This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 106. Bill Berry and His Ellington All-Stars, For Duke. M&K RealTime Records – RT-101 (1978), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: big band swing, jazz. Direct-to-disc lacquer cutting. German pressing. We have often heard the expression "making a great first impression is the key to success" and that's exactly... Read More »
Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center, Denver, CO, 2019 (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) My God, this place is HUGE! The main atrium, with a 5-story window overlooking the Rockies (!), is big enough for medium-sized jet airplane, or a DC-3 at the minimum. Walking distances are comparable to LAX airport… it could... Read More »
RAFF: Ode au printemps, Op. 76*; Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 185; Caprice on Themes from König Alfred, Op. 65, No. 2. Tra Nguyen, piano; *Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra/Kerry Stratton. Grand Piano GP 771. TT: 67.06 Downloads: amazon.co.uk (mp3); classicalarchives.com (mp3); prestomusic.com (mp3, FLAC); qobuz.com (mp3, "Hi-Res") If you like Romantic music, it's worth exploring the... Read More »
September 5, 2019 - Saturday September 14th from 6 pm–10 pm, Excel Audio in Newport Beach, California, will be hosting its second annual Customer Appreciation night. In attendance will be representatives from Wilson Audio, D’Agostino, Luxman, Clearaudio, AMG, and Impex Records. The featured system will be the Wilson Audio Alexxes with Master Subsonic Subs driven by... Read More »
Extract DSD 64 and up to 24-bit/192 kHz from SACDs & Blu-ray Audio discs and output with full copy protection to an external D to A converter for the first time ever! MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, September 3, 2019 – Fresh from a successful introduction at AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2019 and a showing at Munich... Read More »
September 4, 2019 -- At RMAF 2019 Wolf Audio Systems will feature the world premiere of its Alpha 3 SX music server, the finest single-chassis digital music server ever offered by the company. Please visit Wolf Audio Systems at RMAF 2019 in Room 10131 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center: 6700 North Gaylord... Read More »
Gingko Audio is proud to introduce the Sextet™ Modular Speaker System at the Capital Audiofest in Rockville, Maryland, on November 1-3, 2019. We will feature it in the Monroe room on the third floor. The Sextet is a collaborative effort that builds upon the Tubulous™ technology from Gingko Audio, the Swarm™ from AudioKinesis, and unique... Read More »
I seem to have gotten onto this bandwagon a bit late, but on the bandwagon I am. K2 HD remastering is a new technique (c. 2014) that the Japanese have pioneered to try and improve the quality of that stalwart of music delivery, the RedBook CD, now seemingly in it's twilight in favor of hard... Read More »
Fred Astaire & Miles Davis, a poem by Jim Merod It Could Happen To You, as Miles knew, growing up affluent near East St. Louis, his father's horse paddock down the path from my Aunt Rica's house in Millstadt. More than most in the Depression, Miles had means and interest to see films, among... Read More »
Final pre-production prototypes of the AN3 speakers, spinning discs through the new Stellar phono preamp, and Paul McGowan, Live! Boulder, CO: 9/3//2019-----At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019, PS Audio will present our latest state-of-the-art components in the Homestead 2 room at the new Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. The demo system will feature the... Read More »
AGD Productions is presenting this year at RMAF 2019, the new AGD “Andante” preamplifier along with the already well known AGD “Vivace”, and a special edition of the recently introduced AGD “The Audion” monoblock amplifiers. The “Andante” is an innovative reference Preamplifier with 32bit DAC, HD Streamer, and analog Hi-End Phono input. These products will... Read More »
Take the USB signal from any source and completely regenerate it to an extremely high-precision signal into your DAC, allowing it to perform at its best. The PhoenixUSB offers in one unit the equivalent of 3 separate components: A USB regenerator, a linear power supply and an external master clock with its own linear power... Read More »
The PMA-150H Digital Amplifier Offers High Fidelity Playback from Digital & Analog Sources in A Stunning, Compact Package VISTA, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2019)—Denon®, Japan’s defining audio manufacturer, today announced its latest high-performance integrated network amplifier, the PMA-150H. The compact and beautiful PMA-150 easily connects all popular digital and analog sources, including CD players, TVs, turntables, and USB... Read More »
