Reviews Archives - Positive Feedback

The Dynavector XX-2A Moving Coil Phono Cartridge Takes You There!

Juan C. Ayllon — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:22:46 +0000

I was recently discussing vinyl playback with a friend and audio equipment designer when he first suggested it. "You should really look at the Dynavector XX-2A," he effused, claiming that it had excellent detail retrieval, treble extension, bass, dynamics, and an overall balance and presentation that compared favorably with many moving coil cartridges that sold... Read More »

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Two New One-Step Treasures From The Definitive Sound Series - R.E.M. and Beck

Robert S. Youman — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:52:10 +0000

R.E.M., Chronic Town & Murmer. The Definitive Sound Series. One-Step (33 RPM) The Definitive Sound Series (DSS) is absolutely killing it! This twofer One-Step reissue, which includes R.E.M.'s first EP Chronic Town and first LP Murmer, were both originally released on the IRS label in 1982 and 1983 respectfully. For this One-Step, both pressings are... Read More »

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Wish You Were Here 50: Deluxe Edition - Celebrating Fifty Years of Pink Floyd's Classic Album with an Expansive Box Set

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:42:19 +0000

Sony Music is celebrating the 50th anniversary reissue of Pink Floyd's landmark 1975 album Wish You Were Here, with a multitude of sets repackaged as Wish You Were Here 50. Among the available formats are three-LP sets, a 2-compact disc set, a standalone Bluray disc, and high-resolution digital downloads. The crème de la crème version... Read More »

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The Music Machine

Robert Pincus — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:51:38 +0000

With the exception of a few songs by The Ramones, I dislike punk rock. However, I love punk-like songs from the sixties, the music that some experts now call proto-punk. Examples include The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" and "All The Day and All of the Night," The Who's "My Generation," and The Sonics' "The... Read More »

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When Good Enough is Not Enough: Cobra Records Producer's Choice Vol. 2 in Pure DSD256, with Free Sample Download

Rushton Paul — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:06:49 +0000

Producer's Choice, Vol. 2. Cobra Records 2025 (Pure DSD256-Direct Mixed, Stereo) Edit Master Sourced (To be released December 12 at NativeDSD) Cobra Records' 25th Anniversary celebration continues with the release of Producer's Choice, Volume 2. And it is phenomenal. Earlier this year, I wrote with enthusiasm about the release of Volume 1 which included selected... Read More »

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BennyAudio Odyssey Turntable

Gary Lea — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:55:00 +0000

After a year of hiatus from reviewing, I'm thrilled to return with a series of three reviews that will highlight significant changes to my system. My system is now anchored by the finest Cary Audio amps and preamp, including the SLP-5 preamp and the 211 Founder's Edition Power amps. (I replaced my 805C amps and... Read More »

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Late Season Original Jazz Classic Reissues and a New Bill Evans Trio Box Set, all from Craft Recordings

Tom Gibbs — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:41:39 +0000

Among Craft Recordings' late-season jazz releases are seven new titles in the Original Jazz Classic reboot series, along with an exceptional new Bill Evans Trio box set that highlights the complete studio recordings of his classic first trio. The OJCs feature three 1957 releases on the Savoy label, including reedman Yusef Lateef's Jazz Mood, saxophonist... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 59 NativeDSD Continues With Interesting New Releases

Rushton Paul — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:46:14 +0000

My meanderings in music over the past few weeks have surfaced some nice releases at NativeDSD, with quite varied selections to share. We have three new Pure DSD releases from Hunnia Records, APSoon Records, and Octave Records (good to see them back in the Pure DSD game). And we have music ranging from the Suites... Read More »

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…and Steve says...Listening to All My Records, Part 2

Steve Lefkowicz — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 19:06:56 +0000

For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part 1 HERE. I thought this time I would explain a little about my record shopping habits and how my collection grew to what it is now. After collecting a hundred or so 45-singles as a kid in the 60s, I started... Read More »

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The Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe - a Minimalist Music Player for a Maximum Soundscape Experience

Juan C. Ayllon — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:36:42 +0000

Let's assume that, like many into hi-fi, you're extremely busy and prefer a minimalist aesthetic, reference-level sound, and low-fuss gear. In that case, the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe network music player may be the music player for you. When I first spotted the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe, it was featured in a high-end... Read More »

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An Exciting New Release from Yarlung Records in Pure DSD256 with Quartet Integra Performing Beethoven, Ligeti, and Lefkowitz

Rushton Paul — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:06:11 +0000

Whenever I get to hear something that is so supremely good, and so delightfully performed, with such insight and richness, I feel it warrants a immediate sharing with you. This new Yarlung Records Pure DSD256 album, released today, is such a recording. Can you tell I'm excited about it? Yes, indeed! You need to hear... Read More »

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BigRibbons - a New Label To Keep Your Eye On, With Free Sample Download

Rushton Paul — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:23:31 +0000

What a pleasure to hear of a new label with audiophile aesthetics emerging from the greater Los Angeles commercial music community! This was my immediate reaction when I first started talking by phone with Ryan Sillifant, producer, mastering engineer, and performing artist for a new label, BigRibbons, launched by Wes Dooley, founder of AEA Microphones... Read More »

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A New and Inspired Album from Chet Baker, "Swimming by Moonlight"

Robert S. Youman — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:19:34 +0000

