May - June 2024 Archives - Positive Feedback

Ellington Indigos, Now on Limited Edition HQ 180, 45 rpm LPs in both Black and Purple Vinyl Versions from Impex Records

Tom Gibbs — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 16:16:11 +0000

Impex Records is well known for their extraordinary reissues of albums that are perhaps underappreciated, but nonetheless quintessential. Their latest is Duke Ellington's seminal 1958 session, Ellington Indigos, which Impex has just taken to the next level with a new 65th anniversary, 45 rpm two-LP edition. A relatively neglected jewel in Duke Ellington's catalog of... Read More »

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Elton John, "Friends" a Highly Upgraded Reissue

Gary Lea — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 22:38:24 +0000

Elton John and Bernie Taupin, "Friends" 50th Anniversary Edition. The Original Soundtrack Recording. Paramount 3555744. Pinky Vinyl Edition. Sourced new from eBay. $26 For those who look at the title Friends you should know this is definitely not the soundtrack of the famous and still wildly popular sitcom. This album is the soundtrack for a... Read More »

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David Bowie: Rock 'N' Roll Star! from Rhino Entertainment

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:24:31 +0000

David Bowie: Rock 'N' Roll Star! is a new box set from Rhino Entertainment that chronicles the iconic star's journey from the formulative beginnings of the Ziggy Stardust era through its conclusion. The heavy box contains a plethora of wonders, not the least of which are the contents of the 5 CDs and the BluRay... Read More »

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John Lee Hooker's Rare LP Burning Hell Launches Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds' Bluesville Series Reboot

Tom Gibbs — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:39:43 +0000

Craft Recordings is partnering again with Acoustic Sounds for a reboot of the classic Bluesville Series. The LPs will be pressed by Acoustic Sounds' Quality Record Pressing (QRP) on 180 gram vinyl; Craft is already collaborating with QRP on their Contemporary jazz reissue series. And those LPs have been excellent so far, so there's no... Read More »

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Notes on Recent Finds, No. 23 - More from HDTT

Rushton Paul — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:36:24 +0000

High Definition Tape Transfers continues on its roll of great releases. Just recently I wrote about HDTT's superb reissue of Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (HERE). Now we have the famous Fritz Reiner recording of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, and The Weavers Reunion At Carnegie Hall, and Ella and Basie!, and much more. Bartók Concerto... Read More »

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Rhino's New Quadio Bundle on High Resolution Blu-ray Audio

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:13:07 +0000

Rhino Entertainment has just released the latest four titles in their excellent Quadio Series, which features BluRay audio with a high resolution version each album's original quadraphonic mix, along with high resolution stereo tracks. The four albums chosen for this release include Donny Hathaway's Extension of a Man (1973, Atco Records), Hot Tuna's Burgers (1972,... Read More »

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The London Chuck Berry Sessions

Robert Pincus — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:09:10 +0000

As one of the founding fathers of rock and roll, Chuck Berry (1926-2017) receives a ton of well-deserved respect as a musical innovator. Berry, along with Buddy Holly, was the first to define the image of the electric guitar-slinging rock star. However, despite his well-deserved status, the 1972 album, The London Chuck Berry Sessions (Chess... Read More »

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Titanium? Taking Turntabling Into the Space Age with the GrooveMaster 3 Tonearm!

Juan C. Ayllon — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:03:26 +0000

Bicycle photo courtesy of Bossibicycles.com and SR-71 Blackbird photo by USAF Judson Brohmer and Wikimedia Commons Replacing my turntable's stock tonearm with the Titanium-tubed Audio Creative GrooveMaster 3 conjures a 50-mile bicycle touring experience in the 90s. I wasn't a regular cyclist, and pedaling my heavy fat-tired steel Trek mountain bike on surface streets for... Read More »

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THE Show 2024: Aperion Audio Comes in on a High Note

John Hughes — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:46:08 +0000

This would be the first time I've seen Aperion Audio at a show, and they were first on my list to visit. I wanted to meet the Millennial team behind this fast-growing company that makes a high value range of stereo and home theater speakers and Class A/B amplifiers. Collin Lybarger, the general manager, was... Read More »

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THE Show Orange County 2024 : MC Audiotech and Shimmer Audiophile are Pure SoCal Sunshine

John Hughes — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 19:01:21 +0000

I found Mark Conti of MC Audiotech and Robert Sears of Shimmer Audiophile setting up their gear in a large conference room at T.H.E. Show on a Thursday night in preparation for a long weekend of demos. Though they were working the kinks out of the system, the sound was already gelling, and I... Read More »

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Follow-up: Vera-Fi Audio's Swiss Digital Fuse Box, Now with the Graphene Sluggo

Tom Gibbs — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 16:28:10 +0000

As I stated in my original review, the primary function of Vera-Fi Audio's Swiss Digital Fuse Box (SDFB) is to remove and replace the weakest link that existed in the device it's connected to. Which in my case was the main AC line fuse in my PrimaLuna EVO 300 tube integrated amplifier's power supply. Other... Read More »

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New from the audio analyst©, Part 3 – Virtual High End Munich – And You Thought AXPONA 2024 was Big!

Greg Weaver — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:37:25 +0000

While AXPONA represents the largest hi-fi show in the US, High End Munich, held each May at Munich's monstrous Order Center, is the largest, most well-attended audio show on planet Earth! With the first of my episodes from this year's event, episode 175, I've included a virtual walk from the stairway in front of the... Read More »

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New from the audio analyst©, Part 2 - What’s Causing the Stir in Affordable Audio Gear Today?

