“The more one submerges oneself in the audiophile habit (or addiction) the more difficult it can become to determine the primacy of gear vs. music. What are your experiences with recordings where the performance is so superb that it makes issues of fidelity less important?,” asks Peter D’Amario.
“I have a confession to make: When it comes to amplification, I have always been a power freak…” Peter D’Amario downsizes to the top-of-the-line Cyrus 8 Qx DAC integrated amplifier and concludes: “If you like your music to sound like, well, music, you desire efficiency and you want a device that dispenses with frills and gives you what you need, then this little Cyrus may be the ticket to happiness.”
Peter D’Amario talks with Peter Bartlett, technical director of Cyrus Audio, about the Cyrus approach to product design and development. Designed and manufactured in the UK, Cyrus approaches their product line with embedded “audiophile DNA” thinking that allows owners to upgrade and evolve their investment. “When one buys a piece of Cyrus gear, one is tapping into a bloodline that is long and well-developed.”
“Between increasingly frequent upgrades and product obsolescence, the industry risks turning off the people whose purchases sustain it…” writes Peter d’Amario. What do you think?
Notable (among other things) for having Wendy Carlos as sound engineer, the 1973 Brazil-released version of João Gilberto – more commonly known as Gilberto’s “White Album” – was reissued in CD format in the late ‘80s, and has recently been released on vinyl by Klimt records.
Peter D’Amario interviews Michael Cuscuna of Mosaic records, one of the preeminent jazz reissue labels, to get his thoughts on the history of Mosaic, the jazz music scene and the future of the recorded music industry. “On the future of jazz: Color him optimistic. He sees tremendous talent among the new generation of jazz musicians, noting that he is observing wonderfully talented artists coming up the curve.”
Peter D’Amario asks the question, and presents an opposing view from Michael Cuscuna, who points to the profusion of younger jazz musicians. What are your thoughts: Is jazz on the way out, maintaining stability, or in an ascent?
“A confession: I’ve always preferred full-range speakers,” writes Peter D’Amario in his review of the Vienna Acoustics Haydn. He explores the realities of real-sizing with these small monitor louspeakers, and concludes: “Buy some stands, ensure that you have adequate amplification, and you will find that these are speakers with which you can live happily ever after.”
Most audiophiles seek to replicate the sound of live performances in their listening rooms. Having noted that, it’s worth pondering whether replication really is achievable, and under what circumstances…
From time to time, listening to something, or someone new is important to keeping fresh. Peter D’Amario reports on the concert performance of American jazz singer Dena DeRose at London’s Reform Club.