How many times have you read a review of some recording, some system, or some individual piece of gear that said something like this? "The orchestra was rendered perfectly, with each individual instrument hung in its own separate space, emerging from a perfectly black background…" Or maybe the reviewer had enthused that "It was easy... Read More »
Continuing my Audio Oasis! Awards, reflections on AXPONA 2019, and my photographs... Merging Technologies/Evolution Acoustics/Wave Kinetics/darTZeel/Durand Tonearms/ATR/Analog Audio In the Blue Light Audio room…world-class components, all! Another big-time non-surprise: The Blue Light Audio et al. room was gassed, stoked, and ready-to-go! once again. Jonathan Tinn, Kevin Malmgren, and Joel Durand hosted a really seductive room,... Read More »
Special event includes first North American preview of new flagship vacuum-tube pre-amplifier Toronto-based Audio by Mark Jones will host a Luxman Open House on June 6, with special guest Jeff Sigmund, president of Luxman America. This event will include the North American preview of Luxman’s new CL-1000 flagship vacuum-tube pre-amplifier on silent display. Attendees will have... Read More »
This note reflects, essentially, my first toe in the water of a higher end headphone setup, at least as a reviewer. I've heard high end speaker systems for decades. My first "high end" headphone setup was sometime in the late 1970s, an unknown model of magical Stax "earspeakers." At the time I thought them better... Read More »
Continuing their video interview series from Munich 2019, the good folks at NativeDSD share more of their conversations with people from that event. Great stuff! 1. Giulio Cesare Ricci, Fonè Records Floor van der Holst from NativeDSD Music catches up with Giulio Cesare Ricci from Fonè Records at High End Munich 2019. They discuss 2... Read More »
In spite of the improvements in efficient Class D switchers, watt-sucking Class A power amplifiers continue to attract high-end audiophiles. The breed remains as popular as ever—and why not? Any product of our school system knows that A is better than B, or C or D... I get quite a bit of email, and it... Read More »
NORTH PRAIRIE, WI May 23rd. 2019/VH Audio/- Chris VenHaus, the President and Head Designer of VH Audio, announced the official launch of the new V-Cap™ ODAM series of high-end audio capacitors. The ODAM series (Oil Damped Advanced Metalized) is a 'wet', hermetically sealed capacitor that offers superior performance in a compact form factor, for audio... Read More »
Cary Audio has always supported playback of vinyl records, and today there is a revival of the LP as a serious format, both for audiophiles and for the general music public. With the new VT-500, even the most demanding vinyl enthusiast will realize this exotic unit is dedicated to nothing short of incomparable vinyl playback. The... Read More »
I apologize for the long time between review articles and for the briefness of these: As I pass age 80, I am becoming more modest about the worth of what I have to say and am also beginning to play the age card. Hee-Young Lim, cello; London Symphony Orchestra. French Cello Concertos of Saint-Saëns, Milhaud,... Read More »
With PowerQuest, all audio/video enthusiasts can enjoy the benefits of clean, uncompressed AC power. With the award-winning Niagara Series of AC power products, AudioQuest takes a comprehensive approach toward effectively addressing the various ways in which AC power is corrupted in today’s highly volatile electronics environment. Met with near-universal acclaim, the Niagara Series has invigorated... Read More »
Continuing with my Audio Oasis! Awards series from AXPONA 2019... Synergistic Research/Scott Walker Audio In the Synergistic Research/Scott Walker room Ted! I spent time in the SR/Scott Walker room, checking out Ted's latest innovations at Synergistic Research. There is always something interesting going on with Ted and company, and I've had nearly 25 years of... Read More »
I've just gotten in and installed a really cool review unit from ADD Powr (which stands for Algorithm Digital Defined Power), the Sorcer X2, which employs high-tech digital technology to enhance and condition either the dedicated electrical line servicing your audio equipment stack, or perhaps even your entire electrical system. The design is from Bill... Read More »
