May 10th, 2023
Audio Research Corporation Is Dead! Long Live the New Restructured Audio Research Corporation! new ownersBy: Tracking Angle
Maple Grove, MN. May 10th, 2023—TrackingAngle.com Exclusive! Audio Research Corporation founded in 1970 by William Z. Johnson and most recently owned by TWS Enterprises, a company formed by former ARC employee Trent Suggs, no longer exists, but a new Audio Research Corporation has been created that will keep the company running as it has been for more than 50 years and at its current Maple Grove, MN headquarters. For all intents and purposes, customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and everyone doing business with, and loving the old Audio Research Corporation should not notice that anything has changed. The new owners will be announced Monday May 15th
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May 8th, 2023
What's the Magic in "The Wand"? a high performance tonearm at a budget priceBy: Michael Fremer
This is a years-in-the-making saga, but it’s not as long as Design Build Listen has been manufacturing The Wand tonearm. Inventor Simon Brown introduced it in 2011. A sample arrived here more than a few years ago and a review commenced, but shortly thereafter, the New Zealand built arm’s American distributor exited, orphaning the review. Unbeknownst to me, a short time later a new distributor entered and delivered a The Wand arm to my dear, late friend Art Dudley, who... Read More
Comments: 5May 7th, 2023
Craft Reissues Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign" in All-Analog Stereo in celebration of King's centennial yearBy: Evan Toth
Don’t let the blues get you down. In fact, sometimes, a good blues session can be an uplifting experience, perhaps even cathartic, if you like. The blues aren’t played to make us feel bad, on the contrary, they exist to remind us that we’re not alone with our troubles, and while we may not find the answers we need, sometimes misery loves company and that companionship can be very valuable especially when it comes in the form of a well-pressed piece of vinyl.Such is... Read More
Comments: 6May 6th, 2023
John Lee Hooker "Burnin'" Reissued by Craft Records in Stereo Hooker meets the Motown Funk BrothersBy: Joseph W. Washek
In 1961, John Lee Hooker recorded "Burnin’", an album accompanied by an early version of Motown's legendary Funk Brothers band for Vee Jay Records in one session, probably four hours in length. Vee Jay was an independent label based in Chicago, owned by an African American married couple, Vivian Carter and James Bracken, which had achieved considerable success selling R&B, blues, gospel, and jazz records to Black audiences. Hooker had been recording... Read More
Comments: 5May 6th, 2023
Ahead of Munich High End 2023 Soundsmith Introduces a Spate of New Products including transimpedance phono stage and matching low internal impedance cartridgeBy: Tracking Angle
Soundsmith this week announced a series of new products timed for introduction just before Munich High End 2023. After a long hiatus, the company will again participate with a sound booth in Hall 3, stand N06/P07 and show these newly developed products.The picture at the top is of two TI (transimpedance phono preamp compatible) cartridges: the Hyperion MKII ES-TI and Sussurro MKII ES-TI. They are designed got be used with Soundsmith's new MCP-5 transimpedance... Read More
Comments: 1May 6th, 2023
VPI Unveils New "Titan Direct" Turntable company claims tech and performance that exceeds that of Avenger Direct DriveBy: Tracking Angle
VPI announced today the Titan Direct turntable. Performance and technology are claimed to exceed that of VPI's Avenger Direct Drive with "improved double stack chassis", "magnetic direct drive system", "air suspension isolation" and "additional resonance canceling technology".The new Titan Direct, capable of mounting up to three arms comes standard with Fat Boy Gimbal tonearm and VTA base. VPI expects delivery to commence... Read More
Comments: 0May 4th, 2023
Thorens Launches "New Reference" Turntable—World Exclusive! features fully active vibration isolation by SeismionBy: Tracking Angle
Thorens launches a "New Reference" turntable tomorrow (May 5th). TrackingAngle received permission to make the announcement today. Those familiar with the original Thorens Reference Mk 1 turntable introduced in 1979 will see the design similarities, though this is a thoroughly new, 21st Century undertaking utilizing state of the art vibration control technology.
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