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Opinion

Beck’s $110 One-Step Is Digital. Should Audiophiles Even Care Anymore?

Beck’s $110 One-Step Is Digital. Should Audiophiles Even Care Anymore?

Beck’s $110 Ride Lonesome One-Step was cut from 24-bit/96kHz files transferred from analog masters. Does the digital step actually matter, or should audiophiles be asking a different question?

Queens of the Stone Age Announce Perfecth. Maybe Imperfection Is the Point.

Queens of the Stone Age Announce Perfecth. Maybe Imperfection Is the Point.

Queens of the Stone Age are back with 'Perfecth', a new album built around the idea that perfection may be overrated. With “Insignificant Other” captured in just two takes, the band is leaning into groove, feel, and the imperfections that make rock music sound alive.

AI Music Can’t Chart in Australia Anymore. But What Actually Counts as Human Music?

AI Music Can’t Chart in Australia Anymore. But What Actually Counts as Human Music?

Australia has drawn a line on AI generated music, requiring chart eligible recordings to remain substantially human made. But as AI becomes another tool in the studio, defining what counts as a human performance is getting much harder.

Big Thief Played 29 Unreleased Songs in One Night. That’s Kind of Brilliant.

Big Thief Played 29 Unreleased Songs in One Night. That’s Kind of Brilliant.

Big Thief debuted all 29 songs from their unreleased triple album 'Horsepower' in a single night at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. In an era of teasers, clips, and instant reactions, the band turned listening itself into the event.

Audiophile Doesn't Have to Mean Expensive. So Why Does It Feel Like It Does?

Audiophile Doesn't Have to Mean Expensive. So Why Does It Feel Like It Does?

Audiophile doesn’t have to mean expensive. Great sound can come from thoughtful setup, smart choices, and well engineered gear at many price points. So why has the hobby become so closely tied to luxury?

Audiophile Vinyl Is Finally Discovering the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s

Audiophile Vinyl Is Finally Discovering the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s

Audiophile vinyl is finally moving beyond the usual classics. R.E.M.’s new *Reckoning* One Step points to a broader shift toward premium editions of ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s albums, but are $100 plus records really the future of the format?

Should Vinyl Collectors Stop Preordering New Albums?

Should Vinyl Collectors Stop Preordering New Albums?

Vinyl collectors are paying more, preordering earlier, and sometimes receiving albums that differ from the final digital release. Is it time to stop preordering until we know exactly what is on the record?