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The ported, two-way, CA$ 6000/pair standmount Yamaha NS-800A oozes quality—it’s hefty, feels impeccably built, has a curvaceous body, and comes with big, robust binding posts that feel like iron door knockers between your fingers. It also comes in a beautiful black finish, said by Yamaha to be the same signature gloss finish used on the…
The Sinister Symphony of the Aztec Death Whistle In the pantheon of historical artifacts that both fascinate and frighten, few can match the eerie allure of the Aztec death whistle. Often misunderstood and underestimated, this small, skull-shaped instrument was a marvel of ancient sound engineering, capable of emitting a scream that could freeze the blood…
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, July 6, 1957, in the quaint setting of St. Peter’s Parish Church in Woolton, Liverpool, a musical phenomenon was about to be set in motion. John Lennon, a 16-year-old with a rebellious streak and a love for rock ‘n’ roll, was performing with his skiffle group, The Quarry Men, at…
Photos by Robert Schryer except where otherwise indicated. I’d never listened to the WATT/Puppy speaker before, but, of course, as an audiophile, I’d heard of it, although not in the last few years, the reason for which will be revealed in a moment. But I always wanted to hear it, so having been offered the…
June 10, 1972, was no ordinary day at Madison Square Garden. The hallowed halls, famous for hosting legendary sports battles and unforgettable music performances, were about to witness another momentous event. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, was back in New York City for the first time since the ’50s. This wasn’t just…
On June 5, 1956, Elvis Presley stepped onto the stage of The Milton Berle Show, ready to perform his latest single, “Hound Dog.” Little did anyone know, this performance would become one of the most talked-about moments in television history and a defining point in the evolution of rock and roll. Presley, already a rising…
Frank Doris interviews Nick Getz, son of sax legend Stan Getz, and Abey Fonn of Impex Records, about the new Getz/Gilberto LP reissue of the bossa nova classic.
On this day in history, the tapestry of modern music was forever altered by a seismic shift that sent ripples through the realm of pop culture and beyond. April 10, 1970, stands as a cornerstone moment, not just in rock ‘n’ roll lore but in the annals of artistic endeavors at large. It was on…
And what you can do about it.
On December 12, 1970, The Doors, fronted by the enigmatic Jim Morrison, took the stage for what would be Morrison’s final performance with the band. The event, held at A Warehouse at 1820 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, promised to be a memorable night under the promotion of Beaver Productions, featuring also the band Kansas. The…
Episode 86 In this episode, Darren and Duncan reflect on their experiences with friend and mentor Bascom King, whose recent passing has taken a great mind from the HiFi community. Bascom was an audiophile engineering legend and responsible for many incredible amplification designs over a long career. Hear about how he inspired so many, and…
Episode 71 After the usual intro segments, this is another hefty episode of listener questions. Topics covered include finding speakers that jibe with a hyperacusis condition, locally served music files versus streamed, updates on Darren’s server experience, and more. In the middle of the podcast somewhere, hosts Darren and Duncan point folks who want to…
Episode 66 It’s beginning to look a lot like winter (finally), the chestnuts- er, questions are piling up, and the guys thought it would be fun to try to answer them all. In this episode, questions about capacitor burn-in, DIY projects, tube noise, outriggers and more are answered, and the album of the week is…
Episode 06 If you’ve ever looked at a calculus equation as it relates to DIY audio and wondered just how the heck is that going to correlate with the sound signature you want to achieve, you’re not alone. Darren talks about his experiences going through school to get his Electrical Engineering degree (EE), in the…
Episode 01 Darren and Duncan break down their opinions on single ended triode amplifiers and their use with speakers with no crossover — single driver full range speakers. Duncan talks about his DIY corner horns and his latest amplifier purchase – a Decware Mini Torii SEP (pentode) 3.9 Watt tube amplifier and how good it…