Macworld USA – August 2019

AUGUST 2019 MACWORLD 107

PERFORMANCE
Pairing the M4U 8 to my iPhone 6 went
without a hitch. I started listening to
Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor as
performed by the Canadian Brass (a
world-renowned brass quintet) on The
Essential Canadian Brass. The sound
was beautiful, with each instrument
clearly and accurately rendered. The
tuba was rich and sonorous, the
trumpets bright and clear. I could even
hear the players taking breaths.
Next up was “The Journey Begins”
from the score for the movie White Squall,
by Jeff Rona. I play sea-shell trumpets on
that selection in the score, which also
includes synthesizers, Indonesian gamelan
instruments, and ethnic flutes. The sea-

shell trumpets were

positively haunting,

the low synth sounds

were nice and deep,

and the gamelan

instruments were full

of clearly defined high

harmonics.

“Thunder and

Blazes” (aka “Entrance

of the Gladiators”) is a

well-known circus

march. I listened to the

performance on the

album Screamers by

the Eastman Wind

Ensemble under the direction of Frederick

Fennell. All instrumental sections were well

delineated, with excellent reproduction of

all frequency ranges from the tubas and

bass drum to the piccolos.

Turning to pop music, I listened to “The

Nightfly” from Donald Fagen’s album of the

same name. Fagen’s voice was faithfully

rendered with background vocals spread

across the soundstage. The electric bass

was nice and full, with crisp drums and rich

guitar solo front and center.

One of my favorite groups is Bela Fleck

and the Flecktones. I listened to “Frontiers”

from the group’s eponymous first album,

which includes banjo, harmonica, acoustic

piano, synths, jaw harp, electric bass, and

synth drums. Once again, the rendition

The 12.8-ounce M4U 8 are a bit heavier than some of the competition,
but they don’t feel that way while you’re wearing them.