Mike Mettler

ALBUM RELEASE NEWSNews
The Tragically Hip’s 1989 Debut Album Up to Here Gets Deluxe Commemorative 180g 4LP/1BD Box Set Treatment on November 8, and “Nothing” on It Was Mastered From a Digital Source
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 20, 2024  |  First Published: Jun 20, 2024  |  5 comments

You gotta do what you feel is real, and The Tragically Hip continue doing just that with the upcoming 180g 4LP/1BD box set commemorating the 35th anniversary of their September 1989 debut album, Up to Here. An expansive collection featuring scores of unreleased tracks, demos, and live material, The Hip’s Up to Here box is set for release via UMe on November 8, 2024. Read on to see what the Up to Here extras are, and glean all the nitty-gritties about the box set’s wholly analog source material. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSNews
Deluxe Edition of Talking Heads’ Seminal Stop Making Sense Returns in 2LP Black Vinyl and 2LP Crystal-Clear Vinyl Options on July 26
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 12, 2024  |  First Published: Jun 12, 2024  |  6 comments

Thankfully, Sense is being made once again — quite literally. What I mean by that is, the expanded soundtrack of Talking Heads’ seminal 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense will be re-released in a pair of 2LP editions by Sire/Rhino on July 26, 2024. Read on to see what tracks comprise the expanded SMS cut, what the two color-vinyl options are, and where you can pre-order your copy (or copies), post-haste. . .

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Analog Gear News
Lehmannaudio Phonolith Phono Preamp
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 10, 2024  |  First Published: Jun 10, 2024  |  2 comments

Could there be a better name for a new phono preamp than the Phonolith? Lehmannaudio’s latest phono stage just happens to bear that name, and it combines a phono preamp and headphone amp into the same device, alongside a matching power supply unit. Read on to see more about all the Phonolith’s features and specs. . .

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Features
Table Toppers, Take 4: Following the Loss of Some Key Gear in a Devastating Hurricane, a Restored Thorens Turntable and a Few VPI TNT Tables Became the Centerpieces of This Impressive Detroit-Area System
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 06, 2024  |  First Published: Jun 06, 2024  |  5 comments

What better way to enter the impending summer season than with the second 2024 installment of our ongoing Table Toppers series? Back in late 2023, we posed a simple question to you, the AP faithful — in short, quote, “show us your turntables!” And hence, the almighty Table Toppers section was born, and we’re more than happy to continue on with this popular series as we approach the midpoint of the year. Read on to see how Dave Millon of Royal Oak, Michigan recovered from a devastating gear loss and wound up centering his system around a coolly restored Thorens TD 124 turntable — along with some VPI TNT tables to boot. . .

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News
Everclear’s Songs From an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile to Be Released on Analog-Mastered, Limited-Edition 140g Yellow Vinyl by Intervention Records on September 13
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 04, 2024  |  First Published: Jun 04, 2024  |  4 comments

Maybe we were once too damn cool to buy the 8-track tape, but we’re more than happy to pony up for the upcoming limited-edition Intervention Records 140g yellow-vinyl 1LP edition of Everclear’s July 2000 album Songs From an American Movie Vol One: Learning How to Smile. Set for release on September 13, 2024, it’s the first time this platinum-selling album will be on vinyl. Read on to see how the Intervention team is making sure SFAAM Vol One is going to be one worthwhile analog-centric spin. . .

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Analog Gear News
Denon DL-103o Limited-Edition MC Cartridge
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 03, 2024  |  First Published: Jun 03, 2024  |  3 comments

We’ve always been fans of fruitful collaborative partnerships, so we’re happy to see Denon and Devon Turnbull of OJAS have joined forces to produce the limited-edition Denon DL-103o moving-coil cartridge. Read on to see all the features and specs of the limited-edition DL-103o MC, and to find out which classic Denon cart it’s based on. . .

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News
The Police Line Up 40th Anniversary 180g 4LP Super Deluxe Edition, 2LP Color Vinyl, and 1LP Picture Disc Versions of Synchronicity for July 26 Release
Mike Mettler  |  May 30, 2024  |  First Published: May 30, 2024  |  2 comments

“A connecting principle, linked to the invisible.” It’s a key line from the ostensible title track to The Police’s blockbuster Synchronicity LP, which is now officially slated for a very-much-visible and quite tangible 40th anniversary box set celebration that will comprise 180g 4LP super deluxe, 2LP color vinyl, and 1LP picture disc editions from Polydor/UMe on July 26, 2024. Read on to see what all the bonus tracks are and which ones make the cut on each LP edition, as well as which version sports an alternate tracklisting. . .

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Analog Gear NewsMunich 2024
Unitra GSH-630 Fryderyk & GSH-801 Edmund Turntables
Mike Mettler  |  May 29, 2024  |  First Published: May 29, 2024  |  3 comments

Continuing with our Munich 2024 catch-up tour, today we’re taking a closer look at another company we weren’t able to spend enough time with at the show itself — Unitra, a Polish manufacturer that offers a pair of intriguing turntables, the GSH-630 Fryderyk and GSH-801 Edmund. Read on to see what these two tables have to offer. . .

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Munich 2024
Munich 2024 Video Report: Turntables From Garrard, Acoustic Signature, Zavfino, Gold Note, and More
Mike Mettler,  |  May 28, 2024  |  First Published: May 28, 2024  |  3 comments

After a restful, and quite respectful, long weekend, there’s nothing quite like returning to the analog breach by looking at a wide selection of new turntables and other cool gear shown at Munich 2024 by way of a video shot at the show by esteemed AP contributor Ken Micallef. Read on to see onsite footage of new and current tables from the likes of Garrard, Acoustic Signature, Zavfino, Kronos, Gold Note, and many, many more. . .

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Munich 2024
Munich 2024 Highlight Reel: An Onsite Discussion of Form, Function, and High-End Analog Gear Design
Mike Mettler, ,  |  May 22, 2024  |  First Published: May 22, 2024  |  3 comments

Our Munich 2024 coverage continues! In this installment, ace contributors Julie Mullins and Ken Micallef discuss their experiences in terms of the overall breadth of the show, and they also zero in on some of the high-end analog turntables and other related gear that's been "designed to be both beautiful and functional." Happy viewing. . .

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