Paul's Posts

Some things in high-end audio don’t make sense—until they do. Or don't. Take burn-in. You’ve heard the arguments. Some folks insist it’s snake oil, others swear by it. Even after... Read more...

Ideas that change everything

If you're running your DAC straight into a power amplifier, and you're not using it at full volume, you're not hearing all it can do. Let’s revisit the problem we've... Read more...

Radical architecture

Yesterday, I told you about Chris Brunhaver's suggestion to replace the digital volume control in our new DAC, the PMG Signature 512, with an analog stepped attenuator at its output. ... Read more...

Off the cuff

Sometimes big things start with a throwaway line. We were deep in development on our upcoming reference DAC, the PMG Signature 512, working out the particulars every new technology demands:... Read more...

Audio and rabbits

Audio problems are like rabbits—solve one, and two more pop up. A few days ago, we were going on about balanced interconnects and why we don't need balanced speaker cables:... Read more...

The neutral myth

We audiophiles love to chase neutrality. We want our systems to be a perfect window into the recording, free of colorations or biases. But here’s the thing: true neutrality doesn’t... Read more...

Musical chairs

We all know that pulling the speakers away from the front wall improves imaging. But not everyone has the space—or the domestic negotiation skills—to do it. If your speakers must... Read more...

Getting lost

It’s easy to get lost chasing specs, topologies, and cable types. Happens to the best of us, right? Balanced or single-ended. Differential or ground-referenced. Small signal, big signal. It’s enough... Read more...

Equal amplifiers

Not all power amplifiers are created equal. In yesterday's post, we touched on the idea of a balanced power amplifier, known to us engineering nerds as a bridged amplifier. Here's... Read more...

When balanced doesn't matter

In the last couple of posts, I've explained why a balanced small signal from source to preamp matters. A balanced signal can enjoy the benefits of CMR (common mode rejection)... Read more...

Small vs. big

In yesterday's post, we discussed how balanced vs. single ended signals work. But what we are going to touch on today is where size matters. Balanced is important to small... Read more...

A question of balance

I've been an advocate of balanced audio connections for many, many years. Readers of my blog posts no doubt have heard me wax enthusiastically about the virtues of going with... Read more...

Size matters

How big is a grand piano? About 9 feet long and 1,000 pounds. Yet, in a great recording, it fits perfectly in a listening room. High-end audio is all about... Read more...

Performance levels

Some recordings are just plain rough. We’ve all got a few—albums we love, but the sound? Compressed, edgy, flat. It shouldn’t be enjoyable on a good system. And yet… sometimes... Read more...

Quiet please

We spend so much time chasing the big moments. The slam of a drum. The attack of a piano note. The crescendo of Mahler’s Fifth. But what about the quiet?... Read more...

Going direct

Direct-coupled designs—those that connect one circuit stage to the next without a capacitor—are often praised for their clarity, immediacy, and openness. And for good reason. Anytime we put a component... Read more...

Regulating the voltage

We often hear about the ubiquitous voltage regulator. It's everywhere in our circuits and we bandy about the term as if it is a known entity. And yet, unless you're... Read more...

The color of music

We talk about warmth, brightness, darkness, air, and weight. These are more than just audiophile jargon—they’re communication terms rooted in how sound feels. A cello has a dark, woody tone.... Read more...

Audio cooking

Assembling a world-class high-end audio system is like putting together a tasty meal. Think of a dish where everything works together—sweet balancing sour, a bit of heat offsetting richness. That’s... Read more...

Ear blindness

We all go nose blind to our own cologne. Same thing happens with our systems. Live with a setup long enough, and even its flaws start sounding “normal.” A dip... Read more...

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