Gary L Beard, Author at Positive Feedback

The PureAudioProject Duet 15 Prelude Loudspeakers

Gary L Beard — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:18:29 +0000

Unless you have been living under a turntable weight, you are likely aware of PureAudioProject. Founded in 2013 by Ze'ev Schlik, the collaborative PureAudioProject (PAP) offers a line of highly regarded modular open baffle loudspeakers using interchangeable upgradable frame structures, drivers, and crossovers. In addition to the modular speakers, PAP has expanded its product line,... Read More »

The post The PureAudioProject Duet 15 Prelude Loudspeakers appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Volti Audio Razz Loudspeaker

Gary L Beard — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 21:08:44 +0000

In 2018, Volti Audio's Greg Roberts offered me the opportunity to review his wonderful Rival Loudspeakers (HERE) I'd never heard a horn speaker in my home, and the Rival was somewhat of a dynamic revelation. Like the Rival, the new Volti Audio Razz is also a hybrid horn / bass reflex loudspeaker, designed by Mr.... Read More »

The post The Volti Audio Razz Loudspeaker appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Quicky: Block Audio's New C-Lock Power Connection Guard

Gary L Beard — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 20:17:15 +0000

(Tw)eek! It’s a Useful Product: The Block Audio C-Lock! Block audio is new to me, but if websites are worth a thousand words, then this audio manufacturer from the Czech Republic is well worth getting to know. Perhaps someday I'll be writing about one of Block's active components, but today, I'm writing about a new... Read More »

The post Quicky: Block Audio's New C-Lock Power Connection Guard appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The LampizatOr Altlantic TRP DAC: No Rolling Necessary!

Gary L Beard — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 20:49:25 +0000

Late last year, LampizatOr North America's Fred Ainsley generously offered me an opportunity to review the new Atlantic TRP DAC. Even though the review time frame was shorter than I'd hoped for, I've wanted to hear a LampizatOr DAC at home for a long time, so I jumped at the chance to do it. Introduced... Read More »

The post The LampizatOr Altlantic TRP DAC: No Rolling Necessary! appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Pass Labs INT-25 Integrated Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 19:20:09 +0000

The Road Goes On Forever... A long time ago, a wise old soul told me that if folks work hard and save their pennies, they can likely afford to pursue a single spend-iferous hobby during an otherwise humdrum human existence...And although I doubt the veracity of that anecdote, I get where he was going with... Read More »

The post The Pass Labs INT-25 Integrated Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Linear Tube Audio's Microzotl Preamplifier and ZOTL40 Reference Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 18:38:05 +0000

Prologue: A Berning Desire Many years ago, I purchased a boxy little bespoke headphone amp for my Sennheiser HD600's called a MicroZOTL. Built by a mysterious mid-Atlantic, not-so-mad audio scientist by the name of David Berning, the MicroZOTL was a mighty tiny wonder. I loved it so much I had physicist / audio manufacturer Berning... Read More »

The post Linear Tube Audio's Microzotl Preamplifier and ZOTL40 Reference Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Daedalus Audio's Muse Studio Loudspeaker

Gary L Beard — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 18:58:20 +0000

The Muse Studio is an upgraded version of Daedalus Audio's lowest priced loudspeaker, the Muse. Both Muse speakers were designed for listeners with smaller rooms, perhaps just like mine? Utilizing the same cabinet, and drivers as the Muse, the Studio employs a crossover network developed for Daedalus' Athena speakers to give it a higher level... Read More »

The post Daedalus Audio's Muse Studio Loudspeaker appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Audioengine 512 Portable Wireless Speaker

Gary L Beard — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 20:33:57 +0000

Austin, Texas based Audioengine recently introduced the 512 Portable Wireless Speaker. My thanks to them for sending a sample to review. The 512 is a handsome product, with a high quality feel. And it is small; a mere 3" deep x 3" high x 7.75" wide, two and a half pound oval of transportable audio goodness. ... Read More »

The post Audioengine 512 Portable Wireless Speaker appeared first on Positive Feedback.

