This time we got for a review the anti-vibration feet of the German company Finite Elemente, Ceraball and Cerabase Classic models. This brand is one of the precursors among specialized firms fighting against unwanted vibrations, which with these products returns to the market after a few years absence. We published an interview with the current... Read More »
At my old place, I had a plethora of audio-related problems, not the least of which was with AC power. An early 80s house, it was reasonably well built, but almost everything in the home was contractor grade, and not everything employed the best construction practices. I first noticed I had an issue when my... Read More »
Roger Skoff, LAOC Gala 2018 (photograph by David W. Robinson) Roger Skoff writes about possibly unexpected things that can affect the sound of your system. Well more than half a century ago, when I was a kid, the teacher in my High School physics class did something I will never forget. Let me tell you... Read More »
A power strip is simply a "splitter" of the power supply—it goes in with a single cable, and it goes out via several outputs/sockets. Acoustic Revive in Europe offers one model, featuring four sockets. We would like to present you the latest version called the Absolute. This is the first part of a two-part test.... Read More »
"I feel the need—the need for speed!" (Peter "Maverick" Mitchell, Top Gun). Speed control that is! Whether it's jets or a turntable's speed... it all matters. We've all heard the chipmunk like squeals of a 33 1/3 rpm LP mistakenly played at 45 rpm, or the unholy dirge of a 45 played at 33 1/3.... Read More »
We audiophiles love to argue! There's no shortage of passionate "experts" espousing opinions regarding all things playback. These spirited debates definitely keep our hobby fun and interesting. Digital vs analog, cable believers vs non-believers, gear heads vs music heads, brand loyalists, etc. Just post about your favorite cables on social media and stand back! In... Read More »
When I first spoke with Scot Markwell, US Distributor of Furutech products, at Elite Audio Video Distribution in LA, and a longtime colleague of, and setup man for, the late Harry Pearson, about the opportunity to review a full loom of Furutech flagship cables and passive power devices, I admit to being more than a... Read More »
Based in Silicon Valley, GROM Audio is a company that specializes in high quality, in-car audio integration systems. As one of the leading industry experts, GROM takes special pride in their aftermarket solutions to satisfy customers from all over the world. Their kits include products which support smartphones, tablets, iPods/iPhones, MP3, and USB storage devices... Read More »
The new 1.5-inch tall Critical Mass Systems CenterStage2 footer packaged with two different thickness of shims, provided to assure the best possible contact. I've honestly no idea why I was so surprised to hear from Critical Mass Systems' Joe Lavrencik this past July asking if I'd like to audition the "new" CMS CenterStage2 footers. He... Read More »
After I had such a positive experience with the Gingko ARCHs vibration control devices, Vinh Vu of Gingko asked me if I'd like to listen to the latest addition to the ARCH line, the ARCH Platform. It took me about a millisecond to say "yes, please." The ARCH Platform is an attractive, low-maintenance vibration control... Read More »
What's New? I've calculated that every time I leave my apartment, it costs me $50 on average. In an odd way, that makes me feel patriotic, like I'm doing my bit to keep the consumer economy humming. Doesn't it make me a good citizen? It was late summer and the doldrums had set in, so... Read More »
The Virginia-Class Referenceαε isoBASE™ is Silent Running Audio's (SRA) statement platform for vibration abatement, isolation and sound reinforcement in audio source and electronic components. SRA CEO Kevin Tellekamp describes it as "the culmination of what we've learned over 30 years in the design and manufacture of vibration and acoustical solutions for the aerospace, military, electronics... Read More »
Makeshift towers of stacked maple or walnut wood flooring samples support the wires to my amps Take a look at my gallery of homemade cable supports. What a mess! I am embarrassed to show it. With a mid-six figure investment in gear, this is the best I could come up with? I've been looking for... Read More »
The larger your record collection, the more likely many of your favorite albums will remain buried, waiting years or possibly decades for another chance to grace your turntable again. With hundreds, or even thousands of records squirreled away on shelf after shelf, it's easier than ever to forget about all the hidden gems you own,... Read More »
When this review offer came from Norman Varney's company, AV RoomService, Ltd., I knew Norman from the Facebook experience, and I knew that he worked with custom audio installations that appeared to me to be fairly high-end. He seemed to me to be a really nice, knowledgeable guy, and I enjoyed seeing photos of some... Read More »
Marc Phillips has been doing music reviews for Positive Feedback for quite a while now. In the interest of full disclosure, he is also a distributor (Colleen Cardas Imports), and has a separate life selling fine audio gear. You'll want to keep this in mind as you read his comments...but his evaluation dovetails exactly with my... Read More »
You know, every once in a while, one of those "disruptive" products that come to the market that make you think "Why didn't I think of that", or "I thought of that!"... enter one of the original ultrasonic record cleaners. Since the release of the original Audio Desk system several years ago, there have been... Read More »
The workhorse of the Stein Music tweaks has been, and continues to be the Stein E-Pad, a truly excellent and predictable way of precisely dampening vibration in critical components and speakers. The E-Pad put Stein on the map in America and opened the door wide for his ingenious components and other system controls, like the superb Harmonizers. Though... Read More »
This past April Dave and I went to CanJam SoCal in downtown Los Angeles. It was a great show, and even though the venue was huge, it was easy to navigate. One of the first exhibitors we came across was Sonarworks. According to their website, they are "on a mission to ensure everybody hears music... Read More »