I have been awestruck by the musicianship of veteran Spanish pianist Josep Colom since I first heard one his recordings three years ago. He is truly magical. Always playing with deep sensitivity, but with an intellect's assessment of what is going on with the music. Whether Bach or Chopin or Mozart or Liszt or Beethoven... Read More »
When Bob Atiyeh sounds excited about some sonic improvement he's achieved, I pay attention. In this case it is Bob's announcement of a 15th Anniversary remastering of the famous Antonio Lysy At the Broad: Music From Argentina, a recording that has received rave reviews since its release on vinyl in 2010 and as an EP... Read More »
Kenneth Wilkinson, Kingsway Hall, and the Decca Tree—it all adds up to Audiophile Quality Big Band sound. I'm delighted to find yet another Kenneth Wilkinson recording to savor, this time in a luscious big band jazz recording that surprised me to find again. Leave it to Bob Witrak at High Definition Tape Transfers to uncover... Read More »
Live recordings from the 1958 and 1963 Newport Jazz Festivals are legendary. Other years are also amazing, but its 1958 and 1963 in which I've been living recently. Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson, Marian McPartland, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry—oh, my! And in high resolution. This is sinful goodness, and I'm just loving... Read More »
The New AS125 and AS901 Provide a Proper Foundation for McIntosh Products Binghamton, NY – January 19, 2022 – McIntosh, the global leader in prestigious home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio for over 70 years, is proud to unveil its new AS125 and AS901 Amplifier Stands. The AS125 is ideally suited to be used with a... Read More »
The first with LUXMAN Integrated Feedback Engine System (LIFES1.0) BALLSTON SPA, New York, January 2022 – An uncompromising new power amplifier from Luxman, the M-10X embodies advanced design methods to combine sonic nuance with formidable power. The M-10X replaces the classic M-900u of 2013 and joins the acclaimed D-10X digital player as flagship models that... Read More »
The recordings by Ars Antiqua Austria continue to provide a rich treasure of musical enjoyment in our home. I group these next three recordings for no excellent musicology rationale, but simply because I enjoy the comparison of the all-instrumental works from a small rather hermetically sealed court (Graupner) and those with voice (Mayr) from a... Read More »
Ye Olde Editor in contemplation, pipe in hand, Happy Valley (portrait by John Robinson; image processing by David W. Robinson) Wolf Audio's Alpha 3SX with its iPhone-based control interface Time to say it again: we are in the golden age of high-end audio. I cannot think of a single category of "performance audio" that isn't... Read More »
As I continue exploring the recordings by Ars Antiqua Austria, I am delighted by the richness of instrumentation brought to the works they've chosen to play. These performances are a sumptuous feast of timbre, harmony and dynamics, coupled with superb musicianship. All complemented by glorious sonics. Today, our discussion turns to their recordings of works... Read More »
The CA1000 Is the Latest Device in Astell&Kern’s Line of Desktop/Home Audio Products Astell&Kern, a global leader in hi-resolution audio products and accessories, expands the ACRO desktop/home audio product line with the release of their first carriable headphone amplifier, the ACRO CA1000. The CA1000 will be available Monday, January 24th for $2,199 at authorized Astell&Kern dealers in the... Read More »
Edition XS Improves Upon Original Edition X with New Stealth Magnet Technology and NEO “Supernano” Diaphragm BELLMORE, NY, January 12, 2022 – HIFIMAN, a leader in high fidelity personal audio, today announced the availability of a long-anticipated update of one of its most popular headphones. Beginning this month, the Edition XS (SRP: $499) is available through select dealers and online... Read More »
(January 14, 2022) Enjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's celebrated online site for over 26 years and a leader in providing industry news, gear reviews, and show reports are pleased to announce that we're sponsoring Florida Audio Expo's Industry Happy Hour during their 2022 event in Tampa. Exhibitors and members of the press are invited to join... Read More »
Upgraded MKII Audio Circuits and Components Deliver a Higher Level of Acoustic Performance Tokyo, Japan (January 13, 2022) - Rotel is pleased to introduce the A12MKII, CD14MKII and RCD-1572MKII models, following the highly successful launch of the A14MKII, RA-1572MKII, RA-1592MKII, RC-1572MKII and RC-1590MKII models as the brand continues to launch upgraded models timed to its... Read More »
The fine artistry of Ars Antiqua Austria illustrates the excellence of historically informed performance practice today. Fifty years ago, one would search in vain for this kind of performance quality. Today AAA demonstrates "top of the pile" standards for performance on period instruments. And they've been doing it since 1989. Franz Joseph Aumann, Chamber Music... Read More »
Fozgometer V2 $400 Introducing our Fozgometer V2 azimuth range meter, the unique tool to optimize phono cartridge azimuth for the best sound from your HiFi system. To achieve the best performance, your phono cartridge’s azimuth must be calibrated. Today’s Line Contact and Micro Line styli have a very small groove contact area as compared to... Read More »
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Ode Records – UD1S-030, Limited Edition, SuperVinyl, Box Set (adv. 2021, Dec. official 2022, Jan.), advanced promo #P004 of 10 000. Originally released on Ode Records – ODE SP 77009 (1971, Feb.) Ratings Global Appreciation: 9.6 - Music: A (9.4) - Recording: 9 - Remastering + Lacquer Cutting: 9.8 - Pressing: 9.8... Read More »
Sofia Gubaidulina, Three Orchestral Works. Vadim Repin, violin. Gewandhaus Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, conductor, DGG 486-1457. Andris Nelsons and ninety-one year old Russian modernist composer Sofia Gubaidulina go back a long way and they are paired here as they are frequently. She is a major voice in the contemporary music world without whom it is hard... Read More »