My AXPONA Adventures: Music (and Laughter) is the Best Medicine

Gary L Beard — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 21:38:57 +0000

Dateline: April, 2019 Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center. Schaumburg, Illinois Welcome back my Friends, to the show that (hopefully) never ends! (Apologies ELP.) I arrived at the 10th annual AXPONA on Thursday afternoon. The Renaissance Convention Center was a buzzing audio-hive of controlled chaos. Crates and boxes were everywhere. Audio systems taking shape, tweaking started.... Read More »

The post My AXPONA Adventures: Music (and Laughter) is the Best Medicine appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Benchmark Media Systems LA4 Line Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 19:54:24 +0000

The LA4 Line Amplifier is a linestage preamp introduced by Benchmark Media Systems in 2018. Priced at a very competitive $2495 USD, the small, squarish LA4 comes securely packaged, and includes a power cord, 12V trigger cable, and a manual complete with test reports. The review LA4 was furnished with the optional remote (add... Read More »

The post Benchmark Media Systems LA4 Line Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Papa's Got a Brand New DAC! PS Audio's New Snowmass Operating System for DirectStream Junior

Gary L Beard — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 16:28:42 +0000

On December 11, 2018, PS Audio announced download availability of the newest Operating System for the PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC. Named after another of Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks, Snowmass, this update to PSA's DirectStream digital converters is likely to be judged a significant step up in sound quality. Handwritten for the DirectStream Junior's Field-Programmable Gate Array... Read More »

The post Papa's Got a Brand New DAC! PS Audio's New Snowmass Operating System for DirectStream Junior appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Volti Rival Loudspeakers - Horns for the Common Room

Gary L Beard — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 00:53:53 +0000

For some time, I've desired to experience a true horn-loaded speaker. But it wasn't until Volti Audio a.k.a, Greg Roberts, introduced the Rival that I considered requesting a review. I had heard Mr. Roberts' beautiful horn speakers several times, and they had always impressed me. But it was this smaller footprint Rival hybrid horn speaker... Read More »

The post The Volti Rival Loudspeakers - Horns for the Common Room appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AVM Evolution A5.2 Integrated Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 15:36:44 +0000

Introduction to the AVM I love audio components that offer a lot for the money. The Evolution A5.2 Integrated Amplifier is just such piece of audio gear. Built by German audio manufacturer, AVM, the A5.2 is a part of AVM's extensive Evolution line of high fidelity components. AVM has been building HiFi gear since 1986,... Read More »

The post AVM Evolution A5.2 Integrated Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 2

Gary L Beard — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:19:42 +0000

This is Part 2 of my Axpona 2018 Show report... lots of pics! Sennheiser HE-1 Headphone System $60K, but yeah, it sounded great! Gayle Sanders Legacy Audio Scaena Constellation Audio and Martin Logan I loved this system last year, and it was equally enjoyable this year. Ruel: Self-powered Line Array. Very cool! How could they... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 2 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 1

Gary L Beard — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:59:15 +0000

1st Floor Entrance of the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel The late, great show-master of early TV, Ed Sullivan, would say, "That was a Really Big Shew!" And yes, ladies and germs, AXPONA 2018 was certainly all that, and a bottle of spring water. After a successful multi-year run at the Westin in Rosemont, Il, this year,... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 1 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Audiophile Decorating: Making the Listening Room Sing

Gary L Beard — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:41:19 +0000

Exordium I've been a lover of music and audio for as long as I can remember. I didn't really recognize myself as an "audiophile;" but from my first 45 rpm box player in '63, to an all-in-one Sears stereo, followed by a succession of Pioneers, Harman-Kardons, Yamahas, and Kenwoods; I loved gear even then. I... Read More »

The post Audiophile Decorating: Making the Listening Room Sing appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Stage Preamplifier

Gary L Beard — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 12:26:41 +0000

Quietly Musical That was my initial thought when I listened to the Pass Labs XP-17 Phonostage for the first time. Yes, quiet and musical, is an apt description. But there must be more. After all, this is not some run-of-the-mill update. This is a new product in the Pass line. That does not happen all... Read More »

