It is the story of birth of digital audio, as well as a journey through the 1970s and 1980s, the best period in the history of digital recorders, and finally the story of their unique representatives; reel-to-tape recorders from Mitsubishi. (Part 1 can be found HERE) DIGITAL SOUND RECORDING method of preserving sound in which... Read More »
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 156. Jackie McLean, It's Time!. Blue Note – BST 84179 (1965), Tone Poet Series – B0031655-01 (2020), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: jazz, hard bop, post bop, free jazz leanings. Previously I had suggested that Tone Poet's remastering of Wayne Shorter's excellent Etcetera (Blue Note LT-1056, B0029357-01) pretty much... Read More »
9 November, 2020; Englewood, CO – Monarch Systems Distribution is happy to announce the immediate release and availability of the new Power Two stereo amplifier from Alluxity. The Power Two has a US MSRP of $7,800. The third solid-state power amplifier from Alluxity, the Power Two produces 200W into 8 ohms and 400W into 4... Read More »
Authentic premium Danish hi-fi, handmade with love in Skanderborg Skanderborg, Denmark – 19th November, 2020 Dynaudio has launched its new, limited-edition Heritage Special passive stand-mount loudspeakers – handmade from top to bottom, inside and out, at its headquarters in Denmark. Started as an ‘off-the-radar’ project and developed under top-secret conditions at Dynaudio Labs, it’s now... Read More »
Buffalo, NY, November 17, 2020---- Bluebird Music, distributor of high-performance audio products since 2000, is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Weiss DAC501. Weiss products are precision-built in Switzerland to the most rigorous professional standards, The DAC501 is a compact, half-width unit, allowing placement flexibility in desktop and studio applications, as well as in home... Read More »
Circa 1967, that is… Imprints on music are lifelong influences. Among my early imprints that I continue to cherish are the recordings made by André Previn with the London Symphony early in his career. Released by RCA from around 1967 to 1972, these Decca recorded performances are a consistent pleasure. The various Decca recording teams,... Read More »
Nicolas van Poucke: The Schumann Collection, Vol. 1, TRPTK. (2020 (DXD) (HERE) What a pleasure to listen to this quite extraordinary pianist, Nicolas van Poucke, in this new release from TRPTK. His performances of the Schumann works on this album are totally engaging, full of musical intelligence and emotional depth. It is always a treat... 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 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 »
The latest XLPE-upgraded Chord Company speaker cable is here & just in time for Christmas (£7.50m) 17th November 2020, Wiltshire, England: Chord Company is bringing its latest XLPE insulation technology to hi-fi and home cinema fans on a budget, with the launch of C-screenX, the British A/V cable specialist’s latest loudspeaker product to benefit from... Read More »
Nickel Creek formed in 1989, at a point when all three members were under the age of thirteen. They actually went by the moniker "The Nickel Creek Band" for a few years before eventually deciding to drop "The Band" to present themselves with a more modern and concise identity. Consisting of mandolin player and vocalist... Read More »
New Naim Radio Stations Plus a Radio Upgrade for All Naim Streaming Systems Salisbury, England – November 17, 2020 - Naim Audio, the British specialist with almost 50 years of hi-fi expertise, is delighted to announce new and higher-quality radio options for users of its streaming speakers, systems and separates – all freely available from... Read More »
Lanchbery-Herold, La Fille Mal Gardée, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by John Lanchberry. HDTT 1962 2017 (Pure DSD256) HERE These excerpts from John Lanchbery's 1960 adaptation of Ferdinand Hérold's 1828 score have been a guilty pleasure of mine since I first heard them on the original Decca SXL 2313 LP in... Read More »
The consistent excellence of Channel Classics' recordings has rapidly made this label our "go to" resource for modern recordings of both long-standing classical musical favorites and new areas for exploration. Jared Sacks, founder and chief recording engineer, is a recognized master of his craft and deservedly so. His recordings are transparent jewels that have become... Read More »
November 16, 2020 - Since 2013, Focal Aria has been a leading range among high-performing and expressive Hi-Fi loudspeakers. With its natural flax cone and sleek style, Aria marked a decisive point in Focal’s history. And the story continues. As part of its process of constant renewal, the St. Étienne brand completes its line with... Read More »
In my article about the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier for Positive Feedback (Issue 108 HERE) I discussed how impressed I was with the Oto's performance powering my vintage Duelund-Altec Project "Stokowski" loudspeakers (Issue 105 HERE). The Oto and Altec-Duelund combination really wowed me with its superb musicality and sonic performance,... Read More »
Bob Witrak's High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT) is a treasure house for DXD and DSD256 downloads of some of the best recordings from the golden age of analog stereo recording. Perusing the HDTT catalog is like traveling back in time to my favorite record store to wander through shelves of wonderful recordings from Decca, RCA,... Read More »
First in a Series of NEW Budget-Class Reference Products Introductory Priced at $799 Walter Liederman and Underwood Hifi announces an Incredible Full-Featured High Res DAC with remote controlled Preamp and Headphone Amp that has both Vacuum Tube Outputs as well as Solid State - you choose Your Voice and Musical Style. Liederman went on to explain... Read More »
November 12th, 2020 — Clarus® is excited to announce the release of CODA, a new USB DAC with Headphone Amplifier that includes an MQA renderer. The CODA features the latest in USB-DAC technology that provides ultra-low distortion, more detail, greater dynamics, and a bigger sound stage. Designed to be used with a smartphone, tablet or computer, the CODA... Read More »
