Now on Newsstands: Stereophile, Vol.37 No.4

The April 2014 issue of Stereophile is now on newsstands. Inside, you’ll find 35 pages of “Recommended Components,” our handy guide to today’s best audio products, covering categories including: Turntables, Tonearms, Phono Cartridges, Phono Preamplifiers, Media Players, Digital Processors, Loudspeakers, Amplifiers, Preamplifiers, Integrated Amplifiers, and Headphones.

Our cover model is the extraordinary Vivid Audio Giya G3 loudspeaker. Is there room in John Atkinson’s heart for another loudspeaker? My guess is yes, but where exactly does the Giya G3 rank among the countless other contenders that have spent time in JA’s listening room? Other products reviewed in this month’s issue include: MSB’s sweet-sounding Analog DAC and Universal Media Transport, Parasound’s exceedingly versatile Halo P 5 D/A preamplifier, and Zesto’s striking Leto line preamplifier.

In “Sam’s Space,” Sam Tellig has a blast with Musical Fidelity’s truly affordable V-Series products; while, in “Analog Corner,” Mikey Fremer (again) celebrates the continued growth of LP sales in the US; and, up in Cherry Valley, Art Dudley cleans his many LPs with the fun, new discOveryOne record-cleaning machine from Keith Monks Audio Works. In “The Entry Level,” I listen to Audioengine’s D3 and Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic XS—two more contenders in what is possibly the coolest and most exciting type of audio component currently available, and truly a bridge between the formerly disparate worlds of mass-market and high-end audio: the USB DAC–headphone amp. Meanwhile, John Marks enjoys PCM and DSD formats, and is blown away by the Grace Design m905 function-packed DAC.

There’s little point in discussing audio components without also discussing music. Music editor Robert Baird reflects on Nirvana’s last record, In Utero, and becomes acquainted with the English chamber pop band, Lanterns on the Lake. Our “Recording of the Month” is the new Beethoven cycle, The Symphonies and Reflections, with conductor Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony. Our music reviewers get down with an exciting collection of new releases and reissues.

Perhaps my favorite part of our April issue is Art Dudley’s “As We See It,” in which he fights against bullying and reminds us to trust our own ears.

Thank you for reading Stereophile. We hope you enjoy the issue.

Source : stereophile[dot]com