March - April 2014 Archives - Positive Feedback

Addendum to Paper or Plastic? Vinyl's Final Resting Place - MA Recordings Record Inner Sleeves

Myles B. Astor — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 11:29:15 +0000

Everyone has at one time or another fallen prey to a never say never moment. My most recent gaff? Never, even in my wildest dreams, did I ever expect to write a follow-up to "Paper or Plastic? Vinyl's Final Resting Place: The Next Installment" (http://positive-feedback.com/Issue38/lp_sleaves.htm). In fact, I would have bet the house that the... Read More »

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Bliss Digital Music Management

Pete Davey — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 11:51:57 +0000

For years, I've ripped CD's, or downloaded music from the Internet (legally, of course) and have always found it difficult that most people simply don't understand how to properly tag the metadata! Little things that matter; Disc numbering, album art, proper "various artists" tagging (don't even get me started on this one!) These things really... Read More »

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Audio Ramblings - Gauder Akustik Berlina RC7 Loudspeakers

Dave Clark — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:55:46 +0000

The loudspeaker survey that I started a year ago culminates with the Gauder Akustik Berlina RC7. (Gauder Akustik formerly known as Isophon). These are rather interesting—and clearly different than the other loudspeakers I have written about in the survey—in that their 'tear-dropped' (or perhaps winged) shaped cabinet is composed of stacked 'layers' of ribs made... Read More »

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The Audio Circular - No. 9 in a Series of Parallel Narratives Boosting the Flea: The Unison Research Unico Upower Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 04:22:11 +0000

This is unequivocally NOT a review; it is also the most difficult non-review I've ever written. This is an experience of the audio-kind; a transitory recounting of a few months with one of the unique products in audio; the Unison Research Unico Upower Booster Amplifier. I became interested in the Upower after reading about it... Read More »

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iBasso DX50 Digital Audio Player

Audio 360 — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 16:49:40 +0000

We love our music at Audio360. Over the last two decades the mobile audio market heated up at an exponential rate thanks to companies such as Sony and Apple. Companies like these pioneered the industry.

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Musings on Building a Digital Music Server: The AudioQuest Diamond USB and Stealth Varidig Sextet versus the Synergistic Research USB Active SE and their Element Copper, All with a Manley Skipjack

Andy Schaub — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:20:11 +0000

"Listen as the wind blows from across the great divide voices trapped in yearning, memories trapped in time the night is my companion, and solitude my guide would I spend forever here and not be satisfied?" —"Possession", Sarah McLachlan This does look back a long time. After a conversation with Josh Heiner of Sonicweld about... Read More »

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Follow Up: Zesto Audio BIA 120 Class A Amplifier

Robert H. Levi — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:16:29 +0000

Read the complete review HERE "In the absence of visual cues, auditory cues have to be that much better." J. Gordon Holt After 10 weeks of consistent use of the Zesto Audio BIA 120 Class A Amplifier, I find its performance continues to be unmatched by most amplifiers, as I did in my original review. In one parameter,... Read More »

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The Audiophile Forums – A Maddening Obsession!

Tom Gibbs — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:14:16 +0000

I first became aware of the audiophile forums about ten years ago; at the time, I was working on site at Delta Air Lines in their Corporate Communications department. As a contractor representing R.R. Donnelley, I was required to spend long days there, essentially at their total beck and call. Because of the seriously complicated... Read More »

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Sonic Upgrades for Sony's HAP-Z1ES High Resolution Audio Server

Brian Moura — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 04:48:35 +0000

Sony Jumps into High Resolution Audio, Launches the HAP-Z1ES Music Server Last September, Sony Electronics brought High Resolution Audio into their Audio Product Line with the announcement of several new products including a top-of-the-line Stereo Music Server, the HAP-Z1ES that retails for $1999.99. The HAP-Z1ES is designed as a turnkey music server that includes 1TB... Read More »

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The Sophia Electric 91-03 300B Stereo Integrated Amplifier

Jeff Day — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:58:14 +0000

The Sophia Electric Family Sophia Electric is a family owned and operated enthusiast audio company located in Vienna, Virginia, that designs & builds premium vacuum tubes, vintage-inspired Hi-Fi amplifiers & preamplifiers, and low-powered amplification simpatico loudspeakers, all of which are intended titillate the fancy of high-performance audio devotees & music lovers. Sophia Electric also designs and builds various transformers, chokes, capacitors, and slow... Read More »

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Roger Waters' Amused to Death

Brian Moura — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 11:43:12 +0000

Remastered Edition Coming to Multichannel SACD and LP from Analogue Productions [With this article, PFO welcomes long-time SACD/DSD commentator and writer, Brian Moura, to the masthead. Brian is an experienced audiophile, and has been an enthusiastic supporter of DSD, SACD, multi-channel/surround recordings, and the higher resolution scene for a long time now. I've been impressed with the... Read More »

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Well Wishes for Matt Ashland of JRiver

Tom Gibbs — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:40:39 +0000

I upgraded to JRiver Media Center 19 about four months ago (thanks Jim), and while I haven't had the opportunity to check out its performance with Mac equipment, I still firmly believe that JRiver sets the gold standard for PC-based music playback. Media Center 19's performance is miles beyond their iterations from just a couple... Read More »

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Ever Wish Your LPs Were Ultrasonic Clean? Record Genie to the Rescue

