November - December 2019
Audio Discourse
Focal Powered by Naim North American Grand Opening
On October 30th, Focal Naim America, manufacturer of Focal speakers and Naim electronics opened its first branded store inside of Scottsdale, AZ dealer...
Magnepan Focus Group Event - 30.7 for Condos
Magnepan is on a roll these last several years. First the updated former flagship two panel MG 20.7 ($14,450), then the newly christened flagship four...
Impressions: Highlights, and My Portraits from the 2019 LAOC...
David W. Robinson, Leavenworth, WA, 2012 (photograph by Lila Ritsema) Preamble Last weekend I attended the Los Angeles/Orange County (LAOC) Audio...
"The Song of Names" (film)
Herein, the latest from the Master of The Tannhauser Gate, John Marks, with a musical movie recommendation to make to us.... Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye...
Tenebrae Choir: "Miserere mei, Deus" (Allegri)
In which John Marks shares his latest musical reflections from his very fine blog site, The Tannhauser Gate. As usual, his comments are edifying and...
Dave and Carol Clark's Brutus Awards for 2019
Here we are with our Brutus Awards for 2019, but before we go into who and what, let me digress a bit. This past year has been rather interestingly...
In Search of a Perfect Song, Part 6
Something not so secret about me, I'm more interested in the music than the gear. I've documented elsewhere that I do acknowledge that better gear...
The 16th Annual Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for
Beginning at the end of 2003, PF established its first annual awards for fine audio. The Brutus Award was established for the best that David...
Magneplanar LRS Room Setup Tips
The new Magneplanar LRS Loudspeakers are touted by Magnepan in very much the same way as the MMGs were for years: the most inexpensive way you can get...
Cole Porter on a Steinway, Vol. 1
From John Marks' blog site The Tannhauser Gate comes this recommended recording: the "American Songbook" as performed by solo artists on Steinway...
A Visit to Stereo Brewing
Now celebrating its 3rd year of operation, Stereo Brewing is an independent craft brewery located in Placentia, California. Master brewer-owner Rick...
SBooster BOTW ECO MKII Power Supply
After so many years reviewing audio equipment there are a few things that stand out. One is that the better the AC any component is seeing, the better...
A Visit with Mik Bhavnani of Unique Audio UK
A legend has been running in the UK audio scene for many years, of an audiophile with a vast collection of the world's most sought after turntables,...
The Audio Equipment I Regret Not Having Bought, Way Back When...
Audio friend and brother John Marks, he who writes The Tannhauser Gate, takes us along on a remembrance of audio things past. His list is very...
From an Editor's Notebook: The Stillpoints Aperture II System,...
David W. Robinson, "Self-Portrait, Variation No. 3," Happy Valley, OR, 2019 Here's an outstanding product that audiophiles everywhere need to know...
Impressions: My Photographic Portraits from RMAF 2019
Self-portrait, Variation No. 3. Happy Valley, OR, 2019 The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest of 2019 was not only a great time for music and fine audio...
Steinway & Sons Streaming: An Excellent No-Cost Music...
Our good friend John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate continues his collection of re-published essays here at Positive Feedback. In this one, he makes us...
Hardware Reviews
RSX Beyond Phono Cable: World Premiere
Chip Moore (left) with Roger Skoff at the LAOC Audio Society Gala Banquet, 2019 (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) Everyone knows...
Aidas Mammoth Gold Phono Cartridge
In November, the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society had its monthly dealer event at Weinhart Design in Bel Air. We enjoyed the debut of...
The New Apartment Lounge: Minimalism Redux - The "Not So Little"...
I first raved about the stunning Kronos Sparta 0.5 turntable back in the fall in a teasing preview report (HERE). In my opening salvo, I described the...
STEALTH Ethernet and USB Cables
A Google search found the pugilists in their corners sparring over USB and Ethernet cables, just as they do over interconnects and speaker wires. Being...
Sonus faber Olympica Nova 1
Sonus faber is not a stranger to most people in the high end audio world. They are well known for creating some of the most visually striking and best...
