DSD Archives - Positive Feedback

From Our NOS Files: "The Higher End – SACD: Mic Feeds and Master Tapes for the Masses!"

David W. Robinson — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 23:45:47 +0000

From Positive Feedback, Volume 8, No. 1, late winter 1998/early spring of 1999... For the record, I have not changed my appraisal of DSD and SACD since I wrote this back in the wee hours of 1999. To my knowledge, Positive Feedback was the first audiophile publication to go on the record supporting DSD/SACD, and we... Read More »

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Mixing in Pure DSD - No PCM Allowed

Rushton Paul — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 19:16:02 +0000

For years I've been told that it is not possible to mix in DSD—that this is one of the major limitations of recording in DSD. Well, I'm now learning from Tom Caulfield, mastering engineer for NativeDSD, and Gonzalo Noqué, owner and recording engineer at Eudora Records and Noqué Studio, that this is no longer true.... Read More »

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Mingus' Ah Um - A Terrific New Pure DSD256 Reissue from HDTT

Rushton Paul — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 22:20:53 +0000

When HDTT issues a Redux edition of an album I’ve liked, I always pay attention. I’ve yet to be disappointed with the improvements Bob Witrak has been able to wring from the source tapes. I thought this release was excellent before. In this updated version the sound quality clearly goes up a notch, if not... Read More »

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Brief Impressions: Mobile Fidelity's Ultradisc One Step LP Reissue of Michael Jackson's Thriller [Updated 11/21/2022]

David W. Robinson — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:49:01 +0000

Ye Olde Editor at RMAF 2019, in water color mode. Photograph by Scot Hull; image processing by that very Robinson himself…. About that One Step… Audiophiles who are tuned into things analog, reissues of same, and record collecting are certainly aware of the recent controversy regarding the processing of Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (MFSL, or... Read More »

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A YouTube Interview on DSD with Playback Design's Andreas Koch, Part Two

Greg Weaver — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 01:17:22 +0000

Some viewers of our first conversation on my YouTube channel, the audio analyst© "Episode 89: Andreas Koch and Digital Recording" (https://youtu.be/eH-WW5s3NBM), which dropped on September 25th of this year, suggested that the information he shared was not only utterly fascinating, but was actually revelatory. With that in mind, Andreas was kind enough to join me... Read More »

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Greg Weaver's the audio analyst YouTube Interview with Andreas Koch about DSD

Greg Weaver — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:57:19 +0000

Greg Weaver of the audio analyst and I have been working to extend our readers/viewers understanding of DSD at all levels, including the use of DSD256 in the production of LPs, such as Mobile Fidelity has been doing for a number of years now. Other companies like ABKCO have done the same in projects like... Read More »

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Impressions: The Wolf Audio Alpha 3SX Music Server, Revisited [updated]

David W. Robinson — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:04:31 +0000

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 »

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The Butterfly Effect, Noelia Rodiles in Pure DSD256

Rushton Paul — Tue, 25 May 2021 17:44:13 +0000

With a light and delicate touch, Noelia Rodiles carries us on a rollicking joy filled ride with Schumann, Rueda, Mendelssohn, and del Puerta, then lands us gently with Schubert and Magrane. If some of these names are unfamiliar, I encourage you to join me and explore this lovely recording. Another transparent recording by Gonzalo Noqué... Read More »

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Pure DSD256 - What We Hear

Rushton Paul — Wed, 12 May 2021 20:01:31 +0000

Some of you may recall that Ann and I have been on a journey of discovery these past three years. After 45 and more years as died-in-the-wool analog listeners, we moved from an all-vinyl listening system to an all-digital listening system. And as we've explored digital recordings, we've kept our "audiophile-off-the-deep-end" hats firmly in place,... Read More »

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Impressions: the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC

David W. Robinson — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 08:14:36 +0000

Ye Olde Editor, a moment. (Portrait by John Robinson) Bill Parish of GTT Audio is a great longtime audiobud of mine. We go back nearly 20 years now. During that time, I've come to develop a real respect for his line card, which is always excellent, and pay a lot of attention to his recommendations... Read More »

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Video Interviews from Munich 2019, Part 2: NativeDSD.com Talks with the Industry About DSD

Editors at Positive Feedback — Wed, 29 May 2019 21:36:55 +0000

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 »

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Video Interviews from Munich 2019, Part 1: NativeDSD.com Talks with the Industry About DSD

Editors at Positive Feedback — Thu, 16 May 2019 23:11:49 +0000

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 »

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Impressions: The Sound Galleries SGM2015 – Chapter 1, with the T+A DAC8 DSD DAC

David W. Robinson — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 02:40:53 +0000

In which our hero meditates… (Drawing by Robinson at a particularly boring faculty meeting many years ago….) What's the deal with me and German designs? In my later adult life, I've gravitated to a lot of products from our friends in Germania. While I'm not in the market for, say, guns, artillery pieces, or tanks,... Read More »

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Premier Review: Yuko Mabuchi Trio Live Concert Recording from Yarlung Records

Robert H. Levi — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 18:23:43 +0000

Yuko Mabuchi Trio; Yuko Mabuchi piano, Bobby Breton drums, and Del Atkins bass; Yarlung Records 80161 CD, pressed in Germany on high definition special composite materials. Available in PCM and DSD on HDTracks, and NativeDSD.com up to DSD256 (Quad DSD). 2017. Recorded before a live audience at the Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall. Yuko Mabuchi plays a Steinway Piano. Recording... Read More »

