Reflection


  • Is Your Sound System Sick? Make It Better With โ€œSonic Triageโ€

    Improving sound quality requires prioritizing fixes based on their impactโ€”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.

    Read More


  • Lost in Transmission: How Signal Loss Robs Your System of Great Sound

    Signal loss impacts imaging, clarity, and bassโ€”but itโ€™s fixable. Discover 10 yearsโ€™ worth of tips for unlocking your systemโ€™s potential.

    Read More


  • A Hometown Goodbye: The Beatlesโ€™ Historic Final Show in Liverpool

    Thereโ€™s a peculiar weight to history when it happens in real-time. December 5, 1965, at the Liverpool Empire Theatre wasnโ€™t just another stop on The Beatlesโ€™ UK tourโ€”it was a homecoming charged with energy, nostalgia, and, unbeknownst to most, a bittersweet farewell. For the 2,550 fans lucky enough to score tickets from a pool of…

    Read More


  • The Shakuhachi: How a Zen Bamboo Flute Shaped Japanese Culture

    From courtly halls to Zen temples, the shakuhachi evolved from a Tang Dynasty import into a meditative tool and global musical icon, resonating with timeless beauty.

    Read More


  • Girl, You Know It’s False: The Milli Vanilli Lip-Sync Scandal

    In the glittering circus of pop music, where smoke, mirrors, and synthesized beats reign supreme, few scandals hit harderโ€”or landed messierโ€”than the Milli Vanilli debacle of 1990. This wasnโ€™t just a little hiccup in the pop machine. This was a full-on implosion, a moment when the flashy veneer of the music industry was peeled back,…

    Read More


  • Gradology 101: The Life of Joseph Grado

    From Brooklyn watchmaker to audio legend, Joseph Grado transformed precision craftsmanship into the iconic โ€œGrado soundโ€ that audiophiles still obsess over today.

    Read More


  • Titanicโ€™s Musicians Knew

    Writer B. Jan Montanaโ€™s childhood awe of the Titanicโ€™s selfless musicians sparks lifelong reflections on life, mortality, and religion, ultimately embracing joy over rigid dogma.

    Read More


  • Bob Marleyโ€™s Final Bow: The Last Concert at Pittsburghโ€™s Stanley Theatre

    All photos by David Meerman Scott On September 23, 1980, Bob Marley, already a global icon and a beacon for reggae music, took the stage at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh for what would be his last live performance. The air was thick with anticipation as 3,500 fans packed the sold-out venue, but few knew…

    Read More


  • Compton’s Finest: N.W.A.’s Explosive Debut and Its Impact on Music and Society

    When N.W.A. released Straight Outta Compton on August 8, 1988, it marked a seismic shift in music, culture, and the way America viewed hip-hop. The album was a raw and unfiltered portrayal of life in the streets of South Central Los Angeles, delivered with an urgency and authenticity that had never been heard before. Not…

    Read More


  • Review: Pylon Audio Diamond Monitor 18 mKII

    “Manufacturers of hi-fi equipment like to brag about their flagship products, but in any company’s product lineup, the key role is played by the models that simply sell best.”

    Read More


  • Deciphering a Stereoโ€™s Acoustical Measurements and Taking Corrective Actions

    In my previous article, entitled โ€œAnalyzing a Stereoโ€™s Frequency Response and Decay Timesโ€, I suggested measurement tips and the use of important variables to do with frequency response and decay times.ย This article begins with a measurement baseline of a 2-channel stereo with two subwoofers within a typical domestic living room (25โ€™ x 11.25โ€™ x 8โ€™)…

    Read More


  • Disco Demolition Night: The Day the Disco Ball Dropped

    July 12, 1979, started like any other summer evening at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The White Sox were set for a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers. But as night fell, baseball fans, rock aficionados, and disco haters converged in what would become one of the most infamous promotions in sports historyโ€”Disco Demolition Night. Orchestrated by…

    Read More


  • David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’: A Cosmic Journey Through Sound

    On July 11, 1969, as the world braced for the monumental Apollo 11 moon landing, an emerging David Bowie released โ€œSpace Oddity,โ€ a song that would soon become a defining anthem of the space age. Just days before humans first set foot on the moon, Bowieโ€™s cosmic tale of Major Tom captured the imagination of…

    Read More


  • June 25: 25 Years Apart – The Legacies of Prince and Michael Jackson

    June 25 holds a special place in music history, marking both the release of an iconic album and the passing of a legendary artist. On this date in 1984, Prince released his groundbreaking album โ€œPurple Rain,โ€ a record that would redefine his career and solidify his place in the pantheon of music greats. Little did…

    Read More


  • 5 Hi-Fi Hangouts for the Golden-Eared Montrealer

    Exploring Montrealโ€™s Premier Sound Havens For audiophiles seeking the ultimate auditory experience, Montreal offers a rich tapestry of venues that cater to the golden-eared. From cozy bistros blending gourmet cuisine with vinyl records to vibrant bars with custom sound systems, the cityโ€™s sound havens promise a unique and immersive listening experience. Join us as we…

    Read More