Magic of Music on Vinyl and Digital
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Al Foster – Live at Smoke – Review (Vinyl record, High Res 24 96 vs Dolby Atmos)
Live at Smoke is a live album recorded by jazz drummer Al Foster at the Smoke Jazz Club in New York. It features a high-level quartet composed of Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, and Joe Martin. The recording faithfully captures the atmosphere of a jazz club, with a close and immersive sound. The repertoire blends jazz…
Happy New Year 2026! Bonne année 2026!
I wish you a sparkling, vibrant 2026 filled with music!May this new year rhyme with joy, health, and happiness.May it be an opportunity for beautiful musical discoveries, new artists, unexpected sounds, and melodies that make your heart beat and inspire you. A huge thank you to each and every one of you for your support,…
TOP 10 most popular albums of 2025
Here is the top 10 most popular album reviews of 2025. Notably, Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here enters the chart at number 6, following its recent review for its 50th anniversary. I would also like to sincerely thank you for your support and feedback throughout this year, and over the past five years as…
Simple Minds – Once Upon A Time – Review for the 40th anniversary (Vinyl Record, CD, Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming, from 1985 to 2025, Stereo and 5.1 version)
Released in October 1985, Once Upon A Time marked a major turning point for Simple Minds, featuring a bigger, stadium-oriented sound while retaining their emotional depth. Produced by Jimmy Iovine and Bob Clearmountain, the album combines powerful rhythms, gospel-style backing vocals, and expansive keyboards. It achieved international success, reaching #1 in the UK and the…
Best Albums of 2025 reviewed in Digital, Analog, and Immersive (Dolby Atmos) Formats.
Which albums delivered the best technical performance among those I tested on MagicVinylDigital.net in 2025? 2025 was a particularly rich year for album releases, both in terms of brand-new productions and anniversary editions. It was also marked by a noticeable increase in Blu-ray releases featuring Dolby Atmos versions, along with several high-quality stereo tracks.Below is…
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary – the ultimate edition of this album? – Review (Vinyl, CD, SACD, Blu-ray, from 1975 to 2025, stereo, 4.0, 5.1 to Dolby Atmos)
Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by the British band Pink Floyd, released in 1975. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in early 1975, shortly after the massive success of The Dark Side of the Moon. The album delves into themes of absence, alienation, and disillusionment, particularly in the context of…
Scorpions – Coming Home Live – The 60th anniversary concert – review (Stereo and Dolby Atmos)
On July 5, 2025, Scorpions celebrated their 60th anniversary with a historic concert at the Heinz von Heiden Arena in Hanover, their hometown, performing in front of 45,000 fans. Presented under the slogan “Coming Home,” the evening retraced six decades of rock through their most iconic songs. The event was fully recorded and turned into…
68th Award – Best Immersive Audio Album – Review of the 5 nominees
Best Immersive Audio Album — Category 84 This category honors vocal or instrumental albums from any genre that feature a new immersive mix using four or more channels. Eligible works must have been commercially released in physical format or made available on a qualifying streaming or download platform. The award is presented to the immersive…
Anette Askvik – Liberty – review (Vinyl,CD, Blu-ray stereo, DTS-HDMA 5.1, DTS-HDMA 7.1 AURO3D, Dolby Atmos TrueHD; Streaming Tidal Max and Atmos)
At High End Munich 2025, Norwegian singer and composer Anette Askvik left her mark on the edition as the official ambassador of the show, unveiling a new immersive edition of her album Liberty. Already acclaimed for its emotional intensity and refined production, the project now takes on a new dimension thanks to a multichannel remix…
With the first two tracks of his new album SPACE PROJEKT U.M.O. , Éric Serra propels us into space with spatial audio – review (Stereo and Dolby Atmos)
After taking us into the ocean depths with the legendary soundtrack of Le Grand Bleu (The Big Blue), Éric Serra shifts horizons and now propels us toward the stars. The first two tracks from his upcoming album “SPACE PROJEKT U.M.O.”, scheduled for release on 16 January 2026, already reveal a soundscape firmly oriented toward space,…
Vivaldi – The Four Seasons – Review – Is mastering more important than the medium? (One Step vinyl record vs SACD vs CD vs Streaming)
This recording features the ensemble “Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca,” specialized in the interpretation of the Italian Baroque repertoire, with the participation of violinist Giuliano Carmignola. The recording was made in March 1992 in the Church of San Vigilio in Col San Martino. Sound engineer Michael Seberich used a selection of Schoeps microphones (MK 21…
