2024 Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards

Beginning at the end of 2003, Positive Feedback established its first annual awards for fine audio. The Brutus Award was established for the best that David Robinson and Dave and Carol Clark had heard in their own listening rooms during that year. You can think of it as our equivalent of an "Editors' Choice" award.

The Gizmo Award, on the other hand, was established in memory of our very good audio friend, Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg, and is given by David Robinson to the most conspicuous audiomaniac(s) of the year. Only one Gizmo is given per year; some years, no Gizmo is given at all.

The following is an opportunity for our editors and writers to recognize superior merit in the audio arts though their "Writers' Choice Awards." Our writers and reviewers have been given broad leeway to cite excellence in fine audio wherever they find it: products, people, recordings, events, groups, etc., so that our readers can be better informed.

It is our hope that you will find the Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards to be helpful to you in your audio journey.

All the best,

Positive Feedback

John Acton

Audience frontRow Interconnects $3300 for RCA single-ended and $3800 for XLR balanced

Audience frontRow Speaker Cables $5500 for 3-meter single-wire

My first Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Award for 2024 goes to Audience's frontRow interconnects and speaker cables. With its flagship frontRow line of cables, Audience has employed numerous proprietary technologies and design techniques to elevate performance to unprecedented levels. The frontRow interconnects and speakers cables utilize oxygen-free OHNO continuous-cast copper of 99.9999% purity combined with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) as a dielectric. Audience then optimizes conductor layout to eradicate electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RMI) and applies its unique performance-enhancing methodologies, such as Musically Optimized Reduction of Resistive Energy (MORRE), Proprietary Metallurgy Technology (PMT), "Deep Cryo II" cryogenic treatment, extensive burn-in conditioning, and its Extreme High Voltage Process (EHVP).

The resultant performance is staggeringly good. The frontRow cables possess a spellbinding level of transparency, reducing noise and distortion to such low levels that micro-details are reproduced with newfound clarity, affording the listener unprecedented insight into the musical message. Soundstaging and imaging cues are reproduced with consummate expansiveness and dimensionality, and dynamic contrasts are rendered with lifelike accuracy. Tonally, the frontRow cables are spot-on neutral, avoiding any vestiges of bloat or sterility and reproducing the underlying tonal signature of the recording without any editorializing.

Transcending mere accessory, Audience's frontRow interconnects and speaker cables bring me closer to the music I love than any other cable I've experienced.

Read more HERE

Fyne Audio F1-8S Loudspeaker $18000 per pair

My second Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Award for 2024 goes to Fyne Audio's F1-8S loudspeaker. Based in Scotland, Fyne Audio has developed a number of novel approaches to loudspeaker design and incorporated them into its numerous product offerings. The F1-8S represents the smallest floorstander in Fyne Audio's flagship F1 series of loudspeakers and embodies all the design expertise that the Fyne team has amassed over several decades of industry experience. The F1-8S utilizes Fyne's IsoFlare transducer arrangement to concentrically mount the tweeter at the center of, and within, the woofer cone. Fyne employs its patent-pending BassTrax bass-reflex port alignment to radiate bass frequencies in a 360-degree pattern for ease of placement. Fyne makes use of the finest components, including ClarityCap capacitors, Van Den Hul wiring, WBT binding posts, and installs them in a cabinet of superlative build quality and luxurious aesthetics.

Sonically, the F1-8S distinguishes itself with a performance marked by unbridled transparency and resolving powers, married to holographic soundstaging and imaging. Fyne's BassTrax port-tuning results in deep, extended and impactful bass response, without any vestige of blur, bloat or overhang. Midrange instruments, and voices in particular, are reproduced with a spellbinding expressiveness and truthfulness that never fails to connect the listener with the musical message. Possessing an extended and grain-free treble, the F1-8S illuminates musical performances with air and vivacity, and its concentric positioning within the woofer enables the loudspeaker to disappear into the soundstage, leaving behind nothing but the performance.

The Fyne Audio F1-8S is a supremely accomplished performer, and in all my years as a reviewer, it's the most musically-satisfying loudspeaker I've experienced.

Read more HERE

Myles B. Astor

Equipment

Soulution 312 Stereo Amplifier/326 Preamplifier with phono card $28,975 (amplifier); $21,975 (preamplifier); $4475 (phonocard)

I'm certainly no stranger to the sound of the Swiss-made Soulution electronics. I've spent time with their products at numerous audio shows over the years, listened to the monstrous 701 monoblocks several years ago at Magico and most recently had the chance to spend time with the recently discontinued and ear opening Soulution 331 integrated amplifier in my own system. Thus, I jumped at the opportunity to review Soulution's newest and recently released 3 series 312 stereo amplifier and 326 preamplifier with phonostage. And they didn't disappoint. The improvements in the new 312 amplifier and 326 preamplifier derive from technology originally developed for the more expensive 5 and 7 series electronics. In the case of the new 312 amplifier, it's higher current storage capability; in the case of the 326 preamplifier, it's the extended bandwidth (and concurrent reduction in phase error) and a lower noise floor. The end result is an extremely neutral package displaying excellent transparency, low level resolution and soundstaging. And as my audiobuddy says, there's no bass like Soulution bass. To boot, this pair perfectly complements the speed and resolution of the Zellaton Plural Evo speakers and brings out the speaker's best qualities and allows them to disappear from the sonic landscape.

Analog Relax EX500 Moving Coil Cartridge $6500

How often do you find a product whose name perfectly describes its sound? Mellow is the word here with not an ounce of tension in the EX500. Yet, the EX500 is far from boring sounding and important details in the recording aren't glossed over. Just the music, nothing but the music. This 0.5 mV output cartridge sports a hard wood Roumanian maple exterior, a generator mechanism spun from high purity Ag wire and a custom-made hyper-elliptical diamond stylus. The cartridge's midrange is reminiscent of Koetsu wood bodied cartridges of yore. Only, without the Koetsu's issues at the frequency extremes and bothersome tracking abilities. Plus the cartridge's large soundstage and life-like three-dimensionality bring that concert into your living room.

