Mike Mettler

Analog Gear News
Lenco LBT-515 Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 09, 2025  |  First Published: Sep 09, 2025  |  comments

Feast your eyes on the visually familiar Lenco LBT-515 direct-drive turntable, which made a notable debut at IFA 2025. Although it sports a retro-vibe wood finish, the 515 is clearly geared towards the modern turntable customer. Read on to see all the features and specs of the Swiss/Dutch manufacturer’s upcoming 515 table that firmly seat it in the here and now. . .

Continue Reading >
New Wax WednesdayVinyl Reports
The Who Readdress 1978’s Who Are You With a 180g 4LP Box Set Featuring 3LPs Comprised of Previously Unreleased Live Material From 1979 on October 31
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 03, 2025  |  First Published: Sep 03, 2025  |  comments

While The Who are currently traversing North America on their (allegedly) “final-final” tour that’s been dubbed (of course) The Song Is Over, they’re also quite keen on continuing with a finely curated catalog reissue series that’s been chock full of remastered originals and unreleased studio and live tracks galore. To that end, The ’Oo have just announced that their Who Are You 180g Deluxe Edition 4LP box set is forthcoming from Polydor/UMe on October 31, 2025. Read on to see what all the bonus material is, and what other versions of the set are also available. . .

Continue Reading >
New Wax WednesdayVinyl Reports
Phil Collins Suits Up for No Jacket Required (Fully Tailored) 40th Anniversary 180g 4LP Box Set on September 12
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 27, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 27, 2025  |  comments

Here’s an upcoming multidisc collection that practically whispers one of its song titles as an instruction for potential, pun-intended suitors: Take me home. Or, to be more precise, Phil Collins and his team are suiting up for a proper, imminent 40th anniversary release of the sartorially titled No Jacket Required (Fully Tailored) 180g 4LP box set via Atlantic/Rhino on September 12, 2025. Read on to see how it was done, and what all the cool bonus material is. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Andover Audio SpinBase MAX 2 Speaker System & SpinDeck 2 Turntable Combo
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 26, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 26, 2025  |  comments

Boston-based Andover Audio is all about accessibility and affordability — and their latest SpinBase iteration, the MAX 2, certainly fits that bill in their ongoing bid to bring new/budding enthusiasts into our analog-loving world. Given the feedback we’ve gotten regarding our prior coverage and reviews of And-Aud gear, we see the MAX 2 as being the perfect companion to pair with the company’s SpinDeck 2. Read on to see all the features and specs for the MAX 2, and why it pairs oh-so-well with the SpinDeck 2. . .

Continue Reading >
ALBUM RELEASE NEWSBeatlesVinyl Reports
The Beatles Legendary Anthology Series Gets Proper Restoration and Expansion Into a 180g 12LP Box Set Due Out November 21
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 21, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 21, 2025  |  comments

Could there have been a more perfectly named rock documentary than 1995’s The Beatles Anthology, the eight-episode linear-TV doc series that traced the full arc of The Fabs’ magical musical journey that began in Liverpool and Hamburg and soon enough captivated the world? In celebration of its 30th anniversary, The Beatles Anthology will see a comprehensive 180g 12LP box set released by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMG on November 21, 2025, and it includes an all-new fourth set naturally dubbed Anthology 4. Read on to see even more Anthology-related details, including the expansion of the original doc series (and when/where you can see it) and an updated book. . .

Continue Reading >
InterviewsNew Wax WednesdayVinyl Reports
Marillion’s Steve Rothery Tells Us All About Bioscope’s Gentō, an Immersive, New Ambient Prog Collaboration With Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning That Arrives as a 2LP Set on August 22
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 20, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 20, 2025  |  comments

Bioscope is a thrilling ambient prog collaboration between Steve Rothery, co-founder of and guitarist for Britain’s perennial prog stalwarts Marillion, and Thorsten Quaeschning, musical director of German ambient pioneers Tangerine Dream — and their debut 2LP set Gentō comes out via earMUSIC this upcoming Friday, August 22, 2025. In the Q&A portion of this post, AP editor Mike Mettler and Rothery discuss the overall sonic goals for Bioscope, his appreciation of half-speed mastering and film soundtracks, and which Marillion LPs the guitar maestro suggests the AP faithful and newbies alike should spin on their turntables to get a sense of their musical intentions and inclinations. . .

Continue Reading >
Features
EISA Hi-Fi Awards 2025-2026: The Analog Winners
Mike Mettler,  |  Aug 20, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 20, 2025  |  comments

EISA, or the Expert Imaging and Sound Association, is an organization representing 53 of the most respected special interest publications and websites from 26 countries that cover Hi-Fi, Home Theater, Photography, Mobile Devices, and In-Car Electronics. Every year EISA’s Expert Group members, including editors from our sister sites like Stereophile and Hi-Fi News, test a very wide range of new products from their field of expertise before comparing results and voting to decide on the cream of every product category. We here at AP salute the EISA awards and all the hard work our fellow audiophile-minded editors put in on them this year — well, every year! — so read on to see who the analog-centric winners are for this awards cycle . . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
London Decca Cartridges Are Back!
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 18, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 18, 2025  |  comments

In this case, do call it a comeback. We’re happy to report that the long-respected London Decca brand — known especially for its top-tier cartridges — is returning under new ownership, with a seasoned design and manufacturing team in tow. Read on to learn what’s what about five upcoming London Decca cartridges — four updated carts, and one all-new model — plus get an early peek at what additional analog gear the company plans to introduce into the marketplace. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Segno Maya MC Cartridge
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 14, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 14, 2025  |  comments

All hail the mighty Maya cart! Or, to be more specific, meet the Segno Maya, a new moving coil (MC) cartridge that’s going to be distributed by Pure Sound. Read on to see all the features and specs of the Maya MC, and learn what inspired the names (plural) for this MC cart. . .

Continue Reading >
New Wax WednesdayVinyl Reports
Joni Mitchell’s Career-Spanning Joni’s Jazz 8LP Box Set Is Beyond Cool, and It’s Finally Coming Our Way on September 5
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 13, 2025  |  First Published: Aug 13, 2025  |  comments

Joni knows jazz, and jazz knows Joni. To reinforce the point, Joni Mitchell is getting ready to release Joni’s Jazz, a massive 8LP passion project years in the making, via Rhino on September 5, 2025. It’s a career-spanning collection that features a wide range of recordings specifically chosen by Mitchell herself that reflect jazz’s profound influence on her music. Read on to see which tracks made her final cut, and why this box is a most worthy addition to your collection. . .

Continue Reading >

Pages

X