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The Loricraft PRC6i record cleaning machine and the WallySkater v2.1 Pro
In my last Spin Doctor column, I gave an overview of my experiences cleaning records over the last 50-plus years and the advances in record cleaning technology over that time. My review of the HumminGuru NOVA ultrasonic record cleaner focused on that increasingly popular approach to record cleaning, using ultrasonic cavitation instead of scrub# the record with a brush. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in that half-century of playing around with audio gear, it’s that it can be a mistake to embrace a new technology just because of its newness, dismissing what came before as obsolete. The vinyl record itself is a good example of a technology discarded as obsolete, then embraced again by new (and old) generations. You can add vacuum-tube amplifiers, analog tape, and much else in our hobby to that list.
Cambridge EXN100 STREAMING D/A PROCESSOR
Each soloist seemed to pop out to the front, between the two speakers (of course), their life force emerging over decades, grooves, and digital bits.
Philharmonic Audio BMR Monitor
Let's get this out of the way: The BMR Monitor may be a monitor, but it isn't a bookshelf or desktop speaker any more than a yacht is a dinghy.
Grimm Audio LS1c ACTIVE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
It's not unusual for audiophiles to have fond childhood recollections of the old family stereo, but Eelco Grimm's memory of his dad's audio system probably stands alone.
Technics SC-CX700 ACTIVE LOUDSPEAKER
The usual Specifications box (below) is a nuts-and-bolts listing of the electrical and physical properties of the Technics SC-CX700 loudspeaker, who made it and where, and a widely varying amount of information about their electrical and acoustical performance. The information comes from the included literature, available downloads, and whatever I could find on the manufacturer's website.
Wattson Audio Madison LE Streamer
After it was delivered, I weighed the box containing Wattson Audio's DAC-equipped Madison LE Streamer on my bathroom scale.
The Voxativ Hagen2 Monitor loudspeaker
I think I just found the perfect Herb speaker. It uses a hand-crafted 5\" wide-range driver with a cone made from Japanese calligraphy paper. It rolls off around 50Hz at the bottom and 30kHz at the top. It has no crossover. Its cabinet is made of MDF that responds loudly when I tap it with my fingernails. Inside is what its designer calls a “short horn,” which appears to harmlessly disperse back-cone energy while adding energy below the driver’s cutoff frequency. Mainly, though, it’s a perfect Herb speaker because it is naturally phase coherent. And sparkplug fast. And completely unmuffled.
Youth movement
Paul Klipsch was a genius,” Roy Delgado told me recently, with the sound of genuine amazement in his voice. “Me, I’m just a tinkerer.”
J.Sikora Standard Max Supreme, KV9 Max Zirconium
In his review of the J.Sikora Initial turntable, Stereophile's resident artist/sage Herb Reichert wrote, \"Extended bathing, lighting candles, making tea, and preparing food are ritual work forms that prepare my senses to accept both pleasure and illumination.\"
UTAH BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO PASS LEGISLATION REQUIRING APP STORES TO VERIFY AGES
Utah on Wednesday became the first state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING AN EV IN 2025
Car shoppers considering buying an electric vehicle in 2025 will have more factors to consider than buyers in previous years.
NASA'S TWO STUCK ASTRONAUTS ARE FINALLY CLOSING IN ON THEIR RETURN TO EARTH AFTER 9 MONTHS IN SPACE
NASA’s two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space.
ANGRY BIRDS.FROGGER AND OTHERS ARE FINALISTS FOR THE WORLD VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME
The 2025 finalists are: Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Defender, Frogger, Golden Eye, Golden Tee, Harvest Moon, Mattel Football, Quake, NBA 2K and Tamagotchi.
UBER TEAMS UP WITH WAYMO TO START SELLING DRIVERLESS RIDES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
Uber shifted gears in Austin, Texas, earlier this week, launching a landmark service that lets riders hail driverless cars through its app, thanks to a partnership with Waymo, the autonomous vehicle arm of Google’s parent company, Alphabet.
GOOGLE LEANS FURTHER INTO AI-GENERATED OVERVIEWS FOR ITS SEARCH ENGINE
Google is updating its ubiquitous search engine with the next generation of its artificial intelligence technology as part of an effort to provide instant expertise amid intensifying competition from smaller competitors.
