John Zurek, Author at Positive Feedback

The GIK Acoustics Q7D Diffuser

John Zurek — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:49:12 +0000

Over the years I've worked on refining the sound in my listening room by both upgrading/changing components and adding room treatments. Not sure why, but the whole room treatment project always seemed like a separate component of the system. Corner treatments, absorptive panels, diffusers, and Argent Room Lenses, in addition to the occasional component and... Read More »

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IsoAcoustics GAIA III Speaker Isolators

John Zurek — Fri, 03 May 2024 17:52:03 +0000

A while back I found myself the new custodian of some excellent prototype speakers. I'd heard the Communique floorstander at several Colorado Audio Society listening sessions and really enjoyed this speaker. Built by MG Audio Design, which was mainly a cable company at the time, (Positive Feedback's own Pete Davey reviewed their Planus speaker and... Read More »

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Quad Revela 2 Loudspeaker

John Zurek — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 21:15:41 +0000

For the last few years I've been audio lucky. Fat and happy while discovering new music on Qobuz augmented by the convenience of Roon, or listening to CDs and LPs. My system was delivering the goods and communicating the music. All my compatriots who came over to listen agreed. I was consistently contented and not... Read More »

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The Atacama Apollo Storm 10 Four Module Rack

John Zurek — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 18:34:03 +0000

It's taken me more time (years) to get serious about a new rack than any other component I've ever bought. My room and system have been so cooperative that for the past few years I've spent more time listening and looking for new music rather than fret about components, cables, room treatments, or a rack.... Read More »

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Gingko Audio Vibration Control Solution (VCS) Toolkit - Part 2

John Zurek — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 16:58:20 +0000

In Part 1 of this review, I had a great time listening to the awesome but temporarily incomplete Gingko VCS Toolkit, and I was looking forward to receiving the Cloud22 Bases to complete the review. When the bases did arrive I was intrigued to find that Vinh Vu also sent me the new Cloud22 wool... Read More »

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Gingko Audio Vibration Control Solutions (VCS) Toolkit - Part 1

John Zurek — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:15:53 +0000

I've been a fan of Gingko Audio's vibration control products for a long time. Way back in '08 (remember the sub-prime mortgage crisis?), I reviewed the Cloud 9 vibration control platform for my VPI turntable (HERE). Fast forward 14 years, and I'm still using it. Although I've replaced the rubber isolation balls, it still works... Read More »

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The Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Loudspeakers

John Zurek — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 20:19:58 +0000

How's your consumer confidence these days? Mine could be better. Seems like the more I buy, the less I'm satisfied. Higher price and lower quality is starting to become the rule rather than the exception. I especially take umbrage with products that feature a description that seduces you into thinking they're great, and then disappoint... Read More »

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Intona 7054-x Galvanic Isolator

John Zurek — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 22:52:52 +0000

The last few years I've been pretty pleased with my system, so I've really not been considering any major changes. My current gaggle of components, cables, and room treatments works well in my somewhat difficult room, and delivers most of the passion of the music while usually keeping me happily engaged. I even get to... Read More »

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The Akitika GT-102 Power Amplifier

John Zurek — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 18:15:07 +0000

The last decade summers at my place have been hotter than ever before. At 6300 feet, what used to be two weeks of high temps has turned into 10 weeks of even higher temps. I know this is just a Chinese hoax, but damn, the heat my tube monoblocks generate is just too much for... Read More »

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Meze 99 Classics Headphones

John Zurek — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 22:19:43 +0000

A little over a year ago I was making my way through the headphone hall at AXPONA 2019, and spotted the Meze Audio booth. I wasn't familiar with Meze, but their offerings looked interesting and I enjoyed listening to their 99 Classics for a few minutes. In the past year or so I've been leaning... Read More »

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CEntrance Cerene dB Headphones

John Zurek — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 20:43:58 +0000

When I got an email from CEntrance letting me know that their Cerene dB headphones, which are touted as both recording studio and audiophile grade cans, were available for review, my interest was piqued. CEntrance is known for great performance at a fair price. At $179, the Cerene dBs fall in an interesting price range... Read More »

