SAN FRANCISCO (1/16/20) -- For nearly two decades, the Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblock power amplifier, designed by the legendary John Curl, wasParasound's flagship product, and the aspirational amplifier for thousands of audiophiles world-wide. A five-year effort by Curl and Parasound, and sweeping circuit improvements, have resulted in the amazing Parasound Halo JC 1+ monoblock... Read More » . . . Read More »
Ye Olde Editor at play… (Portrait by John Robinson) Into the home stretch with my Brutus Awards for audio hardware in 2019. Just two or three more to go. Cardas Audio Clear Beyond RCA Interconnects The Cardas Clear Beyond RCA interconnect breaking in on audioexcellenceaz's audiodharma Cable Cooker…which is an essential component if you work... Read More » . . . Read More »
Oz Audio and High End by Oz LLC proudly announce their cooperation for distribution for the North American market. Ø Audio founded in 2017 by Sveinung Mala in Norway and introduced first commercially available product, Icon loudspeakers. Icon pictured above is a horn speaker using a 12” woofer. The cabinet is an asymmetrical design and... Read More » . . . Read More »
Ye Olde Editor at the wheel of my BMW M3 hardtop convertible, 2014 (photograph by John Robinson) LampizatOr Pacific DAC upon arrival (DHT SET Triode, unbalanced version without volume control, for Windows 10) If you've been following my writing over time, you may be familiar with the fact that LampizatOr has been showing up in... Read More » . . . Read More »
Yuja Wang, courtesy of Medici TV This is a first—I can't ever remember reading an article in The Economist that brought tears to my eyes… . The article in question is, to use academic terminology, a "reception history" of the piano in Chinese culture from the mid-19th century to the present. Here's the vignette from China's 1966-1976 "Cultural Revolution" that... Read More » . . . Read More »
WOLF-FERRARI: Piano Trios: No. 1 in D, Op. 5; No. 2 in F-sharp, Op. 7. Trio Archè. Brilliant Classics 95624. TT: 70.15 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948) is best remembered for his operas—I quattro rusteghi, Le donne curiose, Il segreto di Susanna—which are still performed from time to time, mostly in Italy. (A famous Barcelona performance of his Sly,... Read More » . . . Read More »
January 2, 2020. GoldenEar Technology, manufacturer of some of the world’s highest value audiophile loudspeakers, and The Quest Group, best known as the owner of the AudioQuest brand of cables, Niagara power products, and DragonFly DACs, are very pleased to announce that GoldenEar has become part of The Quest Group, a California corporation wholly owned... Read More » . . . Read More »
High End By Oz LLC is pleased to announce United Home Audio as an authorized dealer for Vitus Audio covering Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. United Home Audio is owned and operated by the legendary designer of UHA tape decks, Greg Beron. Please contact United Home Audio for a demonstration of Vitus Audio products. United... Read More » . . . Read More »
LOS GATOS, Calif., January 3rd 2020 - Basil Inc. today announced that it is now an authorized dealer of KEF home audio products at a time when the British-born company is introducing new products through scientific innovation and hands-on experimentation to underwrite its reputation as the ultimate loudspeaker manufacturer. Basil Inc. will bring all of... Read More » . . . Read More »
David W. Robinson photographing at Icicle Creek during the fire season of 2012: a portrait. Leavenworth, WA. (image by Lila Ritsema) My Brutus Awards, once again. Lordy, tempus fugit! What are they? Quoting myself in 2018, quoting myself recursively… "The Brutus Awards are given at the end of each year, in recognition of the best high-end... Read More » . . . Read More »
A boy hears a sound. He hears sound before he has a name. He hears gurgling, pounding underwater. He hears an ocean of blood swimming around him. Through his veins. Through his mother. He breaks into the light of day. He's shocked that he has a voice. He finds his voice and screams. He hears... Read More » . . . Read More »
Hans Ole Vitus Nielsen with his latest SIA-030 amp, next to the High Fidelity reference system Hans Ole Vitus Nielsen, usually called Hans Ole, known for his surname—Vitus (it will become clear at the end of the interview), is the founder, owner and main engineer of the Vitus Audio company. It is one of the most... Read More » . . . Read More »
PREMIERE The first amplifier from the Danish company Vitus Audio was presented in 2003. Earlier, however, for eight years, its project was improved and perfected. Hans Ole Vitus Nielsen is the founder and head of the company, as well as its chief designer. We are testing his latest product, the SIA-030 integrated amplifier, weighing 63... Read More » . . . Read More »
Roger Skoff tells how to increase your enjoyment and get better sound out of your system. Chip Moore and Roger Skoff at the LAOC Audio Society Gala, 2019 (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) Do you know the difference between hearing and listening? Both involve the same sounds, from the same sources; both... Read More » . . . Read More »
Jim Arvanitis, tapped for VP spot, brings RSX high-level executive management experience from Sony USA, Kenwood USA, and KRK Systems, Inc. Rancho Cucamonga, California — Roger Skoff, CEO of RSX Technologies, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim... Read More » . . . Read More »
On October 30th, Focal Naim America, manufacturer of Focal speakers and Naim electronics opened its first branded store inside of Scottsdale, AZ dealer LMC Home Entertainment's exquisite high end audio/home theater store. At the grand opening I had a chance to sit down with LMC owner Mike Ware as well as Focal Naim America's VP... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 years. The Calgary Market, although vibrant with many audiophiles, has never had the opportunity to have its own audio show. The owners of the Audio Room, a... Read More » . . . Read More »
Mattias Olsson - Photo by Vincent Carild - Used with permission Mattias Olsson is perhaps best known as the drummer for the Swedish progressive rock band, Änglagård. Currently, he's credited with some sort of involvement in nearly 150 projects. From his Roth Händle Studio outside Stockholm, he records and produces bands from all over the world, and composes... Read More » . . . Read More »
