September - October 2018
Audio Discourse
Impressions: The exaSound PlayPoint DM Network Audio Server...
Ye Olde Editor with pipe weed. Portrait by John Robinson. This seems to be a season for culminating projects. Given that autumn is upon us now, I...
The exaSound PlayPoint DM - Designer's Notes
George Klissarov and David W. Robinson George Klissarov, AXPONA 2017 exaSound's new flagship device, the PlayPoint DM Dual-Mono D/A Converter and...
Impressions: The Audionet STERN Preamp and HEISENBERG...
Ye Olde Editor: a portrait by John Robinson Audionet's STERN and HEISENBERG: Back to the mountaintop again! Fair warning: This is yet another one...
The Pass H2 Harmonic Generator
Nelson Pass: a portrait. Sea Ranch, CA, 2018. Photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson. Introduction – Why do we care about 2nd...
Wolfsong Audio to the Rescue!
A couple of weeks back, I arose on an otherwise unremarkable Sunday morning, had my coffee and checked my losing lottery numbers. I then proceeded...
An Unknown Quantity: My Loudspeakers
In a discussion with Managing Editor Dave Clark in regards to what may be slated for review, it was noted that my loudspeakers may prove difficult for...
From an Editor’s Notebook: Linn Returns to the USA!
I just back from a quick (two day) trip to Chicago, courtesy of the good folks at Linn in Scotland. On Tuesday, September 18, a very limited number of...
Impressions: Xact Audio's The Beat MagDrive™ Turntable...
The Beat MagDrive™ Turntable with Schröder Linear-Tracking (LT) Tonearm Ye Olde Editor, in medias puffus (photograph by John Robinson) Me, I...
The Schröder LT Tonearm Story
Steve Dobbins of Xact Audio and Dr. David W. Robinson I asked Steve Dobbins to give the background story of the design of the remarkable Schröder LT...
How I Got Into Turntables – and Turntables Got Into Me!
Dr. David W. Robinson and Steve Dobbins This sidebar article is by Steve Dobbins of Xact Audio, the designer of The Beat turntable that I've reviewed...
Indianapolis International Violin Competition Live Video...
One of the most important international competitions for young (ages 16 to 29) violinists takes place in the United States every four years. (The other...
The Saddest Song
Open Goldberg Variations, Werner Schweer, editor. Listening to "happy" music can make one feel happier. However, instead of always making people feel...
From Clark Johnsen's Diary - America's Greatest Living Composer,...
The late George Walker was old school, a kindly gentleman with Southern-style manners and an immense musical talent that took many forms, most notably...
Audio Ramblings and the AQVOX SE Switch - A Step in the Right...
All right, so I am a digital file playback guy and I admit it. My confession. I apologize and please forgive me for my regressions in audio… digital...
Leaning Forward into Laid Back: A Forsensic Approach
"Laid Back is a masterpiece! Gregg's greatest solo album and I'd be shocked by anyone disagreeing with that!" - Alan Paul, author of One Way Out: The...
Remembering our Friend, Carrie Ellyn Fisher
Carrie Ellyn Fisher, January 19, 1959 - August 4, 2018. Carrie Ellyn Skokut Fisher of Reston, VA, born on January 19, 1959 in Garfield Heights, Ohio,...
Hardware Reviews
JICO Seto Hori Cartridge
The Nippon Precision Jewel Industry CO LTD is typically referred to as JICO, a company many analog hobbyists are familiar with. JICO has a long and...
MAG-LEV Audio ML1 Levitating Turntable: U.S. Premiere Review...
Disruptor! The MAG-LEV Audio ML1 Levitating turntable is a disruptor! Are you surprised? I own one of six Paravicini magnetic drive turntables in...
AVM Evolution A5.2 Integrated Amplifier
Introduction to the AVM I love audio components that offer a lot for the money. The Evolution A5.2 Integrated Amplifier is just such piece of audio...
The DENAFRIPS Pontus DAC
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...