Jean-Michel Jarre – Live In Bratislava – review updated – YouTube vs Blu-ray
Responding to strong reader demand, the YouTube version has now been added to the comparison. Although this online edition features a slightly reworked edit compared to the Blu-ray, with differences in shot selection, it still provides a highly relevant basis for analysis. Beyond the visual aspect, it is the concert’s audio track that draws particular…
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome – 40th Anniversary Review including the Deluxe Box Set with Atmos Blu-ray and the some Releases from 1984 to 2025 (vinyl, cassette, CD, blu-ray, streaming, stereo to Dolby Atmos)
Welcome to the Pleasuredome, released in 1984 and produced by Trevor Horn, is the first album by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, a double opus blending synthpop, funk, and rock, marked by ambitious and provocative production. Driven by the hits “Relax,” “Two Tribes,” and “The Power of Love,” it stands out for its bold aesthetic and…
Miles Davis – Kind of blue – Review updated (part 4 – add : Analog Production Speed corrected vinyl and blue vinyl records, CD Audionautes Recordings)
Here is the fourth part of the review dedicated Miles Davis “Kind of Blue”, which now contains the following 36 versions including the new versions from Analog Production Speed corrected vinyl (Ed34) , Analog Production Speed corrected blue vinyl (Ed35) and CD Audionautes Recordings (Ed36): You can find samples from each version in high definition…
Trio Callas – Mozart_Brahms_Mehmari – Review of an immersive recording (DSD stereo , PCM Hires 5.1, MKV Dolby Atmos TrueHD, DXD 5.1.4)
After Invisible Cities Part 2 by André Mehmari and Sergio Reze, ADS founded by Gustavo Cândido, offers us an immersion into a different musical universe with the album Trio Callas – Mozart Brahms Mehmari. The 5.0.4 recording literally places us at the heart of every instrument and every nuance, delivering an exceptionally refined immersive sound…
The Cranberries – No Need To Argue – When streaming services decide which version we have to listen to – Review -(CD, vinyl records, 2020 and 2025 remastered versions, Streaming Tidal stereo and Dolby Atmos)
No Need to Argue is the second studio album by The Cranberries, released in 1994. It represents a shift toward a darker and more emotional alternative rock compared to their debut album. The review of this album showed that the versions available on streaming platforms differed. That is what I invite you to observe in…
Michael Jackson – Dangerous – Questions about SACD? Answers from MOFI
Following the analysis of the album Dangerous “Michael Jackson – Dangerous: Is the MOFI Edition (SACD, vinyl record) Magnificent or Disappointing?” (link), I sent an email to MOFI (MFSL : Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) to request some explanations. After exchanges, Bridget Citro Davis (COO & Co-owner) put me in touch with Krieg Wunderlich.I would like…
David Gilmour – The Luck and Strange Concerts – Review (Bluray stereo, DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 24 bits 96 kHz, Dolby Atmos TrueHD, Tidal MAX and Dolby Atmos)
The Luck and Strange Concerts is David Gilmour’s live album, released on October 17, 2025, and recorded during his tour of the same name. It features 23 tracks captured at various performances. Will the Blu-ray once again be the best edition?
Paris Audio Video Show 2025 ( PAVS – High Fidelity and High End, October 25th to 27th, 2025)
The Paris Audio Video Show (PAVS) is taking place at the Palais des Congrès, Porte Maillot in Paris. The event runs over three days and brings together more than 100 hi-fi, high-end, and audio-video brands across over 30 listening rooms. I invite you to take a video tour of the show, complete with the authentic…
182 reviews, 1082 editions tested, the complete list …
Here’s a new milestone for MagicVinylDigital.net, with over 1,000 versions tested across 182 album reviews. I would like to thank you especially for the support and encouragement you’ve been sending me regularly for more than three years now. These 1,082 analyzed versions are distributed across a wide variety of media, including 8-track cartridges, cassette, vinyl…
Mark Knopfler – Sailing To Philadelphia – Review (CD, blu-ray, vinyl record, streaming, Tidal, Stereo to Dolby Atmos) – 25th anniversary
Sailing to Philadelphia, released in 2000, is Mark Knopfler’s second solo album following the end of Dire Straits.To celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025, a special edition was released, including a Dolby Atmos mix, an instrumental version, and a 2LP transparent vinyl. So, what about this 25th-anniversary edition on Blu-ray and vinyl?
