July - August 2018 Archives - Positive Feedback

The California Audio Show 2018, Another Take

Carol Clark — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:17:05 +0000

The California Audio Show 2018. This year was the eighth annual installment of this show. Dave and I attended the first two, 2010 in Emeryville, and 2011 in Burlingame. The venue this year was the Oakland Airport Hilton. Sponsored by Constantine Soo of Dagogo, this show was small and easy to navigate. There are fairly... Read More »

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A Day with Joe Cohen of The Lotus Group

Dave Clark — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 21:12:16 +0000

Alright, so as part of our trip up to the California Audio Show (see Malachi's and Kirsten's show reports HERE and HERE) Carol and I decided to add in a visit to Sonoma wine country as well as a visit to Mono Lake way over on the 395. As part of the trip up to... Read More »

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Aretha Franklin – Some Vibrations Linger Longer

Chip Stern — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 22:01:12 +0000

Radio Free Chip The French have a phrase for it. The bastards have a phrase for everything and they are always right. To say goodbye is to die a little. Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye It’s always too damn soon to say goodbye. I have always believed...well, postulated in any event, the notion that when... Read More »

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Peter Ledermann is the Artisan Smithy of Sound, Part 2: The New Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III Phonograph Cartridge!

Jeff Day — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 21:29:52 +0000

If you read Part 1 of this Soundsmith review series in Positive Feedback Issue 98 (HERE), where I wrote about the new Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge, you know that I found the Carmen Mk II to be one of the most musically enjoyable phonograph cartridges I have ever written about. The Carmen Mk II... Read More »

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Impressions: The Playback Designs MPS-8 Reference SACD/CD Player with Quad DSD DAC and StreamX Streamer Module, Part 1

David W. Robinson — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 03:22:56 +0000

Ye Olde Editor, Happy Valley, Oregon, 2018. Portrait by John Robinson. Playback Designs has returned again…with a vengeance! Their Dream Series of digital audio designs debut here at PF River City with their MPS-8. Part one of my impressions is here…read on for my take on what Andreas Koch and company have achieved. The powerful... Read More »

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A Day with Louis Desjardins of Kronos Audio

Marshall Nack — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 22:37:49 +0000

Ah, Montreal We finally made it! An excursion to Kronos Audio in Montreal had been planned last year, but, due to one thing or another, it never happened. Lynn and I were again vacationing nearby, attending the Ottawa Chamberfest (13 years and counting!). One full day is always given to "New Music Now" programming. This... Read More »

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The Fiio Q5 Portable Headphone Amplifier/DAC - Now With the New AM3B Amplifier Module

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 01:09:51 +0000

As Fiio continues their push into higher-performance personal portables (and into the US market!), they're releasing some technologically remarkable products that perform at a shockingly high level. And at price points that tend to be well below the cost of completing brands like AK, HiFiMan, and Sony. I'm continually impressed by the performance of the... Read More »

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Pass Labs INT-250 Integrated Amplifier - "It's Good To Be The King!"

Robert S. Youman — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 14:47:18 +0000

"It's good to be the King!" While sitting back and listening to the Pass Labs INT-250 integrated amplifier, I couldn't help but giggle and think about this infamous line from Mel Brook's underground 1981 classic film, History of the World, Part I. What I was hearing had me glued to my seat and skimming through... Read More »

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Ultimate Ears Pro 18+ Custom IEMs - 3rd Edition

Smit Patel — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 21:39:22 +0000

With their headquarters based in sunny-side California, Ultimate Ears was initially founded in 1995 by Jerry and Mindy Harvey. The former of which has played such an influential role in the design of headphones that within just a few years of UE's induction, The Rolling Stones, Enrique Iglesias, and Faith Hill were loyal customers. A... Read More »

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WyWires Diamond Cables - Diamonds Are Forever

Robert H. Levi — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 15:50:50 +0000

With Grado's new superstars of the cartridge world on the scene, I have updated my turntables, adding the EAT Csharp and Forte S models. Both had DIN connectors requiring me to search out top-notch phono cables with DIN plugs. I auditioned many wires, and finally settled on the WyWires Diamond Phono Cables. I also auditioned... Read More »

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Spatial Audio Hologram M4 Triode Master Loudspeakers: Small Space, Big Sound!

Bruce Kinch — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:57:02 +0000

I don't trust loudspeaker reviews. OK, you do realize you can't trust what you read in the paper, see in an advertisement, watch on cable news, hear on talk radio, or click on Facebook? Or anything on the Internet at all? Unless, a priori, you agree with the content, the trolls, or the known bias?... Read More »

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PS Audio Stellar M700 Mono Amplifiers

Pete Davey — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 23:11:03 +0000

Gosh, it sees that lately I've been inundated with Class D topology amplifiers. Several here for review, pending. Each one with their own style and power. The latest lightweight contenders come from PS Audio, a company well versed in the high end audio scene (and very well respected). Now, when I hear the words PS... Read More »

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Audio Desk Systeme Premium Ultrasonic Vinyl Cleaner PRO

