Fresh From the Bench: Sumiko Phono Cartridges and RS78 78 rpm Stylus

Sumiko is an organization well-known to audiophiles. It’s been a number one producer and importer of high-end audio tools for greater than 40 years. Again within the Eighties, Sumiko imported a wonderful line of Grace tonearms, notably the 707 and the 747 fashions that had been praised by the audiophile press. I owned a 747 within the early Eighties and located it to be a really effective arm when used with low-tracking pressure, high-compliance cartridges. The corporate has additionally manufactured phono cartridges, together with a number of incarnations of the Blue Level moving-coil designs which can be obtainable in each high- and low-output variations.

Sumiko additionally has a line of eight moving-magnet cartridges, all a part of its Oyster collection. The Oyster collection goes again to the primary Sumiko phono cartridges, launched some 40 years in the past. It nonetheless presents an entry-level Oyster mannequin, a basic design that sells for $79 US. The fashions reviewed right here (Photograph 1) are a part of a gaggle of 4 latest designs that characteristic interchangeable styli. The 4 cartridges vary in worth from $79 to $449 US, and likewise embrace the Rainier ($149) and Moonstone ($299). Sumiko is now a division of the McIntosh Group.

Historically, audiophiles and the high-end press have favored moving-coil cartridge designs over their moving-magnet counterparts. Transferring-coil designs usually have a lot decrease inside impedance than moving-magnet sorts, which leads to treble extension an octave or extra above 20kHz. The upper shifting mass of the stylus and coils typically places the high-frequency resonance level within the higher audible octave, which provides shifting coils the sense of “air” that many audiophiles favor, and their low inside impedance makes them proof against the results of capacitive loading.

In previous many years, many reviewers in high-end publications took a adverse view towards moving-magnet cartridges, however in recent times that has modified. The resurgence of curiosity in vinyl has introduced with it a renewed curiosity in moving-magnet cartridges. Transferring coil designs nonetheless flourish in vinyl circles, however newer moving-magnet designs have earned a renewed respect within the vinyl group.

 

Upgradable Styli
The cartridge housings (our bodies) of the Rainier, Moonstone, Olympia, and Wellfleet fashions are equivalent, so upgrades to the subsequent degree will be made just by changing the stylus. Sumiko notes that the housing has been designed to disperse and dissipate resonances, “making method for easy, clear sonics which can be enlivened with intimate nuance.” Listeners are mentioned to “expertise a diminutive backdrop that bolsters sonic photographs with a level of aptitude harking back to shifting coil designs.”

Specs for the Olympia and Wellfleet phono cartridges, in addition to the RS78 stylus, are proven in Desk 1. The desk provides 6kHz because the -3dB level for the Olympia and RS78; and -2.5 dB for the Wellfleet, which should be typos. As of this writing, I’ve not been in a position to get clarification from Sumiko on this specification. I requested frequency response graphs for each fashions; unusually, Sumiko was unable to provide them. Each fashions have an elliptical stylus, 0.3 × 0.7 mils.

 

The primary distinction between the 2 fashions is within the cantilever and the bonding of the stylus. The Olympia has a cylindrical aluminum cantilever with a standard bonded stylus. With standard mounting, the diamond tip is bonded to a brief steel shank which, in flip, is bonded to the aluminum cantilever. The costlier Wellfleet has a nude diamond stylus, which implies the diamond is bonded on to the cantilever, with none intervening materials. The result’s decrease mass and improved monitoring. The sort of mounting is significantly costlier to fabricate than the kind used within the Olympia mounting. The Wellfleet cantilever is a particular aluminum pipe designed for improved resonance management. Sumiko claims “a quicker, extra direct, and extra correct response of the stylus’s motion by the cantilever and magnet. Sonically, this will increase pace and focuses central photographs, pulling them towards the listener with a heightened sense for element…

Listeners will hear an enchancment in floor noise and sense a extra distanced backdrop, facilitating a deeply suspended picture.” Sumiko additionally makes an Amethyst mannequin which sells for $599, and appears just like the opposite 4 fashions. However, the Amethyst stylus is just not interchangeable with the others. The cartridge physique has a a lot decrease inside impedance and the stylus is a nude, line-contact kind. Notice that whereas line-contact styli can ship superior efficiency to standard elliptical styli, they’re extra delicate to vertical monitoring angle (VTA). Particular person VTA adjustment could also be required for various information.

