Japan's Only Analog Audio Magazine "Quarterly Analog" Latest Issue No. 91, Released on Friday, April 3, 2026

Ongen Publishing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Yusuke Kazama) released the latest Issue No. 91 of "Quarterly Analog," Japan's only analog audio specialty magazine, which introduces stories related to analog audio, people, and products, on Friday, April 3, 2026.

Please pick up a copy and enjoy the rich content, including the announcement of the award results and listening reports of the winning models for the highly anticipated "Analog Grand Prix 2026," an award dedicated to analog audio, an introduction to an audio system plan for listening to Keith Jarrett's masterpiece "The Köln Concert" and a reproduction by classical pianist Chinami Yamaguchi, and a report verifying the performance of earth cables.

◼︎Analog Grand Prix 2026 Announced!

All award results for the "Analog Grand Prix 2026" are published. For Gold Award winning models, sound quality reviews by all four judges are also included. Please also pay attention to the excellent products that support the record playback environment, such as phono cables, headshell leads, and static electricity removal items, selected in the newly established analog accessories category last year.

✳︎Click here for all "Analog Grand Prix 2026" award results

●What is the "Analog Grand Prix"?

It is an award hosted by Ongen Publishing, which selects "essential equipment for analog playback that evokes an analog sensibility and is suitable for recommendation to the magazine's readers" through voting from a wide range of equipment that supports analog playback, such as analog players, cartridges, phono equalizers, tonearms, and tube amplifiers. In addition to votes from 23 audio specialty stores nationwide, the selection was made by a judging panel of four members: Ikuo Kakuda (Chairman of the Judging Committee), Shun Ishihara, Chitake Inoue, and Yoshio Ohara.

◼︎Let's Listen and Talk: The Century's Improvisation, "The Köln Concert"

More than half a century has passed since Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert." A complete improvisation of solo piano created in that moment from nothing. It became miraculously beautiful music, recording the highest sales ever for a solo jazz album at 4 million copies. This time, classical pianist Chinami Yamaguchi has released a reproduction based on the transcribed score of that performance. Listening to "The Köln Concert" once again, we discussed what this work means to us and what "improvisation" truly is.

• Part 1

  Questioning the Merits of Chinami Yamaguchi's "The Köln Concert" ~ What is Improvisation? (Yasukuni Terashima, Masao Kurosaki, Hiromi Shimada)

• Part 2

  Playback! The Abyss of Köln Concert Reproduction ~ My Analog Audio Pursuing the Afterimage of The Köln Concert (Shuri Yasuda)

• Part 3

  System Plan for Listening to the Two "The Köln Concerts" Most Attractively (Ikuo Kakuda, Tadashi Yamanouchi, Shuri Yasuda)

◼︎Carefully Selected! Blissful Masterpieces: The Five-Star Story of Sound

From this season's new products, "The Five-Star Story of Sound" delivers reviews of long-lasting products that won't become obsolete, those expected to be long-sellers, those with fascinating stories, and even milestone products. Here are the models introduced this time:

• Analog Turntable THALES Tonarm "REFERENCE-TURNTABLE" by Yoshio Ohara

• Analog Record Player clearaudio "Compass" by Chitake Inoue

• Tonearm SAEC "WE-712" "WE-709" by Yoshio Ohara

• Tonearm GLANZLAB "MH-10SUSⅡ" by Yoshio Ohara

• Tonearm ortofon "AS-212R Black Edition"

  Tonearm Base ortofon "TA-Base"

  MC Cartridge ortofon "SME" by Chitake Inoue

• MC Cartridge Acoustic Revive "MC-1" by Mitsugu Kobayashi

• Stereo Power Amplifier AUDIO NOTE "Melius" by Chitake Inoue

• Vacuum Tube Stereo Power Amplifier OTOMON "Hibiki300" by Takashi Iwai

◼︎It Changes So Much with Just One Cable: Earth Cable Performance Verification of 16 Models

Earth cables are essential items for record playback. Until now, they were considered a humble component that "just needed to be connected." However, with the spread of virtual grounding, audio-grade models have appeared one after another, drawing attention to how earth cables significantly affect sound quality in record playback. This time, we listened to 16 models at once. Not only do they prevent hum noise, but you'll be amazed at how much difference just one cable can make! Please enjoy the world of earth cables. (Listening and writing by Akira Sumiyama)

◼︎New Series: I Want to Listen to This Record with These Speakers

"Graciela Susana 76/45" × Piega Premium 301 Gen2 by Saburo Ubukata

The moment you hear that melody, a vivid sound image spreads in your mind—"I want to combine this record with these speakers and amplifiers." Surely everyone has a record that stirs such imagination. So, we have started a new essay series where audio writers share their thoughts on a cherished record and the equipment they would like to pair it with. The memorable first installment features Saburo Ubukata's Graciela Susana "Graciela Susana 76/45." He describes its charm, which he wants to savor with the Piega Premium 301 Gen2.

