November - December 2018 Archives - Positive Feedback

Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the Third

David W. Robinson — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 00:39:55 +0000

Continuing... ZYX UNIverse Optimum X MC What a year for phono cartridges 2018 has been. I've already extolled the seductive charms of the Air Tight PC-1 coda and the return of the van den Hul Colibri Signature Stradivarius in this year's Brutus Awards. Magnificent achievements, both of these, whose awards were richly deserved. But there... Read More »

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Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the Second

David W. Robinson — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 16:17:24 +0000

van den Hul Colibri Signature Stradivarius (the second coming!) Late in 2017, Randy Forman…he of Finest Fidelity distribution fame, and a jolly good gent…got me a van den Hul Colibri Signature Stradivarius (CSS). It got its break-in and fun run-out in the later days of the class vintage professional turntable, the direct-drive EMT 948's visit... Read More »

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GROM Audio Bluetooth/USB Car Kit

Smit Patel — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 16:39:40 +0000

Based in Silicon Valley, GROM Audio is a company that specializes in high quality, in-car audio integration systems. As one of the leading industry experts, GROM takes special pride in their aftermarket solutions to satisfy customers from all over the world. Their kits include products which support smartphones, tablets, iPods/iPhones, MP3, and USB storage devices... Read More »

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Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Phono Cartridge

Ed Kobesky — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 17:03:30 +0000

The AT-VM95C is a cheap cartridge. Not merely affordable, not budget-friendly, but downright cheap. It's $34. I took two people to Starbucks the other day and did more damage. A replacement stylus is $21. What else can you call something priced less than fast food? And, more importantly, should you take it seriously? Of course... Read More »

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German Physiks HRS-130 Loudspeakers

Adam Goldfine — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 23:30:48 +0000

One of my fondest memories as a teen was poring over the pages of the Tech Hifi catalog. Located on Route 35 in Eatontown, NJ, it was the closet thing the Jersey Shore offered to high end audio, and to me it represented the state of the art in home sound reproduction. The catalog lay... Read More »

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Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the First

David W. Robinson — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 23:45:16 +0000

Unbelievably enough, it's the end of the year 2018…already! I know that I say this every year, but every year it's worse and worse; time whizzes by faster and faster, and the final quarter always arrives long before I'm ready for it. The Earth rotates, and faithfully follows its annual orbit around yon Sun, so... Read More »

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Impressions: The LAOC Audio Society 25th Anniversary Gala Weekend

David W. Robinson — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 21:24:05 +0000

Last weekend I traveled to Buena Park, CA, to attend the 25th Anniversary Gala Weekend for the Los Angeles and Orange County (LAOC) Audio Society. Some background: The LAOC was founded originally with the help of two of my partners at Positive Feedback, Carol and Dave Clark. They recently told the story of that development... Read More »

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The Acoustic Revive Chronicles, Chapter 14: The Absolute Power Cables, The RCA Absolute FM Interconnects, and the PC-TripleC/EX Headshell Leads

Jeff Day — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 17:42:57 +0000

I first became aware of Mr. Ken Ishiguro's Acoustic Revive products in 2007 when they were recommended to me by Mr. Yoshi Hontani (The MuSon Project, Osaka, Japan), who exports hifi exotica from the Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company, the Spec Corporation, fo. Q, Audio Replas, KRYNA, SFORZAT, Murasakino Ltd, and of course, the subject of this article, Acoustic Revive. This is Chapter... Read More »

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Critical Mass Systems CenterStage2 Footer: Unparalleled Performers

Greg Weaver — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 14:22:59 +0000

The new 1.5-inch tall Critical Mass Systems CenterStage2 footer packaged with two different thickness of shims, provided to assure the best possible contact. I've honestly no idea why I was so surprised to hear from Critical Mass Systems' Joe Lavrencik this past July asking if I'd like to audition the "new" CMS CenterStage2 footers. He... Read More »

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The Gingko ARCH Platform and Acoustic Resonance Clarifier™ (ARCH) Follow-up

John Zurek — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 16:59:41 +0000

After I had such a positive experience with the Gingko ARCHs vibration control devices, Vinh Vu of Gingko asked me if I'd like to listen to the latest addition to the ARCH line, the ARCH Platform. It took me about a millisecond to say "yes, please." The ARCH Platform is an attractive, low-maintenance vibration control... Read More »

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Christmas Music (Part 4), ORA Singers: "The Mystery of Christmas"

John Marks — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 01:58:05 +0000

ORA Singers: The Mystery of Christmas. Music of Allain, Anonymous, Byrd, Hall, Hyde, Lauridsen, Macmillan, McDowall, Peacock, Rowarth, Rutter, Samitz, Sixten, Tallis, Williams, and Weir. CD Harmonia Mundi HMM 905303. Downloads (24-bit/96kHz stereo AIFF, ALAC, FLAC, and WAV) available from HDTracks. Streaming available from Tidal. Recorded at St. Augustine's Church, Kilburn, London, January 23-28 and August 7-12, 2017. Nicholas Parker (all... Read More »

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McGary SA-1 Vacuum Tube Stereo Amplifier

Gary Lea — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 23:16:52 +0000

Okay everyone! Time for the obvious disclosure! How could I not want to review an amplifier that emblazons my name right on the front of the amp in such fashion? Just ignore that Mc part. This is truly a Gary amp! I was a bit surprised when the unit showed up at my door as... Read More »

