Jeff checking in ... my good friend, George. Update!
It's crazy how fast time rushes by! It seems like I've been running a marathon lately trying to get everything done and keep ahead of the tsunami that's right behind me! Speaking of marathon runners, I just got some really sad news about my good friend George, who happens to be an avid runner and... Read More »
The Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge review is live at Positive Feedback!
I finished up the review of the new Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph a little bit ahead of schedule, and it is now live at Positive Feedback. The new $1500 USD Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III is one heck of an impressive phonograph cartridge, and it dethroned my Ortofon SPU Classic GM MkII stereo phono cartridge... Read More »
Sneak Peek: The Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III Phonograph Cartridge Review for Positive Feedback!
I'm nearing the point of finishing up my Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III photograph cartridge review for Positive Feedback, and as is my custom I thought I'd give you a sneak peek before I send it off to ye olde editors Dave and David for review and publication! I hope you enjoy it! ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪... Read More »
Jeff checking in ... what's coming up!
It's been an incredibly hectic week on all fronts, and I feel like I've been sprinting to keep up! I've been writing up my listening impressions for the Positive Feedback review of the new Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge from Peter Ledermann, and you should see that review published in the next week or... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Fender '65 Princeton Reverb
As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I’ve been using a Henriksen Jazz Amp, but I decided to order a Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb vacuum tube guitar amp from Sweetwater to use with my Collings Eastside LC Deluxe jazz guitar. The Henriksen is a nice sounding solid-state guitar amp for jazz, but I've been wanting to get... Read More »
For sale: Vintage McIntosh MC225 (sold) and MC240 (sold)!
I've been agonizing about whether to do it or not, but I've decided to put my vintage McIntosh MC225 and vintage McIntosh MC240 stereo power amplifiers up for sale, as they're not seeing much use of late. I hate to leave such wonderful vintage McIntosh amplifiers sitting around when they could be making beautiful music... Read More »
Jeff checking in ... Soundsmith, Spec, Acoustic Revive, Still Audio, First Watt, and Fender!
I'm working on Part 2 of my Soundsmith review series for Positive Feedback right now, the Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge, and hope to have it published in the next few weeks. In my Part 1 Soundsmith review for Positive Feedback I reviewed the Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge (HERE). I found the Carmen Mk II to... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Collings Eastside LC Archtop Guitar
I've always loved jazz guitar. One of the highlights in my life was being able to study with the extraordinary jazz guitarist, John La Chapelle (above left), who was Larry Coryell's guitar teacher when he was a youngster and introduced him to jazz, and the two maintained their friendship over the years. Jazz guitar is... Read More »
The review of the First Watt SIT-3 is live at Positive Feedback!
My review of the First Watt SIT-3 is now live at Positive Feedback HERE. Within its areas of strengths (and power limitations) the First Watt SIT-3 is one of the best, if not the best, amplifier I’ve ever heard. If you think you might want a First Watt SIT-3 of your own don’t wait too... Read More »
First Impressions: The Still Audio EL84 Integrated Amplifier!
I've been wanting to write a "First Impressions" update about the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier for a while now, but life has been busier than anticipated, so I'm a little behind writing-wise. Many of you know of my affection for EL84 amplifiers, and I've been very impressed with the performance of the different ones... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The New Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cords, Absolute RCA FM Interconnects, and PC-TripleC/EX Headshell Leads! (Now updated with USD pricing)
Today's Fresh Catch are the exotic new Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cords, RCA Absolute FM Interconnects, and PC-TripleC/EX Headshell Leads. I always get excited when new Acoustic Revive products arrive from Mr. Ken Ishiguro (Acoustic Revive) via Mr. Yoshi Hontani (Muson Project, Exporter), as Acoustic Revive products always have an extreme level of quality materials, technical ingenuity, a ... Read More »
Sneak Peek: The First Watt SIT-3 Stereo Amplifier Review for Positive Feedback!
I am hard at work writing up my listening impressions for the First Watt SIT-3 stereo power amplifier review for Positive Feedback, which I hope to have completed in the next few weeks or so. Until the review is published, I thought you would enjoy a "sneak peek" into the upcoming review - enjoy! ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪... Read More »
Watt's up? The Nelson Pass designed First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier!
