Audio Unleashed

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:  “Is Class-D Amplification Now Better than Class-A/B and Class-A?” by Robert Schryer: https://pmamagazine.org/is-class-d-amplification-now-better-than-class-a-b-and-class-a/ Lachlan does another blind test of USB cables, nobody can tell the difference, chooses to discount the results and prefer his magic USB cables” by u/blorg: reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1crkiz3/lachlan_does_another_blind_test_of_usb_cables/?share_id=iyNIc119UUqLVBbEe5qIB “The Music-First Audiophile Manifesto” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2024/05/the-music-first-audiophile-manifesto/ PDF grab of Darko homepage, May 13, 2024: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jIrdTzbJbKgKaVtjq7MsPfuYpGH5j0woY4ZF53Gj2Wg/edit?usp=sharing

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:  “Audiophile Snake Oil” by John Siau: https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audiophile-snake-oil “Sadurni Acoustics with Wolf Systems and House of Stereo” by Jason Victor Serinus: https://www.stereophile.com/content/sadurni-acoustics-wolf-systems-and-house-stereo “The Magico M9 & The Myth of the Law of Diminishing Returns” by The Absolute Sound: https://youtu.be/uqm9P8HSq08?si=v-n_Ryq3P1nvFmsg “If DAC Chips Perform Perfectly Then Why Don’t All DACs Sound the Same?” by Jerry Del Colliano: https://futureaudiophile.com/if-dac-chips-perform-perfectly-then-why-dont-all-dacs-sound-the-same/

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:  “Tekton Troubadour Review: Take 2” by Erin’s Audio Corner: https://youtu.be/ItAwcW-3Kv4?si=TQpkTjBegdT3nds- “The Legal Risks of Being an Audio Reviewer” by Audioholics: https://youtu.be/V-1A68sdGMQ?si=aE2IVYtJdY9J_hyH “Tekton Design Impact Monitor loudspeaker” by Herb Reichert: https://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-design-impact-monitor-loudspeaker “The History of Tekton Design's Patented Tweeter Array” by Tekton Design: https://youtu.be/8GFnarjmG1c?si=SINzoSm49gheX70f Patent US9247339B2: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9247339B2/en “The Rise of the Anonymous Music Star” by Ted Gioia: https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-rise-of-the-anonymous-music-star “PowerZone by GRYPHON DEBUTS AT AXPONA” by TAS Staff: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/powerzone-by-gryphon-debuts-at-axpona/ Quantum Acoustics: https://www.quantumacoustics.net/theory

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:  “SHOCKING! Tellurium Q Black II power cable review” by Passion for Sound: https://youtu.be/ztLQxC_hIjE?si=Q1wuSCyUwZcIZWRA “Russ Andrews BMU 3000 Mk II Review” by Andrew 'Harry' Harrison: https://hifiplus.com/articles/russ-andrews-bmu-3000-mk-ii-balanced-mains-transformer/ “Do Power Cables Make a Difference? The Results Surprised Me - Blind Testing the Audioquest NRG-Z3” by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/im1aKrc3A6E?si=haqjAkYadn3ycI_2 “Furman Elite-15 DMi and Elite-20 PFi Power Conditioners Review” by Steve Munz: https://www.audioholics.com/power-conditioner-reviews/furman-elite-15-dmi-and-elite-20-pfi-power-conditioners “John DeVore Of DeVORE FIDELITY Returns!” by The Occasional Podcast: https://theoccasionalpodcast.libsyn.com/john-devore-of-devore-fidelity-returns Your Morning Coffee Episode 190: https://yourmorningcoffeepodcast.libsyn.com/episode-190

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:  “Sphere of influence: How Harman and Dr. Sean Olive are reshaping headphone sound” by Jeff Miller: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-plZWX4lqXWa/learn/crutchfield-visits-harman.html “Let 1,000 Frequency Responses Bloom” by Josh Mound: https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/let-1000-frequency-responses-bloom-r1260/ “Podcast #52 – %THD: why is it MISLEADING?” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2024/03/podcast-52-thd-why-is-it-misleading/ “The Correlation between Distortion Audibility and Listener Preference in Headphones” by Temme, Steve; Olive, Sean; Tatarunis, Steve; Welti, Todd; McMullin, Elisabeth: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=17441

