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Sondheim (arr. Stern), A Little Night Music: Suite. Opus Two (William Terwilliger, violin; Andrew Cooperstock, piano). Bridge 4010.  TT: 14.31 That's not a typo in the headnote: this issue clocks in at just under fifteen minutes. It's the classical-crossover equivalent of a pop EP—an "extended play" single—though it isn't actually being offered in that format. I heard... Read More »

Once upon a time the life of an audiophile was very simple. Take speaker cables, for example. At a meeting of The Audiophile Society in the 1980s, in front of a group of some 60 people, the featured guest presenter, a very prominent equipment modifier, proudly declared: "As far as I'm concerned, the only requirement... Read More »

Somewhere off shore, just west of Pillar Point Harbor in northern California, the 432 EVO High-End reference music server is riding a mammoth wave at Mavericks Beach. Championing the superiority of 432 Hz tuned music, via connection with the rhythms of Mother Earth, over today's 440 Hz standard, the surging swell is gaining momentum.  ... Read More »

What a pleasure it is to have this recording from 1994 of Nathaniel Rosen playing the complete Bach Suites for Solo Cello. Rosen brings his broad flowing strokes and lyricism to bear with delightful effect in these pieces brought back to us by John Marks and HDTT. Bach Suites for Solo Cello, Nathaniel Rosen, cello.... Read More »

Recording engineer C. Robert (Bob) Fine (1922 - 1982) is best known for his Mercury Living Presence recordings with his wife Wilma Cozart Fine, and he will always be associated with those Mercury recordings. But, while Wilma Cozart Fine was an employee of Mercury (VP of classical music at Mercury Records until she retired in... Read More »

There are very few major works written for two violins only, perhaps due to the seeming lack of variety in range and effect. This album from Challenge Classics | Northstar Recording presents three demonstrable masterpieces from composers who took this limitation as a challenge. All in masterful performances and in demonstration quality sound. Most highly... Read More »

In the 20th century the Japanese manufacturing sector gained recognition for the ability to improve products through a continuous refinement of the manufacturing process. In the early 1990s I attended Eastern Washington University as a business student and I was introduced to the concept of the Deming Cycle. This process was showcased by a profile... Read More »

Every once in a while, a piece of gear comes into the listening room that immediately makes its presence known as something special, something just a bit elevated from the other shiny boxes that make our hearts beat faster. Such was the case with arrival of the Parasound JC 5. However, in all fairness, I... Read More »

Chances are, you spend a lot of time either behind a desk, on a computer, or out and about without access to a quality home high fidelity stereo. Or, if you're like me this past season, your system is out of commission, tucked away in storage while renovations are being performed in your home. That's... Read More »

For over a decade now, I have auditioned many models of Sonus faber loudspeakers at several audio shows in North America. Although in every case they sounded marvelous, I have always wondered to myself; if they can sound so good when performing at audio show where, more often than not, the room acoustics are anything... Read More »

With this completely unexpected treatment of the great Robert Johnson's songs, Carmen Gomes Inc. surprises and delights me. I was expecting blues, of course, but the band's interpretations are a unique fusing of blues, bebop and contemporary rhythms. A refreshing new look based more around the lyrics and the mood of the songs. Carmen Gomez... Read More »

With the wonderful lead vocals of Carmen Gomes, the Carmen Gomes Inc. band delivers an album I find totally engaging from start to finish. They make these songs completely their own while honoring the great Ray Charles in so doing.  Carmen Gomes Inc., Ray! Sound Liaison. 2021 (DXD) HERE In making this album, Peter Bjørnild... Read More »

It was 1996. A young man rolled up into a now defunct Tweeter Etc. audio shop. Despite the wide-leg skater jeans, chain wallet, Caesar cut, rock t-shirt, and an oversized flannel lazily draped upon the coat hanger shoulders of this adolescent who just had a growth spurt, this apparent trouble with no money was on... Read More »

A fun seasonal confection—Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" is played solo on a 5 1/2 octave celesta. This little gem will stress test your audio system's capabilities, and put a smile on your face if your system is up to playing it. Tchaikovsky, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Celia Garcia-Garcia. EP (DXD,... Read More »

Adele, 30 Bravery Through Vulnerability Adele's a global superstar. The anticipation for new releases from the reclusive singer/songwriter is always a palpable worldwide event. But super stardom comes with a heavy price, especially when you're often compared to the greats like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston. Speaking of heavy; the constant criticism thrown at... Read More »

North America Premiere Review! An island in the stream. Review By Paul Schumann With this article, Positive Feedback continues its content-sharing relationship with Enjoy the Music where Paul Schumann shares his thoughts on the Lindemann Limetree Network II Music Streamer. Dr. David W. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief Streaming is the last frontier of high-end audio, or so I've been told.... Read More »

Bach's Goldberg Variations performed by string trio is a singular delight. This performance by members of the CamerataRCO is one that I rank among the best, most enjoyable, performances of this work that I know. With the significant bonus of outstanding sonics in this beautifully captured recording by Bert van der Wolf, Northstar Recording, I... Read More »

Norwegian soprano Mari Eriksmoen is remarkable. Her clear, agile soprano and light vibrato deliver perfectly in this collection of Mozart and Handel Arias. Highly recommended. Mozart and Handel: Arias and Overtures, Mari Eriksmoen, Jan Willem de Vriend, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. Challenge Classics | Northstar Recording 2020 (DXD) HERE This is my first occasion listening to... Read More »

Jan Willem de Vriend and the Residentie Orkest The Hague give us a symphony cycle to savor, the symphonies of Franz Schubert in glorious high resolution audio. This is a great cycle of the complete symphonies, with one more volume to come. Highly recommended. Schubert, The Complete Symphonies, Volumes 1-3, Jan Willem de Vriend, Residentie... Read More »