Bringing Audiophiles and Music Lovers the Best Headphones on the market, industry talks, meet-ups, and more SCHAUMBURG, IL (December 20, 2019) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), taking place April 17-19 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in the Chicagoland area, announces a brand-new Ear Gear Experience, which will be the largest area in the country dedicated... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 panel MG 30.7 ($29,950), and finally the new and diminutive but overachieving two panel LRS ($650). All of these models have received rave reviews and gained multiple awards throughout the... Read More » . . . Read More »
Tampa-based show boasts 60% more exhibitors than last year, all exhibit space now sold out Tampa, Florida—December 2019—Music lovers rejoice! The Florida Audio Expo is happening Friday–Sunday, February 7–9, 2020, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the world’s finest high-performance audio equipment—including electronics, loudspeakers, turntables, and... Read More » . . . Read More »
Linn re-enters the custom installation market with innovative multi-zone audio source 17th December 2019. Linn today announces the launch of a high-performance multi-zone network music player designed specifically for the Custom Installation market. Kustom DSM takes Linn’s proven, best-in-class DSM streaming technology and packages it as a flexible, scaleable and easy-to-install solution that delivers Linn... Read More » . . . Read More »
Positive Feedback has just received news of the passing of Roger Modjeski from RAM Labs/Reference Music. According to RAM Labs, Roger died on December 11, 2019, after a long illness. I mentioned Roger and his RAM Labs Tube Audio Store with highest praise in March of 2019. This was when I reviewed the brilliant combination... Read More » . . . Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 121. Various, Thank God It's Friday - Collectors Gift Series. Chocolate City – CCD 20014 DJ + Casablanca – NBD 20116, 20117, 20119, 20120, 20121, 20122, 20123, 20124, 20129 DJ (1978), 10x12", 33 1/3 rpm, single-sided, promo, compilation. Genre: disco Following the immense success of Saturday Night Fever... Read More » . . . Read More »
David W. Robinson, Leavenworth, WA, 2012 (photograph by Lila Ritsema) Preamble Last weekend I attended the Los Angeles/Orange County (LAOC) Audio Society Gala in Buena Park and Orange, CA. Held in early December each year, this gathering represents the finale for the LAOC AS annual calendar. The LAOC AS is the largest high-end audio society... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 Olde Editor Center: Dovidl (played by Luke Doyle). © Sabrina Lantos. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics. Classical-music fans, especially fans of the violin and its literature, will want to know... Read More » . . . Read More »
Product Launch: the PA-10 Florence, Italy – December 5, 2019 – Gold Note is pleased to announce the immediate release of the new stereo amplifier PA-10. The PA-10 is a part of the 10 Series, the conveniently sized entry level line of the Italian manufacturer. The PA-10 has been developed to offer great power considering... Read More » . . . Read More »
Blue Note Tone Poet Series Donald Byrd, Chant. Blue Note Stereo LT-991 Stanley Turrentine With Shirley Scott, Hustlin'. Blue Note Stereo 84162 Blue Note 80 Series Lonnie Smith, Think! Blue Note 80 Stereo 7753113 Bobbi Humphrey, Blacks and Blues. Blue Note 80 Stereo 7752697 Grant Green, Alive. Blue Note 80 Stereo 84360 Donald Byrd, Ethiopian Knights.... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 instructive. Enjoy! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Gregorio Allegri’s "Miserere" (Have mercy on me, Lord) is one of the most famous pieces of Late-Renaissance polyphonic a cappella choral... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 different for both Carol and me. Entering our third year of retirement we find ourselves spending less time with audio related stuff (specifically reviewing, as it... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 produces better music, but when it's all boiled down, I get distracted listening to gear because I'm identifying with the music. Granted, there are times when I listen to a... Read More » . . . Read More »
Yarlung Records is always full of surprises, and Lifeline: Music of the Underground Railroad is no exception. Bob Attiyeh, award winning President of the label, brought it to my attention, explaining its unique and extraordinary meaning. Bob’s tastes are broader and generally superior to mine, and his recommendations always pan out. His hands-on recording techniques, minimalist... Read More » . . . Read More »
For Immediate Release! What: Cuckoo For Christmas Extravaganza! Date: 12/8/19 Time: 7pm-9pm Who: The Hot Licks - Music of Dan Hicks With Special Guest Josh Reynolds Where: 142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley, CA 94941 Phone: 415-383-9600 www.throckmortontheatre.org Ticket Link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35161/production/1021678?performanceId=10483567 . . . Read More »
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 Robinson and Dave Clark (and Carol Clark) had heard in their own listening rooms during that year. You can think of it as our equivalent of an "Editors' Choice" award. The Gizmo... Read More » . . . Read More »
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 a taste of Magnepan's high-end offerings. I can't argue with that; at $650 per pair, they're a remarkable bargain—there's nothing else out there close to the price... Read More » . . . Read More »
From John Marks' blog site The Tannhauser Gate comes this recommended recording: the "American Songbook" as performed by solo artists on Steinway pianos. No words...just the music itself. A tough challenge. But John says that the results are excellent, therefore one should pay attention.... Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Various: Cole Porter on a Steinway,... Read More » . . . Read More »
Dear NativeDSD.com music lover, We're messaging you because we are no longer going to include the option of downloading all lower DSD resolutions with a purchase. In this letter we explain why we changed that policy and what we offer as a solution to those of you who want to keep having access to the... Read More » . . . Read More »
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