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:  “Synergistic Master and Purple fuse listening tests” by Richard Drutman, The Absolute Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ5rvipm9YM “Spin Doctor #10: Tone controls, vinyl EQ curves and the Mola Mola Lupe” by Michael Trei, Stereophile: https://www.stereophile.com/content/spin-doctor-10-tone-controls-vinyl-eq-curves-and-mola-mola-lupe “250,000 Audiophiliac subscribers can’t be wrong!” by Steve Guttenberg, the Audiophilac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4o9DxrST0s “Lynn Seaton and Christian McBride”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO15LLshzP0

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:  “Key Production Group Reveals its Predictions for Vinyl and Physical Music Releases in 2024” by Platform & Stream: https://medium.com/platform-stream/key-production-group-reveals-its-predictions-for-vinyl-and-physical-music-releases-in-2024-b008067574a1 The 3rd Mini Album - MY WORLD (SMini Ver.) (SMART Album): https://smglobalshop.com/products/pre-order-the-3rd-mini-album-my-world-smini-ver-smart-album “Red Velvet Birthday SMini album | Unboxing + How to use Smart Music Card” by NOLZA Unboxing: https://youtu.be/PSmRndq3IEA?si=iQusQg8bDSf5J0Lq “Analog Cassette Tape is Mounting a Comeback” by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/analog-cassette-tape-is-mounting-a-comeback/ “A portable cassette player in 2024?” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2024/02/a-portable-cassette-player-in-2024/ “Best Audio Products on Temu?” by Audio Unleashed: https://audiounleashed.podbean.com/e/best-audio-products-on-temu/ “Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature loudspeaker” review by Tom Fine: https://www.stereophile.com/content/bowers-wilkins-801-d4-signature-loudspeaker “Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 Loudspeaker” review by Dennis Burger: https://soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1274-bowers-wilkins-603-s3-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): 📚 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:  “Jitter is RUINING your audio? The TRUTH about jitter!” by Julian Krause: https://youtu.be/f_r33B4jptA?si=6FHdj3Y-GHd-doTI “Audio Electronics: Is Digital Jitter Really a Problem?” by Ethan Winer: https://audioxpress.com/article/audio-electronics-is-digital-jitter-really-a-problem “We’ve got a Dolby Atmos issue, and it’s not going away" by Kob Monney: https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/sound-and-vision-weve-got-a-dolby-atmos-issue-and-its-not-going-away-4413957 “Determining Room Acoustics is a Six-step Process" by Norman Varney: https://hometheaterhifi-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/hometheaterhifi.com/technical/technical-reviews/determining-room-acoustics-is-a-six-step-process/amp/ “The enemy of great hi-fi sound lives in plain sight” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2024/01/the-enemy-of-great-hi-fi-sound-lives-in-plain-sight/ “How to Make Your Own Audio Diffusers” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.lifewire.com/make-your-own-audio-diffuser-3134903 (NOTE: This is the article Brent referenced when talking about Floyd Toole's recommendations for listening room acoustics. Unfortunately, Lifewire has violated journalistic standards and basic human decency by substantially reworking this article (and many others) without Brent's permission, and most of the discussion about Toole's recommendations has been removed. However, it still includes useful tips for DIY acoustical treatment, so we're posting the link here, but please don't click on any ads or do anything to support this website.)

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:  “Why do so many neutral headphones have a big drop in their frequency curve between 9k and 10k hz?" by u/Jirb30: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/19d6tfv/why_do_so_many_neutral_headphones_have_a_big_drop/?share_id=iWE7oKjr0pL4tsxKQqJTb “Many headphones have this dip around 9 kHz in frequency response graph. Can you help me understand what causes this dip and what the impact it has on sound quality?" by u/GreenNerve: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/xq0te9/many_headphones_have_this_dip_around_9_khz_in/ “Our Passive Soundstage Score And Tests” by Sam Vafaei and Marc Henney: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/sound-quality/passive-soundstage#test_2184 “Dolby Atmos: a Bleak Shadow?” by Jim Austin: https://www.stereophile.com/content/dolby-atmos-bleak-shadow “Why Is Music Journalism Collapsing?" by Ted Gioia: https://www.honest-broker.com/p/why-is-music-journalism-collapsing

