T.H.E. Headphonium™: Where Headphones and Personal/Portable Audio Come to Life Los Angeles, CA - T.H.E. Show (The Home Entertainment Show) has announced the launch of their brand new initiative, T.H.E. Headphonium™, a dedicated space within T.H.E. Show featuring headphones and personal/portable audio. The inaugural Headphonium™, presented by audio and home theater publication, eCoustics, will be held... Read More »
Magnificently performed by the string quartet Matangi, this is music written in the second half of the twentieth century by Russian and Ukrainian composers that is ideally suited to the bizarre world in which we find ourselves today in March of 2022. It is intense music of challenge, protest, and criticism. It was intended to... Read More »
Shostakovich: String Quartets: No 3 in F, Op. 71; No 8 in C minor, Op. 110. Novus Quartet. Aparte AP 271. TT: 54.19 It's one up, one down—and not as you might have expected, or hoped. The five-movement F Major Quartet hovers uneasily, or schizophrenically, between Shostakovich's "traditional" style and his more angular, "modern" one. The... Read More »
BALLSTON SPA, New York, March 2022 – Not since the original LMC-1 of 1981 and 1982 follow-up model LMC-2 has Luxman offered a phono cartridge. That 40-year absence ends now with the introduction of the LMC-5 moving coil cartridge. “This new reference class MC cartridge is the result of two years of research into every... Read More »
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, March 8, 2022 — Wireworld Cable Technology, one of the world's most respected brands of high-performance audio and video cables, announces the release of the Starlight® 48 Fiber Optic HDMI cable. These extended-range cables utilize the highest quality laser modules and driver chips to improve image quality and provide long term reliability, while supporting... Read More »
Based on the award-winning ZEN Series, iFi’s ZEN Air range makes high-performance audio more affordable than ever before Southport, England – iFi’s popular ZEN Series has received universal praise for delivering exceptional sound at affordable prices, earning scores of awards from respected industry publications and websites. With RRPs of £159 for the ZEN DAC V2 and... Read More »
George Walker, Five Piano Sonatas, (1953 - 2003) Steven Beck, piano. Bridge Records 9554. It's a bit early in the year to pronounce a Record of the Year, and perhaps I'm making the call based partly on guilt for my ignorance: why have I not heard of this extraordinary composer? His music is a brilliant... Read More »
Enjoy Gregorian Chant? I have a new album you may just love. Beautifully sung by the Gregorian female choir Novum Gaudium. With a repertoire around the Marian theme, the pieces on this album have been selected for variety of style, compositional technique, and complexity of sound textures. An intriguing and very gratifying presentation of great... Read More »
Music from the ever-inventive Georg Philipp Telemann has long enchanted me. His is music of never ceasing discovery. In these performances of some of Telemann's magnificent Fantasies, oboist and pianist Pauline Oostenrijk is a delightful guide. These are performances to savor, made even more enjoyable with the excellent sound quality provided by recording engineer Tom... Read More »
Roger Skoff gives advice about advice givers I recently came across an internet ad where some guy, who apparently makes his living by telling audiophiles what crooks other people are, was advertising his consulting services to tell you—for a not insubstantial fee—how to spend your money. When I checked further, I found out that he... Read More »
Heilbronn, March 3rd, 2022 – Why choose when you can have both? The beyerdynamic SPACE combines the best of both worlds: captivating sound for music playback with the best speech intelligibility for calls and meetings. The portable speakerphone in a stylish design allows unlimited freedom and flexibility in the modern workday as well as in... Read More »
I have been enjoying the performances of violinist Rosanne Philippens for several years, but have not yet written about her recordings. She is remarkable, a tremendous talent, and someone whose work I value very much. My music library is enriched by her performances, as am I each time I select one to hear. Let's take... Read More »
