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AXPONA 2014
Funk Firm Debuts at AXPONA New Budget-Priced Flamenca Turntable and F6 Tone Arm
 |  Apr 27, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  1 comments
The under $2000 price-pointed heated up yet further with the introduction of Funk Firm's new $1495 Flamenca turntable and F6 tone arm.

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AXPONA 2014
Thales' New Easy Tone Arm Makes North American Debut at AXPONA
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 27, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  3 comments
Switzerland-based Thales recently introduced "Easy", a new moderately-priced tangential pivoting tone arm, that importer AAudio Imports introduced at AXPONA.
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AXPONA 2014
VPI Launches Headphone Amp and MM Phono Preamp Equipped Nomad at AXPONA
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 27, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  0 comments
VPI's new $999 Nomad made its audio show debut at AXPONA 2014. The 'table features a built-in headphone amplifier and MM phono preamplifier as a well as a new gimbal bearing tone arm.

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AXPONA 2014
Kronos Demos New $21,500 Sparta Turntable
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 27, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  0 comments
Though the Sparta AXPONA demo unit was still a prototype, a company spokesperson claimed the unit was "a few weeks away" from going into full production.
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AXPONA 2014
Acoustic Signature Launches Triple X Turntable Starting at $6500
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 27, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  0 comments
Acoustic Signature introduced at AXPONA a new look with the handsome Triple X Turntable.
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AXPONA 2014
Balanced Audio Technology Debuts Five New Vacuum Tube-Based Phono Preamplifiers at AXPONA
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 27, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  1 comments
Balanced Audio Technology introduced at AXPONA five new phono preamplifiers priced from $3500 to $12,500. The five models are variations on a theme starting at the bottom with the $3500 VK-P6 and ending at the top with the VK-12SE Superpak.
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AXPONA 2014
AXPONA 2014 Highlights High Performance Audio Vitality
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 26, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  9 comments
Friday at AXPONA appeared to be well attended. The event at the Westin O'Hare attracted a healthy demographic mix and excellent area dealer support —something last year's New York show failed to get, with most dealers preferring a parasitic show relationship.

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Album Reviews
Mosaic's Miraculous Roland Kirk Box Set
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 23, 2014  |  11 comments
In a truly just world every Jethro Tull fan would know and appreciate Rahsaan Roland Kirk but as with Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones, these things take time. If you don't know Kirk's music and you're a Tull fan you surely know his "Serenade To A Cuckoo" covered by Ian Anderson on his debut Tull album This Was.

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Vote
VPI’s 3D "Printed" Tone Arm: Does it Sound Better, Worse, or the Same As the Standard Metal JMW Memorial Arm?
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 20, 2014  |  96 comments
Stereophile's May issue includes my first of a two part review of VPI's Classic Direct Drive turntable. Does the new 3D printed tone arm sound different than the company’s standard metal one? Does it sound better, or not as good? I give my opinion in the review.

You make the call here. Here are two 96/24 files. Are they both the same file? Or, if you hear one sounding better, state your preference.

If the files are different, one file features the Lyra Atlas installed in the standard VPI JMW arm mounted on VPI's new Classic Direct Drive turntable.

The other file features the Lyra Atlas installed on the new 3D printed tone arm on the same turntable. All measured set-up parameters were identical.

The phono preamp is the Ypsilon VPS100. The preamp is the D'Agostino Momentum while the A/D converter is Ayre's QA-9. The interconnect between the phono pre and preamp is TARA Labs Evolution, which replaces the Zero.

Please vote and leave a comment explaining your vote.

File "A"

File "B"

VPI’s 3D "Printed" Tone Arm: Does it Sound Better, Worse, or the Same As the Standard Metal JMW Memorial Arm?
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Interviews
Michael Fremer and Joe Harley Interviewed By Colorado Public Radio's Scott Carney
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 19, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969  |  17 comments
Last Thursday morning April 17th Joe Harley (Audioquest V.P. and record/reissue producer) and I visited Colorado Public Radio Studios where OpenAir host (and vinyl fanatic) Scott Carney interviewed us about vinyl for a show that would air on Record Store Day.
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