The post Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Stage Preamplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

PS Audio Stellar M700 Monoblock Amplifiers

Gary L Beard — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:28:57 +0000

Enter Stellar… Early last year, PS Audio introduced a new line of audio components. Dubbed Stellar, the initial line includes the Gain Cell DAC/Preamp, the S300 Stereo Amplifier, and the M700 monoblock amplifiers. I caught wind of the Stellar M700 while at AXPONA 2017. Always on the prowl for reasonably priced, high-end audio components, I... Read More »

The post PS Audio Stellar M700 Monoblock Amplifiers appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Redcloud - PS Audio's New DirectStream Operating System

Gary L Beard — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 20:52:25 +0000

Named for Redcloud, a 14,035' high peak in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, PS Audio's latest firmware update for the DirectStream Digital to Analog Converters, was officially released December 8th, 2017. Redcloud is PS Audio engineer Ted Smith's next evolutionary step in code development for the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) used in the DirectStream series... Read More »

The post Redcloud - PS Audio's New DirectStream Operating System appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Triode Wire Labs' Cables: A Looming Star

Gary L Beard — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 16:27:04 +0000

Triode Wire Labs' Cables Come to the Tune Saloon! All right, you caught me. Triode Wire Labs is already a Star. Their products have been favorably reviewed by numerous respected audio publications, including several appearing in the cyber-pages of Positive Feedback. I never expected to write about them too, but it seemed that every time I attended an... Read More »

The post Triode Wire Labs' Cables: A Looming Star appeared first on Positive Feedback.

PS Audio's New Huron Operating System for the DirectStream Junior DAC

Gary L Beard — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 16:23:10 +0000

It's been a little over a year since PS Audio's DirectStream Junior DAC landed in the Tune Saloon. I gave it a well-deserved two-thumbs up in my PF review, HERE. Since that time, DS Junior been the primary source for my digital audio system. The beating heart of the DSJ (and big bro DirectStream), is its custom Field... Read More »

The post PS Audio's New Huron Operating System for the DirectStream Junior DAC appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Pass Labs INT-60 Integrated Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Tue, 23 May 2017 16:11:11 +0000

A few times I've been lucky enough to review a product before the rest of the audio-press get their red-hot hands on it, but mostly I've been Gary-come-lately to the audio-party. I'm grateful of course, for opportunities to be the first to review a new offering; but while plotting how to get ahead of the... Read More »

The post Pass Labs INT-60 Integrated Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2017: Pictures at an Audio Exhibition

Gary L Beard — Wed, 10 May 2017 12:39:19 +0000

Dateline: Westin Hotel, Rosemont, Ill., April 21-23rd, 2017 AXPONA! I get a serious kick out of listening to exotic, cost-no-object systems. In fact, I enjoy them so much, it's hard to tear myself away. Where reality and common sense meet, its clear I have little business in those rooms other than to experience some of the finest audio this... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2017: Pictures at an Audio Exhibition appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Value of Treatments: GIK's New Impression Series Acoustic Panels

Gary L Beard — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 00:37:33 +0000

As Joe Walsh would say, I'm an ordinary, average guy. While I've got some very nice gear, the room itself has been neglected. I'm sure it has modal ringing, uneven frequency response, and sucky suck-outs. This chamber of audio horrors is stuffed with a mishmash of unmatched furniture, as well as several bottles of excellent bourbon;... Read More »

The post The Value of Treatments: GIK's New Impression Series Acoustic Panels appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The First Watt F7 Power Amplifier - Simply Sublime

Gary L Beard — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 00:33:38 +0000

When I first requested an opportunity to write about the next new First Watt amplifier, I was candid with Nelson Pass that it was possible my Von Schweikert Audio VR-35 Deluxe loudspeakers and passive Bent Audio AVC-1 linestage might not be a good match for any First Watt amplifier. Several months later, I received a note... Read More »

The post The First Watt F7 Power Amplifier - Simply Sublime appeared first on Positive Feedback.