PBN Olympia EB-SA3 Amplifiers and Lxi Preamplifier
Big Amps, Big Power Done Right. PBN is pretty well known for Peters Noerbek's wide range of speakers, a pair of M2!5s which I recently reviewed (HERE)...
VPI Fatboy Unipivot and Fatboy Gimbal Tonearms
I have a long history with VPI and it has been a delightful journey. From a turntable perspective, I have owned or reviewed the HW-19 MK4, the Aries 3,...
Fidelizer EtherStream Network Switch
Streaming digital media is the future of music playback; I've been playing about with it now for roughly five years, often with USB sources directly...
Fiio M11 Pro Android-Based Digital Audio Player
Having released a multitude of digital audio players for entry, mid, and now hi-fi consumers, Fiio are a company dedicated in maximizing value for...
Simaudio Moon 110LP v2 Phono Stage
We've all seen the comeback that vinyl has been making over the last few years. Back when vinyl was dead, I built up my record collection to its...
SVS Pinnacle 3.5-Way Floorstanding Speakers
These speakers can rock, plus produce excellent macro and micro dynamics too! Review By Dr. Matthew Clott With this article, Positive...
ampsandsound Stereo ST15 Special Edition Amplifier
Readers of Positive Feedback may already be familiar with Justin Weber's creations. At least two reviews of his products can be found in these pages....
CH Precision Ethernet Streaming HD Board
It's winter time. Want to know the best tweak for the season? Humidity. Get a humidifier and maintain about 35% RH at the equipment rack. Not only does...
The Lindemann Limetree Network Bridge
Guest review by Mattias Jung of HiFi Statement. In the past few years I had lost track of the Lindemann company and their audio products. This was...
Audio Art SC-5 ePlus Cryo Treated Speaker Cable and Jumpers -...
Plugging a pair of Audio Art SC-5 ePlus Cryo Treated Speaker Cables into your system is like renting a Sebring convertible for a spin down Pacific...
AV RoomService CVP-ECs: Cable Vibration Protection for a Lower...
I've had a really good relationship with Norman Varney from AV RoomService for a couple of years now; his company manufactures a variety of products...
Introducing the Audio Art Statement e2Plus Power Cable - an...
Being an audio enthusiast these days can be cost prohibitive and, as skyrocketing prices outpace inflation, it's refreshing to get terrific value for a...
The Magnepan Magneplanar LRS: So Much More Than Just a "Taste"...
The Magneplanar LRS with stock stands attached 1973: William Michael Albert Broad sat at his desk at the Worthing High School for Boys with a...
The Neoteric Listener - The AURALiC VEGA G1 Streaming DAC
"Is it live or is it Memorex?" If you're old enough to remember that ad for audio cassettes (hell, if you're old enough to remember audio cassettes)...
Kimber Kable's Carbon 8 Interconnects, Carbon 18 XL Speaker...
Review By Tom Lyle With this article, Positive Feedback continues its content-sharing relationship with Enjoy the Music. Tom Lyle shares his...
Campfire Audio Atlas IEMs
Known for its industrial designs and commitment to sound tuning, Campfire Audio represent a bold and daring personal audio company in the midst of an...
Up, Up in 'The Air' - A Look at WK Audio's Rarefied Flagship...
It's like sliding into the cockpit of a Formula One car. Everything about The Air screams first class—from its Furutech F150 M Nano Crystal Formula...
The Pass Labs XA25 Class A Stereo Amplifier - "The Little Engine...
I was quite excited when I received notice from Positive Feedback Editor Doc David that there was a Pass Labs XA25 Class A stereo amplifier available...
Clearly Cardas - A Loudspeaker Designer's Entanglement in Cardas...
Strange Relationships Cables are a source of much contention in our epic. So much so that some publications seem afraid to discuss them anymore....
Interviews
Sounds and Songs: An Interview with Mattias Olsson
Mattias Olsson - Photo by Vincent Carild - Used with permission Mattias Olsson is perhaps best known as the drummer for the Swedish progressive rock...
