Roger Skoff picks up the cry for a new HiFi Industry Association Do you remember electric trains? Practically every family who had kids owned one. Even adults loved them, and they could be bought almost everywhere, including toy shops, hobby shops, department stores, and even some "dime" stores. At Christmas time, there was hardly... Read More »
Pacific Audio Fest, Doubletree Hilton adjacent to SeaTac Airport. Great weather, nice flight via Alaska Airlines, wonderful room. This is like our 50th show in the past 35 years. Something like that, hard to remember them all. But after all these years we have learned that for the most part, rooms will reflect the music... Read More »
Montreal – July 26, 2023 – Focal Naim North America is excited to announce the addition of the highly reputable brand AVIDHIFI to its North America distribution network. With the incorporation of AVIDHIFI, Focal Naim North America adds a lineup of high-end turntables made in England to its current audio partners. “Focal Naim North America... Read More »
When it comes to supporting their Steinway Artists (by which Steinway & Sons actually means pianists; when Steinway says "artists," they don't mean those guys and girls wearing smocks and berets who wield paint brushes while squeezing oil paint out of tubes), Steinway really puts its money where its Public Relations interests lie. Steinway is... Read More »
The following show report was written by John Hughes. John is a long time friend and offered to share his perspective of the Pacific Audio Fest. A brief introduction to John Hughes I started my Audiophile journey at 16 when I begged my father to buy a vintage Magnavox Console at a garage sale. I... Read More »
Fully Balanced, Class A Topology Headline Best-in-Class Headphone Amp BELLMORE, NY, July 24, 2023 – HIFIMAN, a leader in high fidelity personal audio, today debuted a new fully balanced Class A desktop headphone amplifier, the GOLDENWAVE Prelude. Originally released by the GOLDENWAVE brand that was acquired by HIFIMAN earlier this year, the Prelude headphone amplifier (SRP: $2,499), which is GOLDENWAVE’s... Read More »
Continuing the conversation about what I've found recently that you might also be interested in checking out. Starting off with two very excellent releases from Yarlung Records, both in Pure DSD256, and then moving to Karina Canellakis' excellent new Bartok Concerto for Orchestra in her premier recording release as a conductor, the marvelous 2014 release... Read More »
David W. Robinson and Leif Swanson: a Fantasy. Music and fine audio weren't the only things happening at PAF 2023, though. A group of us also participated in the late afternoon and nightly sessions of the ad hoc Audiophile Cigar Society. To those of us who appreciate fine cigars and excellent pours of adult beverages,... Read More »
I grew up about thirty minutes outside of Athens, Georgia, where I was a college student in the late 70s. And was very much in touch with Athens' burgeoning music scene, which included bands like the B-52's, Pylon, and Love Tractor. At the time of R.E.M.'s appearance on the scene, when "Radio Free Europe" was... Read More »
I wonder if a lot of Copper and Positive Feedback readers are record collectors. Well, I suppose that's like asking if dogs like bones. Record collecting can be fun or frustrating, cheap or expensive. Finding a mint original copy of an RCA Living Stereo Reiner Scheherazade or Meet the Beatles at a garage sale for 50 cents—an... Read More »
New Cables Isolate Real-world Noise and External Factors That Negatively Impact Music Playback ORLANDO, FL, July 20, 2023 – Gordon J. Technologies Inc., parent company of Clarus high-fidelity audio cable, power conditioners and digital-to-analog convertors, and its sister company, Tributaries A/V Cables, today announced a series of new, high end audiophile AC Power cables designed to... Read More »
