L-507Z integrated amplifier and PD-151 MkII turntable BALLSTON SPA, New York, September 2022 – Featuring Luxman’s original LIFES1.0 distortion canceling feedback engine, the new L-507Z is a Class AB integrated amplifier of exceptional sound quality. The first model in Luxman’s Z Series, the new integrated amplifier joins the PD-151 MkII turntable, which incorporates a new,... Read More »
RAVEL: Orchestral Works, volume 2. The Philharmonia/Geoffrey Simon. Cala CACD 1005. TT: 75.42 Rapsodie espagnole. Le gibet (orch. Goossens). Five O'Clock Foxtrot (orch. Palmer). Piano Concerto in G (Gwendolyn Mok, piano). Pavane pour une infante défunte. Pièce en forme de habañera (orch. Hoérée; Han de Vries, oboe). Daphnis et Chloé: Suite 2. I picked up... Read More »
Robinson reflecting… (portrait by John Robinson; image processing by Ye Olde Editor) Prologue… At long last, after 2.5 years of pandemic interruption and scheduling conflicts, I was finally able to get to an audio show…and not a moment too soon. The Pacific Audio Fest was held from July 29-31 in SeaTac, WA, at the Hilton... Read More »
Snoop Dogg and Dave Malekpour at Snoop Dogg's Beach City studio complex (photo courtesy of proaudiodesign.com) As a 36 year veteran of the professional music industry, founder and president of Professional Audio Design, Inc. David Malekpour has come a long way. "I started working in pro audio for an acoustic designer and studio tech in... Read More »
A special Positive Feedback guest editorial from John Marks, J.D. and James Tuomy, AES John Marks has been a longtime audio friend of mine, and a respected member of audiophile recording and loudspeaker design community. He recently approached me to publish a technical paper that he and James Tuomy had written regarding proposed modifications to the... Read More »
In the early days of our hobby, one reviewer reigned supreme. From his first "test report," in 1957, until his retirement in 1998, Julian Hirsch is said to have written— either as himself, or as Hirsch-Houck Laboratories—some 4000 "laboratory test reports" on the hi-fi equipment of his time. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Hirsch). All of those were, reminiscent of... Read More »
James Gang, Bang, SD 7037, ATCO Records, 1973 By the end of the 1960s, following the emergence of such dynamic UK-based trios as Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, one of the brightest trios to appear on the subsequent American scene was the James Gang. Though founded by drummer Jim Fox in 1966 with fellow... Read More »
600-watt ultimate-performance hybrid tube/solid-state power amplifier is the last to be designed in partnership with legendary audio engineer Bascom H. King Boulder, Colorado, September 1, 2022 – PS Audio today announced the introduction of its new top-of-the-line PerfectWave BHK 600 Mono Power Amplifier, the finest amplifier ever created by the company. The BHK 600 is the last audio component... Read More »
Time for another article about recent finds that I think you may enjoy. These are once again albums from HDTT and this time they're all jazz—hope you don't mind. Many are Pure DSD256 transfers, so the sound quality is pure, clean and transparent. You'll find my earlier Notes on Recent Finds article HERE. Today we're... Read More »
The following is an interview with recording engineer Bert van der Wolf, chief recording engineer, producer and founder of Northstar Recording Services, many of whose wonderful recordings have been reviewed at Positive Feedback (see list of reviews HERE). He records frequently for the Challenge Classics label whose DSD64 releases are available through NativeDSD (see HERE).... Read More »
Bert van der Wolf is one of the best recording engineers in the business today. His recordings have only gotten better and better over the years as he's been able to incorporate into his recording chain the latest developments in high end technology. I've written many times in these pages about various of his recordings... Read More »
This article by John Zurek originally ran in Issue 31, May/June 2007, 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. It started out innocently enough. One of the spikes broke—my fault—on my... Read More »
GHOST is a Swedish band playing a genre of hard rock, formed in Linköping in 2006. In 2010 the band released its demo and then a complete album entitled Opus Eponymous. Since 2013, their album covers have been designed by the Polish graphic designer Zbigniew Bielak. We are reviewing the Japanese version of their latest... Read More »