Luminous Audio Technology Arion II Phonostage $8000

Phonostages have made huge strides over the past couple of decades. Modern units are immeasurably quieter and more dynamic than their forefathers and there's no better example of this than the Mike Bettinger designed Arion II phonostage. This phonostage is baby soft smooth with nary a trace of grain. Almost tube-like in its sound. The Arion II's sound is typified by the cartridge's lack of artificiality and touch of romanticism, transparency, massive soundstage and sense of space. One can listen to the Arion II for hours without any sense of fatigue setting in. The unit's only downsides? The Arion II has only one phono input and cartridge loading is a bit quirky. Both are a small price to pay for this lovely sounding phonostage.

Audience FrontRow Reserve Balanced Interconnects $5300/first meter, $600 every half meter after

I've heard all of Audience's cables in my system and their newest FrontRow Reserve cables are clearly a step above the rest. Their newest top-of-the-line FrontRow Reserve balanced interconnect cables draw on Audience's tried and true MORRE (Musically Optimized Reduction of Resistive Energy) technology and are constructed with pure (single crystal) 6N OCC copper and a "judicious amount of silver conductors;" in the balanced XLR version, the conductors are wound as two axial spiral wound ribbons. These low mass/low eddy current cables also use a XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) dielectric and proprietary natural crystals to damp EMI/RFI. The last step in the construction process is cryogenic treatment (including the connectors) and subjecting the cable to Audience's proprietary EHVP (extreme high voltage treatment), The cable's "basic" sonic character is somewhat reminiscent of Transparent Audio cables—namely the viscerality of instruments and soundstaging. But that's where all similarities end. The new FrontRow Reserve interconnects possess a much lower noise floor, better dynamics and dazzling speed. They also nicely complement the speed, settling time and resolution of the Soulution electronics and Zellaton Plural Evo speakers.

Accessories

Thirty-some-odd years ago—spurred on by the rumor that Mobile Fidelity was ceasing production of their inner record sleeves—I penned my first article Paper or Plastic: Vinyl's Final Resting Place for the late Sounds Like… magazine. In that article I covered the best alternatives to the Mobile Fidelity inner sleeves (and outer sleeves) at that time. Since that original piece, there's been a couple more follow-up pieces for Positive-Feedback on new and interesting new inner and outer sleeves hitting the market. This year, I've come across two excellent and highly recommended new products for storing those precious and irreplaceable records!

Sleeve City Diskeeper Ultimate Audiophile Record Inner Sleeves $30.99/50 pk

Sleeve City's Diskeeper Ultimate Audiophile Record inner sleeves are another variation upon a tried and true theme. Their triple layer sleeves consist of paper layering on both sides of the record encased in rice paper-like and soft HDPE (high density polyethylene). The construction renders these inner record sleeves slightly stiffer and far more resistant to that dreaded foldover effect caused by sliding the record back into the jacket. But that's not the only enticing factor. The Ultimate Audiophile Record inner sleeves come with die-cut center holes so one can see the labels on both sides of LP without pulling the record out of the sleeve!

Vinyl Storage Solutions Dual Pocket Record Outer Sleeves $30.99/50 pk

Now here's one of those accessories—like the Mod Squad tiptoes of yesteryear—that I wish I had invented (Steve and Joyce made millions off those tiptoes!). These "dual pocket," archival quality, record outer jackets (seeing them up close helps to understand exactly how they work; perhaps a video on VSS's website would help) were originally created by Mike Sarazin and are now carried by Vinyl Storage Solutions in Canada. The outer sleeves come in several different versions such as the sealing tape on the flap, on the jacket or even no tape at all. The record jacket is placed in one pocket and then sealed and the record (s) are placed in the other pocket. This arrangement makes removing those frequently played records so much easier and faster. I suggest placing the album so records slide horizontally into the second pocket. My biggest fear is accidentally dropping the records and the LPs falling out the top when vertically positioned. No, you probably won't replace all your record outer sleeves with the VSS jackets; but they are really handy for those frequently played records. The best news? VSS offers a sampler pack plus a coupon for free shipping on the next order for those unsure on which version to buy. What have you got to lose but a couple of dollars!

Schnerzinger Piccolo Protector $3495 for two piece set (master and satellite), $4950 (master and two satellites)

Truth is often stranger than fiction and there's no better example of this than the giga cancelling technology inside Schnerzinger's Piccolo Protectors. But truth always wins out in the end. In my room—and probably most rooms will see a different optimal setup—the master Protector was placed between the speakers and the satellite behind my listening chair. I opted after a bit of experimentation for the 0 power setting; the differences among the 0, 1 and 2 power settings are very obvious (the 1 and 2 settings require connecting the units to the AC line). Among the sonic improvements wrought by the Schnerzinger Piccolo Protector are greater low-level resolution particularly intelligibility of voices, better capturing of instrumental overtones and a removal of a layer of artificiality that keeps the listener at arm's length from the music.

Recordings of the Year

New Recordings

Jerome Sabbagh, Heart. Analog Tone Factory, Jerome Sabbagh (tenor sax), Joe Martin (bass), Al Foster (drums), James Farber (recording engineer), Bernie Grundman (LP mastering), Jason Harrison Smith/Grey Matter Audio (tape transfer), LP/15-ips tape (two reels), IEC EQ, (also available as digital download), Price: $575.

Analog Tone Factory is a new audiophile label begun by French born and New York City resident tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh. Heart, the labels first release, was recorded by James Farber at the Power Station in New York City using a customized, one of a kind, Ampex 351 reel-to-reel tape machine (think James Boyk's Magnesaurus tape machine) at 30-ips (part of the customization included converting the machine to record at 30-ips and its accompanying AES curve) on ½-inch tape.

Heart is hands down the best sounding and musically adventurous album Jerome has done to date. This album features the legendary Al Foster on drums (the list of people he's recorded with is mind boggling) and he's even slightly highlighted on this recording to bring his playing to the fore. You'll simply love hearing his cymbal work here. Heart is filled with tunes from Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, Benny Carter and Wrubel/Magidson as well as a trio of original songs by Sabbagh and Sabbagh and colleagues. Reel two will see more playing in listening rooms with the comping on "Lead the Way" and as Jerome describes it, "freer, improvised…"

You're going to love the sound of Heart if you like the vintage sound of Rudy van Gelder or Roy DuNann. I know I do.

