Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
I feel a certain affinity for Hendrix, with him having been a fellow Washington State resident, and wanted to get back in touch with his music. So a few weeks back I ordered a batch of records from Acoustic Sounds that included Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland. The version I ordered was the new special edition... Read More »
Winning Combinations
I've been very pleased to read how various Stereophile writers (Stephen Mejias, John Atkinson, Robert Deutsch, John Marks, and Art Dudley, if I remember correctly) have praised the Leben CS300 and CS600 integrated amplifier based Hi-Fi systems featured at the Salon and Image Show in Toronto over the last few years. The common thread in... Read More »
April 2010 Leica Road Show In Seattle
I signed up for the Seattle stop of Leica's North American Road Show so I could get a look at all the Leica lenses, the new Noctilux in particular, and learn some tips from the pros that would be there, Justin Staley and Chris Weeks. Below is a view of the city of Seattle with... Read More »
The Analects of Confucius
I love to read, much in the same way I love music. I’ve been reading through one of the classics of ancient China, The Analects of Confucius. There's lots of versions of these writings, and I bought a copy of The Analects of Confucius - A Philosophical Translation by Roger T. Ames and Henry Rosemont... Read More »
The North Cascades Highway of Washington State
The North Cascade Highway (SR 20) from the Skagit Valley to the village of Winthrop in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State is considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the USA. SR 20 is usually closed from November to April due to heavy snowfall, but I was able to do... Read More »
Analogue Productions 45 RPM Version of You get more bounce with Curtis Counce
Quite a few years ago I bought an Acoustic Sounds test pressing of You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce and I have really enjoyed it. The test pressings used to be offered cheaper than the regular versions of the LP because they didn't have any cover art, so I bought them whenever I could... Read More »
Coming Soon at Positive Feedback Online!
I'm writing The Acoustic Revive Chronicles – Chapter 8 for Positive Feedback Online right now. In Chapter 8 I'll be covering the Acoustic Revive Single Core speaker cables, RCA interconnects, and the RCI-3 Cable Insulators. For those who are not familiar with The Acoustic Revive Chronicles let me explain what this series of articles is... Read More »
Leben CS600 'Best Music of the Show' at 2009 Salon Son and Image Show
In the Stereophile website coverage of the 2009 Salon and Image Show there were also some nice comments about the Leben CS600 integrated amplifier. Stephen Mejias of Stereophile awarded the Leben CS-600 integrated and RS-30EQ phono stage, in combination with the DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Nine loudspeakers and a Clearaudio Champion Wood turntable, his "Best Music... Read More »
Leben: A Best Sound at the 2008 Festival Son and Image Show in Montreal
John Atkinson made a nice post about the Leben CS600 at the Stereophile website coverage of the 2008 Festival Son and Image Show in Montreal, saying in part, "In some ways—particularly the overall balance and the sheer accessibility of the music—this was the best I heard at the Show despite the system's affordable price." The... Read More »
Robert Deutsch on the Leben-ProAc Combination at FSI 2008 in Montreal
After reading John Marks' review of the Leben CS600 in the June 2010 issue of Stereophile, it reminded me of past Stereophile mentions of Leben integrated amplifiers at various Hi-Fi shows, so I thought I'd post them so you could go check them out. The first one is Robert Deutsch's mention of the Leben CS600... Read More »
June 2010 Stereophile Review of Leben CS600
For all of you Leben fans out there (count me as one), I thought I'd let you know that John Marks did a very nice review of the Leben CS600 integrated amplifier in his The Fifth Element column for the June 2010 issue of Stereophile. It's really nice to see Leben get some visibility in... Read More »
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Sessions
FedEx just dropped off a box of LPs from Acoustic Sounds that I ordered a few days ago, so I'll be reporting on those LPs as I listen to them. First up is the Cowboy Junkies' The Trinity Session , named for the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, Canada, where they recorded the... Read More »
Tannoy Westminster Royal SE Article Live at Positive Feedback Online
My Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition article just went live in the May/June 2010 edition of Positive Feedback Online. You can read it here.
The Skagit Valley in Washington State
The Skagit Valley of Washington State is one of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific Northwest. In the Spring the Skagit Valley has acres and acres of tulips as far as the eye can see. I arrived a little late so a lot of the fields were put to rest, but there was still... Read More »
Live Music Calibration
It's always nice to get out and listen to some live music to recalibrate your expectations for home Hi-Fi listening. While staying at the La Conner Channel Lodge in Washington State I was able to listen to some nice jazz piano playing by a local musician, whose name I unfortunately did not catch. Even though... Read More »
Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition Article at Positive Feedback Online
I finished up my article on my new Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition loudspeakers and submitted it to Ye Olde Editors Dave and David at Positive Feedback Online, so it should be going live before long (I'll update with a link when it goes live). I love these speakers!
Photos from an Ordinary Day
I suppose that my post title, Photos from an Ordinary Day, could equally apply to me, the ordinary Jeff Day, or the fact that they were taken on an ordinary day in the life of yours truly - both are correct. On the way to work last Thursday morning at 6AM the sunrise coming down... Read More »
Joe Henderson's Page One 45 RPM Blue Note Reissue by Analogue Productions
I've always enjoyed Joe Henderson's music, but his albums can be a little hard to find, so I was particularly pleased to find out that Analogue Productions has released Page One as part of their 45 RPM Blue Note Reissues series. My copy of Page One just came in the mail last night and I... Read More »
A record mat or not on the VPI Classic?
