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. Worth it?Are million-dollar loudspeakers and four-hundred-thousand-dollar amplifiers worth the price? Depends. First, let's acknowledge reality: the law of diminishing returns applies ferociously in audio. The difference between... Worth it?
  2. SoundstageWe all treasure a wonderful soundstage with amazing depth and width. But where does it come from? Soundstage width is an illusion created by subtle differences... Soundstage
  3. FlooredImagine moving into a beautiful new home with granite tile floors and radiant heating. The house is gorgeous. The sound might be harsh. Sound waves bounce... Floored
  4. Simple"Simple, but no simpler"—a phrase often attributed to Einstein has been one of our guiding principals. In fact, it sits at the heart of everything we design.... Simple
  5. TheatersBuy a good stereo amp now, or start with a home theater system to cover all bases? This question comes up constantly, and I understand the... Theaters
  6. Age and earsAs we get older and our hearing inevitably changes, how do we know our subjective judgments about sound are still valid? It's an honest and important... Age and ears
  7. What if...... all recorded music were done poorly? Would high-end audio mean anything at all? It's a provocative thought, and my honest answer might surprise you. Yes,... What if...
  8. Don't blame the delivery driverOne of our HiFi Family members told me he'd been buying SACD versions of his favorite albums hoping for a revelation—and kept being let down. Some... Don't blame the delivery driver
  9. WirelessBluetooth. Wi-Fi. AirPlay. The world has gone wireless, and we audiophiles are understandably curious—and skeptical. Most wireless speakers we've all encountered—portable Bluetooth boxes, smart home devices,... Wireless
  10. Heavy LiftingSpeakers are heavy, Sometimes really heavy. Why? Most of the weight in a well-built speaker comes from the cabinet itself—thick panels of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard),... Heavy Lifting
  11. Too revealing?A doctor from Padua, Italy, reached out to ask whether our Aspen loudspeakers might be too revealing for his collection of vintage opera recordings from the... Too revealing?
  12. Too small?One of the most common concerns I hear is, "My room is too small for real hi-fi." I understand the worry. We've all seen photos of... Too small?
  13. Dressing it upThere's a wonderful paradox at the heart of audio. Distortion is supposed to be the enemy—the thing we spend decades engineering out of our circuits—and yet... Dressing it up