A Guest Article from Mr. Shirokazu Yazaki: “My Adventure With My Old Marantz Model 7” Part 9.
It is always a pleasure to hear from our good friend, Yazaki-san, and this time he is back to tell us about his continuing adventures with his vintage Marantz Model 7 preamplifier from the Golden Age of audio, and the discoveries he's made during those adventures. If you are just getting started reading Yazaki-san's articles,... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Triode Lab 45 EVO SET integrated amplifier!
Today's Fresh Catch is the beautiful Triode Lab 45 EVO SET integrated amplifier finished in Ferrari red (Rosso Fiorano)! The Triode Lab 45 EVO SET integrated amplifier puts out a robust 2 Watts of power, enough to easily drive my highly-sensitive Duelund-Altec Project vintage "Stokowski" Altec loudspeakers to live-like levels with the "gas pedal" only... Read More »
The 78 Experience - Feeling the Music: Serge Koussevitzky conducts Beethoven and Prokofiev!
After Peter Qvortrup had shared with me some of the remarkable 78 transfers from CDs remastered by his friend, Anatoly Markovich Likhnitsky, I became keenly interested in finding more of them. Mr. Likhnitsky built custom remastering and digitizing equipment for his transfers of the music from 78 rpm disks in his 78 collection to digital,... Read More »
The 78 Experience: Feeling the music instead of listening to the sound - a matter of the art & the heart!
It might seem a bit odd to you that lately I've been talking about listening to and enjoying ancient 78rpm record transfers from the earliest recording eras on CD, rather than just playing 78s themselves. I do have some 78 records in my record collection, but I haven't yet set up a system that's optimized... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Audio Note (UK) AN-S4 Step-Up Transformer!
Today as I was finishing up my jazz guitar lesson with superb jazz guitarist David Gitlen, while we were listening to a little Joe Pass on CD and LP on the big Altec loudspeakers, there was a knock at the door. It was a delivery person dropping off an Audio Note (UK) AN-S4 step-up transformer.... Read More »
Long-term listening impressions: Duelund "Dual" DCA16GA Interconnects with Duelund Plastic-Free RCAs.
It has been almost exactly a year and two months ago that Frederik sent me a pair of the then newly released Duelund "Dual" DCA16GA interconnects with Duelund plastic-free RCAs to listen to (HERE). The time has gone by so fast it is almost frightening! With more than a year of listening to them under... Read More »
Jeff checking in: Peter Qvortrup and Audio Note (UK), Leben, Triode Lab, Pass Labs, Allnic, upcoming reviews, mods, and other stuff!
First let me recommend a video to you, the Master Class in Audio - Session 5 - Featuring Peter Qvortrup, produced by Karthik Ramanathan. This video offers a glimpse into Peter's extensive experience with all kinds of vintage and modern audio over the decades, and how he came to his current views about which performance characteristics in... Read More »
"The Pass Labs XP-12 Line-Level Preamplifier: A Musical Masterpiece!" is now live on Positive Feedback.
My The Pass Labs XP-12 Line-Level Preamplifier: A Musical Masterpiece! article is now live on Positive Feedback (HERE). The Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier is a sweetheart of a preamp! As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
Jeff checking in: Pass Labs, Audio Note (UK), First Watt, Triode Lab, Leben, Duelund, the upcoming Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards, and other stuff!
I thought it was time for me to check in and tell you what's going on here at Jeff's Place, what is upcoming at Positive Feedback, and about a few other things that are rattling around inside my noggin at the moment. First off, we are now in the fourth quarter of 2020, and 2020 is going fast,... Read More »
The Duelund-Altec Project: My one-year anniversary listening to the Duelund-ized "Stokowski" Altec loudspeakers!
The feature review of the Duelund-Altec Project at Positive Feedback was published one year ago, on October 1, 2019, and today is the Duelund-Altec Project's one-year anniversary. Now that I have a year's worth of experience and music listening under my belt with the Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossovers I installed into the "Stokowski" Altec loudspeakers,... Read More »
For the love of Altec: The vintage Altec 804A and 802D compression drivers. Part 2.
In Part 1 I started telling you about swapping out the vintage Altec 804A compression drivers (below left) in my vintage "Stokowski" Altec loudspeakers for the vintage Altec 802D compression drivers (below right) from my vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers. Vintage Altec 802D compression drivers are highly regarded by Altec aficionados, but you don't hear... Read More »
For the love of Altec: The vintage Altec 804A and 802D compression drivers.
