May - June 2023
Audio Discourse
…and Steve says…On Excellence and Expectations – and...
Last year I had the opportunity to visit with a friend and listen to their system that included the $329,000 Wilson Chronosonic XVX Loudspeakers. Their...
My Audio Oasis! Awards for AXPONA 2023: Chunklet the First
E-in-C Robinson enjoying cigars rooftop-style near the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). Tiberias, Israel, 2022. (Photograph by John Robinson; image...
Contemplations On the Current State of High-End Audio Trade
Norman Varney of AV RoomService Ltd. has joined Positive Feedback as a Senior Technical Editor as of Issue 113. His expertise in his field of audio...
Three Good Ideas for Beating Hi-Fi Inflation
Roger Skoff writes about dealing with something that affects us all There's no denying that inflation is real. When Eater magazine recently described...
Remembering Copper's Dan Schwartz: A Friendship That Went Deep
Reprinted with permission by the author and Copper Magazine. Dan was also a contributor and good friend here at Positive Feedback. I and his friends...
Confessions of a Setup Man 11: Can a System be too Good?
PF Senior Associate Editor shares with us one of his columns from PS Audio's Copper Magazine, Issue 127, December of 2020. He raises excellent issues...
Impressions: AXPONA 2023, a Photo-Essay & Intro to the...
Ye Olde Editor at work at AXPONA 2023, in ink outline (photograph by Bill Parish; image processing by Robinson) The years of the plague… It’s no...
A Rumination Upon Audio Research, VW's Phæton, and Subaru vs....
I must confess that I love Alternate History books, the more plausible the better. But I will fall for the occasional "Time Machine from the Future"...
Impressions: The ModWright Analog Bridge...a Rave!
Robinson with cigar. Munich, 2018 (photograph by Bill Parish; ink outline image processing by Robinson) Last summer at the first Pacific Audio Fest, I...
When Does the Game Actually Change?
Roger Skoff writes about incremental improvements and value Is there anyone out there who doesn't know that, in addition to writing these articles, I...
and Steve says… Regarding Dropping of Jaws, Smacking of Gobs,...
This won't be about what you think it will be about. It won't be the typical audio rant about typical audio topics; no arguments about digital vs...
The Akasa Turing FX - a Great Silent Bang for Buck and Your...
Several years ago, I sold a very nice, expensive, music server to free up funds for better speakers, and sought a more cost effective one to manage and...
Hardware Reviews
Hana Umami Blue Moving-Coil Cartridge
In my search for the Sweetheart of the most popular phono cartridge lines, offering the highest value and top performance for the price, the Hana...
The iFi Neo Stream DAC - A Modern Musical Marvel for the Money!
The iFi Neo Stream network audio streamer is a sterling representation of smart audio design, boasting an open, musical delivery from a simple and...
The New Apartment Lounge: Von Schweikert Audio's Game Changing...
Back Up the Loudspeaker Evolutionary Ladder Last summer I waxed enthusiastically about Von Schweikert Audio's remarkable Endeavor Special Edition (ESE)...
Fono Acustica FAL-2 Cable Lift
There's no getting around it, cable lifts are controversial. With so many competing designs and theories all claiming to remediate the same...
Parasound HALO JC 5 Amplifier
The Parasound JC 5 stereo amplifier has been in continuous production since 2018 and has been reviewed many times over the years including reviews in...
Topping E70 Velvet DAC: Bringing Delta-Sigma Playback of Native...
Back in February, I received a series of unsettling emails from Dalibor Kasac, my contact at Euphony Audio in Croatia, telling me about a discovery...
Origin Live Gravity Weight
Image courtesy of Origin Live Audiophiles include people from a smattering of all spectra on the human scale, from the rigorously scientific—show me...
Sweetheart of the Line: The Grado Timbre Series Reference3 Low...
I particularly appreciate high-value products, so I set out to identify over-performers that are underpriced in the phono cartridge world. Simply...
The Carbide Audio Multi-Axis Vibration Isolator Footers Get It...
I am convinced that, as a species, we are hardwired to respond with awe at sheer displays of power, largesse, and the overwrought, and I was reminded...
A Supercharged Fanless Case for Your NUC Music Server - the...
Want a souped-up fanless case for your music server but don't want to overspend, are willing to roll up your sleeves a bit, but you don't know where to...
LSA Signature 60 Monitor Loudspeakers
Living Sound Audio (LSA) is the in-house brand of Underwood HiFi, a company that's nearly legendary in audiophile circles. Walter Liederman, Underwood...
Songer Audio S1 Field Coil Point-Source Loudspeaker
With this article, Positive Feedback continues its content-sharing relationship with Enjoy the Music where Bob Grossman shares his thoughts on the...
