Audio Unleashed

We're on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent discuss Darko's coverage of the Munich High End show, including his insistence that he's noping out of trade shows going forward. Will we really never see him again IRL? Next up: did Audio Judgement do this crossover A/B blind test right … and can a chancy collection of cheap caps and chokes credibly conquer the chi-chi stuff? Finally, they contrast two articles from high-end audio sites that posit very different proposals about blind testing.

We're on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent catch up with all the news we should have covered last episode, including the Harman acquisition of Sound United, and what it means for the fate of Bowers & Wilkins, Dolby, and the half-dozen audio dealers left in the U.S. Then they ask The Absolute Sound's philosopher-in-chief Tom Martin to blink twice if he's OK in his recent video about cable lifters before moving on to a discussion about guinea pigs being used as guinea pigs to answer science's pressing questions about compression (but not that kind of compression!).

We're on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent dig into the news about a new $25/month music streaming service that claims it's the first to deliver lossless and immersive audio. (Please don't tell Apple Music or Qobuz or Tidal or Amazon!) Then they look on as an AudioXpress writer does a Marianas Trench-level dive on the return of the 78 rpm record, and question whether these can deliver as profound a musical experience as lathe-cut records. They conclude by pondering which paper towel is best for cleaning up the drool after Stereophile, Hi-Fi+ and Hi-Fi News review dCS's almost-$300K, five-chassis DAC.

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:

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:

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:

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):  

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):

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):  

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):

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):

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):

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):  

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):

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):  

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):  

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):  

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):  

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:  “WiiM AMP review: flying high on value for money” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2023/11/wiim-amp-review-flying-high-on-value-for-money/ Synergistic Research HFT: https://www.synergisticresearch.com/acoustics/passive/hft/ “HFT & EFQ” by Steve Marsh: https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/synergistic/1.html “Spotify made £56m profit, but has decided not to pay smaller artists like me” by Damon Krukowski: https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/30/spotify-smaller-artists-wrapped-indie-musicians “Headphone Handbook” on Twenty Thousand Hertz: https://www.20k.org/episodes/headphonehandbook SVS Audiophile Happy Hour with Audio Unleashed Podcast Hosts - Episode #71: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpd8PYJXSP0&t=3132s&ab_channel=SVS  

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:  “The Listening Bar at Kaori May Be Miami's Best Audiophile Bar Yet” by Douglas Markowitz: https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/the-listening-bar-at-kaori-is-miamis-best-listening-bar-yet-18149917 “Classic Audio & Records: A Magical Musical Mecca in the Middle of Alabama” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1263-classic-audio-records-a-magical-musical-mecca-in-the-middle-of-alabama “Emerson, Lake & Palmer at the Grocery Store”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/emerson-lake-palmer-at-the-grocery-store-audio-science-review-misses-audiophilia-in-harper-s-hi-fi-and-skateboarding/ Brilliant Corners playlist: https://www.mixcloud.com/brilliantcorners/ @TheSpeakerseeker on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpeakerseeker Oliver Clark (@bass_vids) on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bass_vids?lang=en LES Ecology Center: https://www.lesecologycenter.org/ Petition: Save Community Composting Now! https://www.grownyc.org/petition “The True Cost of Saving a Few Bucks: A Q&A with Emotiva's Dan Laufman” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1144-the-true-cost-of-saving-a-few-bucks-a-q-a-with-emotivas-dan-laufman Stereophile's Capital AudioFest 2023 coverage: https://www.stereophile.com/category/capital-audiofest-2023 “Treehaus Audiolab Introduces Phantom of Luxury Updated Flagship Field-Coil Loudspeaker at Capital Audiofest 2023” by Michael Lavorgna: https://twitteringmachines.com/treehaus-audiolab-to-unveil-their-new-flagship-field-coil-loudspeakers-at-caf-2023/#:~:text=The%20Treehaus%20Audiolab%20%E2%80%9CPhantom%20of,real%2C%20rather%20than%20simply%20reproduced “Test Report: Lirpa Labs Liberty Freedom 1776 A-FY Tower Speakers” by Geoffrey Morrison: https://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-report-lirpa-labs-liberty-freedom-1776-fy-tower-speakers

