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. . .

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. . .

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. . .

Here in Part 2 of our High End Munich 2025 show report series, Julie Mullins takes a firsthand look at AMG’s Ventus phono preamp prototype, in addition to checking out a pair of AMG Viella series turntables and the company’s 12JT tonearm. . .

We duly announce that The B-52’s The Warner Reprise Years 9LP box set is slated for release from Warner Records/Reprise/Rhino on June 20, 2025. All 9LPs in this massive collection, which spans the balance of the pioneering alt-punk band’s kaleidoscopic recording career from 1979 to 1992, have been remastered and repressed on a literal rainbow variety of color vinyl options, so read on to see what those colors are, and how good each LP sounds. . .

Herb Belkin was one of a kind. A lifetime record executive who was instrumental in taking a onetime field-recording audio company known as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (a.k.a. MFSL) to the next, audiophile-grade level in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Belkin (1939-2001) also amassed quite the robust collection of vinyl, CDs, LDs, and other music-related memorabilia over the course of his rich life. A good amount of Belkin’s personal archive from the MFSL universe (and beyond!) is coming up for auction at 11 a.m. EDT on June 29, 2025, through Thomaston Place Auction Galleries on Day 3 of their Summer Splendor auction series. Read Mike Mettler and Mark Smotroff’s combo report to see what rare items from Belkin’s vinyl collection are going up for this auction — and also find out what gear he listened to all of it on back in the day. . .

If it’s May, then it must be time again for the annual High End Munich show at the M.O.C. — a.k.a., the Event Center Messe Munich — which was held from May 15-18, 2025. Here in Part 1 of our comprehensive Munich 2025 show report series, Julie Mullins gives us the scoop on the latest turntable offerings from Dual and Coturn by Thorens, plus she (and we!) give well-deserved kudos to show ambassador Anette Askvik. . .

Today, we continue our deep dive into reviewing seven more compelling, affordably priced, and generally well-made reissues of classic 1960s and early ’70s Motown LPs released by Elemental Music and UMe. Read on to see Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts takes on the latest round of 140g 1LP reissues from Jackson 5, Four Tops, The Undisputed Truth, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Marvin Gaye. . .

We all have our own pet requests for classic albums we’d love to see reissued in the purest, and most honest, analog capacity as possible — and sometimes, those requests are heeded. To that end, the noted German manufacturer Burmester have just announced their new Pure Sound Master Recordings Series that kicks off with one of the best LPs to do so with — namely, Oscar Peterson Trio’s 1964 jazz piano masterpiece, We Get Requests. Read on to see all the details about this most excellent limited-edition lacquer. . .

Presenting another piece of cool gear seen at High End Munich 2025, before we begin sharing all the deep-dive show reports from our fellow editors who were at the big show — namely, the Wilson Benesch Graviton Ti tonearm, which “evolved” (their word) from the version of the arm originally integrated into their flagship GMT One System turntable and seen here on the Dohmann Helix One Mk3 turntable. . .