L’Or du Son • December 2025
Dear Friends,
L’Or du Son is a monthly exploration of the analog world: its craft, its culture, and the pursuit of emotionally compelling high-fidelity music reproduction.
Each issue gathers a selection of reviews, articles, videos, discussions, and news that stood out over the past month.
The intention is simple: highlight meaningful information, strengthen our shared connection with music, and refine our appreciation of analog sound.
Enjoy!
Gregory de Richemont – Founder
REVIEWS
Gramophone Dreams #103: Reviewing the Ortofon MC X40 Cartridge and Step-Up Transformers
Herb Reichert explores Ortofon’s MC X40 moving coil cartridge and Robyatt & Lundahl step-up transformers, noting a departure from Ortofon’s traditional sound character.
Audiophile Vinyl Review: Norman Greenbaum and The Doobie Brothers
Kevin Gray’s AAA lacquers from original master tapes reveal the lush, detailed sound of Norman Greenbaum’s classic and The Doobie Brothers’ refined regrouping, highlighting late 1960s and 1970s analog excellence.
KEF Reference 104/2 Loudspeaker Review
Martin Colloms reviews KEF’s new Reference 104/2, a large loudspeaker aiming to revive the legacy of the original 104 with refined design and performance.
Pro-Ject Flatten It: Home Vinyl Record Flattening Review
John Darko reviews the Pro-Ject Flatten It device, a practical solution for correcting warped vinyl records to improve playback quality at home.
J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame Vinyl Review
A vintage pressing delivers exceptional A+++ sound quality with lively, low-distortion production, capturing the band’s punchy and well-recorded style.
GEAR & SETUP
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl S Phono Stage Introduced
Musical Fidelity presents the Nu-Vista Vinyl S, a phono stage designed to complement their integrated amplifiers, offering a flexible analog front end.
Cartridge Alignment Protractor: Align Your Cartridge With Precision
G. de Richemont explains arc versus two-point alignment protractors and key geometries to optimize cartridge setup and overall sound quality.
MUSIC & MASTERING
Rhino Celebrates John Coltrane’s Centennial with AAA Mono LP Boxed Set
A six-LP boxed set of Coltrane’s Atlantic mono recordings, cut AAA from original mono master tapes, honors his centennial with audiophile quality.
Classic Bluegrass and Folk LP Reissues from Craft Recordings
Craft Recordings releases LP reissues of classic bluegrass and folk albums by Tony Rice, Alison Krauss, and Joan Baez, highlighting analog heritage.
Blue Note Announces 2026 “Tone Poet” Vinyl Titles
Joe Harley produces a deluxe all-analog 180g vinyl reissue series mastered by Kevin Gray directly from analog master tapes, continuing Blue Note’s audiophile tradition.
Orlando Gibbons: Beyond The Silver Swan
Peter Quantrill explores the diverse and profound output of 17th-century English composer Orlando Gibbons, highlighting his significance in church music.
Jazz Highlights for November 2025
Steve Harris reviews recent jazz releases including Tim Boniface’s Psalter suite, noting their musical depth and analog sound quality.
FORUM THREADS
Maintaining an Inherited Vintage Analog Audio System
A new owner shares his vintage Bluenote Piccolo turntable and associated gear, seeking advice on upkeep to preserve these cherished analog components.
Vinylphyle: A New Audiophile Record Series Discussed
Community discussion on the new Vinylphyle audiophile record series, focusing on its potential impact and quality in the analog market.
Letter of the Week: Skepticism on Magic Buttons and Hot Stampers
A customer reflects on the expense and value of Hot Stamper pressings, offering a candid perspective on audiophile marketing claims.
VIDEOS
Turntables Take Center Stage at Capital Audiofest
Analog Planet’s video coverage showcases the prominence of turntables and analog playback at the 2025 Capital Audiofest event.
NEWS & RELEASES
Capital Audiofest 2025 Show Report Photofest Part 2
EnjoyTheMusic.com presents a photo gallery capturing the atmosphere, gear, and memorable moments from the 2025 Capital Audiofest.
Florida International Audio Expo Scheduled for February 2026
The eighth annual FIAE returns, offering audiophiles and music lovers a weekend of high-end audio exhibits, live music, and educational events in Tampa.
Decca Announces Pure Analogue Vinyl Reissue Series
Decca launches a vinyl reissue series mastered and cut directly from analogue stereo and 4-track master tapes by Emil Berliner Studios.
25 New Living Stereo Titles Coming in 2026
Analogue Productions announces 45rpm reissues using Classic Records metalwork, expanding the Living Stereo catalog for audiophiles.
That’s all for this month’s edition!
Thank you for reading and for being part of this ongoing analog journey.
If these selections brought you value, consider subscribing to receive each monthly edition directly.
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