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 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:  Taylor Swift masters dispute: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift_masters_dispute "1989 (TV) Ground Loop Hums" by u/BitchExWife: https://www.reddit.com/r/TaylorSwift/comments/17jundz/1989_tv_ground_loop_hums/ “For people who can hear the buzzing/static in 1989 (Taylor's Version), I fixed it! (Mostly)" by u/1616s: https://www.reddit.com/r/TaylorSwift/comments/17iv3r2/for_people_who_can_hear_the_buzzingstatic_in_1989/ "What's up with this spike at around 15.7kHz on the interstellar soundtrack? Only some tracks have it but damn does it hurt my ears :/" by u/tomv92: https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/2mszh4/whats_up_with_this_spike_at_around_157khz_on_the/ "Bernie Grundman, the Music Master" on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/bernie-grundman-the-music-master-mastering-defined-digital-vs-analog-radio-vs-streaming/ "Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In A Microphone?" by Jim Lill: https://youtu.be/4Bma2TE-x6M?si=mBkSEzeub1kzZNMl "Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In An Electric Guitar?" by Jim Lill: https://youtu.be/n02tImce3AE?si=xNniYyVDXH1WHNuA "Subwoofers: 4, 2, or 1?" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundandvision.com/content/subwoofers-4-2-or-1-0 "Knowles Corporation Teams Up with JLab to Bring Premium Sound to the Epic Lab Edition True Wireless Earbuds": https://castercomm.com/press/knowles-corporation-teams-up-with-jlab-to-bring-premium-sound-to-the-epic-lab-edition-true-wireless-earbuds/ "Fresh From the Bench: Knowles KN2 True Wireless Reference Design and Franklin 2 Developer Kit" by Brent Butterworth: https://audioxpress.com/article/fresh-from-the-bench-knowles-kn2-true-wireless-reference-design-and-franklin-2-developer-kit "Do We Really Need All These Target Curves?" by Brent Butterworth: https://soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/354-do-we-really-need-all-these-target-curves

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:  "Apple Music's hi-res plumbing is still leaky" by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2023/10/apple-musics-hi-res-plumbing-still-leaks/ "HI-RES AUDIO & Apple Music done right (& WITHOUT an iPad)" by Darko Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxCt9cwmqXU&ab_channel=DarkoAudio "Shaken, Not Stirred—and Welcome Back, Martin Colloms" by Jim Austin: https://www.stereophile.com/content/shaken-not-stirred151and-welcome-back-martin-colloms "Working in the Front Line" by Martin Colloms: https://www.stereophile.com/asweseeit/190/index.html "Why Audiophiles Have Problems With Beats Headphones" by David Bixenspan: https://www.slashgear.com/1407524/are-beats-headphones-good-or-bad/ "After $32.5M Jury Win for Sonos, Judge Throws Out Jury Verdict and Finds for Google" by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/after-32-5m-jury-win-for-sonos-judge-throws-out-jury-verdict-and-finds-for-google/    

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:  “Obit: Gary Merson, Founder of HDGuru.com”: https://hdguru.com/obit-gary-merson-founder-of-hdguru-com/ "DON'T Unplug Your HiFi Audio System!" by Michael's Hi-Fi Audio Adventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBm_dpiCKC8 "LessLoss Firewall for Loudspeakers" by Dawid Grzyb: http://hifiknights.com/reviews/accessories/lessloss-firewall-for-loudspeakers/ "Firewall for Loudspeakers" by Srajan Ebaen: https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/lessloss12/ https://www.lessloss.com/firewall-module-p-216.html#a_55-655 "MC Audiotech's New TL-12 Loudspeaker" by Jason Victor Serinus: https://www.stereophile.com/content/mc-audiotechs-new-tl-12-loudspeaker  

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:  "Lenbrook Group Rescues MQA High-Resolution Audio Technology" by Mark Sparrow: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2023/09/19/lenbrook-group-rescues-mqa-high-resolution-audio-technology/?sh=bb4e60d5847f "On a Mythical Quest of Ascension, Lenbrook Acquires MQA" by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/on-a-mythical-quest-of-ascension-lenbrook-acquires-mqa/ "Will UWB change the world of headphones? Because Bluetooth can't" by Jez Ford: https://www.whathifi.com/features/is-uwb-the-new-bluetooth “Standards”: https://xkcd.com/927/ "Infigo Method-3 monoblock power amplifier Measurements": https://www.stereophile.com/content/infigo-method-3-monoblock-power-amplifier-measurements "New AI Listened To 20,000 Hours Of Music. What Did It Learn?" by Two Minute Papers: https://youtu.be/BRWquZdEigw?si=YfREtm77qRRcfLSz

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:  "Why I Don't Recommend the Triangle Borea BR03 Speakers" by Erin's Audio Corner: https://youtu.be/MNBWQGv2-SM?si=7wPMa9Se5SoZ95i7 "RP22 Immersive Audio Guidelines Set to Revolutionize Industry, Says CEDIA CEO" by Nick Boever: https://www.cepro.com/audio-video/media/rp22-immersive-audio-guidelines-set-to-revolutionize-industry-says-cedia-ceo/ A New Paradigm in Immersive Audio Design Excellence: https://cedia.net/advocacy/rp22