IOS 18.4 BETA 2: HERE'S EVERYTHING NEW
Apple has rolled out the second developer beta of iOS 18.4 this Monday, March 3, offering a fresh batch of enhancements and refinements to its mobile operating system, now available for testing among registered developers.
TESLA MODEL Y: ELECTRIC CHAMP RECHARGES ITS CROWN WITH NEW UPGRADE
Tesla’s Model Y has roared through the automotive landscape like an electric juggernaut, clinching the title of the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 and solidifying its dominance with a sleek upgrade that rolled out recently.
PRIVATE LUNAR LANDER BLUE GHOST TOUCHES DOWN: A NEW MOON MILESTONE
Earlier this week, the moon welcomed a new visitor as Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander nailed a soft touchdown, marking a historic win for private space exploration.
TSMC'S BIG U.S. BET: $100 BILLION FUELS CHIPMAKING SURGE
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s top chipmaker, unveiled a massive $100 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations this Monday, March 3, standing alongside President Donald Trump at the White House.
NEW IPAD AIR WITH M3 CHIP LAUNCHES: POWER AND STYLE TAKE FLIGHT
Apple unveiled a refreshed iPad Air earlier this week, bringing the powerful M3 chip and a sleek new Magic Keyboard to its mid-tier tablet lineup, a move that’s already sparking buzz among tech enthusiasts and casual users alike.
MICROSOFT SHUTTING DOWN SKYPE IN MAY: A 22-YEAR LEGACY ENDS
Microsoft dropped a seismic announcement confirming it will shutter Skype, the pioneering internet calling service, on May 5, 2025— ending a 22-year run that reshaped how the world connects. The company is steering users toward Microsoft Teams’ free consumer version, part of a broader strategy to streamline its communications offerings under a single banner.
APPLE'S SPRING COLOR SPLASH: NEW IPHONE CASES AND WATCH BANDS BLOOM
Apple ushered in a burst of spring flair earlier this week, unveiling a vibrant lineup of iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands that bring fresh hues to its accessory collection.
SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCKS FOR MINORS IN THE U.S.: A NATIONAL DEBATE ON KIDS AND TECH
Across the United States, lawmakers and families alike are wrestling with a critical question: should minors be barred from social media to protect their well-being?
Invites A HANDY NEW IPHONE APP FOR EVENT PLANNING
Apple is taking social gatherings to the next level with Invites, a dynamic app designed to help users create custom invitations, manage events, and engage in shared moments.
SEVERANCE SEASON 2 ON APPLE TV+: MIND-BENDING DRAMA HITS NEW HEIGHTS
Apple TV+’s Severance has taken the streaming world by storm this week, solidifying its place as the platform’s most-watched series ever, surpassing even Ted Lasso’s three-season run, Apple proudly announced last month.
NEW MACBOOK AIR AND MAC STUDIO UNLEASH M4 MIGHT
Apple sprang into action earlier this week, unveiling two powerhouse Macs that redefine performance in their respective lanes: the MacBook Air with the M4 chip and the Mac Studio armed with M4 Max and M3 Ultra processors.
ALWAYS "ON" EMPLOYEES AND BURNOUT: A DEEP DIVE INTO TODAY'S WORKPLACE CRISIS
The modern workplace has morphed into a relentless machine, with employees tethered to their devices, perpetually reachable, and increasingly drained—a phenomenon dubbed the “always on” culture.
OPENAI'S GPT-4.5 ARRIVES: BIGGER BOLDER, AND READY TO CHAT
OpenAI turned heads last week with the launch of GPT-4.5, its largest and most ambitious chatbot model yet, unveiled as a research preview for ChatGPT Pro users on February 27, 2025.
PRIVATE COMPANY ROCKETS TOWARD THE MOON IN THE LATEST RUSH OF LUNAR LANDING ATTEMPTS
A private company launched another lunar lander Wednesday, aiming to get closer to the moon's south pole this time with a drone that will hop into a jet-black crater that never sees the sun.
C1 Modem
A GROUNDBREAKING REVOLUTION PAVING THE WAY TO APPLE'S FUTURE