Greetings friends, I hope you are doing well.
It's that time of year again, time for the Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2025, which you can read HERE.
There's lots of cool things to check out, so be sure to go and give them a read and do a little dreaming about what your next hifi toy might be!
My contribution to the Awards is below. Enjoy!
The Writers' Choice Awards are always a special time of year in that I'm able to reflect back on the year and tell you about the crème de la crème audio components that I've had the pleasure of listening to and writing about for you here at Positive Feedback.
In Issue 141 Frederik Carøe (Duelund Coherent Audio) and I collaborated on "The Duelund-Corona 832A Project" where we built ultra-performance crossovers for a pair of beautiful vintage Altec Corona 832A loudspeakers using state-of-the-art pure copper Duelund CAST capacitors and inductors in the crossover circuit to deliver a level of musical performance that few contemporary loudspeakers can match.
The pure copper Duelund CAST capacitors and inductors are a performance marvel. They allow so much musical information to come through, so much musical nuance, such beautiful decay of notes, such rich harmonics, such an expansive sense of ambient space, such a vivid presence of flesh and blood musicians in my room, that it was absolutely jaw dropping in the way they delivered the music as a direct transference into my soul.
If you desire to take your current audio system to its next level of performance, I suggest you start on your own Duelund crossover adventure. It's likely to be the best money you've ever spent on a system upgrade.
Duelund CAST Copper Capacitors and Inductors for the Project
Retail: $5446 USD
Duelund Coherent Audio
Contact email address for inquiries: [email protected]
In Positive Feedback Issue 141 I had the good pleasure to tell you about my listening adventures with the stunning combination of the Audio Note (UK) M8 RIAA phono preamplifier and the AN-S8/L step-up transformer.
These impressive Audio Note (UK) “Level Five” components are extraordinary performers, with their all-silver circuitry and state-of-the-art internal componentry providing an abundance of musical information with remarkable resolution and clarity. That, combined with a holographic soundstage and imaging, a natural-sounding organic flesh-and-blood presentation of the music, effortless dynamics, unfailingly delivered a big, bold, dramatic, endearing, colorful, spine-tingling, and room-filling musical performance.
The Audio Note (UK) M8 RIAA phono preamplifier and the AN-S8/L step-up transformer are easily the finest components of their kind I’ve ever encountered, and their performance is at such a lofty level that it is a considerable challenge to articulate what this ultra-performing duo is capable of, as they transcend mere ultra-fi sound quality performance and dive deep into a realm that delivers music in an extraordinarily honest, convincing, real, live-like, and emotionally powerful way.
Expensive, and worth every penny. Highly recommended!
M8 RIAA Phono Preamplifier
MSRP Retail: $69,300 USD
AN-S8/L Step-Up Transformer
MSRP Retail: $18,130 USD
Audio Note (UK)
In Issue 140 I told you about the newly released Ortofon SPU GTX S moving-coil phonograph cartridge that combines both classic and modern design elements, to deliver a phonograph cartridge I consider to be truly magnificent. I was so impressed I bought the review sample!
The Ortofon SPU GTX S includes a custom miniature step-up transformer (SUT) inside the SPU body shell, allowing listeners to run the SPU GTX S cartridge directly into a moving-magnet phono preamplifier without the need for an external SUT, opening up easy access to that classic SPU magic for a new generation of listeners.
The GTX incorporates high-performance technology that has stood the test of time, like Alnico magnets, high-purity copper moving coils, and an aluminum cantilever, to deliver a big, bold, richly nuanced, liquid, and warm presentation that made the music irresistible. Highly recommended!
Ortofon SPU GTX S Moving-Coil Phonograph Cartridge
Retail: $1119 USD.
Ortofon
https://ortofon.com/products/spu-gtx-s
Louis Dorio, Ortofon Inc. U.S. [email protected]
Ok, that's all for now. You can read about the full list of all the Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2025 HERE.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
