The Garrard Project 2015
I remember Srajan over at Six Moons telling me way back when that The Garrard Project series of articles (1, 2, 3) I wrote starting in 2004 were the most read articles in Six Moons history. I was surprised to hear that, but quite pleased of course! Since then, it seems that vintage Garrard - as... Read More »
A Time To Be Thankful!
This last week was Thanksgiving Holiday week in the USA, where we commemorate the 1621 celebration of thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where early settlers & Native Americans shared a feast of thanksgiving for the good harvest that ensured their survival (depicted in the Brownscombe painting below from Wikipedia). Back then a good harvest meant you survived through the winter months, and to quote Mfu's... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Bing Crosby
I was just listening to NPR's piece on Bing Crosby on my vintage Mac MX110Z's FM tuner, watching the snow fall outside my window, and thinking that it would be a great time to listen to White Christmas from the copy of the Bing Sings box set that Cindy got for me a couple of years ago.... Read More »
James Checking In: Tannoy Canterbury SEs
I absolutely love it when you take time to write me and tell me about your hi-fi. I got a message from James telling me about his Tannoy Canterbury SE based system, and I thought James' hi-fi was so nicely done I wanted to share it with all of you! Beautiful! Hi Jeff, Attached is a photo of my Canterbury... Read More »
The Absolute Sound: Camerata Musica presents Byron Schenkman & Friends
You just can't beat unamplified live chamber music in a cozy intimate acoustic like the Camerata Musica series of concerts to remind you of what enjoying music is all about. After Cindy told me about the Camerata Musica concerts (thank you Cindy!), I immediately became a sponsoring patron, and we have been going to every concert this year, and... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: McKinnon Mac Rack
McKinnon Furniture in Seattle is one of my favorite stores for buying hand-made furniture & equipment stands and cabinets in the entire world. All of the furniture is made the old fashioned way, from scratch, beautifully conceived, and they'll do custom designs and let you pick the wood. I've needed a new equipment rack for quite... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: A Vintage McIntosh MC225 Stereo Amplifier from Yves Beauvais at Vintage Vacuum Audio
The comment from Hans' this morning asking about news on the vintage McIntosh article I've been wanting to write for Positive Feedback Online couldn't have been more timely. You see, I've been looking for a McIntosh MC225 stereo amplifier for a year or so, with no luck (that's the cover of an owners manual below).... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Acoustic Revive!
Today's Fresh Catch includes the Acoustic Revive RR-888 Ultra Low-Frequency Pulse Generator, and the remarkable Acoustic Revive PC-TripleC interconnect cables. As many of you know, over the years I’ve written a lot about the innovative Acoustic Revive audio accessories manufactured by the brilliant Mr. Ken Ishiguro in Japan. In fact, I've spent more time writing about... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Mono Mania Continues with Bags Groove & Mobley's 2nd Message
My foray into the mono Analogue Productions limited numbered edition Prestige mono series continues to delight me with the Bags Groove and Mobley's Second Message LPs. Miles Davis' Bags Groove was recorded in 1954 in Rudy Van Gelder's Hackensack, New Jersey, studio. The title tracks were recorded the day before Christmas, but the present of the album... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Soultrane and Lush Life in mono by Analogue Productions
I love jazz. While I really enjoy listening to a lot of different musical styles, jazz was my first musical love, and it remains my first choice to unwind with a little music listening after a long day. So I want to offer kudos to Analogue Productions - my favorite jazz reissue record label - for... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Rollins Plays for Bird (mono)
I always get a little bit excited when I get an email from Acoustic Sounds announcing their latest vinyl arrivals, and I'm way behind on telling you about some of the great albums I've come across lately. With all the attention being paid to new vinyl releases in (re)mastering and cutting, and the advent of full... Read More »
Chad’s Second Annual ‘Seattle Through The Back Door’ Bicycle Tour
Last week was my second annual 'Seattle Through the Back Door' bicycle tour with my buddy Chad (below), so I thought I'd share a few of the highlights with you. In case you're wondering about the title, it's a tip of the hat to one of my favorite Europe tour providers, Rick Steves, who's based in Edmonds,... Read More »
Howard Checking in from the UK: Duelund Silver WRSE Internal High-Frequency Crossover
Howard sent me a quick email and photo of the superb internal Duelund high-frequency crossover he developed for his Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers. Jeff, I have been following your articles on the Duelund mods to your Westminster Royals over last 6 months. Really excellent work – congratulations. I have carried out - maybe - the final... Read More »
The Absolute Sound: Camerata Musica presents the Brasil Guitar Duo!