Chantal Chamberland's Soirée. Evosound (HERE) A re-issue is always an interesting temporal situation. As listeners we are invited to experience the excitement of the new simultaneously with the comfort of the familiar. Just such an invitation appears with the Hybrid SACD release of French-Canadian jazz singer Chantal Chamberland's Soirée. With her smoky voice and whole-hearted... Read More »
Gig Harbor, WA- Isaac Markowitz and Shane Buettner proudly introduce MIBS Distro (Markowitz Isaac Buettner Shane), performance audio’s NEW brand management and distribution/rep firm. Serving North America and specializing in aspirational, ultra-performance analog, MIBS Distro is the exclusive home of Lyra Co Ltd.’s hand-built phono cartridges in the US and Canada. MIBS is founded and managed... Read More »
August 31, 2022—Andover Audio and Vinyl Moon are partnering in a new sales initiative, “Spin the Moon,” from September 1 through December 1. Andover customers who purchase any model of “Spin” product—the SpinBase, SpinDeck, SpinStand, or SpinSub, including their “Max” versions—are eligible* to receive a free month from Vinyl Moon when signing up for either... Read More »
New dates for next year’s show! June 23-25th, 2023 Doubletree/Hilton Seattle, WA We would like to thank everyone for making the Pacific Audio Fest 2022 a huge success! We have negotiated better dates for 2023 at the same hotel and are producing an even better show for 2023. This show has been a dream of... Read More »
The forefathers of skate punk reissue their seminal debut album across all digital platforms and vinyl August 26. The Deluxe Reissue includes: · Remastered audio by David Gardner from the original analog tapes. · 20-page full-color book on the oral history of the band, narrated by John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu). · Insights from Henry Rollins, Roger Miret... Read More »
Cappella Records is thrilled today to announce an all-new website and store at cappellarecords.com! When you check out our new site, you can save 30% on all* of our releases with the coupon code SUMMER22 until September 1st! Order now from our entire catalog on CD, Blu-Ray, LP, SACD, and hi-res downloads direct from Cappella Records! With all-new videos, audio samples, digital booklet... Read More »
Chris Sommovigo, sharing a beer with me at AXPONA 2019 (Photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) Chris Sommovigo passed away at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, August 15, 2022. Another really good man gone to glory. Apparently, Chris came home an hour early on the day that he died, complaining that... Read More »
The Montreux Jazz Festival & BMG Announce The Next Release in The Montreux Years Series Relive the 23-Time Grammy Award Winner’s Performances At Montreux From 1981 - 2010 Pre-Order Chick Corea: The Montreux Years HERE LONDON 17 AUGUST 2022 - Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG today announce the next installment in The Montreux Years series... Read More »
Landmark high-resolution recording by world-renowned cellist Bailey is now available to vinyl enthusiasts! Boulder, Colorado, August 23, 2022 – PS Audio’s Octave Records label is honored to announce that The Complete Bach Cello Suites by world-renowned cellist Zuill Bailey is now available as a four-LP vinyl box set in a limited, numbered edition of 500... Read More »
French-Canadian guitarist and jazz vocalist Chantal Chamberland has been stunning aficionados of the genre with her effortless ability to convey mood and emotion with seasoned maturity and ease. To date, she has had eight full-length releases to her name - each a marvel in vocal storytelling - with Chantal's smoky, rich and sultry vocals expertly... Read More »
THE EXPERT IMAGING AND SOUND ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2022 HONOREES VICENZA, IT (AUGUST 15, 2022) – Sonus faber is proud to announce that its Omnia Speaker and Audio System for Maserati Grecale have been distinguished as the Best All-In-One Loudspeaker and Best In-Car OEM Premium Audio System for 2022 by the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). The EISA Awards honor new... Read More »
MOON is delighted to announce that its new MOON Voice 22 loudspeakers and ACE all-in-one music player have received the prestigious High-End Stereo System 2022-23 EISA award. In its citation, the EISA panel said, ‘Adding to the Canadian company’s successful line of hi-fi components, the Voice 22 is MOON’s first foray into loudspeakers – and... Read More »