Vintage Altec loudspeakers generate a lot of enthusiasm among audio nuts like me because they run circles around many modern loudspeakers in terms of musicality, at least once you get some Hiraga-style crossovers installed in them, and they are so sensitive that you can easily drive them with low-powered single-ended-triode or single-ended-pentode amplifiers to live-like... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Pete Riggle Audio Engineering "Woody" Headshell!
Today's Fresh Catch is the Pete Riggle Audio Engineering "Woody" headshell ($60 USD). Pete describes the "Woody" headshell thusly (more HERE): "Presently available in French polished Spanish cedar. The basic headshell weighs 6 grams. Included with the 6 gram Spanish cedar headshell is a 5 gram booster weight, which can be used to bring the... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Pass Labs XP-17 phono preamplifier!
My local FedEx driver just dropped of an exciting parcel from Pass Labs, the XP-17 phono preamplifier! Here's what the Pass Labs website says about the XP-17: "XP-17 uses the new-shielded low noise toroid and input filter module, like the XP-12. The power supply has an extra stage of RC filtering. We have lower radiated... Read More »
First listen: The new Duelund Dual DCA12GA tinned-copper speaker cables!
My rule of thumb for the Duelund DCA tinned-copper cables when used as speaker cables is that the richer and fuller sounding DCA12GA has been a great match to my Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers, while the more direct and vivid sounding DCA16GA has been a great match to my collection of vintage Altec loudspeakers.... Read More »
The Mysterious Case of the Listening Window!
My perspective on what good hifi is about has changed a lot over the decades. In my pre high-performance hifi years I didn't care what equipment I listened to music on as long as I could listen to music. My music kit as a little kid was a foldable integrated turntable with detachable loudspeakers, and... Read More »
Jeff checking in: listening to the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier and XA25 stereo amplifier!
First I listened to the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier paired with the First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier (review HERE), utilizing the very musical Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player as a source HERE), and then I did some more listening with my CTC Garrard 301 turntable as a source (HERE). ... Read More »
From Nelson Pass: The new First Watt F8 amplifier!
The new First Watt F8 amplifier will be on its way here for a listen in the not too distant future. In my usual fashion I'll be blogging about it as I get familiar with it here at Jeff's Place, and then will be writing a feature article about it for Positive Feedback. Nelson has just released the... Read More »
Jeff checking in: listening to the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier and First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier!
I'm in the midst of writing up the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier feature review for Positive Feedback, so I've been doing a lot of listening with the XP-12 of late, as you would expect. At the moment, I'm listening to the First Watt SIT-3 (review HERE) in combination with the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level... Read More »
Jeff checking in: Listening to the Pass Labs XP-12 line-level preamplifier!
Lately I've had to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming, as I've had the enormously good fortune to listen to a variety of audio equipment that so very closely matches my personal preferences for high-performance audio in terms of musicality and visuospatial attributes. A rather amazing thing to me, is that for old-timer... Read More »
Audio Note (UK): Darko Greguras on the importance of the CD transport in making digital sources sound like music. Part 2.
If you haven't yet read the Audio Note (UK): Peter Qvortrup & Darko Greguras on making digital sources sound like music. Part 1. post here at Jeff's Place from about nine weeks ago, you can read it HERE. A quick recap: Last Fall I had a very enjoyable and illuminating visit with Peter Qvortrup at... Read More »
The Sophia Electric KT88-ST and EL34-ST vacuum tubes review is now live at Positive Feedback!
My Sexy Blue Tubes, Part 2, The Sophia Electric EL34-ST and KT88-ST Vacuum Tubes! feature article is now live at Positive Feedback (HERE)! I hope you enjoy the article! As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
Today's Fresh Catch: The new Duelund 'Dual' DCA12GA tinned-copper wire speaker cables!
I really have to hand it to Frederick Carøe at Duelund Coherent Audio in Denmark, he has truly revolutionized the production of tinned-copper wire that is specifically designed for high-performance audio applications. Frederik has produced tinned-copper wires for audio applications in three different styles. The first style of Duelund tinned-copper conductors are wrapped in an... Read More »
Jeff checking in: Sophia Electric, Pass Labs, First Watt, Audio Note (UK), and more!