Trio de Curda, Liber Tango. Jose Ariel Palacio (accordion), Juliette Malfrange (cello), Luca Maxit (double bass), Andre Perry (producer), Rene LaFlamme (engineer), 2XHD Fusion, LP/15-ips tape (one reel), IEC EQ, (also available as digital download), Price: $499

Liber Tango is a killer recording in either analog format. This Blumlein miked recording using a single Neuman stereo SM 69 tube microphone feeding a Nagra IVs tape machine features the Trio de Curda performing nine compositions (eight on LP with the track "Pedacito de Cielo" omitted) from famed Argentinian tango master, composer, arranger and musician Astor Piazzola. The trio covers many familiar Piazzola pieces including the cover title "Libertango" (meaning liberty and tango in Spanish) that heralded Piazzolla's break from classical to tango nuevo and its jazz and classical elements, "Adios Nonino," a piece written by him to honor his father's passing and the readily identifiable "Chocio." This recording is extremely natural sounding and replete with effortless dynamics and detailed low frequencies. The airiness surrounding the cello and bass on the tape is something special! It's like the trio are performing in your room. Highest recommendation!

Suzanne Vega, Songs and Stories of New York. Suzanne Vega (vocals/electric guitar), Gerry Leonard (electric and acoustic guitar/background vocals), Jamie Edwards (grand piano,/keyboards/background vocals, Jeffrey Allen (acoustic double bass), Gerry Leonard (producer), Fernando Ladeiro (engineer), Horch House, 15-ips tape (two reels), IEC EQ, Price: $549

Does Songs and Stories of New York belong in the new or reissued music category? I decided that given its recent roots and never having been released in analog to place it in the new release category. Songs and Stories of New York is—as are all Horch House releases—executed to the tee beginning with the packaging, reels, information, inserts, pictures and last but not least the sound.

Californian born and New York bred singer Suzanne Vega gives tribute to her New York roots with this live recording and collection of her favorite songs recorded at the Café Carlyle in New York in 2019. Vega covers fan favorites such as "Marlene on a Wall, Ludlow Street, Luka, Pornographers Dream and Tom's Diner" on this two reel set. As an aside. I ate a few times during my Columbia University days at Tom's Diner–both Vega and I were both there at roughly the same time—and the Tom's wasn't what was described in her songs. It was a pretty run down, upper west side dive diner. The sound on Songs and Stories of New York is far better than expected with Vega's voice being extremely cleanly recorded and her backup band spread out across the soundstage. The recording is fairly dynamic too!

Reissues

15-ips reel-to-reel tape

Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, Saturday Night In San Francisco. Al DiMeola (producer), Horch House, 15-ips tape (two reels), IEC EQ, 1979, Price: $549

Horch House's Saturday Night In San Francisco is the reel deal, all analog version of the original recording. Free of all those ones zeros and ones and sadly leaves the Impex digital LP release in the dust.

Friday Night in San Francisco is a long time reference recording and never sounded better than played back through MBL 101As. These omnidirectional speakers really captured the machine gun rapidity of McLaughlin, De Lucia and Di Meola's playing as well as the expansive yet enveloping atmosphere. The electricity in the audience makes your hair stand up!

Enter the follow up night Saturday Night in San Francisco with the same trio of guitarists. Reel A begins with all three playing together, then McLaughlin, Di Meola and De Lucia performing solo and playing their own compositions on the next three tracks. Reel B begins again with the trio performing De Lucia's composition "El Parfuelo, followed by McLaughlin's "Meeting of the Spirits" and wrapping up with Luiz Bonfa's "Orpheo Negro." The sound of Saturday Night in San Francisco is defined by its live and lively sound, audience participation, huge and immersive soundstage, mouth watering midrange tone, incredible low level resolution and explosive dynamics.

Yello, Stella. Boris Blank (vocals/synthesizer), Dieter Meier (lyrics and vocals), Yello and Ian Tregoning (producers), Tom Thiel (engineer), Horch House, 15-ips tape (two reels), IEC EQ, 1985, Price: $749

Stella is the first of five, all analog, Horch House Yello recordings (the next two releases now available are One Second and Resonance) on tape. This tape is also a second generation copy of the original master tape that's in no small way responsible for the tape's amazing sonics! Stella was the group's fourth studio album and first breakthrough album headlined by the monster hit "Oh Yeah." Sonically Stella is a massive, enveloping kaleidoscope of kick ass dynamic sounds emanating from every part of the soundstage. I've played this tape for several visiting audiophiles/Yello fans and not one walked away disappointed.

LPs

Yes, The Yes Album. Jon Anderson (vocals/percussion), Chris Squire (bass guitar/vocals), Steve Howe (electric and acoustic guitars/vocals/vachalia), Tony Kaye (piano/organ/moog), Bill Bruford (drums/percussion), Yes and Eddie Offord (producers), Eddie Offord (recording engineer), Analogue Productions/Atlantic 75 series, 45 RPM, 1973.

Acoustic Sounds' Atlantic 75 series has been a trip down memory lane with releases from Genesis, Phil Collins, Bad Company, CSN, Dr. John and many more. This year's standout release—one that could have just as happily received an UHQR as Atlantic 75 series treatment—was Yes's The Yes Album. This prog rock group's third release featured the addition of Steve Howe on guitar as well as the final appearance of keyboardist Tony Kaye for quite some time on a Yes recording. Howe made the most of his Yes debut with his guitar playing especially on the track "Clap." The Yes album featured all original material from the group and the album is defined by the songs "Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper (inspired by the Heinlein novel), I've Seen All Good People and Perpetual Change." The sound of this Atlantic 75 reissue is top notch with the guitar work of Howe and Squire really brought to the fore. The soundstage just opens up and it's like you are at a Yes concert. Moreso, unlike many rock recordings there's plenty of foundation to the music.

Shelly Manne and His Men at the Blackhawk, Vol. 1. Shelly Manne (drums), Joe Gordon (trumpet), Richie Kamuca (tenor sax), Victor Feldman (piano), Monty Budwig (bass), Lester Koenig (producer), Roy DuNann (engineer), Analogue Productions/Contemporary series, 1959.

1959 was a great year for jazz recordings and Shelly Manne and His Men at the Blackhawk, Vol. 1 is just one notable example. Volume 1 (the first in a series of four releases by Contemporary Records) contains material derived from Manne's band's three night stand at the Blackhawk. There's something special about the best of live jazz recordings and Roy DuNann captures the essence of the sound of the club. As Richard Cook and Brian Morton wrote in The Penguin Guide to Jazz, "One of the finest and swingiest mainstream recordings ever made. Highlights here include the opening track "Summertime" with its ballad-like presentation and smooth, somewhat understated performance.

