For those of us with multiple headphones, which ones are you listening with now?

[Elegiac]

On the Fostex t60rp 50th Anniversary Edition.

Finally bought the Fantastic Planet remaster.

​

 

[Singaravelan]

On the Fan 2

Link to streamers:
https://album.link/i/304822401

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Posted on the Prog thread but I think it fits here as well.



Kann Alpha > HD800s

I just caught this one from the Prog Rock thread. I've only listened to a couple samples so far, but it sounds like it's gonna be awesome.

Qobuz > ROON > Holo Audio Cyan 2 > Violectric V222 > Hifiman Arya Stealth



Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio (2025) by The Mars Volta - This is my second playthrough, mostly to confirm that I really heard what I thought the first time because it sure don't sound like The Mars Volta. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez' guitar seems to have been mostly replaced by synths, saxophone and weird effects and the album seems to totally revolve around Cedric Bixler-Zavala's vocals, it's just not what I was expecting, not by a long shot. As to whether it's good, well the jury is well and truly out and I don't think a verdict will be appearing for quite a while, a LOT more listening is required. It does sound impressive through the Aryas, huge amounts of detail are available and the low bass is pleasant - all that remains is for me to decide whether I actually like it.

I listened to this one three times last night and I don't think it's their best, but I do like it. What I like, probably more than the album even, is the fact that TMV are willing to experiment with sounds and music totally outside of their previous work and the expectations of their fans/audience. It takes considerable artistic bravery to know you can keep writing and playing the same style and rack up hits for your base or you can keep forging a new path and grow/evolve as an artist, but risk totally alienating the fanbase that got you here and fall flat. Thankfully, they seem to have a good feel for the fact that TMV fans are open to music outside the norm.

All of that said, it's gonna take a lot more listening before I know exactly how this one sits with me. From a purely technical perspective, the musicianship and songwriting is solid and strikes an interesting balance between density and approachability, but there's so much there and it's so radically different from their other work that it'll take a lot of time and listening to catch it all.

Topical Shenanigans:

This morning I'm running the DCA Expanse driven by the SMSL VMV P2 and Gustard R26. The Expanse are my default pick for most new music and I've got some new bands and albums to explore.

First up today is actually an album from March that I listened to once last night already: S/T by Grapefruit Astronauts. These guys are an instrumental prog/prog-metal outfit based in Czechia. Bandcamp rec'd this album to me shortly after it came out and I have had it one my list to check out for a while. I finally got around to it last night and I have been nothing short of blown away. The fact that this appears to be their debut LP is crazy. This is a ridiculously good debut album. It's got great musicianship, solid production (there's some room for improvement, but solid), well execute songwriting and arranging, etc. The music itself is varied and layered, but approachable, catchy, and not overly complex with the guitar playing clearly taking center stage. This is already a long post so I'll stop gushing now, but if you're into the prog-related genres at all, give this one a spin. It's too good to be missed and this band is gonna be one to watch if they stey together and keep putting out material of this caliber.

 

[sygnus21]

▶ PC (JRiver Media Center / FLAC files) > Hermes DDC > Pontus 15th > Artemis HPA > Hifiman HE1000SE

Ron Carter Empire Jazz (RSO, 1980). An album by bassist Ron Carter featuring jazz interpretations of five of John Williams' themes from The Empire Strikes Back. Always did love this album. I bought this in 80 when it released since I was a Star Wars. It became one of my favorite jazz albums of all times; easily in my top 20. Love The Asteroid Field and how Hubert Laws flute sings on it. The other fav being The Imperial Death March (Darth Vader's Theme), and the stellar performance of Bob James on Han Solo And The Princess (Love theme). Ron Carter, get his groove on, on Lando's Palace.

Personal on album...

• Ron Carter – bass, arranger
• Jon Faddis, Joe Shepley – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Eddie Bert – trombone
• Hubert Laws – flute
• Frank Wess – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Bob James – piano
• Jay Berliner – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
• Billy Cobham - drums
• Ralph MacDonald – percussion

Unfortunately, this album still hasn't made it to CD, so what you see is my LP copy recorded to CD then ripped to PC as FLAC. JRiver Media Center has some algorithm, that reads files and "upgrades them" to a higher resolution where possible, and why you see this as 24bit/192khz. Don't ask how, don't know why. It does the same with some "Redbook CDs" as well. Anyway, you can at least find the album on Spotify if you wish to hear. Great album and highly recommended

 

[timb5881]

Steely Dan “Katy Lied” > foobar 2k > Burson Play > Stax SRM-212 > Stax SR003

 

[YtseJamer]

Bifrost 2 > Cavalli Liquid Spark > Grado PS500x

 

[Charade19]

Tidal (PC) --> Topping D90iii --> Schiit Valhalla 2 (Sylvania 6DJ8 driver tubes) --> HD6xx.

Happy weekend and happy listening everyone.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Letshuoer DX1 > Sony NW-A55 (modded + Sony L27 USB interconnect) > Dethonray Clarinet (Rock fw).

Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza (2008). Brazilian jazz tinted vocal jazz debut album by Grammy winning bassist/jazz singer Esperanza Spalding. This album is a stellar recording.

 

[G8torbyte]

Bifrost 2/64 > Violectric 281LE > RBH Sound HP-2
Liking the Ghost in the Shell vibe here:

 

[LostnAmerica]

Apple Music/iPhone 16pro > Questyle M15c > Abyss JOAL
Genesis Foxtrot. A return to my old ways…

 

[sygnus21]

Letshuoer DX1 > Sony NW-A55 (modded + Sony L27 USB interconnect) > Dethonray Clarinet (Rock fw).

Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza (2008). Brazilian jazz tinted vocal jazz debut album by Grammy winning bassist/jazz singer Esperanza Spalding. This album is a stellar recording.

Brilliant album. I have just about all her stuff, and that one is one of my favorites. BTW, that is not her debut; that would be Junjo, released in 2006. Esperanza would be her second, released in 2008. Anyway, this what I have....

Each album is somewhat different as she experiments a lot. Chamber Music Society, and Radio Music Society, are more R&B/jazz, whereas Emily's D+Evolution is more rockish, 12 Little Spells (body parts), and Songwrights Apothecary Lab (music & medicine), are concepts albums than jazz or anything else. Kind of why I took a break from her. I like that she experiments, but her last two albums didn't move me.

 

[frkasper]

Electronic music Saturday vibes.

YouTube Music -> Schiit Magni Unity -> Shure SRH1540

Wice - Wormhole 2.0

EMBRZ - Stay

Lane 8 - Is This Our Earth? (Extended Mix)

Bonobo - Rosewood

 

[Charade19]

Qobuz (PC) --> Schiit Bifrost 2/64 (NOS mode) --> Feliks Elise mkii --> HD6xx.

Not usually my sort of music, but I am hooked after listening to the first song on this album after it randomly played. The musicianship is stellar and very creative. I encourage everyone to listen to the first few songs. Happy listening everyone.

 

[dasfast]

Sundara Closed-Back custom cans loaded, Bifrost 2/64, Vali3 WE396

 

[Singaravelan]

Qobuz (PC) --> Schiit Bifrost 2/64 (NOS mode) --> Feliks Elise mkii --> HD6xx.

Not usually my sort of music, but I am hooked after listening to the first song on this album after it randomly played. The musicianship is stellar and very creative. I encourage everyone to listen to the first few songs. Happy listening everyone.

Enjoyed it. Thanks for the recco

Now playing on Fan 2