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The New Apartment Lounge: Mighty Midgets - The Gravity Defying Studio Electric M4 Monitor Loudspeakers

Maurice Jeffries — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 17:37:58 +0000

Great First Impressions I'll never forget the look on Greg Weaver's face the moment he and I got to hear (at the AXPONA 2018 high end show) what Studio Electric and chief designer Dave McPherson's latest thinking on what small loudspeakers, the diminutive M4, could do. Greg had that classic "I told you so" grin... Read More »

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25 Music Releases That Ended Up Making Me Smile

Dave Clark — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 21:50:58 +0000

So, yeah… I buy a lot of music every year and little if any of it will ever be mistaken for that of the typical audiophile genres: jazz, female vocals, classical, or whatever. No, the music I buy tends to fall way outside what is heard at audio shows or seen in various audiophile magazines…... Read More »

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The Beginner's Guide to Vinyl

Claude Lemaire — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 17:21:09 +0000

The Beginner's Guide to Vinyl: How to Build, Maintain, and Experience a Music Collection in Analog, by Jenna Miles. ISBN-10: 1440598967. ISBN-13: 978-1440598968. Published by Adams Media (2017) Rating Global Appreciation: 8.5. Presentation: straightforward, non-deluxe. Category: music, vinyl record guide. Format: paperback book. 5.5 x 8.5 inches approx. 256 pages all B&W except for 8 semi-gloss colored pages located... Read More »

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Impressions: The Ayon Audio HA-3 SET Headphone Amplifier and the Focal Utopia Headphones

David W. Robinson — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:11:02 +0000

High-end headphones and Personal Fi. I've evaluated a goodly handful of 'phones and headphone amps over many years, with some excellent results. Some were large cost-no-object designs, built for home, listening room, or office use only; others were compact and portable, for the music lover on the go. (I do a fair amount of flying,... Read More »

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ORG Music's Reissue of Shirley Horn's Softly

Marc Phillips — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 01:43:21 +0000

ORGM-1030, LP $24, available at https://orgmusic.merchnow.com/products/v2/276626/softly-black-vinyl This one threw me for a loop, as my mom likes to say when she's thrown for a loop. I took one look at the cover and thought, "Oh, here's another wonderful ORG reissue from the Golden Age of Jazz." I know of Shirley Horn, but I'm not that... Read More »

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World Premiere Review: Andros Deluxe Vacuum Tube Phono Stage from Zesto Audio

Robert H. Levi — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 01:27:40 +0000

With six Zesto creations under my reviewing belt, I believe I have a good idea what each do well, and how each ranks in the high-end audiophile pantheon. I rarely keep gear, but the Zesto Allasso became a welcome addition to my vinyl playback earlier this year. That said, I was bowled over by the... Read More »

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The New Apartment Lounge: It's an Analogue World Part 1 - The Sutherland Engineering 20/20 Phono Stage

Maurice Jeffries — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 19:17:38 +0000

When Less Offers More In Issue 96 (this review has taken far too long, about which more in Part 2), I previewed several knockout products that had taken up temporary residence here at the Lounge (HERE). One of the new arrivals, Ron Sutherland's knockout 20/20 phono preamp, a unit that has been available to music... Read More »

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Luxman LX-380 Integrated

Victor Chavira — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 23:00:06 +0000

The image above is presented as proof of my credentials for reviewing vacuum tube integrated amplifiers. The photo of my younger son was taken two decades ago sitting next to the Air Tight Acoustic Masterpiece M-101 integrated amplifier (audioMusings Issue 6, 1998 HERE). The infant is now a grown man and moved on to pursue his... Read More »

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ESS 422H Headphones – A Quick Take

David Williamson — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 18:57:24 +0000

David Williamson, with additional comments from David W. Robinson Some days it's tough being the source for headphone recommendations among my friend group. First, there's an overwhelming amount of digital advertisements for "premium" and "cutting-edge" headphones crowding everyone's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds that one must contend with. Every social-media-derived question seems to be about... Read More »

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Old Ears, New Tracks: Volume One

David Williamson — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 17:59:41 +0000

The premise is simple enough: I key in on seven albums that are brand new to me. They could have been released at any point and time throughout history. Their format may be CD, Vinyl, Cassette Tape, or Streaming…who cares?! The albums may technically be singles or they may be EPs…again, who cares?! This is... Read More »

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The 15th Annual Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2018

Editors at Positive Feedback — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:40:49 +0000

Beginning at the end of 2003, PF established its first annual awards for fine audio. The Brutus Award was established for the best that David Robinson and Dave Clark (and Carol Clark) had heard in their own listening rooms during that year. You can think of it as our equivalent of an "Editors' Choice" award. The Gizmo... Read More »

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R+C+L, Part 2: Roger Skoff Writes More About Cables and What Really Matters

Roger Skoff — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 01:03:39 +0000

Roger Skoff at the LAOC Audio Society Gala Banquet, 2018: a portrait by David W. Robinson In Part 1 of this two-part article, I pointed out that we audiophiles are the only fan group I know of who argue, not just about which stuff is better, but about whether, for some products, there's any difference... Read More »

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RMAF 2018 - Why We Listen: Music Changes Lives

Carol Clark — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:20:32 +0000

At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018, I was asked to participate in a panel titled Why We Listen: Music Changes Lives. I didn't realize what they meant is that they wanted me to moderate the panel. To ease the stress of moderating my first audio show panel, I was given the opportunity to choose the... Read More »

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