THE EXPERT IMAGING AND SOUND ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2022 HONOREES TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2022) - Rotel is proud to announce that its Diamond Series has been distinguished as the Best Stereo System for 2022 by the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). The EISA Awards honor new products that combine the most advanced technology and desirable design features with... Read More »
Jim Merod: a self-portrait. Sony's LSPX-S3 glass sound speaker can be regarded as a leaner, no less enjoyable sonic anomaly which the paradigm-setting Harmon Kardon three-unit stereo playback device, a decade or so back, brought the convenience of music's joyful digital miniaturization. This inexpensive, highly-compatible audio triumph depends not so much on Bluetooth flexibility, but... Read More »
The new Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless – the perfect balance between superior sound and exceptional comfort Old Lyme, CT, August 9, 2022 – Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM range continues to redefine the standard for sophisticated listening through superior sound. Now, the new MOMENTUM 4 Wireless raises the bar even higher, with best-in-class sound, advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation and... Read More »
You may have gathered that I greatly enjoy the marvelous recordings released by Gonzalo Noqué on his Eudora Records label. Recently I've been thoroughly engaged by four utterly delightful albums which I describe below in greater detail. As with virtually all releases from Eudora, these are in Pure DSD256, the sound is utterly transparent, and... Read More »
Hürth, Germany, August 2022 – Effective Immediately, TIDAL-Audio GmbH announces the all-new TIDAL Piano G3 Loudspeaker. Evolution³ - After building the TIDAL Piano for over two decades, the third generation of TIDAL Piano models is now presented. The all-new TIDAL Piano G3 continues TIDAL loudspeaker par excellence replacing the multiple award-winning TIDAL Piano G2. Every... Read More »
SoulNote is a Japanese company, founded in 2004 by the ex-director of Marantz Nippon, an engineer, Mr. Norinaga Nakazawa. It specializes in the construction of solid-state amplifiers, phono preamplifiers and digital sources from the middle and upper price range. We are testing its P-3 Special Edition linestage. Mr. Norinaga Nakazawa, co-founder of the SoulNote brand,... Read More »
Andover is pleased to announce a price reduction on its SpinDeck belt-drive turntable, which offers a plug-and-play turntable right out of the box. SpinDeck (now $199), with its high-quality materials and precision-engineered parts, is the perfect companion for Andover’s award-winning SpinBase Turntable Speaker System ($299), or for any audio fan looking to add a satisfying... Read More »
Dr. David contemplating the mysteries of Life. Happy Valley, OR, 2018 (Photograph by John Robinson; image processing by Ye Olde Editor) Last month's reflection upon the good things happening at Gold Note in Italy concentrated on some of their key people, as profiled on their YouTube channel. It was good stuff, people being the most... Read More »
Sensitivity First, I measured the sensitivity of the Audeze CRBN, comparing it to the Stax 007. My headphone measurement instrument is the Mini DSP "Ears," which is far from a standard. However, using my ACO Pacific SPL calibrator, I was able to calibrate the Mini DSP for SPL at 1kHz within about a dB, I... Read More »
E-in-C Robinson photographing at the Kronos factory, Montreal, 2022 (photograph by Bill Parish; image processing by Robinson) If you've been following my comments since last February, you're well aware of the fact that I have been repeatedly stating my extremely pleased astonishment at Louis Desjardins' Discovery Turntable System. So have others in our creative community.... Read More »
The Bruckner symphonies cycle from Jaap van Zweden and the North Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, as recorded by Bert van der Wolf, is a superb accomplishment. It deserves a home in the music libraries of all music lovers—particularly those of us who value Bruckner. Bruckner Symphonies Nos. 1, 3, 6, and 8, Jaap van Zweden, The... Read More »
As you probably know, I'm not just a writer and a long-time audiophile (I and my friends call ourselves "HiFi Crazies"), but a manufacturer of High-End audio cables, originally XLO, now RSX. As such, to some of our HiFi brethren, that automatically makes me and anything I might say suspect. They insist—often based more on... Read More »
