Phono Preamp Reviews

Six Acoustic’s Transparent York MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

Nathan Zeller  |  Aug 16, 2021

The term oversaturated adequately describes most of the entry-level phono preamplifier market, no thanks to those selling functionally identical electronics distinguishable only by brand logos. For a multitude of reasons, mainly their unremarkable sound, seasoned audiophiles steer clear of these products. Their avoidance may also be caused by an allergy to inexpensive items, but that’s mere speculation. Unfortunately, new audiophiles know no better and often fall victim to the sub-par offerings. It’s up to talented engineers like Six Acoustic founder Steve Meszlenyi to show newbies what they’re missing.

Discographies

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Intermission, 1980-1982 (Solo LPs & Side Projects) Part 2

COMMENTS
swimming1's picture
Submitted by swimming1 on Mon, 2021-08-16 03:32

Malachi,I have to finally admit ,you are amazing.I have been a teacher for 40 years and this is some of the best writing I have ever read.Your observation are beyond your age.Oh, and Michael you are now obsolete.Goodbye! Let Malachi takeover ! Cheers,Chet

Tom L's picture
Submitted by Tom L on Mon, 2021-08-16 10:08

Hardly!
I enjoy Malachi's reviews, but Michael has a depth of knowledge in his field that is irreplaceable. In particular, I and many others rely on his technical expertise when it comes to turntables, cartridges, styli, preamps, speakers and many other facets of sound reproduction.
I know you might be indulging in a bit of hyperbole, but seriously...

swimming1's picture
Submitted by swimming1 on Mon, 2021-08-16 13:52

Out with the old farte and in with the new!

mrl1957's picture
Submitted by mrl1957 on Mon, 2021-08-16 18:06

...a "farte" is a "farte"!

MalachiLui's picture
Submitted by MalachiLui on Sat, 2021-08-28 09:40

i'll acknowledge that my record reviews are excellent but michael isn't obsolete cuz his audio knowledge is beyond anything most of us can comprehend! but as far as record reviews i see your point lol

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Discographies

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Intermission, 1980-1982 (Solo LPs & Side Projects)

Malachi Lui  |  Aug 13, 2021

Continuing our multi-part exploration of Japanese synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), this week we’ll analyze Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono, and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s solo LPs and side projects from 1980-1982. For brevity’s sake, we’ll exclude the artists’ production work for other acts, focusing only on Takahashi, Hosono, Sakamoto, and Hideki Matsutake-led projects (apologies to fans of Kenji Omura’s Spring Is Nearly Here). In addition, releases only reviewed digitally here won’t feature sound scores. Below are links to this series’ previous features:

News

Sister Publication Sound&Vision's Great ATMP Feature is Definitely Worth Reading

Michael Fremer  |  Aug 11, 2021

AnalogPlanet's "sister publication" Sound&Vision the other day published "The Making of All Things Must Pass" a comprehensive feature by Matt Hurwitz complete with outstanding studio and other photos.

News

First Six Bryan Ferry Albums Released on AAA Vinyl?

Michael Fremer  |  Aug 11, 2021

Don't know how we missed this but Bryan Ferry's first six solo albums are about to be released on vinyl, "...re-mastered from the original tapes at Abbey Road Studios and cut by Frank Arkwright." It's unfortunate that today we can't be sure if that means an AAA cut or if Arkwright used the original tapes and digitized before cutting. Hence the question mark in the headline.

