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The Stereo
A stereo system isn’t just a collection of gear—it’s a carefully tuned instrument. So many people set up their speakers as best they can, plug in their gear, and believe...
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The chase
Every one of us eventually asks ourselves: Am I listening to the music, or just listening to my system? It’s a fair question. We tinker, we tweak, we swap out...
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Closing the gap
For years, CDs and SACDs have been the gold standard for digital playback. Spin a well-mastered disc on a top-tier player like the PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport, and the...
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The lonely amp
Power amps are easy to ignore. They sit there, silent and unassuming, just a big box with a plain faceplate. No knobs to turn, no screens to watch, no dials...
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The beauty of mistakes
Baking sourdough seems simple—just water, flour, salt, and starter. How hard could it be? But then you realize the variables: fermentation time, hydration levels, room temperature, even the way you...
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The magic of synergy
You can have the finest ingredients in the world—a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato, hand-pressed olive oil, fresh basil—but if the balance is off, the dish falls flat. Too much salt?...
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Going green?
Solar panels and going green are the right things to do, but they will impact audio quality. Converting the rays of the sun into electrical energy takes another level of...
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Hangovers
If we indulge too much in any one thing like drinking, partying, or eating, the negative impacts stay with us the next day. The same can be said for overindulging...
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On purpose
Is it a mistake if you did it on purpose? I remember the first time I watched Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy's masterpiece, Best in Show. I thought it was...
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Unexpected treasure
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of a particular technology helps us know what to listen for, but true evaluation takes time. For example, if I’m auditioning a new Class D...
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Process matters
Two identical new cars—matching in weight, wheelbase, and horsepower—will exhibit significantly different performance characteristics depending on whether a gasoline engine or an electric motor powers them. That's because process matters....
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variety and variability
One of the keys to successfully setting up a stereo system is variety and variability. Make sure you use a broad variety of music that covers the gamut of tones...
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One way ticket
You can make a digital copy of a vinyl record and lose nothing, but the other way around doesn't work. What does that say? Logically, I would suspect the conclusion...
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The process
When we see new products come off the showroom floor, we're thrilled. Shiny, new, and ready for your living room. Rarely do we think about what went into their creation....
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Warm and comfy
In yesterday's post, I wrote about the "problem" of a revealing system. Great recordings sound amazing while poor recordings can wrinkle the nose. Would it make sense to reintroduce controls...
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The Vaseline Filter
When photography in the 1940s got to the point of technological progress where films could capture the smallest of details, actors and actresses freaked out. Suddenly, every wrinkle, wart, and...
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Taste buds
Do we ever question our taste buds? The subjective nature of our tastes—what I like versus what you like—is an easy concept to accept. It doesn't surprise us when a...
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Steady Eddie
When we look at a loudspeaker's impedance spec, we see it's either 4Ω or 8Ω, right? Steady Eddie. 4Ω or 8Ω. Only that's not entirely true. With few exceptions, those...
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Dream equipment
Ever wonder what your magic wand product would be? That's often how I start my internal process of imagining a new product. I figure out what would float my boat...
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Coming out of the closet
Trying to make a 2-channel high-end system play in a closet is about as futile as playing it outside. Neither will work. That's because the room is a major component...
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