July - August 2019
Audio Discourse
Creating a Path to Digital Music Bliss with Roon
From left to right, Intel Nuc Roon Core, Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra, Raspberry Pi 3 B+, Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Over the past year I have spent a...
A Transition from iTunes and Hi-Resolution Players to Roon
Why is that with all the music we have access to, we still play the same 50 albums? I grew up in a time of Hi-Fi that I thought was the golden age. It...
A Love Affair: Craft Records/Prestige Records Coltrane '58 Eight...
The Software The 60th anniversary of jazz king John Coltrane's banner year with Prestige Records, with all cuts produced by legendary Rudy Van Gelder...
Gryphon Audio Event at Goodwin's High End
Saturday 7/27/2019, Boston MA First, a public service announcement: Get off the screens! While I work tirelessly with my children on this, I believe it...
Women in Audio
This article originally ran in Issue 41 of Positive Feedback, January/February 2009. This was the precursor to my last article, HERE. So …what...
Audio Ramblings and the PS Audio P20
So, when it comes down to getting the best, make that the very best, that one's system can produce sound wise in your room, after all is said and...
Surround Music in the 21st Century [Updated]
Lynn Olson and Thom Mackris, RMAF 2015 Let's start with a skeptical view from Steve Guttenberg, who's been around the block more than once:...
My Summer at NASA (in 1969)
Herb Reichert and Lynn Olson at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, 2015 (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) In my sophomore year in...
My Journey Into Audio - Pandora Pang
Original version published Feb 20, 2015. Revised after stumbling onto Positive Feedback's Carol Clark's recent post, My Journey into Audio Pandora,...
Which Way to Run a Cable?
Roger Skoff writes about everybody'd favorite controversial product While the debate continues on the internet over whether different cables sound...
My Journey Into Audio
I heard an interesting theory last year at the California Audio Show. Basically, I was informed that women aren't audiophiles because they're not wired...
Brief First Impressions from an Editor's Notebook: The...
Self-portrait, 2017 In medias res… From time to time, I shake out my ongoing audio journal, and comment on some products and items that have...
The New Apartment Lounge: When My Boat Comes In
In this installment of the New Apartment Lounge, Maurice Jeffries takes a long hard listen to the stunning Mola Mola amp/preamp suite, an almost...
Video Interviews from Munich 2019, Part 3: NativeDSD.com Talks...
Concluding our video interview series from Munich 2019, courtesy of NativeDSD.com, here are the final three interviews from that event. Many thanks to...
An Experience with the Fern & Roby Montrose Turntable
I grew up listening to records. These days we call then LPs or vinyl, but I will still think of them as records. My first record player was a toy, but...
Devore Fidelity Orangutan Reference System Debut for North...
Common Wave Audio is the most recent audio store to open in the greater Los Angeles area. Owned and run by Wes Katzir, this store, or better yet...
Hardware Reviews
Synergistic Research SRX Power Cord and Galileo SX Ethernet
I have reviewed almost every Synergistic Research (SR) Power Cord over the last ten years. Each generation made a significant step forward in sound...
Simaudio Moon 390 Network Player and Preamplifier
We're Gonna Spread Our Wings And Take To The Sky For some time now I've been attempting to implement, to my satisfaction, a home built music...
KECES Ephono and Ephono Power
One of the great benefits of reviewing the KECES Ephono is that I have been playing so many records lately. But with the recent inclusion of the Sophia...
SVS Prime Wireless Speakers and SVS SB-1000 Subwoofer
Based in Youngstown, Ohio, SVS are an audio brand with a vision to build top quality speakers, subwoofers and audio accessories, and bring passion and...
The New Usher TD-10 Loudspeakers - A Diamond in the Buff
The Usher TD-10 loudspeaker is a downsized F-86 Sabre Jet wing on steroids. Swept back and shiny, it looks built for speed and, at just under four feet...
Wells Audio Commander Level II Tube Line Stage
World Premiere Review! I found myself often thinking of Van Morrison's terrific tune "Cleaning Windows." Review By Dr. Jules L. Coleman With this...
The Triangle Art Hathor - a Resplendent Turntable
The Triangle Art Hathor (courtesy of Triangle Art) When sharing rack space with other electronics, the Hathor calls to mind actor George Clooney...
