Paul McGowan writes: I am often asked what headphones I recommend and the answer for me is simple: I don’t. While I certainly recognize the popularity of headphones and appreciate what they can do, I am personally not a fan for several reasons: I miss the visceral feel of the music as well as the […]
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Darren Myers and I were having one of those classic water cooler conversations (even though we don’t have a water cooler). We were speaking about the upcoming FR20 loudspeaker Chris and Darren are working on voicing. Darren said something to me that really rang true. “A half or even a 1dB change between the midrange […]
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 that they are not my cup of tea. On the other hand, I am in love with a small number of other home audio designs […]
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 years, I haven’t met anyone that doesn’t to some extent suffer from what is commonly known as Imposter Syndrome. Maybe it’s a fear that our HiFi […]
Angry forums with millions of views. If you build a platform for angry voices they will rush to spew their ill temper. One such site, by a famous person in our industry, has millions of viewers and he’s happy about that—not so much about the hate, but the millions. He likes the millions. Is it […]
First published in Stereophile in 1998 For the last few months, random postings kept appearing on internet newsgroups and in my e-mail box: “Anybody know what happened to Counterpoint?” At last count there were 10,000 Counterpoint preamps, power amps, and loudspeakers fanned out across the planet, some dating back to 1977, when the company launched […]
Interacting with a front panel has always been important, but rarely how we judge a piece of equipment. Even the klunkiest front panel layouts were tolerated if the unit’s sound quality was up to snuff. The user interface took a distant second to performance. As we rush headlong into the age of the user interface […]
Finding that perfect spot on the dial isn’t too hard, but getting there can be because much depends on the loudness levels of the source and the sensitivity of the speakers. Most sources don’t have level trim controls to help match their gains to the rest of the system. If you have a DAC, like […]
When we proffer an opinion we risk ridicule. It’s probably been that way from before we swung down from the trees to walk on the savannahs. The thought of offering an opinion open for public scrutiny can be immobilizing. Yet, without the brave few offering up their thoughts our levels of communication within the community […]
Maybe a better question would be the degree to which the two are divided. At PS Audio, the balance between art and science varies depending on the project’s phase. When we first dream of a new product it’s almost purely art: dream about what we would like to have in our own systems without any […]
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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 name used to indicate a product that owes its characteristics to its place of origin, and its production, modification and processing occur within that geographical […]
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 look closely. There, in small white writing, are the words Monster Cable. Before Monster Cable we all connected our speakers to our amplifiers with what is […]
Reader John Vookles sent me this note: “Years ago I was selling a pair of Acoustat 3s so I ran an ad in the paper (this was pre-internet). A gentleman called and wanted to come listen and I recommended that he bring along a favorite recording. He came with a recording of artillery weapons being […]
We all have a personal set of standards. These bar-setting rules determine just about everything in our lives from how we dress, eat, interact, advertise ourselves, choose our friends, and listen to music. Especially listen to music. The types and quality of music I listen to must meet a specific standard. Shrill, bangy, loud, and […]
Most of us live with good enough for the bulk of our lives. The problem for me is deciding when good enough isn’tgood enough—when I suspect something’s better but don’t really know. This can lead to an unsettled feeling filled with hand wringing and constant doubt or I can sometimes just take a deep breath and […]
I can’t think of a track in my library I play at the same volume level as another, though that seems too out there to be true. Regardless, let’s say with some certainty that I change the volume level to match the musical track nearly every time I listen. This occurs because every piece of music […]
At my core, I am an inventor. I love nothing more than to be given a challenge—a problem—that needs a solution and the freedom to invent a new way to solve that problem. One of the greatest joys I have experienced is being part of a team of engineers that can take an idea and […]
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 process of turning it into a product. It’s been an amazing journey and now we’re about to release the MK2 version of this stunning product. As we […]
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 in what he said (though I have never agreed with the conclusion that some make that turntables are more important than speakers). But this thought […]
We are truly creatures of habit. We get into a comfortable routine and we don’t want to leave. Change comes along to yank us out of our reverie and we can take one of three paths: object, ignore, adapt. We just launched new Bridge firmware—the very essence of change. Most people will install the new […]
There are people who use their stereo to enjoy their music. And there are people who use their music to enjoy their stereo. I do not begrudge those in the second group their fun, but I strive always to be in the first group. It’s an easy line to lose track of, but music just […]
PS Audio engineer Darren Meyers asked me an interesting question yesterday. One I have been pondering for the last twelve hours. Why are speaker measurements made with only one speaker? This was an intriguing thought. We listen to two speakers yet concern ourselves only with the frequency, amplitude, and phase response of one. Why should […]