From the desk of Paul McGowan

Paul's Posts

Notes on music, gear, and the long pursuit of better sound. New most mornings.

Paul's Posts

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Is it real?

Do you know the moment? A track comes on, the system locks in, and for a few minutes the gear disappears entirely. No speakers. No room. Just the performance, present and dimensional, as if the musicians decided to show up...

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More from Paul

  1. Questions?A good question outlives every answer it gets. Ask a child why the sky is blue and watch the adults in the room. Half of us... Questions?
  2. The ears have itWhen did you last think seriously about your ears? Not as a problem to manage, but as the instrument that decides everything. Every audiophile thinks carefully... The ears have it
  3. On or off?When's the last time you sat down to a cold amplifier and thought it sounded right? Solid state amplifiers sound better warm. That's not an opinion—it's... On or off?
  4. RecordingsSome recordings reach inside and rearrange something. Others—same artist, same system, same evening—leave you completely alone. Which ones get you? Not the ones you play for... Recordings
  5. The KnotMost stubborn problems stay that way for the same reason. My friend Seth Godin calls it a knot. Seth's one of us and one of the... The Knot
  6. The chaseLet's imagine for a moment the system is genuinely excellent. The music is there, alive and dimensional. But instead of sitting down and listening, you spend... The chase
  7. The perfection mythWhat would perfect audio reproduction even look like? A system with no coloration, no editorial choices, no point of view? Would you want to listen to... The perfection myth
  8. How do you know when it's right?People ask me how to tell when a system is right. The answer is simpler than most of us expect. Are you pulled in like a... How do you know when it's right?
  9. Insomnia?Here's a measurement the spec sheets don't include. How late do you stay up listening? It sounds like a joke, but I've found it to be... Insomnia?
  10. Divided roadHigh-end audio has always had its two warring factions. On one side, the measurementists: if the numbers are right, the sound is right. Distortion below the... Divided road
  11. Plant basedI was brushing my teeth this morning when I noticed the tissue box on the counter. The big feature, printed in confident green letters: Plant-Based. I... Plant based
  12. Analog or digital?Digital versus analog is the wrong debate. The right debate is well-done versus done the accepted way. Digital audio, in the hands of engaged engineers who... Analog or digital?