This is Audio Unleashed: the world’s only totally unfiltered, freewheeling, fearless discussion about the latest events in the world of audio, featuring veteran audio reviewers Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger. With decades of experience, a modest grasp of science and logic, and a marginal degree of financial security, they can tell the good from the bad, and the proven from the preposterous — and they’re not afraid to tell you what’s what.
The podcast Audio Unleashed is created by Brent Butterworth & Dennis Burger. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent deconstruct the latest column by Stereophile’s editor-in-chief and contemplate whether his position on spooky woo-woo has devolved in the past decade. Then they ogle cool amps and preamps on AliExpress that borrow revered brands yet cost only hundreds—and also examine how crazy it’d be to buy this stuff right now (b/c tariffs, not b/c communism and chopsticks). They conclude with a not-terribly-deep dive into a new article from Dennis about audio DIY, but not the kind of audio DIY you’re probably imagining.
Brent’s audio projects:
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
Dennis’s book recommendations:
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent explore the fast-growing world of made-to-order lathe-cut records – and even play one for you! (Prepare to be … well, prepared.) Then they delight in some made-to-order pink noise from Erin’s Audio Corner, and deconstruct Holly Cole’s new made-to-order (well, for audiophiles) album with the help of Stereophile.
Brent’s audio projects:
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
Dennis’s book recommendations:
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent stop by Strata-gee to see how Sonos is strategorizing to scramble back to the summit of the sound souk with a new … oh, wait, change in plans! Then they ally themselves (very conditionally) with a British-ish mastering engineer who contends that high-priced DACs are a scam. Then they bring their incomparable incredulity to bear on the question of whether adding hobbled Dolby Atmos functionality to Cadillacs is the way forward for Atmos or Cadillac.
Brent’s audio projects:
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
Dennis’s book recommendations:
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent page through the storied Gray Lady (known to some as the New York Times and to Brent as “employer”) and find, to their amazement, an in-depth profile of high-end vinyl company Acoustic Sounds and its iconoclastic proprietor, Chad Kassem. Then they check out what YouTube star Cheapaudioman says are the biggest mistakes audiophiles can make (besides failing to listen to the Audio Unleashed podcast). They conclude by digging through a Tape Op profile of a man in Burbank, California whose life’s work is getting messed-up tapes to play so you can finally hear A Flock of Seagulls as they were meant to be heard.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent unexpectedly flip the phase of their podcast by lavishly praising another audio pundit. But they quickly get back to business with an in-depth report on what might be the most preposterous subwoofer review (and most preposterous subwoofer setup) in a long history of preposterous subwoofer reviews by audiophile mags. Then they try to figure out why a famed accessories manufacturer insists that blind testing doesn’t work yet employs it nonetheless, and contemplate Passion for Sound’s assertion that science disproves the validity of science.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis wonders why a writer for The Atlantic is wondering why his cheap Bluetooth speaker can’t generate the feeling of community he got at a Beyoncé concert, while Brent wonders why Dennis was reading The Atlantic. Then they dig into a recent article on acoustics by one of audio’s most popular personalities to learn what’s better: a lousy speaker in a good room or a good speaker in a lousy room. They conclude with a deep dive into—surprise!—an article about hi-fi published in a mainstream scientific magazine, which recommends a whole new (well, kinda new) speaker layout.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent discuss Danny Ritchie’s diagnosis of the legendary Wilson WATT/Puppy; can he find the cure for questionable engineering? Then they ponder whether Spotify is truly evil, and what malice might lurk in the hearts of other streaming services. And they wrap up with speculation about why a stupid article on vinyl seems to have been memory-holed entirely off the internet—and why a vinyl guru’s attempt to demo over YouTube says much about the psychology of crowds and nothing about vinyl.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album
📚 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly: https://amzn.to/4aMl9Xl
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Dennis and Brent discuss how spending money and seeing measurements can influence subjective listening impressions, take a weird vicarious trip to a Japanese Kissa, and listen to a direct comparison between the same digital master delivered on a variety of different media.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! CD normally costs $13 ($10 + $3 for shipping); use code audiounleashedepi42 for 40% off the CD. (Offer extended! Now expires 2/1/25.)
