Paul's Posts

Out of the more than 50 albums Octave Records had recorded, one of our proudest moments was when we got the chance to capture the performance of world-famous cellist Zuill... Read more...

Audio myths

I recently got a terse note explaining to me there is no such thing as a shielded power cable despite my saying there is. How dare I claim such a... Read more...

Winning the lottery

What would your HiFi system look like if you won the lottery? It's a question worth asking. If you could have anything you want, what might that be? Mine would... Read more...

Listening and hearing

The two words seem the same, but they are not. Listening is casual while hearing is with intent. I am listening all the time. My ears never go to sleep. ... Read more...

Skill and ingredients

As a reasonably competent photographic hack (you can see my photo gallery here), I can confidently say that Ansel Adams could take a better picture regardless of equipment. Give him... Read more...

Contradicitions

Contradictions are all around us. For a musical example, John Lennon's lyrics, "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" from The Beatles' 1968 White Album was a contradiction taken from a magazine ad... Read more...

I am an engineer…

…and I don't find this very convincing. Well, of course you don't. How could you? You've never given it the time of day. One of the classic traps we find... Read more...

The size of hardware

Hardware is getting smaller and smaller. The original computers were the size of small auditoriums, while today, they can fit on the head of a pin. This miniaturization has worked... Read more...

A badge of honor

I was recently referred to as a lunatic. The incident happened when I was attempting to explain the difference in recording techniques between Octave Records' new studio and the big... Read more...

The argument

Most arguments arise out of a basic misunderstanding. I declare the sky is blue; you argue it's gray, and we realize we're not in the same city. In one of... Read more...

It's easy!

Boy, how many times have you heard that tired line, "it's easy"? Lots of stuff is "easy" if you know how to do it. But, for the person standing on... Read more...

A far cry from "normal"

"I have had quite a number of younger people sit down in front of my high end system and literally weep. I think everyone just settles for Bose, Apple, Sonos,... Read more...

The pace of technology

Progress happens in stages, some so small they are imperceptible, while others feel like leaps. Viewed over time, it is easy to see this familiar pattern of many small blips... Read more...

Looking in the wrong place

A friend of mine is asking me for advice. He wants to have "audiophile sound" in a situation where that won't be possible. It's kind of like asking what combination... Read more...

Bias

When it comes to keeping an analog circuit operating in its linear region, we need to have a certain amount of bias—making sure it is always on—running through it. Various... Read more...

Which one is best?

I am often asked to solve one of the greatest mysteries in high-end audio. Which way to go? If someone has only X funds to invest in a new power... Read more...

The futility paradox

You cannot change the mind of someone determined to prove themselves right. It's like trying to convince a person that chocolate tastes better than vanilla when they refuse to even... Read more...

Are you a Qobuz listener?

Qobuz is my favorite, go to streaming service. I prefer it to Tidal for sound quality reasons. One of our forum members, Craig, posted a wonderful set of Qobuz playlists... Read more...

Toolchain

Every craftsperson has a set of tools. Tools of the trade, tools to make the work go better. The right tool can sure make life easier. Years ago, when I started... Read more...

What's in a name?

I really bristle at the mention of bookshelf speakers. One could call our Aspen FR5s "bookshelf," but that would be a double injustice: First off, if you put them on... Read more...

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