JaguarAudio.Com has the full line of the latest high-end power conditioning gear by Puritan Audio Labs. Puritan relies on engineering prowess, rather than exotic materials, to provide the ultimate high-end mains purifier solutions. A supreme level of performance, value, and build quality ensures an investment in a Puritan product will perform well for the long... Read More »
Norman Varney of AV RoomService Ltd. has joined Positive Feedback as a Senior Technical Editor as of Issue 113. His expertise in his field of audio acoustics and experience in the field makes him a helpful voice in our creative community for the audio arts. As has been our wont from the beginning of PF,... Read More »
I know that I've already talked about The Audio Company room at FAE 2022 that hosted the Von Schweikert Audio loudspeakers in my first installment of show coverage, and on day one, I proclaimed the new Ultra 7 to be my best of show. But that proclamation was probably a tad hasty; I'll explain in just... Read More »
With lively performances filled with joy and good humor, the Intercontinental Ensemble returns with a two immensely entertaining releases. And with the excellent sound quality provided by TRPTK, there is nothing but good things to say about these two releases. In Motu – Intercontinental Ensemble. TRPTK 2021 (DXD) HERE Arc, Intercontinental Ensemble. TRPTK 2022 (DXD) HERE Yes, I'm... Read More »
This article by Dan Wright originally ran in Issue 4, December/January 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. If it Sounds Good, It IS Good… Dan Wright has joined the... Read More »
A look back at our interview with Hans Ole Vitus Nielsen... Hans Ole Vitus Nielsen, usually called Hans Ole, known for his surname—Vitus (it will become clear at the end of the interview), is the founder, owner and main engineer of the Vitus Audio company. It is one of the most important high-end world manufacturers,... Read More »
On Day 3 (Sunday) of FAE, I got a text from Sue Toscano with a special request: could I possibly get to the Alex Sound Tech room before the show was over? "Alex Sound Tech" didn't really ring a bell for me, but Sue said they'd been specifically asking for someone from Positive Feedback to... Read More »
This new recording by the ever-excellent Dana Zemtsov offers much to savor, particularly with the rich, resonant tonal qualities of her viola brought front and center. And the sound quality provided by Jared Sacks is a true sonic joy, as usual. Dutch Hidden Gems, Contemporary Compositions for Viola. Dana Zemtsov, Anna Fedorova, Phion Orchestra. Channel Classics... Read More »
Here are more of the rooms that really impressed me at FAE 2022. Even though there were marginally fewer exhibitors than in 2020, I was definitely dragging a bit by the time I finally got home on the Monday following the show. The elevators at the hotel were always overcrowded and somewhat slow, so mid-day... Read More »
Audiophile Quality Bluetooth Speaker is World’s First to Include Support for Both apt-X HD and LDAC 24-bit Bluetooth Codecs Irvine, CA – Astell&Kern, a global leader in high-resolution audio players and accessories, launches the brand’s first audiophile-grade Bluetooth speaker, the ACRO BE100. The ACRO BE100 is the latest edition to Astell&Kern’s ACRO line of home audio... Read More »
After over four years of development, January 2022 officially sees the launch of William Eikos’s brand new loudspeaker; Aurigen. This cutting edge luxury loudspeaker uses completely new technologies and has been granted 3 European patents (bass, suspension and drive unit utilization). Aurigen allows sound images to be locked into their own spaces, creating the most... Read More »
Female trio Scabaret takes cabaret and pop into the postmodern world with impassioned vocals and songwriting, and multifaceted musical influences Boulder, Colorado, February 24, 2022 – Octave Records is proud to announce the release of Hothouse Flower by Scabaret, three multitalented women who combine impassioned vocals, virtuoso piano and viola playing and a variety of diverse musical influences, to create... Read More »
Today I am pleased to introduce what will be a new series of articles, one which will feature closer looks at some of my favorite recordings. I have been posting such "snapshots" of many of my favorite LPs on Facebook for years as abbreviated takes on specific recordings, often digging into the history and significance... Read More »
