July - August 2015 Archives - Positive Feedback

47 Labs Gaincard Amplifier

Editors at Positive Feedback — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:32:54 +0000

This article, by Steve Lefkowicz, Larry Cox, Francisco Duran originally ran when audioMUSINGS was in print - Issue 15, 2001. I have a real problem with the pricing structure in "high end" audio. Though I tend to focus on affordable equipment, I have used, lived with, and evaluated many very expensive products over the years. I just... Read More »

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SVS SB-2000 Subwoofer

Victor Chavira — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:39:38 +0000

I value ground trembling sensation of well-executed extreme low frequency as much as any audio nut. For the majority of my listening, though, extreme low frequency is not essential to musical satisfaction. However, lately I have developed a latent appreciation for electronic dance/ambient influenced music. Needless to say, my KEF LS50 speakers, overachievers that they... Read More »

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ETHER's just that F____in' Great

Occupy HiFi — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:53:08 +0000

I love it when people get their "sheeple" on, especially in a niche group. One person says something isn't comfortable, and ten hours later there's a thread somewhere reaching out to this headphone company, addressing the clamping force issue on that user's set of cans. Users justifiably request better padding in the headband.

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TANGERINE DREAM Platinum SHM-CD EDITION

Wojciech Pacuła — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:51:25 +0000

The Tangerine Dream is considered either a co-creator of krautrock, or of electronic music in general, and new age in particular. In fact both ascertainments are true. The first four records released between 1970 and1973, during so called "pink period" (these were released by Ohr label that had a pink logo), were recorded with drummer... Read More »

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Nordost Heimdall Headphone Cable

Danny Kaey — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:01:59 +0000

Nordost. Seems that these days Nordost is everywhere. Norse 2 series? Check. Valhalla 2 series? Check. Odin 2? Check. Headphone cables? Check. HDMI cables? Check. You get my point. All made in America, all made with engineering in mind, all made with guaranteed pride of ownership. Mind you, all of these upgrades to series 2... Read More »

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Mini-Review: Merrill Audio ANAP Interconnect Cables

Robert H. Levi — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 04:24:32 +0000

Let me just say right up top that I generally do not review cables in this low price range. At $1149 per meter, whether RCA or XLR, the Merrill ANAP is expensive for many, but not for the audiophile like me who has to have the very best in all of audio. I took on... Read More »

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Mini-Review: Grado Limited Edition GH1 Heritage Headphones

Robert H. Levi — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 20:29:38 +0000

The Grado GH1 Headphones...the sound of Brooklyn-born Maple! "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and becomes not furniture, but headphones for music lovers around the world. This limited edition headphone is Grado's first time using American maple, a hard and musical sounding wood, for its new limited Heritage Series. This celebrates three generations of producing headphones,... Read More »

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JADED: Thoughts on Sennheiser Momentums

Occupy HiFi — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 19:57:16 +0000

I mentioned the Sennheiser Momentums that uncle Mikey lent me in my Audioquest Dragonfly review at OccupyHifi.org. I promised I would talk about them some more; so here's that article I know you've been dying for.

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Journeys In Audio Subjectivism, Part One

Robert Schryer — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 04:35:36 +0000

My Hot Tub Epiphany, or: "Where the heck did my ice cubes go?" A funny thing happened to me a couple of weeks into writing this article. While relaxing one cool evening in my hot tub thinking-spot, I had an epiphany. About audio. Specifically, about how we internalize the sound of recorded music. And I... Read More »

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Dimensions of Sound: Ilya Itin Performs Scriabin and Rachmaninov

Dan Zimmerman — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 04:09:58 +0000

I was a bit breathless. My friend and spiritual colleague David Robinson had invited me to sketch and cover a uniquely intriguing event at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium on Sunday, July 12, 2015. To kick off the Golandsky Institute’s summer series, noted pianist Ilya Itin was slated to perform the music of Scriabin and Rachmaninov.... Read More »

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Finite Elemente Resonator Reference Tuning Device

Marshall Nack — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 01:49:41 +0000

I like the idea of resonators as a prescription: Take one a day to keep the shakes away. Ha! Not quite, just me being silly. Seriously though, they are a sonic purgative. The actual prescription is to put them at strategic points on your components to prevent vibrations or mechanical energy from doing mischief. As... Read More »

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Music of Mozart, Grieg, Schubert, Brahms, Stravinsky, and More.

