Archive for 'October,2011'
Thimk different
Focusing design efforts on making what everyone else is already doing better is a dead end street in many cases [...]
Stressing out
Preamps and sources get stressed out easily, so give them a break whenever you can. [...]
Step on the gas
Volume controls are more like the brakes of a car and less like the car's gas pedal. [...]
An Ives Geography
Lawrence Schenbeck explores New England and Noo Yawk City with "maverick" composer Charles Ives. [...]
The lowly receiver
The idea of a receiver, done correctly, is something I think might well go over today. [...]
I can always tell
Live vs. recorded? How is it we can always tell? Here's a clue for you. [...]
Power of cables
When we talk about wireless we don't really mean it because we're leaving out one of the most important wires of them all! [...]
Bi-wiring
Is bi-wiring your speakers the way to go? I believe so and here's why. [...]
No Band Aids here!
AC regeneration and power conditioning are two completely different and unrelated topics. One rebuilds and generates new, the other a simple Band Aid. [...]
Gone Too Soon: Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown was one of the best trumpet players to ever grace the stage and his life ended tragically and too soon. Here's the amazing story. [...]
Powered speakers
Powered full range loudspeakers have never gone over big - or even small. Why? [...]
Up against the wall!
Why do we have to continue placing speakers into the middle of the room? Isn't there someone that can design a different course? [...]
Through the open window
We are taking a few days off and enjoying the quiet of Carmel California. Last night we’re walking by a hotel and through an open window I hear the sound of a live piano. The folks [...]
The Vector DAC
A vector DAC? What the heck is that? Discover Paul's idea for a new DAC. [...]
Small and scrappy
The past few days we’ve been focusing on not setting boundaries but I think it is really more about where much of the innovation we see comes from. The fact is, most innovation comes from small [...]
Ignorance is bliss
Our ignorance of digital audio in the early 1980's led to the first outboard DAC [...]
When we can’t we won’t
When you know what you don't know you always come out on the short end of the stick. [...]
Millimeters matter
Small changes in speaker placement make huge differences in imaging, but why? [...]
From the Front: the New Consumers
The first generation to be born after the dawn of the Digital Age has just reached a maturity and status that fits the label of true consumers. Everyday, we induct more and more enthusiastic new members [...]
RMAF in Denver
RMAF is a great event but more of a social gathering than a necessary venue when a manufacturer isn't announcing anything new. [...]
The problem with Netflix
Does putting lipstick on a pig really help? The people at Netflix and those pesky receiver manufacturers keep hoping so. [...]
Classical Corner: Fall Record Roundup
Lawrence Schenbeck offers advice on the most desirable classical recordings of the last few months. [...]
All the rage
What happened to green paint on the CD edges? Why do fads come and go? [...]
Open mind
Some things just can't change, or can they? [...]
The sweet spot
How do you get a wider sweet spot? By giiving something else up. [...]
Obsession
Sometimes our obsessions get the best of us and it's time to take a break. [...]
The business model
Every dollar the manufacturer does not receive for his products is a dollar spent to access a customer. Is it money well spent? [...]
Direct shot
Music is an emotional experience when we're "into it" and an analytical experience when we're just "listening". [...]
Safety
We typically choose the safe route but that road is not going to lead us anywhere but predictable. [...]
I will remember yesterday
Some remember the day when Buddy and the music died. Some the day when Elvis the king died. Others remember John when the inspiration died. I remember yesterday, when my hero died. Bye Steve. You made [...]
Audio shows
Local audio fairs are growing in number, but is this the answer to great access to equipment to demo? [...]
Fatigue
Do you suffer from listener fatigue with your system? Here's some things to look out for. [...]
A new day
The last in a three part series of how we might resurrect the local high-end audio dealer and what it would take. [...]
Maybe Frito Bandito?
I promised yesterday to get into specifics about the idea I put forth of manufacturers adopting the Wal Mart approach of not owning inventory as way to get local “audio experts” to become high-end retailers. Reader [...]
Wal Mart?
Here's the start of an idea we are kicking around about how to get high-end dealers back into our communities. [...]
Recent Comments
- The best way to organize music files and folders (4)
Dan Gravell: Great comment! It comes down to how your music player works. Personally, I don’t see filenames...
countessouroboros: I realize this post is a bit old now, but for future viewers I feel I need to point out that...
- What’s all the fuss about? (2)
Paul McGowan: Thanks Scott!
sbrinck: Paul The Munich audio show was the bomb !! I am extremely envious ! If you ever decide to quit your day...
- Treat the cause or the symptoms? (13)
Paul McGowan: Yes the apertures are located in the 1/8 space corners so they should be as effective as possible....
Soundminded: I’m quite curious and I must admit somewhat skeptical about how effective these frequency tuned bass...
Paul McGowan: Aging memory Mark. I wrote what I remembered and then went back and actually measured it.
The Q...Soundminded: Paul, on April 27 you posted “The main listening room at PS Audio is approximately 16 feet wide...
oliver T. Finch: Simple. Treat the cause and there won’t be any symptoms.Regards.
- Get that mole! (5)
Paul McGowan: You’re certainly correct and I’ll do my best to give a full report.
Paul McGowan: Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying.
petewilson: As suggested above, it’s a Good Idea to fix the cause(s). But, in general with real-world rooms,...
Soundminded: In response to the question about treating the cause or the symptom in medicine it’s my...
jb4: Thank you for very interesting posts and video’s. I totally agree with your approach, cure the cause,...
- Jelly rolls (3)
oliver T. Finch: Excellent posts. I look forward to them everyday. Very informative too.I am being convinced more...
Paul McGowan: Oh my goodness yes, depending on the capacitor type the inductance is certainly an issue – for...
coppy: Great articles, Paul, Thanks. And thanks also to all those knowledgeable folks who add their comments as...
- If you have to ask ….. (1)
demeter: “…You cannot hear 1Hz – but you can hear 20Hz and you can feel 16Hz and even...
- Capacitors (1)
Bassman23: It’s been a very long time since I earned my Third Class broadcasting license. Thanks for the...
- Direct coupling (3)
Paul McGowan: The 20 year period between 1973 and 1993 peaking in the early 80′s
oliver T. Finch: What is the second golden era of audio? This a new term to me. Regards.
Soundminded: The purpose of capacitors in the signal path in amplifiers and preamplifiers is to allow independent...
- Gas pedals and plucks (9)
Soundminded: Yes as I pointed out in another thread some time ago the sound of the string itself is barely audible...
Paul McGowan: Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest “more energy” in a literal sense – I guess...
Soundminded: If you could get more energy out than you put in without an external power supply or built in stored...
Paul McGowan: I’d have to agree with Mark on this one – it really depends on whose hands to instrument...
Paul McGowan: You are absolutely correct about resonance build up – just think about how a whistle or a pipe...
- Ringing (3)
Soundminded: I don’t agree. One way to measure frequency response is one frequency at a time. The input and...
Paul McGowan: Well, correct me if I am wrong but those frequency response peaks won’t occur without...
Soundminded: “We don’t see this added energy in typical audio measurements such as THD and IM because these...
The best way to organize music files and folders
Great comment! It comes down to how your music player works. Personall
What's all the fuss about?
Thanks Scott!
What's all the fuss about?
Paul The Munich audio show was the bomb !! I am extremely envious !
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
Yes the apertures are located in the 1/8 space corners so they should
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
I’m quite curious and I must admit somewhat skeptical about how effect