This article, as reviewed by Francisco Duran, Victor Chavira, Carol Clark, and Dave Clark originally ran in Issue 2, August/September 2002, so while we call this section "New Old Stock - Articles from Our Days in Print" you are also going to see some articles from our early days of going online. Back in Issue... Read More »
"The SPARS code is a three-position alphabetic classification system developed in the early 1980s by the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) for commercial compact disc releases to denote aspects of the sound recording and reproduction process, distinguishing between the use of analog equipment and digital equipment." Wikipedia, USA Richard James Burgess, the Marketing, Sales and Licensing Director at Smithsonian Folkways Recording, i.e. the non-profit... Read More »
One of the few benefits of quarantine has been an abundance of time for listening to music. As resident Latin music specialist, I offer the following recommendations for your enjoyment. Buenos Hermanos was Ibrahim Ferrer's 2003 follow up to Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer released in 1999. Both recordings are from World Circuit.... Read More »
Because the Coronavirus has halted audio shows for the foreseeable future, we thought it might be fun to go back and revisit some shows from days gone by. I believe this is the last CES that Dave and I attended. Carol and Mark O'Brien of Rogue Audio. We can all agree that 2009 was a... Read More »
As a Roon end-point, the 866 Integrated truly becomes the centerpiece of a streaming music system at the highest level of performance and value. The Roon interface provides the user with a very intuitive access to streaming services and/or music stored on a Roon core (Mac or Windows PC or a dedicated server. Roon truly... Read More »
Reading, MA - June 24, 2020: Signature product launches are rare and special events in Bowers & Wilkins’ 54-year history, but when the world-leading specialist audio brand attaches the name Signature to its loudspeakers, you can be sure the results are very special. This month sees the introduction of two new Signature versions of premium... Read More »
Qobuz, the world’s first Hi-Res streaming and download service, is launching its family plan today. The release of this much-anticipated feature comes following the recent news of the financial and industrial partnership with Québecor, the Canadian telecom giant, allowing Qobuz to strengthen its position as an international player in the music industry. Allowing up to six members per... Read More »
THE ANSWER to USB Signal Transmission Walter Liederman, owner of Underwood Hifi and Core Power Tech A/V had these comments when asked about the USBe Perfect - The USBe Perfect is designed to yield the best results when using USB (Type 2 or Type 3) in your audio system. Now that USB has become the... Read More »
Free update enables native high-resolution music streaming, wirelessly... New York, NY – June 15, 2020 – Naim Audio, the British hi-fi specialist with 47 years of audio expertise, is delighted to announce native Qobuz support for its Mu-so 2nd Generation family of award-winning wireless speakers. Enabled via a free over-the-air firmware upgrade, the integration will enable seamless... Read More »
15th June 2020, Tunbridge Wells, UK: Britain's hi-fi stores are opening their doors once again this week, following an extended lockdown period. Like other shops and public-facing retailers, hi-fi stores are closely following government safety guidelines to ensure the wellbeing of their customers. Digital and analogue audio expert Chord Electronics' extensive UK dealer network is... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations "I can't breathe" Eric Garner, George Floyd "We can't breathe" People all over the World "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye "Why Can't We Live Together" Timmy Thomas "Love Is the Message" MFSB (Gamble & Huff) "RESPECT" Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin "Get up, stand up, stand up for... Read More »
A few things on my mind here. Make that two things; digital and analog. Digital as in getting the bits from A to B (in this respect the Diamond Revision 30th Anniversary USB cable from Purist Audio Design - $2100 for the 1.5 meter I have here) and analog in getting the signal from A... Read More »
3rd June 2020, Kent, United Kingdom: Chord Electronics is delighted to announce a new partnership with US company, The Sound Organisation, to distribute its British-built audio ranges in North America and Canada; the Kent company’s decision to appoint The Sound Organisation is effective immediately. Chord Electronics would like to take the opportunity to thank Jay... Read More »
Herein the latest from our goodly colleague, John Marks, editor of The Tannhauser Gate, his worthy and informative blog site. He points us to a male soprano whose voice would delight the angels. O! Can he sing! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor "Well, the Welsh do sing, do they not?" I murmured to myself, upon... Read More »
AURALiC introduces a category-wide update to its award-winning G2 and GX Product Range: Series G2.1/GX.1. The G2 Series now stands as one of AURALiC’s most successful projects. The effects of this effort have served as an important lesson to the team: that digitally oriented audiophiles prize above all else: sonic performance, industrial design, and diversity... Read More »
Danacable Lazuli Isolation Sale extended through June 30. Thanks to the enthusiastic response, our Danacable Lazuli Isolation Sale raised $1,500 for the selected charities in May 2020. As the Covid crisis continues, we have extended the sale through June 30. The same conditions apply; see the Danacable Web Site for details.