◼︎Special Feature: Old vs. New FM Tuner Showdown

FM broadcasting has been supported by a strong fan base. Mr. Yoshio Ohara, who once again realized its appeal after experiencing the sound of the latest FM tuners, decided to take action. He pulled out an FM tuner that had been sleeping in a warehouse for over 40 years and challenged himself to receive FM again. Furthermore, he conducted a comparative listening test with the latest models. What was the result of this direct showdown between the old and new models?

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Magazine Information

Magazine Title: Quarterly Analog Issue 91, 2026 SPRING

Release Date: April 3, 2026 (Friday)

Price: 1,680 yen (1,527 yen without tax)

Format: A4 modified size (H285mm x W210mm)

Publication Type: Periodical (Quarterly)

Release Dates: January 3 / April 3 / July 3 / October 3

Publisher: Ongen Publishing Co., Ltd.

Editor-in-Chief: Mikiko Noma

Sales: National bookstores, online bookstores

・Our official online shop "PHILEWEB.SHOP"

・Amazon Magazine sales page Paperback edition Kindle edition

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About Ongen Publishing

Established in 1949. We operate a media business that publishes specialty magazines and web media for pure audio and home theater, as well as a solutions business that includes awards, events, and product sales.
●Company Name: Ongen Publishing Co., Ltd.
●Representative Director: Yusuke Kazama
●Location: Itoopia Iwamotocho ANNEX 4F, 2-14-2 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032

●Corporate Website: https://www.ongen.co.jp

＜Web Media＞
●PHILE WEB : Japan's largest AV/audio/mobile information site

(Monthly unique users: 5 million UU, Monthly page views: 20 million PV)
●PHILE WEB Audio: An information channel for pure audio, delving into deepこだわり

●Premium Headphone Guide WEB: An information channel that conveys the appeal of earphones, headphones, and portable audio
●Home Theater CHANNEL : An information channel for home theaters that realizes "a life with a movie theater at home"
●Digital Camera CHANNEL : A channel full of in-depth information for photo and camera fans
●PHILE WEB Business : A channel covering various information on the home appliance business
●Gadget Gate: An information site that introduces the latest tech/gadget topics from a unique perspective

●LWL online: An information site that proposes a new lifestyle where wellness and luxury coexist

＜Magazine Media＞
●Quarterly Audio Accessory: A specialty magazine for pure audio that pursues high-quality playback
●Quarterly Analog: Delivers information on how to enjoy record playback, analog audio, and the latest news
●Home Theater File: A specialty magazine for "homes with movie theaters" and "audio-visual"
●Premium Headphone Guide Magazine: A specialty magazine that provides in-depth information on portable audio for earphone/headphone enthusiasts
●Complete Works Series: A special magazine that introduces a wide range of cables and accessories useful for high-quality sound and image reproduction

＜Free Magazines＞
●Premium Headphone Guide: A free magazine full of information on earphones, headphones, and portable audio. Distributed free of charge at home electronics stores, headphone specialty stores, etc.
●VGP Award Winning Product Shopping Guide: A free magazine that publishes the results of the "VGP," a comprehensive audio-visual equipment award, one of the largest in Japan. Distributed free of charge at home electronics stores, etc.
●DGP Award Winning Product Shopping Guide: A free magazine that publishes the results of the "DGP Imaging Award" for digital cameras and their peripheral equipment. Distributed free of charge at home electronics stores, camera specialty stores, etc.

●First Analog Player: A free magazine to introduce the existence of analog players, how to choose them, and how to listen to them. Distributed free of charge at record stores, home electronics stores, etc.

＜Awards＞
●VGP Award: A comprehensive audio-visual equipment award, one of the largest in Japan. Held in summer and winter
●DGP Imaging Award: An award for digital cameras and their peripheral equipment. Held every autumn
●DGP Mobile Award: An award for "smartphone cameras" and their peripheral equipment. Held every spring
●Audio Masterpiece Award: An award that selects true masterpieces of pure audio. Held every autumn
●Audio Accessory Masterpiece Award: An award that selects excellent audio accessory products. Held every autumn
●Analog Grand Prix: An award that selects audio equipment full of "analog sensibility." Held every spring

＜EC Site＞

●PHILEWEB.shop: A marketplace-type EC site operated by Ongen Publishing