Album Reviews

On the All Things Must Pass  Remix “The Quiet Beatle” Gets the Final Word (Revised lacquer cutting info)

Michael Fremer  |  Aug 9, 2021

All Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary Edition
George Harrison
 
Capitol/Apple Records 8 180g LPs or 5 CD, 1 Blu-ray set
Produced by: Originally produced by George Harrison and Phil Spector, Dhani Harrison (Executive Producer), David Zonshine (Product Producer)
Engineered by: Ken Scott and Philip McDonald
Mixed by: Paul Hicks
Mastered by: Alex Wharton (vinyl mastering by GZ Media)
 
MUSIC
SOUND
When George Harrison, the youngest Beatle, passed away November 30th, 2001 at age 58, Allan Kozinn’s front page New York Times obituary referred to him as “the quiet Beatle”, which during the group’s touring years, is what the self-effacing youngest member of group was often called.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Beatles
Artist: 
George Harrison
Album: 
All Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary Edition
Cred Label: 
Capitol/Apple Records 8 180g LPs or 5 CD, 1 Blu-ray set
Cred Prod: 
Originally produced by George Harrison and Phil Spector, Dhani Harrison (Executive Producer), David Zonshine (Product Producer)
Cred Eng: 
Ken Scott and Philip McDonald
Cred Mix: 
Paul Hicks
Cred Mast: 
Alex Wharton (vinyl mastering by GZ Media)
Michael Fremer
When George Harrison, the youngest Beatle, passed away November 30th, 2001 at age 58, Allan Kozinn’s front page New York Times obituary referred to him as “the quiet Beatle”, which during the group’s touring years, is what the self-effacing youngest member of group was often called.

News

VMP Announces AAA The Story of Vanguard   Box Set

Michael Fremer  |  Aug 9, 2021

Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) announced today The Story of Vanguard anthology, limited to 1000 copies on six 180g colored vinyl box set pressed at GZ Media. The mono box set was cut by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, Nashville from original master tapes.

Discographies

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Explorations, Part 1 (1978-1981) Part II

COMMENTS
HalSF's picture
Submitted by HalSF on Fri, 2021-08-06 09:08

I was a bit puzzled in your first post by the idea that Yellow Magic Orchestra is a somewhat mysterious/obscure phenomenon, and was thinking in particular of the 5,000+ word Wikipedia entry on the band, and now I see you’re expressing doubts about the quality of sourcing in the Wiki article with its 101 reference footnotes. Obviously it’s a welcome thing to do a deeper dive into the discography, but are you exaggerating the down-low unknown-quantity factor here a little bit?

MalachiLui's picture
Submitted by MalachiLui on Sat, 2021-08-28 09:41

was writing from the perspective of "YMO is far from obscure but they still don't get ENOUGH attention in the western world." and regarding the quality of sourcing on wikipedia, i was referring to the individual album articles, especially 'BGM.' i should've clarified that a bit better...

dial's picture
Submitted by dial on Sat, 2021-08-07 03:07

Thanks for the article. I prefer Japan but Sakamoto and others work with them so...

avanti1960's picture
Submitted by avanti1960 on Sun, 2021-08-08 07:21

And interesting, a new discovery for sure. Thank you.
Tony

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Discographies

Yellow Magic Orchestra: Explorations, Part 1 (1978-1981)

Malachi Lui  |  Aug 6, 2021

Introduction

This is the part one of a multi-part exploration of Japanese synthpop pioneer Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) previewed in the recent “Yellow Magic Orchestra: Prologue”. This week, I’m dissecting the group’s albums from the 1978 self-titled debut through November 1981’s Technodelic. While I did as much research as possible, in the English-speaking world little verifiable information about YMO exists. Earlier this year, Ryuichi Sakamoto associate Eiichi Yoshimura published YMO 1978-2043: Definitive Story Of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but no English translation exists (and I’ve not yet learned Japanese). Much of what’s on Wikipedia has no traceable citation; to avoid inaccuracies any info from there will be mentioned as “supposed” or “presumed”.

News

EMT Debuts New "Novel" Moving Coil Cartridge Line

Michael Fremer  |  Aug 3, 2021

Based upon six years of electro-mechanical analysis EMT's new "Novel" moving coil cartridge line features a new multi-layer core transducer that includes a sapphire cantilever inserted within a coated high-strength titanium structure and a double-layer core designed to reduce eddy current loss. The stylus is a "multi-radial diamond.

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