Art Farmer,  Portrait of Art Farmer. Art Farmer (trumpet), Addison Farmer (bass), Hank Jones (piano), Roy Haynes (drums), Roy DuNann (engineer), Bernie Grundman (remastering), Craft/Contemporary Records, 1958.

1958 wasn't too shabby a year in jazz recordings either. There were just so many great trumpet players in this era and I always felt that Art Farmer never got his just due. Farmer's first recording for Contemporary features a mix of original compositions and some standards. My favorite is here is the Benny Golson tune "Stablemates" with Farmers with rich, smooth tone and phrasing in full display. About the only downside is will here that dual mono-ish presentation so typical of early stereo jazz recordings. Presentation-wise, Portrait of Art Farmer reminds me so much of Rudy van Gelder's recording of Ike Quebec's Soul Samba. The reissue also has much better low level resolution, tone, palpability and low end energy over the earlier, somewhat drier sounding OJC reissue.

Juan C. Ayllon

The year, 2024, has been one of rejuvenated interest in vinyl for me, and the following products have facilitated that resurgence with great aplomb, earning them my nomination for this year's Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards.

Pass Labs X150.8 Stereo Amplifier $7150

In 2021, I reviewed the Pass Labs' X250.8 Stereo Amplifier and came away very impressed with its balanced combination of power, warmth, and finesse (you can read that HERE). However, at $10,000, it was pricier than I'd like and it was a bit too large for my wife's aesthetic sensibilities. Hence, I requested the Pass Labs X150.8, their entry-level class A/B stereo amplifier, which was a little smaller but offered many of the attributes of its larger siblings. Since then, other Pass Labs electronics have teamed-up with it to produce great synergy: the Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier, XP-17 Phonostage, and their HPA-1 Headphone Amplifier.

The X150.8 Boasts 150 watts per channel at eight ohms and double that going into a four-ohm load, as well as a 100k ohm input impedance, it remains in Class A operation a great deal of the time and delivers a similar beefy-but-refined delivery to the X250.8. And in doing so, it handled everything thrown at it and has remained the foundation of my reference system for testing equipment, media, and services, as well as enjoying leisurely vinyl and digital playback and HD viewing over the last four years. For its meritorious performance, it has more than earned its stripes, as the reader shall soon see in an upcoming review.

Quadratic Audio Moving Cartridge Transformer $1795

The Quadratic Audio MC-1 Moving Coil Transformer does what it was intended to do—amplify the minute signals of moving coil phono cartridges, adding life and dynamics while suppressing interference and noise and magnifying the details. It's an attractive, well-thought-out precision instrument—one that's passive and uses a custom proprietary transformer designed as a collaboration between CineMag and Quadratic Audio. And in tandem with redundant shielding, it does so triumphantly! This is especially important when you have less-than-ideal electronic noise conditions—as with the close proximity of the breaker panel to my audio equipment, for example. Moreover, with its magnificently straightforward minimalist, form-follows-function good looks, it helps keep the Bauhaus spirit alive going forward in the 21st Century.

For its excellence in elevating my vinyl listening experience, I awarded it the Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards and purchased my review sample!

Read more HERE

Audio Creative GrooveMaster 3 Tonearm $2598

The Audio Creative GrooveMaster 3 tonearm came with a well-earned reputation for excellence for the money, and it left no doubt that inserting it in place of my stock tonearm was an excellent upgrade. Like switching from a bulky mountain bike to a svelte racing bicycle for a street rally—or loudspeakers using a pair of fast eight-inch drivers instead of a single 15" woofer—the GrooveMaster was fleeter and more nimble, making a noticeable improvement in responsiveness, sensitivity, and detail. It's a beautiful instrument, a versatile, universal tonearm suited for a wide variety of turntables, and one that I loved so much that I purchased the review sample. Hence, I highly recommend it and am nominating it for the Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Award!

Jeff Day

The Writers' Choice Awards are always a special time of year in that I'm able to reflect back on the year and tell you about the crème de la crème audio components that I've had the pleasure of listening to and writing about for you here at Positive Feedback.

Audio Note Tomei 211 SET Integrated Amplifier $59,587

In Positive Feedback Issue 133 I had the good pleasure to tell you about my listening adventures with the Audio Note (UK) Tomei 211 SET integrated amplifier powering my Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers to previously unheard levels of performance.

The "Level Four" Tomei was simply the most stunning amplifier I have ever listened to in my home, and I was at a loss for words to come up with enough superlatives to do justice to every aspect of its performance.

The Tomei's performance went well beyond the usual high-fidelity attributes of musicality and visuospatial sound quality, and deeper into the realm of conveying the emotional impact of the artists intent for their music than any amplifier before it, and giving me profound insights into the fabric of the recording arts for every album I listened to.

Read more HERE

Audio Note M6 RIAA Phono Preamplifier $23,383

In Positive Feedback Issue 133 I also told you about my listening adventures with the impressive "Level Three" Audio Note (UK) M3 RIAA phono preamplifier. The M3 would have been featured here on the podium of my three allowed choices for the 2024 Writers' Choice Awards had it not been for the arrival of the "Level Four" Audio Note (UK) M6 RIAA phono preamplifier, which I wrote about for you in Issue 135.

Like its "Level Four" sibling, the Tomei 211 SET integrated amplifier, the M6 RIAA phono preamplifier offered such an exalted level of performance that I had lust bumps of desire popping up all over my body after hearing the M6's siren call during listening adventures. Simply extraordinary!

The M6 RIAA offered gorgeous tonality, an information rich presentation, live-like dynamic gradations, with more dramatic presence, realism, and authority in the playback of music than any phono preamplifier I've encountered.

Granted, both the Tomei 211 SET integrated amplifier and M6 RIAA phono preamplifier are expensive state-of-art audio components, so one expects such lofty levels of performance from them, but I can tell you that if you've got the scratch, these are your catch—most highly recommended!