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PrimeSeat Launches DSD 11.2MHz Streaming Audio

Brian Moura — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:48:48 +0000

PrimeSeat Presents the NHK Orchestra in DSD 11.2 MHz (Photo: PrimeSeat Software) While many were celebrating Independence Day this 4th of July, a different celebration was happening in Japan and on the Internet. July 4, 2017 was the launch date of 11.2MHz DSD (also known as Quad DSD or DSD 256) Streaming Audio from PrimeSeat. ... Read More »

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Brief Impressions: HDTT's Howard Hanson: An American Romantic on Reel-to-Reel Tape

David W. Robinson — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:45:32 +0000

Unless you're a 'phile who lives under rocks, listens to CDs, and thinks that eclipses happen because someone didn't pay the power bill, you're aware that reel-to-reel (RTR) tapes have been going through a quiet renaissance over the past few years. There's an incredible romance that goes along with RTR machines, one that is deeply... Read More »

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From the LA Audio Show: PF's DSD Seminar PowerPoints

David W. Robinson — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 19:07:54 +0000

From the LA Audio Show: PF's DSD Seminar PowerPoints Those of you who were at the recent LA Audio Show had an opportunity to attend the Positive Feedback DSD Update Seminar. In it, PF Associate Editor Brian Moura and I presented a one-hour discussion of some recent developments in DSD hardware, recordings available in DSD, and download sites... Read More »

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Sony Adds Quad DSD to Car Digital Media Player

Brian Moura — Tue, 30 May 2017 15:24:48 +0000

Sony RSX-GS9 Playing Dirty Work by Jenna Mammina in DSD 11.2 MHz (Photo: Blue Coast Music) Sony Electronics has announced that their RSX-GS9 Car Digital Media Player is now available with Quad Rate DSD (11.2MHz) playback. Current owners of the RSX-GS9 can upgrade their players by downloading and installing a free software upgrade from the... Read More »

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Camilla Tilling, "loves me… loves me not…"

John Marks — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 19:43:46 +0000

In which our esteemed friend, John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate (www.thetannhausergate.com) introduces us to yet another worthy singer, she of a truly lovely voice, Camilla Tilling. I was not familiar with Ms. Tilling, but was very much taken by her fine performances on this recording by BIS. As always, John is a sure guide to worthy... Read More »

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Santana's Lotus: Complete Edition in Quad DSD and SACD Surround Sound

Brian Moura — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 23:15:29 +0000

Lotus: Complete Edition, Santana (Photo: Sony Music Japan) Sony Music Japan will be celebrating Santana's upcoming concerts in Japan from April 22 to April 27, 2017 in a big way with the release of a new Complete Edition of the band's legendary Lotus album in DSD 11.2 MHz stereo (also known as DSD 256 or Quad DSD),... Read More »

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My Questions and Answers (MQA): An Interview with Andreas Koch

Andreas Koch — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 23:28:21 +0000

My Questions and Answers (MQA) An interview of and by Andreas Koch on the subject of digital audio formats In the age of digital audio it appears that a new format is trying to conquer the consumer market every few years, but their success-to-failure ratio is much smaller than 1. It makes us wonder why... Read More »

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A YouTube Video About PF's Jim Merod: The Jazz Man!

David W. Robinson — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 23:32:46 +0000

Positive Feedback has a lively and diverse creative community on its masthead. One very unforgettable person, and a very close, dear friend of mine, is the inimitable Dr. Jim Merod, a Senior Associate Editor at PF. A professor at Soka University in southern California, Jim is widely renowned in the world of Jazz as The... Read More »

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Impressions: Robinson's Brutus Awards for 2016, Part The Last

David W. Robinson — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 01:30:36 +0000

Herewith is Impressions: Robinson's Brutus Awards for 2016, Part The Last. Part The First can be found HERE, Part The Second HERE, Part The Third HERE, and Part The Fourth HERE. Music Software/Record Companies/Download Sites Year in and year out, we audiophiles and music lovers rely on our trusted labels, recording companies, re-issuers, and download sites to provide us with... Read More »

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Marc Phillips on the Music: CIKADA & Oslo Sinfonietta, Maja S. K. Ratkje’s 'And sing…'

Marc Phillips — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 23:28:27 +0000

CIKADA & Oslo Sinfonietta: Maja S. K. Ratkje's And sing… (2L Recordings 2L-124-SABD, available in various formats at https://shop.klicktrack.com/2l/475351) Are you musically adventurous? That question might seem dated in a spacy, Jimi Hendrix' first album sort of way, but it's an honest question for most music lovers. We all have strange and unique recordings in... Read More »

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Impressions: The Playback Designs Merlot Quad DSD DAC and Syrah Music Server, with Brief Notes on the Pinot Quad DSD ADC

David W. Robinson — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 23:01:09 +0000

So here I am again, returning to one of the touchstone companies for DSD and digital audio: Playback Designs. Am I surprised? Should anyone be surprised? Heck no. In fact, according to Andreas Koch, he and I first saw each other at the original DSD demonstration at Mobile Fidelity in Sebastopol, CA, back in September... Read More »

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