September arrived and so has a flood of wonderful new releases from some of my favorite artists and recording labels. Any one of these albums might qualify for "album of the year" recognition in their respective genre, and I've been spending time in seventh heaven listening to them. So, allow me to share. 1823 -... Read More »
When all is said and done, it's all about the source material. The better the source material, the better the system sounds. (It's amazing how a master tape can make bad speakers sound like a million dollars!) The best source here being 15-ips reel-to-reel tape. Now making the best sounding consumer 15-ips, 2-track reel-to-reel tapes... Read More »
– Versatile music streamer offers exceptional sound quality and easy setup – Boulder, Colorado, September 12, 2023 – PS Audio is now shipping its AirLens music streamer, designed to deliver the ultimate in sound quality from streaming audio sources. The new AirLens (SRP: US $1,999.00) offers high-resolution streaming via Roon and services such as TIDAL,... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about HiFi kit building When I first became a HiFi Crazy, I was twelve years old and, like virtually every other twelve- year-old kid, I had no money. That didn't stop me, though; I'd become an audiophile; been "bitten by the bug"; and had to have a hi-fi system of my own,... Read More »
A Positive Feedback YouTube share from Döhmann Audio... Mark Döhmann of Döhmann Audio is widely seen and appreciated in high-end audio as a very gifted turntable designer. Well known from his days producing the Continuum Caliburn and Criterion turntables, Mark is a first-rank turntable designer who has been a master artisan since the early 1980s. Now... Read More »
July 3, 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London was an important date in David Bowie's musical arc; it was the site of the final show of his Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars world tour. Fans were delighted towards the end of the show, when Bowie announced that Jeff Beck would join the... Read More »
If you've collected fifties and sixties era vinyl then you know the names Arthur Lyman (1932 - 2002) and Martin Denny (1911 - 2005). They were, during the aptly named Golden Age Of Stereophonic Recordings, the kings of what is today called exotica music. The reason I know these two musicians is because my dad... Read More »
Greeting friends, I hope you are doing well! This article is about the Audio Note (UK) CD 5.1x Red Book CD player ($30,850 USD), a CD player that rewrites what kind of performance I thought was possible from CD players and the Red Book CD format. A unicorn is a mythical creature of ancient lore:... Read More »
As part of Positive Feedback's "New Old Stock" [NOS] series of reprints, Greg Weaver's article from 1997 is presented as a significant article worthy of renewed presentation here. This article was originally written in 1988 and appeared in Volume 1, Issue 2, of the audio analyst©, Winter 1989. It was updated and re-published in Volume... Read More »
Effective 18 September, Audio Physic products will return to the USA with distribution by Monarch Systems Ltd. 5 September, 2023: Englewood, Colorado – Monarch Systems Ltd. is delighted to announce that effective on 18September 2023, we will be appointed the official USA distribution partner of Audio Physic, a German manufacturer of high performance speakers, subwoofers,... Read More »
Available exclusively at CraftRecordings.com and limited to 4,000 copies worldwide, the LP features all-analog, one-step mastering – delivering the highest-quality listening experience. Set for release September 8th, exclusively via CraftRecordings.com/SmallBatch Click here to pre-order Los Angeles, CA (September 6, 2023) – Craft Recordings’ acclaimed Small Batch vinyl series returns with an audiophile pressing of Thelonious Monk’s Brilliant Corners. A landmark title in the... Read More »
Shore Fire Media has announced the next two titles in the Rhino High Fidelity Premium Vinyl Series, and as with the first offering, I'm fairly surprised by the selections. Which are Van Morrison's fourth studio album, His Band and the Street Choir (1970, Warner Brothers), and Jaco Pastorius' sophomore solo effort, Word of Mouth (1981,... Read More »