https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
📚 A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole: https://amzn.to/4h7kZwb
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, while the Audiophiliac (Steve Guttenberg) questions whether we can trust audio reviewers, Dennis and Brent decide whether we can trust Steve Guttenberg. Then they make the mistake of watching one the audio world’s cringiest videos, in which audio icon Mark Levinson tries to explain how PCM audio is stressing everyone out, or not stressing everyone out, or something. Or nothing. Or whatever the lawyers let him say. Last, Dennis and Brent check out a Stereophile column by John Atkinson that definitely is not stressing anyone out—except perhaps makers of gratuitously expensive audio gear.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! CD normally costs $13 ($10 + $3 for shipping); use code audiounleashedepi42 for 40% off the CD. (Offer extended! Now expires 2/1/25.) https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis dig into the latest drama surrounding a sus audio manufacturer trying to suppress bad press; riff on yet another article about the increasing appeal of vintage audio gear; and talk about king-of-all-audio-media John Darko’s experimentations with different amps driving KEF’s Q Concerto Meta speaker. Should you run screaming (or quietly exit) from any dealer who insists there's some perfect amp for your speakers?
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! CD normally costs $13 ($10 + $3 for shipping); use code audiounleashedepi42 for 40% off the CD. (Offer expires 1/1/25.)
https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis bemoan the sordid tasks mainstream tech journalists are forced to do these days; dig deep into the current state of audio recording methods as an excuse to promote Brent’s new album; and shine a light on a great review of FiiO’s new portable CD player, which really might change the way we consume music.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s new album! CD normally costs $13 ($10 + $3 for shipping); use code audiounleashedepi42 for 40% off the CD. (Offer expires 1/1/25.)
https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis welcome headphone expert and friend of the podcast Lauren Dragan to answer the question: does the new hearing-aid functionality of Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 really work, or is it just another quickly tacked-on feature everybody else will have to copy? But before that: Some bloviating about Bose’ purchase of the McIntosh Group and some gushing about Erin’s Audio Corner’s review of the Børresen X3 speaker (and some not-so-gushing about a few other reviews of the same speaker).
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis learn a thing or four about how everything they thought they knew about modern class-D amps was totally wrong; discuss some new FTC rules that might actually affect the audio industry (or at least, the high-end audio industry), and dig into a review of a “magickal” new amplifier.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/silicone-face-scrubber-review/
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis finally lift the lid on the secret Audiophile Society project Brent has been teasing for months, dive deep(ish) into the subject of soundstage in headphones, and check out a new video from Audioholics’ Gene DellaSala about whether or not you should upgrade your speakers’ crossovers.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/silicone-face-scrubber-review/
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis are joined by industry legend Sandy Gross—co-founder of Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and GoldenEar Technology—to reflect on the legacy of Sound & Vision and its forebear Stereo Review, following the news that S&V is ceasing print circulation. And in an Audio Unleashed first, Sandy sticks around for the second segment to talk about home theater, personally and professionally.
Next up: a discussion of John Atkinson’s Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 Signature loudspeaker in this month’s Stereophile.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis discuss the death of music hard drives (and the inevitable doom of all music recordings?); riff on a cut’n’paste review of a Coherence Systems… something or other, and worry whether a podcast they created about the Harman target curve using A.I. might actually be better than … well, not Audio Unleashed, of course, but much of what passes for audio journalism.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis opine about whether or not an elaborate AI-powered streaming music scam is any worse than most of what Spotify does, pontificate about whether or not anyone needs to read amplifier reviews, and dig through the mid-year revenue report from the RIAA for clues about the future of music formats.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis kick things off with everyone’s favorite: a vocabulary lesson! What’s the difference between decibels and SPLs, and how are those distinct from loudness? Also, what the heck are LUFS? Next: If EarFun’s new earphones are all that, why pay more? And can Sonos un-punch its own face?
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis ponder whether our objective measurement techniques are keeping up with the sorts of audio gear people are actually buying, talk more trash about Spotify, and dig into the pros and cons of single-driver speakers.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back by Jacob Ward: https://amzn.to/4cyzSET
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Apologies for the sound quality this week. We had some back-end technical issues and had to rely on our compressed cloud backup audio stream for editing.
With that said, the conversation is one we hope you dig. We start by digging into the reader mailbag to address comments in support of and opposed to our take on the ASR v. GR-Research kerfuffle. Next up, we dig into why Sonos felt it needed to send out an apology letter to its customers, then discuss a cool episode of Your Morning Coffee that breaks down how algorithms and pay structures affect what music we hear.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis respond to ASR’s criticism of Danny Ritchie, discuss whether or not you should get a portable cassette deck, and wonder if the rumors about Bluetooth’s death are greatly exaggerated.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis ponder how long it should actually take to evaluate a product under review, speculate on what’s going on with Tidal, and weigh in on why some people say music sucks so much these days.
