Features

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Analog to Digital Converter ReviewsFeatures
The SSL 2+: A Home Studio Interface Also Useful For Hi-Fi Enthusiasts
Malachi Lui  |  Mar 31, 2022
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Album ReviewsDiscographiesFeatures
The Top 15 Punk Albums!
Willie Luncheonette  |  Jan 08, 2022
Punk rock is a subgenre of rock and roll with roots in garage rock, but it's generally faster and more aggressive than garage. Punk was a rebellion against the hippie culture's idealism and appearance. The flower children’s righteous idea of making the world a better place was met with the stark reality of the punks' world in disarray. New York, the birthplace of punk, was almost bankrupt in the early 70's and when the Sex Pistols appeared in England, unemployment was severe with well over a million people out of work. Crime and drugs were rampant in NYC; parks were littered with used syringes. England incurred inflation, oil shortages and strikes. So bell bottoms were out, replaced by tight pants and those beautiful long locks were gone, replaced by hair cut short, and even cut off as skinhead culture emerged.

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Features
The Worst Music Ever, Part 2!
Malachi Lui  |  Sep 30, 2021
Two years ago, I wrote a feature about the worst music ever, saying, “Some [bad music] is so awful that we can’t help but listen and laugh.” Our readers agreed. Of course, I left the initial list incomplete; there’s too much (mostly) hilariously awful music to consume it all at once. Now, I’ll torture myself (inviting you to join in) with more sonic excrement, excluding material I’ve previously reviewed. Let the fun resume!

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Features
The Worst Music Ever: Malachi’s October 2019 AnalogPlanet Playlist
Malachi Lui  |  Oct 02, 2019
Bad music. We generally try to avoid it, but some is so awful that we just can’t help but listen and laugh. Typically, artists who are self-indulgent, high out of their minds, trying to be profound, and/or unaware of their skill (or drug consumption) limits create the worst music. For my monthly AnalogPlanet playlist feature, I’ve compiled for your pleasure a list of the worst music in the history of mankind. Since some of this music is only available on certain streaming platforms, I’ve included underneath each individual song or album a streaming link. It’s also worth noting the list’s strategic structure: as you keep reading the music gets worse. Read at your own risk, but if you’re willing to subject yourself to the final entry (what I believe to be the absolute worst album ever created by anybody), I guarantee you will have a good laugh. Anyway, let’s get your suffering over with and begin the proceedings right away…

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Features
The Year-End Garbage Can: 2019’s Top 10 Worst Albums
Malachi Lui  |  Dec 30, 2019
(This year, contributing editor Malachi Lui launches an annual segment covering the year’s 10 worst albums. And boy, are there some bad ones this year. Now let’s dive into The Year-End Garbage Can…)

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Features
This is Your Brain on CD Resolution Sound: Read The Study
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 29, 2015
Why does CD sound not only annoy many people, but also cause them to not want to listen or to listen in the background while doing something else?

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Features
This Movie May Bore You "Tho" If you Collect Reel to Reel Tapes, Prolly Not!
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 04, 2021
A few weeks ago I visited a woman in Portland, OR whose husband ran tape duplication services for GRT Records (GRT owned the Chess catalog in the early 70s and provided tape duplication services for many labels).

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSFeatures
Tis The Season to Spin Vinyl, Part 1: Eight New Holiday LPs to Add to Your Shopping List
Mark Smotroff  |  Dec 11, 2024

It’s beginning to look a lot like. . . holiday vinyl. Tis that time of year when holiday music is in the air, and there is no shortage of holiday vinyl to go around for any and all of your holiday listening proclivities and/or gift-giving needs. Read Part 1 of Mark Smotroff’s holiday LP roundup to see which of these eight featured new vinyl releases could make their way onto your “nice” list for listening and/or gifting this year. . .

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Features
Tis The Season to Spin Vinyl, Part 2: Some of Our Favorite Vintage Holiday LP Chestnuts Worth Adding to Your “Nice” List
Mark Smotroff  |  Dec 12, 2024

Yesterday (December 11, 2024), we shared Part 1 of our holiday LPs shopping list, which focused on new releases. And now, as promised for today (December 12, 2024), here in Part 2, we move on to discussing some additional favorite holiday album chestnuts from over the years. Read Part 2 of Mark Smotroff’s holiday LP roundup to see which of these half-dozen vintage holiday vinyl releases are worth seeking out for your own holiday listening/gift-giving needs. . .

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FeaturesRecord Handling and Storage Tips
Tony's Woodshop Record Racks Reviewed
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 27, 2016
After receiving a tip and covering the modular, stackable and reasonably priced record storage racks from Tony's Woodshop I bit and bought a dozen.

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FeaturesShow Reports
Toronto Audiofest Show Report, Part 1
Shanon McKellar  |  Oct 29, 2024

This year’s Toronto Audiofest couldn’t have had a better backdrop for the October 18-20, 2024, weekend — and AP was on hand and onsite to take it all in. Read Part 1 of Shanon McKellar’s TAF show report to see which rooms and companies displayed some of the best turntable setups of the entire show. . .

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FeaturesShow Reports
Toronto Audiofest Show Report, Part 2: Oracle Audio and Stable 33.33
Shanon McKellar  |  Nov 01, 2024

We’re back onsite at Toronto Audiofest, which was held during the weekend of October 18-20, 2024. Read Part 2 of Shanon McKellar’s TAF show report to see her firsthand experience with the turntable setups from two stellar companies, Oracle Audio Technologies and Stable 33.33. . .

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FeaturesShow Reports
Toronto Audiofest Show Report, Part 3, a.k.a. The Dénouement: Turntables Galore From Thorens, TW-Acustic, Pure Fidelity, Well Tempered Lab, and More!
Shanon McKellar  |  Nov 05, 2024

We’ve officially entered into the homestretch of our in-depth three-part Toronto Audiofest 2024 show report. Read Shanon McKellar’s final TAF 2024 installment to see what she heard with turntables from the likes of Thorens, TW-Acustic, Pure Fidelity, Well Tempered Lab, and more. . .

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Features
Tour Electric Mastering's New Vintage Cutting Chain With Analog Legend Sean Davies
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 02, 2013
Here's your opportunity to tour Electric Mastering's new vintage cutting chain with "master of the cutting lathe" analog legend Sean Davies.
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Features
Tour Music Direct's Chicago Warehouse With MD's Josh Bizar
Michael Fremer  |  May 22, 2018
Before the start of last April's AXPONA show at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer and Music Direct's Vice President Josh Bizar drove to Chicago and to the home of online vinyl and audio dealer Music Direct.

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