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Analog Gear News
Seen at AXPONA: Technics SL-1500C-W Matte White Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 14, 2023  |  5 comments

AXPONA is in full swing, and we’re all over it. Our full show report with be forthcoming, but something that caught our collective analog eye early on is the Technics SL-1500C-W turntable, which is the matte white version of the company’s well-loved SL-1500C direct-drive turntable. Read on to learn more about the new matte white version of this fine ’table, what it’s SRP will be, and when it’ll become available for obtainment accordingly. . .

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Interviews
Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips Realizes the Magic of Listening Is Found on Vinyl, and He Reveals How His Band’s New Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 180g 5LP Box Set Takes You There
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 13, 2023  |  4 comments

The Flaming Lips are one of those bands that have always endeavored to create their own sonic universe, and we almost never know exactly what planet we’ll be on when we drop the needle on their latest vinyl venture and/or most recent archival collection. Case in point — the 180g 5LP baby-pink vinyl box set for July 2002’s Yoshimi Battle the Pink Robots being released (finally!) on April 14, a collection that includes the remastered core album, demos, non-album tracks, live radio sessions, and many other live tracks galore. In a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Flaming Lips visionary vocalist Wayne Coyne discusses the ins and outs of the making of the Yoshimi vinyl box set, how the word “realize” became such an integral part of the band’s songwriting, and how a few hundred test tapes fueled the beginning and the end of one of the album’s most enduring songs. Read on to realize all the LP-related Yoshimi details. . .

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Cartridge Reviews
The Kuzma CAR-30 MC Cartridge Is a Smooth Performer That Offers Transparent Performance, Stacking It Up Quite Nicely Against The Competition
Ken Micallef  |  Apr 12, 2023  |  3 comments

The Kuzma family of moving coil cartridges is such a fine sight to see. To wit: Meet the Slovenian company’s CAR-30, which dependably revealed the peculiarities and personalities of individual records during the course of our review period. Read on to see Ken Micallef’s expert take on all the Kuzma CAR-30 has to offer, and how well it stacks up with its MC cart competition. . .

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Analog Gear News
Mitchell Acoustics uStream TT2 Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 11, 2023  |  9 comments

We’re often asked by younger/newer AP sitegoers who have budgetary concerns where they can get started in this ever-widening turntable universe of ours, so we like to suggest a number of entry-point options where they can come join the analog party at their pace. All LP-lovin’ comers welcome, after all. With this in mind, today, we’re putting the spotlight on Mitchell Acoustics and their quite affordable uStream TT2 turntable. Read on to see how the TT2 might fit into your own starter-system plans, and/or those of someone you know. . .

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Album Reviews
Depeche Mode’s New 180g 2LP Release Memento Mori Shows How a Veteran Synth-Rock Band Can Still Deliver the Sonic Goods on Vinyl
Mark Smotroff  |  Apr 07, 2023  |  3 comments

These days, a new Depeche Mode album is cause for celebration, and the band’s just released 180g 2LP set, Memento Mori, is worthy of deep listening and devoted examination. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if Memento Mori stands tall with other classic entries in Depeche Mode’s storied vinyl catalog. . .

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Analog Gear News
AXPONA Gear Preview: Luxman Announces New Flagship PD-191A Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 06, 2023  |  23 comments

We’re very much looking forward to all the new analog gear expected to be shown at this year’s AXPONA in Schaumburg, Illinois from April 14-16, and Luxman has already given us an advance taste by letting us know they’ll be introducing their brand-new flagship PD-191A turntable at the big show. Read on to get all the respective specs, features, and stats about this cool, vintage-looking new ’table. . .

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Album Reviews
Frank Zappa’s New, Concurrent 180g 2LP Zappa ’80 Mudd Club and 180g 3LP Zappa ’80 Munich Live Releases Offer Both Analog-Attained Pleasures and (Yes) Digitally Sourced Delights
Mark Smotroff  |  Apr 05, 2023  |  11 comments

Two fascinating and enlightening new, concurrent Frank Zappa live albums come from the spring of 1980, an underexplored period of his career when he toured with a somewhat stripped-down reinvention of his touring group. The 2LP Zappa ’80 Mudd Club set was recorded near the start of the tour on Zappa’s beloved Nagra reel-to-reel analog portable in the storied, tiny New York club, while the 3LP Zappa ’80 Munich release is Frank’s very first all-digital live recording of the same band at the end of the tour, as captured in a huge German arena. Read on to see how Mark Smotroff feels both recordings stack up in the ever-expanding Zappa-on-vinyl catalog. . .

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Analog Gear News
Marchand LN112 MM & MC Tube Phono Preamp
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 03, 2023  |  3 comments

I don’t know about you, but I still quite enjoy seeing tubes on full display when it comes to the design philosophy behind certain types of analog gear. Case in point: the simply tube-ariffic look of Marchand’s LN112 tube phono preamp, which is available in both MM and MC versions. Read on to find out more about Marchand’s fine phono preamp options. . .

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Sweepstakes
Cleer Audio SCENE Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker Sweepstakes!
Analog Planet Staff  |  Mar 31, 2023  |  45 comments
Register to win a Cleer Audio SCENE Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker (value $99.99) we are giving away.

"The SCENE Water Resistant Bluetooth speaker is portable and supports up to 12hrs of playback. IPX7 waterproof rated, giving you a high-quality music experience for any adventure. Scene features a digital amplifier, dual 48mm drivers and passive radiators bring the beats."

[This Sweepstakes is now closed.]

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Interviews
The Epic Odessey [Sic] and Ecstasy of Colin Blunstone and The Zombies, and the Different Game They’re Now Playing for Us Today on Vinyl
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 30, 2023  |  5 comments

There’s a special intuitive connection certain musicians share that cannot be qualified in technical terms, but can instead be described as being both magical and mysterious. Case in point: the 60-years-and-counting musical mindmeld between lead vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist/vocalist Rod Argent, the twin driving forces behind British invasion stalwarts The Zombies. Still going strong today, The Zombies are on the precipice of the imminent release of their seventh studio album, Different Game, which comes out in fine 1LP form on March 31 via Cooking Vinyl. In a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Zombies vocalist Colin Blunstone discussed the connective sonic tissue between Different Game and their 1968 masterpiece Odessey and Oracle, why he prefers hearing songs like “Time of the Season” in mono, and why the Odessey album benefitted from some things The Beatles left behind in EMI Studios while they were recording their legendary June 1967 Sgt. Pepper album. Read on to glean all the properly seasoned details. . .

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