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. End goalsHigh-end audio has always been a long pursuit of a single idea: recreate the experience of live music in the home. Even from the earliest days... End goals
  2. The magnifying glassPeople sometimes assume better equipment will automatically make every recording sound spectacular. I wish that were true, but it’s not how audio works. A playback system... The magnifying glass
  3. A trip to the clinicAs long as we're reminiscing about the past.... How many of you remember the McIntosh Laboratories amplifier clinics? Owners were invited to bring their equipment—McIntosh or... A trip to the clinic
  4. Blown awayYesterday I wrote about the old live-versus-recorded demonstrations where audiences struggled to tell which was which. Those shows captured the spirit of what the audio industry... Blown away
  5. Live?There was a time when the biggest brag in high-end audio was proving that a recording could be indistinguishable from the real thing. Back in the... Live?
  6. SeaparatesThe industry is steadily moving toward doing more in fewer boxes. Is that a good or bad thing? I am always watchful of trends and their... Seaparates
  7. Sweet spotsWidening the sweet spot always costs something. I understand the desire. No one wants the magic to disappear the moment they shift in their chair.  The... Sweet spots
  8. 2 or 12?Combining two-channel purity with home theater ambition is always a compromise, but not necessarily a bad one. Purists sometimes recoil at the idea, fearing sonic dilution.... 2 or 12?
  9. I don't like beetsActive loudspeakers promise simplicity, but they also make choices for you. I love the elegance of an active system. One cord to the speaker, a signal... I don't like beets
  10. Narrowing the gapStreaming has become the mainstay of modern listening, yet the humble CD (and the elegant vinyl) both still hold a quiet edge. I’m often asked if... Narrowing the gap
  11. A matter of taste?In yesterday's Post I shared with you a great question about high-end audio trade shows: "While at the Florida Expo...I was honestly amazed at how many... A matter of taste?
  12. A pointed questionI received this question as an Ask Paul one but I thought it so on target and observant that it really needed to be more than... A pointed question
  13. Can't measure everythingMeasurements tell us a great deal—they are essential to our design process—but they don’t tell us everything. As a designer, I rely on data. We all... Can't measure everything