The Galileo PowerCell SX is both evolution and revolution with four times the Active Filtration of the PowerCell 12 SE thanks to eleven more densely packed Active Electromagnetic Cells to the PowerCell 12 SE’s six EM Cells. The power supply for biasing the internal EM Cells has been completely re-engineered to have a lower noise... Read More »
Our good friends at the well-known DSD downloading site, NativeDSD.com, attended Munich 2019. During that time, they did a handful of video interviews with some key industry figures, which provide an excellent look at, and feel for, what Munich is all about. It also gives our readers an opportunity to hear more from companies that... Read More »
What can I possibly say about John Coltrane that hasn't already been said? Every jazz lover worth their salt knows John Coltrane was a player and band leader of unparalleled depth, creativity, and skill. With Craft Recording's new box set Coltrane '58: The Prestige Years the question is less about Coltrane and more about whether... Read More »
Reference Recordings RR-145, SACD and HDCD™ Price: $19.98; high-resolution download file, $24.98 While I don't do music reviews on a regular basis, there are times when a particular album really strikes me, and I have to say something…usually brief, but definite. This is one of those times. I just received a new SACD from my... Read More »
Sunday, June 2, 4-6 PM THE BACK ROOM, 1984 Bonita Avenue, Berkeley, CA Phone: 510-654-3808 Featuring: David Udolf, Piano; Dave Belove, Bass; Kendrick Freeman, Drums; Hugo Wainzinger, Guitar and special guests! Get Tix: https://backroommusic.com/events-1/2019/6/2/tribute-to-elis-regina-and-toots-thielemans-with-daria-and-brian-byrnes
With assistance on room lists from PF Senior Editor Myles Astor David W. Robinson, Munich 2018 (photograph by Wojtek Pacula) A glance backwards, and AXPONA 2019 fades into history. It's already being overlaid by Munich 2019, which occurs too quickly after the event in Chicago. Then again, the calendar for high-end audio events has been... Read More »
Yuko Mabuchi Plays Miles Davis, Yarlung Records, YAR88171, multiple formats. Recorded live in the Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall on April 25, 2018. Executive Producer: Randy Bellous. Associate Producers: Billy Mitchell & Elliot Midwood. Recording Engineers: Bob Attiyeh & Arian Jansen. Sound Consultants: Brad Michel & Ricardo Ryan. Mastering Engineers: Steve Hoffman & Bob... Read More »
NORTH PRAIRIE, WI May 9th. 2019/VH Audio/- Chris VenHaus, the President and Head Designer of VH Audio, announced today that effective May 10th, 2019 the company's V-Cap™ line of high-end audio capacitors will be retailed exclusively through VH Audio, in North America. The V-Cap dealer organization in Europe and Asia will be unaffected by this... Read More »
So where to begin? I dunno… how about at the beginning? Okay so my first turntable was an AR-XA with the Shure VR-15 cartridge. This combo spun vinyl as I had never heard before and served me well for a good number of years. But then for whatever reason I went with a Sony PS... Read More »
Naim Audio, the British hi-fi specialist with 45 years of audio expertise, has launched the 2nd Generation of its multi award-winning Mu-so wireless music system. Mu-so 2nd Generation evolves the iconic styling of its predecessor, but under its luxury aluminium casing are game-changing performance, feature and functionality upgrades. From high-resolution streaming to multiroom music to... Read More »
High-End Munich – May 9, 2019 – Focal, the French expert in High-Fidelity manufacturing, is introducing new wooden finishes to the Sopra N°2, Sopra N°3, Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo loudspeakers, at High-End Munich. The selection of sophisticated finishes complements the sound performance of these Made-in-France, high-end solutions. Focal’s audio innovation goes beyond... Read More »
Munich—May 9, 2019—Wireworld Cable Technology, one of the world's most respected brands of high performance audio and video cables, announces the release of their second generation Ethernet patch cables. Their patented flat design was developed through listening tests that compared network cables to a local USB stick. These new “Series 8” cables utilize higher density... Read More »
Munich May 8th, 2019 – Cementing its reputation for developing high-performance digital sources, AURALiC will unveil a new addition to the award-winning G2 Series of products at the Munich High-End Audio show this year. Three years in the making, the SIRIUS G2 Upsampling Processor will debut at the MOC venue in Munich from May 9th... Read More »
