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Analog Gear News
Sublima Audio Research Shelly Tonearm Headshell
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 12, 2025  |  0 comments

We’re always up for seeing whatever cool accessory ideas emerge from the mind of Sublima Audio Research founder Alessandro “Alex” Cereda, and his latest foray into this realm is called Shelly. Read on to see how S.A.R.’s newest accessory, which is made from 300-year-old Italian olive wood, has been designed to be quite the proper tonearm headshell. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSNew Wax Wednesday
Ethereal Goth Rockers Strange Boutique Are Back to Restock Our Vinyl Coffers With Their First New LP in 31 Years, Let the Lonely Heart Sing
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 11, 2025  |  1 comments

Call it a case of, shall we say, “capitol gains.” The capitol spelling there is quite deliberate, for it relates to the Washington, D.C., hometown locale of the notable ethereal goth-rock band Strange Boutique, who are finally back on the scene with their first new album in 31 years, Let the Lonely Heart Sing. The LP was released yesterday, June 10, 2025, in a pair of limited-edition color vinyl options by The Circle Music, a Greek label. Read on to see why you should procure either/both versions of Strange Boutique’s stunning new LP ASAP. . .

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Analog Gear News
Victrola Harmony Bluetooth Turntable System With Shelf Speakers
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 10, 2025  |  1 comments

When it comes to starting points, Victrola knows how to bring people into the analog realm — and to that end, today, June 10, 2025, the company is announcing the official availability of their Harmony Bluetooth Turntable System with Shelf Speakers. Read on to see how the Harmony system has the right amount of zen to pass along to those just getting into our analog field of interest. . .

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Munich 2025Show Reports
Pro-Ject X Series Turntables, Cartridges, Tonearms, Travel Sets, and Special Edition Turntables
Julie Mullins  |  Jun 06, 2025  |  0 comments

Here in Part 4 of her Munich 2025 show report, Julie Mullins is all about Pro-Ject and the wide array of products they had on display in Halle 3, including new X Series turntables, tonearms, cartridges, travel sets, and special-edition turntables galore. . .

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Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 28, New Wave Edition: Catching Up on Cool New LPs From ’80s Icons The Vapors and Peter Holsapple of The dB’s, Plus a Key Of-Era LP Reissue From Violent Femmes
Mark Smotroff  |  Jun 06, 2025  |  0 comments

Several iconic, pop-rockin’, punk-adjacent artists from the late 1970s and early 1980s new-wave era have new albums out now — and there are also a number of encouraging audiophile-oriented reissues as well. For this somewhat thematic Short Cuts installment, Mark Smotroff zeros in on a mixture of both by exploring a pair of fun new releases from The Vapors and Peter Holsapple, plus an AAA reissue of a Violent Femmes album we suspect many of us overlooked at the time of its original 1984 release. . .

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Munich 2025Show Reports
Turntables, Turntables, and More Turntables at Munich 2025, Plus Some Tonearms & Cartridges Too
Mike Mettler,  |  Jun 05, 2025  |  0 comments

The assignment for High End Munich 2025 was simple, and direct: “Show me turntables. Lots and lots of turntables.” And who better to carry out such a focused task than our go-to, table-loving main product reviewer for AP, the always estimable Ken Micallef. Click the link below to see Ken’s 11½-minute Munich 2025 video diary, which features a wide swath of turntables — plus a few tonearms and cartridges to boot — from the likes of TechDAS, Clearaudio, Klaudio, Kronos, Kuzma, Dual, Muarah, and many, many more. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWSNew Wax Wednesday
Talking Heads Build a Better Box Set With the More Songs About Buildings and Food 4LP Super Deluxe Edition That’s Slated for Consumption on July 25
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 04, 2025  |  2 comments

Take me to the box set, and drop me in the vinyl. And what we mean by that is to announce Talking Heads’ second studio album, July 1978’s More Songs About Buildings and Food, will be getting the Super Deluxe Edition 4LP treatment from Sire/Rhino on July 25, 2025. Read on to see what rarities and live material are also included in this must-have collection (and how to get those four bonus 45s too). . .

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Analog Gear News
Spartan 15 Mk 2 Phono Preamp by Michael Fidler and Classic Audio
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 03, 2025  |  2 comments

Michael Fidler is a bonafide classic audio maestro, and he knows how to build phono preamps about as good as anybody can. Read on to see all the features and specs for the latest offering from Michael Fidler and Classic Audio — namely, the Spartan 15 Mk 2 phono preamp, which is said to have evolved the standards set with company’s prior Spartan 15 and Spartan 10 double-stage preamps. . .

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Munich 2025Show Reports
Nagaoka Cartridges and Accessories, Korf Tonearms
Julie Mullins  |  Jun 02, 2025  |  0 comments

Our High End Munich 2025 coverage continues, so let’s get right to it! Here in Part 3, Julie Mullins gives us the scoop on the latest Nagaoka cartridges and accessories, as well as the newest tonearm offerings from Korf. . .

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Album Reviews
Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ 1974 Live Album Saturnight (Cat Stevens Live in Tokyo) Finally Sees Worldwide, and Quite Welcome, 1LP 50th Anniversary Release
Mark Smotroff  |  May 30, 2025  |  3 comments

The 50th anniversary edition of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ November 1974 live album Saturnight (Cat Stevens Live in Tokyo) is a surprisingly satisfying single-LP snapshot of the artist at an arguable career peak — and it’s now enjoying its first global vinyl release earlier this month on May 2, 2025, via the artist’s own Cat-O-Log imprint through A&M/UMe. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why Saturnight belongs in your collection ASAP. . .

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