INSTANT FEEDBACK?

Paul McGowan writes: Back in “the day” a manufacturer would launch a new product to waiting Audiophiles and the first reviews of it would generally start to emerge perhaps 6 months later.  In the meantime, many units were sold without benefit of other people’s opinions save those of the dealer.  Now that dynamic is changed. […]

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GRACE: A viable F9E replacement?

I have just fitted my F9E to my Akito mounted on my 401 and it sounds very good. So good in fact (apart from some sibilance) that it will stay there till I can find a MM that has the same sort of character. Anyone who has used a F9E will know what I mean, […]

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Video Frame Rate – how a fortunate technological accident is on the verge of being ‘corrected’ (Part 4)

Overview: What could this possibly have to do with a music web site? Guest contributor Ray Purchase explains: The Hobbit – High Frame Rates Don’t Work for Cinema Here’s a recent case that highlights that choice of frame rate is critical. http://gizmodo.com/5969817/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-masterclass-in-why-48-fps-fails The director of the film The Hobbit decided to try higher frame rates […]

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SEASICK STEVE: Interview

Kicked out of his family home at the age of 14, Steve became a genuine hobo, hopping freights all over America. Always travelling with his guitar – having been taught a few chords as a kid by Delta bluesman KC Douglas, an old pal of the legendary Tommy Johnson – in the ’60s he began to play at […]

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JEFF HEALEY BAND: Full Circle (3CD+DVD disc Box) inc track list

The Jeff Healey Band was known for their high-energy live performances. This special edition package features three very unique concerts (their appearance at the 1989 Montreal Jazz Festival, in support of their debut album ‘See The Light’, a 1991 performance at Switzerland’s St. Gallen Open Air Festival and a 1995 concert in their home town […]

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JOHN MAYALL: Talk About That (CD)

They tell us ….. Iconic musician and Blues Hall of Fame member John Mayall releases his latest CD, Talk About That. Joining Mayall (vocals, keyboards, harmonica and guitar) and Greg Rzab (bass), Jay Davenport (drums) and Rocky Athas (guitar) as special guest is legendary guitarist Joe Walsh, who plays on two tracks, “The Devil Must […]

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BACH: Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer record Bach

The first movement of Bach’s Trio Sonata No 6 in G, BWV 530 A new recording of Bach Trios by Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Chris Thile (mandolin) and Edgar Meyer (double bass) is due for release on the Nonesuch label in April. The video below gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the recording sessions. This isn’t the […]

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MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT:

Oh yes indeed. This is great great stuff. It’s my first Mississippi John Hurt CD – and I love it. A fine retailer incidentally. He’s not that big on Blues. Very big on Classical and Jazz though. Anyway, always worth a trip. And no, he isn’t paying me for the plug. Not sure they even […]

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LOUIS ARMSTRONG: Advice on his music

Went car-booting on Sunday and came away with a double LP called Ella & Louis (Starportrait on the Verve label). Now this is not the sort of music I’d normally even consider but what the hey, it was in superb nick and a quid! Admittedly a lot of it merely re-inforced my feelings of antipathy […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

Without ridicule we’d never be sure we’re breaking new ground.

One of the risks of trying new things and moving in different directions is the threat of ridicule. It’s scary stepping out on the ledge in search of new results. Safer, I think to stay with what’s accepted. Normal. But, what is normal? My friend, Seth coined a  phrase for normal that I really like. The regular kind. Most of […]

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DIY: I was a non-believer in capacitor service, until I ……

I was a non-believer in capacitor service, until I came across this little NAD 310, which buzzed through speakers like hell, regardless of volume level. Still played music, so I thought – lets change caps and see… After power supply caps change (like for like, and with budget brand, to try if thinking was correct) […]

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PAUL WELLER / The Zombies

  “It is “one of the all time greatest records”, according to rock hero Paul Weller. But when The Zombies’ psychedelic LP Odessey and Oracle was released in 1968, it virtually sank without trace. The band had imploded by the time of its release, and the album struggled to compete with releases by acts like […]

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THREE DOG NIGHT: Whatever happened to this classic 60s and 70s rock group?

Bob Smith says … What a cool band name. Three Dog Night whose name hopefully needs no explanation to most of you, formed in 1967 with the primary lineup being Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron. Jimmy Greenspoon, Joe Schermie, Michael Allsup and Floyd Sneed soon rounded out the group and they were set. […]

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