Naiu Laboratory Ella Mark 3 Class ND Stereo Amplifier
Naiu Laboratory is a German-based manufacturer that's been in existence since the late 1990s. It's the brainchild of Mircea Naiu, who also...
Cary Audio SLP-98P Tube Preamplifier
Audiophiles that might be reading this are most likely very familiar with Cary Audio, originally the brain child of Dennis Had who is something of a...
The Grace Design m900: Vilfredo Pareto's Favorite "Budget" USB...
The Grace m900 USB DAC Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923) was an Italian civil engineer, sociologist, and economist. Pareto was primarily responsible for...
The Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression Integrated...
There is something special about the Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems brand and legacy. For myself, every interaction has been first class from...
Grado Timbre Series Master3 Phono Cartridge
I'm all for unburdening oneself of unwanted crap. As George Carlin said, if you didn't have so much goddamn stuff, you wouldn't need a house, which is...
Charisma Audio Charm Phono Cartridge
Consider the enigma that is the conical stylus, which is essentially the starting point for the earliest cartridges. While this stylus shape is widely...
Linebacker SE Copper Passive Power Filter from PranaWire
When is enough, enough? That's a rhetorical question when posed to an audiophile, because in matters of the hi-end, we never cross the finish line....
Stein Music Bobby S Ultimate Loudspeaker
The Bobby S Ultimate Loudspeaker from Stein Music of Germany is a robust stand-mounted two-way monitor that is unusual in several ways. It has a...
Interviews
A Conversation with John Haley - Audio Restoration Magician
In the past several years, I've been simply stunned by the sound quality of vintage recordings released by HDTT that credit the audio restoration work...
Music - SuperSonic Recordings
Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 36
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 216. Blondie, "Heart of Glass"/ "Heart of Glass (instrumental)." Chrysalis –...
Music Reviews
You Need Only One - Reiner's Scheherazade from HDTT
Ann and I just finished listening to the Reiner/CSO performance of Scheherazade (RCA Living Stereo, 1960) and we were entranced once again by just how...
An Alluring Ménage of Superb LP Selections from Sam Records
I continue to be delighted by the amazing titles coming out of Sam Records. If you have not heard the backstory by now, let me provide some additional...
George de Witt's Name That Tune
Sometimes happiness arrives in simplest of forms, and this obscure LP by George Dewitt (1922 - 1979) is a perfect example. In today's world George...
Rhino High Fidelity Premium Vinyl Series Debuts with Classic LPs...
Shore Fire Media has just announced the first two titles from a new LP reissue program, the Rhino High Fidelity Premium Vinyl Series. Rhino High...
The New Rhino High Fidelity Series - The Cars And John Coltrane...
When it comes to audiophile quality reissues, there seems to be a myriad of options these days. My apologies up front, as I am sure that I will miss...
Pekka Kuusisto and Yarlung Records in Pure DSD256
Symmetria Pario: Creation, Pekka Kuusisto, violin, Joonas Ahonen, piano. Yarlung Records 2023 Pure DSD256 HERE When you take contemporary compositions...
Kuijken and La Petite Bande - Remastered in Original DXD...
With La Petite Bande's 50th anniversary in 2022, Challenge Records celebrated with the release of a nine CD box set, which you may have seen. All nice,...
Classic Latin Jazz Reissues from Craft Recordings
Craft Latino is a specialty imprint that focuses on reissues of classic salsa, Latin jazz, Latin soul, and Afro-Cuban releases from Craft Recordings'...
Stokowski's Rachmaninoff Third Symphony - From the Master Tapes...
This transfer in Pure DSD256 directly from the original Desmar master tapes recorded by the great Bob Auger is hugely impressive. So clean, open,...
Classic LPs from Miles and Monk Herald a New Era for Original...
Berkeley based Fantasy Records built their early reputation in the 1950s with classic LPs from Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, Gerry Mulligan, and Vince...
Notes on Recent Finds, No. 7
In this edition of Notes on Recent Finds, I offer you a diverse set of albums I've been enjoying and replaying frequently. There is no theme to this...
The Blue Things
I love forgotten bands and forgotten albums. Part of it is the pleasure of knowing something that other people don't know, and the other part is...
Anna Fedorova and Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto
With this release of the Third Piano Concerto, Anna Fedorova's wonderous traversal of the four Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos reaches a triumphant...
C.P.E. Bach Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin with Rachel Podger
Ah, and THIS is how it's done, my friends. A completely scrumptious new release from the queen of the Baroque violin, Rachel Podger. In partnership...
Clash of the Analog Titans: Impex Records' 1STEP Nightclub LP...
