We continue diving headlong into December with Part 8 of our Capital Audiofest 2024 show report. In this installment, Julie Mullins reports on what she saw and heard from VPI, Audio Research, Revox, PureAudioProject, and Luminous Audio Technology. . .

In the Beatleverse, it is generally well known and quite accepted that the mono mixes of the early Beatles recordings are considered superior to the stereo counterparts for many reasons. Thus, a new box set assembling 21st century recreations of the U.S. Beatles albums in their original monaural sound has a special sort of appeal — and that’s where the 1964 U.S. Albums in Mono 180g 8LP box set, which was released by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe on November 22, 2024, comes into play. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if The Beatles’ 1964 U.S. Albums in Mono 180g 8LP box set is fab enough to put on your holiday-purchase list, or if you should buy each album individually. . .

Last night (i.e., December 4, 2024), a select group of journalists gathered at the All Blues listening bar in New York City’s Chinatown, and were treated to an exclusive preview of Analogue Productions’ special 180g 1LP edition of Miles Davis’ Birth of the Blue, which is set for release on December 13, 2024. Read Ken Micallef’s firsthand listening report to get a taste of what you can expect from this historic LP. . .

Hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving break! We’re now back on track to lean into December with Part 7 of our Capital Audiofest 2024 show report. In this installment, Julie Mullins reports on what she saw and heard from Archer High Fidelity, Cambridge Audio, Audio-Technica, and Analysis Plus. . .

Into the hi-fi audio fray strides the dual-mono Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B tube phono preamp — yet another high-value, smartly priced product from the brain of Pro-Ject founder Heinz Lichtenegger. Read Ken Micallef’s review to see if the DS3 B punches above its weight class. . .

Record Store Day 2024, the Black Friday edition, is soon upon us — just two days from now on November 29, 2024, in fact. Read on to see ten cool RSD 2024 picks from AP editor Mike Mettler and chief LP reviewer Mark Smotroff that might be worth adding to your own shopping list for that special day. . .

Welcome to Part 6 of our Capital Audiofest 2024 show report, the last iteration before the Thanksgiving holiday takes full hold! In this installment, Julie Mullins reports on what she saw and heard from Robyatt Audio, VPI, Bird of Prey, Tzar, Java Hi-Fi, and Quad. . .

The first word that comes to mind whenever we think of the guitar playing of Andy Summers is texture. The once and forever Police guitarist was — and still is, really — a master of tone and feel. He inherently knew how to create a sonic table setting to drape around whatever cerebral subject matter the chief Police lyricist, bassist/vocalist Sting, came up with while also leaving room for his vocals and low-end additions to both breathe and flourish — not to mention how Summers was able to weave in and out of Stewart Copeland’s truly original drumming and percussion embellishments. During a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Summers discusses his favorite Police moments on vinyl, his preferred record store haunts in England while he was growing up, and if his 1980s collaborations with King Crimson’s Robert Fripp might soon see vinyl reissues and/or upgrades. . .

As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s, legendary British Invasion songwriter, singer, guitarist, and all-around rock icon Pete Townshend of The Who was working hard, reinventing himself as something of a senior statesman clearly not ready to follow the directive of his iconic band’s October 1965 breakout hit single, “My Generation.” To that end, two of his more adventurous solo releases have just been reissued as new half-speed mastered 180g vinyl editions: June 1989’s The Iron Man: The Musical by Pete Townshend and June 1993’s Psychoderelict: Music Only — the latter making its first appearance on vinyl ever, and as a 2LP set to boot. Read Mark Smotroff’s combo review to see if either/both of these underappreciated latter-era Townshend solo LPs belong in your collection. . .

Welcome to Part 5 of our Capital Audiofest 2024 show report! In this installment, Julie Mullins reports on what she saw and heard from Pure Fidelity, Falcon Acoustics, Lab12, and ArgentPur. . .