Stereophile

Every month Stereophile magazine offers authoritative reviews, informed recommendations, helpful advice, and controversial opinions, all stemming from the revolutionary idea that audio components should be judged on how they reproduce music.

AS WE SEE IT • THIS ISSUE: In North Carolina’s capital, an audio show organized and presented by a single dealer.

Stereophile • NOVEMBER 2022

LETTERS • TAKE HEED! Unless marked otherwise, all letters to the magazine and its writers are assumed to be for possible publication. Please include your name and physical address. We reserve the right to edit for length and content.

CALENDAR OF INDUSTRY EVENTS

INDUSTRY UPDATE • SUBMISSIONS: Those promoting audio-related seminars, shows, and meetings should email the when, where, and who to stletters@stereophile.com at least eight weeks before the month of the event. The deadline for the February 2023 issue is November 20, 2022.

GRAMOPHONE DREAMS • THIS ISSUE: Herb listens to another Chinese-made DAC, this one with some special sonic virtues.

BRILLIANT CORNERS • THIS ISSUE: In his inaugural bimonthly column, Alex Halberstadt says hello and evaluates the sound of four step-up transformers.

Western Electric 91E INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

MEASUREMENTS

SPECIFICATIONS

Estelon XB Diamond Mk II LOUDSPEAKER

MEASUREMENTS

SPECIFICATIONS

Simaudio Moon 860A v2 POWER AMPLIFIER

MEASUREMENTS

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

SPECIFICATIONS

Mission 770 LOUDSPEAKER

MEASUREMENTS

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

SPECIFICATIONS

Primare A35.8 POWER AMPLIFIER

MEASUREMENTS

ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

FOLLOW-UP • THIS ISSUE: Technical Editor John Atkinson tests the analog inputs (including phono) on Bel Canto’s e1X DAC/preamp.

EISA 2022 2023 Hi-Fi PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR

ON THE ROAD AGAIN ON • A JAZZ-FESTIVAL JOURNAL FROM A SUMMER OF PLAGUE AND WAR

AURAL ROBERT • THIS ISSUE: Fresh new vinyl from a storied New Orleans music venue.

REVINYLIZATION • THIS ISSUE: Not one but two reissues of the great John Coltrane album from 1958, part of Blue Note’s Tone Poet series.

RECORD REVIEWS

RE-TALES • THIS ISSUE: Fostering community can bring in newcomers to keep the hi-fi hobby going. Jac Revival discusses his work.

MANUFACTURERS’ COMMENTS • THIS ISSUE: Representatives of Audio-GD, SoundTradition Live!, Western Electric, Simaudio, and Bel Canto respond to our reviews of their products.

MY BACKPAGES • THIS ISSUE: Rockin’ the Cape with friends.