A couple of memorable Pass Labs moments in my life came to mind as I have been listening to Nelson Pass' new First Watt SIT-3 stereo power amplifier over the last two weeks, a design which Nelson is very pleased with, I am told (and which I will be interviewing him about for the Positive... Read More »
A blast from the past: listening to the vintage "Fisher King" SA-100 power amplifier!
My friend Ron Barbee enjoys finding vintage audio gems and restoring them, like the Fisher SA-100 stereo power amplifier that is the subject of today's post. The Fisher SA-100 came out in 1963 and sold for about $120 USD ($986.63 in 2018 USD). They are relatively rare today, but if you run across one in... Read More »
First Impressions: Custom Spec RSP-AZ9EX Real Sound Processors by Yazaki-san for the Vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers!
I think most of you know I've been having a "love at first listen" affair with my vintage Altec Corona 832A loudspeakers that I purchased from LA Jazz Audio. It is a little hard to tell in the accompanying photographs, but the Altec Corona 832A's are fairly large loudspeakers, being about as wide as my... Read More »
The Positive Feedback review of the Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phono cartridge is now live!
I didn't think I was going to be able to get the Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge review finished up over the weekend, but I was able to put in some long hours and get it finished up! The Positive Feedback review of the Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phono cartridge is now live HERE!... Read More »
Jeff checking in ... Soundsmith Carmen Mk II, First Watt SIT-3, Still Audio EL84, Spec RSP-AZ9EX, and vintage kit!
I was hoping to get the Positive Feedback review of the Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge finished up this weekend, but it's looking like it is going to be next weekend instead - it's turned out to be a busy weekend! Also, something very interesting happened during the review of the Carmen Mk II - in a... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Still Audio EL84 Integrated Amplifier!
As you know, I'm a big fan of EL84 integrated amplifiers, as they provide a live-like musicality that always seems to thrill me! So when Mark Still contacted me about writing up his hand-crafted Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier here at Jeff's Place and for Positive Feedback, I was happy to say "Yes!". Adding to... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Custom Spec RSP-AZ9EX Real Sound Processors for the Vintage Altec 832A Corona by Yazaki-san!
It is always such a pleasure to hear from Yazaki-san, he is such a gracious and kind gentleman, and he has more good audio ideas in a day than most of us do in a year! I have a fascinating multi-part story of serendipity and intrigue to relate to you about Today's Fresh Catch, the Spec RSP-AZ9EX Real... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Vintage Fisher SA-100 Stereo Amplifier
Ron has a way of finding nice vintage audio treasures, and as a very talented tube tech Ron enjoys the process of freshening them up so they can be heard in all their glory. Ron brought along his latest project for the listening session with the First Watt SIT-3, the very interesting vintage Fisher SA-100... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The First Watt SIT-3! Postscript added x2.
Today's exciting arrival is the First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier, which was designed by - and in the case of this particular SIT-3 amplifier - hand-built by Nelson Pass himself! I consider Nelson's First Watt amplifier designs to be an artistic expression of what is possible at the cutting edge of audio performance, and as... Read More »
Sneak Peek: Positive Feedback Review of the New Soundsmith Carmen Mk II Phonograph Cartridge!
I am hoping to finish up writing my Positive Feedback review of the new Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge next week, with the reviews of the Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge and MMP3 Mk II phono preamp to follow in separate articles in due time. I thought you would enjoy reading a little "sneak peek"... Read More »
Breaking news! Bumblebee capacitors ride again - hooray!
After discussing this topic in a couple comments with capacitor guru Daryl Stahler, I wanted to follow up with a proper post to give this exciting news more visibility in case you didn't read it in the comments. To reiterate what I said in my comment: I want to let you know some more interesting... Read More »
Traveling in England and Wales!
I had a really nice visit to England and Wales over the last couple of weeks, and just got back. If you were wondering why I was slower than usual answering comments and emails, that's why, and I still might be a little slow catching up on answering email and messages as I'm really jet-lagged! If I... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch! The vintage Eico HF-81 integrated amplifier!
