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RBinTN
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Jun 25, 2017
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Wow, this is a great deal if you have any interest whatsoever in 50's/60's jazz and don't already have most of these titles. This was originally US$6000 when introduced in Oct 2014! (Go back and look; and yes, that's what most outlets were selling it for back then.)
Something to lust over but way too pricey for my wallet, but I jumped when it was offered for US$2000 at the end of last year. Yeah, the AK240 player is no longer state-of-the-art as it was then, but still sounds great and a major upgrade over my older AK120 v1 -- especially in balanced mode (be sure to get the right plug on aftermarket cables!) And among the 75 per-loaded titles you are getting at least 50 "must-have" classics with essential sessions led by Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Art Blakey, Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and many others, most of which which sell for around US$20 or more @192/24 resolution from legit download sites.
Also, the hardcover book (which separately is currently US$55 on Amazon) is a great overview of the history of the label, which essentially is a history of New York jazz circa circa 1939-1969. The second softcover book provides all the artwork and liner notes of the 75 titles which is pretty cool.
The stand display is a bit weird. Maybe good to have "back-up" copies of the titles in case the ones on the player get corrupted, but otherwise there is really no reason to actually use the micro cards, and all the album info is already in the softcover book. It's not an eyesore, but personally I don't think it's particularly aesthetically interesting. I wonder what Reid Miles, the amazing graphic artist for many of the iconic Blue Note covers might have come up with if he was still with us? (Then again, not sure that he or Francis Wolff, the photographer of many of the album portraits, would think of their work being reduced to a spec in acrylic!)
My only complaint might be that the download versions do not include the additional alternate takes that had been included on many of the CD re-issues.
But otherwise those of you carping about the price of the AK240 player alone or cost versus other current online prices are missing the point. If you have no interest in post WWII jazz, yes, there are better deals out there. Tienbasse and Buins1701 have it right: IT'S ABOUT THE MUSIC!
Jun 25, 2017
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