Wayne Coyne, leader of Grammy award-winning American rock music icons The Flaming Lips is partnering with music streaming and download platform Qobuz to spread the word about its unique offerings and pioneering studio audio quality. As a creator of infinitely complex musical productions, and as a fan of the high-quality presentation Qobuz provides his work,... Read More »
Thousand Oaks, CA, January 10, 2022 - Zesto Audio is proud to announce the launch of their new Bia 200 Select Stereo Power Amplifier. This amp has 100 watts per channel of dynamic Class A power, plus one of the most unique features in a tube power amp, a 3 position "Auto Bias Select switch".... Read More »
Acoustic Revive is a Japanese company that was set up in 1997, run by Mr. Ken Ishiguro-san. It specializes in connectors and anti-vibration products, but also offers innovative devices, most often the brainchildren of the University of Tokyo. We are testing one of the company's products that filter ground interference—the RGC-24K. The artificial ground, or—as... Read More »
Sondheim (arr. Stern), A Little Night Music: Suite. Opus Two (William Terwilliger, violin; Andrew Cooperstock, piano). Bridge 4010. TT: 14.31 That's not a typo in the headnote: this issue clocks in at just under fifteen minutes. It's the classical-crossover equivalent of a pop EP—an "extended play" single—though it isn't actually being offered in that format. I heard... Read More »
New York, NY, January 6, 2022. Qobuz, the audiophile-approved high-resolution streaming and download platform, is launching its brand new QOBUZ DUO offer, which provides access from the same subscription to two separate accounts. Like the individual and family subscriptions Qobuz currently offers, QOBUZ DUO is perfect for music enthusiasts who want to share a unique... Read More »
What a pleasure it is to have this recording from 1994 of Nathaniel Rosen playing the complete Bach Suites for Solo Cello. Rosen brings his broad flowing strokes and lyricism to bear with delightful effect in these pieces brought back to us by John Marks and HDTT. Bach Suites for Solo Cello, Nathaniel Rosen, cello.... Read More »
Audience Introduces its forte f5 powerChord,
Recording engineer C. Robert (Bob) Fine (1922 - 1982) is best known for his Mercury Living Presence recordings with his wife Wilma Cozart Fine, and he will always be associated with those Mercury recordings. But, while Wilma Cozart Fine was an employee of Mercury (VP of classical music at Mercury Records until she retired in... Read More »
There are very few major works written for two violins only, perhaps due to the seeming lack of variety in range and effect. This album from Challenge Classics | Northstar Recording presents three demonstrable masterpieces from composers who took this limitation as a challenge. All in masterful performances and in demonstration quality sound. Most highly... Read More »
It is my sad duty to report that Max Townshend of Townshend Audio passed away on December 31 of heart failure. He was 78 years old. Max Townshend was born and educated in Australia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Western Australia. His first work experience was under a... Read More »
This article, as written by Clark Johnsen 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. In keeping with the present holiday season I recollect an... Read More »
Roger Skoff agrees with Porgy and Bess's character Sportin' Life about some Hi-Fi issues Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. It allows us to recall, honor, and enshrine the most cherished parts of the past while overlooking the less pleasant ones entirely. To the mind's eye (or to the ears of some audiophiles), the past is paradise.... Read More »
When I started writing music reviews for Positive Feedback, David gave me the brief to focus on high resolution DSD and DXD recordings. I think this was his way of challenging me to make the transition from an analog-only vinylholic to this new digital audio world into which I'd been plunged. And, so, I've found... Read More »
A reference system is a fundament of audio reviewer's work. It is his working tool. It turns out, however, that although we all want the same thing, and we want to capture the nature of the tested product or the reviewed album as best as possible, the way to achieve it can very significantly. It... Read More »
№ 33 of High Fidelity's "The Editors Series" of interviews. "The Editors" is a series of interviews with editors of audio magazines from all over the world—both printed ones, as well as online magazines and portals. It started on January 1st 2012 and 32 interview records have been published so far—the one below will be... Read More »
The Moon Leans In is an acoustic guitar- and piano-based album of wide-ranging stylistic diversity – Boulder, Colorado, December 28, 2021 – Octave Records’ newest release is The Moon Leans In by singer/songwriter/guitarist Thom LaFond. The album offers a broad range of moods and styles, from stripped-down acoustic instrument-based songs to upbeat, up-tempo cuts, and... Read More »
With this completely unexpected treatment of the great Robert Johnson's songs, Carmen Gomes Inc. surprises and delights me. I was expecting blues, of course, but the band's interpretations are a unique fusing of blues, bebop and contemporary rhythms. A refreshing new look based more around the lyrics and the mood of the songs. Carmen Gomez... Read More »
With the wonderful lead vocals of Carmen Gomes, the Carmen Gomes Inc. band delivers an album I find totally engaging from start to finish. They make these songs completely their own while honoring the great Ray Charles in so doing. Carmen Gomes Inc., Ray! Sound Liaison. 2021 (DXD) HERE In making this album, Peter Bjørnild... Read More »
(Dec. 27th) For the last fifteen years, Sarah and I have been organizing audio shows, and believe us, we went through many epic situations. Since the pandemic's beginning, we have closely followed the development of Covid-19 and its variants to make sure we make the right decision at the right time. As a result, in... Read More »
Dr. David W. Robinson, in contemplation with cigar. Happy Valley, Summer, 2021. (Photograph by John Robinson; image processing by Robinson) One of the high-end audio events that I attend every year is the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society's Gala. Held for years now at the Holiday Inn at Buena Park, CA, the LAOCAS's... Read More »