From Positive Feedback magazine in print, Vol. 5, No. 6, Summer, 1995 The prospect of doing the first review of a new loudspeaker from the hands of Albert Von Schweikert filled me at the same time with excitement and with anxiety. The excitement was understandable. I had owned and cherished a pair of his Vortex... Read More »
While he was in quarantine from the terrible plague that was raging in London, Shakespeare wrote King Lear. That is a hard act to follow. I don't think I am going to manage writing anything nearly so significant while stuck here in quarantine. I have spent a lot of time talking to friends in the... Read More »
Albert Von Schweikert, March 13, 1945 – May 29, 2020. Founder and Chief Designer: Von Schweikert Research/Von Schweikert Audio Though born in South America in 1945 to a US military officer and the daughter of one of the principal engineers of the Panama Canal, the Von Schweikert family moved to Heidelberg, Germany while he was still... Read More »
Ye Olde Editor in the midst of holy smoke and fine drink... (portrait by John Robinson) Time for a quick shout-out for two recordings from HDTT: one, a wonderful Quad DSD (DSD256) recording that you should be aware of, while the other is of a remarkable Double DSD (DSD128) album. Both belong in your DSD... Read More »
Music@Menlo Live, 2019 (available at https://musicatmenlo.org/live/) Year in, year out the Music@Menlo music education program issues its Music@Menlo Live series of recordings with music performed by the program's instructors. The cast has changed since the series began in 2002, though a few of the originals are still in evidence: program directors pianist Wu Han and... Read More »
So how many of you reading this are getting so tired of the same old "staying at home, and man do I need to mix things up?" state of mind? Well, count us in. As I write this Carol and I have been staying home and not going out, other than around the neighborhood for... Read More »
Above: iFi iPhono3 Black Label Just for the record iFi’s new iPhono3 Black Label phono stage is the perfect fix for vinyl addicts, ensuring every record is heard just as the artist intended. Southport, England – As music lovers across the land return to the tactile virtues of vinyl, so the demand for high-quality turntables... Read More »
PRESS RELEASE: 21st May 2020 The moon can be seen from anywhere on the planet and now MOON can be seen in many countries across the planet! MOON’s performance audio products continue to grow in popularity across the globe and its partnership with Innovaciones Acusticas in Ecuador has led to the creation of some of... Read More »
Gold Note is pleased to announce the immediate release of the All-in-One DS-10 in its PLUS version. FLORENCE, Italy – May 18th, 2020 The DS-10 PLUS is a significant alternative to the acclaimed DS-10 CLASSIC: upon popular request the versatile state-of-the-art 4-in-1 unit featuring a new generation D/A converter, UPnP-DLNA Streamer, line preamplifier and headphone... Read More »
New Consumer Audio Show coming to the Seattle area in August 2021 Lou Hinkley of Daedalus Audio, in collaboration with Gary Gill of Capital Audiofest, are pleased to announce the launch of the Pacific Audio Fest, slated for August 6-8 2021. The Pacific Audio Fest is first and foremost a show by exhibitors for exhibitors. With... Read More »
No industry is ever immune to setbacks and disasters that loom large on our personal landscapes. Sometimes, they seem small in retrospect, but sometimes, the magnitude of the crisis is never diminished, and the only thing that matters is survival and managing the calamity with as much grace as we can muster. At RMAF, our... Read More »
