Tough

Tough


  • No Signature Required: When Brian Epstein Bet It All on The Beatles

    January 24, 1962, wasnโ€™t just another cold Liverpool morning. It was the day four scruffy ladsโ€”John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Bestโ€”put their faith in a well-dressed, fast-talking record store manager named Brian Epstein. With a few strokes of a pen, they signed a management contract that would change the course of music…

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  • Golden Ears Anonymous: A 12-Step Program for Recovering Audiophiles

    From apologizing to loved ones neglected during DAC testing to listening to Dark Side of the Moon on a $20 speaker, this clever guide skewers obsessive habits with wit, reminding readers that “itโ€™s the ear, not the gear.”

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  • An Interview with David Chesky โ€“ ‘The Great European Songbook’ Live at Montreal’s Bourgie Hall

    David Chesky, audiophile pioneer and Grammy nominee, shares insights in an exclusive interview ahead of his trioโ€™s live performance of The Great European Songbook at Montreal’s Bourgie Hall on January 23. Tickets are available now, for $19 – $38.

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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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  • The Patents of… Paul W. Klipsch

    Paul W. Klipsch, a visionary in the field of audio engineering, made significant contributions through a series of innovative patents. These patents not only advanced the technology of their time but also laid the groundwork for future developments in loudspeaker design and acoustic engineering. Hereโ€™s an exploration of five of his most impactful patents, including…

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  • The Vinyl Frontier: A Spin Through Record Store Day

    Click here to jump to the highlights and special releases of the 2024 edition. On April 20th, vinyl enthusiasts and music aficionados around the globe unite for a celebration that spins beyond just a routine shopping spreeโ€”itโ€™s Record Store Day, the annual event thatโ€™s been putting the needle back on the beloved grooves of vinyl…

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  • MAF 2024: Corby’s Audio / Coherent Audio, Baetis Audio, Saturn Audio, Tough Nut Audio, Allnic

    Prices listed in CA$. As always when I enter an audio showroom, my eyes fall first on the speakers, as they did in the Corbyโ€™s Audio room. And the speakers there looked stunning. I would put them in my living room even if they made no sound. But they did make a sound, a glorious…

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  • From Halfway House to Vinyl Powerhouse: The Full Interview With Chad Kassem

    “My goal is to win. That’s why I recut the Steely Dan record, the first one, seven times. I’m going to make sure ours is better.”

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  • From Halfway House to Vinyl Powerhouse: Interview With Chad Kassem, Part 2

    “COVID caused me problems, caused everybody problems, caused a lot of death. But it also doubled my business overnight.”

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  • How I Became an Audiophile

    “Sometime in the 1990s that slumbering beast within,ย audiophilus obsessivus,ย awakened.”

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  • TAF2023: Le Studio du Son, XTZ, Tough Nut Audio, Zidoo, Sona

    Prices listed are in CA$. You want a simple-to-use system that sounds great, doesnโ€™t clutter your room, and wonโ€™t break the bank? If youโ€™re nodding yes, then the system being demoed in Le Studio du Sonโ€™s room just might be up your alley, especially if you donโ€™t like big, heavy, inefficient amplification but do want…

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  • Michael Fremer bares all in exclusive interview with PMA Magazine, Pt 1/3

    It was early Sunday morning when I met veteran audio critic Michael Fremer, aka Mikey, suitcase in hand, preparing to return home from his visit to the Montreal Audiofest. Heโ€™d been invited by the showโ€™s organisers to present his popular turntable setup seminar along with the showโ€™s annual Lifetime Achievement Awards, conferred on those whoโ€™ve…

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  • Diving into Disco, Part 4 โ€” Funk and Memphis Soul

    Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, James Brown had to hustle his way up and out from extreme poverty. Partly raised by a mostly-absent mother and abusive father-husband, young Brown bore the brunt of a rough, tough childhood, shining shoes for less than a dime, and living with one of his aunts in a brothel; his…

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