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Analog Gear News
FiiO CP13 Transparent Portable Cassette Player
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 08, 2024  |  8 comments

The tape revival continues ever onward. With that in mind, we’re going to take a look at a new tape-related offering from portable-gear manufacturer FiiO — namely, their CP13 transparent portable cassette player. Read on to see what the CP13 has to offer. . .

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Interviews
Keyboardist Bill Payne on Little Feat’s First New Studio Album in 12 Years, Sam’s Place, and Why He Loves the Recent Slew of Historical 2LP & 3LP Warner Records Reissues That Show How Willin’ the Band Is to Embrace Their Rich Vinyl Legacy
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 05, 2024  |  4 comments

Bill Payne is a glue guy — as in, the co-founding keyboardist of Little Feat is the connective tissue that sweetens the musical pot of everything he touches, something that’s in full effect on Little Feat’s new 145g studio LP, Sam’s Place. In a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Payne discussed how Sam’s Place came together so instinctively, what some of his favorite vintage Little Feat tracks are on vinyl and why, and how the band mixes complexity and beauty together to create such a signature sound. . .

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Analog Gear News
With the Xtension 9 Evolution, Pro-Ject Invites You to Design Your Own Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 02, 2024  |  5 comments

Ever want to build your own turntable, piece by piece? Well, Pro-Ject is letting you do just that with their new Xtension 9 Evolution table. Read on to see just how you can do it by customizing key turntable elements such as tonearm, cartridge, phono preamp, power supply, cabling, and finish, as you see fit. . .

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Analog Gear News
Rega Nd5 MM Cartridge
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 01, 2024  |  5 comments

Rega does it again. Part of the company’s burgeoning Nd cartridge line, the Nd5 moving magnet (MM) cartridge is said to be a “world first” (their words) in terms of using a neodymium magnet — hence, the periodic table-like abbreviated “Nd” portion of the cart’s nomenclature, Read on to see what all the Rega Nd5 MM cart’s other features and specs are. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
John Lee Hooker Conjures Acoustic Fire on AAA Acoustic Sounds-Curated 60th Anniversary 180g 1LP Reissue of Burning Hell Via Craft Recordings
Mark Smotroff  |  Jun 28, 2024  |  7 comments

Original pressings of it from 1964 are scarce, as it was initially issued primarily in the UK. What’s a vinyl-loving fan of acoustic blues on a budget to do? Fortunately, Craft Recordings has come to the rescue, seeing fit to reissue John Lee Hooker’s legendary 1964 Riverside Records LP, Burning Hell as part of their new Bluesville series. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if this AAA edition of Burning Hell should be fired up or your turntable sooner than later. . .

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ALBUM RELEASE NEWS
Pat Metheny’s Debut Album, 1976’s Bright Size Life, Sees ECM Luminessence Series 180g 1LP Reissue on August 2
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 27, 2024  |  10 comments

The future is so bright, we gotta cue up some Pat Metheny vinyl, STAT. Well, ECM must have gotten wind of our wishes, for the renowned label has just announced it will reissue Metheny’s groundbreaking debut LP, March 1976’s Bright Size Life, on 180g vinyl on August 2, 2024, as part of their rightly vaunted Luminessence Series. Read to see more details about this highly anticipated reissue. . .

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Analog Gear News
Wrensilva Record Console Collection
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 25, 2024  |  15 comments

Continuing with this week’s retro-gear vibe, we now turn to Wrensilva, a San Diego-based company who are debuting two new entries into their Record Console Collection — the M1 and The Standard. Read on to see all the specs and features, plus what three hand-curated Blue Note LPs come with each console. . .

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Phono Preamp Reviews
Can Aurorasound’s VIDA MkII Phono Preamp Prioritize Clarity and Detail While Also Achieving Precise Imaging and Neutral Tonal Balance?
Ken Micallef  |  Jun 24, 2024  |  2 comments

The veneer wrap of products from the Japanese manufacturer Aurorasound greatly resembles that of a 1975 Lafayette integrated amp — but that’s certainly no reason to discount this fabulous machine of theirs we see here before us today, the MkII phono preamp. Read on to see how well the Aurorasound VIDA MkII fared when our ace reviewer Ken Micallef cued up a number of his favorite LPs in order to hear just what it could do. . .

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Album Reviews
Grateful Dead’s Long-Underrated 1974 LP From The Mars Hotel Is Now Occupied With Vibrant, Fuller Sounds on Its Newly Remastered 180g 1LP 50th Anniversary Edition
Mark Smotroff  |  Jun 21, 2024  |  6 comments

Grateful Dead’s self-released June 1974 LP From The Mars Hotel often polarizes fans, with some considering it an all-time classic while others (sadly) overlook it. We here at AP feel Mars Hotel warrants reconsideration as an ultimate equal in the now-classic trilogy of “indie” Dead studio albums from the 1973-75 time period. Lucky for us, this underrated album has been officially reissued by the Dead and Rhino in newly remastered 180g 1LP form today, June 21, 2024. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why this new edition of From The Mars Hotel belongs in your collection. . .

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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  |  4 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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