Music News
Apple Claims Lossy and Lossless Are “Virtually Indistinguishable” (Boo)
Apple, who recently announced the immanent release of lossless hi-res streaming through Apple Music, doesn’t think very much of it.
Articles by Michael Lavorgna
Classic Albums
Classic Albums: Lowell Davidson Trio (Vinyl Reissue)
I feel like I’ve written about Lowell Davidson and his sole record, Lowell Davidson Trio released on ESP-Disk’ in 1965, way too often. Turns out, I’m wrong.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Spivak | Rare Backwards
Sometimes I like to move slow. Real slow.
Digital Reviews
Review: Denafrips IRIS USB Digital To Digital Converter
All USB audio sources are not created equal, and all USB DACs are not created equal. This makes making any kind of sweeping generalizations about the effectiveness of things that sit between point A, the USB audio source, e.g. a Raspberry Pi, and Point B, […]
HiFi News
Getting The Most From Apple Music’s New Lossless Service: iOS v OSX
Want to know how do get all of that high-resolution goodness from Apple Music into your hifi of choice with no fuss, no muss? Read on.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Ministry | Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs
“Jesus Built My Hotrod”, which features Butthole Surfers’ singer Gibby Haynes, was the single that convinced Warner to send Ministry more money to make Psalm 69. 1992 was an interesting year.
Digital Reviews
Review: PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport: A Different Story
There are days when I feel sorry for people who believe that all digital sounds the same.
Music News
The Linda Lindas: “Racist, Sexist Boy” (Live at LA Public Library)
Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe is the name of an Albert Ayler album from 1969. “Racist, Sexist Boy” is the name of a single from The Linda Lindas from 2021.
HiFi Thoughts
Reductio ad absurdum: HiFi’s False Prophets and the Myth of the Perfect Amplifier
If you think about it, all birds sound the same.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Mdou Moctar | Afrique Victime
Just buy it.
Music News
Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen: Like I Used To
You heard that right — Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen have just released a single, together, today.
HiFi News
MQA Responds to GoldenSound (if this makes no sense, you are spending your time wisely) [Updated]
Equal rights. Justice. A few weeks ago, I pointed readers to a relatively new YouTube hifi reviewer, GoldenSound. The subject of his most popular video, by a multiple of around 15x, was MQA. Spoiler Alert: it was not a positive take.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Denafrips Pontus II DAC
I’m hoping there’s more than a family resemblance to be found between the recently reviewed, and loved, Denafrips ARES II DAC, and the upstream Denafrips Pontus II.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: THX Onyx Portable DAC
The dongle DACs just keep comin’.
Music News
Square, Inc. Announces Plans To Acquire Majority Ownership Stake In TIDAL
Don’t count TIDAL out just yet.