Music


  • From Suits to Stages: The Iconic 1974 KISS Photo

    When you first lay eyes on this 1974 photograph of KISS, the contrast is striking: four rockers, known for their outlandish makeup and electrifying stage presence, dressed in sharp business suits. But this image is more than just a juxtaposition of stylesโ€”it captures a pivotal moment in the bandโ€™s history. At this point, KISS was…

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  • Stepping Backwards to Move Forward in My Digital Streaming System

    “What Dalibor was asking me to do was remove nearly $8000 in equipment from my system, and replace it with a DAC only slightly larger than a deck of cards that retails for $150.”

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  • Compton’s Finest: N.W.A.’s Explosive Debut and Its Impact on Music and Society

    When N.W.A. released Straight Outta Compton on August 8, 1988, it marked a seismic shift in music, culture, and the way America viewed hip-hop. The album was a raw and unfiltered portrayal of life in the streets of South Central Los Angeles, delivered with an urgency and authenticity that had never been heard before. Not…

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  • How to Correctly Integrate Subwoofers Into a Stereo System

    Music and the search for better sound reproduction have always been my passion. I realized, early on, that bass was a big part of what I liked about sound and critical for the music to elicit in me an emotional response. But to achieve ultimate bassโ€”the deepest, most solid, most seamless bassโ€”requires getting many things…

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  • When Muhammad Ali and the Fab Four Collided

    In February 1964, two of the most iconic forces of the 20th century collided in an encounter so surreal it could have been scripted by Hollywood. The Beatles, fresh off their earth-shattering debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, met Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali) in Miami Beach. It was a meeting that combined…

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  • Twistinโ€™ Time: Chubby Checkerโ€™s Dance Revolution on American Bandstand

    August 6, 1960, was a pivotal day in the history of American pop culture. That Saturday, Chubby Checker took the stage on American Bandstand, the influential television program hosted by Dick Clark, and performed โ€œThe Twist.โ€ This performance would not only launch Checker into stardom but also ignite a dance craze that would define a…

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  • How To Play in a Rock Band, Part 1: Introduction

    “Iโ€™ve decided to start a new series. Even if youโ€™re not a musician, perhaps itโ€™ll give some insight into the nitty-gritty of the art of music-making, or inform your listening the next time you sit in front of your stereo, or just provide some entertainment and perhaps a life lesson or two.

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  • Review: Tanchjim 4U DMT-4 In-Ear Monitors

    An inexpensive, great-sounding in-ear monitor worthy to be added your collection.

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  • Review: Yamaha NS-800A Loudspeaker

    The ported, two-way, CA$ 6000/pair standmount Yamaha NS-800A oozes qualityโ€”itโ€™s hefty, feels impeccably built, has a curvaceous body, and comes with big, robust binding posts that feel like iron door knockers between your fingers. It also comes in a beautiful black finish, said by Yamaha to be the same signature gloss finish used on the…

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  • The Evolution of the Loudspeaker: From Horns to High Fidelity

    PS Audio’s Paul McGowan offers a brief history of the evolution of loudspeakers.

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  • Summer Jam 1973: When 600,000 Fans Rocked Watkins Glen

    Watkins Glen, New Yorkโ€”July 28, 1973. This date marks an unparalleled event in rock history. The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen wasnโ€™t just a concert; it was a colossal phenomenon that shattered records and set new standards for music festivals. Promoted by Shelly Finkel and Jim Koplik, the festival attracted an estimated 600,000 to 800,000…

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  • โ€œNo, I have the best system in the world!โ€: An Audio Journey From Venezuela to The Laurentian Mountains

    “On a Mobile Fidelity version of Dire Straitsโ€™ Brothers in Arms, I heard a wealth of scintillating detail and instruments that popped out from the background with shape and aliveness.”

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  • Turning Grief into Glory: The Legacy of ACDC’s ‘Back in Black’

    In the annals of rock history, few moments resonate as deeply as the summer of 1980 when AC/DC unleashed their thunderous masterpiece, โ€œBack in Black.โ€ This wasnโ€™t just any album release; it was a seismic shift that redefined the bandโ€™s legacy and left an indelible mark on the world of rock โ€˜nโ€™ roll. Rising from…

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  • Remembering John Mayall: His Final ‘Room to Move’ Performance

    John Mayallโ€™s last show took place on March 26, 2022, at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California. This performance marked the end of a remarkable 65-year touring career. During this final concert, Mayall, who was 88 years old, performed with his band, which included Greg Rzab on bass, Jay Davenport on drums, and…

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  • Boombox Bonanza: The History and Evolution of Portable Music Players

    In a world dominated by smartphones and wireless earbuds, itโ€™s easy to forget the trailblazers of portable audio that paved the way. This journey through the history and evolution of portable music players is filled with innovation, cultural shifts, and technological marvels. Letโ€™s dive into the groovy history and evolution of portable music players, a…

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