March - April 2022 Archives - Positive Feedback

Soundscapes – Music of Mendelssohn, Elgar, De Raaff for Violin and Piano

Rushton Paul — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 08:56:59 +0000

Violinist Tosca Opdam is joined by pianist Alexander Ullman to create some delightful chamber music in their new album, Soundscapes, all beautifully and sensitively performed. Included is the world premier recording of a work dedicated to Ms. Opdam by Dutch composer Robin de Raaff. The album is an engaging program of a bit of the... Read More »

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Børresen Acoustics 05 Silver Supreme Edition

Dirk Sommer — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 15:01:55 +0000

While visiting Ansuz in August 2020, I was so captivated by the Børresen 05's elegant appearance alone that I instantly ordered a pair in the Silver Supreme Edition for a review. Now they finally happen to be in my listening room. But the way to it wasn't that easy, and furthermore, these dream speakers also... Read More »

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More Classic Kenneth Wilkinson Recordings from HDTT

Rushton Paul — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 22:29:30 +0000

I've written before about legendary Decca recording engineer Kenneth Wilkinson and the extensive collection of his recordings available from High Definition Tape Transfers. Since my original introductory article (HERE), HDTT has released more Wilkinson engineered recordings that are very much worthy of comment. And, I've found a few in the catalog that I'd missed before.... Read More »

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Improvisational Jazz Meets Classical – A Great New Album from Rembrandt Frerichs and TRPTK

Rushton Paul — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 15:22:31 +0000

Rembrandt Frerichs is a remarkably eclectic and innovative jazz and world musician, synthesizing rhythms and sounds from many cultures. In this thoroughly engaging premier recording of his piano concertos, he collaborates with five string players from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and his long-time partner in The Rembrandt Trio, percussionist Vinsent Planjer. The result is a... Read More »

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Gingko Audio Vibration Control Solutions (VCS) Toolkit - Part 1

John Zurek — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:15:53 +0000

I've been a fan of Gingko Audio's vibration control products for a long time. Way back in '08 (remember the sub-prime mortgage crisis?), I reviewed the Cloud 9 vibration control platform for my VPI turntable (HERE). Fast forward 14 years, and I'm still using it. Although I've replaced the rubber isolation balls, it still works... Read More »

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Entreq Olympus Infinity T Ground Box And Entreq Eartha Ground Cables

Editors at Positive Feedback — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 16:36:56 +0000

World Premiere Review! A flight of fancy or Grounded in reality? 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 Entreq Olympus Infinity T Ground Box And Entreq Eartha Ground Cables. Dr. David W. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief I'm so lucky to be married. Not... Read More »

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Now Playing - Part 2

Greg Weaver — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 13:21:44 +0000

Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble, Couldn't Stand The Weather. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, UD1S 2-007, UltraDisc One-Step, Original Master Recording, 2 x 12" 45 RPM SuperVinyl 180g LPs, Numbered Limited Edition, Remastered, Deluxe Edition Box Set, 2021 First up...the 2021 Mobile Fidelity Ultra Disc 1 Step remaster (UD1S 2-007) as two, 12-inch 45 RPM LPs... Read More »

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Sonic Occupation - Atlantic Technology AT3 Loudspeakers

Michael Laurance — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 17:10:18 +0000

After considerable thought, I decided that I would begin this review in a somewhat unconventional manner. Normally, my articles launch with a clever anecdote, short tale, or muse to pull you, the reader, in closer. However, in this case, I'm going to begin right away talking about the challenges and ultimate rewards that came with... Read More »

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The Vinyl Surge Continues - Six Outstanding Reissues

Robert S. Youman — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 23:24:50 +0000

Kenny Dorham, Matador (Impex Records) Another masterpiece from Impex Records, Matador is a real sleeper. Originally released in 1953 on the United Artist label and now back in print for the first time in nearly 50 years, this title by Kenny Dorham deserves an early nomination for the reissue of the year! Pressed at RTI... Read More »

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Wells Audio Commander Level II Preamplifier

Sam Rosen — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:50:54 +0000

A little while ago I reviewed the Wells Audio Cipher. I asked Jeff Wells, the owner of Wells Audio, to tell me more about the Cipher, and he more or less described it as his preamp circuit, with a single fixed input coming from the DAC. I was so impressed with the smooth analog nature... Read More »

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iFi xDSD Gryphon Portable DAC and Headphone Amp

Michael Wechsberg — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:46:10 +0000

iFi Audio has been on my radar for a couple of years mainly due to the excellent reviews for their affordable DACs, streamers, amps, and other digital accessories. The digital portion of my home audio system is currently in a transition phase. I had to give up my reference AURALIC Vega DAC, reviewed in Positive... Read More »

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Von Schweikert Audio Event at The Audio Company in Marietta, Georgia

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 16:16:32 +0000

Most of you probably recall that I attended the 2022 Florida Audio Expo (FAE) in February in Tampa; I've covered the last two consecutive shows there for Positive Feedback. And you may also recall that I raved about The Audio Company's room this year, which once again occupied the largest space at the entire show,... Read More »

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Rachel Podger and Christopher Glynn Delighting with Beethoven Sonatas

