Michael Fremer

Munich 2022
High End Munich 2022 Analog Coverage Day 3
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 07, 2022  |  First Published: Jun 07, 2022  |  18 comments
Yukiseimitsu Audio AP-0 analog record player

One person can't possibly visit every room at a convention center show as large as High End Munich—even if your sole goal is to cover analog products. Maybe that was possible a decade ago but now? No way! You must make editorial decisions and pass by some rooms. For instance, having given Avantgarde Acoustics and its new powered G3 iTRON loudspeaker system full coverage at AXPONA, I decided I could skip their Munich room. Little did I know that SME would be demonstrating its new Model 60 in the Avantgarde Acoustics room, so the Model 60 is not covered here. However, I did visit the factory for a semi-exclusive look so if you've not seen the coverage, click on the hyperlink.

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Munich 2022
Munich High End 2022 Day Two - Action-Packed Analog
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 03, 2022  |  First Published: Jun 03, 2022  |  23 comments
Esoteric's $75,000 magnetic drive turntable with Ikeda tonearm

Munich High End 2022 day two was as analog action-packed as was day one. Second day videos tend to get somewhat lower viewer numbers, but you can be sure this video contains product debuts and events you really do not want to miss, including the saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh playing live in the Stenheim/darTzeel room backed by a recording of his bandmates. The illusion of the group playing live worked surprisingly well and even translated well recorded to stereo shotgun microphone. darTzeel introduced a new MC phono cartridge.

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Munich 2022
The World's Best High-End Munich 2022 Analog Coverage
Michael Fremer  |  May 28, 2022  |  First Published: May 28, 2022  |  11 comments
The Kuzma Safir tonearm

Explosive worldwide vinyl record sales growth over the past few years produced a powerful response from the audio industry, based on what was on display at Munich High End 2022. A profusion of new turntables, tonearms, phono preamps and accessories spread throughout the sprawling 28,000m2 MOC Event Center made difficult covering it all even with four days available to do it.

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AAA VinylNews
40th Anniversary Mobile Fidelity "One-Step" Thriller Coming November 18th (CLARIFICATION UPDATE!)
Michael Fremer  |  May 16, 2022  |  First Published: May 16, 2022  |  48 comments
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson today announced that it will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time, with the November 18 release of Michael Jackson Thriller 40, a double CD set comprised of Michael’s original masterpiece Thriller and an exciting second disc full of surprises for fans including never-released tracks which were worked on by Michael for the Thriller album. To date, the album has amassed in excess of 100 million in sales worldwide.

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Phono Preamp Reviews
Schiit's Mani 2 MM/MC Phono Preamp Goes to the Head of the Budget Phono Preamp Class
Michael Fremer  |  May 14, 2022  |  First Published: May 14, 2022  |  31 comments
If the audio industry handed out awards, the winner for “The most improved analog product of the decade” would be Schiit’s Mani 2 MM/MC phono preamplifier. Okay, that’s “click bait” so how about “Schiit’s Mani 2 might be the winner”? Yes, let’s stick with that.

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AXPONA 2017News
Goldring Launches New Eroica HX H.O. MC Cartridge Ahead of High End Munich 2022
Michael Fremer  |  May 12, 2022  |  First Published: May 12, 2022  |  10 comments
May 12, 2022—U.K. cartridge manufacture Goldring today announced the EroicaHX a high output moving coil cartridge retailing in the United States for $899. The new cartridge will be available starting this June.

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane Together Make Beautiful Music
Michael Fremer  |  May 08, 2022  |  16 comments
What seemed like an unlikely pairing in 1962 of “jazz elder” 63 year old Duke Ellington with John Coltrane, who had just assembled his ”classic quartet” destined to explore uncharted musical (and spiritual) territory, produced a surprisingly cohesive and satisfying album.

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AAA VinylNews
Verve/Ume/Acoustic Sounds Announces 2022’s Remaining All-Analogue Releases
Michael Fremer  |  May 05, 2022  |  First Published: May 05, 2022  |  39 comments
Los Angeles – May 5, 2022- Verve/Ume and Acoustic Sounds announces the following titles coming throughout the year followed the April 29th release John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse!, 1963).

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Analog Gear News
Sumiko and Pro-Ject USA Launch New Budget-Priced E1 Series Turntables
Michael Fremer  |  May 03, 2022  |  First Published: May 03, 2022  |  4 comments
MISTELBACH, AUSTRIA (May 3, 2022) - Sumiko and Pro-Ject USA today announced the new E1 budget-priced turntable line designed and produced in Europe. The E1 turntable is available in three versions: the E1 ($349) the E1 SB with with built in switchable phono preamplifier ($399) and the E1 BT ($499) featuring both built-in switchable phono preamp and a Bluetooth wireless transmitter to connect wirelessly to soundbars and powered speakers.

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AXPONA 2022
AXPONA 2022 Analog Show Coverage Days 2 & 3
Michael Fremer  |  May 02, 2022  |  First Published: May 02, 2022  |  10 comments
The crowds rushed in on day 2. It was good to see pent up show demand express itself though it was still a somewhat tentative affair, with many no-show companies and retailers. Traffic was lighter on Sunday, which is normal. It's impossible for one person (me) to cover an entire show, even in 3 days and I ended up missing a few rooms with turntables and a few other rooms I'd meant to see. Fortunately Stereophile sent a full crew with specific assignments so please visit there for detailed show coverage especially non-turntable related.

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