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Album ReviewsVinyl Reports
Inaugural Definitive Sound Series 180g 2LP One-Step Offerings From A Perfect Circle and Dr. Dre Both Bode Most Definitively Well for the Future of DSS
Mark Smotroff  |  Dec 19, 2025

The two albums we’re reviewing today are exciting prospects for us here at AP, because they also happen to be the first two offerings from Interscope/Capitol’s new Definitive Sound Series (a.k.a. DSS). DSS releases partake in the vaunted One-Step process, and this new series’ initial offerings couldn’t be more different. Said inaugural DSS releases are 180g 2LP One-Steps for a) alt-rock supergroup A Perfect Circle’s smash-hit May 2000 debut Mer de Noms, and b) ex-N.W.A rapper/producer Dr. Dre’s mega-platinum debut solo release, December 1992’s The Chronic. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why both of these DSS entries bode quite well for what’s to come in this exciting, ongoing series. . .

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Show Reports
SOTA, Rega, and Audio-Technica Make a Whole Lot of Sense Together at Capital Audiofest
Julie Mullins  |  Dec 18, 2025

In Part 7 of our Capital Audiofest 2025 show report, Julie Mullins heads to a room helmed by Hi-Fi Lite in order to check out a SOTA turntable fitted with a Rega tonearm and Audio-Technica stylus. . .

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New Wax WednesdayVinyl Reports
Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45rpm 2LP Van Halen Reissue Series Has Been a Master Class in How to Present Ultradisc One-Step Original Master Recordings on Vinyl
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 17, 2025

Mobile Fidelity have been on quite a tear of late. Besides their consistent slate of Original Master Recordings (OMRs), they’ve also been making a mark with their Ultradisc One-Step releases — most especially with the ongoing UD1S 180g 45rpm 2LP OMR Van Halen reissue series. Read AP Editor Mike Mettler’s combo review of all five UD1S VH OMR LPs, as well as his exclusive interview about how they came to be with MoFi President Jim Davis and MoFi mastering engineers Rob LoVerde and Shawn R. Britton. . .

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Show Reports
Luphonic’s R3 Turntable Enters the Analog Conversation at Capital Audiofest
Julie Mullins  |  Dec 16, 2025

In Part 6 of our CAF 2025 show report, Julie Mullins takes in the full scope of the new Luphonic R3 turntable and other cool gear she experienced in more than one of the rooms that were presented by Alma Music & Audio. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsVinyl Reports
New Vinylphyle Series 180g 1LP All-Analog Reissue of The Velvet Underground & Nico’s Highly Influential 1967 Debut Album Shows the Inherent Beauty of How Distortion and Clarity Can Inevitably Intersect Quite Pleasurably on the Same Record
Mark Smotroff,  |  Dec 12, 2025

The Velvet Underground & Nico LP released on Verve in March 1967 — featuring hypnotic model-turned-chanteuse Nico along with guitarist/vocalist Lou Reed, violist/bassist John Cale, rhythm guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer/percussionist Mo Tucker — is arguably one of the most influential recordings in rock & roll history. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if Republic/UMe’s new all-analog 180g Vinylphyle edition of this important, historical LP is able to corral the beauty inherent in its intersection of delicacy and distortion to a degree worthy of repeat spins. . .

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Features
Tis the Season to Join Us in Paying It Forward by Donating Vinyl to Your Local Library
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 12, 2025

Tis the season, just like the header says! Yesterday, AP editor Mike Mettler visited the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and donated 13 sealed LPs to their Spin It Forward campaign, which promotes the idea of making new LPs available to the library’s patrons. See what other vinyl-related goodness he discovered during that library gifting visit, and think about how you can get involved in — or even come up with — a similar program in your own community. . .

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Analog Gear News
Connected-Fidelity CF-1010 Tonearm
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 11, 2025

Certain gear manufacturers have a knack for choosing a company name that perfectly, and most viscerally, describes what they’re all about — and Connected-Fidelity is one of them. Last year, the hyphenated British manufacturer turned our heads and pricked up our ears with their flagship TT Hub turntable, and they’re doing it again here at the tail end of 2025 with the recent announcement of their all-new CF-1010 tonearm. Read on to see all the features and specs for the CF-1010. . .

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New Wax WednesdayVinyl Reports
Tori Amos Upgrades the Identity of Her Bold, Narrative-Flipped 2001 Covers Concept Album Strange Little Girls Into a 2LP Expanded Edition on February 20
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 10, 2025

Tori Amos is the type of artist who relishes pushing the creative envelope at practically every turn, and she went all-in by creating 12 separate character identities/personas for how she approached interpreting the dozen, male-penned covers she tackled on her September 2001 release on Atlantic, Strange Little Girls. The album has never been officially released on vinyl, but Rhino plans to rectify that ill by dropping a 2LP Strange Little Girls (Expanded Edition) on February 20, 2026, that will also feature a pair of B-side rarities along with an additional pair of previously unreleased recordings. Read AP editor Mike Mettler’s Strange Little assessment, in addition to some exclusive, vinyl-centric comments he got directly from Amos herself. . .

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Show Reports
Audio Note UK Gear Dominates at Entire Room at Capital Audiofest 2025
Julie Mullins  |  Dec 09, 2025

Here in Part 5 of our ongoing Capital Audiofest 2025 show report series, Julie Mullins experiences a full range of gear from Audio Note UK — including their flagship TT-Three Reference turntable — in one company-centric demo room. . .

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Show Reports
Fern & Roby Channel a Classic Technics Combo at Capital Audiofest With Their New Archival Turntable
Julie Mullins  |  Dec 06, 2025

Here in Part 4 of our Capital Audiofest 2025 show report, Julie Mullins checks out Fern & Roby’s newly named Archival Turntable, a classy update on a stone-cold classic Technics turntable and tonearm combo if ever there was. . .

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