March - April 2018 Archives - Positive Feedback

Day 3 AXPONA 2018: The Final Push

Myles B. Astor — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:54:11 +0000

By Sunday all that was to give it the olde college try and go for broke. Sunday's game plan was to start as early as possible—beginning with a 7:30 AM breakfast with buddy Andre Jennings from The Absolute Sound—and visit as many of the rooms that had missed. There's no question that covering audio shows... Read More »

The post Day 3 AXPONA 2018: The Final Push appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Day 3 AXPONA 2018: Scouring the Marketplace for Goodies!

Myles B. Astor — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 17:33:42 +0000

Bigger than a basketball court but slightly smaller than a football field. Roughly one-half of the exhibit hall was designated the "Record Fair," while the other half of the Marketplace was the Ear Gear Expo. Inside this massive room sat 80 tables/booths filled to the brim with audiophile goodies ranging from software to cables to... Read More »

The post Day 3 AXPONA 2018: Scouring the Marketplace for Goodies! appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Day 2 AXPONA 2018: Reality Sets In

Myles B. Astor — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 17:28:10 +0000

By now the reality of covering 162 rooms (with 60 new exhibitors) and 80 booths was over. Any hope of seeing the whole show—other than sprinting from room to room and taking pictures—was also dashed and it was time to implement Plan B. So plan B—namely cover what I could—was put into motion. Of course,... Read More »

The post Day 2 AXPONA 2018: Reality Sets In appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Tekton Double Impact - Adventures with High Sensitivity

Victor Chavira — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 17:15:38 +0000

This article will be a departure from my normal format for reviewing audio components. The Tekton Design Double Impact speakers came to me by way of Steve Lefkowicz's personal pair. Steve and Rosina put the word out that they needed space in their living room to accommodate the holidays. Since we are only separated by... Read More »

The post Tekton Double Impact - Adventures with High Sensitivity appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag: AXPONA 2018

Maurice Jeffries — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 00:00:27 +0000

For 2018, AXPONA moved to a bigger, shinier, swankier venue, showed up with real attitude and renewed swagger, and hosted noticeably bigger crowds. The Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, a ginormous, and ginormously over-the-top Bauhaus-influenced conference center, blessed with the amenities and exhibition capacity to handle a show the size of AXPONA, replaces the... Read More »

The post Papa's Got a Brand New Bag: AXPONA 2018 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 6

Carol Clark — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 21:03:43 +0000

All photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark... more on AXPONA 2018. Also, just a note. Not all rooms provide equipment lists, so many times I have to go by what is on the door sign. If you notice an error we are happy to correct it. Thank you! Sennheiser headphones in the EXPO... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 6 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 5

Carol Clark — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 18:27:32 +0000

The post AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 5 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 4

Carol Clark — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 17:04:00 +0000

The post AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 4 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2081, Photo Essay Part 3

Carol Clark — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 20:37:46 +0000

All photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark... more on AXPONA 2018. Clarus Cable system. McIntosh in the house! Clarus Cables. Burwell & Sons Loudspeakers, Rogers High Fidelity. Very nice. A museum of electrical things in the High Fidelity Cables room. Van der Graaf generator. Electricity was in the air. High Fidelity Cables system.... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2081, Photo Essay Part 3 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 2

Carol Clark — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 18:43:35 +0000

All photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark... more on AXPONA 2018. Sue Toscano has an endless supply of energy, I was hoping it would rub off! Gayle Sanders with his new Eikon loudspeaker, room correction, amplifier, DAC, all-in-one system debuted at AXPONA. System total $24,5000. The sound was quite remarkable. While Gayle is a... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018, Photo Essay Part 2 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Hi-Res All-In-One Vinyl Noise Removal and Digital Recording Platform

Malcolm J. Gomes — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 20:13:50 +0000

Having covered audio shows for many decades now, I have learned to take it with a pinch of salt when I hear exhibitors bandy about words like "revolutionary", "game changer", and "new generation" in trying to get you to focus on their products. However, what was different as I started my coverage of TAVES in... Read More »

The post SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Hi-Res All-In-One Vinyl Noise Removal and Digital Recording Platform appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 2

Gary L Beard — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:19:42 +0000

This is Part 2 of my Axpona 2018 Show report... lots of pics! Sennheiser HE-1 Headphone System $60K, but yeah, it sounded great! Gayle Sanders Legacy Audio Scaena Constellation Audio and Martin Logan I loved this system last year, and it was equally enjoyable this year. Ruel: Self-powered Line Array. Very cool! How could they... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 2 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 1

Gary L Beard — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:59:15 +0000

1st Floor Entrance of the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel The late, great show-master of early TV, Ed Sullivan, would say, "That was a Really Big Shew!" And yes, ladies and germs, AXPONA 2018 was certainly all that, and a bottle of spring water. After a successful multi-year run at the Westin in Rosemont, Il, this year,... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018: A New Location, A New Vibe - Part 1 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

AXPONA 2018 Day 1: Crowds Set Records For Attendance

Myles B. Astor — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 20:54:33 +0000

I’ve been totally overwhelmed by the size of the show, and trying to cover all the rooms. Industry turnout today Friday was, as my Absolute Sound buddy Andre commented, "like RMAF, pre-renovation, only with far more consumer turnout." According to Liz Miller of JD Events, there were 162 rooms at AXPONA 2018. Consumer attendance on... Read More »

The post AXPONA 2018 Day 1: Crowds Set Records For Attendance appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Impressions: The Sound Galleries SGM2015 – Chapter 2, with the Nagra HD DAC and MPS External Power Supply

David W. Robinson — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 02:40:21 +0000

Ye Olde Editor contemplating the mysteries of life and audio… (Photograph by John Robinson) Back in the winter of 2017 (HERE in Issue 94), I shared my evaluation of the Sound Galleries SGM2015 reference-level Music Server. Since a music server cannot be reviewed without also considering either an internal or downstream DAC, my comments had... Read More »

The post Impressions: The Sound Galleries SGM2015 – Chapter 2, with the Nagra HD DAC and MPS External Power Supply appeared first on Positive Feedback.

