DIY Gain Cell volume control
Posted 3 weeks ago
This audiophile doesn't like the way traditional potentiometers sound in his system and wants to copy what we do in the BHK preamplifier. How does it work?
Is smoking weed before listening helpful?
Posted 3 weeks ago
Marijuana and stereo have been partners for as long as the two have existed. Why is it that the noble weed seems to enhance the listening experience?
Using a splitter to feed a subwoofer
Posted 3 weeks ago
The best way to connect a subwoofer is through its high level input, but what if that's not possible. Is a splitter alright or a big non no?
Why are sales people better than customer service?
Posted 4 weeks ago
We're all familiar with how well we're treated by sales people before the sale, but what happens afterwards? Why are the follow up people not as experienced as the sales people?
CD vs. NAS
Posted 4 weeks ago
Which sounds better, a CD or that same CD after being ripped and stored on a NAS? Paul answers this question and helps us understand the differences between network music and physical mediums.
Can streaming music sound good?
Posted 1 month ago
Most streaming music services like Pandora or Spotify send compressed music to their listeners and never sound as good as the CDs and source files they originated from. Is that always the case?
4Ω speakers on an 8Ω load?
Posted 1 month ago
If a power amp expressly forbids the use of low impedance speakers is it alright to use it with some modifications?
CD or vinyl for best sound?
Posted 1 month ago
If money is the same, which medium has the best chance of sounding the best? CD or vinyl?
What will Octave Records release?
Posted 1 month ago
PS Audio's recording and mastering studio label, Octave Records, will be launching great music recorded unlike anywhere else in the world.
Can internet radio sound good?
Posted 1 month ago
There are thousands of internet radio stations available to music lovers, but do any of them sound any good? Are there good classical stations as well?
Do tube audio buffers work?
Posted 1 month ago
Is it advisable to add a vacuum tube buffer between the preamp and power amplifier to sweeten the sound, and is that something worth doing?
Is solar power clean?
Posted 1 month ago
Sharing the AC power in our homes with our neighbors and industry can distort the AC power quality, which affects sound quality. Is it possible instead to use solar power or batteries?
Building a shared retail space
Posted 1 month ago
What is the possibility of convincing multiple companies to join forces and resources to open a series of high-end audio shops across the country?
Is high end audio worth investing in with aging ears?
Posted 1 month ago
Why invest money in getting a full range high-end audio system if your aging ears are not capable of capturing all the system has to offer?
What causes listener fatigue?
Posted 1 month ago
Some systems support hours upon hours of listening while others cause listener fatigue within a matter of moments. What's the difference between those systems?
Are speakers analogs of microphones?
Posted 1 month ago
Paul has suggested more than once that speakers are analogs of microphones, but is that actually true? And, if so, shouldn't someone closest to the microphone be in the speaker on playback?
Proper power up sequence for audio
Posted 1 month ago
Does it matter which pieces of gear turn on first and which last? Power on sequences for audio equipment matter a great deal if damage is to be avoided.
Moving magnet vs. moving coil
Posted 1 month ago
This viewer wants to understand why his moving coil cartridge sounds so much better than his moving magnet. Paul explains why as well as how both work.
Can speakers be placed horizontally?
Posted 1 month ago
What happens if you take a bookshelf speaker and place it on its side to fire horizontally, as opposed to its originally intended vertical position?
Do audio soundstages contain height?
Posted 1 month ago
Does a stereo soundstage contain height information? This viewer just discovered another wonder of high-performance audio and questions if he's hearing correctly.
Does sight affect sound?
Posted 1 month ago
Do visually impaired listeners "see" a different three dimensional sound image than sighted people when listening to high-end audio?
Should recordings transport you or the band?
Posted 1 month ago
It's not difficult to imagine a small combo of musicians in your living room, but what about the Berlin Philharmonic? That's be tough to squeeze into most homes, so which is correct for a mastering engineer to strive for?
Volume differences between CDs and ripped versions?
Posted 1 month ago
CDs and their ripped copies should be the same, but this viewer finds a volume difference. What's going on?
Why isn’t your book high rez?
Posted 1 month ago
Paul's memoirs, 99% True, are recorded for the audiobook on MP3! Gasp. Why weren't they recorded and produced in Octave Record's DSD facilities?
Why do stereos systems sound different?
Posted 1 month ago
Systems can often sound good and then bad without anything other than the time or the day changing. What are the variables that determine how a system changes its sound?