Paul's Posts

Since the beginning of the pandemic and the partsdemic: the crazy times we all seem to be accepting as "normal", there is sometimes a light of success shining through. Yesterday... Read more...

Beginning or end?

Linn's Ivor Tiefenbrun famously suggested that if you can't get the information off the vinyl disc in the first place then nothing else you do afterward matters. There's much truth... Read more...

Lamp cord

On the rear of my Infinity IRSV is a wire bundle connecting all the tweeters and midranges to the crossover. The wiring appears to be standard lamp cord until you... Read more...

Routine and ritual

Routines are often helpful patterns we use to repeat tasks in such a way as to make sure they are done correctly. A couple of quick examples might include shutting... Read more...

Bad recordings and great systems

We often think of the revealing nature of a great system as a double-edged sword: wonderful recordings sound better while poor ones sound worse. The idea of a system's ability... Read more...

The problem with same

For those that read my blog or watch the YouTube channel, it is well known I am not a fan of how pro audio studio monitors sound. Let's just say... Read more...

DoP

The three-letter acronym, DoP has a number of meanings depending on what you're interested in. To the Italians, D.O.P. stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin): the... Read more...

Art or science?

I am often asked whether high-end audio is an art or a science. Of course, the convenient answer is both. Maybe a better question would be the degree to which... Read more...

Imposters

At some level, we're all imposters. We fear our projected self-worth—the way we present ourselves or the way we believe others see us—doesn't live up to expectations. In my 74... Read more...

Last chance today

Just a gentle reminder to grab what you can from Octave Records as today is the last day of our sale. We are offering a rare chance to get free... Read more...

Compressing sound

In recordings, it is quite common for an engineer to use a compressor to better fit dynamics. Especially those of a singer. I like to imagine the art of compression... Read more...

Stark differences

Since we are all on the same page when it comes to wanting the accurate and enjoyable reproduction of music in our homes, it's always startling to me how different... Read more...

Polished or live?

When we make a studio recording it's understood it will be polished and perfect. The best we can do in a controlled environment. When we record live our goal is... Read more...

Mistakes

Thankfully, mistakes happen. Without those mistakes, we'd never make forward progress into the new. What's often frustratingly confusing about those mistakes is when we make them along a proven and... Read more...

It's about time

It's been 8 years since we introduced the groundbreaking DirectStream DAC. 8+ years since designer Ted Smith blew me away with the sound of his prototype and we began the... Read more...

Linear thinking

We all have different ways of processing the information around us. Some of us must have the facts/evidence presented in what I would call a linear/serial stream: this fact followed... Read more...

Overkill

What an odd concept. Overkill. Makes me think of Monty Python's "not dead yet!" As (sometimes) obsessive audiophiles we are often accused of overkill but I prefer a different description.... Read more...

Megan Burtt

Wow. Sometimes things and projects just fall into place. Beautifully. Such is the case with Octave Record's latest release from singer and songwriter, Megan Burtt. Goosebump-good music. Her album reminds... Read more...

Personal standards

We all have our personal standards by which we determine whether or not something lives up to our expectations. When I play a new track of music I expect a... Read more...

Credence Clearwater

Poking around last night for something to watch on Netflix we ran across Jeff Bridges, The Dude, narrating a well put together film on Credence Clearwater Revival's concert at London's... Read more...

Country/Region

Country/Region