It is one of those time periods where I am in the midst of shuffling equipment around between systems in preparation for upcoming reviews. As you are no doubt aware, the performance of a component is greatly dependent upon the associated equipment in a given system, and the room it is installed in. I've found... Read More »
Sneak Peek: Sexy Blue Tubes, Part 2, The Sophia Electric EL34-ST and KT88-ST Vacuum Tubes!
As is my custom, I wanted to share a "sneak peek" into my next feature review for Positive Feedback "Sexy Blue Tubes, Part 2: The Sophia Electric EL34-ST and KT88-ST Vacuum Tubes!" I'm hoping to have the feature article finished up over the next week, so check back for more in about a week. Enjoy... Read More »
Yazaki-san's Ultimate Ruby Mica Capacitor Mod for the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier! Part 3.
It's taken me much longer to try the next level of Yazaki-san's Ultimate Ruby Mica capacitor mod for the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier than I had anticipated, due to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, and its impacts on my life and health. You can read my original SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound... Read More »
Tube swapping in the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier!
If you've been keeping up with the posts here at Jeff's Place, you know I've been thoroughly enjoying listening to music with the combination of the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player combined with the Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier. The combination of the Audio Note... Read More »
Jeff checking in: Audio Note (UK), Duelund, Leben HiFi Stereo Company, Pass Labs, Sophia Electric, and other stuff!
I just finished up the feature review of the Leben HiFi Stereo Company CS-600X vacuum tube integrated amplifier for Positive Feedback, which you can read HERE. Like the CS-600 integrated amp that preceded it, the CS-600X is a terrific moderately powerful integrated amplifier, with 32W from 6L6GC output tubes, and 28W from EL34 output tubes. ... Read More »
Feature review of the Leben HiFi Stereo Company CS-600X integrated amplifier is live at Positive Feedback!
My feature review of the Leben HiFi Stereo Company CS-600X integrated amplifier is now live at Positive Feedback HERE! As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
Pete Riggle Audio Engineering custom "Woody Headshell" in stock now!
Pete Riggle has been putting his time in Covid-19 quarantine to good use by developing a new "Woody" headshell. Pete's new "Woody Headshells" are replaceable wood headshells that can be used on "Woody SPU" tonearms like mine, or basically any other arm with an SME type headshell connector, like my Thomas Schick tonearms, for example. ... Read More »
Sneak Peek: The Leben CS-600X Integrated Amplifier Feature Review for Positive Feedback!
As you know, it is my custom to give you a "sneak peek" into my upcoming feature reviews for Positive Feedback. Todays "sneak peak" is for the Leben CS-600X integrated amplifier feature review, which should be published in the next week or two! Enjoy! The Leben HiFi Stereo Company CS-600X integrated amplifier – an old... Read More »
Audio Note (UK): Peter Qvortrup & Darko Greguras on making digital sources sound like music. Part 1.
As you know, I'm rather enamored with what I'm hearing from the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD Player. I said earlier that "The musicality of Audio Note (UK) digital is not a gimmick, it is for real, and I am very excited about it, because really, this is the first... Read More »
Good Souls Better Angels
I just picked up a copy of Lucinda Williams' new album Good Souls Better Angels from Amazon. My first Lucinda Williams album was World Without Tears, where the intensity and darkness of her lyrics mesmerized me. Lucinda's songwriting skills are formidable, and she no doubt picked up a few tips about writing while traveling the world with her... Read More »
Jeff checking in ... Audio Note (UK), Fender, Leben, Pass Labs, Sophia Electric, and other stuff!
POST COVID-19 RECOVERY I’m doing a little better all the time in my Covid-19 recovery phase. My post Covid-19 symptoms are reducing in intensity and frequency, so things are going in a good direction. I'm hoping to be fully recovered in the next three to four weeks, so I can resume more of my normal activities,... Read More »
More Adventures with NOS vacuum tubes for the Fender '65 Princeton Reverb reissue guitar amplifier! Postscript added.
Have you ever done a head-slap and said, "Why did I do that?" That's what I did after I wrote up my blog post about my tube-rolling adventure in my Fender '65 Princeton Reverb reissue guitar amplifier a little over a week ago (HERE). When I ordered the NOS Sylvania tubes from Roy & Dale... Read More »
Initial Listening Impressions: The Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD Player!
Life has been a little chaotic of late with the COVID-19 pandemic occurring, and then being infected with it and getting sick myself. The good news is that over the last two days my temperature has dropped down into the normal range, and this morning as well. According to the health care professionals treating me,... Read More »
