Macworld USA – August 2019

(vip2019) #1
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.

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