Big amps vs. little amps
Posted 3 weeks ago
If using a volume control affects the sound would it not make sense to have a lower power amplifier so you could turn the level up for better sound quality? Paul diffuses another mystery.
Would digital speaker correction fix everything?
Posted 3 weeks ago
Would the use of digital room correction obviate the need for high-end electronics? Wouldn't digital correction fix everything in the system including the room, speakers, and electronics?
Why aren’t power amps regulated?
Posted 3 weeks ago
The power supplies in power amplifiers are rarely regulated. Instead, they are sloppy and noise filled. Why don't designers regulate the voltage in them and wouldn't they perform better if they were?
Why don’t stereo products have universal voltage?
Posted 3 weeks ago
We've all seen the products you can simply plug into any outlet anywhere in the world and they just work. Why don't PS Audio products have this feature and are there any drawbacks to the products that have this cool feature?
What is resolution?
Posted 4 weeks ago
We hear the term "resolution" referred to a lot in high-end audio but what exactly does it mean? How can it be achieved? And is it even desirable?
MQA. Is it any good?
Posted 4 weeks ago
MQA has everyone talking but what exactly is it? What's its goals and how does it sound? Some suggest it's the devil incarnate while others believe it's a gift from heaven. What's the truth?
What happened to audio kits?
Posted 1 month ago
Audio kits were once the rage and now you rarely see them anymore. What happened? Are any around? What's up with building your own hifi components?
Are tone controls bad?
Posted 1 month ago
His system doesn't sound near as good when he switches out the tone controls yet, popular wisdom is that tone controls suck. What's the truth behind the matter?
Can you change speaker impedance?
Posted 1 month ago
Our speakers are typically either 8Ω or 4Ω but can that be changed? The problem as described to Paul is connecting up different impedance speakers to the same amplifier.
Using CD players for transports
Posted 1 month ago
How much difference does the transport make? That's a question hard for Paul to answer without a whole lot of setup and weaseling around but he finally gets down to the nub of it.
Design goals for PS speakers
Posted 1 month ago
PS Audio's upcoming line of loudspeakers is based on the design concept of Arnie Nudell and Paul McGowan. And, they will be revolutionary rather than evolutionary. What separates their design goals from all other loudspeakers?
How to connect a computer for music
Posted 1 month ago
Connecting a home computer to a stereo system is not the easiest thing to do if you've never done it before. Audio guru Paul helps us understand what we need, how it all fits together and the best way of getting music from digital bits and converting them into audio on our speakers or headphones.
Do speaker designers voice for particular amps?
Posted 1 month ago
It's rumored that some speakers are designed to work better on tube amps while others are specific to solid-state amplifiers. What's the truth behind this thought and why?
Wouldn’t the best room be dead?
Posted 1 month ago
All rooms are reflective, bouncing sound off walls, ceilings, and floor. But those reflections are unnatural and never existed in the recording in the first place. Wouldn't a totally dead room be better sounding?
Audio dinosaurs
Posted 1 month ago
This customer wants to know "when the f*ck" are you dinosaurs going to get off your collective duffs and design affordable products for real people? A great question for Paul to tackle and, tackle he does.
Harvey Gizmo Rosenburg
Posted 1 month ago
Few characters in high-end audio were as colorful and innovative as the late Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenburg, a man who once offered to chill out the President of the United States by offering him a free stereo system.
Active vs. passive crossovers
Posted 1 month ago
Which is better and why? An active crossover or a passive built-in crossover? And how do each of these two electronic frequency dividing networks actually do their job?
Adjusting subwoofers on the fly
Posted 1 month ago
Sometimes subwoofers are so intrusive it feels like we should be adjusting them for each and every track of music. How do we get around that desire and achieve a proper setup in our home audio systems?
What to do about vintage audio
Posted 1 month ago
We love our older gear, the ones with the big VU meters, the cool knobs and audio connectors we've held onto for so long. When's the best time to consider moving it on, repairing it, restoring it, or just going with new kit?
Balanced vs. unbalanced audio
Posted 1 month ago
Which is the better interconnect for home audio systems? Balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA? Paul voices his opinion and explains the differences between the two and their reason for existence. Have a question you'd like Paul to answer for you? Go to https://www.psaudio.com/ask-paul/ and post it.
The difference between two monster speakers
Posted 1 month ago
Two of the greatest loudspeakers ever built are the Infinity IRS V and its successor, the Genesis 1, both designed by the legendary Arnie Nudell. What are the differences between these two monster speakers?
How to easily setup a subwoofer
Posted 1 month ago
Setting up a subwoofer in a high-end system can be darned tricky. Is there an easy and quick way to get it right, first time, every time? You bet there is and leave it to Paul to explain how
Why do caps sound different?
Posted 1 month ago
When audio signals pass through a capacitor they sound different depending on which kind of capacitor is in use. Why? And, for that matter, what is a capacitor and how does it work?
PRaT, what is it and do Brits do it better?
Posted 1 month ago
Pace, Rhythm, and Timing. How do stereo systems make PRat and why are some better than others? Do the Brits value PRaT more than North Americans?
Class D amps for regenerators?
Posted 1 month ago
PS Audio makes world famous AC regenerators called Power Plants that deliver perfect new AC power to improve system performance. These are based on class A/B amplifier technology. Why not use the more efficient Class D?