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:  “New dispensary and music lounge opens in Uptown Minneapolis” by Tommy Wiita: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/new-dispensary-and-music-lounge-opens-in-uptown-minneapolis Sonus Faber Suprema: https://www.sonusfaber.com/en/products/suprema “Victrola unveils a turntable with 'repeat function' plus a slew of hot decks” by Becky Scarrott: https://www.techradar.com/audio/turntables/ces-2024-victrola-unveils-a-turntable-with-repeat-function-plus-a-slew-of-hot-decks “Will the Music Frame herald Samsung’s return to multi-room audio?” by John Davidson: https://www.afr.com/technology/will-the-music-frame-herald-samsung-s-return-to-multi-room-audio-20240114-p5ex51 “The best audio products of CES 2024” by Chase Bernath: https://www.soundguys.com/best-audio-ces-2024-107864/ “The best audio gear of CES 2024” by Jada Jones: https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/the-best-audio-gear-of-ces-2024/ “Klipsch and Onkyo joined forces for a soundbar — and it sounds awesome" by Nick Pino: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/klipsch-and-onkyo-joined-forces-for-a-soundbar-and-it-sounds-awesome “I tried Bluetooth Auracast, and it'll change our relationship with headphones” by Matt Bolton: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-headphones/i-tried-bluetooth-auracast-and-itll-change-our-relationship-with-headphones

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:  “Neurable Partners with Master & Dynamic to Launch Brain-Computer Interface Enabled Headphones” by Joao Martins: https://audioxpress.com/news/neurable-partners-with-master-dynamic-to-launch-brain-computer-interface-enabled-headphones How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did by Kashmir Hill: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/?sh=7ea1fda46668 “Now These... Are LEGIT! Checking Out The Polk LSiM703!” by GR-Research: https://youtu.be/dPzupmAfSpg?si=BrouVPM1HBg8XP9X “PSI Audio AVAA C214 Active Bass Traps Review” by The Absolute Sound: https://youtu.be/POq4sj3GTac?si=DMXDoP5Sjxgp8H6H “How To Use Compression on Your Mix” by Rick Beato 2: https://youtu.be/fibaVrlAfnY?si=oXkv1DXaEtKkv-iz

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:  “The CD changer is back – and Yamaha’s new CD-C603 has something I wish mine had in 2005” by Beck Roberts: https://www.whathifi.com/news/the-cd-changer-is-back-and-yamahas-new-cd-c603-has-something-i-wish-mine-had-in-2005 “2023's BEST VALUE CD 'player' does SO MUCH MORE (and for less)” by Darko Audio: https://youtu.be/96JFEBc0xjY?si=RIEJxvgb2T_qbOXh “Check Out this CRAZY little CD Player! Is the SMSL PL200 Awesome or Awful?” by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/DVZ8bH3qYGk?si=7xMe7HRogGI_YzQl “PlayStation is erasing 1,318 seasons of Discovery shows from customer libraries” by Scharon Harding: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/12/playstation-is-erasing-1318-seasons-of-discovery-shows-from-customer-libraries/ “SoundGuys headphone preference curve validated in AES paper” by AJ Wykes: https://www.soundguys.com/soundguys-headphone-preference-curve-validated-in-aes-paper-102536/ “Do We Really Need All These Target Curves?” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/354-do-we-really-need-all-these-target-curves “Evaluating the Knowles Preferred Response Curve” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/359-evaluating-the-knowles-preferred-response-curve “2023 SoundStage! Awards—Best Hi-Fi Products and Outstanding Achievements with Dominique Fils-Aimé”: https://youtu.be/pQf2W60g5T0?si=2136X-GgiOSpz7J2 Darko's 'Best of 2023': https://youtu.be/_JfmG62rfJ4?si=vJThyU_BlotE4l0W

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/