I’ve written a lot of show reports, to the point where I was starting to repeat myself in some of the advice I was giving. So, I thought I’d write a separate article where I summarize my tips on attending audio shows. Part One: General Tips Rule number one: wear comfortable shoes! If you don’t,... Read More »
My first Chris Isaak concert was with my wife and several friends at the North Shore Center in Skokie Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. It was a December 2011 concert and Isaak played a few Christmas songs along with many of his fan favorites. He came out in a Santa Claus outfit and quickly had... Read More »
For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one here. There’s an old stereotype out there that audiophiles don’t really like music, but rather just like playing with equipment. There’s even a “quote” that constantly surfaces, wrongly attributed to Alan Parsons (who never actually said it) that ‘Audiophiles don’t... Read More »
Most This article is part of an ongoing series examining electromagnetic field theory and its application to high-fidelity audio reproduction. The engineering framework described here has been developed, tested, and refined over thirty-four years of product development at Synergistic Research – and has been the subject of extensive public discussion on my personal Facebook page,... Read More »
I’d already chosen my next review subject: a rock band from Chicago who thrived from the mid-sixties to the early seventies, but I got distracted by two new additions to my collection. So what could possibly distract me from great rock ‘n’ roll? Here’s the answer: Two Eddy Arnold (1918-2008) EPs from the early fifties!... Read More »
We all say, "There is no substitute for live music." This past spring, Ann and I treated ourselves to a generous helping of live orchestral music from one of our regional orchestras a few hours away. And yet, and yet... While the sound of live instruments cannot be fully replicated by even the finest audio... Read More »
A couple weeks ago we reposted Ferenc Koscsó's article introducing a minimalist, bit-perfect music player, written in C, with a single purpose: to deliver the music file data stream to the DAC by the shortest, most deterministic path, untouched, in its original form. His efforts offer an open-source, free to use, program for both the... Read More »
The P1 Digital Audio Player is part of a new series of products launched by Astell&Kern which focus on promoting an active lifestyle, with music as the companion on your journey. With the P1, music isn't just a background; it's the force that propels your life forward. The P1 by Astell&Kern features premium sound playback of a... Read More »
Transition and Strategic Review Crystal Claire to Provide Direct Oversight as Company Reviews Operations and Future Direction Toronto, ON — July 2, 2026 — Acora Acoustics today announced a leadership transition as the company begins a strategic and operational review of its business, structure, dealer relationships, customer support commitments, and future direction. Valerio Cora is... Read More »
Not far from Copenhagen! Note that I attended only a small fraction of the events out there, and I mostly attended the events that I thought would be personally interesting. If I missed something you thought was critical don't be surprised since I missed some things that I thought were critical too but I couldn't... Read More »
Our friend Ferenc Koscsó has been breaking down barriers yet again. Audiophile, recording engineer, and founder of My Reel Club in Budapest, Ferenc has always probed deeply to understand, and help others understand, what is actually happening with our digital audio systems. Two years ago, Ferenc graciously permitted Positive Feedback to repost his probing article... Read More »
Recently, while driving and tolerating my Las Vegas’ moldy oldies FM station KQLL, I heard an old favorite that I don’t hear too often. It was Rare Earth’s “Get Ready,” a song that I swear was custom-made for me. The deliciously grungy tone of the electric guitar is dangerously addicting, and what follows the guitar... Read More »
At Capital Audiofest 2025, a small book on a table in cable manufacturer M101’s exhibit caught my eye. Titled Passport to Sound, it’s a children’s book that explains the principles of audio components and systems by means of a treasure hunt that guides young listeners through the exhibits at an audio show. What a wonderful idea, I thought. For... Read More »
A debut that impressed, bringing together innovation, international appeal and the unifying power of music. With a brilliant Vienna premiere, the HIGH END Vienna 2026 has opened a new chapter in its success story. From 4 to 7 June, the Austria Center Vienna transformed into the international meeting point of the audio industry and provided... Read More »
For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one here. I’ve known a lot of audiophiles and music lovers who are firmly into either analog or digital, and don’t fully embrace both. Obviously with this series, I’m putting myself in the “I love records” camp. That doesn’t mean I... Read More »
Southport, UK: iFi Audio are proud to unveil the successor to their highly popular, highly portable USB dongle DAC – the GO link 2 Max. The GO link 2 Max is a USB-C dongle that transforms your phone, laptop, or PC into a powerful high-resolution audio source – allowing it to reveal new layers of... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about when a ripoff is really a ripoff I read recently in another publication that Asian manufacturers are now copying ultra‑High‑End brand audio products and selling them, just as one cited example, a US$95,000 amplifier for under US$1000. I think I was supposed to be outraged, but the article said that the... Read More »
The legendary component manufacturer, Audio Research Company, has returned to Seattle at Jaguar Audio. ARC has several newly redesigned tube and solid-state models, and more coming. These are some of the best-sounding components in ARC’s 56-year history. Jaguar is here to discuss which ARC models will work best in your system, and free fly-in setup... Read More »
"Jimi was like aliens had landed. No kidding," said Toto guitarist, Steve Lukather, who recorded with a who's who of artists like Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, and Eddie Van Halen. "I remember sitting in my bedroom listening to his Are You Experienced? album's 'Third Stone From The Sun.' My father walks in and sees the... Read More »