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SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer Follow-up

John Zurek — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 20:00:31 +0000

Back in July 2019, after completing the original review of the SVS SB-3000 subwoofer (HERE), I took the subs out of my system. It took just minutes to determine there was no way I was going to send them back to the SVS folks in Ohio. They transformed my system into something special, and I... Read More »

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The SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer

John Zurek — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 16:24:54 +0000

It seems like every conversation I've had with audiophiles about subwoofers the last few years included 3 letters: SVS. No doubt subs from this company were gaining some real respect among the high end community. When I met Nick Brown (VP Marketing) and Dan Marks and (VP Operations) from SVS at AXPONA 2019, they were... Read More »

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The Gingko ARCH Platform and Acoustic Resonance Clarifier™ (ARCH) Follow-up

John Zurek — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 16:59:41 +0000

After I had such a positive experience with the Gingko ARCHs vibration control devices, Vinh Vu of Gingko asked me if I'd like to listen to the latest addition to the ARCH line, the ARCH Platform. It took me about a millisecond to say "yes, please." The ARCH Platform is an attractive, low-maintenance vibration control... Read More »

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The DENAFRIPS Pontus DAC

John Zurek — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:21:20 +0000

I remember my first high-end digital player, a California Audio Labs DX-1. Looking forward to perfect sound forever, I tried to sell myself on the virtues of that CD player. Listening through my (then) Martin Logan Aerius speakers and Classe amp, I could never shake the feeling that the DX-1's sonic signature was contributing to... Read More »

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The Gingko Acoustic Resonance Clarifier™ (ARCH)

John Zurek — Fri, 25 May 2018 17:00:16 +0000

As I began listening to the Gingko ARCHs the many audio tweaks I've tried over the years ran through my mind. The more I thought about it virtually every system I've heard, no matter price or size, included some sort of accessory I would—at least loosely—label as a tweak, an accessory that can improve the... Read More »

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The Linear Tube Audio Micro ZOTL MZ2 Headphone Amplifier/Preamplifier and ZOTL 40 Amplifier

John Zurek — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 19:36:49 +0000

When I listened to the Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S (read that review HERE) I was hoping to pair them with the Linear Tube Audio Micro ZOTL MZ2 preamp/heaphone amp and ZOTL 40 power amp. Clayton Shaw of Spatial audio opined that the pairing of the LTA components driving his M3 Turbo S was magical,... Read More »

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The Spatial Audio Hologram M3 Turbo S Loudspeakers

John Zurek — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 21:52:16 +0000

If you follow the reports from the numerous audio shows happening these days, you can't help but miss glowing extracts about Spatial Audio's exhibits featuring the M3 and M4 Hologram models. These open baffle speakers are designed by Clayton Shaw, who leads the research and product development efforts at Spatial Audio in Park City, Utah.... Read More »

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Colorado Audio Society November 2016 Meeting

John Zurek — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 20:13:48 +0000

Although I've been wanting to make it to one of the CAS (Colorado Audio Society) meetings forever, they are usually held in the Denver area. This makes it bit difficult for me, living about an hour and a half away. When I discovered the CAS meeting for November was being held in Colorado Springs, I... Read More »

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The Audioquest JitterBug

John Zurek — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 03:06:57 +0000

Since converting my digital playback chain to a heavily modded Mac Mini/Mytek Stereo 192 source (read review HERE) I've been very happily listening to a variety of 16/44 and hi-res files. For once I couldn't think of any upgrades that I really needed. But when I read an ad for the Audioquest JitterBug, it resonated with... Read More »

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Your Final System (YFS) PS-12m Mac Mini Power Supply/Internal Power Filter Mod

John Zurek — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 01:22:48 +0000

If you're an audiophile, you realize at some point that digital spinning discs won't be around forever. Although that realization hit me several years ago, it took quite a while before I really decided to get serious about a digital source based on a computer. I'd heard several computer-based rigs at shows, and what I... Read More »

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