Phil Collins – No Jacket Required –Review updated with the 1985 CD edition, which was favored at the time of release. And a video on the Dolby Atmos mix by Steven Wilson.
Here is a more in-depth update to the review, this time with the inclusion of the 1985 CD edition. At the time of the initial test, I had not yet received this version, and I must admit I was wondering about the lineage of the 2019 CD edition. Listening to and analyzing this 1985 CD…
Salon Haute Fidélité 2025 PARIS (High Fidelity and High End Paris 2025 Show)
This year, in 2025, the High-Fidelity Show is taking place in Paris, at Tour Cœur Défense, on the 23rd and 24th floors.The event runs over two days and features more than 80 Hi-Fi and High-End brands showcased across 28 listening rooms.I invite you to take a video tour of the show, complete with the authentic…
Prince – Purple Rain – Review : After the standout Blu-ray Atmos release, the One Step vinyl defines a new level of excellence.
Over the years and through various reissues, one might wonder whether it is still possible to further improve the sound quality of this album. Following a particularly successful Blu-ray edition, featuring a Dolby Atmos mix in Dolby Digital TrueHD format, a new vinyl edition is now available. For this reissue, the focus has been placed…
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl – Is the audio performance up to the marketing hype? – Review (CD, colored vinyl records, streaming, Tidal MAX Stereo and Amazon Dolby Atmos)
Taylor Swift unveils her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, recorded during the European leg of the Eras Tour in 2024. Singer Sabrina Carpenter appears on the title track. It’s impossible not to have heard about it, as the release was orchestrated masterfully — Taylor Swift has perfected the art of communication and…
Mariah Carey – Here For It All – Is Mariah Carey’s Voice a Victim of the Loudness War? – Review (Tidal MAX Stereo and Amazon Dolby Atmos)
Here for It All is Mariah Carey’s 16th studio album, released in September 2025, marking her first project in several years.The album features 11 tracks, including collaborations with Anderson .Paak, Kehlani, Shenseea, and The Clark Sisters.The singles Type Dangerous and Sugar Sweet provide a balance between upbeat songs and ballads. The album addresses themes such…
André Mehmari and Sergio Reze – Invisible Cities Part2 – ADS immerses us in the heart of the music – review (DSD and PCM Hires in stereo and 5.1, DXD 5.1.4)
With Invisible Cities Part2, the independent label ADS delivers far more than a simple recording: it offers a true sonic and artistic immersion. Behind this project stand André Mehmari (piano, bass synthesizer, Minimoog) and Sergio Reze (drums, percussion, gongs), long-time collaborators who have cultivated for nearly thirty years a musical dialogue of rare intensity. Recorded…
A wave of anniversary albums expected by the end of the year, also available on Blu-ray !
I regularly talk to you about Blu-ray releases (link), and this year’s end is shaping up to be particularly rich. Many classic albums are returning to the spotlight through highly anticipated anniversary editions. These reissues go beyond a simple facelift: they also offer Blu-ray versions with immersive audio experiences thanks to Dolby Atmos tracks, giving…
Phil Collins – No Jacket Required – Is the 40th Anniversary Edition the New Standard? – Review (CD, vinyl, blu-ray, streaming, from 1985 to 2025, stereo, 5.1, Dolby Atmos)
No Jacket Required, released in 1985, is Phil Collins’ third solo studio album. It continues the trajectory of his post-Genesis career while adopting a contemporary pop style highly oriented toward radio. The album features several internationally successful singles, including “Sussudio,” “One More Night,” and “Don’t Lose My Number.” The arrangements emphasize synthesizers, electronic percussion, and…
Ed Sheeran – Play – Review (Vinyl record, Digital Stereo and Dolby Atmos)
Released on September 12, 2025, Play is Ed Sheeran’s eighth studio album and marks the beginning of a new thematic series in his discography. This work, blending contemporary pop with Indian and Persian influences, stands out for its rich arrangements and international collaborations, notably with Arijit Singh on the track Sapphire. Among the main singles…
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