Yon goode fellow John Marks continues his reflections on our recent musical past that he began in his just-published essay, "Walk Away Renée," to be found at his excellent Web site The Tannhauser Gate, as well as its re-publication here at Positive Feedback. Frankly, I was gratified by how quickly John continued the thread that... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about getting the most from our audio hobby. Many years ago, Stereophile, to get a better handle on its marketing, had a study done to find out who and how many its readers were. One of the (then-surprising) things that study turned-up was the fact that almost all (well more than 90%)... Read More »
Denver, September 2019: This year, at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, Nordost is teaming up with three prominent US-based hifi manufacturers, YG Acoustics, VTL, and VPI, to assemble a premier audio system. Join Nordost, September 5-8 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in the Homestead 1 room, where they will be demonstrating their... Read More »
October 24, 2018. Shipping November 2018 In late 2012, Dave Wilson began work on a new WAMM. His goal was a reference loudspeaker that would not merely be worthy of its namesake —Dave's industry-changing WAMM from the early 80s—but would redefine the idea of what was possible in music reproduction. His goal was nothing short of... Read More »
The North American importer of EAT, Audio Physic and Okki Nokki will be premiering a number of products — and a new brand — at RMAF '19 (Lake Grove, NY) August 30th, 2019 – VANA, Ltd. (www.vanaltd.com) will introduce a host of new products to the North American market at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest... Read More »
At times Lone Star Audio Fest seems like "Old Reliable." While other Hi-Fi shows struggle to survive or move upmarket pricing startups and enthusiasts out LSAF remains steady and accessible for both attendees and exhibitors. This year in year out consistency all the more impressive given the event is 100% the work of volunteers. In previous... Read More »
For those of us who are pushing things in terms of what can we accomplish with playing our music back via files within some networked system, well… where does one stop? Or better yet, what else can one do to improve things? Obviously, it starts with files whether ripped from a CD or sourced from... Read More »
He's back! Good friend and brother John Marks...the Big Kahuna of The Tannhauser Gate...strikes a note in my heart by plucking at a favorite song of mine from 1966, and fleshing out the flesh and souls behind it. Having just recently purchased the reissue of this album on LP, I am content to stir this... Read More »
New DAC includes built-in music player, onboard digital volume control and updated user interface, creating a world class digital entertainment hub from Bryston with unparalleled performance Peterborough, Ontario August 29th, 2019 – Bryston (bryston.com) has introduced the BDA-3.14 multi-function DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) that adds an array of impressive features to the much heralded BDA-3... Read More »
August 29, 2019 — Clarus®, the high-end audio cable brand that is a “sister” company to Tributaries A/V cables, is introducing new versions of their popular AQUA Cables. AQUA Mark II Balanced Audio, Single-Ended RCA Audio and Speaker cables feature a multi-gauge design using three different shaped insulated ultra-low distortion PCOCC conductors. The new AQUA Mark II cables are now... Read More »
Boulder, CO, 8/27/19: PS Audio Co-founder and CEO Paul McGowan today released the following statement: "PS Audio has a long history of shaking things up in the audio industry, and we’re excited to be doing it again. During our 45-year history, we’ve always sold direct to end-users in the US, and we’ve also had a significant presence... Read More »
Qobuz Returns as Official Streaming Service at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest for Second Year Running Qobuz, the Hi-Res streaming and download service, will continue its first-year success this September as it returns to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, the largest high-end consumer audio show in North America, for a second appearance as Official Streaming Service.... Read More »
