Michael Fremer

News
The ZeroDust Saga Continues
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 29, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 29, 2021  |  57 comments
WAM's J.R. Boisclair, who provided the microscopic images responds to some of the comments under the original story.

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News
"Vinyl Y'Alta": Chad Kassem Chats with Jack Stoughton and Don MacInnis— Moderated by Michael Fremer
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 28, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 28, 2021  |  4 comments
Acoustic Sounds' Chad Kassem recently hosted in Salina, Kansas an event I labeled " Vinyl Y'Alta" that featured Stoughton Press's Jack Stoughton and RTI's Don MacInnis for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of the vinyl record industry in 2021. Kassem asked me to moderate from home and I gladly obliged.

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FeaturesNews
Time to Put Away The Onzow ZeroDust?
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 28, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 28, 2021  |  80 comments
These latest microscope photos from WAM Engineering LLC (WallyTools) offer dramatic evidence that the Onzow Zerodust leaves a stubborn, difficult to remove residue on "clean" styli as well as on cantilevers. It's a troubling discovery.

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Can I Have My Money Back?
My Final Words on " The In Groove", Lacquers, The Electric Recording Company
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 28, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 28, 2021  |  41 comments
Credit The In Groove's Mike Esposito. To his fans he can do no wrong. Clearly he's got a great record store and he usually provides in his videos useful information. To his fans, for daring to criticize him I am a "con man" (in the words of one of them) and I owe him "an apology". For what, I'm not sure, but for them he owes none to The Electric Recording Company though his seriously flawed video trashing of the company I think requires an apology.

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Features
How Long Do Lacquers Really Last?
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 26, 2021  |  54 comments
How long do lacquers really last? The recent Supersense announcement that it would be releasing lacquers cut sourced from 1:1 master tape copies (the original announcement made it seem as if the company was claiming to be using actual master tapes, which made zero sense and was obviously not the case), produced a torrent of objections and outrage on this website under the original post and on the YouTube channel of record dealer The In Groove.

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Analog Gear News
Nagra Debuts its New Reference Anniversary Turntable/Tonearm Record Playback System
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 24, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 24, 2021  |  24 comments
Romanel, Switzerland – Wednesday 24th November 2021—Nagra celebrates 70 years with a limited edition Reference Anniversary Turntable. According to the press release, the new turntable is the result of four year’s worth of R&D by a team of designers and engineers in the fields of applied physics, mechanical and electronic engineering and material science.

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Turntable Reviews
Dual CS 518 Turntable Priced to Be Heard
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 22, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 22, 2021  |  9 comments
The demand for new under $1000 turntables remains impressively robust. There are widespread shortages in some but not all markets around the United States with wait times for some models up to 6 weeks and for some even longer.

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Cartridge Reviews
Sumiko Triple Play: Three New Cartridges—Blue Point No 3 Low and High Output and Celebration 40
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 18, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 18, 2021  |  10 comments
Sumiko, celebrating its 40th year, recently introduced to its extensive lineup three new cartridges. Two are in the company’s Oyster line: the Blue Point 3—low and high output versions priced at $499 clams, and a new Reference Line Celebration 40 priced at $2799.

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Capital AudioFest 2021
Capital Audio Fest 2021 Day Two Coverage
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 16, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 16, 2021  |  9 comments
Day two of the Capital Audio Fest began outside where I ran into Theremin manufacturer Arthur Harrison who'd been invited to give two talks on the spooky sounding instrument. The usual show stuff follows that fascinating encounter. I try to not review hotel room sound unless something sticks out as being unusually fine sounding.

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Capital AudioFest 2021
Capital Audio Fest 2021 Day One Coverage—With an Analog Slant
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 11, 2021  |  First Published: Nov 11, 2021  |  15 comments
Capital Audio Fest 2021 was well-attended, yes but more importantly the enthusiasm level and excitement was off the charts. CAF usually attracts mainly the newbie and wannabe exhibitors but this year the show was positively mainstream with the show taking up the 3rd floor meeting rooms and 5th floor Twinbrook Hilton hotel rooms as well as the lower level atrium floor where record vendors proliferated and VAC/Von Schweikert occupied the biggest room off to the atrium side.

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