Audiophilepure

https://www.hifinews.com/content/techdas-air-force-ivreed-1h-turntablearm

This is a singer who has rock ‘n’ roll in his veins, and the live performances of rock standards like ‘Susie Q’ and an early cover of The Beatles’ ‘I’ll Cry Instead’ were delivered with such impact that the surface noise disappeared like tinnitus in a hurricane. There was something about the playback that enabled you to listen through the detritus. In addition to the sounds of the venue, Rivers’ distinctive vocals, with his mix of textures and a hint of nasality, were as perfectly reproduced as I have heard… and I am a Rivers devotee.

Toying with a worn-out LP is hardly an ideal way to assess a piece of equipment, but it does educe the belief that a fine system can work wonders with a less-than-wonderful recording, or in this case an LP in not-so-pristine condition. With the sonic spectacular that is Hall & Oates’ H2O [RCA RCALP6056], a mint original, the bottom end heard on ‘Maneater’ made me question what was alleged to be the logical sonic sacrifice of the Air Force IV versus the Air Force III. Surely the overall mass of the III, the vastly heavier platter, would lead to greater impact and weight? At no point did it sound like the IV was losing anything to the beefier III.