The Sumiko fashions replicate two traits in phono cartridge design which have emerged throughout the LP revival. First, they’re much less delicate to capacitive loading than their predecessors. It was pretty frequent in previous many years for moving-magnet cartridge producers to offer a particular suggestion for the capacitive load, normally between 100pF and 300pF. Today, most moving-magnet cartridges will function inside a reasonably big selection of capacitive masses.

The Sumiko fashions will carry out to specification wherever between 100pF and 200pF, which ought to accommodate most high-performance tonearm cables and preamp inputs. Second, the beneficial monitoring forces are increased than cartridges from the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties. Again then, many moving-magnet cartridge producers positioned an emphasis on wonderful monitoring at very low monitoring forces, with typical producer suggestions within the vary of 1 gram to 1.5 grams. The legendary Shure V15 collection led the pack on this space. However, many audiophiles and high-end reviewers discovered that ultra-low monitoring forces got here with a worth — two-dimensional soundstage replica, flat dynamics, and an absence of high-frequency extension and air.

Today, one take a look at the specs for many moving-magnet cartridges reveals that priorities have shifted. Monitoring forces for many audiophile-quality moving-magnet cartridges are sometimes within the vary of 1.5 grams to 2.5 grams, akin to many moving-coil designs. All 4 Sumiko fashions with interchangeable styli are rated from 1.8 grams to 2.2 grams, with 2.0 being optimum. The commerce off has paid dividends, leading to better acceptance of moving-magnet designs within the audiophile group. Immediately’s moving-magnet designs usually have soundstage replica, dynamics, element, and high-frequency extension which can be a lot improved over their predecessors. In addition they work effectively in most of the similar medium-mass tonearms suitable with moving-coil designs. The final view within the audio business is that monitoring forces round 2 grams don’t trigger extreme file put on.

78 rpm Stylus

The newest addition to the Sumiko line of substitute styli is the RS78, a stylus made particularly for 78 rpm information (Photograph 2). The RS78 encompasses a bonded, spherical (conical) 3.0 mil diamond stylus and a cylindrical aluminum cantilever. Usually, 78 rpm information require increased monitoring forces than vinyl LPs, and the RS78 is rated from 4.0 grams to five.5 grams, with 5.0 grams beneficial. The RS78 suits all 4 fashions on this line, and the stylus is on the market solely as a separate buy. You’ll want to purchase one of many 4 cartridges with an LP stylus in an effort to use it.

 

The outline of the RS78 on the Sumiko web site has a one assertion that may confuse the reader. Within the first paragraph the corporate notes that the RS78 has a spherical diamond stylus. However, within the subsequent part it states that it’s “not advisable to play 78rpm information with a diamond stylus.” What they imply is “diamond LP stylus,” and Sumiko later clarifies issues by accurately stating that the microgroove styli made for 33-1/3 and 45 rpm information will sound poor and may trigger harm to 78 rpm information. Sumiko notes that because the 4 Oyster cartridges meant for use with the RS78 are stereo, the RS78 will nonetheless yield a two-channel output. However, since 78s are mono, the identical info will likely be heard in each channels.

Mono vs. Stereo Cartridges

There’s a faculty of thought that monaural information sound finest performed with a monaural cartridge. Some cartridge producers are making mono cartridges particularly for enjoying mono LPs. In an ideal world, I’d agree with this. However, the 2 groove partitions of a monaural file are sometimes not completely equivalent. That is as true for 78s as it’s for mono LPs. There are mechanical limitations within the slicing and the urgent course of that usually forestall the groove partitions from being completely equivalent, and put on patterns on older information are sometimes dissimilar within the two groove partitions.

Starting within the early Nineteen Seventies, many monaural information had been being mastered on stereo cutters. This just about ensures that the 2 groove partitions received’t be equivalent. Most preamps made for archival use have a mono combine management — generally known as a canting management—that permits the optimum mixture of the 2 groove partitions. Most audio switch and restoration engineers choose to do a stereo switch to digital, adopted by digital azimuth correction and mono sum. In brief, I agree with Sumiko’s resolution to make the RS78 operate as a stereo pickup.

