I'm a professional audio reviewer — here's the tech (and the tunes) I've been testing this week

Contrary to popular belief, I don't just use music as a testing medium for new audio gadgets. I could not exist without it, as it fills my every waking moment of my life. So what does someone who literally gets paid to listen to music (and write about it) listen to on a weekly basis? I'm glad you asked.

As great as Led Zeppelin IV is, one of the joys of music is discovering new artists and tracks. I’ve found that one of the best ways to discover new music is to check out the ‘what’s new playlists’ on different streaming platforms. That way, you can get an idea of what’s new at a glance, and give stuff a go without investing loads of time into entire albums' worth of tracks.

It’s super fun because it's not only completely unexpected, but some months are much better than others. Case in point: Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist, whose tracks can be hit-or-miss.

So, how was it this week? Not great — 70% of the tracks in the top ten new tracks are (in my eyes at least) bad. Still, there’s a highlight in Arlo Parks, an artist I’ve not heard much before, along with some strong spots from Madison Beer and Baby Nova. I’ve got some new artists in my repertoire, and tracks in my playlists.

While A$AP Rocky’s Air Force, Charli's Wall of Sound and Where’s My Phone? weren't my cup of tea, 2Sided from Arlo Parks is a banger. Those fuzzy synths and slick vocal lines make for an atmospheric experience — like a darkroom at 3 a.m. music — great.

As for the rest, Jogodo is a Nigerian brand of R&B that I can’t get into — there are almost certainly fans of this, but I am not one. Baby Nova’s Dodge is an interesting track. However, as much as I don’t hate listening to it, I struggle to find anything to like. Como Es Que Se Hace, Yandel and LATIN MAFIA’s latest, isn't really for me, either.

On heavy rotation: Edge of the Abyss, Calva Louise

But what have I been listening to non-stop for the last week? I’ve had London’s Calva Louise on repeat pretty much constantly after discovering their blend of electronica, heavy metal, and, like punk. Or something. It’s almost impossible to nail down Calva Louise, as each track brings something new to the table — especially their latest, Edge of the Abyss.

It’s a more musically mature outing than prior albums, but it’s still frenetic and exciting the whole way through. The way that lead singer Jess Allanic instantly switches between guitar and keyboard, the whole time singing in at least three different vocal styles, has to be heard to be believed. It’s deliciously heavy and delectably meaty, with glorious synths and distorted guitars. The drumming is rock solid as well, and the production is very tasty.

Highlights include W.T.F, Impeccable, and La Corriente. The whole album is beginning to end banger, though, so no matter where you start, you’ll find something to love.

New audio gear: Three wired headphones and a turntable made in the U.K.

So what have I got on the testing table right now, and what do I think so far?

I’m blessed to have some of the most well-regarded wired headphones around in my collection, but there’s been an upstart recently that might just have made some of my favorite headphones for a long time.

The Sivga Peng are the more “affordable” pair. They’re still $449, mind you. But they’re stunning, with the closed-back wood paneled earcups, sculpted ear padding and leather adjusting headband. They sound warm and inviting, but there’s still plenty of detail to get your teeth into.

The Sendy Audio Aiva 2 (pictured above) are more expensive, landing on my desk with a $599 price point. They’re a true sight to behold, with a gorgeous metal panel for their open earcups, surrounded by a sumptuous wooden band. They’re Planar Magnetic, so they’re a bit weighty, but the sound is effortlessly detailed and impactful in equal measure.

Finally, the Egret bring an even more premium build (and $799 price) to the table. They’re almost Meze-like in their build and sound, although they cost a lot less than the Romanian brand. They look like the Aiva 2, albeit with a more curved look to the earcups. They’re comfortable and sound unreal with a very wide soundstage.

I’m still going in-depth with my testing of all three models, but they’ll all be getting reviews soon to see how they rank amongst the best headphones.

It’s been a while since Goldring made a turntable, so its return to the fold last year was both a pleasant surprise and a treat. The resulting model, the $999 Goldring GR3, is a stunning-looking turntable that doesn’t require any extra devices to work. Apart from, you know. An amplifier, or some powered speakers.

It’s a fully manual turntable, so you won’t find any automatic mechanisms to play tracks or find time stamps. Instead, you lift the aluminum tone arm over your records, drop the needle, and listen to your favorite tunes.

I’ve been having a blast with the GR3, and I appreciate how beginner-friendly it is. The built-in pre-amp means that you don’t need an extra device on top of your powered speakers or HiFi amplifier to get started, for one. It also happens to look really lovely, thanks to a glossy plinth and matching phenolic resin platter.

There’ll be a review soon so we can see how it ranks amongst the best turntables.

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