Paul's Posts

My favorite breakfast jelly has almost no sugar in the mix. Instead, it's a wonderful low-sugar fruit-intense jam—just enough sugar to bring forward the essence of the fruit. Compared to... Read more...

Why do people like opera?

I love opera, but it wasn't always so. For me, opera was an acquired taste. Fortunately, I had a mountain of recorded works to draw upon, but it wasn't always... Read more...

What's wrong with striving for better?

Whenever the subject of stereo lovers and obsession comes up in our staff meeting, we get a good chuckle because it's so obvious. "What, our customers are obsessive with their... Read more...

Grab your picnic lunch

Sometimes it's helpful to get prepared before an event. If we're going to the big concert, we need to figure out what to wear, what the weather's going to be... Read more...

Splainin

Sometimes it's necessary to take a deeper dive than what I normally do. In my post on sources, I posited the notion that perhaps the day of the source is... Read more...

Midfi's the way to go on a budget

There seems to be a general sentiment in the world that if one cannot afford the expensive high-end audio products they must either settle on used or Mid-Fi performance. Why... Read more...

All this to compete with a turntable?

In response to Ted Smith's video explaining DSD, a viewer posted a great remark that is the title of today's post. I just couldn't resist writing about it. Indeed, when... Read more...

Lucky 7

Reader Peter Braverman sent me this wonderful image. For most of us that can see color, there's an obvious number 7 in the middle. For those not as visually equipped,... Read more...

The essence of what's inside

This is a special time of year for foodies. It's harvest season for dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes. These criminally sweet and flavor bursts of culinary delights are just too good... Read more...

Is the day of the source over?

I will avoid getting mired in the source vs. output argument of which is better. Long time readers of my posts already know I believe the output end of things... Read more...

Looking in the wrong direction

When we read that others have found major benefits to one technology or the other, we often assume their reasoning is correct. I remember being told the sonic differences in... Read more...

Cherishing mistakes

We work so hard at perfecting our lives that we often wince at the inevitable mistakes. Yet, we know that mistakes are how we learn and grow. Some of my... Read more...

Does it have to make sense?

Some of the best purchases I have ever made were spur of the moment. They tickled my emotional buttons enough to take the plunge and override my sensibility meters. They... Read more...

Arguing about religion

If you want to stir up a hornet's nest then there's likely few better ways than challenging someone's views on religion. And I don't mean just religion in the classic... Read more...

Something’s Coming…

Ever watch those horror movies where you know something’s coming? The director walks you through the woods and you’re gripping your seat in anticipation. Well, something’s indeed coming and this... Read more...

Dark Rooms

Go to a busy public place, a playground, a park. Sit. Listen. Wait and then close your eyes. Listen. What do you hear now? A whole lot more. More details,... Read more...

The great conundrum

What makes buying speakers so different than electronics? We understand how essential it is to evaluate a new DAC or phono stage in our own system. How else would we... Read more...

Have we come that far?

Reader Ted Williams sent me the following photo of a 1959 Johnny Mathis album sleeve from Columbia Records. I love it. It's educational and must have been a great tool... Read more...

Matters of opinion

Each of us has different wants and needs, yet all of us share much in common. While I might search for tonal accuracy, dynamics, and detachment from the speakers, and... Read more...

Music is essential

We imagine music as a luxury but I would argue it's as essential as eating. We're social creatures and music, speech, and the arts are core components dating back to... Read more...

Country/Region

Country/Region