My principal musical curiosity has been classical since I started accumulating recordings in junior highschool. Though I’m an audiophile with a severe curiosity in high-end replica of stereophonic recordings, a lot of my accumulating and listening has all the time been centered on historic, pre-LP materials, the period wherein lots of my favourite artists carried out and recorded. I’ve been taking part in 78s, and constructing higher mouse traps to get essentially the most from them, since I used to be a child. Like most 78 collectors, for a few years I used a one-size-fits-all 78 rpm stylus, normally conical sorts with sizes within the 2.7 mil to three.0 mil vary.

Round 1980, as I develop into extra severe about getting essentially the most out of my classic information, I started utilizing truncated conical and elliptical styli in varied sizes offered by Owl Audio Merchandise, {custom} made for them Stanton Magnetics for his or her 500AL cartridge. Owl is lengthy out of enterprise, however at one time it stocked greater than a dozen truncated styli in varied sizes starting from 2.0 mil to six.0 mil, to accommodate classic business information courting from the flip of the final century by means of the tip of the 78 period within the early Nineteen Fifties, in addition to broadcast transcriptions and varied “instantaneous” recordings.

Many extra stylus sizes had been obtainable on particular order. Truncated styli aren’t rounded on the underside like standard styli. As a substitute, they’re squared off on the backside, with rounded and polished corners. The truncation prevents the stylus from dragging the underside of the file groove, which all the time will increase noise. They permit exact matching of the playback stylus to the groove measurement. Report groove sizes diverse throughout the 78 period. The earliest 78s have a a lot wider groove than these made within the Nineteen Forties. I typically use styli within the 3.3 mil to three.8 mil vary for information made earlier than 1920, but publish World Conflict II discs typically play finest with a 2.5 mil stylus. Having a wide range of truncated styli additionally permits you to decide a measurement that performs above or under the damage space, if the file is worn. For the reason that demise of Owl, high-quality truncated styli have been more and more troublesome to seek out.

For a lot of collectors, there’s nonetheless a necessity for a high-quality, one-size-for-all 78 rpm stylus, with 3.0 mil normally offering a great compromise that may accommodate most information. Sumiko initially despatched me an Olympia LP cartridge, so I evaluated the RS78 stylus in that cartridge physique. I used my archival turntable for the evaluations, a Technics SP-15 on a {custom} base fitted with a Jelco SA-750L tonearm (Photograph 3).

 

The preamp I used for archival work is my very own custom-built Archival Phono Preamp (Photograph 4), collectively designed on my own and D. Michael Shields, an engineer primarily based in Minneapolis, MN. I described this preamp in an article I wrote for Linear Audio again in 2012 [1]. The preamp has separate bass and treble phono equalization changes to accommodate the myriad equalization curves discovered on information made earlier than the RIAA curve grew to become the business customary. There are 12 bass turnover and 12 treble roll-off settings, together with flat positions for enjoying acoustical recordings. Polarity will be inverted in both channel, which is required to change between laterally- and vertically-cut information. A combination/steadiness management permits adjusting the combination of the 2 groove partitions, and the preamp additionally features a 30Hz, 18dB/octave rumble filter and an exterior processor loop.
 

Data for Analysis
I put the RS78 stylus by means of its paces on a wide range of 78 rpm information, and I’ve included a selective record on this evaluate. I’ve indicated the precise speeds used for every file. It’s because, previous to the Thirties, “78 rpm” was only a ballpark determine. Earlier than electrical motors grew to become standardized in disc recording and playback tools, file speeds diverse, typically significantly, from the nominal worth of 78 rpm. A variable-speed turntable is important for the intense 78 collector in an effort to accurately reproduce the precise pitch at which the unique efficiency was completed. Previous to 1925, all information had been acoustically recorded. It was a purely mechanical course of wherein the performers projected into a big horn which collected the sound, feeding it to a vibrating diaphragm that reduce the file groove.

Western Electrical started its improvement {of electrical} recording a number of years earlier than the system was lastly deemed prepared for business use. It was a pure extension of their ongoing analysis on phone transmission [2]. A microphone turned the sound vibrations into alternating present which, in flip, was amplified by a vacuum tube and fed to a magnetic cutter head. By 1925, the system had improved sufficient to be marketed commercially, and by the next yr almost all file firms had transformed to {the electrical} course of. I’ve famous which course of was used for every of the recordings I record.