I'm a bit jet-lagged after just getting back from England after a couple of weeks of traveling, so if I am rambling and a bit non-sensical in this post please forgive me, and hopefully I'll make more sense in a few days. 😉 Anyways, my buddy Doc Leo just bought a nice example of a... Read More »
First Impressions of the new Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge on the Artisan Fidelity Thorens TD124 turntable!
As I've reported earlier, I found the Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phono cartridge to be a match made in heaven for my Leben RS-30EQ valve phono stage, and the Zephyr Mk III has provided the most satisfying analog playback I have ever heard from my A5-based system. Given the superb result with the Zephyr Mk III ($1500 USD), I was eager to give... Read More »
First Impressions of the new Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge on the CTC Classic 301 turntable!
As I've reported earlier, I found the Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phono cartridge (above) to be a match made in heaven musically & sonically in my vintage Altec A5-based system, so I've been very eager to hear what the new Zephyr Mk III can do on my CTC Classic 301 turntable in my Westminster-based system (details HERE). If you've... Read More »
First impressions of the Soundsmith MMP3 Mk II Phono Preamp with the new Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge!
I really like having a couple of different hifi systems to try components in, as each different system and room combination gives somewhat different results, which helps to provide additional insights to a component's musical & sonic performance across different contexts. Take, for example, my first impressions of the Soundsmith MMP3 Mk II phono preamp... Read More »
An awesome vintage system for ~$10K USD! now + postscript
An old high-school buddy that I reconnected with recently, Mark, asked me for a recommendation for a HiFi system for $10K or under. Mark is actually the person who introduced me to enthusiast audio way back when we were in high-school together, but he's been out of enthusiast audio for quite a long while. As... Read More »
Audio & music ramblings ... and other stuff!
I'm into my fifth month of retirement from the day job now. My internal clock is still mostly geared to the hours that I worked, up at 4:30AM, arriving at the lab at 6AM, and getting home by 4PM. I'm sleeping in later and staying up later every day, but not by much. Even though... Read More »
Duelund CAST Tinned-Copper 100V Capacitor Review at Humble Homemade HiFi!
I just wanted to alert you to the review at Humble Homemade HiFi of the new Duelund CAST tinned-copper 100V capacitors that are optimized for loudspeaker crossovers. A little teaser from what Tony said, "With the Duelund CAST Cu-Sn all types of music flow, become more involving, to such an extent that I was forgetting... Read More »
First impressions of the Soundsmith MMP3 Mk II Phono Preamp!
I had a nice 3-day cycling getaway with my buddy Chad as we cycled around the greater Seattle area over the weekend. The weather was mostly beautiful and we covered a lot of miles. Chad is a craft beer aficionado, so we made a few rehydration stops at a couple of his favorite breweries along... Read More »
First Impressions of the Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge!
Today I decided I should give the new Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge that is in for review at Positive Feedback a listen, so I mounted it on my Artisan Fidelity Thorens TD124 turntable. I have my Thorens TD124 doing musical duty in my audio-video system with my vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre... Read More »
First impressions of the Soundsmith Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge!
I always get excited when a new hifi component arrives to write about, as it's an adventure in music & sound that I never seem to get weary of. I decided that I should mount the Carmen Mk II on my Classic 301 turntable first, and give it a listen in my Tannoy Westminster Royal... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Soundsmith!
There was a knock at the door just a moment ago, and it was the man in the Big Brown Truck dropping off a package from Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith fame. As I mentioned in a previous post, I get quite a few emails asking for a recommendation of a relatively affordable phonograph cartridge that is... Read More »
A Guest Article from Mr. Shirokazu Yazaki: “My Adventure With My Old Marantz Model 7” Part 7.
I am delighted to be able to share with you Part 7 of Yazaki-san's adventure with his vintage Marantz Model 7K preamplifier! I always enjoy reading what Yazaki-san has written, and I always learn a lot from his many insights. I would like to say a very special "Thank you!" to Yazaki-san for taking time... Read More »
