INVENTORY Listen Up: The Right Gear for Hi-Fi VibesFrom audiophiles to casual listeners, here's a round-up of some things that will make your days sound better.
- Words Iron & Air Staff
Whether you’re finally tossing out that yard sale stereo to invest in a high-end system or just need some new wax for your collection, we’ve got some suggestions for where to spend your hard-earned cash. Plus, upgrading your audio equipment will change the sound of your favorite tunes in such a way it’ll be like hearing them for the first time. And who wouldn’t want to relive the moment you first heard Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man? We thought so.
01 Wrensilva Stereo Consoles
If you were around in the ’60s, there’s a good chance you had a stereo console in your home. San Diego-based company Wrensilva has now resurrected the console concept, with three hand-built models ranging in size and wallet damage. All have Bang & Olufsen amplifiers, integrated Sonos for easy streaming, and turntables with quality tonearms and Ortofon cartridges. Conventional separates probably have the edge on sound quality, but for classic mid-century style and modern convenience, Wrensilva is hard to beat.
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02 NAD M33 Streaming DAC Amplifier
All-in-one music components used to have a bad name — trading sound quality for convenience — but now one-boxers like the NAD M33 amp can outgun conventional audiophile separates. With 200 watts of refined power, the M33 can drive the most demanding floor standers with ease. It even has room correction, so you can fine-tune your speakers to the acoustics of your listening space.
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03 KEF KC62 Subwoofer
Subwoofers have two issues: most are ugly, and you need a big box to really dig deep. The British speaker specialist KEF tackled these problems to deliver a stylish sub with amazing build quality and 1,000 watts of on-board power in a compact package. The secret is new force cancellation tech that delivers the same oomph as much bigger boxes, with less distortion and more refinement.
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In the world of turntables, there’s a pretty straightforward relationship between price and sound quality. Unfortunately, as cost rises, so does complexity. Once you start shelling out decent money for a record spinner, you usually have to install fiddly little cartridges — and start measuring obscure details like tracking weight and bias. So, let us point you towards the Clearaudio Concept, a German-designed unit that is basically plug-and-play: find a level surface, hook it into the phono preamp of your choice, and go. Just turn a knob to select your rpm: 331/3, 45, or 78.
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05 JBL Clip 4 Portable Speaker
Since 2014, JBL’s Clip series has represented some of the best-sounding, travel-friendly Bluetooth speakers out there, and the recently released fourth generation improves on an already impressive design. The half-pound speaker fits comfortably in hand, has a sturdy integrated carabiner, offers 10 hours of battery life, and is both dustproof and waterproof, which makes it ideal for any adventure.
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(6) Image from the book, 'Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop' by Vikki Tobak.
06 Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop
A visually stunning, highly designed homage to hip-hop, “Contact High” is one of our all-time favorite coffee table books. Presented in chronological order, the book features over 100 photo shoots — and the marked-up contact sheets that go with them — starting with Tony Tone and Kool Herc (1979) and ending with A$AP Rocky (2012). It also features fascinating essays written by some of the most important figures in the culture, including a foreword by Questlove.
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07 What We're Listening To
Need some new wax, but want something that’s a conversation piece as well? Visit our friends at VinylMePlease.com, who offer a subscription-based “Record of the Month” club where you can pick up these specially curated and pressed releases of some of your favorite albums.
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John Prine | John Prine (1971)
This edition of the self-titled debut from a deeply beloved singer-songwriter is AAA remastered from the original tapes and is deeply entertaining to listen to, over and over again. | $39
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Madlib | Sound Ancestors (2021)
Madlib’s new solo album is edited, arranged, and mastered by Kieran Hebden — AKA Four Tet — and is intended to be listened to as a cohesive, full-album experience. | $45
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Johnny Cash | At Folsom Prison (1968)
This live album from Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three is a testament to their impressive musical talents and incredible ability to connect with just about any audience. | $39
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Prince Paul | A Prince Among Thieves (1999)
The first vinyl re-issue of the iconic concept album from Prince Paul features phenomenal rap storytelling that’s endearingly cliché and excessively skilled. | $47
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Loretta Lynn | Coal Miner’s Daughter (1970)
The 16th solo studio album by Loretta Lynn introduced her fans to a new, rawer and more personal side of country singer-songwriter without changing her catchy, charming sound. | $39
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Jim Sullivan | U.F.O. (1969)
Sullivan mysteriously disappeared after the release of his psych-folk-rock debut, prompting rumors involving the mob, police foul play, and, due to his closeness to Roswell, alien abduction. | $39
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DARKSIDE | Psychic (2013)
This groundbreaking debut from electronic music duo DARKSIDE, Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington, collapses decades of psychedelia, jazz, dub, and electronic into one album. | $47
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M.I.A. | Kala (2007)
A one-of-a-kind, boundary-pushing sensory experience, this edition of M.I.A.’s second full-length album is half-speed remastered and includes new liner notes. | $47
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