News

STOW, OH, October 20, 2020 -- Audio-Technica today announced the introduction of its AT-PEQ30 MM/MC phono preamp. The new phono preamp provides either 35dB (MM) or 59dB (MC) fixed gain, and 47kOhm (MM) and 120 ohm (MC) loading.

In case you’re still wondering if the vinyl resurgence is a “bubble” or a temporary uptick, you’d best disabuse yourself of that thought. Despite the Apollo/Transco fire and other roadblocks like the record distribution debacle that had last year’s “Making Vinyl Hollywood” attendees in a near panic, record sales (and turntable sales) continue to soar—and best of all, a new, young and sophisticated clientele insists upon quality even as demand for novelty colored and splattered vinyl also grows. We welcome them all (even picture disc buyers).

The Super Deluxe Box Set version of Tom Petty's Wildflowers and all the Rest Just arrived! It's not due out until mid October but AnalogPlanet got a world exclusive on it so here's the unboxing!

Even as the Acoustic Sounds Series reissues from Verve/UMe of Coltrane's A Love Supreme and Ballads are set for October 9th release, the label announced today pre-orders for the third installment in the series: two classic (and much needed and welcomed at this time) 1965 Nina Simone albums: I Put A Spell On You and Pastel Blues slated for November.

Today (September 21), record club Vinyl Me, Please formally announced the latest in their VMP Anthology box set series, The Story of Herbie Hancock. Bernie Grundman cut all-analog from tape where possible, GZ pressed the eight albums over 11 LPs on 180g black vinyl and packaged in tip-on jackets. The set retails for $349 and includes a “deluxe” booklet. Curated by Hancock himself, the chosen titles are: Takin’ Off (1962, all-analog), Maiden Voyage (1965, AAA), Head Hunters (1973, AAA), The V.S.O.P. Quintet: Live Under The Sky (1979, digitally recorded), The Piano (1979, AAA), Future Shock (1983, AAA), 1+1 (1997, digitally recorded), and River: The Joni Letters (2007, digitally recorded). Live Under The Sky, a 1979 Japanese CBS/Sony Master Sound live album recorded digitally, is newly re-sequenced and amended at Herbie Hancock’s request. The box set shipping this winter is housed in a two-piece box hand-numbered to 1500 units.

This order sheet sent by Sundazed's Bob Irwin 14 years ago when the label was reissuing mono Byrds albums proves that 1A, 1B and 1C pressings are all "first pressings".

The RIAA today released its mid-year data on U.S. consumer listening and recorded music revenue. Growth in paid subscription streaming more than offset declines in other areas, in great part affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.