Dita Audio Twins - Fealty & Fidelity IEMs
With a vibrant commerce scene and international trading links, Singapore is a country where personal audio and high-fidelity sound are significantly...
The Zenith of Headphone Planar Technology and Headamp Design...
As an audiophile and headphone aficionado for over half a century, I was only aware of two ways headphones could be operated until 2008:dynamic...
Butcher Block Acoustics Maple Edge Grain Audio Platform
Every once in a while you meet someone special in this industry. Jim Whithorne is that guy. Owner and proprietor of Butcher Block Acoustics (BBA), he...
Kanto Audio TUK Loudspeaker System
Recently I reviewed the Kanto YU6, YU4, and the Sub8. For those that may have missed that just a brief refresher... "Kanto was founded in January of...
KECES E40 Integrated Amplifier
It is no secret that the United States HIFI market is so densely packed it is approaching a singularity. If that gravity was not enough to pull a...
PBN Audio M2!5 Loudspeakers - What's Old, Is New Again
These days there are a lot of good speakers out there. More than ever, at every price point you can surely find something that fits your needs. As the...
Synergistic Research High Frequency Transducers - HFT Standard,...
As I stated in my Axpona 2019 show report, if you have not experienced one of Ted Denney's presentations on acoustics and specifically his...
Audio Research 160M Amplifiers - My White Whale
Even after two plus decades of reviewing, there are a few major brands that have largely eluded me. Whether it's been a timing issue, system need,...
The New Apartment Lounge: Smooth Sailing with the Pear Audio...
The Unbearable Lightness of Low-Torque Motors and Heavy Platters Of the various turntable manufacturers to embrace the design principles of the late...
Fiio FH7 In-Ear Monitors
Fiio are a Chinese audio firm who have been well-regarded within audiophile circles. With an enthusiasm to bring affordable offerings to the...
The Hanze HiFi HAT Turntable Power Supply
Welcome to Hanze HiFi! I always enjoy telling you about the people behind high-performance audio products and HiFi shops, as quite often they are the...
Master & Dynamic MW65 Wireless Headphones
New York based audio company Master & Dynamic have always pushed the envelope in product design where styling and aesthetics are concerned. This,...
Cary Audio VT-500 Phono Preamplifier - A World Premier
The new Cary Audio VT-500 Phono Preamplifier, based on the venerable 6SL7 tube and the most expensive phono preamp Cary has ever manufactured here in...
Daedalus Audio's Muse Studio Loudspeaker
The Muse Studio is an upgraded version of Daedalus Audio's lowest priced loudspeaker, the Muse. Both Muse speakers were designed for listeners with...
Lindemann Audio Limetree Network DAP / Headamp
Good Things do Come in Small Packages Review By Rufus Smith With this article, Positive Feedback continues its content-sharing relationship...
KECES Sphono and Spower
With the matching cartridges, the KECES Ephono turned out to be a real bargain: So much superb sound and substantial usage of materials plus good...
German Physiks Emperor Preamplifier
At 66 pounds, it took two of us to carefully hoist the new German Physiks Emperor Preamplifier onto my rack. This is the heaviest preamp I've had...
A New Reference in Electrical Power Conditioning: the ADD-Powr...
I've been detailing my experiences with my new home and new listening room over the last couple of years here at PF; a recent article in the last issue...
The SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
It seems like every conversation I've had with audiophiles about subwoofers the last few years included 3 letters: SVS. No doubt subs from this company...
Cardas Audio Clear Beyond XL Phono Cable: Special Order! World...
The story begins with my review of the House of Cardas Clear Beyond Phono Cables back in PF Issue 102, clearly then the best ever from the genius we...
Swedish Analog Technology (SAT) LM-12 Tonearm: Analog Playback...
The Swedish Analog Technology LM-12 Tonearm Two of the finest tonearms that I've encountered in my search for the Holy Grail hail from of all places...
Etsuro Gold Moving Coil Cartridge: Reference Redefined
The New Etsuro Gold Moving Coil cartridge, riding on the Kronos Helena tonearm over the Kronos Sparta Turntable I will admit to more than just a...
