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 »
A fun seasonal confection—Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" is played solo on a 5 1/2 octave celesta. This little gem will stress test your audio system's capabilities, and put a smile on your face if your system is up to playing it. Tchaikovsky, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Celia Garcia-Garcia. EP (DXD,... Read More »
(December 21, 2021) Enjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's celebrated online site for over 26 years and a leader in providing industry news, hardware reviews, and show reports, is pleased to announce that we're sponsoring AudioCon Los Angeles' (AudioConLA) Thursday night Industry Happy Hour! Show exhibitors and members of the press are invited to join us at... Read More »
– Levelland presents Bonnie and Taylor’s singing and acoustic instruments with a warm, rich purity – Boulder, Colorado, December 20, 2021 – Octave Records’ latest release is Levelland by country-folk duo Bonnie and Taylor Sims. It’s a contemplative and romantic set of songs by the two, who have been playing and recording together for more... Read More »
Hürth, Germany, December 2021 – Effective Immediately, TIDAL-Audio GmbH is proud to announce the TIDAL Intra Power Amplifier. The TIDAL Intra results from the uncompromising implementation of our most basic requirement: pure amplification of the musical signal without adding any sonic color or concealing even the smallest of details. A TIDAL basic since founding the... Read More »
Tampa, Florida—December 2022—The countdown to Florida Audio Expo 2022 has begun. The Florida Audio Expo is ready to host the audio-industry elite for its third show, to be held Friday–Sunday, February 18–20, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore. Qobuz returns as the Expo’s official streaming service, and David Solomon, Chief Hi-Res Evangelist... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about why it costs so much to get less Roger Skoff is the former CEO and Lead Designer for XLO Cables. Nowadays, he captains RSX Technologies, a new high-end cable company in southern California. Words are cheap. If you just want to hear the words of a song, even a kid's "crystal... Read More »
Beaverton, Dec. 17, 2021 – AURALiC Inc., today announced that it will now offer the capability to stream Amazon Music Unlimited on all of its streaming products. Owners of AURALiC products may now control and play Amazon Music from within Lightning DS, a feature-rich and intuitive control app designed in-house by the AURALiC engineering team.... Read More »
Adele, 30 Bravery Through Vulnerability Adele's a global superstar. The anticipation for new releases from the reclusive singer/songwriter is always a palpable worldwide event. But super stardom comes with a heavy price, especially when you're often compared to the greats like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston. Speaking of heavy; the constant criticism thrown at... Read More »
At long last, T.H.E. Show team is delighted to announce the official launch of T.H.E. Group (link to www.thegroup.life ), a brand new highly curated audio, music, and lifestyle… well, group! This is a membership-based eco-system with two levels of membership offered: (***Membership is open globally so you don’t have to be local to be part of... Read More »
T.H.E. Group: a Specially Curated Audio and Lifestyle Ecosystem Los Angeles, CA, December 15, 2021 - T.H.E. Show announces the launch of their brand new specially curated initiative, T.H.E. Group. Born in the cauldron of the unprecedented Covid pandemic when audio shows were forced to shutter, T.H.E. Show’s President, Maurice Jung and Director of Marketing,... Read More »
Since 2001 Wax Poetics has been highly regarded as a benchmark of quality in music. From its timeless music stories, through to its focus on progressive artists and scenes, quality has always been at the centre of what Wax Poetics does. Now newly relaunched to bring this same high level of music and insight to... Read More »
Bach's Goldberg Variations performed by string trio is a singular delight. This performance by members of the CamerataRCO is one that I rank among the best, most enjoyable, performances of this work that I know. With the significant bonus of outstanding sonics in this beautifully captured recording by Bert van der Wolf, Northstar Recording, I... Read More »
Norwegian soprano Mari Eriksmoen is remarkable. Her clear, agile soprano and light vibrato deliver perfectly in this collection of Mozart and Handel Arias. Highly recommended. Mozart and Handel: Arias and Overtures, Mari Eriksmoen, Jan Willem de Vriend, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. Challenge Classics | Northstar Recording 2020 (DXD) HERE This is my first occasion listening to... Read More »
Hurth, Germany, December 2021 – Effective January 1, 2022, TIDAL-Audio GmbH is proud to announce the newly created status of Brand Ambassador, TIDAL-Audio, USA. As a component of global changes surrounding the company’s growth, TIDAL-Audio GmbH is proud to announce the newly created status of Brand Ambassador, TIDAL-Audio USA. Effective January 1, 2022, Doug White... Read More »
Jan Willem de Vriend and the Residentie Orkest The Hague give us a symphony cycle to savor, the symphonies of Franz Schubert in glorious high resolution audio. This is a great cycle of the complete symphonies, with one more volume to come. Highly recommended. Schubert, The Complete Symphonies, Volumes 1-3, Jan Willem de Vriend, Residentie... Read More »
The New RS150 and RS250 Systems Feature Streaming for Modern Listening Binghamton, NY – December 10, 2021 – McIntosh is proud to introduce its iconic sonic quality in the new RS150 and RS250 wireless loudspeakers. The RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker is a compact, user-friendly speaker delivering a larger-than-life home audio sound performance. The RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker... Read More »
Beginning at the end of 2003, PF established its first annual awards for fine audio. The Brutus Award was established for the best that David Robinson and Dave and Carol Clark had heard in their own listening rooms during that year. You can think of it as our equivalent of an "Editors' Choice" award. The Gizmo Award,... Read More »
Boulder, Colorado, December 8, 2021 – Marking a major milestone for the company, PS Audio today announced the introduction of its aspen FR30 loudspeaker, an elegantly slim 3-way floorstanding tower that incorporates planar-magnetic and dynamic drivers and a host of innovative technologies to deliver extraordinary musical realism. The new FR30 features all-new push-pull planar magnetic midrange and high-frequency transducers,... Read More »
