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Steven Stone rounds up three ultra-budget audio components—the Fosi ZD3 DAC, iFi Zen Phono 3, and FX Audio R07Plus—that rival gear costing far more. After blind tests and strategic upgrades, Stone finds the ZD3 indistinguishable from elite DACs, the Zen Phono nearly noise-free, and the R07Plus a neutral powerhouse across headphones.
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Scientists at USC found that the brain “turns up the volume” in response to hearing loss, a mechanism that may explain tinnitus and sound sensitivity disorders—now, researchers are exploring treatments to dial down this overcompensation.
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A new study reveals that low-frequency sounds, notably 63 Hz bass, can cause widespread hearing loss. Bass waves forcefully penetrate the cochlea and bypass earplugs via bone conduction, severely undermining traditional hearing protection.
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Frank Doris offers tips on what to do and not do once you’ve made it to the big stage.
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From vet school to vinyl sanctum, one man’s obsession birthed Bliss Acoustics—Ottawa’s home-based haven where gear vanishes and music takes over.
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Frank Doris offers a soundcheck pro tip and talks about playing on a bigger stage, with the vagaries that come with it.
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From apologizing to loved ones neglected during DAC testing to listening to Dark Side of the Moon on a $20 speaker, this clever guide skewers obsessive habits with wit, reminding readers that “it’s the ear, not the gear.”
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Improving sound quality requires prioritizing fixes based on their impact—what Kevin Fielding dubs “sonic triage.” Speaker placement, time alignment, and managing reflections top the “emergency” list, while bass management and fine-tuning DSP take precedence later. Read on for the full breakdown.
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Signal loss impacts imaging, clarity, and bass—but it’s fixable. Discover 10 years’ worth of tips for unlocking your system’s potential.
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It’s that time of year again—the season of giving! In that spirit, I’ve put together a list of Holiday audio gift ideas that even Scrooge might approve of.
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Tom Gibbs didn’t just like the performance of the US$ 1000/pair XSA Labs Vanguard monitors—he was gobsmacked!
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Frank Doris continues to mine his experience accrued over 50 years of playing in bands, offering insight into brand identity, having a set list, and playing music you don’t like for the sake of entertaining the crowd!
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Paul Bowes shares his story of getting invited to the UK, Europe, and North America to perform space optimization in the listening rooms of complete strangers who later became friends.
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From Brooklyn watchmaker to audio legend, Joseph Grado transformed precision craftsmanship into the iconic “Grado sound” that audiophiles still obsess over today.
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“You’re in this apocalypse to live, not merely survive, and there’s no way you’re letting the undead—or even the complete and utter collapse of civilization—ruin your soundstage.”