Schiit Freya + Preamplifier
With a legion of followers, Schiit have been in the audio game for a while and have organically grown from simple and humble beginnings. Headed by...
Meze Empyrean Headphones
Meze Audio first received its true breakthrough in 2015 with the release of the well-received 99 Classics, which had earned the company many awards and...
Leben CS600X Integrated Amplifier
LEBEN is a small, Japanese company that is treated with great attention in its country of origin. It owes this to its founder and chief designer, Mr....
Interviews
Ketil Vestrum Einarsen: An Alchemical Wedding
Ketil Vestrum Einarsen - Photo by Dag Thrane (Used with permission) Ketil Vestrum Einarsen was born on the north-western edge of Norway. Known...
Audiophiles as Artists - Chris Morris
Twenty questions with an audiophile who is also an artist. For this Audiophiles as Artists, we feature Chris Morris. What's your background? I grew up...
Jeff's Place
First Listen to the Hanze HiFi HAT Power Supply with the Thorens...
The Hanze HiFi HAT turntable power supply is beautifully built, and provided meaningful but subtle improvements to my CTC Garrard 301 turntable's.... . . Read More »
Music - SuperSonic Recordings
Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 13
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 101. Curtis Mayfield, Superfly (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Curtom –...
Music Reviews
Aretha Franklin - Aretha's Gold
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissue MFSL 2-479 (Sept. 2017). Originally released on Atlantic – SD-8227 (Aug. 1969). Category: soul, southern soul,...
Hee-Young Lim: French Cello Concertos
SAINT-SAËNS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor; LALO: Cello Concerto in D minor; MILHAUD: Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 136; OFFENBACH: Les larmes de...
Yuko Mabuchi Trio (Live) Vol. 1 and 2 - Instant Classics!
Every once in while an artist comes along who rocks my musical apple cart, challenges my perceptions, and reignites my excitement about a given genre....
Notes of an Amateur: Cellist Hee-Young Lim Plays French...
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...
Our Friends at HIFI Statement
Hifiman Jade II
ade hat in der Chinesischen Kultur und Mythologie einen hohen Stellenwert. So ist es nicht verwunderlich, dass Hifiman bei der Neuauflage des.... . . Read More »
Transrotor Alto - mit drei Motoren
Vor wenigen Wochen hat mich der Transrotor Alto schon in seiner Grundausstattung mit einem Motor begeistert. Eine Aufwertung des Antriebes auf drei.... . . Read More »
Keces Sphono und Spower
Mit den passenden Tonabnehmern entpuppte sich der Keces Ephono als echtes Schnäppchen: So viel Wohlklang und Materialeinsatz plus guter Verarbeitung.... . . Read More »
Our Friends at High Fidelity
Leben CS600X Integrated Amplifier
LEBEN is a small, Japanese company that is treated with great attention in its country of origin. It owes this to its founder and chief designer, Mr....
Our Friends at Part-Time Audiophile
Monthly Spins: June 2019
guess you could call my quest for new music an obsession. I’ve had it since I was ten and often feel transported outside of myself by certain.... . . Read More »
Sonus Faber Serafino Tradition | Review
With the Sonus Faber Serafino Tradition in your room, chances are high you will tend to let irrelevancies slide. Like food, water, and personal.... . . Read More »
Scott Walker Audio and Eight Rooms of Joy | T.H.E. Show 2019
Who is Scott Walker of Scott Walker Audio, and how can he possibly have so many exhibit rooms at one show? On Saturday at T.H.E. Show 2019, I spent the.... . . Read More »
Radio Free Chip
Radio Free Chip June 2019 - Hal Blaine
"A dozen of his favorite drummers were me." Hal Blaine Listening and the Art of Drumming… I remember, over the course of an extended sit down with...
Show Reports
T.H.E. Show Long Beach, Photo Essay Part 2
Continuing our coverage of T.H.E. Show, photos by Dave Clark, words by me, additional words by Dave as noted. Klaus Bunge of Odyssey Audio with Magnan...
T.H.E. Show Long Beach, Photo Essay Part 1
Last year on Christmas Eve, while I was in the midst of preparing our annual prime rib feast, I got a message from a friend telling me that T.H.E. Show...