Jacob Holm-Lupo: Norway's Telepath
Jacob Holm-Lupo, Photo by Teresa K. Aslanian. Used with permission. Jacob Holm-Lupo is best known as the creative force behind the Norwegian...
Jeff's Place
First listening impressions of the new Leben CS600X integrated...
Wow, I am amazed at the amount of people writing to me and asking me about the new Leben CS600X that just arrived here at Jeff's Place, and how it.... . . Read More »
Music - SuperSonic Recordings
Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 17 (Boogie on Down!)
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 121. Various, Thank God It's Friday - Collectors Gift Series. Chocolate City –...
Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 16 (Made in the U.K.)
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 116. The Cure, Three Imaginary Boys. Fiction Records – FIX 1 (UK) (1979), 33 1/3...
Music Reviews
Blue Note Tone Poet Series and 80 Series
Blue Note Tone Poet Series Donald Byrd, Chant. Blue Note Stereo LT-991 Stanley Turrentine With Shirley Scott, Hustlin'. Blue Note Stereo 84162 Blue...
10 for 10 - The Best Sounding Compact Discs
Have you ever wondered which CDs to use when assessing your system? Or maybe you'd like to impress your friends? If so, this text is for you. It covers...
GONG - Love From The Planet Gong
GONG, Love From The Planet Gong. 12 CD 1 DVD Audio box set. The Virgin Years 1973-75. UNIVERSAL MUSIC 675 890-1. At last, after years of waiting for...
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Hymn of the Cherubim (from the...
Herein the latest from dear audio friend and brother John Marks, he who writes and edits The Tannhauser Gate blogging site. Sacred choral music from...
Our Friends at HIFI Statement
Mr Speakers Ether 2
Frequenzgang? Ja! Das steht genau so im Datenblatt des Ether 2, dem neuen Magnetostaten-Flaggschiff des kalifornischen Herstellers MrSpeakers. Mit.... . . Read More »
Genuin Audio Pearl Phono Preamp
Genuin-Audio-Inhaber Thomas Wendt kommt seinem Ziel, eine komplette Kette seiner Marke anbieten zu können, einen weiteren Schritt näher, und was für.... . . Read More »
Moon Audio Streaming DAC
Das digitale Flaggschiff der kanadischen Nobelmarke Moon macht optisch eine Menge her. Der DA-Wandler mit integriertem Streaming-Modul verspricht.... . . Read More »
Mr Speakers Ether2 Headphones
Das steht genau so im Datenblatt des Ether 2, dem neuen Magnetostaten-Flaggschiff des kalifornischen Herstellers MrSpeakers. Mit Superlativen in Sachen.... . . Read More »
Our Friends at High Fidelity
Krakow Sonic Society Meeting 121 - Ultimate HQCD Discs
The history of the Krakow Sonic Society meetings with various types of Compact Discs is quite long. Almost as long as the list of technical studies...
Our Friends at Part-Time Audiophile
Olympica Nova from Sonus Faber
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had a top-secret pair of speakers in the house from Sonus Faber (details here). I couldn’t say they were Sonus.... . . Read More »
Dr. Feickert Analogue Firebird Turntable
The Dr. Feickert Analogue Firebird turntable signifies a lot of firsts in my vinyl-loving life. It’s the first turntable I’ve used that.... . . Read More »
Daedalus Audio Apollo Speakers
Sometimes the timing of an audio review seems inadvertently auspicious. Such is the case of my latest project: the Daedalus Audio Apollo full-range.... . . Read More »
Show Reports
The Calgary Audio Show
Playing catch up as we enter into the holiday season, I wanted to highlight something that I have had the pleasure of attending for the past couple of...
Capitol Audiofest 2019 Photo-Essay
I only got to spend a short time this year at the Capitol Audiofest but I sure got an eyeful and an earful of some of the newest and most interesting...
AES NY 2019
The thing about the AES show is that it's traditionally been two shows: a trade show run by marketing people upstairs, selling off all the latest new...
Toronto Audiofest 2019
After the very successful Toronto Audiofest (TAF) last year, Sarah Tremblay and Michel Plante followed it up with an even more successful Show this...