A Low Noise Wide Dynamic Range Cabling Solution ORLANDO, FL, July 20, 2023 – Gordon J. Technologies Inc., parent company of Clarus high-fidelity audio cable, power conditioners and digital-to-analog convertors, and its sister company, Tributaries A/V Cables, today announced two new series of high end audiophile turntable cables – Aqua and Crimson – designed... Read More »
The innovative trumpeter’s postmodern masterpiece features an all-star line-up, including Gary Bartz, Ron Carter and Lenny White Back on vinyl for the first time in decades, the newly remastered album marks the latest release in Jazz Dispensary’s acclaimed Top Shelf series Click here to watch album trailer Click here to pre-order Blackstone Legacy Los Angeles, CA... Read More »
– Virtuoso pianist Deutsch and his trio put a personal spin on deep cuts by McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Frank Foster and others, in high-resolution DSD audio – Boulder, Colorado, July 18, 2023 – Jazz aficionados and music lovers will be sure to appreciate Octave Records’ latest release, Decades by pianist extraordinaire Erik Deutsch. Decades... Read More »
New HD Audio 21-track streaming playlist includes music from 13 mix engineers using Focal Pro monitors Montreal, Canada — July 18, 2023 — Today Focal Naim America, a leading North American importer and distributor of premium consumer and professional electronics brands, has released the fifth high-resolution audio playlist for “Mixed on Focal.” The program highlights the true sound of music... Read More »
New in-ear Bluetooth headphones feature ANC and added sound personalization designed for flexibility seekers. Heilbronn, Germany – July 18th, 2023 – beyerdynamic, the preferred audio brand for studio professionals and music enthusiasts globally – is unveiling Blue BYRD ANC, the company’s second generation in-ear headphones now with active noise cancelation (ANC) and superior sound personalization.... Read More »
Only on Qobuz: New Live EP from Carlos Niño and Photay, ‘International Anthem @ Public Records (Volume 4) 121022,’ Out Today Fourth Volume in Qobuz and International Anthem’s Co-Presented Show Series gets Hi-Res Live EP treatment Show Series Continues Friday July 29th at Brooklyn’s Public Records with Performance by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek Listen... Read More »
Hi Folks! Not in your typical fashion here but I have a quick review based on a module meant for the DIY folks. See, I've been on a journey to build my own amplifiers using *gasp* Class D modules readily available from a few different sources. I've built ICE-based amplifiers, some nondescript "chip amps" (which... Read More »
Craft Recordings is continuing their much anticipated Original Jazz Classics imprint reboot with the second batch of releases in the series, starting with the Bill Evans Trio's classic Waltz For Debby. This album unfortunately closed the books on Evans' first great trio; the legendary Village Vanguard live sessions that took place on June 25, 1961... Read More »
My original review for Barbra Streisand Live at the Bon Soir chronicled Impex Records' excellent SACD release and can be read HERE. As extraordinarily good as the SACD was (and is!), the long-awaited 2-LP, HQ-180 set has finally arrived, and it's definitely been worth the wait. The LP release was delayed by a meticulous approval... Read More »
From the PF paper 'n ink archives: A cartoon by Bruce Walker, drawn in 1993 Pianist Envy: 'Oh, how I wish that I could play like that!'
