L’Or du Son • July 2026
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the July edition of L’Or du Son, a measured selection of reviews, new releases, and conversations worth following across the analog community.
Some news from the atelier. We have rewritten the pages for all four of our cartridges. Each now tells its story more clearly, with a comparison of the range, matching guidance placed where you need it, and retip pricing published in the open, so the long-term cost of ownership is visible before you choose.
We have also been building a set of free analog tools: an alignment protractor generator, a tonearm resonance calculator, a step-up transformer matching calculator, a cartridge loading and gain calculator, and a strobe disc generator. They grew out of the questions you write in with, they run in any browser, and they will open on leson.org in the coming weeks.
A reminder for our readers in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show takes place from August 7 to 9 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, where our partner Audio Access will present Le Son cartridges. Come listen.
A practical note: the atelier is on summer vacation until August 18. Restoration requests are welcome as always; bench work and return shipments resume from August 19.
We hope you enjoy the read.
Gregory
Gregory de Richemont
Reviews
AVID HIFI Ingenium SE Turntable
Janine Elliot reviews the AVID HIFI Ingenium SE, a British-made turntable that builds on AVID’s heritage, offering refined engineering and design for discerning analog enthusiasts.
Aidas Durawood MC Phono Cartridge
Marc Phillips reviews the Aidas Durawood MC cartridge, placing it among the finest MC cartridges of 2026 for its distinctive strengths and musicality.
Dynavector P75 Mk4.1 phono preamplifier
A review discusses the Dynavector P75 Mk4.1 phono preamplifier’s performance and reliability amid challenging household AC power conditions.
Koetsu Onyx Platinum Moving Coil Cartridge
An evaluation of the Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC cartridge questions whether it fulfills its high expectations among analog aficionados.
News & Releases
Revox & Deep Purple team up to offer limited edition tape player, turntable & speaker – with new album ‘SPLAT!’
Revox collaborates with Deep Purple to release limited edition branded tape deck, turntable, and wireless speaker alongside the band’s new album ‘SPLAT!’
Recommended Reference Component: SME Model 35 Turntable and Series VI Tonearm
SME’s Model 35 turntable with Series VI tonearm evolves the brand’s engineering legacy, blending flagship technologies into a refined second-from-top model for high-end analog playback.
Music & Mastering
Andrea Bocelli’s most intimate recording – A Night of Amazing Grace at Reel to Reel Haven / Stella Records
An exploration of Andrea Bocelli’s intimate audiophile reel-to-reel tape release, highlighting the niche yet passionate market for studio-grade analog recordings.
Rhino High Fidelity Reissues CS&N on Vinyl and R2R Tape
Rhino High Fidelity reissues the landmark debut album of Crosby, Stills & Nash on vinyl and reel-to-reel tape for audiophile collectors.
Rhino Hi-Fi announces new Joni Mitchell ‘Blue’ on Audiophile Editions tape & vinyl – out July 10 – preorders now
Rhino High Fidelity celebrates Joni Mitchell’s Blue 55th anniversary with new audiophile reel-to-reel and vinyl editions, offering collectors premium analog presentations.
An Intimate Blues Journey on One Step Vinyl
A live recording featuring Hans Theessink and Terry Evans captures the essence of blues on high-quality one-step vinyl.
Introducing Music on Reels – with an enticingly mysterious recording of ‘the supergroup that never was’
A new reel-to-reel tape release introduces a rare, enigmatic recording, exemplifying the ongoing passion and discovery in analog tape culture.
Forum Threads
What’s your favorite <$2000 used phono stage?
A forum discussion solicits recommendations for the best used phono stages under $2000, reflecting community insights on value and performance.
Videos
One Audiophile, Two Turntables, Three Cartridges: a CLEAR winner
A video comparison explores two turntables and three cartridges, revealing a definitive favorite for analog playback enthusiasts.
Vienna High End Show No. 4, Yet More new Turntables, Phono Preamps, Cartridges and Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines
Coverage of the Vienna High End Show highlights fresh introductions in turntables, phono preamps, cartridges, and ultrasonic cleaning technology for analog enthusiasts.
Culture & Essays
C30, C60, C90, Go! – Or The Art Of The Mixtape
An essay reflects on the cultural and personal significance of mixtapes, connecting analog tape traditions with contemporary hi-fi appreciation.
L’Or du Son
A Monthly Exploration of the Analog World
A thoughtful selection of reviews, articles, videos, discussions, and news to deepen our connection with music and analog sound.
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