Chet Baker, Swimming By Moonlight. Slow Down Sounds (33 RPM) My father was a big Chet Baker fan. I remember that he had several of the essentials including Chet, Chet Baker & Strings, Chet Baker & Art Pepper – Picture of Health, and Chet Baker Plays The Best of Lerner And Loewe. I also remember... Read More »

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Anna Fedorova Returns with Liberté in this New Recording by Jared Sacks

Rushton Paul — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:28:07 +0000

Anna Fedorova is, to me, one of the most exquisite pianists performing today. Her interpretative skills are subtle, inventive, and completely engaging. And her technical skills are simply amazing. When she performs, I just slide into a very happy place listening to her. Her most recent release is delightful. Liberté, Anna Fedorova, Orquesta Sinfónica de... Read More »

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Chrysalis Records Celebrates the Early Legacy of New Zealand Rockers Split Enz with Enzyclopedia Volumes One and Two

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:47:44 +0000

Chrysalis Records is honoring inimitable New Zealand band Split Enz with a lavish new compendium of their earliest recordings, Enzyclopedia Volumes One & Two. Which highlights their long out-of-print debut album, 1975's Mental Notes, their sophomore effort from the following year, Second Thoughts, as well as 1979's The Beginning of the Enz, which collects non-album... Read More »

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Master Fidelity’s NADAC Digital Suite: A New Benchmark

Greg Weaver — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:23:40 +0000

When the opportunity to evaluate the singular performance of the comparatively affordable Master Fidelity digital suite, comprised of the $27,500 NADAC D DAC and its identically priced companion, the NADAC C Clock, in my own reference system, I was beside myself with anticipation. My enthusiasm for spending time with these components in my own reference... Read More »

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The Box Tops' Dimensions

Robert Pincus — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 19:15:20 +0000

Last year I reviewed my favorite album by The Box Tops album, their second, Cry Like A Baby HERE, and this time I'm reviewing my second favorite, their fourth and final title, Dimensions (Bell 6032/Sundazed SC 6161). I've never seen a clean copy of the LP, so I'm reviewing the Sundazed CD. Before I get... Read More »

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Gingko Audio MooVu Loudspeaker Kit

Michael Zisserson — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:15:53 +0000

Somewhere between the impassioned corporate overlords of large audio conglomerates and the overly passionate do-it-yourselfer lies a middle ground of small-to-medium audio companies. Many of these middle ground overachievers carve their niche by offering products that combine the value of the big brands with esoteric-like perfection in everything they build. Or in this case, you... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 58 More Nice Adventures with NativeDSD

Rushton Paul — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:00:23 +0000

Once again we have a full measure of excellent recordings released in recent weeks. If I didn't like them, I would not write about them. And I do like these very much. They start off with an outstanding new recording of trumpet concertos from the inestimable Tine Thing Helseth and Lawo Classics, then some very... Read More »

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Exciting Reissue and New Release LPs from Craft Recordings, Featuring a Pair from their Jazz Dispensary Imprint, along with Albums from Vince Guaraldi and Chalino Sanchez

Tom Gibbs — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:40:17 +0000

Four new release and reissue LPs have just been made available from Craft Recordings, including a pair of titles on their ultra hip Jazz Dispensary imprint. As well as the latest reissue on Craft Latino from legendary Corrido singer Chalino Sanchez. And Craft has just made an extensive group of repackaged colored vinyl variants of... Read More »

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Yarlung Pure DSD256 Reissues from the Master Tapes Continues with Orion Weiss

Rushton Paul — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:05:19 +0000

As Yarlung Records celebrates its 20th Anniversary, founder Bob Attiyeh is reissuing in Pure DSD256 some of the 15ips 2-track tape recordings made in earlier years. We've previously seen released David Fung's Evening Conversations (HERE) and coming before long will be Ciaramella's Music in the Court of Burgundy. But now we have this very excellent... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 57 A Few Special Treasures From HDTT

Rushton Paul — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:32:10 +0000

Bob Witrak continues to find really nice recordings to release over at HDTT. This time around we have a Basie/Ellington Redux reissue, a Coleman Hawkins album transferred from the original Crown Records 15ips master tape, an excellent Fritz Reiner Living Stereo reissue, plus three albums that I've had in my Pure DSD256 From Analog Tape:... Read More »

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Four Little Sonatas Scarlatti Sonatas - Tamara Stefanovich

Stephen Francis Vasta — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:29:15 +0000

Scarlatti Sonatas. Tamara Stefanovich, piano. Pentatone Music PTC5187401 (WAV download, EP). TT: 23.11 87 in B minor. K. 158 in C minor. K. 8 in G minor. K. 13 in G. Angela Hewitt's recent performance of the Goldberg Variations reminded me of how well Bach can work on the modern grand piano, given the right application of... Read More »

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Voluptuous Sounds from Analog Tone Factory in Pure DSD256, with free sample download

Rushton Paul — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:39:56 +0000

Analog Tone Factory is a label new to me but it has been releasing some very nice all analog albums on high quality vinyl and transfer to analog tape for the past few years. Their LPs have already received very high recommendations in the audiophile press, but since I've been away from vinyl for half... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 56 More Excellent Releases Found at NativeDSD

Rushton Paul — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:38:12 +0000

Offered for your perusal are thoughts on six releases to be found at NativeDSD. Included are two outstanding performances of Prokofiev's symphonies by Gianandrea Noseda and the LSO (the Fourth and Sixth); a first recording from Jared Sacks' newly opened residential recording studio in Pure DSD256, giving us a glimpse of more nice recordings to... Read More »

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