Ye Olde Editor with the rare La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull Cigar: a moment of contemplation. Happy Valley, OR, 2018. (Photograph by John Robinson.) The Pacific Audio Fest 2023. June 23-25 of 2023 in Seattle (SeaTac) WA. The Great Northwest. In a nutshell: What a blast! World's largest fine audio show. No. World's smallest fine... Read More »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2023 Maple Grove, MN: Audio Research gains ground as new ownership makes strides toward addressing customer questions about what, if anything, will be changing at ARC. First, existing and future customers should be aware that all Audio Research warranties – past, present, and future – remain intact and will be... Read More »
At the point in 1978 when I bought my first real stereo setup, I was browsing about Stereo Village in Buckhead (a northern Atlanta suburb), when I noticed a display for a handful of classical LPs from a label I'd never heard of, Telarc. Telarc was based in Cleveland, Ohio, and the display featured their... Read More »
July 13, 2023 - Focal Powered by Naim continues its expansion in North America with exceptional personalized experiences in modern spaces and listening rooms with these two world-leading audio brands. Focal Powered by Naim opened its eighth space in the United States in Timonium (MD) and ninth in College Station (TX), following locations in... Read More »
The network now includes over 40 different stores July 13, 2023 - The Focal Powered by Naim network continues to grow, with new stores opening every month. Since January, there have been 11 new spaces opened, including in the United States (Las Vegas, Newport Beach, Timonium, College Station), Canada (Markham, ON), Hungary (Budapest), France (Monaco),... Read More »
I've mentioned recording engineer Frans de Rond and the excellent recordings he makes for Sound Liaison multiple times over these past four years. Not long ago I wrote about several albums from the quite exceptional Carmen Gomes, Inc: Up Jumped the Devil (HERE), Ray! (which you'll find HERE), and Little Blue (HERE). And most recently, I wrote... Read More »
Barbra Streisand, Live At The Bon Soir. Impex Records Growing up and even as an adult, I always seemed to be surrounded by passionate Barbra Streisand fans. She was my father's favorite female vocalist and both my wife and my mother-in-law simply adored her. My mom and dad attended several concerts in Las Vegas, Chicago... Read More »
I was certainly looking forward to attending THE Show. Their move to the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa, CA meant I'd only have a short twenty-minute drive each day. And though health reasons kept me from submitting my report from last year's show in Long Beach, I heard enough good things there that I... Read More »
The latest Octave Records demonstration recording is an invaluable reference for setting up loudspeakers to achieve a three-dimensional soundstage Boulder, Colorado, July 10, 2023 – PS Audio’s Octave Records has released The Art of Hi-Fi Volume 02: Soundstage, the second in its series of reference-quality recordings that showcase a different aspect of high-fidelity audio reproduction. The Art of Hi-Fi Volume 02:... Read More »
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, July 10th, 2023 — Wireworld Cable Technology, a long-standing leader in the audiophile and professional A/V cable industry, announces the release of four new cables for turntables with RCA plug connections. These four cables, named Solstice 8, Eclipse 8, Silver Eclipse 8 and Platinum Eclipse 8, feature Wireworld’s patented DNA Helix conductor... Read More »
I'm not sure how country music legend Eddy Arnold (1918 - 2008) would be accepted by today's music listeners. One thing that I can say with certainty is that most audiophiles are unfamiliar with his art. Arnold was the most successful country singer of his time, and yet for the latter part of his career... Read More »
An introduction Greetings everyone! Dean Waters with cigar: a study. SeaTac, WA, 2023 (Photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) My name is Dean Waters, and I'm both thrilled and delighted to be joining Positive Feedback as a reviewer and Musician-in-Residence. It is indeed an honor to join such an amazing group of talented... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about the very latest hot setup "The Whizbang 9 High-End audio preamp is a remarkable piece of audio equipment that aims to deliver an unparalleled listening experience. With its sleek design, advanced features, and excellent performance, it caters to audiophiles and music enthusiasts who demand the highest quality sound reproduction. First and... Read More »
Focal Bathys price is now $699 from $799. Price drop is permanent. Amazon July 1 – while supplies last Focal Aria 40% off all models Crutchfield July 1-31 Focal Vestia 5% of all models Crutchfield July 10 at 7pm ET Focal Vestia Webinar Register here: https://bit.ly/3N42b36 Details: Focal product specialist Chris Shaw will bring an... Read More »
Bach, O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118; WERT: Egressus Jesus a 7 (arr. Praetorius). Choristers of New College, Oxford; Fretwork; Taverner Consort/Andrew Parrott. Avie AV 2619. TT: 11.13. This EP marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Taverner Consort, reflecting not only its intrepid exploration of repertoire and historical practice, but its collaborations with other "period"... Read More »
Everything you want to know about behind-the-scenes of the recording process of Blue Train’s and which of the digital reissues of this jazz masterpiece are the best. On September 15th 1957, John Coltrane walked into Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack and recorded a masterpiece album: Blue Train. It was the only album by a... Read More »