Read more HERE

Acoustic Revive RHS-1 Headshell $592

In Issue 134 I wrote my fifteenth installment of the Acoustic Revive Chronicles, where I told you about my listening adventures with Ken Ishiguro's RTS-30 turntable mat, RHS-1 headshell, RHR-21 Helmholtz resonator, CS-3K outlet stabilizer, RCI-3HK cable lifts, and RGC-24K ground conditioner.

To narrow down my choice for this year's award, I eliminated the CS-3K outlet stabilizer, RCI-3HK cable lifts, and RGC-24K ground conditioner, which are easily recommendable refinements of earlier reviewed accessories.

That left essentially a three-way tie for the new RTS-30 turntable mat, RHS-1 headshell, and RHR-21 Helmholtz resonators. They are all so good at what they do it was hard to pick just one as a winner, so I decided the winner by heads or tails coin flips. My first flip was between RTS-30 turntable mat and the RHS-1 headshell—the RHS-1 headshell won! The second flip was between the RHS-1 headshell and the RTS-30 turntable mat—the RHS-1 headshell won again! Fate ruled!

All silliness aside, the RHS-1 headshell is one impressive work of audio art that sounds as good as it looks. The headshell body is a combination of hickory, mahogany, and rosewood. The finger rest is made of non-magnetic brass, the headshell leads are a single-wire hybrid forged conductor of 5N silver and 5N copper, and the RHS-1 is fitted with a custom SME 4-pin connector with pins made of a silver-copper alloy that have enhanced conductivity over the usual SME connector brass pins.

Read more HERE

Tom Gibbs

Audio Art Cables (see links in review for individual cable prices)

When Audio Art Cable replaced the interconnect, speaker, and digital source cables in my dual audio systems, I started a journey of serious discovery on a topic I honestly didn't know I was mostly oblivious to. I didn't realize what I was missing until I made the switch to Audio Art Cables, and I suddenly heard everything. I'd always thought well-constructed cables were enough, but that's obviously only part of the equation. And after having experienced Audio Art Cables with their exotic materials and precious metal terminations, I've seen the light. Don't be fooled by their jewel-like appearance; they're exceptionally well made, and the benefits provided by their proprietary cryogenic treatment process are definitely the icing. I now feel like I'm actually hearing my music for the very first time with the kind of power, authority, clarity, and musicality I expected it to have. I want to thank Audio Art Cables' Rob Fritz for the brilliance of his designs, for his patience and consideration, his willingness to accommodate my needs, and especially for not being one of those "Yippee-Ki-Yay Cowboy!" guys I seemed to encounter on every corner at the outset of this adventure.

The transformation of my analog and digital systems has been quite nearly mind-blowing, and both now perform at peak levels I'd never have previously dreamed possible. Are Audio Art Cables a good value for the money? Yes, absolutely! When you consider that the roughly $4500 in cables Rob Fritz provided me with accounts for approximately 7 percent of my total system value, that puts their cost into perspective. And especially when you take into consideration the massive improvements in system synergy; only now are my system components able to convey the full measure of audio goodness that's been hiding inside them, muddled by inferior cables for years. Audio Art Cables are the real deal, and come very highly recommended!

Read more HERE

Akiko Audio Speaker Improver $1070 a pair

From the get go, the Loudspeaker Improvers made their presence known in no uncertain terms. The music emerged from my ACA Seraphim Skogrand Edition speakers from a background that was much quieter than before. It was a pretty eerie feeling that took some getting used to!

In my 36 years of reviewing audiophile gear, I can, hand on heart, state that the Loudspeaker Improver is one of the most cost-effective tweaks I have encountered in the $1000 price range. If your audiophile system cost you over $7000 and are looking for frugal ways to improve its performance with a $1000 budget, you will be hard pressed to find a tweak than delivers better bang for your buck than the Loudspeaker Improver.

Read more HERE

Bruce Kinch

Swiss Digital Fuse Box from $495 and Graphene Sluggo $199

I stumbled onto this gizmo because I had a source component that blew pricey audiophile fuses every time power was restored after an outage. The SDFB uses a micro-processor that trips whenever a conventional fuse would blow, but will reset after the problem is resolved. Basically, an audiophile-grade dedicated circuit breaker. And although we still get random outages, it has worked flawlessly.

But the SDFB system also replaces the resistive fuse (cheap generic or audiophile) with a small solid metal bar called a Sluggo. Because it has essentially zero impedance, the component's power supply "sees" the power cord feed unimpeded for the first time. Which means you hear the actual "sound" of the AC cord, the component, and everything else down the line for the first time. Systems vary, but the benefits to soundstage, dynamics, and resolution can far exceed changes from swapping cables or audiophile fuses. Further fun comes from fine tuning the system with Sluggos of different metals-they sound slightly different. The effects are additive, and as both my amps share the same fuse type, getting a second SDFB was a no brainer. The retail price has risen to $495, including your choice of copper, brass, or gold infused copper Sluggos; upgrade rhodium or graphene coated are $199. The only caveat I have is that the audible benefits of the SDFBs induced a flurry of unanticipated cable upgrades that cost me far more than the Fuse Boxes.

Read more HERE

Cambridge Audio MXN10 Digital Audio Streamer $499

My next tip of the hat this year is to the Cambridge Audio MXN10 digital audio streamer. Far exceeding my expectations, particularly for the $499 asking price, the MXN10 handily outperforms most contemporaries in this price class. With software the is fairly simple to use, and is included without a subscription, the Cambridge easily supports Qobuz, Tidal, and many other streaming services.

While usable as a WiFi device, it excels once on ethernet, rivaling units several times its cost. The compact size, and build quality also make this unique, not being a plastic box, while still being a "Kallax-friendly" size.

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Gary Lea

SAE HP2-D Amplifier and MK One Preamplifier $16,000

SAE 2HP D Dual Mono Amplifier $24,000

My pick for this past year is for a mated pair of components. The incredible SAE HP2-D amp and MK One Pre-amp were reviewed together and certainly should stay that way because they make wonderful and powerful music with massive air and space around the musicians plus a depth and breadth of soundstage I wasn't quite expecting.

The HP2-D is a complete and true twin mono amplifiers in one chassis and puts out 700 watts per channel. The power gives you so much room to move and you never run out of headroom.

It has one of the most useful screen displays I have seen on any component. Large, bright and with incredible definition you can easily read. The MK2 preamp is a joy to work with and provides plenty of options for inputs. There are four RCA SE inputs and four Balanced inputs. Both RCA and Balanced outputs. (The amp requires balanced inputs) and was a breeze to operate neither adding anything or removing anything the the chain.

