May - June 2017 Archives - Positive Feedback

Synergistic Research PowerCell 12 UEF SE Power Conditioner

Robert S. Youman — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 23:55:23 +0000

Please be patient as I step you through some backstory. I reviewed the Synergistic Research PowerCell 10 UEF power conditioner back in October 2014. It made a tremendous impact on the overall sound of my system—all for the good! Other than a change in speakers, maybe more of an impact than any other single component at that point... Read More »

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Grado Labs PS2000e Headphones

Robert H. Levi — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 16:30:01 +0000

It is high time an American company—with manufacturing in Brooklyn, New York since 1953—should develop and build a state of the art challenger for the best open air headphones in the world. The PS1000e headphones were universally well regarded and became my reference for dynamic cans. These are still about as neutral as any pro music... Read More »

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From the LA Audio Show: PF's DSD Seminar PowerPoints

David W. Robinson — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 19:07:54 +0000

From the LA Audio Show: PF's DSD Seminar PowerPoints Those of you who were at the recent LA Audio Show had an opportunity to attend the Positive Feedback DSD Update Seminar. In it, PF Associate Editor Brian Moura and I presented a one-hour discussion of some recent developments in DSD hardware, recordings available in DSD, and download sites... Read More »

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Audio Ramblings - The Aurender A10 and Comments on Cables from WireWorld

Dave Clark — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 17:47:13 +0000

So, two things on my mind here… the Aurender A10 and how wonderfully musical it is, and the WireWorld Starlight Cat8 Ethernet cables… and how they work so well together. I mean they work great by themselves with the Aurender A10 going a long way in terms of musicality, delicacies, nuances, bass, slam, and depth…... Read More »

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Synergistic Research Galileo UEF AES/EBU (XLR) Digital Cable

Robert S. Youman — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:40:15 +0000

Synergistic Research (SR) is at it again. Like Michael Corleone in Godfather III, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!" I am always on the lookout for something better. These days, with the quality of product available at all price points, there is a myriad of impressive options out there... Read More »

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The Acoustic Revive Chronicles, Chapter 13: The RPT-6 Absolute NCF Power Distributor, the Power Reference TripleC NCF AC Power Cord, and the RAS-14-TripleC NCF Power Stabilizer

Jeff Day — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 16:54:08 +0000

Acoustic Revive was founded in Japan in 1997 by Mr. Ken Ishiguro, who is the design genius behind the innovative and ultra-quality Acoustic Revive products. Like many hi-fi enthusiasts, Ken-san's interest in audio arose through his love for music as a youngster. Ken-san told me, "I was listening to the Beatles when I was fourteen... Read More »

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Los Angeles Audio Show Part Four

Carol Clark — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 17:16:27 +0000

Continuing on with our coverage of the Los Angeles Audio Show... Part Four. Musical Fidelity, Crystal Cable, Audio Plus Services. Musical Fidelity. A new look. Micromega, Focal, Audio Plus Services. Micromega, Focal, Audio Plus Services. Way cool. IsoAcoustics, SPL, XLO Cables, Audio Plus Services. IsoAcoustics, SPL, XLO Cables, Audio Plus Services. Ayon Audio Scorpio Gen... Read More »

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Los Angeles Audio Show Part Three

Carol Clark — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:01:10 +0000

Continuing on with our coverage of the Los Angeles Audio Show... Part Three. Channel Islands Audio had two passive line controllers, the PLC.1 MKII and the PEQ.1 MKII both with AC.15 MKII upgrade power supply. D.200 MKII monoblock amplifiers, DMC.1 MKII digital music console with VDC.5 MKII upgrade power supply. Transient MKII USB DAC, also... Read More »

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Los Angeles Audio Show Part Two

Carol Clark — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 18:56:17 +0000

Continuing on with our coverage of the Los Angeles Audio Show... Part Two. Elite Audio Systems, Viola Labs, Kharma International. Alma Music & Audio were showing Dan D'Dagostino Progression monoblock amplifiers, Audio Research REF 10 preamplifier, Linn Klimax DSM music server, Innuos Zen MkII music server, YG Acoustics Sonja 1.2 loudspeakers, Iso Tek power conditioners,... Read More »

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Los Angeles Audio Show Part One

Carol Clark — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:12:32 +0000

This was the first time for this new show, also known as the LAAS. The venue moved from Orange County to LAX. This show report will feature a lot of pictures, and in some cases not much in the way of captions. Our goal here was to photograph as many rooms/exhibitors as possible (well over... Read More »

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Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier

Pete Davey — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 23:22:09 +0000

I've had my fair chance at messing with all sorts of amplifier technologies, from Class A, to AB, D, even T—you name it, and each one carries their own sonic signature. To this day, I still have a soft spot for Class A/B designs, only due to their sonic signature and efficiency. Class A is... Read More »

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The State of the High End Audio Show

Jeremy Kipnis — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 17:33:34 +0000

Jeremy R. Kipnis & Bob Carver at New York Audio Show - Nov. 2016 As a teenager of 17, I was introduced to CES: The Winter Consumer Electronics Show by a close engineering and audiophile friend, Richard Mintel. Back then, this monumental event, taking place in Las Vegas from January 6-9, 1983 sprawled countless hotels... Read More »

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Fiio X5 3rd Generation Digital Audio Player