The overwhelming majority of acoustical disc information had been laterally reduce however a couple of labels, notably Edison and Pathé, made vertically-cut discs (each firms additionally made cylinders, which had been all the time vertically reduce). To be able to play each forms of information with trendy electrical tools, a stereo cartridge is important. For laterally reduce information, the left and proper channels are summed to mono “in section” (similar polarity, to be technically appropriate). This sums the lateral musical info and cancels the vertical element, which is primarily noise. For vertically reduce information, one channel have to be inverted in polarity earlier than summing to mono. This sums the vertical musical info and cancels the lateral element which, once more, is generally noise. Notice that vertically-cut information can’t be performed with a standard monaural cartridge, and devoted vertical cartridges haven’t been obtainable in many years.

RS78 Efficiency

Label scans for a couple of of the information I used for evaluating the RS78 are proven in Photographs 5–8. I discovered the RS78 to be a wonderful all-purpose stylus for 78 rpm information. There’s a faculty of thought that as a result of 78 rpm information pre-date the high-fidelity period, any magnetic cartridge with an applicable stylus will likely be adequate. Critical collectors and restoration engineers know higher! There’s way more info in these classic file grooves than the unique playback tools might probably extract. Over the various many years I’ve been taking part in 78s, I’ve skilled higher sound from these information with each enchancment in playback tools, whether or not the cartridge and styli, the tonearm, the turntable itself, or the preamp.

 

The Sumiko cartridge fitted with the RS78 stylus reveals the advantages of utilizing an audiophile-quality cartridge with 78s. The RS78 presents a degree of element and definition throughout the frequency vary of those information that lesser 78 cartridges fail to supply. The place cheaper 78 cartridge/stylus combos might sound closed down within the treble area, the RS78 reveals that the fault is just not all the time on the information, however within the playback tools. It’s true that having {custom}, truncated styli tailor-made to the myriad groove sized encountered all through the 78 period will yield the optimum outcomes. However, the RS78 did a effective job on the entire information I auditioned.

Vertically reduce discs can current distinctive issues. Pathé discs have a large and relatively shallow groove have a large and relatively shallow groove, and are infamous for being troublesome information to trace. The Pathé discs I attempted with the RS78 performed with out issues, however anybody making an attempt to play these information ought to pay cautious consideration to tonearm changes. Skipping can typically be corrected with cautious anti-skate adjustment. Low-cost tonearms and cartridges typically fall flat with vertically reduce Pathé discs. Owl made a particular 3.7 mil glass stylus for Edison Diamond Discs (so-named as a result of Edison’s phonographs had a diamond stylus in a floating reproducer to attenuate file put on). However, I’ve discovered {that a} inventory 3.0 mil conical stylus normally works effectively with these discs, and the RS78 lived as much as expectations. The clear treble area of the Sumiko cartridge with RS78 had no issue revealing the prevalence of Edison’s recording course of in comparison with these of his opponents.

Shellac-based 78 rpm information are sometimes noisy, and far of that noise is attributable to the abrasive fillers that had been essential in an effort to be certain that the file wore the heavy metal “needles” relatively than vice versa. The Victor Speaking Machine Firm’s method for its file compound within the Nineteen Twenties was 75% abrasive filler, an equal mixture of powdered Pennsylvania slate and Indiana limestone [3]. Shellac was the binder that held all of it collectively, and was solely 13.6% of the compound. Luckily, the steel components that had been used to press shellac information typically survive in file firm vaults. Once they’re in good situation, they can be utilized to press vinyl information which can be far quieter than the unique pressings. I’ve many in my assortment and used a number of in my analysis of the RS78. The RS78 did a wonderful job with these pressings, simply revealing their superiority in general sound and decrease noise, to unique shellac pressings of the identical recordings.

Collectors are sometimes confronted with the difficulties of monitoring warped shellac information. I’ve a few badly warped 78 pressings that I maintain readily available, to check the power of tonearms and cartridges to deal these issues. Playback of a warped 78 will normally fail for one among two causes. First, the warp can throw the arm upward inflicting the stylus to lose contact with the file groove. This isn’t the fault of the cartridge or stylus. The inertia of the tonearm causes the arm to proceed within the path it was despatched. The Jelco SA-750 arms have fluid damping within the pivot, which helps, however there are limits on to the quantity of damping fluid that can be utilized with out compromising the playback of non-warped information. Second, the cartridge will backside out when the excessive facet of the warp hits the cartridge physique — 78 rpm cartridges with a brief stylus cantilever are liable to the second downside.