And for Patrons: Stereophile did blind testing?! How’d that go?
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis talk about Jabra blowing out of the True Wireless earphone market with two last hurrahs, Passion for Sound redefining what it means to be an audiophile reviewer, and Lenbrook teaming up with HDTracks to start a new MQA-centric streaming service.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis talk about the flaming dumpster fire that is Spotify, get straight to the heart of what a “Speaker Improver” actually improves, and ponder the age-old question: When do DACs stop burning in?
And for Patrons: a virtual tour of High End Munich 2024.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis ponder whether Class D can really live up to the performance of Class A and Class AB amps, talk about testing USB cables and why they aren’t in Singapore, and deconstruct a new manifesto by John Darko.
And for Patrons: Which company has ruined its own cred with a disastrous software update?
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
This week, Brent and Dennis dig into a blog post by John Siau of Benchmark Audio about audiophile snake oil, deconstruct Jorge Sadurni's Spherical Dual loudspeakers, and weigh in on a Facebook feud about whether diminishing returns are even a thing.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Y’all have been waiting for it! We’re here to deliver. This week, we dig into the Tekton Design/Erin’s Audio Corner/ASR hullabaloo in the way that only Audio Unleashed can. Is Tekton founder Eric Alexander the real victim here?
With that done, we dig into an article about a guy you’ve never heard of who’s out-streaming most artists you have. What does this mean? Is it an AI thing? And in our third segment, we try to figure out what the heck the Gryphon Audio PowerZone 3 power strip thingy even is.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Hey fam! A lot of you have expressed your eagerness to hear us cover the Erin’s Audio Corner/Tekton kerfuffle and Eric Alexander’s resulting and wholly unnecessary self-immolation. Sadly, we’d already recorded the tracks for this one before that all played out! Hopefully you still dig what we’ve got for you this week.
First up: A deep dive into the concept of “everything between the Romex and the amp.” Next: Our reaction to John DeVore of DeVore Fidelity’s appearance on The Occasional Podcast from back in November. Then we check out Your Morning Coffee’s new AI-generated theme song and discuss what the heck this all means.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis answer questions and respond to criticism from listeners in an extended mailbag segment before being joined by Wirecutter headphone specialist Lauren Dragan for a conversation about the Harman target curve. Then they dig into a Darko Audio podcast about Total Harmonic Distortion. And for Patrons: is Masimo looking to dump or spin off Sound United?
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis consider a set of listening tests done by the Absolute Sound on fuses. Yep, fuses. Including one that costs $595. This video leads to a series of hilariously histrionic comments from Michael Fremer, whom the Washington Post once described as the “dean” of audiophile writing. Then we report on a Stereophile column about record EQ curves by Michael Trei, who compensates for his lack of hilarious histrionics by conveying useful information. Finally, we celebrate a milestone for Steve Guttenberg, the dean (not “dean”) of YouTube audio reviewers.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis opine about the current and future state of physical media, including something called the SMini. They also bought a pile of audio stuff from Temu and put it to the test. Is it worth the time and money? Next up: a deep dive into Stereophile’s review of the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature flagship loudspeaker.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis dig into the biggest question of all in audio: exactly how much is the jitter of your DAC destroying the inner detail of your favorite recordings? They also try to figure out exactly WTH Dolby Atmos even is and chat briefly about the current state of room acoustics.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚 Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/3uiIPlp
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week’s episode starts with a question from our first Patron: Why are headphone measurements the way they are? From there, we dig into a Dolby Atmos kerfuffle from Stereophile, and opine about whether the death of music journalism is a plague or merely a symptom of a larger problem.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
💿The Dark Side of the Moon (Blu-ray Audio): https://amzn.to/3ObQ59n
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, a text message from storied audio scribe Darryl Wilkinson prompts our pundits to ponder the pairing of pot and hi-fi. Then they contemplate the societal and sonic ramifications of a new $750,000 speaker from Sonos Faber; explore some cool new audio announcements from CES; and wonder what delights the new Auracast Bluetooth technology might bring.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis dig into listener email, discuss some headphones that read your freaking mind, try to figure out whether GR-Research is praising or burying some Polk speakers, and ponder the merits of $4,000 active bass traps vs. much cheaper solutions.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
