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

More from Paul

  1. CESIndustry trade shows used to be the heartbeat of the audio industry, and their decline tells us something important about how this hobby has changed. For... CES
  2. Active or passive?The question of whether to let the speaker handle its own amplification or to choose your own amplifier is one of the oldest debates in audio.... Active or passive?
  3. Snap!Nothing exposes the limits of a home audio system faster than a well-recorded drum kit. Stand next to a drummer playing a full kit and you... Snap!
  4. PlugsThe outlet on your wall is the first link in your audio chain, and most of us ignore it completely. I get asked this question all... Plugs
  5. Three letter acronymsWe toss around technical terms so casually that we forget most people never learned what they actually mean. Ever wonder about a term like USB? Today,... Three letter acronyms
  6. FamilyThere is nothing quite like being surrounded by people who understand your obsession. Axpona 2026 in Chicago was one of those experiences that reminds you why... Family
  7. Engineers are weirdThe logical mind never takes a vacation. I was standing in a hotel shower in Chicago, staring at the three little bottles lined up on the... Engineers are weird
  8. 90/10Building something is easy. Perfecting it is where you lose your mind. I learned this lesson decades ago when Stan and I built our first preamplifier.... 90/10
  9. Pure windowsTwo-channel stereo is the purest window into a musical performance, and after fifty years I am more convinced of that than ever. I fell in love... Pure windows
  10. Dinosaur footstepsA great subwoofer for music and a great subwoofer for movies are not always the same animal, and the way you set them up should reflect... Dinosaur footsteps
  11. Stop thinkingThe moment you stop thinking about your equipment and lose yourself entirely in the music is the whole point of this hobby. I was reminded of... Stop thinking
  12. BreakthroughsThe breakthroughs that matter most in audio are rarely the ones we see coming. When I started PS Audio with Stan Warren back in 1974, the... Breakthroughs
  13. Picking a fightYour room is either working with your speakers or against them, and most rooms are picking a fight. I have visited hundreds of listening rooms over... Picking a fight