Both are my picks for 2024 because the create an incredible live event with incredible dynamics at a price that is considerably outweighed by what you get.

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Steve Lefkowicz

My choices for a Writers' Choice Award for 2024, as they always have been every other year, were based on my three point criteria regarding a mix of overall quality, usability within my personal view of system setup, and overall value or affordability. Having said that, one needs to understand that my picks are based on my experiences in my system, and if your system differs substantially you might not find them so appealing should you try them in your system. That is the nature of high end audio and why there are so many choices at so many different price points. However, when I offer up a pick for one of these awards I sincerely mean what I write about them, and my enthusiasm for them is genuine. Of course you can see what my system consists of by clicking on my name at the top of any of my reviews or articles.

So keeping that in mind, here are my picks for this year.

ampsandsound Kenzie Integrated Amplifier $2900

What can I say? I found the diminutive one-watt-per-channel Kenzie Integrated SET headphone / speaker amp to be the most enjoyable amp I've tried with my current speakers, the Tekton Design Perfect SET 15. Granted, the speakers are highly efficient and designed for use with low powered single ended tube amps, but still I found it hard to believe just how dynamic, powerful and tuneful this amplifier was in real life day to day use. This amp possessed tonal beauty that made long listening session a delight. In spite of the low power rating, to the lower limits of my speaker's capabilities (low 30 Hz range in room) produced weight, power and a tactile sense that even the more powerful amplifiers I tried with them couldn't match. The noise floor was extremely low, a consistent trait of Justin Weber's designs, that allowed for running the volume pot all the way up so I could control volume via my Khozmo passive preamp.

As a headphone amp it sounded wonderful with my Meze 99 Classic headphones, bettering my Burson Conductor Virtuoso and Schiit Valhalla by a substantial amount. Since the Kenzie Integrated gives up the "High Z" headphone jack of the regular Kenzie headphone amp (for headphones greater than 250 ohm) it didn't fare as well with my longtime favorite 600-ohm Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro. However, my time with the original Kenzie and the Beyers proved that was one of the best amps I've ever used with those headphones. Tradeoffs need to be made.

Factor in that only three tunes are used, and the 1626 Triode Tubes are plentiful and inexpensive. Tube rolling various 12AT7, 5751, or 12AX7 (only one is used) can change the sound to suit your preferences. I settled on new stock JJ ECC803s (Long Plate 12AX7). To increase gain for use with the passive preamp.

This amp would likely mate up well with many high efficiency (98dB or greater) 8-ohm or higher speakers, be they ported, horn (front or rear loaded) or other high efficiency designs.

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iFi Zen Phono 3 $249

Still working on the review of this, so this award is a bit of a spoiler. I've owned iFi phono stages for several years, starting with their original Micro iPhono followed by the upgraded Micro iPhono 2. I reviewed and loved the Micro iPhono 3. The Zen line is iFi's lower cost line but has garnered an excellent reputation. At just $249, the Zen Phono 3 is a quarter of the price the Micro iPhono 3.

I mostly avoid really low cost phono preamps for use with low output moving coil cartridges and feel that they are generally better suited to moving magnet or high output MCs. But the Zen Phono 3 has proven to be one that certainly has the goods to handle low output cartridges properly. A front panel push button allows setting MC loading on the fly (100, 400, or 1K ohm) while also offering 47Kohm for MM cartridges or if you choose to use a step up transformer with your low output MC. There is an easily accessible four position switch on the back for setting gain (36, 48, 60 or 72 dB). They also claim an extremely low -151dBV noise floor, and though I didn't measure to verify, it certainly has vanishingly low noise. It also offers an "Intelligent subsonic filter" that claims to eliminate subsonic signals without effecting deep bass.

Used with my Dynavector 10x5 Mk. II Low Output MC cartridge mounted on my Linn LP12's Ittok arm, I found the sound to rival and possibly surpass the Micro iPhono 2 I currently use. Midrange neutrality, extended, smooth higher frequencies are a good start. There was no loss of dynamic expressiveness as I've heard from some other lower cost phono preamps. Bass has been deep, powerful, tactile and tuneful. Plus, having all the connections on the back make it easier to install on an audio rack, unlike the Micro iPhono models that have inputs and outputs on opposite sides.

Again, these are preliminary observations having listened to maybe twenty or thirty LPs with it so far, but the sound hasn't changed since it warmed up (I leave it on all time) and I am certainly very impressed.

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Robert H. Levi

Zesto Andros Spirit Phono Preamplifier $3997 MC/MM

The Zesto Andros Spirit Phono Preamplifier is the only all-tube phonostage that offers loading flexibility useful for vinyl-playing audiophiles and music lovers and is available in this price range. Loaded with trickle-down technology from tube circuit designer and genius George Counnas, it produces the lively, richly textured musicality close to his much more expensive phono stages with his signature incredibly quiet background. It comes in two flavors; one for moving magnet cartridges and one for both MM and MC varieties. You may upgrade the MM version to MM/MC at a later date at the factory.

Its steel chassis, tube-lit glass window, and easy to understand controls are a joy to use. I compared it with tube units double the cost and was stunned how the Andros Spirit felt cut from the same sonic cloth and competed so well. Solid state phono stages in this price category may have lots of definition but sound less musically authentic and mechanical compared to the Spirit. With outstanding musical high definition, the Zesto Andros Spirit Phono Preamplifier is a truly cost-effective gift you may utilize in the most sophisticated audiophile systems. It easily qualifies for the Reviewers Choice Award.

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Unique Innovation Technology (UIT) Perfect Music Booster Power Cable $1800 for 1.5-meters

UITaudio.com under the direction of the brilliant Mitch Ko has once again broken the sound barrier. I have a boatload of power cords from many manufacturers with many on-board features. One actually costs $9000. Some offer advantages in various musical parameters such as enhanced bass, more definition, wider soundstage, or blacker background. Some emulate power conditioners reducing overall distortion, lowering EMI and RFI, and increasing depth perspective and recording venues' characteristics. All of these have one thing in common. You never know what the PC will do until you put it in the system!

