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Episodes
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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/
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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/
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBuy-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/
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedMake 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/
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
We’re on Patreon now! Find us at www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedCan 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