April 10, 2021

Archetype: The Ortofon SPU – A Moving Coil Origin Story

Since its introduction in 1959, the Ortofon SPU (stereo pick up) has remained largely unscathed from the ‘newer is better’ mantra that permeates much of society. Robert Gudmandsen’s 62-year-old design is still considered one of the most influential cartridges in high fidelity.
September 26, 2022

Jazz Kissa at Home

It doesn’t take much imagination to realize jazz kissa – jazz cafes – could have only been conceived from a culture, like Japan’s. Started in the ‘30s as islands of serenity, and sometimes reverential respite from the endless din of Tokyo streets, jazz kissa offered customers hours of Zen ascension through travel to another realm of consciousness through the solemn appreciation of jazz albums played on large scale horn-loaded loudspeakers powered by valve amplification.