While we look forward to sharing all the deep-dive show reports from our fellow editors who were at High End Munich 2025 on AP in the coming days/weeks, we do have some cool gear seen at the big show to report on in the here and now — starting with the Takumi TT Level 2.1DC turntable. . .

High End Munich 2025 is in full swing through the weekend — and, rest assured, we’ll be posting a number of firsthand reports in the coming days/weeks. For now, we wanted to put a spotlight on a new, relatively affordable piece of analog gear seen at the big show that is actually available to consumers now — namely, Lenco’s L-455BK turntable. . .

The two latest releases in Craft Recordings’ ongoing, and quite superb, Bluesville reissue series sing the joys electric and acoustic blues from two generations of legendary blues artists. The 180g 1LP Bluesville editions of Buddy Guy’s 1968 live Vanguard debut This Is Buddy Guy! and Scrapper Blackwell’s 1962 Prestige Bluesville classic Mr. Scrapper’s Blues are both being released concurrently today, May 16, 2025, so read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if either/both of these blues albums should be instant purchases for your collection and listening pleasure. . .

“It was the hippest of times, it was the squarest of times — mostly the latter.” Ever cleverly dour, that was how the principal members of Steely Dan (a.k.a. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) opened the three-paneled liner-notes portion of the folded booklet within the MCA CD reissue of their masterful May 1976 ABC album The Royal Scam. Thankfully, the music found therein was much more hip than square — and, now, after a 40-year wait (!), The Royal Scam is finally seeing proper vinyl reissues courtesy separate Geffen/UMe and Analogue Productions editions on June 6, 2025. Read on to see all the royal LP details. . .

Good grief! While we’re in the deep throes of our imminent full-court High End Munich 2025 press, we couldn’t let another day go by without acknowledging a truly special limited-edition piece of analog gear that may (or may not!) be seen at the big show — namely, Pro-Ject’s Peanuts turntable. Read on to see how Pro-Ject intends to celebrate 75 years of good ol’ Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang with this cool new ltd-ed table. . .

Can it be we’re just days away from High End Munich 2025? (That was a rhetorical question, mind you.) As we await Munich 2025’s official start later this week, we’ll be previewing some of the new gear that’s launching/debuting at the big show, including the Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge. Read on to see how this respected Japanese company plans to honor their 85th anniversary with the MP-700 cart. . .

Hello and welcome to Part 9, the final installment of Julie Mullins’ AXPONA 2025 show report series. In this series-ending chapter, Mullins checks out cool gear from the likes of Børresen, Aavik, Linn, DS Audio, DeVore, Leben, and Well Tempered Lab. . .

Explorations, the 1961 second and final studio release by the classic first Bill Evans Trio featuring piano maestro Bill Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian, is remarkable on many levels. Craft Recordings’ recent, late-2024-released Small Batch AAA 180g 1LP edition of this influential, highly sought after jazz classic is sure to be appreciated by jazz aficionados and audiophiles alike who have been searching for as definitive a pressing as possible. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why this Small Batch Explorations LP is well worth your time and money. . .

Welcome to our new weekly New Wax Wednesday column, in which we will highlight upcoming new LP releases and/or important vinyl reissues worthy of preordering and spinning again and again once they arrive in prime, direct from doorstep to turntable fashion. What better way to start off this new series than by commencing with a calling out to transit, as the saying goes — as in, sharing the news that R.E.M.’s Radio Free Europe 2025 five-track benefit EP is set for release via Craft Recordings on September 12, 2025. Read on to see what rare tracks and new mixes will appear on this limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl EP. . .

Welcome to Part 8, the penultimate chapter of Julie Mullins AXPONA 2025 show report. In this installment, Mullins checks out the latest analog gear from MoFi Electronics, Thales, Clearaudio, and Yukiseimitsu Audio. . .