Archive for 'December,2011'
Favorite Independent Label Releases of 2011
Reviews of new releases from Bill Nelson, Cowboy Junkies, A Winged Victory For The Sullen: three of my favorite 2011 recordings. BILL NELSON Fantasmatron Be Bop Deluxe founder Bill Nelson brings fresh potency to the term [...]
Protection or performance?
When designing a power amplifier there are always tradeoffs between protecting the amplifier and its performance. Whatever you do to protect it probably has some sort of compromise to the sound. [...]
Leave it on
There seems to be a common misconception that it's better to turn the power to your equipment off when you're not using it when just the opposite is true. [...]
Learning from Budweiser
There's a lot we in the high-end can learn from advertising giants like Budweiser and Bose and here's what it is. [...]
Three best guitarists
When you think of bands that produced legendary guitarists, most people automatically default to the Yardbirds. The legendary triumvirate of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page rank in the top ten in Rolling Stone magazines [...]
Kittyhawk Takes a New Flight Path
Keith Copeland shows us a wild new instrument called a Chapman Stick and it is the basis of some really innovative and fresh new music by the group Kittyhawk. Jazz at it's best. [...]
Who is the customer?
Who do designers target their new products to? The dealers who sell them, the customers that may buy them or themselves? [...]
Luxury or necessity?
High-end audio - luxury or basic necessity? [...]
Hot sauce
I put hot sauce on my eggs in the morning despite surprised looks from those that think it's weird and share crazy ideas without fear of ridicule. It's good to ignore what other people reject [...]
Merry Christmas
Just a note today of cheer and joy. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. [...]
David vs. Goliath
With all the huge companies competing in the consumer electronics industry, how does a smaller company like PS succeed? [...]
Reconciling Holiday Music
Dum Dum Girls and the Crocodiles- “Merry Christmas Baby (Please Dont Die)”: The other day, seeking shelter from cold, December winds, my girlfriend and I stepped into a Starbucks. Five minutes later, seated and sipping dirt-water [...]
Servo bass
Woofers are an essential element in a true high-end system. I'd be surprised to find any great system without one - yet the best designs of subwoofers aren't being employed. [...]
The new bad
I keep thinking audio's getting worse but I am wrong! The new bad is pretty good. [...]
Drop the drum!
A great story harking back to the days of the Chicago CES, an Oracle turntable, the Infinity IRS and Max Townshends great Rock turntable [...]
Technology brands
There are two basic camps of people when it comes to technology: those interested in new and innovative vs. those that want old and trusted. Which camp are you in? [...]
Golden ears and the golden age
Hong Kong reviewer Wing Cheung helps us enjoy our music, our systems and our hearing more by offering a number of helpful tips to protect our brains audio processor and our ears. [...]
Open up CES!
CES is a closed venue and customers aren't allowed in - but writer Ken Kessler opines that's a mistake and one that would help the industry if it were corrected. We couldn't agree more. [...]
Turn the lights off
Power switches were standard on all equipment back in the 1970's until we decided to keep everything warmed up and ready to play and merely turn off the lights. Kept everyone happy. [...]
Work!
The term work is something I truly dislike - yet I do it 7 days a week and am having fun. [...]
Commodities
I wonder if it's all bad to see the commoditization of high-end brands. On the one hand it brings good sound toi a lot of people. On the other ..... [...]
Common language
We use terms like transparency, soundstage, depth as if they were always here to describe what we hear. But they are actually relatively new terms that are part of a common language we use and [...]
Lighting the fuse
Fuses are the big controversy at the PS forums right now and for good reason. Have you considered upgrading yours? [...]
What is an Audiophile?
Yesterday's post stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy with some feeling like my post about perfection was meant as a dig at our quest for musical nirvana. Nothing could be further from the truth. [...]
The myth of perfection
The myth of perfection teases us into being frustrated that we just can't ever get it right all the time. Maybe understanding it's only a myth helps. [...]
Walking backwards
The Audiophile's dilemma of resolving every last detail and accepting slightly less to enjoy all your collection more can have a good resolution if you let it. [...]
The history of music and hi fi part 2
In 1957 I was at a store with my father. This place sold cameras, records and audio gear. I noticed a Pentron reel to reel tape deck. On it was the word “Stereo.” I asked what it meant. [...]
The history of music and hi fi part 1
Here we are a decade beyond the new century. Where we are today in the enjoyment of music. The steps taken to get here have taken over a century. In the beginning, listening to music could only [...]
Have you ever considered stereo?
The contractor eyed the room, figured he'd have to tear much of it out to add the 5.1 surround system and then turned to the customer and said, "have you considered just stereo instead?" A [...]
The showman
Harvey Rosenberg was a great asset to the high-end community and I was just reminded of one of his many antics at CES. Good for a laugh. [...]
Drug dealers
Keeping up with technology is sort of like being hooked on drugs - you always need another fix. But is that all bad? [...]
Magic Box
Sometimes something seems like BS yet has everything perfectly explained by good engineering - when this happens, it's like magic. [...]
Snake oil
There's a lot of snake oil in our industry but most of it exists not to trick us, but to explain something we don't understand. [...]
Dedicated lines
Dedicated lines for your hi-fi system are a good idea and here's why. [...]
Personalities
Every hi-fi system has a personality of its own. What's yours? [...]
‘Tis the (Choral) Season
Lawrence Schenbeck recommends new choral recordings that would make nice gifts, with asides on record packaging and choral music's place in American life. [...]
Is it pure?
Is our goal in high-end audio to get as close to the original recording, or is it something else? [...]
Building project
We take our high end systems personally as opposed to a commodity and this is exactly the right thing to do. [...]
The creation of the Absolute Sound
HP responds to yesterday's post with one of his own about the beginning of TAS. [...]
Drink more beer!
My story about bringing tears to the uninitiated had a mention of Bose and and that sparked a bit of controversy so why not just keep on the same track? [...]
Can you do it for $1000?
OK, we have just demonstrated how great high-end audio sounds, now what can someone do about buying a package? [...]
Recent Comments
- Get that mole! (2)
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,...
- Treat the cause or the symptoms? (9)
oliver T. Finch: Simple. Treat the cause and there won’t be any symptoms.Regards.
Brooklyn: A listener’s ears adjust to the room. If you were to walk with me from one room to another as I...
stimpy2: I like Dennis’s suggestion very much.
Dennis Penner: What would be really interesting would be to have speaker/room response measurements before and...
Paul McGowan: That is correct and worse – when you’re not in the position there’s suckouts and...
- 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...
- Just pluck it! (1)
Soundminded: Bowing a string is just like plucking it many times a second. As the taught rosined horsehair on the...
- Music loving animals (5)
Mike48: Our late cat listened with me often. I always thought he enjoyed the music, and he especially seemed to...
oliver T. Finch: In yesterdays post it was mentioned that if the leading transients were removed the sustained...
Newk Yuler: When my cat was younger he would look around the room when I played something atmospheric with birds...
- Lion’s roar (9)
Soundminded:
Oh but I am horrified. I went into the wrong profession. Had I only known I could have this...Paul McGowan: Mark, don’t be horrified – and please don’t feel anything other than welcome here....
Soundminded:
It is not my intent to intimidate anyone and I am horrified at the thought that my postings have...
Get that mole!
In response to the question about treating the cause or the symptom in
Get that mole!
Thank you for very interesting posts and video's. I totally agree wit
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
Simple. Treat the cause and there won't be any symptoms.Regards.
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
A listener's ears adjust to the room. If you were to walk with me fro
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
I like Dennis's suggestion very much.