STORE OPENING RECEPTION: August 29th, 2019 (Thursday) 6 – 9 pm Joseph Cali Presents Gryphon Audio Designs at the Pacific Design Center 8687 Melrose Avenue, Studio 66, West Hollywood, CA 90069 At Audio Video Interiors M66 RSVP: [email protected] | 310-597-0142 http://caligryphonsystems.com/ Long time high-end audio systems veteran, Joseph Cali Systems Design announces his showroom opening... Read More »
Positive Feedback, HiFi Pig, and Qobuz join together for a seminar titled, "Music You Like to Hear and Share at Shows" at the 2019 RMAF next week! Featuring Carol and Dave Clark (Positive Feedback), Stuart and Linette Smith (HiFi Pig), and David Solomon (Qobuz). How many of you here have this thought when either entering... Read More »
SAN FRANCISCO (8/27/2019) — Parasound announced today that it is now the exclusive U.S. distributor for NorStone, a French manufacturer of high quality and reasonably priced audio/video equipment racks and speaker stands. NorStone's products will be displayed and demonstrated with Parasound high-end electronics and Tekton Design speakers at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, in Denver, September 6... Read More »
World class European cable brand offers full lineup of hand-assembled analog and digital cables designed and manufactured in Scotland (Lake Grove, NY) August 28th, 2019 – VANA, Ltd. (www.vanaltd.com) has announced that it will be importing the Atlas Cables product line to North America. Destined for the best audio/video specialist dealers, Atlas Cables designs and manufactures... Read More »
PRESS RELEASE: AUGUST 27, 2019 Simaudio is delighted to announce that the MOON 860A v2 will have its North American show debut on Friday, September 6th at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. Guests are sure to be wowed as this superb power amplifier incorporates all of Simaudio’s latest know-how. A totally immersive experience is in... Read More »
Audio Solutions Designed for Music Creators by Music Creators Redefines the Sound of Audio WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. – August 27, 2019 – Ausounds, the creator of accessible premium audio solutions designed for music creators, is excited to announce the launch of its brand. Pioneering a new way of listening to music, the creative team behind Ausounds... Read More »
August 26, 2019 - Enjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's celebrated online site since 1995 and a leader in providing industry news, gear reviews, and show reports, is pleased to announce that we're sponsoring the 16th annual Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) Thursday night industry / press party plus all event seminars. For nearly 25 years, Enjoy the... Read More »
-- Notable Audio Products Distributes Superior European ‘Tables -- Falls Church, VA – August 7th, 2019: Notable Audio Products, importers and distributors of exceptional European audio products, is pleased to announce that it has been appointed the exclusive North American Distributor by J.Sikora Turntables (www.jsikora.pl). J.Sikora ‘tables already have a strong and loyal following throughout... Read More »
The PMA-600NE and DCD-600NE Offer High Fidelity Digital & Analog Listening for Enthusiasts Looking to Make the Leap into Hi-Fi VISTA, Calif. (August 22, 2019)—Denon® today announced two new Hi-Fi listening products, the PMA-600NE Integrated Amplifier and DCD-600NE CD Player. Enabling music aficionados to enter the next level of music enjoyment with high fidelity playback, the... Read More »
At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2019, Kanto Audio will exhibit its TUK high-performance powered speaker with wireless capability. TUK will be featured in Kanto's exhibit, Room 5118, and in Room 7142 featuring a complete $2,500 entry level high-end audio system. Kanto's TUK (shipping September 6, 2019) features a unique Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter for superlative high-frequency... Read More »
This guest article is by Thom Mackris, head honcho at Galibier Design. PF Senior Associate Editor Lynn Olson shared it with me right after Thom published his comments on a very recent three-hour listening session that he had with Lynn. They were doing some listening comparisons with exaSound DACs; the comments below summarize Thom's take on... Read More »
HOLBROOK, New York, August 21, 2019 -- At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2019 Nola Speakers will be featuring the world premiere of its Concert Grand Reference Gold 2 loudspeaker system, an ultra-high-end $250,000 open baffle line source array design created to deliver remarkable musical realism. The Nola Concert Grand Reference Gold 2 will be demonstrated at... Read More »