Karl Lozier — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 17:51:29 +0000

Grieg. Peer Gynt Suites. Six Orchestral Songs. Orchestra: Malmo Symphony. Conductor: Bjarte Engeset. Recording: Naxos CD8-570236 These Peer Gynt suites are the heart and soul of Grieg's incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play of the same name. This beautiful and very impressively melodic music is one of my personal favorites of all time. The immense... Read More »

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Celebrating the Joyous Music of the Great Ruben Estrada

Jim Merod — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 04:43:34 +0000

For more than two decades I've been a fan of vibraphonist/pianist/band leader Ruben Estrada, whose lyrical delicacy and musical intensity define, and extend,the profound artistic heritage he absorbed on his way to Number One world class Latin jazz vibe and timbales guru. Estrada is an enormously modest man. His pride in his playing and his... Read More »

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In Search of a Perfect Song, Part 2

Carol Clark — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 04:58:53 +0000

In Search of a Perfect Song… I recently republished that old article because I've had further opportunity to explore the concept. I began that article with a lesson about the difference between opinion and fact. Again I will remind you that this is my opinion of what makes a song perfect. Naturally, if you have... Read More »

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The Neoteric Listener - The MrSpeakers Mad Dog Pro Headphones

Dean Seislove — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 02:55:33 +0000

"You paid too much for that junk! Take off those fake Vanilla Ice headphones and put on a pair of the real deal!" That's what I'd like to shout when I see somebody sporting one of those garish, neon metallic McHeadphones. Granted, that's hardly polite or inclusive, and who am I to go Grandpa Simpson on... Read More »

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PS Audio Power Plant P10

Pete Davey — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 23:42:52 +0000

I may have said this before, but I'll say it again… all of these amazing cables you have in your system (as beautifully constructed as they are) will not amount to much if you have garbage power coming into your room. This probably goes for 99% of you reading this where you don't have the... Read More »

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The Neoteric Listener - The Music Technology Incorporated Oppo BDP 105D Upgrade

Dean Seislove — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 23:37:01 +0000

Audio consumers only want to know one thing: "Is it worth it?" You can write, speak, sing, or finger paint about audio products all you want, but nobody stops reading and starts buying until cash equals contentment. What's more, determining value is a tricky thing. The glamor goods have it easy. Speakers the size of... Read More »

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Audio Ramblings - The Antipodes DX Music Server

Dave Clark — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 16:35:44 +0000

As we move along the time continuum, expectations are that activities or whatever will become easier and easier. That is, what was time consuming and laborious, is now, and should become, faster and less difficult. These are the goals of a modern society. Which does not mean to make tasks or activities less fun or... Read More »

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WyWires Platinum Series USB and AES/EBU Digital Cables

Malcolm J. Gomes — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:12:51 +0000

If there is one credo that Alex Sventitsky the founder of WyWires Technology goes by, it is that the accurate reproduction of music is a very complex process and so "One size does not fit all!" This dogged determination in pursuing this dogma has helped WyWires differentiate itself from most of the competition and has... Read More »

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Impressions: My Audio Oasis! Awards for THE Show Newport Beach 2015

David W. Robinson — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 23:53:52 +0000

THE Show Newport Beach 2015, held on May 28-31, is in the books now…and what a show it was! Upwards of 9,000 people were in attendance…crowds everywhere…a terrific time for audiophiles from all over. Looking back on all of the audio shows that I've attended over the past 26 years, I'd say that this year's... Read More »

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Horch House Launches DSD Wafer Cards

Brian Moura — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 14:36:38 +0000

One of the interesting exhibits at the recent High End Audio show in Munich earlier this year featured Horch House. For those of you who aren't familiar with the company, Horch House is the analog audio division of Lutz Precision, a worldwide leader in auto making equipment based in Austria. While it probably seems a... Read More »

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Charisma Audio MC-2 Moving Coil Cartridge - That Olde Black Magic

Myles B. Astor — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 06:48:50 +0000

The $1495 Charisma Audio MC-2 moving coil cartridge sounds far better than it has any right to! In fact, this recently introduced cartridge–and cartridge line—is undoubtedly one of today's best bangs for the buck in the once again growing world of high-end audio cartridges. It goes without saying that nothing but nothing prepared me for the... Read More »

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In Search of a Perfect Song

Carol Clark — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 06:15:45 +0000

This article was originally published in Issue 26 of Positive Feedback. I decided to republish it because I've gotten the bug to write another article with some more perfect songs. Back when I wrote this article it seemed like I was a topic for discussion on message boards. I was everyone's favorite target because I... Read More »

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Impressions: HDTT’s Brilliant Quad DSD release of Cootie Williams in Stereo

David W. Robinson — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 01:33:06 +0000

If you love DSD downloads as much as I do, but haven't yet heard of High Definition Tape Transfers, then brother, let me do you a big favor. Some of the best DSD downloads now available in classical music and jazz are coming from Bob Witrak and his operation over at HDTT. Possessed of a... Read More »

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Music Hall Audio On Merit: MMF-5.1SE vs. Ikura

Ken Micallef — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 02:07:33 +0000

Tipping the register at $1095 and $1195, respectively, the Music Hall MMF-5.1SE and recently introduced Ikura turntables share certain design and implementation features in their equally attractive frames. Both share a dual-plinth design, the same Pro-Ject 9 tonearm, same motor, a "precision stainless steel main bearing sheathed in Teflon for noise-free operation (quoting the Music... Read More »

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