I attempted one among my worst warp instances on the RS78 monitoring at 5.5 grams, the producer’s higher restrict. The stylus misplaced contact with the file groove as soon as each revolution. As an experiment, I quickly elevated the monitoring pressure to 7 grams. This time, the file performed with out issues. I don’t advocate exceeding the beneficial monitoring pressure, however I wished to see if the stylus cantilever was lengthy sufficient to forestall the cartridge from bottoming out. The RS78 handed this take a look at with out issues. After this take a look at, I promptly lowered the monitoring pressure to the nominal 5.0 grams. Readers buying a turntable for 78 rpm playback ought to go to the web pages of Esoteric Sound, KAB Electro-Acoustics and Nauck’s Classic Data. A effective entry-level 78 turntable desk is the Audio Technica AT-LP140XP. Costlier fashions are additionally carried by these sellers.

 

LP Efficiency
The editor of audioXpress requested me to sort out this evaluate due to my long-time curiosity within the playback of classic information. However, the capabilities of the Olympia and Wellfleet cartridges taking part in trendy stereophonic recordings would be the principal purpose most music lovers buy these cartridges. I’ve included a brief record of a few of my favourite reference LPs. These information replicate a wide range of stereophonic recording methods, from pretty easy to closely multi-microphone methods.

David Hancock used 4 spaced Determine-8 ribbon microphones — a easy however unorthodox strategy — on the Dallas recording of the Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, whereas Deutsche Grammophon used a forest of microphones on the Boston recording of Gustav Holst’s The Planets performed by William Steinberg. Engineer Lewis Layton used three area omni-directional microphones, with a small variety of judiciously positioned accent mikes, on the RCA Victor Residing Stereo recordings with Fritz Reiner and Charles Munch. Decca’s legendary engineer Kenneth Wilkinson used the three-microphone Decca Tree as his principal pickup with spot miking that was tastefully completed. Articles I wrote a while in the past on the Rachmaninoff recording, and stereo microphone methods typically, present further info [4, 5].

A great vinyl playback system ought to reveal the variations in engineering on these recordings, and the Olympia did an admirable job. Decca’s secret was its potential to make use of accent microphones whereas nonetheless preserving the angle of the principle “tree” pickup, and sustaining a way of depth on the accented sections of the orchestra. Deutsche Grammophon’s strategy sound rather more like all the soundstage is manufactured relatively than pure. RCA Victor Residing Stereo recordings replicate Layton’s personal talent at preserve a practical soundstage, albeit with a really completely different principal pickup. David Hancock’s Rachmaninoff LP was made in a really dry venue, however is notable for dynamic, realism of particular person instrumental timbres, and a pure soundstage.

The Olympia had no downside revealing the important qualities of every of those recordings. It provides a practical corridor atmosphere, and divulges the variations between atmosphere captured naturally by the principle pickup, and atmosphere created by putting further microphones out within the corridor (Decca and RCA Victor vs. Deutsche Grammophon). The dryness of the Rachmaninoff is a hanging distinction to the opposite venues wherein these recordings had been made, however the ribbon microphones favored by Hancock have a uniquely wealthy, full-bodied sonic character that’s not like any condenser microphone used within the different recordings. The variations had been ably revealed by the Olympia. The Olympia is surprisingly detailed and articulate for a cartridge on this worth vary, with a easy treble area that ought to present many hours of musically-satisfying listening.

The Wellfleet takes its virtues of the Olympia a number of steps additional. Excessive-frequency extension and element are enormously improved, sound staging is extra three-dimensional, with essentially the most noticeable enchancment being in depth. Bass is best outlined and prolonged. The Wellfleet is a really refined cartridge that reveals subtleties in a recording – and refined variations between recordings—that cheaper cartridges can’t be anticipated to match.

There’s a reputable sense of high-frequency air that, whereas not the equal of my Denon DL-103R moving-coil cartridge, provides you a style with out the expense of an outboard step-up system, or the noise that may be launched by the additional achieve required by moving-coil cartridges. Transferring from the Olympia to the Wellfleet takes you from reasonably priced high-end vinyl playback to efficiency that approaches the perfect that may be achieved with moving-magnet design. Just like the Olympia, the Wellfleet gives pure, non-fatiguing sound that must be good for the lengthy haul.