MQA Users have Doubled Since 2019 on TIDAL TIDAL HiFi Users Now Stream 40% More Tracks in Master Quality than Last Year November 12, 2020 (New York, NY) – Today, global music and entertainment streaming platform, TIDAL, added millions of tracks in MQA from Warner Music Group to its Masters catalog. TIDAL, in partnership with... Read More »
Sacred Trance Music from Taos Mountain, Habib Chishti, Michael Rosell, Salman Hanuman Lee, Shawnina Good Road Woman. Yarlung Records 2020 (EP) (Pure DSD256, Stereo, MCh) HERE Go to your quiet place, turn out the lights, transport to the original recording session with these musicians. The sound quality is that good—immersive, translucent, and transcending. And the... Read More »
Craft Recordings continues their 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of Creedence Clearwater Revival with this new LP reissue of their seminal album, Cosmo's Factory. Starting in July 1970, Cosmo's Factory quickly rose to the top of the US Billboard album charts and was propelled to quadruple platinum status in the US alone on the... Read More »
Upgrades include sonic improvements and new gain control functionality Price of base model remains the same Takoma Park, MD: Linear Tube Audio, the only manufacturer of amplifiers based on David Berning’s patented ZOTL circuit design, today announced a series of upgrades to their award-winning flagship MicroZOTL Preamplifier. The upgrades bring sonic improvements and increased functionality,... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about how systems really work, and why that can be a problem Roger Skoff (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson) Many years ago, upon learning that my sister had no home music source other than her television set and a table radio, I decided to buy her a stereo system.... Read More »
Once again, our great friend and music lover, John Marks, Editor of The Tannhauser Gate, has favored us with his reflections...this time on the Moonriver Audio Model 404. As usual, John writes with great knowledge and discernment on the audio virtues of this integrated amplifier. Read, and learn! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor... Read More »
Announced in September, the new Krane tonearm for Linn Majik LP12 has been given a shipping date of 23rd November. From this date, all new Majik LP12 turntables will ship with the new higher performance arm fitted as standard. The new Krane tonearm boosts the performance of Linn’s entry level vinyl source in line with... Read More »
An all-new design, state-of-the-art specifications and a sound that soars – iFi’s NEO iDSD hi-res DAC/headphone amp is every music lover’s perfect housemate Southport, England – Since its inception in 2012, iFi has been at the forefront of DAC technology for home and portable use, delivering exemplary sound with digital music sources both online and offline.... Read More »
From Heaven on Earth - Lute Music from Kremsmunster Abbey, Hubert Hoffmann. Challenge Classics | Northstar Recording (DXD) (HERE) A beautiful and sensitive recording of some exquisite compositions recently discovered in the library of the Benedictine Abbey of Kremsmünster in Upper Austria. Hubert Hoffman is clearly a master of the 11-string lute, as heard here... Read More »
Or what do the audiophiles sit on "First of all, audiophile doesn't listen to. He assesses." source: Bartek Chaciński, Wyż nisz, Kraków 2010 ⌋ Preparing the 3-part mini-series entitled. MICROTUNNING I focused on three elements of audio systems: 1 LOUDSPEAKERS, 2 ELECTRONCS and 3 CABLES. Already back then one of our Readers pointed out to... Read More »
Positive Feedback is an American audio magazine. From 1990 to 2002 it had been printed, but then it started to be published online only; it is one of the oldest and largest online audio magazines in the world. We are talking to one of its founders, Dave Clark. Dave and Carol Clark in their listening... Read More »
2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of progressive / hardcore / metalcore band Between the Buried and Me, and Craft Recordings continues to celebrate this watershed moment with remix / remasters of the band's entire catalog. Now up: BTBAM's third studio album, 2005's milestone release Alaska, which gives us the band featuring their... Read More »
This article, as reviewed by Larry Cox, Carol Clark, and Victor Chavira originally ran in Issue 3, October/November 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. Of the three integrated amps... Read More »
Robert Schryer and Dave Mallette report: A Story about Speakers, People, and Hope. Read about it HERE
Puidoux: October 2020. The dilemma that faces any supplier of music software is knowing what features to include in the next version. The inclusion of a Dolby Atmos workflow on the latest version of Pyramix was an easy decision to make. The first point was that Pyramix users were being asked to provide Dolby Atmos content... Read More »
Jane Ira Bloom: Wild Lines - Improvising on Emily Dickinson. Anderson Audio (2017, Audiophile Edition 2020 (DXD) HERE Jane Ira Bloom is an acknowledged jazz master on the soprano saxophone. She has built a following bridging modern and experimental jazz. In Wild Lines she has created a fresh and unpretentious exploration of the intersection of... Read More »
Five Easy Pieces: Focal and Naim Offer Premium Music Systems at Special Prices October 27, 2020 - With a combined 88 years of handcrafted audio expertise, Focal and Naim understand how to create the very best music systems. Now they are making them even easier to enjoy, with specially matched and priced systems that pair... Read More »
Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 and Op. 3, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. Pentatone (Three Albums 2019, 2020 (DXD) [HERE] This is big, bold, exciting Handel. None of your timid tinkly stuff. This music has drive! It has bass! It is energetic! Just have fun with it. Yes, that was my first reaction listening to... Read More »
Ballads is considered by many as an essential addition to any John Coltrane collection. First released on the Impulse label in mono and then later in stereo, it has continued to cause both consternation and praise by both critics and fans. This new 33 RPM stereo reissue is another wonderful addition to the Acoustic Sounds... Read More »