Last night I thoroughly enjoyed listening to São Paulo's Brasil Guitar Duo - João Luiz (left) and Douglas Lora (right) - playing unamplified classical guitars in a small, intimate, auditorium setting in Richland, Washington. (photo below courtesy of the Brasil Guitar Duo website) The Brasil Guitar Duo was presented by Camerata Musica as the kick-off for their 2014-2015 chamber music concert season. I was... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall
Today's Fresh Catch is the Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall 2-LP reissue set that was mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 3-track master tapes, and pressed at Quality Record Pressings. I've been away for four day road trip to Boise, Idaho, getting my parents' house prepped for sale after they moved into assisted living... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Ellington At Newport
Have you ever thought that you knew about something, then found out that you didn't know as much as you thought, and felt like a real jackass? That's what I felt like after listening to the Ellington At Newport LP by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. You see, sometime back I had vowed to myself that... Read More »
The Third Annual ANVIL Award Celebration!
Labor Day weekend here in the States signals the greatly anticipated arrival of the annual ANVIL Award gathering put on by those inveterate audio statesmen, Stephaen Harrell (6Moons) and Pete Riggle (Pete Riggle Audio Engineering). In the photo below, that's Stephaen on the left, Pete on the right, and this year's ANVIL awardee, 'My Last... Read More »
Other Stuff: Good food, good times, and Mauviel M'Heritage Copper M250C.
You might have noticed that the tagline on my Jeff's Place blog is "Music, Hi-Fi, Fotografie, and Other Stuff". This post is about the 'other stuff'. It's a lot of fun to combine food and music, like I did recently when visiting Sante Restaurant & Charcuterie in Spokane, Washington, with Cindy, while taking in the nine-time... Read More »
Stephæn’s Black Pearls Aquarius Phono Stage Article is Live at 6Moons!
I just got a note from Stephaen that his Black Pearls Aquarius phono stage review is live at 6Moons here. Check it out, it is a fun read! Thanks for stopping by!
Upcoming Review Ideas: Vintage McIntosh, Leben, and Lenco. What do you think?
I've had a couple of ideas for reviews that I've been wanting to write up for Positive Feedback Online for a while now, but time just hasn't allowed for it, as life has been incredibly busy both on the day job and on the personal front. Now there appears to be a little window of... Read More »
Pido and Stephæn Visit Jeff's Place: Black Pearls and the Sign of Aquarius
It was a true pleasure to have my friends Stephæn Harrell (left) and Pete Riggle (right) stop by for a little hi-fi tomfoolery on Saturday. Stephæn brought by some tasty pizza from Greek Islands Cuisine, and we had a grand time sipping a little Pinot Noir from the Sonoma region of sunny California, along with some Newcastle brown ale... Read More »
Fanfare for the Common Man: The RS Line of Duelund Capacitors
I just heard about the recently released line of Duelund RS capacitors, which I had totally missed because I was so engrossed in writing the Duelund-WRSE Project Part 2 article for Positive Feedback Online. I'll try to find out more about the recently released line of Duelund RS capacitors from Frederik (a future interview perhaps?), but... Read More »
Pete's Place: Pete's got a sixteen inch Woody and a massive pair of B's
It's always a real pleasure to visit the irrepressible Peter Pan of audio, Pete Riggle. It was a real bonus that Ron (below center left), Leo (not pictured), Stephaen (center right), Bill (lower right), and John (left) were there too, they're my audio heroes one and all! Some of you may remember Bill from my 6Moons... Read More »
The Duelund-WRSE Project, Part 2: Duelund CAST Silver Capacitors and Duelund CAST Silver & Copper Autotransformers – Listening Impressions
Here's my listening impressions for the Duelund CAST Silver Capacitors and Duelund CAST Silver & Copper Autotransformers. I hope you enjoy it! Listening Impressions The Stock Westminster Royal SE Loudspeakers Let me repeat myself a little, with excerpts from the Part 1 article of the Duelund-WRSE Project, to put everything in context for the Part 2 changes... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Jazz Messengers - At The Cafe Bohemia Volume 1
"Wow!" was my first reaction as the music began to pour out of my loudspeakers from the Music Matters 45-RPM reissue of the Blue Note hardbop jazz album The Jazz Messengers - At The Cafe Bohemia Volume 1 that was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, and mastered for this release by Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman.... Read More »
The World of Music, The First American Edition (1963), and The Leopold Shakspere (circa 1870's)
If you read the post where David King checked in to tell us about the beautiful leather bound volume (below) of ‘The World of Music’ by Kjell Bloch Sandved, you know I was intrigued, and I ordered a copy of a later edition from a used book seller on Amazon (because I couldn't find the same one... Read More »
Part 2 of the Duelund-WRSE Project is now live at Positive Feedback Online!