New Stellar Strata combines exceptional sound quality and flexibility with full-featured DAC, streaming module, 200 watt-per-channel Analog Cell™ power amp and more Boulder, Colorado, May 18, 2020 – PS Audio today announced the introduction of its Stellar Strata Integrated Amplifier, which combines superlative sound with versatile features including a built-in state-of-the-art DAC and high-definition streamer,... Read More »
Formed in 2000 from the remnants of a handful of Raleigh, North Carolina bands, Between the Buried and Me was principally the brainchild of guitarist Paul Waggoner and vocalist Tommy Rogers. And while the group has gone through a number of personnel changes, the band's current incarnation features not only Waggoner and Rogers, but also... Read More »
Am Ende der Welt. Photo by Per-Einar Einarsen - Used with permission Weserbergland is a project led by Norwegian composer Ketil Vestrum Einarsen. He's deeply rooted in classical music, progressive rock, and experimental electronic composition. Their newest release, from Apollon Records, is Am Ende Der Welt. Compared to their previous release, it pushes farther, goes... Read More »
Dear Exhibitors, Showgoers, Esteemed Members of the Press, and Valued Members of the Audiophile/Music Enthusiast Community: As you are aware, we have sent out a few public announcements regarding T.H.E. Show 2020 in this one, we will provide what we believe to be a final update. There have been a few delays to releasing it... Read More »
Florence, Italy – May 11, 2020 – Gold Note is pleased to announce the immediate release of the line preamplifier P-1000 in its MkII version. The P-1000 MkII is part of the acclaimed Series 1000, the unique flagship Hi-Fi electronics line entirely hand-made in Italy. P-1000 MKII is an innovative ultra-balanced Class-A preamplifier powered by... Read More »
Nelson Pass: a portrait. Sea Ranch, CA, 2018. (Photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) This piece was originally presented at the 2019 Burning Amp Festival but was hampered by problems with the projection system. It has been rewritten for Positive Feedback.... Introduction I don't need to tell you that audiophiles tend to be... Read More »
The very first time as a teenager I laid eyes on my brother's new DynaKit amp, I knew inside that I'd found one of my life's true callings. I've always loved everything about audio gear; the look, the feel, the smell—but ultimately, the sound it's capable of producing. And I can honestly say, for the... Read More »
BRAHMS: Hungarian Dances, WoO 1; Waltzes, Op. 39. Marco Schiavo and Sergio Marchegiani, pianists. Decca 481 7812. TT: 71.20. Downloads: classical-music-download.com (FLAC); over-blog.com (320 kbps mp3); prestomusic.com (mp3, FLAC, hi-res FLAC); qobuz.com; wattpad.com (mp3, OGG, FLAC) The short review: gleaming, limpid performances of delightful, well-wrought music, in excellent sound. Get it. Some of you may want to know... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 136. Sonny Rollins, The Bridge. RCA – LSP-2527 (1962), Classic Records – LSP-2527 (1996), 33 1/3 rpm, 180g. Genre: jazz, hard bop. Premiering with Prestige in 1953 with a couple of stops and stints at Blue Note, Contemporary, and Riverside, this was Rollins' first of six recordings for... Read More »
1200-watt mono power amp features hybrid tube/ICE Edge design, balanced circuitry, ultra-efficient operation and extraordinary musical performance Boulder, Colorado, May 7, 2020 – PS Audio today announced it is now shipping its new Stellar M1200 Power Amplifier. Designed to deliver extraordinarily clear, detailed and musically accurate performance, the monoblock M1200 features an all-new hybrid design... Read More »
