Live from Axpona 2014 in Chicago, CoolCleveland’s Thomas Mulready spoke with panelists, special guests, organizers and exhibitors at the largest hi-end audio show in the Midwest.
Robert Harley, the editor of The Absolute Sound magazine, talks about some of the recent innovations in the field, such as computer audio, high resolution audio, and Neil Young’s highly successful kickstarter for Pono Player. Harley also talks about his lavishly produced Illustrated History of High End Audio, the first volume of which focuses on Loudspeakers. View the video here.
Michael Fremer is the internationally renowned turntable guru who has been advocating for vinyl LPs and turntables since the emergence of the compact disc almost put vinyl out of business.
But not so fast. Fremer maintains that young people have become “so sonically deprived” that turntables and vinyl are spreading as “virally” as downloads were on campuses years ago, and pushing vinyl sales to new heights. What’s new? Turntables are basically the same, but now with new materials and even tonearms printed with a 3D printer.
What problems does Fremer see on the horizon? Cheap turntables (Crosley) that kids can buy at Target and Urban Outfitters can ruin the experience for people just getting into vinyl. View the video here
Jeff Merkel is Lecturer, Physics & Recording Arts, University of Colorado, Denver, and Merkel Acoustic Research & Design. He offered a A Tutorial on Loudspeaker/Room Measurement and Interpretation.
Acoustic measurement software has evolved to the point where nearly anyone can take highly accurate measurements of their loudspeakers and acoustical spaces with even the most modest computers and microphones.
But what do those measurements really mean and how can we use the information to improve our listening spaces? Taking measurements is one thing, but interpreting them in a useful way is quite another.
Jeff discusses some fundamentals of room acoustics, the importance of loudspeaker/room interaction, conducting live measurements with software, Room/Speaker Interaction, Loudspeaker Performance Parameters, Measurement Hardware and Software, Frequency and Wavelength. View the video here.
Geoff Bennett of Moo Mat shows off their $75 Moo Mat, designed to replace your stock turntable mat. Bennett claims the Moo Mat reduces static and eliminates vibration, tightens up bass and smooths out the highs. View the video here.
Miles Astor of Positive Feedback magazine talks about the return of the high-end reel-to-reel format. More and more albums are being released on 15 inches-per-second reel-to-reel tape. “Yes, it’s a little expensive, about $125 – $150 per album,” Says Astor, but considering the tape stock itself is worth $100, the cost hasn’t even kept up with inflation. “It’s really a labor of love.”
“There are zillions of Studers and Ampexes around, and heads are available,” says Astor who expects to see new artists starting to release their albums on tape. View the video here.
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