Bruce Kinch — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 10:56:09 +0000

Positive Feedback readers with an analog attitude will likely have taken special note of Myles B. Astor's extensive evaluations of both the Audio Desk Systeme and the Klaudio ultrasonic record cleaning machines. While the two machines have significant differences in how the ultrasonic technology is utilized, they share both the basic "toaster" form factor, and—how'd you guess?—the same price. $4000. ... Read More »

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Downsizing While Upscaling: Ayre VX-R, McIntosh C2300, Harbeth 30.1

Sash Matson — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 03:38:24 +0000

Less is More or Less? Necessity is the mother of invention. Planning for a move from my current country mouse lifestyle in up-state New York, (i.e. old large Victorian high ceiling dedicated listening room), to the ultimate city mouse experience, (small Manhattan apartment with multi-purpose rooms), created a logistical and musical challenge that I... Read More »

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Of HiFi, Watches, and Do-It-Yourself Craziness

Roger Skoff — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 23:13:22 +0000

Roger Skoff looks at whether saving money is always worth doing! "Breathes there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said" (from HERE) "They want HOW much? For that? No way! I could build one for myself a lot cheaper – maybe even better, too!" Do-it-yourself has been a part of HiFi as long as there's been... Read More »

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The Audio Circular: No. 10 in a Series of Parallel Narratives: Push-Pull Thermo Muscle: The Rogue Audio M-180 Monoblock Amplifiers!

Gary L Beard — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:09:02 +0000

For several years I've been living in the land of low watt tube SET amplifiers: 2A3, 45, 300B and 845 Triode amps have been in my personal collection. Lately, the arrival of a new pair of reference speakers finds me auditioning higher power amps. There is quite a difference between a gaggle of glass bottles... Read More »

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Live-Wall by Bay Audio

Andre Marc — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 04:47:17 +0000

Bay Audio is a small company based in Poway, CA, approximately twenty-five minutes from downtown San Diego. They are not your usual high end audio company churning out box speakers, and fancy components with lavish faceplates. No, they mine a far more interesting area that was relatively new to me when I was contacted with... Read More »

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HB Cable Design PowerSlave Acrylic Distributor

Marshall Nack — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 23:51:52 +0000

"What's this?" I expected a power distributor, but this shipping box is large and heavy enough to mandate a luggage cart for haulage. Then I recalled Brian Ackerman, the importer of HB PowerSlave products, telling me that first look would be a shocker. The HB PowerSlave Acrylic is one of those massively over-built products that... Read More »

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Robinson's Updated DSD Download Site List: February, 2014

David W. Robinson — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 22:54:39 +0000

Chad Kassem's Super Hirez site has an excellent and growing collection of DSD downloads from major labels (Sony Music, Universal Music Group), as well as from smaller/indie labels (Analogue Productions, Reference Recordings, David Elias) at http://store.acousticsounds.com. Chad's helpful documentation about all aspects of DSD hardware and software is the best I've seen, and really helps the person who... Read More »

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Tony Weber

David W. Robinson — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 22:57:24 +0000

It is with the deepest regret and heaviest heart that we report the sudden and unexpected passing of our dear friend and colleague, Tony Weber. While Tony was part of MIT for just less than a year, he shared with us his love, knowledge, and understanding of music that goes unsurpassed the industry. His depth of... Read More »

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The Neoteric Listener... the ADL H118 Headphone and ADL X-1 USB DAC Headphone Amplifier

Dean Seislove — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 22:44:01 +0000

"Well, what'll it be, Dean? The fabulous tube phono stage behind curtain number one? Curtain number two's amazing boutique basket of USB mini DACs? Or the box Carol Merrill is standing beside, which may or may not contain the fabulous audiophile headphone and headphone amp collection set?" "Tough choices, M. Hall, but thank goodness I've... Read More »

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Akiko Audio Tuning Sticks - A Hard to Ignore Tweak

Malcolm J. Gomes — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 00:13:17 +0000

Over the past 30 years, I have learned to tread carefully when exploring the world of tweaks. Experience has taught me that, with thorough due diligence, you can find tweaks that offer a significant degree of improvement in the sound quality of your audio system and in many cases they are keenly priced and offer... Read More »

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More Musings on Building a Digital Music Server: the KingRex UPower, uArt Y USB Cable, and UD384 High-Resolution DAC

Andy Schaub — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:41:51 +0000

"Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin'" —Bob Dylan, "The Times They Are A-changin'" Sometimes, less is more, and innovations come from unexpected places. One example is the KingRex UPower and uArt Y USB cable. Although the UPower is very small (about the size of... Read More »

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Impressions: Notes on the Minus K Technology 100BM-8

David W. Robinson — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 15:39:28 +0000

It has been a long while since I wrote about a vibration isolation platform. In fact, I would have to go back to the days of the Vibraplane Model 2210 passive platform's arrival here at Clark Johnsen's strong recommendation to find the last time that I did this. And that takes it back to the... Read More »

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An Audio Feast: Magnepan, Pass Labs, Oppo Digital, and Cardas!

Scott Robertson — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:31:42 +0000

Background You always remember your first love. In my case, at least audio-wise, that was with a pair of Magnepan 3.3's. I was struck by the way the sound filled the listening room—it sounded like the entire wall was radiating sound. Not just any sound, but crystal-clear sound. I still remember the way the highs... Read More »

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