Munich May 8th, 2019 – Cementing its reputation for developing high-performance digital sources, AURALiC will unveil a new addition to the critically acclaimed G1 Series of products at the Munich High-End Audio show this year. Continuing its tradition as a high-performance wireless streamer, the updated and enhanced ALTAIR G1 will debut at the MOC venue... Read More »
Herb Reichert (left) and Lynn Olson at RMAF 2015: a moment (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) Although some of you may know me as the sometime Tech Editor of PF (and that only occasionally, when the mood strikes me), and the designer of the Ariel loudspeaker and Amity and Karna 300B triode... Read More »
Global agreement supports Powered by Napster with an extensive breadth of studio quality audio solutions Seattle, WA, May 6, 2019 -- Rhapsody International Inc., a pioneer in digital music and leading provider of music streaming technologies and services for partners, today announced it has completed a global agreement with MQA, the innovative company delivering authenticated master quality music in... Read More »
Totem Acoustic has introduced the V2 Element Series Metal and Fire loudspeakers; The result of dramatic advancements to their legendary 7" Torrent bass driver. After living with the immensely successful Tribe Tower for the past 18 months, Totem has applied many of the principles learned from the evolution of their 4" Torrent driver to the... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 91. Deep Purple, Machine Head. Purple Records – TPSA 7504 IE 064 (UK) (1972), Warner Bros. Records, Rhino Vinyl – R1 75622 (2006), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: hard rock, heavy metal, proto-speed metal, blues rock. "We all came out to Montreux..." Surely one of the most recognizable... Read More »
Vladigerov: Piano Music. Victoria Terekiev, piano. Da Vinci Classics C00134. TT: 69.01. Classique et romantique, Op. 34; Choumene, Op. 29; Episodes, Op. 36; Aquarelles, Op. 17. Downloads: amazon.com, play.google.com, qobuz.com (mp3) The music of Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov (1898-1978) has already appeared on an earlier album, Wind from the East (Gega New GR 31), on which Victoria Terekiev,... Read More »
Here's an opportunity to celebrate excellence in various disciplines, and the greatness of the human spirit! Every now and then I stumble upon a musical performance that just fills me with so much joy, and then I hasten to pass the word on. What a talented young lady, and what a talented mother she has!... Read More »
There’s news: As of May 1, 2019, Positive Feedback has added Steven Rochlin’s online magazine, Enjoy the Music, to its community of high-end audio online affiliated publications. Enjoy the Music has likewise added PF to its list of content-sharing journals. Both magazines have a long history of fine audio publication: Positive Feedback for 30 years, and... Read More »
BERNARDSVILLE, New Jersey, USA - Zero Feedback, Zero Dead time and bottomless noise floor using Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors on the ELEMENT 114 Stereo Power Amplifiers from Merrill Audio make it simply one of the best amplifiers available. Merrill Audio is very excited to release this new advanced technology at a lower price point. Utilizing... Read More »
It happens from time to time that a Japanese traveling in the world falls in love with a place or person and that's where he sets up his business. But for a Westerner to start a company in Japan - it's a real rarity. And in the audio industry it is an absolute rarity. This... Read More »
Munich High End 2019 Atrium 4, F221 Marking CH Precision’s 10th anniversary. L10 line-stage with dedicated external power supply and more powerful M10 mono/stereo power amplifier (300 W/RMS into 8 Ohms stereo, over 1kW RMS into 8 Ohms in bridged mono mode, with bi-amped and high-current mono configurations as well). The same proven topologies (fully balanced,... Read More »
Happy Little Accidents Bob Ross (1942-1995) was the loving host of the 1980's TV show The Joy of Painting. He enjoyed the peace, serenity, and most importantly; the process of creating a beautiful painting on a blank canvas. Many of our listening spaces are blank canvasses. But, despite the usual claims that great low-frequency reproduction... Read More »
