying the singer in some review I wrote. I soon forgot about it. Then, out of the blue, I was sent a copy of the 50th anniversary edition of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band: The Ultimate Collection,1 Lennon’s first post-Beatles release. The lavish package contains six CDs and two Blu-rays of remixed and…

4 min