July - August 2018
Audio Discourse
A Day with Joe Cohen of The Lotus Group
Alright, so as part of our trip up to the California Audio Show (see Malachi's and Kirsten's show reports HERE and HERE) Carol and I decided to add in...
Aretha Franklin – Some Vibrations Linger Longer
Radio Free Chip The French have a phrase for it. The bastards have a phrase for everything and they are always right. To say goodbye is to die a...
Impressions: The Playback Designs MPS-8 Reference SACD/CD...
Ye Olde Editor, Happy Valley, Oregon, 2018. Portrait by John Robinson. Playback Designs has returned again…with a vengeance! Their Dream Series of...
A Day with Louis Desjardins of Kronos Audio
Ah, Montreal We finally made it! An excursion to Kronos Audio in Montreal had been planned last year, but, due to one thing or another, it never...
Trio Wanderer: Schubert Trio, op. 100 & "Trout" Quintet
If you're wondering why I enjoy having John Marks' erudite commentary (editor of The Tannhauser Gate) here at PF so much, puzzle no more, my friend!...
Ioana Cristina Goicea: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Here's the latest from John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate blog site. His work is always a delight to re-publish here at Positive Feedback...this time...
Impressions: The Munich High-End Show 2018, Part 2, and Audio...
Munich 2018, or "What the hell was that?!" Fair warning: This is not going to be a standard show report, whatever that is. There are plenty of audio...
Sonarworks True-Fi for Headphones
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...
Dan Bern: "Jerusalem"
Another contribution from John Marks of the blog site The Tannhauser Gate. This one brief, and controversial in some musical quarters. Nonetheless,...
Impressions: the Accustic Arts Tube Preamp II Mk2 Preamplifier...
Image courtesy of Accustic Arts A bloody busy year so far, with much more to go. One of the projects that I took on very early in 2018...with some...
Acoustic Research M200 High Res Audio Player
Last year at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest we had a chance to listen to the AR-M200 player. It is a great sounding player and compact in size, and at a...
Audio Ramblings and the Skogrand Beethoven USB Cable
Ah yes, the world of cables… well specifically the world of USB cables. A lot of controversy as to their audible impact, or perhaps not if one...
Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica: Astor Piazzolla, Oblivion...
I think that the assertion that the Nobel Prize in Literature is essentially silly (and therefore, we are fools for taking it seriously) has...
Hardware Reviews
Peter Ledermann is the Artisan Smithy of Sound, Part 2: The New...
If you read Part 1 of this Soundsmith review series in Positive Feedback Issue 98 (HERE), where I wrote about the new Carmen Mk II phonograph...
The Fiio Q5 Portable Headphone Amplifier/DAC - Now With the New...
As Fiio continues their push into higher-performance personal portables (and into the US market!), they're releasing some technologically remarkable...
Pass Labs INT-250 Integrated Amplifier - "It's Good To Be The...
"It's good to be the King!" While sitting back and listening to the Pass Labs INT-250 integrated amplifier, I couldn't help but giggle and think about...
Ultimate Ears Pro 18+ Custom IEMs - 3rd Edition
With their headquarters based in sunny-side California, Ultimate Ears was initially founded in 1995 by Jerry and Mindy Harvey. The former of which has...
WyWires Diamond Cables - Diamonds Are Forever
With Grado's new superstars of the cartridge world on the scene, I have updated my turntables, adding the EAT Csharp and Forte S models. Both had DIN...
Spatial Audio Hologram M4 Triode Master Loudspeakers: Small...
I don't trust loudspeaker reviews. OK, you do realize you can't trust what you read in the paper, see in an advertisement, watch on cable news, hear on...
PS Audio Stellar M700 Mono Amplifiers
Gosh, it sees that lately I've been inundated with Class D topology amplifiers. Several here for review, pending. Each one with their own style and...
Audio Desk Systeme Premium Ultrasonic Vinyl Cleaner PRO
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...
Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier
Prologue I used Pass Labs' XP-10 as a reference preamplifier for most of 2017. I had no problem distinguishing it from my previous reference, a circa...
Phono System Extraordinaire: EAT Forte S Turntable with Csharp...