This article is drawn from an ongoing series of public discussions on electromagnetic field theory and audio cable design, conducted on my personal Facebook page over the past several weeks. The exchanges documented here are real – quoted directly from public comments – and represent a pattern I have observed consistently across hundreds of similar... Read More »
The Soulution brand was established in 2005 and is owned by Spemot AG, a company based in Dulliken that has specialized for 56 years in the production of motors and electromechanical components for industrial automation, as well as motors and actuators for the automotive industry (BMW, Volkswagen, SAAB). Cyril Hammer has served as the company's... Read More »
The Dutch Siltech company is one of the leading cable manufacturers. With its Triple Crown series, it has been setting high-end market standards for years, along with a handful of other manufacturers. In May 2024, however, it unveiled its new flagship Master Crown series – twice as expensive. The International Audio Holding Company, the owner... Read More »
Erftstadt, Germany, 26th of May 2026 – TIDAL Audio GmbH is proud to announce the TIDAL Piano Classic, a reinterpretation of the very first loudspeaker that started it all in 1999. The TIDAL Piano Classic is a reinterpretation of our very first product, a root back to our heritage - combined with the latest technologies,... Read More »
The celebrated Danish audio house joins a portfolio built on one belief: sound should move you. VANCOUVER, WA -- Unveil Sound today announces the addition of Gryphon Audio Designs to its curated portfolio of high-end audio brands. A selection of Gryphon reference components is now on display at the studio, with dedicated listening sessions opening in... Read More »
Last year's big story was AXPONA 15th anniversary! This year's "Headline News" is hands down AXPONA's earth shattering attendance! A remarkable accomplishment for any high-end show, North American or otherwise! (Hold the presses: Just as we went to press JD Events announced the sale of AXPONA to Henry Wu, owner of Sound and Fury LLC.)... Read More »
AudioDeskSysteme Gläss GmbH is best known for nearly two decades of manufacturing “the original” Vinyl Cleaner, the first fully automatic ultrasonic record cleaning machine that has been considered the benchmark in its product category ever since being introduced in 2009. Over the past seventeen years of manufacturing, the Vinyl Cleaner has evolved in terms of both effectiveness and... Read More »
High End Vienna is approaching, and we are excited to present a range of new launches from Audio Group Denmark. This year, we will unveil new products from both Børresen and Aavik, including the world premiere of an entirely new Børresen series, along with a few additional surprises. We warmly invite you to visit our... Read More »
Uncle Tupelo, Anodyne. Rhino High Fidelity (33 RPM LP) Anodyne was Uncle Tupelo's swansong album and was released in 1993 on the Reprise label. Originally only released on CD, it was not offered on vinyl until 2010 on the Rhino label. The two key musicians and songwriters for Uncle Tupelo were Jeff Tweedy and Jay... Read More »
For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one HERE. Since such a large part of my record collection was purchased used, I figured we should talk about buying used records a little more. Obviously different people have different ideas about what they're looking for when shopping used, but... Read More »
Editorial, April 2026 from High Fidelity The audio industry is a battleground where views, opinions, and various solutions clash, all aiming to lead us toward the same goal—better sound. In the heat of the battle, we fail to notice that it is subject to the same laws as any other field related to manufacturing. In... Read More »
Las Vegas, NV–May 5, 2026: Audio Advice expands into the western U.S. with the opening of a new super-showroom in Las Vegas. Former Eagle Sentry executive and industry veteran Chris Oram has been appointed General Manager and will lead the launch and growth of this new storefront. The team will serve customers out of its... Read More »
– Octave Records’ latest release features Benthall and his quintet on an instrumental musical journey into jazz, classical and contemporary influences, captured in superb Pure DSD high-resolution sound – May 4, 2026 – Ryan Benthall calls his music “jazz adjacent,” reflecting the fact that his compositions, while founded in jazz structures, are informed by a wealth... Read More »
I was twelve when Carly Simon released her third album "No Secrets." Even at that age, I was not into commercial pop music much, so I never owned this album until now. However, I did not change the channel when Carly Simon came on. She had unmistakable talent; voice and composition. Simon achieved international fame... Read More »
Ólafur Arnalds, Sunrise Session III. Olafur Arnalds, composer and pianist; Sandrayati, RAKEL, Salóme Katrín, vocals; with string quartet. Universal Music (EP, digital only). TT: 12.58. Echoes. Þú ert sólin. Ashes. A Dawning. This is not my usual line of territory: I'm very much a classical guy. But the majors—Universal and Sony/BMG, at least—have been promoting... Read More »
Recently, while doing some research, I discovered the existence of an album that in all my decades of obsessive record collecting I had never seen nor heard of. The album is called Red And Ernie (Decca DL 8298). Not to be confused with Burt and Ernie, Red and Ernie were music legends Red Foley (1910-1968)... Read More »
Black velvet, acoustic-dampening curtains cover the surrounding walls of the darkened 12' x 15 'x 8' Chesky Audio hotel room packed with guests seated in folding chairs this Saturday afternoon. Upfront, the celebrated owner of HD Tracks, David Chesky, 69—a wiry and energetic man with a New York accent, long curly locks, clad in a... Read More »
James Oscar Smith was an American jazz icon who helped popularize the Hammond B-3 organ, forging a link between jazz and 1960s Soul—or the "urbanization and commercialization of rhythm and blues in the 60s," (www.allmusic.com), and the Acoustic Sounds Series reissues from Verve/Universal Music Enterprises delivers his artistry with exceptional fidelity in their 180 gram... Read More »
