Cécile McLorin Salvant: Dreams and Daggers

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Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant has recently released her fourth album, Dreams and Daggers.  The album combines live recordings from the Village Vanguard in New York with studio recordings.  It features Aaron Diehl  on piano, Paul Sikivie on bass and Lawrence Leathers on drums.  Also appearing are the Catalyst Quartet on strings and Sullivan Fortner on piano.

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The subversive power of calypso is a piece on the BBC Culture Web site which briefly highlights some of the social and political themes of Trinidad calypso.

©Wayne Butcher

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Hegel H160 on Sale, ex-Demo

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Serious Music is selling its demo Hegel H160, at an ex-demo discounted price.  Check out the Sale page of the Serious Music Web site for more information.

©Wayne Butcher

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MQA: A Pradigm Shift?

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MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) continues to divide opinion in audiophile circles.  It has been discussed in a number of previous posts in the Serious Music Blog:

In this thought-provoking article in The Abso!ute

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Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2017

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Gramophone, the leading classical music magazine, has announced the winners of its Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2017.

© Wayne Butcher

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High End 2017: Raidho, Scansonic, Aavik and Ansuz

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Raidho Acoustics demonstrated their D-5.1 and D4.1 loudspeakers and the MB-2.5 from sister company Scansonic HD.  Amplification for the demonstrations was provided by the Aavik Acoustics C-300 preamplifier and a pair of M-300 mono power amplifiers.  Cabling, grounding and power conditioning for the system came from Ansuz Acoustics.

In its various configurations this is the system that I most enjoyed. 

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High End 2017: Pro-Ject Audio

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Pro-Ject Audio introduced may new products at High End 2017.

The new Essential III range of turntables is based on the Essential III, with its  diamond-cut aluminium drive pulley, resonance-optimized MDF main platter and  chassis, and  Ortofon OM10 MM cartridge mounted on an 8.6" aluminium tonearm.  The other models of the range add such features as a built in phono stage, electronic speed control, Read the full post

High End 2017: Other Online Show Reports

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Here's a list of links to other online show reports from High End 2017 in Munich. These reports provide a wealth of pictures and information from the show.  Unless otherwise indicated reports are in English.

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High End 2017: Sights and Sounds

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Volya Bouquet loudspeaker on static display.

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High End 2017: Artnovion

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Artnovion displayed a wide range of their acoustic treatments.  Also on display was their Impulso smartphone app for measuring room acoustics.

Artnovion acoustic treatment were also featured in many of the demonstration rooms throughout the show.

Artnovion Sahara acoustic panel, which provides absorption and diffusion.

Artnovion Alps W diffusor in metallic finish.

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