After many many years as an audiophile delving into all forms of music reproduction in the home, I am most aware of the direction of the many twists...
AURALiC Vega G2 DAC
Unibody Chassis. Display Brilliance. Tesla G1. Music Streaming Ecosystem. Lightning Link. Frankly, I didn't realize Apple had moved the introduction of...
The Neoteric Listener - The Black Cat Cable Stargate Series...
In a world where smiling boxes mysteriously appear on your porch and contain products that may or may not be missing a crucial part, fail to operate...
Clarus Audiophile Collection - Crimson Cables
I enjoy a good challenge. Whenever a cable review comes my way, I accept wholeheartedly knowing that it will be quite the adventure. I say this because...
The Schiit Vidar Intelligent Power Amplifier - Another Take
Dean Seislove mentioned he had Schiit's Vidar amplifier in house. You can read that review HERE. I'd just been listening to Schiit's Gungnir Multi-Bit...
The Neoteric Listener - The Schiit Vidar Intelligent Power...
More. Nothing drives audio like More. Landfills in every continent are filled with working integrated amps, bookshelf speakers, and last year's gear;...
Stage III Concepts Proteus Power Cable
"It doesn't look like it could change shape," Joseph observed after a long pause to process the behemoth power cable resting on my carpet. That would...
The New First Watt SIT-3 Stereo Power Amplifier by Nelson Pass!
Pretty much everyone involved in enthusiast audio has heard of Nelson Pass, and for good reason, as Nelson has been a central figure in the audio...
EAT Jo No. 5 MC Cartridge: North American Premiere
No, I did not make up the name. Yes, Josefina Lichtenegger is CEO of EAT, European Audio Team, and is both chief audiophile extraordinaire and chief...
Stein Music E-Pads in Pure Copper, Silver, and Gold: World...
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...
Audioengine A5+ Wireless Powered Loudspeakers
I have a fairly long history with Audioengine loudspeakers and products; in my book, they're some of the most well-designed, well-constructed, and...
Ortofon Cadenza Blue Cartridge
Over the years a wide array of cartridges have passed through my reference system. While I cannot claim to have had serious relationships with designs...
Prism Sound Callia DAC - Another Visitation
This was not going to be my review piece. I'd heard Prism Sound's Callia at shows for several years. Each time I heard their demonstration, it was with...
Tekton Design Impact Monitors
Click over to Tekton Design's website and one could infer that I have quit my job, given away all possessions, and joined the church of Tekton in Utah....
Lessloss C-MARC Power Cord and C-MARC 75 Ohm S/PDIF Digital
The other day a friend of mine with keen ears, though not an audiophile, walked into my living room system and said "Hmmm… you changed something, I...
Grado Lineage Series - Aeon Phono Cartridge World Premiere
For the first time ever, I present my reviewer's high-end balance sheet. ROI (Return on Investment in High-end Audio) Grado Epoch Cartridge: $12,000...
Synergistic Research HFT and FEQ
At the last Diana Krall live concert I attended, I happen to be seated next to an elderly woman who took great pleasure in singing, with all abandon,...
The Audioengine A5+ Wireless Loudspeakers
"Get your station at the touch of a finger!" shouts the vintage ad for General Electric radios. "Touch tuning - Does away with tedious dialing!" Now,...
Audience Au24 SX Interconnect, Phono and Speaker Cables: Thin Is...
Cables, cables everywhere. Thin, thick, round, flat, flexible, stiff, heavy, light, silver, copper, gold, silver plated copper, silver with gold. Just...
World Premiere Review: Unique Innovation Technology's SMP -...
I described the noble first attempt by Unique Innovation Technology (UIT) to bring their outstanding new technology, demonstrated by their...
The Alta Audio Hestia Titanium Loudspeaker - The Goddess With a...
Founded in 2013, Alta Audio is the creation of long-time industry presence Michael Levy. Alta's first speaker, the Celesta FRM-2, came about as a...
Peter Ledermann is the Artisan Smithy of Sound: The New...
I get emails from audio enthusiasts and music lovers around the world asking for recommendations of a relatively affordable phonograph cartridge that...
Interviews
Okihiko Sugano - An Interview of Sorts
菅野沖彦 This is the name that is synonymous with the highest sound quality in Japan. Known for his extremely good hearing, exceptionally warm...