🎧Shanling UA1 Plus DAC-Headphone Amp Dongle: https://wclink.co/link/59182/0/4/175794/
🎧Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 Active Noise Cancellation Earbuds: https://amzn.to/3TCpF48
📻Dayton Audio HTA100 Integrated Stereo Hybrid Hi-Fi Vacuum Tube Class A/B Amplifier: https://amzn.to/3RUgRW3
📻Dayton Audio HTA200 Integrated Stereo Hybrid Hi-Fi Vacuum Tube Class A/B Amplifier: https://amzn.to/3Tyxlof
📻WiiM Amp: https://amzn.to/3TDnflP
💿Yamaha CD-C603BL 5-Disc CD Changer with USB Playback and PlayXChange: https://amzn.to/48wXwjc
🎵Alice Phoebe Lou: Shelter: https://amzn.to/3RXuKDb
📚Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
📚Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis bid adieu to 2023 with a discussion about some exciting new CD players (who could have predicted that would be a thing?!), some thoughts on the validation of the SoundGuys’ target headphone curve, and a back-and-forth list of their favorite audio-related things from this year. And for Patrons: a discussion about Yamaha’s crazy-expensive new headphone amplifier.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Master Handbook of Acoustics, Sixth Edition 6th Edition by F. Alton Everest: https://amzn.to/4aixQbO
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
This week, Brent and Dennis talk about one of the best values in hi-fi, dig into the physics of something that doesn’t seem likely to work, and debate whether Spotify is ripping off small artists.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
This week, Brent and Dennis talk about Miami’s best audiophile bar yet, discuss audio gear recycling with someone who knows what’s what, and take a virtual walk through Capital AudioFest 2023 thanks to Stereophile’s coverage of the show.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
This week, Brent and Dennis give audiophiles what they’ve been begging for: an in-depth discussion about Taylor Swift’s new re-recorded version of 1989. They also discuss a brilliant video about testing where the tone of a microphone comes from, as well as a new earphone from JLab that represents the first commercial product to be explicitly voiced to follow the Knowles Preferred Listening Response Curve.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
High Performance Loudspeakers: Optimising High Fidelity Loudspeaker Systems 7th Edition by Martin Colloms: https://amzn.to/3tYQ01y
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
This week, Brent and Dennis answer the questions that everyone is asking: How do you get high-res audio from Apple Music? Why do smart people believe weird things? Why do audiophiles hate Beats?
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
This week, Brent and Dennis remember Gary Merson of HDGuru.com, who passed away this month; answer the burning question as to whether or not unplugging your hifi from the wall even once will forever ruin it sounds; try to figure out what the heck a firewall for speakers is; and take a look at some really cool speaker technology by way of Stereophile’s show coverage.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
This week, Brent and Dennis discuss Lenbrook’s acquisition of the highly controversial MQA codec and all the patents that come along with it. They also dig into a hot mess of a review from Stereophile about a hot mess of an amplifier: the Infigo Method-3 monoblock, and opine about a new music-generating AI that’s leaps and bounds better than any of its forebears.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3ZlTLtE
This week, Brent and Dennis are joined by Erin Hardison of Erin’s Audio Corner to discuss his controversial review of the beloved Triangle Borea BR03. We also discuss the merits of subjective versus objective evaluations, Erin’s pet peeves, and what dragons he’s on a quest to slay.
For segment three, Brent and Dennis discuss new best practices and recommendations for immersive audio from CEDIA and CTA. And for Patrons: a discussion of Dennis’s interview with Dr. Sean Olive about the history of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” and why it makes such great test material.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Budget Travel For Dummies by Geoffrey Morrison: https://amzn.to/45BHROI
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Getting Started in Electronics by Forrest M. Mims III: https://amzn.to/45CESFD
This week, Brent and Dennis discuss a valiant effort at blind testing and discuss what went wrong. They follow that with a discussion of two speakers: an insanely expensive one that sucks and a ridiculously cheap one that doesn’t. And for Patreon subscribers, a discussion about Sony Interactive’s purchase of Audeze.
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
This week, Brent and Dennis are answering the questions that really matter in the world of hi-fi: Play-Fi wants into your TV; should you let it in? Does hi-fi belong in a museum? Can you hear deepfakes? And for Patrons, can you trust manufacturers’ measurements?
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change by W. David Marx: https://amzn.to/44R4Sgg
This week, we dig into a new app designed to help you find the optimal spot(s) in your room for a subwoofer or two. Then we’re joined by industry vet Steven Stone to discuss a trend that he refers to as “Oligarch Audio.” We also answer the question that everyone is asking: can Ethernet jumper cables EQ music you stream over your network?