Abey Fonn, President of Impex Records, always likes a good challenge. But Impex Records' latest project required Abey to dip deep into her bag of...
Paul Paray Post-Mercury - Liszt, Les Préludes; Mephisto Waltz
Liszt, Les Préludes; Mephisto Waltz; Orpheus; Mazeppa. Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra/Paul Paray. Festival Classique FC 416 (LP). TT: 51.54 My...
Results from NativeDSD's Expanded Catalog
You may have seen that NativeDSD recently decided to expand its catalog offerings to now offer albums originally recorded in PCM 88.2kHz, 96kHz,...
HDTT Adds LP Transfers with Excellent Sound Quality
Bob Witrak's High Definition Tape Transfer (HDTT) has long been known for its excellent transfers from analog reel-to-reel tape. Both Dr. David and I...
David Carroll's rePercussion
Chicago based conductor and arranger David Carroll (1913 - 2008) made a lot of records for Chicago based Mercury Records. As he also held an executive...
Craft Recordings Record Store Day LP Releases for April, 2023
Craft Recordings is bringing an impressive slate of limited-edition LPs to stores for 2023's first celebration of Record Store Day (RSD), which takes...
2L and Morten Lindberg - Recordings with Exceptional Clarity and...
Recording label 2L and its well-respected producer and recording engineer Morten Lindberg are known for their surround-sound recordings, with multiple...
New Old Stock - Articles from Our Days in Print
Eminent Technology LFT-11 Planar Magnetic Multimedia
This article by Gary Beard originally ran in Issue 10, October/November 2003, so while we call this section "New Old Stock - Articles from Our Days in...
Our Friends at HIFI Statement
Siltech Classic Legend 380 Serie
Einige der exzellent gefertigten Kabel von Siltech wurden bereits in diesem Magazin vorgestellt. Nun wurde zum ersten Mal eine ganze Produktlinie von.... . . Read More »
Melco N1-S38
Das neue Topmodell N1-S38 sieht hervorragend aus und besitzt auch ein völlig neues Main Board.. . . Read More »
Chord Electronics Ultima 6
Einhundert und sechsunddreißig Takte in Es-Dur liegen in elektrischen Schwingungen gewandelt an den XLR-Eingängen des Endverstärkers an, verstärkt.... . . Read More »
Accustic Arts Power III
With the new integrated amplifier Power III, Accustic Arts offers an integral solution comprising a high-grade digital-to-analogue converter, as well.... . . Read More »
Erlkönig: Børresen Acoustic M3 und M6
Die Audio Group Denmark mit ihren Marken Ansuz, Børresen, Aavik und Access baut ihre Produktpalette kräftig aus: Axxess ermöglicht den günstigen.... . . Read More »
HIGH END 2023: Messerundgang mit Helmut Baumgartner
Der erste Messerundgang mit Helmut Baumgartner ist mittlerweile schon liebgewonnene Tradition geworden, so ermöglicht dieser auch den Hifi-Freundinnen.... . . Read More »
Børresen Acoustics 05 Silver Supreme Edition Speaker
While visiting Ansuz in August 2020, I was so captivated by the Børresen 05's elegant appearance alone that I instantly ordered a pair in the Silver.... . . Read More »
Our Friends at High Fidelity
Kryna Helca 1 and Helca 2 Passive RFI/EMI Filters
Kryna Inc. was established on 21st May 1980 in the city of Machida-shi, which is part of Tokyo Metropolis. Its CEO is Mr. Ryoka Ina who employs only...
John Coltrane, Blue Train Remaster 2022 Part 1: Technique
Everything you want to know about the recording of Blue Train's behind-the-scenes and which of the digital reissues of this jazz masterpiece are the...
Digital Audio Workstation or DAW - Part 3
Or about computer sound recording systems. Pt. 3 : MUSIC (II) It all started in January 1971 with the world's first LP with digitally recorded...
dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC
dCS is a British company based in Cambridge focused on development of digital audio sources—D/A converters, SACD and files players. It made its debut...
Show Reports
Audio Engineering Society 2023 Conference in Helsinki
The Audio Engineering Society has been giving two conventions a year for decades, with an annual show that has traditionally moved between the east...
AXPONA 2023…Greg Weaver on the YouTube Front!
Greg Weaver checking out...Greg Weaver! AXPONA 2023 was as stirring a success as portended! Here is a link to my promotional episode highlighting the...
AXPONA 2023 Bigger and Better; Scribbles from My Spiral Jotter
A small crowd murmurs and looks on as two sturdy men in navy company polos and slacks gingerly lift, rock, and place a pair of nineteen thousand dollar...