Music - SuperSonic Recordings
Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 9
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 66. Babe Ruth, First Base. Harvest, EMI – SHSP 4022 (UK) (1972), 33 1/3 rpm....
Music Reviews
Tom Hook's 62
Arbors Records ARCD 19463, CD $10, available at https://arborsrecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/tom-hook-62 "Where were you in '62?" The...
David Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7's The Giver
ORG Records ORGM-2114, LP $20, special limited edition green or white $25, available at orgmusic.com We music lovers and collectors know the feeling of...
Jennifer Warnes Shootout - Famous Blue Raincoat, The Hunter, and...
This was a fun project. The original genesis was realized from dozens of emails from various readers over the last twelve months in response to some of...
Cuerdas Cubanas, Toomai String Quintet - The Music of Brito,...
Cuerdas Cubanas, Toomai String Quintet. CD and downloads available at CDbaby.com. TT: 30.55 López: A Gozar con mi Combo. Lecuona: Gitanerías; Zambra...
Andy Zimmerman's Half Light
Andy Zimmerman, Half Light. Newvelle Records NV014LP, LP available as part of subscription at newvelle-records.com I came to a stunning realization...
Fred Hersch Trio - Live in Europe
Palmetto PM2192, CD $15.98 Amazon.com Fred Hersch, where have you been? It's been ages! Okay, I know I'm the one who's been out of touch with Fred...
Requiems: Crossing Over, Saying Farewell
Dodd's DSD Discoveries #27 "Requiems – Crossing Over, Saying Farewell" Bill Dodd Starting in our Issue 96, Positive Feedback added to its music...
New Old Stock - Articles from Our Days in Print
The Spectron 1KW Digital Amplifier - A Pure Class D Killer!
This article, as reviewed by Mike Pappas, originally ran when Positive Feedback was in print. Volume 6, Issue 4. A Pure Class D Project How did I get...
Our Friends at HIFI Statement
Audeze LCD X Headphones
Audeze produziert Magnetostaten in handwerklicher und klanglicher Perfektion. Mir wird die Aufgabe zuteil, unser Audeze-Testportfolio um den LCD-X zu.... . . Read More »
Ayon CDT II Transport MarkII
Totgesagte leben länger! Dieser Spruch bezog sich ursprünglich auf eine kleine Molkerei in Österreich, lässt sich aber durchaus auch auf unser.... . . Read More »
Our Friends at High Fidelity
Crystal Cable's Ultimate Dream Loudspeaker Cable
This is a unique situation: the same company owns two cabling brands that are significantly different from each other. The manufacturer is...
High Fidelity Disc Project - Master CD-R Made in Polish, Dreams...
Do you know Polish music? No? It is a time capsule to read something more about it. And about my dreams too. Now and then I have such a thought: if we...
Our Friends at Part-Time Audiophile
Sonus Faber Launches Sonetto
The 1900 Building in Kansas City, Missouri, is the original HQ for Lee Jeans, and last week I got a tour, courtesy of Mr. Karbank, the owner. The "new".... . . Read More »
The Millennial Audiophile: A Review of the NAD 316BEE V2...
I’ve owned three of the NAD 316BEE integrated amplifiers. They are my go to budget integrated for a few reasons; power, finesse, and simplicity. Each.... . . Read More »
Recording the Masters FOX C-60: The New Audio Cassette Standard
Technics RS M63. That was the first cassette deck recorder I bought with my own money. On monthly installments, I paid $21.50 for 24 months with my.... . . Read More »
Show Reports
The California Audio Show 2018, Another Take
The California Audio Show 2018. This year was the eighth annual installment of this show. Dave and I attended the first two, 2010 in Emeryville, and...
T.H.E. SHOW 2018 - Is It Back for Real or Just Here for a Brief...
T.H.E. Show… The Home Entertainment Show of 2018… back after being abandoned by the creation of the Los Angeles Audio Show (LAAS ) in 2017, which...
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Part 2: AXPONA 2018
In Part I of my AXPONA 2018 show report, I highlighted several "costs more than my first house" mega-systems, systems that only the up-and-coming hedge...