Synergistic Research Galileo SX Cables - A Suspension of...
Let's keep it simple and direct. The new Synergistic Research Galileo SX cables are the finest cables that I have used in my system. Over the last two...
Indra and Sakra Interconnects from STEALTH Audio
Indra Redux Back in the Precambrian Era of audio (circa 2003), STEALTH Audio introduced an interconnect that disrupted the cable industry. The Indra...
Wax Rax RC-2 Vinyl Record Cart
The larger your record collection, the more likely many of your favorite albums will remain buried, waiting years or possibly decades for another...
Still Audio EL84 Integrated Amplifier: Affordable Handcrafted...
When Mark Still contacted me in June about reviewing his handcrafted Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier (below) I was immediately intrigued,...
Ferguson Hill FH007 Loudspeaker System and FH008 Subwoofer
Ferguson Hill are a niche British designed loudspeaker company who have garnered notable interest for their innovative and striking horn-loaded...
The Neoteric Listener - The GLOW Audio Amp Two
Nearly a decade ago, my girlfriend and I co-wrote a favorable review of the GLOW Audio music system, composed of their Voice One loudspeakers, GLOW Amp...
final Sonorous X Closed Back Headphones
The final Sonorous X Closed Back Dynamic Headphones are the unmatched audiophile enigma of the decade. This cost-no-object luxury model of S'Next Co....
Analysis Plus Silver Apex Cables
Analysis Plus is essentially an engineering firm that has chosen audio manufacturing as one of the areas to focus their resources. What I find...
World Premier Review of IAMP - Incredible AC Purifier Power Cord...
Ever since I discovered the ultra-high-value audiophile cables and now power cords from Unique Innovation Technology (UIT), my audiophile life has...
Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Euphoria (Level 3)...
While sitting in the Synergistic Research room at Axpona 2018 this year, what I observed proved to be quite insightful but it also just verified what I...
AV RoomService EVPs (Equipment Vibration Protectors):...
When this review offer came from Norman Varney's company, AV RoomService, Ltd., I knew Norman from the Facebook experience, and I knew that he worked...
Sumiko Moonstone Moving Magnet Phono Cartridge
As I just retired and find myself back full time to the second love of my life (the first being my beautiful wife of 30 years, Paula of course) and...
Argento Audio Flow Phono Cable - Escape to the Old World
Now that the 2018 classical concert season has drawn to a close, I'd like to share a few of my most contentious observations: 1) the best European...
Furutech NCF Booster Performance-enhancing Connector and Cable...
Marc Phillips has been doing music reviews for Positive Feedback for quite a while now. In the interest of full disclosure, he is also a distributor...
Luxman L-507uXII Integrated Amplifier
Luxman Corporation of Japan celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2015. In late 2017 into early 2018, the high-end audio manufacturer introduced several...
The Fuuga Cartridge Moving Coil Cartridge, Part 1: A Heavyweight...
Cartridges and jazz musicians share at least one thing in common. Ask five artists to play a song and each performer will give a slightly different...
The New Apartment Lounge: Musical Fidelity's Scrumptious M6...
A Distinguished Legacy My use of, and admiration for, the expansive range of audio products from British manufacturer Musical Fidelity (recently...
Hijiri HCI-R10 Interconnects and HCS-25 Loudspeaker Cables
Audio companies usually showcase their best, and also the most expensive products. These present company's full potential, its best techniques and...
Interviews
Jacek Gawlowski
A Kingdom for a Horse - Mastering According to Jacek Gawlowski We know who a sound engineer and a sound director are, as well as we are aware of the...
Music - SuperSonic Recordings
Top 500 SuperSonic List - Part 10
This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 73. The Stooges, The Stooges. Elektra – EKS-74051 (1969), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre:...
Music Reviews
Notes of an Amateur: Pärt, Beethoven, Henze, and Blue Violet
Arvo Pärt. Mullova - Järvi. Onyx 4201. Darf ich..., Fratres, Passacaglia, Tabula rosa, I Ludus, II Silentium, Spiegel im Speigel] I have never been...