Rushton Paul — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:20:49 +0000

One can only hope that this release marks the beginning of a full cycle of recordings of the Beethoven Sonatas for Violin and Piano from Rachel Podger and Christopher Glynn. If this initial album is any indication of what might be in store, such a cycle would be a wonderful gift. Beethoven Sonatas for Violin... Read More »

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AudioQuest Mythical Creatures - ThunderBird, FireBird, and Dragon

Dirk Sommer — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:58:45 +0000

The Mythical Creatures first appeared among the power cords. Then we spotted them among the speaker cables, and more recently, my colleague Wolfgang Kemper tracked down a few HDMI cable specimens. Now, Richard Drees, Sales Director for Germany, and Rob Hay, Marketing Director for Europe, released the NF cable variants directly into my listening room.... Read More »

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What's a Bar and Grill Got to Do with HiFi?

Roger Skoff — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:55:16 +0000

Roger Skoff explains… We've all seen them: The LP turntable that's gold-plated, stands four feet tall, weighs hundreds of pounds, and costs as much as a small house before inflation set in. There's also the utterly gorgeous gold-plated or solid solid silver—meaning chassis, wiring, and even the wiring of the hand-wound transformers—electronics that have come... Read More »

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Nordost QPOINT Synchronizer

Marshall Nack — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:14:54 +0000

I came to the Nordost QPOINT Synchronizers in a roundabout manner. My primary interest was their QSOURCE Linear Power Supply. After auditioning a couple of low-price linear power supplies for my ethernet streaming front-end and coming away unsatisfied, I turned my gaze higher and spied the QSOURCE LPS. It exceeded my expectations and the review... Read More »

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Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 30

Claude Lemaire — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 17:52:39 +0000

This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 186. Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, Masterpieces by Ellington. Columbia Masterworks – ML 4418 Mono (1951), Analogue Productions – APJ 4418-45, 200g (2017), 180g (2021), (2x45 rpm). Genre: jazz, swing, orchestral big band. The title says it all, these are masterpieces by a master of music. I... Read More »

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Remembering Lloyd Walker…

David W. Robinson — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 23:22:27 +0000

Lloyd Walker: portrait with baseball cap. Happy Valley, OR, 2016 And now my good friend Lloyd Walker, of Walker Audio, has passed away. A great audio designer gone. Another memoriam, like the too-many that I have written over the years. They're always hard, and this one is going to be particularly so. So much so... Read More »

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Grado Timbre Series Opus3 Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 16:14:06 +0000

If you've never heard one of the new, wood-bodied Grado cartridges, you may be under the same misconceptions I was. Maybe because they look so pipe-and-slippers, I'd assumed they'd sound commensurately warm, cozy, syrupy-sweet, homemade, and comforting. Or maybe it's because my first experience with a Grado cartridge—a whopping two decades ago—left me with the... Read More »

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Review from Hifistatement (in English): The Thiele TA01 Tonearm

Dirk Sommer — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 15:47:18 +0000

The Thiele TA01 Tonearm If you are a regular reader of Hifistatement, you probably will have come across the name Thiele. But even if you don't, it's most likely that you know or own a product that Helmut Thiele had a hand in creating. But it's only with this very special tonearm that he steps... Read More »

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Delta Piano Trio - Music of Martin, Dvořák and Mansurian

Rushton Paul — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 11:59:09 +0000

A piano trio is perhaps my favorite performing ensemble. And when the performances are as finely crafted as these from the Delta Piano Trio, bliss is near at hand. Add music by Swiss composer Frank Martin, and a recording engineered by Bert van der Wolf, and my expectations are very high. And those expectations are... Read More »

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Building and Integrating an A/V Space into Your Family Lifestyle

Juan C. Ayllon — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:40:51 +0000

So, you want to build a dedicated audio-visual room, but don't know where to start? We faced that same quandary this past summer after we downsized to a smaller, new construction house with an unfinished basement, where the A/V room would be located. Having profited well from this frenzied real estate market fueled by historically... Read More »

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A New Code For The Old West - The New D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Headquarters and Factory

Robert S. Youman — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:02:23 +0000

When I pulled up to the new D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Headquarters and Factory, I clearly felt something different from my last visit to the prior factory location a few years back. Unlike most industrial parks these days, this was a very warm and inviting front entrance and building. If the intent was something from... Read More »

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Another treat from Angelo Verploegen and Just Listen Records in DSD256

Rushton Paul — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 14:47:22 +0000

Each album Angelo Verploegen makes with Just Listen Records and Jared Sacks is an eagerly awaited pleasure in our household. Beautifully played jazz in some of the best small ensemble recorded sound we get to hear. Verploegen and his partners take us to a soft, warm musical place, and Jared Sacks brings the performances right... Read More »

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The Incalculable Influence of Kraftwerk

Frank Doris — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 02:05:35 +0000

Kraftwerk's influence on today's pop music is so pervasive, the band is so historically important, and so much has been written about them already that doing an introduction here almost seems clichéd. But for those who haven't been plugged in: they more or less invented electronic pop music. As such, they've had an incalculable influence... Read More »

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