Smit Patel — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 16:21:34 +0000

Fiio have been well-regarded as an audio company for their budget to mid-priced offerings. The original Fiio X5 DAP captivated audiences worldwide but with a keen attention to detail and reception for critical feedback, Fiio have consequently released generational devices which have improved upon and refined their original vision. Enter, the Fiio X5 3rd... Read More »

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Sony Adds Quad DSD to Car Digital Media Player

Brian Moura — Tue, 30 May 2017 15:24:48 +0000

Sony RSX-GS9 Playing Dirty Work by Jenna Mammina in DSD 11.2 MHz (Photo: Blue Coast Music) Sony Electronics has announced that their RSX-GS9 Car Digital Media Player is now available with Quad Rate DSD (11.2MHz) playback. Current owners of the RSX-GS9 can upgrade their players by downloading and installing a free software upgrade from the... Read More »

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Impressions: My Audio Oasis! Awards for AXPONA 2017

David W. Robinson — Tue, 30 May 2017 08:43:01 +0000

Chicago 2017 is now firmly in the rear-view mirror, O'Hare Airport and all. The show itself was a well attended event, with a just announced attendance of nearly seven thousand paid. According to show organizers, this was a 13% increase over 2016. From my standpoint, AXPONA 2017 was a busy show, with good to great traffic... Read More »

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Kuzma 4 Point 14" Tonearm

Albert Porter — Fri, 26 May 2017 16:28:27 +0000

Albert Porter owns www.porterhouseaudio.com and features products from Allnic Audio, Stahl~Tek, Purist Audio Design, Koetsu cartridges, Airtight cartridges, Porter Ports, Stillpoints, and custom Custom Analog/Digital components. He does not represent any turntable arms or turntables. I've owned a turntable in one form or another since my preteen years. I clearly remember the excitement of picking out... Read More »

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Thurston Moore, Rock and Roll Consciousness

Marc Phillips — Fri, 26 May 2017 00:03:14 +0000

Ecstatic Peace!/Caroline Records CAROL015LP, $19.99 2-LPs Amazon.com For me there are two Sonic Youths. I really like one of them. They're edgy and noisy but still know how to create simple and concise indie-pop songs that really kick ass, songs like "Kool Thing" and "Bull in the Heather." They can even branch out and deliver... Read More »

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Einstein Audio Components – The System Part 2

Dirk Sommer — Thu, 25 May 2017 23:57:17 +0000

With technical contributions by Jürgen Saile. While working on Einstein's complete audio system with its laudable analogue source, in Part 1 of this review (which you can find HERE) we had traveled from cartridge to tone arm, and from there to phono stage and preamp. Following up on that we will now take care of power... Read More »

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Einstein Audio Components – The System Part 1

Dirk Sommer — Thu, 25 May 2017 20:58:18 +0000

Anyone who has ever looked into the hi-fi world in a little bit more intensive way knows that the arbitrary combination of well-reputed audio components does not necessarily lead to a guaranteed musical enjoyment. In the field of high-end audio, only very few manufacturers offer complete solutions—mainly those featuring a digital source. To my knowledge,... Read More »

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HiFi Pig, Part-Time Audiophile, and Positive Feedback Link-Up

David W. Robinson — Wed, 24 May 2017 23:59:13 +0000

The Higher End: HiFi Pig, Part-Time Audiophile, and Positive Feedback link-up In which our hero meditates… Those of you who have been reading Positive Feedback over the years are aware of the fact that from our beginning, 28 years ago, we have maintained friendly and open relationships with other publications. In fact, for quite a long... Read More »

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AudioQuest DragonFly Black and Red DACs - Now with MQA!

Tom Gibbs — Wed, 24 May 2017 22:04:35 +0000

The two newest entries in AudioQuest's DragonFly family of DACs are the Black ($99 USD) and the Red ($199 USD), with the core design approach appearing to me to be one of simplicity of use in accessing the majority of files one listens to on a daily basis, along with easy connectivity to a broad... Read More »

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Thales TTT Compact II Turntable & Simplicity II Tonearm

Marshall Nack — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:52:36 +0000

From time to time, an item is plucked from the mildewed bins of analog history by one of the reissue houses. Occasionally the dredging action strikes gold; most of the time it would have been best to leave the slumber undisturbed. A recently unearthed item is Once In Every Life featuring Johnny Hartman accompanied by... Read More »

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Pass Labs INT-60 Integrated Amplifier

Gary L Beard — Tue, 23 May 2017 16:11:11 +0000

A few times I've been lucky enough to review a product before the rest of the audio-press get their red-hot hands on it, but mostly I've been Gary-come-lately to the audio-party. I'm grateful of course, for opportunities to be the first to review a new offering; but while plotting how to get ahead of the... Read More »

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Audio Ramblings - The WyWires Diamond Loudspeaker Cables

Dave Clark — Mon, 22 May 2017 23:17:13 +0000

So, we come to you with another cable review. Sorry, I know many of you believe that cables cannot have a sound or character—that is either they work or don't and any audible impact on the sound would suggest that something is broken… like my ears or inability to be swayed by hype or whatever…... Read More »

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Freedom is Free, Chicano Batman

Tony Damico — Fri, 19 May 2017 16:29:32 +0000

As I write this review, Chicano Batman takes the stage in the blaring sun of the Coachella Valley for the second time—two years ago, some had commented on how absurd it seemed that this Los Angeles-based tropical soul band hadn't played the iconic festival. Now, on the heels of hearing their third full length album, Freedom... Read More »

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