New Acoustic Revive Products Coming In December
I found out that there are a couple of new Acoustic Revive products being released towards the middle to end of December, the first being the RUI - 1 USB Isolator. The press announcement about the RUI-1 USB Isolator says, "The biggest problem in PC based audio is the huge amount of ‘noise’ generated by... Read More »
The 7th Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards for 2010
The 7th Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards for 2010 are now online for your reading pleasure - enjoy!
Travels in Turkey - Part 2
Istanbul is really an amazing city to visit with its kaleidoscopic display of culture and sights. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, with current estimates putting the population at approximately 17 million, making it one of the largest cities in the world. It is located on the Bosporus Strait and covers both the European... Read More »
Kenneth Rexroth - An American Experience
While traveling through Turkey recently, one of the more frequent questions I encountered was about books, both as smalltalk in the "What have you been reading lately?" or the "What are your favorite books?" context, or at times with the much more interesting context of, "What books best describe the essence of your American experience?"... Read More »
LEBEN CS300XS WINNER OF DIAPASON GOLD MEDAL 2010
Yoshi Hontani sent me word that the wonderful little Leben CS300XS vacuum tube integrated amplifier was a winner of Gold Medal for 2010 from the French magazine Diapason. Here's a little excerpt from the review: "Faithful to the look and spirit of the end of the 1960’S, this small integrated tube amplifier is full of... Read More »
Live at Positive Feedback Online: The Sablon Audio 'The Robusto' AC Power Cord Review
The Sablon Audio 'The Robusto' AC Power Cord review I have been working on just went live at Positive Feedback Online here. To quote the last section of the review as a teaser: "The Sablon Audio The Robusto power cord is a remarkable achievement in a power cord design, with performance that puts it right... Read More »
The 7th Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards for 2010 - Part 3
As you found out in posts 1 & 2, the first two winners for 2010 were ... drum roll ... the Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition loudspeakers ($35,000 USD) and the Leben RS-30EQ Phono Preamplifier ($2495 USD). While the Westminster Special Edition is expensive enough to make your teeth hurt, they really are worth every... Read More »
The 7th Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards for 2010 - Part 2
I just clicked 'send' to get my 2010 PFO Writers' Choice Awards on the way to PFO Editors Dave and David. As I mentioned earlier, by visiting my blog you get a preview of coming attractions before it goes into print at that esteemed magazine. We writers hand out the PFO Awards for those stellar... Read More »
The 7th Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards for 2010 - Part 1
Ye Olde PFO Editors Dave and David have called for the Writers Choice Awards to be submitted by us Hi-Fi hacks, so I'm putting that together now. One of the benefits you get by visiting my little blog is a preview of what's coming from yours truly before it goes into print at that esteemed... Read More »
Rodrigo y Gabriela 11:11
Over time I have found friends - which includes you dear readers - to be a rich source of good recommendations for music. This time the recommendation comes from my globe-trotting friend, Rebecca, who told me about the Rodrigo y Gabriela 11:11 CD while we were traveling through Turkey. Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero are... Read More »
Travels in Turkey - Part 1
It seems like almost everyone in the Pacific Northwest of the USA has heard about Washington State's Rick Steves' Europe Through The Back Door due to his entertaining travel shows on public television. I have been wanting to go on one of Rick's tours for a while, but the timing always seemed to conflict with... Read More »
I'm back ...