Part 2 of the Duelund-WRSE Project is now live at Positive Feedback Online! Enjoy!
The Duelund-WRSE Project, Part 2: Duelund CAST Silver Capacitors and Duelund CAST Silver & Copper Autotransformers - Introduction
I just completed the second Duelund-WRSE Project article and sent it to Editors Dave & David at Positive Feedback Online. I ended up at 42 pages of Word text and 69 photographs by the time I finished it. I have to say I'm pretty excited about the article, and I really hope you all enjoy... Read More »
David King Checking In: The World of Music
David King sent me a really interesting heads up about a music book that I know all of you will be really interested in: 'The World of Music' by Kjell Bloch Sandved. (All the photos below are of David's copy, and it looks like a beauty of a book!) As soon as I read David's message I... Read More »
Danny Bar Checking In From Poland - Warsaw and Krakow
It's always nice to hear from Danny Bar. This time Danny's adventures have taken him to Poland, where he shot some great photos in Warsaw and Krakow. Danny used his Leica M9 camera plus Summicron-M 50mm f/2 lens for the color shots, and I love they way they look. I've shot lots of very nice... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Custom McIntosh Audio Cabinets (and a short Duelund Update)
Hi Everyone! Like usual, I've had way too many things going on at once so it has been hard for me to get some new posts up for you. One of the things I've been wanting to tell you about is some custom McIntosh audio cabinets that I have run across that I think look really... Read More »
David King Checking In: 4-Point Support for Tannoy Westminster Royals
It's always a pleasure to hear from fellow enthusiasts, and David King always has some great things to share with us about getting the most performance out of Tannoy Westminster Royals. In David's latest message he tells us about his result experimenting with 4-point support for the big West's: Enjoy! Tannoy Westminster Royal HE -... Read More »
Deep Into Duelund - Updated With Listening Notes
I've really been enjoying the charms of all things Duelund, and I am hard at work writing Part 2 of the Duelund-WRSE Project for Positive Feedback Online right now. The focus of Part 2 of the Duelund-WRSE Project are the 6.8uF Silver Duelund CAST Capacitors for the C1 position of the crossover (shown above), and... Read More »
Sunday Afternoon at Jeff's Place
I had my friends Leo, George, Ron, Stephaen (6Moons), my girlfriend Rosalie, and Santos, over for a listening session last Sunday afternoon. First we listened to some interesting grounding loops from Mark Coles (Sablon Audio) that can be used on speaker cables, interconnects, and the Duelund-WRSE connections. Mark says the grounding loops are basically short loops of... Read More »
Fotografie: The 2014 Tulip Festival in Washington State
I was really looking forward to getting out and shooting some photos with my new Leica Summilux 1.4/35 ASPH FLE lens on the end of my Leica M9. Towards the end of April every year there is The Tulip Festival north of Seattle in the area of LaConner and Mount Vernon. It's been about four years since... Read More »
The Week in Review and a Look Ahead!
It has been a busy couple of months here at Jeff's Place, with lots going on across multiple fronts. On the hi-fi front it has been non-stop excitement with the Duelund CAST components from Frederik Carøe in Denmark as Part 2 of the Duelund-Westminster Royal SE External Crossover Project kicks into high gear! Duelund-WRSE external crossovers... Read More »
