Sensible Sound articles from September 2003

Sensible Sound archives from September 2003

Ramblings.
September 1, 2003... Welcome to Issue 97, which features an in-depth review of a fascinating new piece of equipment from the old master himself, James Bongiorno. Just when you were debating whether to go from two channels to 5.1, 7.1, or beyond, our technical guru...

Long-time reader, first-time writer.(Forum)
September 1, 2003... After many years of looking at T$S on newsstands, I finally subscribed a few months ago. Now I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy the magazine. I especially like reading what Howard Ferstler has to say. No other reviewer (in any...

Tres Fantastique!(Forum)
September 1, 2003... I just received the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique by Sir Thomas Beecham conducting Orchestre National de Radiodiffusion Franquise, a (Great Recording of the Century) CD, for Fathers Day. The conducting is Fantastique, the playing is...

Bass thoughts.(Straits Of The Art)
September 1, 2003... Elsewhere in this issue you will find my review of the remarkable Trinaural Processor from Spread Spectrum Technologies, designed by the venerable James Bongiorno. Although I am extremely impressed by what the unit can do in terms of enhancing...

Ugly beauty.(Surveying The Soundscape)
September 1, 2003... Ugly Beauty: The original Dynaco Stereo 70 was an ugly duckling, but hi-fi beauty is more than skin deep. During its heyday, David Hafler's dull brown boxes powered more systems and quickened hearts of more music lovers than any other...

My quest fro a way to deliver computer-based music to my stereo system is at an end.(Surveying The Soundscape)
September 1, 2003... My quest for a way to deliver computer-based music to my stereo system is at an end. I'm not promising that I won't start down that road again, but I will assure you that this is the last report you'll get of about a product that didn't quite...

Of discs, dodos, and nurserymen.(Surveying The Soundscape)
September 1, 2003... Of Discs, Dodos, and Nurserymen: Fantasy Records says that it holds "The World's Mightiest Jazz Catalog" and has been releasing a series of Original Jazz Classics samplers to support the claim. The new wave based on '50s and '60s recordings...

Talkin' in rhythm.(Surveying The Soundscape)
September 1, 2003... Talkin' in Rhythm: The spring issue of Invention & Technology reports that the oldest talkie has been restored to viewable and listenable condition. It dates back to 1895 when Thomas Edison recorded a short film and wax cylinder simultaneously....

Goodbye, cruel sound.(Surveying The Soundscape)
September 1, 2003... Goodbye, Cruel Sound: I'm impressed by Shure's new E2c in-your-earphones. These are very interesting and effective noise-reducing phones that work acoustically rather than electronically. In fact, you might think of it as natural rather than...

Back to the future.(Surveying The Soundscape)
September 1, 2003... Back to the Future: In 1937, British novelist J.B. Priestley wrote: "What we need now is a tiny portable instrument, to which one listens through earphones, so that it does not disturb anyone else, and whole symphonies and concertos and operas...

AVA OmegaStar EC preamplifier.
September 1, 2003... Manufacturer: Audio by Van Alstine, 2202 River Hills Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337; 952/890-3517; www.avahifi.com Price: $899; phono board, phase inverter, tape buffers, $129 each; upgrade from Omega III EC, $399; upgraded phono board, $100...

Philips CDR 778 Compact Disc Recorder.
September 1, 2003... Manufacturer: Philips Consumer Electronics Co., 64 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, GA 31146; 800/ 531-0039; www.phllipsusa.com. Price: $399 Source: Reviewer purchase A while ago I got it into my head that I wanted--nay, needed--the...

Rotel RQ-970BX Phono Equalizer.
September 1, 2003... Manufacturer: Rotel of America, PO Box 8, 54 Concord St., North Reading, MA 01864-0008; 800/ 370-3741, 508/664-4109; www.rotel.com Price: $199 Source: Reviewer purchase As part and parcel of my digital home recording saga, shipping my...

Spread Spectrum Technologies, Inc. Trinaural Processor.
September 1, 2003... Manufacturer: Spread Spectrum Technologies Inc., 716 N. G St. #2, Lompoc, CA 93436; 805/740-9902; sstinc@earthlink.net; www.ampzilla2000.com Price: $1,500 Source: Manufacturer loan The name "James Bongiorno" may not be as familiar to...

Addendum: Velodyne Deco Series Speaker Package.
September 1, 2003... Manufacturer: Velodyne Acoustics, 345 Digital Drive, Morgan Hill,CA 95037; 408/465-2800; techhelp@velodyne.com (Please note this is the correct address; an old one was printed erroneously in Issue 96's review). Price: $1,499 (Satellite list...

Exclusive Preview: Energy Veritas V2.3i.
September 1, 2003... Manufacturer: Audio Products International, 3641 McNicoll Ave, Scarborough ON M1 1G5 Canada; 416/321-1800; www.energy-speakers.com Price: $2,800/pair Source: Reviewer Loan My first flight with an Energy speaker system is proving to be full...

More jazz than not.(The Music)
September 1, 2003... Baltic Voices 1 Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Paul Hillier (Harmonia Mundi HMU 907311) Those who delight in choral music will love this new recording of 20th-century choral music by Baltic composers Kreek, Sandstrom, Rautavaara,...

Double Double.(The Music)
September 1, 2003... Last time around, Tom Lyle and Ye Grumpy Olde Editor did something unusual, comparing two recordings of popular rather than classical music. Although it was fun to wander down a side road, I must confess that it certainly feels good to be back...

Carousel Corner.(The Music)
September 1, 2003... Carousel Corner And when I die and go to pure pop heaven The angels will gather around And ask me for my whole life story And ask for that fabulous sound But I know they're gonna stop me As I start going through...

Reissue roundup: Audio Fidelity's first reissue plus some Concord Jazz reissues from Groove Note and Pure Audiophile.(The Music)
September 1, 2003... Although the name "Audio Fidelity" has been used on record labels in the past, this new company bears no relation to those predecessors. It is the brainchild of former DCC president, Marshall Blonstein. As was the case with the original company...

The Broadway and cabaret scene.
September 1, 2003... Nine, The New Broadway Cast Recording, PS Classics PS-312 The Maury Yeston Songbook, PS Classics PS-310 Lauren Kennedy: Songs of Jason Robert Brown, PC3 Classics PS-309 First Lady Suite, A Musical by Michael John La Chiusa, PS...

Scoping software.(The Music)
September 1, 2003... Two-Channel Sound. Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel: Trio Sonatas for Flute, Violin, and Baroque Cello. (A harpsichord also performs.) Les Arnis de Philippe. Recorded in 1997, at the Evangelical Church, Honrath, Germany. Engineer: Martin Andrae....

John Puccio reviews ...
September 1, 2003... Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 4-6; Triple Concerto, BWV 1044. Trevor Pinnock, the English Concert. DG Archiv 474 220-2. The excellent little accompanying booklet note mentions that these 1982 recordings were among the first performed of...