No, he's not a misprint "PEACE" Alexis Ffrench, piano. Sony Music Masterworks Ffrench: Peace; When the Bells Ring; St. Andrews. J.S. BACH (arr. Ffrench): Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring; Sheep May Safely Graze. Before I address the album contents, I'm going to allow myself a brief rant. Sony's biographical note tells us that "Alexis Ffrench is... Read More »
Hanover, MA - Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. (TADL, TAD Labs) today announced the TAD-CE1TX standmount speaker system in classic piano black as the newest addition to its Evolution Series of hi-fi audio components. The new black-enclosure CE1TX is a variant of the critically acclaimed wood grain finish enclosure, released in the United States earlier this... Read More »
New floorstanders incorporate technology originally developed for top-of-the-line Reference Series speaker systems Hanover, MA – Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. (TAD Labs, TADL) today announced theTAD-GE1 (Grand Evolution One) floorstanding speaker system as the newest addition to its Evolution Series of hi-fi audio components. Borrowing internal technology and design language from TAD’s top-of-the-line Reference TX... Read More »
A Trip To Remember What an adventure! Despite the stifling heat in the 90s, and the intense humidity that would never let up, my recent trip to Sarasota (Florida) was one of my most favorites ever. How could it not be with such gracious hosts like Kevin Hayes and his lovely wife Darlene Monteiro-Hayes at... Read More »
In this issue of Recent Finds we have some nice releases from Hunnia Records, Lawo Classics, Groove Note, three World Music video EPs from TRPTK, and another large batch of recently released reissues from High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT). Enjoy! Miles Davis - Bags' Groove, with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Horace... Read More »
The veteran Grammy-winning American pianist, composer, and producer continues to break new ground with his third album for evosound. Usually, when most people reach the venerable age of 83, they have already been enjoying the fruits of their retirement for several years. However, Bob James, who will celebrate his 84th birthday on Christmas Day, 2023,... Read More »
The first fully functional HDD non-linear recording system, or how albums recorded using RADAR sound like Digital Sound Recording – method of preserving sound in which audio signals are transformed into a series of pulses that correspond to patterns of binary digits (i.e., 0's and 1's) and are recorded as such on the surface of a... Read More »
I've been pondering over whether I should even write about this album, since conflicts of interest are rarely a good thing. After weeks of beating my head against the proverbial wall, I realized that I didn't create the 60s folk masterpiece known as Southbound (Vanguard VSD 79213). Rather, I only chose it to be part... Read More »
Wayne Goins in watercolor (image processing by David W. Robinson) Jeff Tweedy and his world of Wilco music has entered my space, and I'm pretty damn happy about it. Let me just say upfront: I admit it—I'm probably the last one to the party. Actually, I'm extremely late, but very likely not the last one.... Read More »
PREMIERE Ferrum is a Polish audio brand of the company HEM, one of the most experienced companies in this industry, designing and manufacturing devices for Mytek for 20 years before it went to their own. The first Ferrum product was the HYPSOS power supply. The second project was the OOR balanced headphone amplifier, the third... Read More »
Crystal Cable's three top cables: Monet, Van Gogh and Da Vinci: what's the difference, and how they help to the music. Gabi Van Der Kleij-Rynveld and Edwin Van Der Kley Rynveld took part in our group. Leading the meeting Wojciech Pacula Krakow Sonic Society is an informal group of music lovers, audiophiles, friends, meeting to learn... Read More »
Octave Records Re-Releases Say Somethin’ by Jazz Trumpeter Gabriel Mervine, Remixed and Remastered With Bonus Tracks – One of Octave’s most popular albums showcases Mervine and his quartet in an improved high-resolution DSD recording – Boulder, Colorado, August 16, 2023 – Since its initial release in 2021, Say Somethin’ by jazz trumpeter Gabriel Mervine has... Read More »
Carefully crafted with sustainability and performance at its core, the new turntable enhances the vinyl listening experience with improved sound quality and tracking ability, promising an audio-visual experience to be enjoyed again and again LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 8, 2023 – Today, House of Marley, the eco-conscious lifestyle audio maker, announces the latest launch in... Read More »
