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Mike Harkins
After earning a degree in electrical engineering, Mike Harkins worked for an aerospace company for five years before switching to manufacturing, engineering, and quality assurance in the automotive and tech industries. Mike retired from corporate work several years ago and has since devoted much of his time to reading, writing, and listening to audio. A lover of live music, especially classical, Mike is also a senior member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ). He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Theresa.
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Writer Mike Harkins searches for audio gems at the Lone Star Audio Fest 2025 and digs up a saddlebag full of them.
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In Part 2, writer Mike Harkins talks to audio manufacturers about DSP’s future, and boldly predicts it will revolutionize sound quality in ways we’ve never experienced before.
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Mike Harkins explores the rise of DSP in high-end audio, questioning its role in shaping the future as more audiophile brands adopt it to optimize room acoustics and enhance sound reproduction.
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Exploring the audible quirks of vinyl, Mike Harkins examines groove echo, background noise, and tracking artifacts—while emphasizing that even audiophile pressings aren’t immune to defects, surprises, or the charm of analog imperfection.
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Mike Harkins dives deep into the tactile and sonic quirks of vinyl playback, exposing factory flaws, groove grime, and pressing imperfections that plague even “audiophile” editions—yet still finds joy in the ritual and magic of spinning LPs.
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Roon-backed Dutch & Dutch wowed AXPONA 2023 with their $14,950 DSP-powered 8c speakers, while class-D amps from Amped America and live demos from Yamaha and GoldenEar showcased serious sonic chops.
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Back in full force, AXPONA 2023 saw 366 exhibitors take over 12 floors of Chicagoland’s Renaissance Hotel, with standout launches from Luxman, DALI, Innuos, and Cabasse—and plenty of eye-watering cable prices to match.
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From Acora’s granite giants to Endow’s space-age arrays, Mike Harkins captures the innovation and immersive sound at Florida Audio Expo 2023, where 77 exhibits showcased audio’s finest and boldest in Tampa’s warmth.
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To keep his system clean and cool, Mike Harkins tucked away his components in a closet—then turned to AC Infinity’s smart, silent fans to battle heat and boost reliability without sacrificing style or performance.
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Though now dominated by home automation, CEDIA 2023 still had sonic gems—Perlisten’s standout room, MBL’s immersive Radialstrahlers, and a thunderous B&O display hinted at high-end audio’s enduring presence amid the smart-home surge.
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Braving the brisk Montreal weather, Mike Harkins attends the 2022 Montréal Audiofest, where standout systems from Focal, Muraudio, PS Audio, and more share the spotlight with jazz sets, Dolby Atmos demos, and rooftop ducks.