Moonriver Audio 505 MM/MC Hybrid Phono Preamp

We only got a brief sneak peek at Moonriver Audio’s cool new 505 MM/MC hybrid phono preamp in action at Munich High End 2023 back in May, but now it’s time to take a much closer look at it now that it’s on the market. Read on to see why this Swedish company’s 505 phono preamp is worthy of our attention. . .

New Label Inner Groove Records Announces Their Inaugural 180g 1LP Reissue Is Lim Taylor’s Lost 1974 Funk/Soul Gem, You Hear Me Knocking

We’re always happy to see when new vinyl-centric record labels crop up with a clear mission, and that leads us directly to the M.O. that’s fueling Inner Groove Records. The fledgling label’s inaugural release is a 180g 1LP reissue of Lim Taylor’s long lost 1974 funk/soul gem You Hear Me Knocking, an album that initially surfaced on Ray Charles’ custom Crossover Records imprint. Read on to see how you can secure your own copy of Knocking before this strictly limited-edition LP is gone, gone, gone. . .

UMe’s New 1LP Reissue of Steely Dan’s Seminal Hit 1977 Album Aja Indeed Has Merit for Those Seeking a New, Clean-Sounding Vinyl Edition Without Breaking the Bank

I’ll say this right upfront about the new Geffen/UMe 1LP edition of Steely Dan’s seminal September 1977 album, Aja: for an SRP of $29.99, it sounds pretty darn good, all things considered! But, of course, I realize that “pretty darn good” may not be enough for many of you seeking ultimate perfection for one of the ultimately perfect hit records ever made. You want Aja to sound “pretty darn great!” — I get it!

Primary Category: 
Category: 
Artist: 
Steely Dan
Album: 
Aja
Cred Label: 
Geffen/UMe
Cred Prod: 
Gary Katz (original LP); reissue supervised by Donald Fagen
Cred Eng: 
Roger Nichols (executive engineer); Elliot Scheiner, Bill Schnee, Al Schmitt (engineers)
Cred Mix: 
-
Cred Mast: 
Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from first-gen Bob Ludwig EQ’ed 1980 tape copy; lacquers cut by Alex Abrash of AA Mastering from hi-res digital files of Grundman’s new masters

The new Geffen/UMe 1LP edition of Steely Dan’s seminal September 1977 album, Aja, sounds pretty darn good, all things considered, given that it bears a key difference from the other entries in this reissue series to date. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see what that difference is, and if this new edition of Aja is right for you either way. . .

Cyrus Audio TTP Turntable

Cyrus Audio has decided to kick off the celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2024 somewhat on the early side by announcing the late-October availability of their new TTP turntable — but we don’t mind that kind of advance fanfare in the least. Read on to find out more about the well-respected British company’s flagship turntable offering. . .

Trevor Rabin Gives a Hale and Hearty Yes to Doing Double 180g Vinyl for New Solo Album Rio and Explains How Bob Ludwig’s Mastering “Saved” Yes’ Big Hit 1983 LP, 90125

Trevor Rabin is a truly cinematic artist — and we don’t just say that because he joined a band called Cinema that soon enough brought its name back around to Yes before they released November 1983’s 90125. In the interim, Rabin has scored over 50 films and television shows, continued to work on and off with various Yesmates (hello, ARW), and he’s also released a number of wide-ranging solo albums to boot. His latest effort, Rio, is being released today in various 2LP configurations via InsideOut Music. During a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Rabin discusses the vinyl-centric impetus of Rio, why it’s important for him to personally attend as many mastering sessions as he can, and why he feels Bob Ludwig’s mastering “saved” 90125. . .

Record Store Day, Black Friday Edition, Offers a Wide Variety of RSD Exclusive and RSD First Titles on November 24

We’re always excited when the next round of Record Store Day titles is announced, and this week has already seen a flurry of notices about a slew of great Black Friday RSD Exclusive and RSD First titles that will be available at participating Record Store Day shops on November 24. Read on to find out what some of our early RSD Black Friday favorites are, what their respective limited-edition pressings are capped at, and if they’re being offered on black or color vinyl. . .

Meet The New LP Boss, a.k.a. the Abbey Road Half-Speed-Mastered, Plangent Processes-Restored 180g 1LP Edition of The Who’s Seminal 1971 Masterpiece, Who’s Next

The backstory on Who’s Next, the groundbreaking classic hard rock August 1971 album by The Who, is well documented extensively around the world and all across the interwebs, so I am not going to waste any of our respective time recapping that legendary tale here — nor will I explore the wondrous-but-aborted album concept that it emerged from, Lifehouse (a separate amazing journey in its own right). Instead, we’re going to explore a brand new 50th anniversary Abbey Road Studios half-speed-mastered vinyl edition of one of rock’s most important albums.

Primary Category: 
Category: 
Artist: 
The Who
Album: 
Who's Next
Cred Label: 
Polydor/Track/UMC
Cred Prod: 
The Who (original album), Glyn Johns (associate producer)
Cred Eng: 
Glyn Johns
Cred Mix: 
Glyn Johns
Cred Mast: 
Half-speed-mastered lacquers cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios; remastering by Jon Astley at Close To The Edge; Plangent Processes restoration by Jamie Howarth

It looks like the old Who’s Next. It feels like the old Who’s Next. But the new 180g 1LP half-speed-mastered 50th anniversary edition of The Who’s seminal August 1971 masterpiece Who’s Next sounds arguably bigger and better than any commonly available version of the original mix of Who’s Next that we’ve heard to date on vinyl. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why this new Abbey Road half-speed-mastered, Plangent Processes-restored 180g 1LP Who’s Next belongs on your turntable, pronto. . .

Reed Muse 3A Turntable

In honor of Audiophile Day, we here at AP thought we’d put the spotlight on a new turntable that gets our high-end hi-fi juices flowing — and the Reed Muse 3A ’table fits that bill to a T. Read on to glean more about this noted Lithuanian company’s latest turntable endeavor. . .

Review Explosion Short Cuts Edition, Vol. 7: Rare 1977 Pharoah Sanders Spiritual Jazz Album Pharoah Gets New 2LP Luaka Bop Box Set With Live Material Added, Plus a Look at the Fine 180g 1LP Third Man-Pressed Verve by Request Reissue of 1972’s Black Unity

Our seventh Short Cuts installment of Review Explosion is all about Pharoah Sanders — namely, the rare 1977 spiritual jazz album Pharoah that’s now a part of a new 2LP Luaka Bop box set that also includes a separate Harvest Time Live 1977 LP, plus a look at the fine 180g 1LP Third Man-Pressed Verve by Request reissue of 1972’s Black Unity. Read on to get Mark Smotroff’s take on both of these quite worthwhile reissues. . .

Rhino Set to Kick Off Official Rocktober 2023 Vinyl Festivities on October 6 With a Slate of 27 Limited Edition LPs Spread Across Each Friday of the Month

The hunt for Rocktober vinyl is officially underway. Rhino is once again set to commence their annual Rocktober vinyl campaign, this time with a full slate of 27 limited edition LPs that will be spread across each Friday of the month ahead, starting on October 6. Read on to find out what comprises the complete Rocktober 2023 slate, which Friday each of those 27LPs will be coming out on respectively, if they’re coming in black and/or color LP options, and for how much apiece. . .

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