Pete Davey — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:38:13 +0000

You know, every once in a while, one of those "disruptive" products that come to the market that make you think "Why didn't I think of that", or "I thought of that!"... enter one of the original ultrasonic record cleaners. Since the release of the original Audio Desk system several years ago, there have been... Read More »

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Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier

Larry Cox — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:09:53 +0000

Prologue I used Pass Labs' XP-10 as a reference preamplifier for most of 2017. I had no problem distinguishing it from my previous reference, a circa 1995 YBA Alpha 1 linestage. The XP-10 was more relaxed in the midrange and had every bit as much detail while forming more realistic renderings of bass depth and register... Read More »

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Okihiko Sugano - An Interview of Sorts

Wojciech Pacuła — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:08:24 +0000

菅野沖彦 This is the name that is synonymous with the highest sound quality in Japan. Known for his extremely good hearing, exceptionally warm personality and an amazing collection of vinyl records, he has been one of the most important journalists working for the Stereo Sound magazine. This is his story and the story of his... Read More »

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Tom Hook's 62

Marc Phillips — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 21:21:35 +0000

Arbors Records ARCD 19463, CD $10, available at https://arborsrecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/tom-hook-62 "Where were you in '62?" The number 62 always gets my attention. That's because I was born in 1962, and any mention of that year and the events that occurred instantly gets embedded in my memory, everything from Marilyn Monroe's death the day before I was... Read More »

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Trio Wanderer: Schubert Trio, op. 100 & "Trout" Quintet

John Marks — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 00:07:25 +0000

If you're wondering why I enjoy having John Marks' erudite commentary (editor of The Tannhauser Gate) here at PF so much, puzzle no more, my friend! His latest essay is full of delights for music fans, and also for those who admire the work of Stanley Kubrick. Read and learn! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Trio... Read More »

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Phono System Extraordinaire: EAT Forte S Turntable with Csharp 12 inch Carbon Tonearm, Grado Aeon MI Cartridge, WyWire Diamond Phono Cable, and the EAT Massive LP Weight

Robert H. Levi — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 23:59:24 +0000

After many many years as an audiophile delving into all forms of music reproduction in the home, I am most aware of the direction of the many twists and turns of our limitless hobby. The infinite variability of our quest enhances the fun and fulfillment waiting just after the next acquisition. Recently, I described a dynamite phono... Read More »

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AURALiC Vega G2 DAC

Danny Kaey — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 17:38:28 +0000

Unibody Chassis. Display Brilliance. Tesla G1. Music Streaming Ecosystem. Lightning Link. Frankly, I didn't realize Apple had moved the introduction of a new iPhone to late winter. Of course, I'm only kidding; although reading through AURALiC's all new and superbly well-designed website, you'd be hard pressed to think that what you just read were the... Read More »

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The Neoteric Listener - The Black Cat Cable Stargate Series Interconnects

Dean Seislove — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 17:35:07 +0000

In a world where smiling boxes mysteriously appear on your porch and contain products that may or may not be missing a crucial part, fail to operate after two days, or simply not work right out of the box, high end audio is a welcome relief. Online forum tirades from the bored and disgruntled notwithstanding,... Read More »

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Clarus Audiophile Collection - Crimson Cables

Pete Davey — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 22:51:40 +0000

I enjoy a good challenge. Whenever a cable review comes my way, I accept wholeheartedly knowing that it will be quite the adventure. I say this because reviewing cables comes with quite the controversy. People seem to have an open mind when it comes to devices with circuitry with respect to a review, maybe because... Read More »

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The Schiit Vidar Intelligent Power Amplifier - Another Take

Larry Cox — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:09:59 +0000

Dean Seislove mentioned he had Schiit's Vidar amplifier in house. You can read that review HERE. I'd just been listening to Schiit's Gungnir Multi-Bit (Schiit refers to in in-house as "Gumby") and was really pleased with the experience, so I asked to hear it before it went back. Schiit's Vidar is a small amplifier, weighing... Read More »

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The Neoteric Listener - The Schiit Vidar Intelligent Power Amplifier

Dean Seislove — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 23:31:13 +0000

More. Nothing drives audio like More. Landfills in every continent are filled with working integrated amps, bookshelf speakers, and last year's gear; discarded like unspooled cassettes by people chasing after More. And in this hobby size matters. Anyone who has been to audio shows has seen attendees do the small system Cha-cha-cha: Glide by the... Read More »

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Ioana Cristina Goicea: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

John Marks — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 19:47:55 +0000

Here's the latest from John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate blog site. His work is always a delight to re-publish here at Positive Feedback...this time is no exception. Enjoy! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor The Internet radio station I listen to most often is Bavarian Radio's Classical channel. To get to it, click HERE and scroll down to... Read More »

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Stage III Concepts Proteus Power Cable

Marshall Nack — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 15:12:11 +0000

"It doesn't look like it could change shape," Joseph observed after a long pause to process the behemoth power cable resting on my carpet. That would be the Proteus, the latest from Stage III Concepts, the audio wire manufacturer. Proteus was an ancient Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms. Yeah, it definitely looks... Read More »

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