Paul's Posts

Many years ago, in the mid 1970s, Terri and I had a pregnant cat we were very fond of. She was a stray that simply wandered into our home in... Read more...

How big?

Most of us really enjoy big: big movies, symphonies, ice cream sundaes. And when I listen to my HiFi system I am always delighted when the image is big, deep,... Read more...

Security blankets and placebos

Placebos are very powerful stories. The more we believe in something the more likely they are to work. There's growing evidence that strong placebos are as effective, if not... Read more...

The voice of God

We all know the voice of God. Right? Male, big, low in frequency, booming. What if the voice of God were presented to us as the opposite: female, small, higher... Read more...

Cable break in

Cables, just like equipment, change with use. Connect an HDMI cable to the I2S output of a transport and on the other end into a DAC and the audio quality... Read more...

The toothbrush

Working on cleaning my chompers this morning on the electric toothbrush, I noticed its inductive charger. Hmmmm. Just like my phone charger. No physical connection. Almost magic. It occured to... Read more...

Why the fear?

Have you ever noticed that the measurement crowd doesn't seem to trust their ears? That if they hear a difference (or don't) it is to be dismissed unless it can... Read more...

Customizing

One of the cool things about customization of equipment is the fact no one else in the world is enjoying the same level and degree of sound quality as the... Read more...

PRaT

Pace Rhythm and Timing. PRaT. To the best of my knowledge, this is a British term that seems rarely to be heard or used over here in the wilds of... Read more...

Surprise and delight

What's better than reading all the reviews, researching everything you can, finally making the decision to go for it! and then playing your first notes of music on the new... Read more...

Sideways

When we make progress we often assume its direction to be forward. But, that's not always the case. Sometimes, progress is made in a series of jagged moves to the... Read more...

Punch

Of all the qualities a stereo has to offer, punch—that impactful visceral feel to the music—is one of the keys so often missing in systems. I remember years ago, when... Read more...

Calibrating our references

We learn by experience. You can read hundreds of accounts of a roller coaster ride or what it's like to crest Mount Everest, but until you've experienced it you really... Read more...

Getting goats

To get someone's "goat" is to make them angry. Where in the world did that term come from? Best I can tell, its roots are in American slang from the... Read more...

The accidental discovery

When we're on the hunt for answers it's good practice to question our conclusions. That's because we tend to land on the quickest answer that fits the problem. If you fix... Read more...

Crank down to crank up

On most Octave Record's releases, I can set the volume level on the BHK Preamplifier to a comfortable 40 and the tracks play at exactly the right level. On our... Read more...

The importance of AC power

It's always fascinating to me reading people's comments on how the AC out of the wall doesn't matter to sound quality. Their logic is simple. In every audio product AC... Read more...

Forward motion

On September 15, 1830, in Liverpool, England, a pivotal moment in the history of technology occurred. The world's first passenger railway, the Liverpool to Manchester was inaugurated. The event showcased... Read more...

Audiophile etiquette

Etiquette refers to an accepted code of polite behavior and social conventions within a particular society or group. It can vary depending on different cultures. In western cultures it's customary to finish... Read more...

Tricky

How many of us don't have a handful (or even a bagful) of handy tricks at the ready? My guess is that all of us have our own collection of... Read more...

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