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:  “Blind Listening DISASTER! And what we learned from it…” by Passion for Sound: https://youtu.be/-ZYGDysTeSk?si=V9u6hQHXtKpmd49i "Lachlan from Passion for Sound does a blind test, finds 90% of people hear differences when nothing was changed": https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/15y804s/lachlan_from_passion_for_sound_does_a_blind_test/ "Eggleston Works, Really?" by GR-Research: https://youtu.be/XHq5BzQbDC4?si=cMYwmclJ6Myi89Uc Monolith by Monoprice Encore T5 Tower Speakers: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=43152 Kudos Titan 808: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kudos-titan-808.45178/ DAC blind test: NO audible difference whatsoever: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/dac-blind-test-no-audible-difference-whatsoever.314762/

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): Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains: https://amzn.to/3E47gEo 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:  “DTS Play-Fi Accelerates Expansion Into Smart TVs”: https://xperi.com/news/dts-play-fi-accelerates-expansion-into-smart-tvs/ “Devon Turnbull: HiFi Listening Room Dream No. 1 and other works”: https://www.lissongallery.com/exhibitions/devon-turnbull-ojas-hifi-listening-room-dream-no-1 OJAS Incense Burner £275 + VAT: https://www.lissongallery.com/shop/ojas-incense-burner The Pink Floyd Exhibition : Their Mortal Remains: https://pinkfloydexhibition.com/ Innovative Audio – Canada's Largest Vintage Audio Emporium: https://www.iavscanada.com/ "Warning: Humans cannot reliably detect speech deepfakes" by Kimberly T. Mai, Sergi Bray, Toby Davies, and Lewis D. Griffin: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285333 "Drake and The Weeknd AI song pulled from Spotify and Apple" by Nichola Rutherford: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65309313

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:  "SubZone Subwoofer Placement Optimizer App Now Available”: https://audioxpress.com/news/subzone-subwoofer-placement-optimizer-app-now-available SubZone download: https://bau.me/subzone/ “Oligarch Audio” by Steven Stone: https://audiophilereview.com/reference-speakers/oligarch-audio/ "On Value" by Jim Austin: https://www.stereophile.com/content/value "Is 'Trickle Up Tech the Future of Hi-Fi?" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1243-is-trickle-up-tech-the-future-of-hi-fi Audiophile B.S. on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1948235105492741/

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:  "Volumio AI Features Music Supersearch Discovery Powered by ChatGPT" by Ian White: https://www.ecoustics.com/news/volumio-ai-supersearch-chatgpt/ "Step Inside an Anechoic Chamber: Experience Silence Like Never Before!" by Audio University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI2l-ohdvVw "Reverberant vs. Anechoic chamber" by Juan Negreira: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7JD87vomgs "CD, REBOOTED: Schiit Introduces Urd CD Transport and Unison USB Hub": https://www.schiit.com/about/news/cd-rebooted "CD sales just rose for the first time in almost two decades": https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/14/22976557/cd-sales-increase-2021-recording-industry-association-of-america https://yourmorningcoffeepodcast.libsyn.com/

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): Loudspeaker Design Cookbook 8th Edition: Volume 1 by Vance Dickason: https://amzn.to/42pdwk0 A Course in Miracles Hardcover by Foundation for Inner Peace (link provided for entertainment purposes only): https://amzn.to/3PIRQwz Further Reading:  "Bing will now surface AI-generated buying guides" by Emma Roth: https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/29/23777557/bing-ai-generated-buying-guides-microsoft "The Pastry A.I. That Learned to Fight Cancer" by James Somers: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-pastry-ai-that-learned-to-fight-cancer "When AI flags the ruler, not the tumor — and other arguments for abolishing the black box" by VB Staff: https://venturebeat.com/business/when-ai-flags-the-ruler-not-the-tumor-and-other-arguments-for-abolishing-the-black-box-vb-live/ “The Problem with Rotten Tomatoes” by Dennis Burger: https://www.cineluxe.com/the-problem-with-rotten-tomatoes/ "432 Hz? You Miiiight Want To Check Your Sources'' by Benn Jordan: https://youtu.be/Q3LVijzZAe4 Schiit Previews "The Gadget": https://www.schiit.com/news/news/schiit-previews-the-gadget "432 EVO High End Reference Music Server" by Juan C. Ayllon: https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/432-evo-music-server/ "JVS's Best of PAF 2023: Dutch & Dutch 8c all-in-ones" by Jason Victor Serinus: https://www.stereophile.com/content/jvss-best-paf-2023-dutch-dutch-8c-all-ones "A Fantastic Gateway: A Q&A with Paradigm's Zoltan Balla and Blake Alty on the New Monitor SE 8000F Loudspeaker" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1186-a-fantastic-gateway-a-qa-with-paradigms-zoltan-balla-and-blake-alty-on-the-new-monitor-se-8000f-loudspeaker Erin's Audio Corner on Dutch & Dutch: https://youtu.be/nYK77lbgorw; https://youtu.be/wV0Df84DBLM; https://youtu.be/j38gkS-Q8f8