First Take: The Bakoon International AMP-41 Amplifier

Dean Seislove — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 15:31:45 +0000

Just about ten years ago, when I first started writing the Neoteric Listener column for Positive Feedback, editors Dave and Carol Clark invited me to their home. At the time, the heart of their system featured the substantial Clayton Audio mono blocks and the well-regarded Reimer speakers. Reflecting on my then modest Arcam and Tannoy... Read More »

The post First Take: The Bakoon International AMP-41 Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Vanatoo Transparent Zero Loudspeakers

Adam Goldfine — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:48:59 +0000

I first heard the Vanatoo Transparent Zero (T0) speakers at the Los Angeles Audio Show last year and was immediately smitten. The sound quality I was hearing from speakers—available at an introductory price of $299 (now $359)—had me scratching my head wondering how so much could cost so little. Add to that 2 x 48... Read More »

The post Vanatoo Transparent Zero Loudspeakers appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Gold Note PH-10 Phono: EU EQ OK for US LPs?

Bruce Kinch — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 03:08:56 +0000

Gang tackling is not usually part of the gameplan around team Positive Feedback, but if you are a fan of phono stages, you will note that I am the fourth reviewer here to get a chance to audition the Gold Note PH-10 (see HERE, HERE, and HERE). As my colleagues have ably pointed out, it... Read More »

The post Gold Note PH-10 Phono: EU EQ OK for US LPs? appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Einstein The Pure Loudspeaker

Danny Kaey — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 16:52:20 +0000

Linn did it. Meridian has also done it. So have Naim, Avantgarde, Burmester, Gryphon, and a host of other brands, mostly hailing back to great European heritage and lineage. Naturally, one may ponder the who, the what, the it may refer to, and you would of course be right in that quest. Here, this question... Read More »

The post Einstein The Pure Loudspeaker appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Celebration of the Art of Music - The Rembrandt Frerichs Trio

NativeDSD — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:51:42 +0000

Pal Szatmari With this contribution, Positive Feedback adds to its music review community select contributions from NativeDSD.com's volunteer writers. This review was originally published as part of the "Call for Reviewers" programme initiated by NativeDSD.com. Eight carefully selected DSD listening reviewers have been writing for Blog.NativeDSD.com since late 2017. The focus of these writers will... Read More »

The post The Celebration of the Art of Music - The Rembrandt Frerichs Trio appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The New Apartment Lounge: Piercing the Electroacoustic Veil with Audionet's Paradigm-Shifting WATT Integrated Amplifier

Maurice Jeffries — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 23:10:27 +0000

Will Wonders Never Cease A recurring nightmare haunts my dreams. In the nightmare, some guy named Bill Parish of GTT Audio continually harasses me with phone calls, texts, and emails imploring yours truly to return the Audionet WATT integrated amp that took up residence hear at Casa Jeffries a little over a month ago (and... Read More »

The post The New Apartment Lounge: Piercing the Electroacoustic Veil with Audionet's Paradigm-Shifting WATT Integrated Amplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Ryan Tinsel Rackit-Compatible LP Storage Racks

Scott Dorsey — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 20:21:06 +0000

Back in November I published a review of the 33 Rackit Modular Record Storage Unit, a replacement for the original Per Madsen LP racks. Afterward, I was contacted by Ryan Tinsel who informed me that he also was making a replacement for the Madsen racks. Per Madsen in San Francisco made a modular storage system... Read More »

The post Ryan Tinsel Rackit-Compatible LP Storage Racks appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Frank Ultra Bank UB-25000Ws AC Power Conditioner

Arnis Balgalvis — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 16:21:09 +0000

Abundant availability of AC power is something we take for granted. The distribution of electrical power has been executed with a level of unprecedented success: no matter where we look, there's the good ol' AC power outlet staring at us. Unfortunately, what is delivered by that good ol' AC power outlet usually arrives seriously flawed.... Read More »

The post Frank Ultra Bank UB-25000Ws AC Power Conditioner appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Impressions: The Pear Audio Blue Kid Thomas Turntable/Cornet 2 Tonearm System

David W. Robinson — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:31:22 +0000

Image courtesy of Pear Audio Blue Damnation. Time is sand through the fingers, crap through the goose. Projects pile up, deadlines come and go, and the best intentions of rodents and humans crash and burn. Turntables. Tonearms. Cartridges. LPs. Reissues. New record companies. New pressing plants. A glory of riches, getting better and better over... Read More »

The post Impressions: The Pear Audio Blue Kid Thomas Turntable/Cornet 2 Tonearm System appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Hanging with the Chads - A Rega(l) Experience

Wayne Goins — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 21:47:26 +0000

As I mentioned when I introduced myself to this journal, I'm a rookie when it comes to high tech audio equipment—but I'm a fast learner. And l have already learned pretty quickly how deep this rabbit hole goes when one steps into the arena of sound and technology. Now, I'm not one for keepin' up... Read More »

The post Hanging with the Chads - A Rega(l) Experience appeared first on Positive Feedback.