The UIT Perfect Music Booster Power Cable has multiple layers of different thicknesses of purest copper wire all silver clad. The connectors are very sturdy and will not detach. The secret sauce is in the new active module that performs like a cost-is-no-object power conditioner. Consequently, it dramatically improves most all audio gear deserving a power cord costing $1800 for 1.5 meters. I say most because I found one out of eight components that was designed around the power cord I was already using that did not improve. However, the other seven components including solid-state, and tube, integrated amplifiers, phonostages, amplifiers, preamps, and DACs improved in every way. It did not matter if The PMB Power Cable was plugged into the wall or my $8000 power conditioner. The PMB Power Cable dramatically improved (no joke) overall definition, quiet, impact, soundstage presentation, and imaging. The improvement was not ever subtle. We live in a time with robotic surgery, cars that are just computers on wheels, rockets landing themselves, etc. Why not a power cord that actually improves the performance of your audio system regardless of what components you own. Return them to UITaudio if not satisfied, no problem or question. I use six of them in two systems and am eternally grateful to UITaudio. Therefore, Unique Innovation Technology (UIT) and the Perfect Music Booster Power Cable clearly deserves the Reviewers Choice Award.

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Audeze CRBN2 Electrostatic Headphones $5995

I love extremely high definition headphones and have always loved electrostatics. There is a problem, however. They have been musically two dimensional and do a poor job of throwing a soundstage. They are never used in producing music and have had a rather narrow appeal compared to dynamic or planar cans. They are lacking deep bass while the high definition they do produce is thin and a bit plastic in character depending on your energizer. 95% of these issues are fixed with the Audeze CRBN2 Electrostatic Headphones. The original CRBN got us 50% of the way there, eclipsing most STAX designs. The CRBN2 is an unbridled success! With Audeze's patent pending SLAM technology fixing the bass and their new nano technology doing the rest of the work, the new CRBN2 is a killer design and solid as any dynamic cans ever made.

The award winning Dr. Drag Colich has really shown his brilliance in improving a very good effort to a world class effort. The CRBN2 is efficient and will run on any energizer ever made with the PRO output. It will even work well on the new portable STAX energizer for on the go electrostatic listening. The sonics with my reference energizer are extraordinary. The CRBN2 provides a unique ear lobe to ear lobe curved soundstage right in front of you with a row M perspective. It presents awesome imaging with hall perspective superior to my Marten Speakers. Bass is outstanding with Also Sprach Zarathustra or the double bass in classic jazz recordings coming to life. Plus, they will upgrade your older CRBN to CRBN2 for $995 for the next 3 months to protect your investment. The Audeze CRBN2 Electrostatic Headphones clearly deserve the Writers' Choice Award.

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Grado Labs Signature HP100 SE Headphones $2495

Currently in for review but shockingly good enough to merit a Writers' Choice Award, these are a big leap forward for Grado Labs. The brainchild of Richard Grado, brother of John Grado, they are designed to meet his tastes and specifications to both honor his uncle Joseph Grado's 100th Birthday as well as catapult Grado Headphones into the cutting edge of headphone design. Big, big changes include detachable multipin cables, all-aluminum housing with no wood to be found, improved headband, and bullet-proof mounting hardware. A giant new 52mm driver runs full range and the impedance is still an efficient 38 ohms. They are a bit heavier than previous Grado cans though really not noticable. Go to the Grado Labs website for more cool details and specs.

The Grado HP 100 SE Headphones sound alive. Definition is off the chart. With the stock cables, they are slightly lean but oh-so-dynamic. Bass is earth-shatteringly deep and layered. The mid-band is a sonic picture as if you were monitoring the performance in the studio. The high-band is extended, open, and beautifully neutral. Colorations typical with wood housing are gone with the wind. I then changed the supplied cables to the extraordinary UITaudio.com PMP 635 LCD Purifier Cable, $500, my reference wire, and it was "toad's wild ride." Everything improved. I heard smoother highs, fuller everything else. The HP 100 SE headphones took to the UITaudio cables yielding reference quality production in every way. I also tried Lavri Cables all silver design with benefits in the high-band. The key here is you have the opportunity to try different cables and probably improve performance as you like it.

My reference headphone amp is the all-tube Paravicini EAR HP-4. I will use other units in my full review. I almost forgot, I briefly tried HP 100 SE "balanced" into the Manley Absolute Headphone Amp and they performed to an even higher level in the mid-band. I certainly recommend them balanced if that is your cup of tea. Richard, the new Grado Signature HP 100 SE are killer cans and worthy of the Grado Labs brand. They merit the Writers' Choice Award from day one to my ears.

Dean Seislove

Keces Audio eBravo Streamer Transport $599

Keces Audio S4 Stereo Preamplifier $3800 and S300+ Stereo Power Amplifier $3499

Back in the day when vanity was a flaw, and well before self-absorption became embedded in our national character, I read magazines that told me how to dress. I went to shops and ogled foreign clothes under the ever-present guidance of smooth-talking salespeople who sold me expensive suits that I really could not afford. I had lost weight and gotten into shape (both accomplishments now exist in memory only), and the fashion world felt like thrilling avenue for luxury and sensory enjoyment. In contrast to the department store jeans, shoes, and t-shirts that I wore (and continue) to wear, these eye-catching tools for exquisite narcissism proved to be an irresistible pursuit (but nothing like high end audio, naturally). Anyway, around this time, a friend with connections gave me an exceedingly early production Jerry Garcia tie. I embraced it as cool, silky embodiment of counter-couture. But try as I might, I could never wear it or get rid of it. In contrast, I wore my Joseph Aboud suits for years. All of a piece ensembles endure for reason. Finally, I gave up and put the tie away in a box somewhere. I know longer care about Italian shoes or English wool sweaters, but I have a similar, but much larger, box for audio components. The old lesson rings true that, when we build our audio systems, matching components work best, and single products must be carefully vetted to ensure compatibility.

My Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Award for 2024 would not be a Jerry Garcia tie in anyone's audio collection. The Keces Audio eBravo Streamer Transport is a solution to a problem we often have but do nothing about. Computer noise. Who does not suspect that one's Mac or PC is too distracted with other duties to be a proper music source? My experience with the eBravo Streamer Transport is that it makes a readily observable improvement in sound quality. Moreover, the eBravo offers useful functionality and plenty of options. I experienced uniformly positive results when inserting the eBravo in a variety of systems. The ease of use and excellent workmanship produced a noticeable upgrade over using a desktop or laptop for streaming or playing digital files. The practicality and improvement in a system make the eBravo an easy choice for this year's award.

