How can equipment with only 2-prong plugs have ground? There is no earth ground, right? Paul explains in easy to understand terms all about that mysterious subject, ground. Watch Now Paul McGowan
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Most recognize the difference in sound quality between tubes and transistors, but why? They both amplify, they both make music, can be used in any electronic circuit, yet perform differently. Paul does his best to explain the inner workings of tubes and differences with transistors. Watch Now ▸
When we think about distortion products we are generally referring to the harmonic kind. Harmonics are naturally occurring byproducts of sound: a plucked string will generate the intended frequency (called the first harmonic) and then higher versions of that note, each slightly less loud than its predecessor. These higher frequencies are all integers (whole numbers) […]
Paul McGowan writes: When the subject of polite conversation eventually turns to exposing the fact I am an audiophile I get a number of interesting changes in body language. Everything from an eyebrow raise, to a questioning look, to a head shake, as the notion that I am someone not only off the beaten path […]
There’s a common misconception that bigger more powerful amplifiers play louder. Find out the truth behind this audio myth and why bigger amps are preferred over smaller ones. And it isn’t because they play louder. Watch Now
It is human nature that causes most of us to be a skeptic. After all, no one wants to be fooled or taken down a crooked path. What fascinates me is the triggers that tell me when to turn on or off the skeptic in me. If I am on a journey or a mission […]
Paul McGowan writes: How do you connect a subwoofer up if there’s no subwoofer output available on your equipment? Paul explains the best way to go about it and why. Watch Now
Paul McGowan … All stereo systems produce a sonic image—some better than others. But, regardless of the image quality, there’s one thing we can say they have in common: a size to that image. If you turn the level of the stereo down to a whisper there’s a tiny image trapped between the speakers. Crank […]
Volume controls of all kinds affect sound quality in negative ways, some more than others. Is there one type of level control that’s better than all others and if so, why? Watch Now
Paul McGowan … Sorry about the headline, just couldn’t resist. We are going to start delving into the working of Class D amps, also incorrectly known as “digital amps” and correctly labeled PWM amps – short for Pulse Width Modulation. As is our custom we’ll start with an overview and then get into details. It’s […]
Wouldn’t it be easier for PS Audio and other manufacturers of high-performance stereo gear to look inside their competition and steal their secrets? Why don’t more manufacturers do it?
When we speak of global feedback we’re referring to the practice of wrapping the output signal of a device back to its input for comparison and correction. Because the input “knows” what’s right, a simple comparison circuit between the two serves to rectify any differences. Of course, nothing in engineering is a free lunch. You […]
Paul McGowan writes: I suppose the term “headroom” must have come about in response to tall people trying to make sure there’s enough room for their heads to go through a doorway or fit into a carriage. Makes sense anyway. In audio, headroom means that there’s enough space to amplify music without running into the […]
There’s plenty of different models of loudspeakers on the market. How do some become recognized as audiophile quality while others do not?
DSD is the finest sounding recording medium. Far better and more analog-like than PCM which is everywhere. But, does it have a future in the recording industry? Watch Now
Some preamp manufacturers insist their use of an inverted output is the right way to go and any products that do not invert are simply not as good. Is that true? Watch HERE
When we look at the specs for a piece of audio equipment we want to make sure it doesn’t emphasize or reduce one frequency area over another. We routinely see flatness specs that are within 1/10th of a dB from below where we can hear to way above where we hear. These specs make us […]
We love things to make sense and fit into neat little boxes so we can manage our view of the world. When they don’t we can take a number of different paths: ignore, anguish, change the story, disbelief, start researching. We understand that at the heart of 2-channel high-end audio is the goal of doing […]
Paul McGowan: “Great distortions annoy; lesser distortions fatigue.” Great quote from one of our readers and it’s quite appropriate as we start looking at Listener Fatigue. I didn’t want to just examine the nature of fatigue, however, I wanted to steer the discussion into something I actually know about: design. How does design influence listener […]
Paul McGowan: Just when we think a tradition has been ravaged it’s often time to look at what might come from its rebuilding: Landlines to cell phones. Trains to airplanes. Horses to cars. In May of 2011, my son, Lon, sent me an email. “Your friend Seth Godin’s speaking in Seattle. Wanna go?” in 2011 […]
Paul McGowan: I was thumbing through a stereo catalog recently and came across a full page presentation for Infinity loudspeakers on the left page and Klipsch loudspeakers on the right page. The designers of the catalog used photos showing their entire lineup from small to large loudspeaker in a line. I am sure you know […]
In my post about where the image should appear, behind the loudspeakers and not in front, we stirred a bit of controversy on the one hand and sparked a number of questions on the other. Several of you have asked how you can manage depth in your sound system and asked what controls the depth […]
In the previous post I told the story of receiving 14 tickets in a row for the same heinous crime: no brake or tail lights on my little red sports car. I promptly threw away all the tickets and went about my business until a cop showed up at the door with a warrant for […]