Sarah Reich, New Change
Sarah Reich, New Change. Tap Music Productions B07FTXR22W, CD $9.49 from Amazon.com "I want to be the first tap dancer to win a Grammy Award!" Okay...
Silva Film Music and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
In Positive Feedback Issue 31 (May/June 2007) I reviewed three CDs from Silva Film Music (HERE). Silva Film licenses the rights to film scores and...
Ronn McFarlane, The Celtic Flute
The lute is an ancient instrument with its forebearers having been traced back to 3100 BCE in Mesopotamia. Though a popular instrument during the...
Paavo Järvi Conducts Bruckner's Ninth
Paavo Järvi conducts Bruckner's Ninth. BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D minor. Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi. RCA Red Seal...
Friday Night In San Francisco by John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola,...
Friday Night In San Francisco - John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, and Paco De Lucia Back Story Impex Records has now reissued Friday Night In San...
Notes of an Amateur: Vivaldi, Bach, Ferneyhough, Auerbach, and...
Vivaldi, Sonatas for Cello and Basso Continuo, Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello. Harmonia Mundi. It has been quite a while since we've had recordings of...
Lee Hazlewood's Woodchucks, Cruisin' for Surf Bunnies
Light in the Attic Records LITA169, colored LP $22, LP $20, CD $12, available at lightintheattic.net "Lee Hazlewood wasn't a cowboy, but he sure played...
Our Friends at HIFI Statement
Albat GP 24 Power Cable
Die Albat GP.24 Power Cable hat das Format einer Kredit-Karte, ist schwarz und trägt das Firmenlogo und die Modell-Bezeichnung auf der einen Seite..... . . Read More »
IFI xDSD Portable USB DAC
Als ich den xDSD zum ersten Mal sah, kam mir das Konzept eher kryptisch vor. Features wie XBass+ und 3D+ sind bei Produkten von ifi zwar keine.... . . Read More »
Twelve Inch Tonearm by Einstein Audio
Einsteins The Tonearm gibt es ganz klassisch in den Längen von neun und zwölf Zoll. Die kurze Version hat seit über einem Jahr fast ununterbrochen.... . . Read More »
Our Friends at High Fidelity
The Second Life of Blu-Ray
What is the difference between a collector and someone who just gathers some items? Mieczysław Stoch, the hero of the interview you can also read in...
Struss DM250 Integrated Amplifier
I wanted, I really wanted to start this text somehow differently, to escape from the memories from the review of the Chopin MkIV by Struss Amplifiers,...
Our Friends at Part-Time Audiophile
How do we Attract More Younger Listeners?
I was checking my email recently when I noticed a breathless announcement from Best Buy that “AUDIOFEST IS HERE,” with “Incredible Savings on.... . . Read More »
McGary Audio SA-1 Stereo Amplifier Review
One of the fun aspects of reviewing gear from small start-up companies is getting to know the owner/proprietor, who is also usually the designer and.... . . Read More »
ZYX UNIverse Optimum 1Ω MC Cartridge
US $16,995.00. There, I’ve said it, in bold. That’s nearly seventeen thousand dollars for a phono cartridge. I still remember the first turntable I.... . . Read More »
Show Reports
RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 4
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave Clark...
RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 3
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave Clark...
RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 2
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave...
RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 1
The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest celebrated its fifteenth year this October in Denver! At the press and exhibitor mixer on Thursday night, Marjorie...
Lone Star Audio Fest 2018
Lone Star Audio Fest the high-end audio show held annually for 14 years the first weekend of May in Dallas, Texas was a grand success this year. The...
California Audio Show 2018
Come a little closer. I want to tell you a secret. Are you ready? I don't go to stereo shows to listen to stereos. It's true! Maybe once, in the dim...
California Audio Show 2018: Kirsten's Highlights
I have a lot of affection for the California Audio Show. It's an easy drive down from the Oregon Coast, and some of my most enjoyable show experiences...