Rhino Entertainment is releasing Black Sabbath Hand of Doom 1970 - 1978, which is an eight LP, picture disc boxed set that includes all eight Black Sabbath studio albums that feature the band's original and classic lineup. Black Sabbath's original incarnation included Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitars, Geezer Butler on bass, and... Read More »
This edition of Recent Finds will be a bit different because I'm including some 44.1 kHz reviewer sample files from Alpha Classics that I've been enjoying. I've been accused of listening only to DXD and DSD256, but I plead "Not true!" Or, at least not entirely true. Sometimes one just has to go where the... Read More »
Brian Hartsell in the Atrium at RMAF 2005…back when you could smoke there! Brian Hartsell has passed away. Another good audio man gone. Apparently, he died on Friday, August 4, 2023, while in hospice care. My audiobud Nick Despotopoulos got in touch with me earlier this week to let me know. (Thanks, Nick!) His life... Read More »
FEATURING 12 HOLIDAY CLASSICS PERFORMED BY SOUL’S BIGGEST STARS Includes the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the M.G.’s, plus Carla Thomas’ previously unreleased rendition of “Blue Christmas” Unreleased alternate mix of the Otis Redding classic “Merry Christmas Baby” available to stream/download today Los Angeles, CA (August 2, 2023) – Stax Records and Craft... Read More »
Photo © Innuos Faro, Portugal 09 August, 2023 Innuos will expand its international presence by exhibiting at the Hong Kong High End Audio Visual Show. The exhibit will give many visitors in the APAC region their first experience with the Innuos STATEMENT with Next-Gen PSU Music Server/Streamer, PULSAR and PULSE Network Music Players and PhoenixNET... Read More »
MoFi Distribution introduces the HiFi ROSE RS130 Ultimate Network Transport, the first stand alone Network Transport device from HiFi ROSE. Being a flagship product, the RS130 exudes both luxury and technological advancement at the highest possible degree for audio in the digital domain while incorporating a user-friendly interface, based on highly successful and innovative streaming devices already sporting the HiFi... Read More »
August, 2023 - Carbide Audio introduces the Carbide Base Diamond audio equipment footer. This ambitious new vibration isolator is the first in audio to use bearing raceways machined out of solid ceramic and coated with diamond using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process. The extremely hard bearing raceways resist indentation from the ball bearings better... Read More »
Geneva August 7 2023 The new Telos 8800 amplifier is one of the most powerful amplifiers in the world, featuring 4 separate electronic boards to maximize system stability. Adding a new dimension to the Goldmund amplifier line-up, this new flagship model sets a new standard in performance, boasting unparalleled power and groundbreaking innovations that redefine... Read More »
Jazz Dispensary is Craft Recordings' specialty label that unearths rarities from the multitude of riches found in Concord Music's jazz, funk, soul, and fusion recordings from the Prestige, Fantasy, Contemporary, and Milestone imprints from their mid-60s through the mid-70s catalogs. While many of those releases arrive in the form of compilations of classic grooves from... Read More »
Craft Recordings continues their exciting Original Jazz Classics reissue series with the next title in the second batch of releases, pianist Mal Waldron's 1957 sextet date, Mal/2. I have to admit that as jazzed (literally!) as I have been over the announced titles so far in the OJC reboot, I was somewhat surprised by... Read More »
The last few rooms, and some pictures from around the hotel. It's an interesting place. Dan Wright, me, and Marc Phillips. The ModWright room is one where you can easily sit and feel welcomed by Dan and his staff. Spatial Audio. Another shot of VAC. Conversing with Kevin Hayes. Not quite sure what these chairs... Read More »
I am grateful for the existence of bluegrass and for The Dillards, because they introduced me to the exciting world of bluegrass music. Let me state this right here: I love bluegrass music!. Some people lump bluegrass under the same umbrella as country music, but it actually belongs under its own umbrella. Bluegrass comes in... Read More »