VICENZA, ITALY (February 22, 2022) – Sonus faber is thrilled to announce the premiere of Omnia, the brand’s new premium wireless speaker. Combining Sonus faber’s Italian heritage and design expertise, the Omnia wireless system enhances the listening experience with a suite of features that allow users to connect a variety of media with new, innovative... Read More »
Eagan, MN, 2/22/2022 - The following is a transcription of a video statement from Jeff Haagenstad, regarding the digital audio company Exogal. The video can be seen here. Hi There. I'm Jeff Haagenstad, the former CEO of the audio company, EXOGAL. If you're seeing this video, you've either tried to go to our website or... Read More »
Lahaina HI, February 22, 2022: Living Sounds Audio is pleased to announce the availability of the LSA VT-70, a vacuum tube integrated amplifier utilizing EL-34 output tubes. The VT-70 features remarkable performance and an extraordinary set of features including dual meters, a built-in headphone amp, and a metal remote control. The VT-70 is priced at... Read More »
Volume IV features exceptional DSD and SACD audio quality and a wide range of jazz, acoustic-based, string quartet and other musical styles Boulder, Colorado, February 17, 2022 – PS Audio’s Octave Records has expanded its catalog of reference-quality sampler discs with the release of Audiophile Masters, Volume IV. The new disc offers a varied range of musical styles, and features... Read More »
The Q Acoustics Concept 50 floorstanding loudspeakers made quite an impression! Tenacious Sound featuring Q Acoustics, Perlisten Audio, Cyrus, and Unison Research Audio dealer Tenacious Sound operates multiple locations; one in Augusta, Georgia, a second in Syracuse, New York, and a third in Nashville, Tennessee. They represent a wide range of audio manufacturers, and at... Read More »
This year marks my second trip to the Florida Audio Expo (FAE), and the first visit since 2020—last year's show was canceled because of the pandemic. The possibility that FAE 2022 would go on seemed tenuous at best, especially with the unexpected rise of the highly contagious Omicron Covid19 variant. But things began to get... Read More »
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, February 11, 2022 — Wireworld Cable Technology, one of the world's most respected brands of high-performance audio and video cables, announces the release of the Sphere™ 48 HDMI cables. These cables utilize Wireworld’s proprietary Uni-Path™ design and ultra-quiet Composilex® 3 insulation to provide improved sound and image quality. Sphere exceeds the industry standards for... Read More »
Verona, WI, February 15, 2022– Perlisten Audio, an audio company founded by an all-star team of industry professionals, is ringing in the New Year with a new speaker series. The new R Series will debut at the Florida Audio Expo, February 18-20, in Tampa, FL, with the R7t, a four-way bass reflex/acoustic suspension speaker that features performance like... Read More »
Offers 8K Video, Enhanced HDMI Features, and 16 Audio Channels (Binghamton, NY) February 16, 2022 – McIntosh is proud to announce its MX180 A/V Processor that offers the best for the home theater of today and tomorrow. With an increasing amount of blockbuster movies being released direct to home streaming, a state-of-the-art – as well... Read More »
These searching, deeply penetrating, and searingly wrought performances by Trío Arriaga of two elegiac masterpieces left me emotionally drained...and uplifted. After first listening to Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, I had to stop and collect my energy. The Arriaga's performance had simply wrung me out. In the best way—give me more, I... Read More »
David W. Robinson: a Portrait in Winter, 2020. (Photograph by John Robinson; image processing by David W. Robinson) Switching my attention briefly to high-end headphones, with three of them in my queue to write up… Headphones. I do love excellent headphones…always have. Since my high school days in Walnut Creek, CA, every opportunity I had... Read More »
PRESS RELEASE: 14th February 2022 MOON is proud to announce that its high-end audio products have been selected to appear in the new television series, Bel-Air. Based upon the era-defining The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the new show keeps the premise of the original, but transports it to modern day America and re-tells it in... Read More »