Static electricity had been giving me fits so I ended up putting a record mat on my VPI Classic to see if it would help - it did. I listened to it with the mat on it for a while, and then went back to using the platter nude (the platter, not me - see... Read More »
Shuguang and Genalex Gold Lion KT-66 Vacuum Tubes
I've had this post in draft for a while now, but due to general busyness it took me a while to get around to getting it posted. - but here it is. It's easy to take things for granted in life, and the Shuguang KT-66 vacuum tubes that come stock in the Leben CS660P power... Read More »
Miles Davis - Someday My Prince Will Come 45-RPM LP
The Analogue Productions 45-RPM version of Miles Davis' Someday My Prince Will Come that I ordered a little while back just arrived a few minutes ago. I'm a big Miles Davis fan, and this is my favorite Miles Davis album, so I could hardly wait to unpack it and put on the VPI Classic for... Read More »
Leben RS28CX Premium Preamplifier with VPI Classic TT
I hadn't tried my reference Leben RS28CX Premium preamplifier in the system yet with my VPI Classic turntable and the Westminster Royal Special Edition loudspeakers, so this morning I removed the Leben RS100U/RS30EQ combination that I've been using (excellent), and replaced it with the RS28CX Premium. Wow! The RS28CX Premium is a match made in... Read More »
The Lionel Hampton Quartet - Speakers Corner LP
The Lionel Hampton Quartet Speaker Corners LP I bought from Acoustic Sounds arrived today. The album has four tracks on it, with Just One of Those Things and Stompin' at the Savoy on Side 1 and How High the Moon and The Nearness of You on Side 2. Lionel Hampton, the King of the Vibes,... Read More »
Jeff's Place Mobile
If you've got a mobile device, like the iPhone example pictured to the left, you can now get Jeff's Place in a mobile version. You don't have to do anything special to access it, when you load the site on your mobile device it will automatically appear. Enjoy!
VPI Classic Turntable
I just purchased a VPI Classic turntable to use as my vinyl source, and I have to say it is a beautifully made turntable. It's got a heavy machined aluminum platter, a heavy chassis, a nice walnut finish that matches my walnut equipment cabinet, and it's just a general pleasure to use and listen to.... Read More »
6n3cE Vacuum Tubes
I’m a big fan of the New Old Stock Russian 6n3cE vacuum tubes and have been using them in my Leben CS-600 integrated amplifier and Leben CS-660P power amplifier since I bought them several years ago. The 6n3cE is all about tone, color, musicality, and is very evenly balanced top to bottom frequency wise. It... Read More »
Dorothy Masuka - The Definitive Collection
Dorothy Masuka is the 'Grand Dame of African Music' and a must hear for those not familiar with her. This is the kind of music you hear and it puts a smile on your face and you wonder 'Why didn't I find out about this earlier - this is great music!'. I fired up Dorothy’s... Read More »
Stan Getz - Bossas and Ballads: The Lost Sessions
I have been listening to Stan Getz’s Bossas and Ballads a lot since I bought it from Amazon a while back - I just can’t seem to get enough of it. The material for this album was recorded just before Stan’s death in 1989 and ranks up there with his best recordings like Getz /... Read More »
Jos from the Netherlands Checking In
I always love to hear from Hi-Fi enthusiasts of a like mind that are having fun with our shared hobby. I was delighted to hear from Jos in the Netherlands, and check out the photos of Jos’ beautiful speakers! Those are some gorgeous speakers, Jos, and thanks for writing and the kind words - appreciated... Read More »
Sunday afternoon at Jeff’s Place
It’s always a pleasure to have visitors, and this weekend I was particularly fortunate to have Pete (Pete Riggle Audio), Stephaen (6Moons), Kara (deHavilland Electric Amplifier Company), Harry (Two Bald Guys Audio), and way cool friends Ron and Chad stop by for a little music listening. In the photo above that’s Pete (left), Harry (middle),... Read More »
Acoustic Revive Chronicles Link List!
I thought a blog format would be a helpful resource for Acoustic Revive owners by providing snippets of information or after thoughts that you wouldn’t find in the published articles. To kick off the blog I thought I’d provide you the links to the published articles from the Acoustic Revive Chronicles so they would be... Read More »
Leben CS600/CS660P Vacuum Tube Settings Tables
I fell in love with the Leben Hi-Fi electronics back in February of 2007 when I wrote an article about the Leben CS600 integrated amplifier for 6Moons. I ended up buying the review unit (the ultimate recommendation) and have been using it nearly every day in my second system, which is in a small “BBC-sized”... Read More »
Leica M9 with Leica Elmarit 90/2.8 Lens
There’s a lot of photographers who prefer the Elmarit 90/2.8 lens over Leica’s other 90mm lenses because of the beautiful way they render the image. Take the photo above as an example, which was taken as I was walking around the campus at work. Nothing particularly exciting as to the subject matter, but just look... Read More »
Leica M9 with Summicron 35/2 ASPH Lens
It is unbelievably warm and sunny for this time of year. I've got flowers coming up in the yard, and grass is starting to turn green. Normally this time of year snow is fairly likely, but not this year, it's more like an early Spring. I'm becoming a big fan of global warming! I walked... Read More »
Leica D-LUX 4
I got the bug to get a little Leica D-LUX 4 to test the digital waters, and I have to say it’s a great little camera, after all it’s got that magical Leica glass. Like the more expensive Leica rangefinders it makes it easy to get great impromptu photos when out for a walk, like... Read More »
Leica MP Film Camera
I’ve been involved in photography for about 40 years, not in any professional sort of way, but just for the fun of it. I’m old enough, that when I was a kid in middle school they still had photography classes where you learned darkroom technique, which came in handy later in graduate school when developing... Read More »
