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. When better isn't betterUpgrading gear doesn’t always improve the experience—it has to serve the system, not just the specs. As always, there’s a constant pull toward better. Better DACs,... When better isn't better
  2. Warm sound"Warm" isn’t always a compliment—it can mean rolled-off highs and sluggish bass. When people describe a system as warm, they usually mean it's pleasant. Non-fatiguing. Smooth.... Warm sound
  3. Fighting backAcoustics aren't optional—they're in charge whether you like it or not. Every stereo system plays two instruments: the speakers and the room. You can have state-of-the-art... Fighting back
  4. Problem solvingSolving one problem by creating another isn’t a solution. Passive power conditioners (i.e., any device NOT a regenerator) offer a trade-off: they reduce noise but at... Problem solving
  5. Is cleaner better?Cleaner power isn’t always better power. That might sound counterintuitive, especially in high-end audio where noise and distortion are the enemies. And it’s true—our systems do... Is cleaner better?
  6. PerfectionThere’s no perfect format. Only better implementations. Vinyl has its following. So does CD, SACD, high-res downloads, and streaming. Each format has its loyalists—and its myths.... Perfection
  7. RelearningA great system lets you hear the same recordings differently. I’ve been listening to the same core library of music for decades. Albums and CDs I... Relearning
  8. ClocksGood audio is about timing. We tend to talk a lot about frequency response—how deep the bass goes, how smooth the highs are—but equally important is... Clocks
  9. MasteringA bad master can ruin a great recording. I’ve lost count of how many albums I’ve been excited about, only to be let down by what... Mastering
  10. Taking out the garbageIn yesterday’s post, I wrote about how the old adage “garbage in, garbage out” doesn’t always apply—especially in digital audio. But if we look a little... Taking out the garbage
  11. GIGOGarbage in, garbage out. It’s one of those acronyms that just feels right. Feed a system poor input, and you're going to get poor results. In... GIGO
  12. Lifting veilsA more revealing audio system doesn’t add detail—it removes what's been hiding it. I remember the first time I truly heard the room around a solo... Lifting veils
  13. The truth of transientsIf transients aren’t right, nothing is. Think about a snare hit. A string pluck. A trumpet attack. These are transient events—rapid, complex bursts of energy that... The truth of transients