Greg Weaver — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 22:16:31 +0000

David W. Robinson and Greg Weaver: Audio buds from way-back! Long Valley, NJ, 2023. (photograph by Bill Parish) I make no excuses for being able to listen to my music daily on a synergistic two-channel audio system that I've assembled over the decades, one that costs more than three times what I paid for my... Read More »

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New from the audio analyst©, Part 1: Virtual AXPONA 2024

Greg Weaver — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:36:49 +0000

New from the audio analyst© for re-publication in Positive Feedback – Virtual AXPONA 2024 If you've never been to an audio show, especially one as large and comprehensive as the foremost, most successful show in the continental US, AXPONA, which is an acronym made from Audio eXPO NOrth America, held annually at the Renaissance Schaumburg... Read More »

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Classic Hard Bop from Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane Highlights the Latest Installment of Craft Recordings' OJC Reboot

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:44:41 +0000

Craft Recordings' release schedule rolls along in the second group of reissue titles for 2024 in their Original Jazz Classics (OJC) franchise reboot, featuring their latest, 1963's Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane on Prestige Records' New Jazz imprint. Guitarist Kenny Burrell and saxophonist John Coltrane are co-leaders on the hard bop session, which showcases one... Read More »

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Rhino's High Fidelity Premium Vinyl Series Continues with Classic Albums from Black Sabbath and Devo

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:38:37 +0000

The Rhino High Fidelity Premium Vinyl Series continues with the release of two new titles for the current quarter. At the outset of the series, each quarterly release featured one rock title and one jazz title, but thankfully, they've recently altered their release pattern. The last two quarterly releases featured a pair of rock albums... Read More »

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Audio Note (UK) Tomei 211 SET Integrated Amplifier and M3 RIAA Phono Preamplifier: The Third Realm!

Jeff Day — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:53:36 +0000

I've been pondering how best to write up this article about my listening experiences with the Audio Note (UK) Tomei 211 single-ended-triode (SET) integrated amplifier, and M3 RIAA phono preamplifier, for a while now. I'll start by saying the Tomei 211 integrated amplifier (left) and M3 RIAA phono preamplifier (right) are easily the highest performing... Read More »

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Market Research

Roger Skoff — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:14:58 +0000

For a change, Roger Skoff wants to ask your opinion instead of just telling you his… I'm old, and quite possibly out of it, so what I see going on in our hobby may very well be completely wrong. I hope it is. I became a HiFi Crazy (as we kids used to call ourselves),... Read More »

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Waters on the Hardware: The Alberto Guerra Design (AGD) Duet Monoblock Amplifier

Dean Waters — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 16:48:36 +0000

Dean Waters: portrait with a cigar. SeaTac, WA, Pacific Audio Fest, 2023 For the last few months, I've been listening to and delighting in a pair of AGD Duet monoblock amplifiers. These are the newest addition to the AGD product line, and are rated for a very solid 150W @ 8 Ohms (300W @ 4... Read More »

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Mogwai, Young Team (Remastered)

Michael Mercer — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:34:21 +0000

Mogwai, Young Team (Remastered) We knew we were in for something shiny and new back in 1997 when Mogwai dropped Young Team. It wasn't because their sound was entirely new. Sonic Youth, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Yo La Tengo dropped their noise rock years before Team, but it wasn't until Mogwai hit the scene... Read More »

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The New IMPEX Patricia Barber Companion 1Step - A Majestic Testament And Tribute To A Wonderful Chicago Tradition

Robert S. Youman — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:23:04 +0000

Throughout my teenage and adult years in the Chicago area, I had the great fortune to experience some of the biggest and brightest of all the rock, blues and jazz superstars as they passed through The Windy City. The venues included some amazing large settings like Soldier Field, The International Amphitheatre, The United Center, The... Read More »

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David Bowie's Diamond Dogs: 50th Anniversary Edition on Half Speed Mastered 180 gram LP from Rhino

Tom Gibbs — Wed, 29 May 2024 19:05:51 +0000

Rhino Entertainment is celebrating the 50th anniversary of David Bowie's classic album Diamond Dogs with a pair of limited edition LP reissues. Which is being offered with choices of a 180 gram black vinyl LP or an exceptionally cool picture disc version that also includes a fold-out poster. My review copy of Diamond Dogs 50th... Read More »

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The Talbot Brothers Bermuda Calypso Party Volume 3

Robert Pincus — Sat, 25 May 2024 16:18:15 +0000

For most audiophiles the word "calypso" conjures up one musical artist, and that person is Harry Belafonte. Belafonte was a 50's era phenomenon whose popularity bled into the 60s. His brand of beefed-up and polished calypso was essentially the closest thing to rock and roll for people who couldn’t embrace something as "dangerous" as Elvis... Read More »

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Critical Thinking in Audio (or the lack thereof)

Norman Varney — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:32:22 +0000

The world is full of false information. At the same time, we are frequently to be blamed for not doing our due diligence to verify information. As audiophiles, we are in constant pursuit of improving the performance, and therefore the enjoyment of our playback systems. It seems however, that many audiophiles pursue this goal while... Read More »

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Vera-Fi Audio's Swiss Digital Fuse Box: Providing a Path to Unrestrained System Performance

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 23 May 2024 23:34:54 +0000

Over my life as an audiophile, I've had three individual instances where I was absolutely certain beyond doubt that the consequences of my actions would in no time send me rocketing down the highway to high-end audio hell. The first came over a decade ago when I followed the advice I'd gotten from another audio... Read More »

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