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 »
Everything you want to know about behind-the-scenes of the recording process of Blue Train album 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... Read More »
Way back in the 50s a phenomenon known as the folk sampler LP existed. The company best known for making folk sampler LPs was Elektra. Other companies, like Vanguard and Prestige, culled their catalogs to create folk music samplers, but their results were sonically mediocre and musically bland. The competition simply couldn't match the musical... Read More »
This article by Francisco Duran and Ed Morawski originally ran in Issue 8, August/September 2003, so while we call this section "New Old Stock - Articles from Our Days in Print" you are also going to see some articles from our early days of going online. The Sophia Baby is a cute little (7 x... Read More »
Let's talk about new releases from High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT)—they've been on a roll with great reissues of vintage recordings these last few months. Starting with a classic album from Miles Davis, then two iconic John Coltrane albums, moving along to Getz, Brubeck, Anita O'Day, Jimmy Rushing, and Sonny Stitt. And then to reissues... Read More »
Like many, I am a huge Little Feat fan. Despite all of the passion, I have been very patient. It's been quite some time since the last release of significant quality, but there have been several Little Feat audiophile LP reissues over the years. This is a band that still has a considerable following and... Read More »
SPEC Corporation is a Japanese company founded in 2010 by Mr. Shuzou Ishimi and Mr. Shirokazu Yazaki, the former chief engineer of TEAC and Pioneer and International Rectifier respectively, in order to achieve one goal: to provide tube sound from transistor amplifiers. The RSA-BW7 EX amplifier is its latest and most affordable amplifier. It works... Read More »
"Life is a magical mystery; Bert has no part in any of that…" - Bert van der Wolf Producer, recording and mastering engineer Bert van der Wolf, owner of Northstar Recording Services, has been making among the best engineered classical recordings one will find. I've written before about his recordings (see list of articles here) and... Read More »
Mobile Fidelity set off quite a fire storm a year ago when it suddenly became public knowledge that they'd been using a DSD step in many of their LP reissues—which were touted by the label as being all-analog throughout the remastering chain. MFSL LPs were prized by audiophiles, collectors, and music lovers alike, and were... Read More »
Faro, Portugal 21 June, 2023 Fresh from a show in the UK, the Innuos PULSAR will be heard this weekend at the second Pacific Audio Fest alongside the flagship Innuos STATEMENT with Next-Gen PSU, and PhoenixNET Audiophile Network Switch. Held at the DoubletreeHilton Sea-Tac hotel in Washington state from 23 - 25 June 2023, Pacific... Read More »
June 20, 2023 – Succasunna, New Jersey. Following the enormous success of the Starkrimson® Mono amplifier, Orchard Audio is introducing the Starkrimson Duo/Trio amplifier. The Duo (dual mono) configuration is a stereo amplifier. The Trio (triple mono) configuration is perfect for driving the front three channels in a home theater, as well as for 2.1... Read More »
A powerful and moving album tells the story of a romance between a human and alien, weaving synthesizers, acoustic instruments and vocals into a lush soundscape in extraordinary Pure DSD sound Boulder, Colorado, June 21, 2023 – Octave Records artist Thom LaFond’s latest album, Lawless, tells a remarkable tale: a wildly imaginative story about a romance between a human and... Read More »
HOLBROOK, New York, June 20, 2023 — At Pacific Audio Fest 2023 Nola Speakers will feature the West Coast debut of its Baby Grand Reference Gold Series 3 loudspeaker. The full-range floorstanding speaker offers a number of upgrades from the previous model to deliver an extraordinary quality of musical realism, including a new isolation system that provides... Read More »
Ye Olde Editor on the Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, Israel, 2022 (photograph by John Robinson) Friendships are the only unregulated relationships. There are legal requirements for marriages, the having of children, and the treatment thereof. Business relationships and financial institutions are subject to laws, claims, suits, and the legal system of this country. Relationships with the... Read More »
