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News
Lousville's Funhouse Records Adds 300,000 to the Store's Inventory
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 08, 2018  |  10 comments
Louisville’s Funhouse Records just acquired 300,000 plus records from a Texas based “junker”. Five years ago Funhouse owner Bill Barriger “had little interest in used vinyl records” according to Courier Journal reporter (and record collector and AnalogPlanet/Stereophile reader) Jeffrey Lee Puckett. (Photo: Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal).

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Features
AnalogPlanet and Stereophile at EISA 2018, Antwerp, Belgium
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 06, 2018  |  0 comments
EISA is the European Imaging and Sound Association. Founded more than 35 years ago by a few European magazine editors, it has since expanded to incorporate audio, video and home theater.

Each year, members (mostly magazine editors) from around Europe gather for four days of non-stop product demonstrations. Review samples sent later are tested and evaluated after which members vote. Winners get to put the blue EISA logo on their products. Perhaps you've seen it on something you've purchased.

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Analog Corner
Analog Corner #241
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 05, 2018  |  First Published: Sep 01, 2015  |  4 comments
Using light to read data from a disc sounds a lot like the technology behind the Compact Disc—but you may be happy to hear there's nothing digital about DS Audio's optical phono cartridge. The DS-W1 uses the motions of a Shibata stylus and boron cantilever to modulate the output of its externally powered light-emitting diode (LED). More good news: The DS-W1 optical cartridge plus its associated electronics, which replace the phono preamp, cost only $8500—less than the price of many high-end cartridges alone.
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Album Reviews
Jack White's Latest Album Is Excellent (In Case You Missed It)
Malachi Lui  |  Aug 02, 2018  |  16 comments
“Rock is dead. No modern rock artist can have a number one album. Anybody who makes something this weird can't make the Billboard 200 at all, right?”

But to the words of cynics, Jack White says “I don't care” and spreads his statement across a 44 minute album that blends roof-shattering rock, blues, electronic, hip hop, country, spoken interludes, and even jazz. “The one who is prepared is never surprised”, I guess.

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Tonearm ReviewsTurntable Reviews
Oracle Audio Swings For the Middle Deck With the Origine MkII Turntable
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 01, 2018  |  12 comments
Best known for its sexy looking Delphi turntable first introduced in 1979 and currently in its MK VI iteration ($8850), Canada-based Oracle Audio recently updated its lowest priced Origine turntable to MKII status.

The upgraded version includes a new “wall-wart” powered 16V AC synchronous motor (the original was 24V AC—customers with that motor can get a free upgrade, paying for shipping one way) and a new silicon damped cueing mechanism replacing the original’s “direct action” cueing system (which for original Origine owners can be upgraded for $85). It uses a knob rather than a traditional lever, that you turn to raise and lower the arm.

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News
A/V Tech Media Review Policy Reminder
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 01, 2018  |  2 comments
(This is more of a heads-up for manufacturers considering submitting product for review, but it's probably useful for readers to understand some of the issues faced by audio review magazines and websites including this one, which is owned by AV Tech Media—ed.)

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News
Capitol/UMe Readies 50th Anniversary "Music From Big Pink"
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 31, 2018  |  13 comments
Capitol/UMe releases on August 31st a newly remixed and remastered 50th Anniversary edition of The Band's epic 1968 debut Music From Big Pink.Bob Clearmountain re-mixed from the original 4 track tapes in both stereo and 5.1 channel surround mixes. The release will be available in various iterations including 2 180g black vinyl LPs, and a limited edition 2LP pink vinyl edition. There will also be a "Super Deluxe CD/Blu-ray/2LP/7-inch box set as well as a CD edition and a digital download.

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AAA VinylNews
Joan Baez's Debut Vanguard LP Coming From Craft, Cut From Original Master Tape
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 29, 2018  |  8 comments
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Album Reviews
Charles Lloyd's "Modern Sounds In Country and Jazz"
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 28, 2018  |  3 comments
At 80 Charles Lloyd can musically pretty much do whatever the hell he wants, though he did likewise at age 30 in 1966 when he fronted a group featuring 21 year old Keith Jarrett, 24 year old Jack DeJohnette and at 31 the group’s “elder statesman” Cecil McBee, and produced the classic Forest Flower (Atlantic SD 1473), recorded live at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

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Analog Corner
Analog Corner #89
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 28, 2018  |  First Published: Dec 01, 2002  |  2 comments
Max Townshend's Rock Reference Master turntable (photo: Dan Meinwald).

The day was more unsettling than I'd imagined. Flying the evening of 9/11 to attend Hi-Fi News's 2002 Hi-Fi Show and AV Expo produced more relief than anxiety, though I did have a Rod Serling moment when my room at the Heathrow Le Meridien turned out to be 5911.

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