I've been traveling through Turkey the last few weeks and so haven't been able to answer any of your messages, but now that I'm back home I'll get caught back up with everyone as soon as I get over the nasty case of jet lag I've got going. I started my trip through Turkey in... Read More »
For Leben CS300 Enthusiests - A Terrific Article by High Fidelity
Many thanks to Mark Coles of Sablon Audio 'The Robusto' fame, for sending along a link to an article in the superb High Fidelity magazine of Poland about a hot-rodded version of the Leben CS300. For those of you who know of articles about Leben, Westminsters, and so forth, be sure to let me know... Read More »
Sunday's Fresh Catch: The Acoustic Revive USB-2.0 SP Cable
I just got in for review at Positive Feedback Online what can only be described as a really astonishing USB cable that connects a USB DAC to a computer - the Acoustic Revive USB-2.0 SP. On the DAC end there is a single USB-out connector, but on the computer end(s!) there are two USB connectors... Read More »
Leben CS600 Integrated Amplifier Gets an 'A'
I was just thumbing through my copy of the October 2010 edition of Stereophile magazine - which is the Recommended Components issue - and noticed that the Leben CS600 integrated amplifier has been awarded Stereophile's highest rating of 'A' in the integrated amplifiers section. For those who aren't familiar with it, Stereophile is one of... Read More »
The Sophia Electric Model 91-01 300B Mono Amplifiers
I thought I'd share a couple of photos of the Sophia Electric Model 91-01 300B mono amplifiers that have just arrived for review at Positive Feedback Online. Directly heated single ended triode (DH-SET) amplifiers have always held a special place in my heart, as they do certain aspects of musical reproduction so magically that it's... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Sablon Audio 'Robusto' Power Cord
The Sablon Audio 'The Robusto' power cord is today's fresh catch, and believe me, it serves up some fine listening. More often than not, it’s through the ‘audio underground’ that I get tips about new or relatively unknown Hi-Fi products that really deliver the musical experience in spades, for it is from the underground’s deep... Read More »
Chris checking in from South Africa
I really enjoy hearing from all of you. Every once in a while something really amazing comes to light among the music lovers that stop in for a visit, and this time it's Chris' post about his Tannoys (and more!) that really blew my mind. Chris and I have traded a couple e-mails, and Chris... Read More »
A Tip from Chris of Shirehampton
I get a lot of good ideas from friends sharing tips about music and Hi-Fi with me, and this musical & audio sharing is what makes the 'audio underground' so fun and inspiring. Vintage Garrard 301 turntables and Sony Playstation SCPH-1001s come to mind as examples of past tips that provided a lot of enjoyment... Read More »
Frank, Gizmo, Eunice, Tannoy, and Musical Ecstasy
Frank - a fellow member of the Westminster Guild - and I have been having a fun discussion over e-mail that was quite interesting, and I asked Frank if I might share part of it with you for your edification. The gist of it? Having fun with music and Hi-Fi gear, along with some really... Read More »
Visit to Pendleton, Oregon
Recently I visited the small western town of Pendleton, Oregon, known primarily for the historic Pendleton Woolen Mills, renowned maker of fine Indian blankets and men's plaid shirts since 1893 (several of their Indian blankets adorn my living room walls). I used the visit to get some experience shooting with the Leica SEM 18/3.8 lens... Read More »
String-Theory 'Woody' Tonearm by Pete Riggle Engineering
I've been getting a number of inquiries about the new 'Woody' tonearm from Pete Riggle Engineering, so I thought I'd post this e-mail with photos (note the cool vintage Garrard 301 and Thorens TD124 turntables - drool) from Pete telling about his new String-Theory Woody Tonearm. I haven't yet seen or heard Pete's new tonearm... Read More »
The Wonder of It All
I'm sitting here in my living room tonight, relaxing after a long day in the office, listening to my favorite Chet Baker album of all time, the Someday My Price Will Come on SteepleChase that was recorded live at Montmartre in Copenhagen on October 4, 1979. I've listened to the CD version for years, and... Read More »
It may be a while before we see the Leben 300B and EL84 Mono Amplifiers
Quite a few of you have asked me if I had heard anything about the new Leben 300B and EL84 mono amplifiers that are under development, and I haven't, so I thought I'd inquire of Mr. Yoshi Hontani to see if we could get a status on when we might see them come to market.... Read More »
Leben CS660P Power Amplifier Alps Bypass (Hi Mom!)