Since my retirement from the Crane Faculty of Music at SUNY Potsdam I’ve been doing volunteer work in its recording archive, transferring classic Crane performances to digital. Subsequent fall I’ll start a collection of transfers from some very well-recorded LPs made within the mid-to-late Sixties. I’ve determined to make use of the Wellfleet for this necessary venture.

Conclusion

Though any of the 4 cartridges on this collection will be transformed to 78 rpm playback by elimination of the LP stylus and insertion of the RS78, the swap could be a bit difficult. The plastic stylus mount has easy and relatively slim sides, making a strong grip troublesome. I discovered that the most secure option to swap styli is to take away the headshell and place it the wrong way up on a desk. By greedy the again edges of the stylus mount, I used to be in a position to safely pull the stylus out of the cartridge physique. I want Sumiko would contemplate promoting the cartridge housing bundled with solely the RS78 stylus, for individuals who don’t want an LP stylus.

For those who plan to make use of one among these cartridges for each 78 and LP playback, you would possibly contemplate buying the low-priced Rainier, mounting it in a devoted headshell for 78s solely. The Rainier sells for less than $149 (substitute cartridge $89), making it a really reasonably priced resolution for a devoted 78 cartridge, freed from the dangers and hassles of stylus swaps.

The Sumiko Olympia and Wellfleet cartridges are wonderful cartridges of their respective worth ranges. The Olympia makes is an economical option to enter the world of high-end vinyl playback, whereas the Wellfleet presents efficiency that places in close to the higher finish of moving-magnet designs. Fitted with an RS78 stylus, any cartridge on this collection will present effective efficiency on 78 rpm discs. aX

Sumiko Olympia Phono Cartridge

Wellfleet Phono Cartridge

RS78 78 rpm Stylus

Sumiko

63 ninety fifth Ave. N

Maple Grove MN 55369

510-843-4500

sumikophonocartridges.co

service@sumikoaudio.web

Olympia Phono Cartridge: $199.00

Olympia Stylus: $119.00

Wellfleet Phono Cartridge: $449.99

Wellfleet Stylus: $339.00

RS78 Stylus: $129.99

Recordings Used for Analysis (Selective Listing)

References

[1] Galo, Gary. “An Archival Phono Preamp,” Linear Audio, Quantity 5, 2012, pp. 77-104.

[2] J. P. Maxfield and H. C. Harrison. “Strategies of Excessive High quality Recording and Reproducing of Music and Speech primarily based on Phone Analysis,” Bell System Technical Journal, Quantity 5, No. 3, July 1926, pp 493-523. Out there from the Web Archive, https://archive.org/particulars/bstj5-3-493.

[3] W. R. Isom, “Report Supplies, Half II: The Evolution of the Disc Speaking Machine,” Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Particular Centennial Difficulty, Quantity 25, No. 11, October/November 1977, p. 719.

[4] G. Galo, “The Legendary Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances,” audioXpress, December 2012, pp. 24-28.

[5] G. Galo, “Stereophonic Recording: What do Listeners Desire?” audioXpress, April 2014, pp. 22-28.

Sources

Audio Technica,

www.audio-technica.com/en-us/turntables/kind/direct-drive/at-lp140xp

Esoteric Sound, www.esotericsound.com

KAB Electro Acoustics, www.kabusa.com

Nauck’s Classic Data https://78rpm.com/collections/audio-gear

Sumiko Audio | www.sumikophonocartridges.com

In regards to the Writer

Gary Galo retired in 2014 after 38 years as Audio Engineer at The Crane Faculty of Music, SUNY at Potsdam, NY. Since then he has labored as a volunteer within the Crane Recording Archive, transferring classic Crane recordings to digital. He’s the writer of over 300 articles and opinions in over a dozen publications, and has been writing for audioXpress and its predecessors because the early Eighties. Gary is a long-time energetic member of the Affiliation for Recorded Sound Collections, a frequent presenter at ARSC conferences and the writer of quite a few articles and opinions within the ARSC Journal. He’s a member of the Boston Audio Society and a Life Member of the Audio Engineering Society.

This text was initially printed in audioXpress, October 2022.