Truth be told; however, I could have also tabbed for honors the Keces Audio S4 Stereo Preamplifier or the S300+ Stereo Power Amplifier. Each one of these products sounds the business, and they both embody Keces Audio's attractive styling, sensible engineering, and (based on Euro prices, a U.S.A. distributor is still being selected) very competitive pricing. The sound for each is just right to my ears (solidly neutral for the preamp and amplifier, a little warmer and forgiving for the streamer). You can't go wrong with any one of them (especially for the money) but having the three together is worth anyone's consideration. All the whys and wherefores are set out in previous columns. I would reiterate them here (if my brain didn't load and scatter details like Pachinko balls), but you get the idea. The Keces Audio products are winners, and the eBravo is a deal.

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Patricia Barber, Companion (45 RPM 1STEP - IMPEX Records)

I feel a special connection with all of the Patricia Barber albums. As a native Chicagoan, I had many opportunities to see her perform at the Green Mill, a fairly small and intimate venue, where she and her band often took resident as a home-base for several years. Companion is virtually a live documentation of those concerts with a wonderful mixture of her own songs and several standards. Patricia Barber's recordings are known for both superb musicianship and excellent sound quality. Both are as good as it gets on this new reissue.

We have some of the best in the industry involved with this 2-LP 45 RPM 1STEP. Multi-award winning engineer Jim Anderson recorded and mixed the original digital recording on site. Multi-award winner Bernie Grundman took the handoff and provided the mastering, and cut the lacquers at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Supervised by Bryce Wilson and Andy Webb, RTI then pressed the LPs on VR900 Supreme vinyl utilizing the RTI 1STEP process. Kudos to Abbey Fonn and designer Robert Sliger at IMPEX. Once again they have outdone themselves with an impressive level of packaging and presentation. We have a textured sky blue slip case with white foil lettering, a heavy weight glossy "Monster Pack" trifold outer jacket from Stoughton Printing, and a deluxe 16 page booklet with concert photos by Valerie Booth.

I have the original 33 RPM pressing from Premonition Records (released in 1999), and the Mofi 45 RPM reissue (released in 2005). Both are superb pressings and are going for big bucks on Discogs. This 1STEP sets a new standard. As you are emotionally grabbed by the quality of the music and the performance, many of the instruments can be almost physically startling as they seem to explode out of a deep black background on certain tracks. There are multiple layers of inner detail and a significant amount of both micro and macro dynamics that I never realized was there before. IMPEX continues to truly deliver some of the best sounding vinyl in the industry!

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Valve Amplification Company (VAC) Renaissance SE Phono Stage $14,000

Over the last few years, I have been on a determined mission to find a standalone phono stage for my system. I have been experimenting with both solid state and tube phono stages at several different price points. I have posted a few reviews, but not for everything that has entered my listening room. There were several outstanding contenders, but one quickly found its way to the top and made quite an impression. Early in the process, Kevin Hayes, chief designer and proprietor at VAC, shared with me that the performance of the VAC Renaissance SE ($14,000) was profoundly if not amazingly approaching the signature of his flagship Statement phono stage ($80,000). When Kevin speaks, I listen. Before long, I soon sat mesmerized as a new benchmark for my listening room was quickly realized.

Principal amplification is provided by six twin triode tube stages supported by six 12AX7 tubes that are tested and then specifically selected for proper voicing. The SE also features many of the same exotic resistors and capacitors found in the Statement, which again elevates the performance of the SE significantly. Dual mono rectification, filtering, decoupling, and energy storage is supported by an external power supply—a key component that differentiates the SE and its performance from many other players at this price point. Three pairs of balanced inputs and three pairs of single ended inputs are provided. One pair of balanced and one pair of singled ended outputs are also provided. Gain setting options are selectable at 44 dB for MM cartridges, and 62 or 68 dB for MC cartridges. MC load impedance options are selectable at 470, 300, 250, 200, 150, and 100 ohms.

As I have heard Michael Fremer of The Absolute Sound (TAS) state on several occasions (paraphrased), you have never experienced the ultimate potential and performance of a phono stage design until you have heard it with a properly designed external power supply! When adding the SE with its included external power supply to my system, the result was immediate and quite impactful. Bass and mid frequencies now had additional weight and clarity, but there was also a new found sense of essential harmonics and texture. Like all of the VAC products that I have auditioned, the highs via the SE were simply glorious. Tubes just seem to get this right, especially when it comes to violin, acoustic guitar and even the higher more pronounced frequencies of the woodwinds. There is just a natural tone and timbre at all frequencies that can be very musical and addictive. The VAC Renaissance SE continues to amaze me during every listening opportunity. Build quality, functionality, aesthetics, performance—the Renaissance SE has it all in spades!

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John Zurek

IsoAcoustics GAIA III Speaker Isolators $199 Per Set Of Four

I was skeptical before actually listening to the GAIA III Speaker isolators. Most audio companies—especially those who make accessories or tweaks—publish a list of improvements that are designed to get you to buy said product. OK, fair enough, you've got to toot your own horn to stay in business. But, in my experience you're lucky if half those are audible. So, I was unconvinced when I read the IsoAcoustic GAIA III Speaker Isolators would provide the following:

Tighter bass
Improved soundstage
Greater sound clarity and openness

Provides a three-dimensional image of natural spatial sound After extended listening I found that each of those claimed improvements were clearly audible. I would be surprised if anyone would disagree. In fact, the GAIAs surpassed (at least in my room) those four improvements. I also heard a heightened vibrancy to the performance, with more distinct attack and a relaxed decay that make vocals and instruments sound more relaxed and genuine. Everything came across much more refined, removing detail smear, enabling the speakers to disappear even more than they did before. The GAIA IIIs provided an altogether more engaging musical experience.

After living with the GAIAs for many months now, I realized that they were a true system upgrade worthy of an award. I've listened to separate speaker, amplifier, preamp, and source upgrades that did not deliver as much performance as these isolators. More importantly, these isolators from IsoAcoustics will likely cost you a lot less than most hardware upgrades. I'd be surprised if many customers took advantage of the 30-day return policy.

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