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Make no mistake about it: AI is going to make life suck for everyone but the uber-rich, but we’ve found a pretty good use of Chat-GPT in the form of Volumio’s new SuperSearch. On a more fun note, we also take a virtual tour of an anechoic chamber this week, and talk about Schiit Audio’s new CD transport with USB input and output.
Bonus for Patreon subscribers: an in-depth discussion of Denon’s directional bass setting in its newer flagship AV receivers.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Dave’s Picks on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rz7SPo
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
Can AI chatbots replace product reviews written by meatsacks? Brent and Dennis debate! We also discuss the whole 432Hz tuning phenomenon and dig into the Dutch & Dutch 8c to discuss whether it really is a revolution in speaker design.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Further Reading:
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed
We’re starting things off light this week with a quick discussion of Apple’s new Adaptive Audio feature, and how it relates to similar tech from other headphone manufacturers. Brent digs into how and why he plans to quantify the processing as objectively as possible.
Then the chains come off, and we dissect/deconstruct/demolish a particularly troubling editorial written by Alta Audio owner Michael Levy about why measurements are flawed. After a bit of technical discussion, we’re joined by our old friend, SoundStage! Founder Doug Shcnieder, who gives us his opinion from a publisher’s perspective about everything wrong with Levy’s anti-scientific screed.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms 3rd Edition by Floyd Toole: https://amzn.to/3CTarOB
Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions by James Randi: https://amzn.to/44goJ7M
Storm the Book by Tim Minchin: https://amzn.to/3JximVT
Further Reading:
Erin’s Audio Corner is back! This week, we dig into a new segment from Erin called “Off the Top,” in which he teaches you how to form a first approximation of a speaker’s performance without ever having heard it. It’s not quite the same as reading the new edition of the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook, but it’s a better speaker education than most audio reviewers have.
We also dig into some insanely expensive monoblock amps that were exhibited at High End 2023 and discuss the factors that contribute to their price and the justification for the same. Should we be treating uber-high-end audio gear as high-performance equipment or luxury goods? Should you believe a rave review of any amplifier?
Lastly, Brent schools Dennis about the rising trend of sped-up music, why it exists, how it’s being used, and who stands to benefit. Dennis also gives Brent a crash course on LoFi Beats and the communities cropping up around the genre.
Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0
Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 7th Edition by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/43tYPNI
Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change by W. David Marx: https://amzn.to/43qZfVa
Further Reading:
High End Munich 2023 just wrapped up, and although Brent and Dennis didn’t get to go, they took the opportunity to dig through everyone else’s coverage to find some of the best and most intriguing new products. They also discuss Dr. Sean Olive’s online crusade to get Atmos music mixers to do their jobs, and also peruse a new tech review website that was obviously written by a large language model similar to ChatGPT.
Further Reading:
"High End 2023 Listening Session: ESD Acoustic’s Biggest System in the World" by Jason Thorpe: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2023-munich-germany/1094-he-2023-listening-session-esd-acoustics-biggest-system-in-the-world
High End 2023 - Munich, Germany: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2023-munich-germany
Stereophile’s Munich 2023 coverage: https://www.stereophile.com/category/munich-2023
Munich 2023 coverage at HiFiPig: https://www.hifipig.com/category/high-end-munich-2023/
Dr. Sean Olive on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanolive/status/1659958602290044929
Smart Carting About Us: https://smartcarting.com/about-us/
“Hasbro/ Wizards focusing on A.I. DMs is proof that they don't understand D&D” by u/peterpeterny on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/10el42v/hasbro_wizards_focusing_on_ai_dms_is_proof_that/
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Audio Unleashed, the new, independent podcast by Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger. This week, Brent and Dennis discuss the utility of high-end audio reviews, opine on the demise of MQA, and ask whether our A.I. overlords are ready to replace us or not, at least in the domain of audio production.
Sources:
“Mastersound 845 Compact integrated amplifier Measurements” by John Atkinson: https://www.stereophile.com/content/mastersound-845-compact-integrated-amplifier-measurements
AMA w/ Jesse @ TIDAL: https://www.reddit.com/r/TIdaL/comments/12hr68f/comment/jfuo1ng/
MQA Enters Into Administration: https://www.hifipig.com/mqa-enters-into-administration/
Darko Audio Podcast #46 – AXPONA 2023 review + MQA goes into administration: https://darko.audio/2023/04/podcast-46-axpona-2023-review-mqa-goes-into-administration/
"A Comparative Study of Music Mastered by Human Engineers and Automated Services" by Mitchell Elliott and Song Hui Chon: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=21888
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.