I talked to my Mom and Dad on the phone tonight, and Mom mentioned she was a little worried about me because I hadn't posted anything new at Jeff's Place for a while (I am blessed with the most terrific parents you can imagine!). It turns out that I've been busier than usual, so I've... Read More »
Morning Coffee with Stephaen, Pete, and the Pass Labs' INT-30A Integrated Amplfier
Cool guys Stephaen (6Moons) and Pete (Pete Riggle Audio) stopped by this morning for a little coffee and music listening. Stephaen brought along the Pass Labs' solid-state INT-30A integrated amplifier that he is writing an article about for 6Moons. The INT-30A is a 30-watt integrated based on the Pass Labs' XA30.5 stereo amplifier, and like... Read More »
Yoshi Hontani Checking In
Those of you who have been reading the Acoustic Revive Chronicles, and the articles about the Leben Hi-Fi Company electronics from Japan (see the links page), will recognize the name of Yoshi Hontani, who exports both of these fine product lines from Japan around the world to eagerly awaiting customers. In fact Yoshi San is... Read More »
Frank's New Westminster Royal SEs
Say 'Hi!' to fellow music and Tannoy lover Frank Rodgers. Frank's been into Tannoys for a long time, his first pair of Tannoy speakers being the GRF Windsors, which he owned from 1971 to 1996. From 1996 to June 2010 Frank was running the GRF Memory speakers, and he just bought a pair of pair... Read More »
Maps of Time - an Introduction to Big History by David Christian
The best book I've read this year is Maps of Time, An Introduction to Big History, by David Christian, published by the University of California Press. I was trained as a chemist, and taught chemistry at the University while in graduate school. Recently though, it's history that has really intrigued me. Maps of Time has... Read More »
A Quick & Easy “How-To” On Getting Started with a Computer as a Digital Source
Fellow music lover Charlie Schnyder asked me if I would be willing to write a quick and easy “how-to” post about getting started with a computer hard drive as a digital source. As Charlie mentioned in his e-mail to me, there are a lot of music lovers who would like to take their existing CD... Read More »
Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Washington
After doing the North Cascades Highway drive in Washington State, I stopped in at the Sun Mountain Lodge for the night. The Sun Mountain Lodge is located high in the mountains outside of Winthrop, Washington State, and I have to say it was a nice find. Photo below Leica M9 with 50/2 Summicron. The lodge... Read More »
Leben CS660P Power Amplifier Review by Wojciech Pacuła of High Fidelity (Poland)
I just found out about a very nice review of the Leben CS660P Power Amplifier by Mr. Wojciech Pacuła of High Fidelity (Poland), which has also been translated into English at 6Moons. For those who may not know, the CS660P is available with two circuit variations, one of which produces more bass quantity than the... Read More »
The Analogue Productions 45 RPM Bill Evans Riverside Box Set
It is my opinion that the finest records in the history of the world are being made right now by Analogue Productions as part of their 45 RPM series. The records have both superb musicality and superb sonics, and include some of the most important recordings ever laid down on tape, at least for us... Read More »
A Simple Guide to Creating a Musically Satisfying Hi-Fi System
You would not believe how many e-mails I have received over time from fellow music lovers and audiophiles that start out with, "My Hi-Fi system sucks, I need some advice ..." or a variation on that. Most of the time people ask me about getting a new piece of Hi-Fi gear that will remedy their... Read More »
Chapter 8 of the Acoustic Revive Chronicles is now live at Positive Feedback Online
Here is the link for the latest installation of the Acoustic Revive Chronicles at Positive Feedback Online. Time goes by so fast it seems, and it has been over two years since Mr. Yoshi Hontani first sent some Acoustic Revive products for me to write about. With this latest article on the Single Core cables... Read More »
Memorial Day, Brothers In Arms
It's Memorial Day here in the States, which is about remembering soldiers who have died during military service, and was enacted after the American Civil War (1861-1865). This morning I've been working on my review for Positive Feedback Online of the Acoustic Revive speaker cables, RCA interconnects, and RCI-3 cable insulators. Coincidentally, I just ordered... Read More »
