Room acoustics


  • Golden Ears Anonymous: A 12-Step Program for Recovering Audiophiles

    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 “itโ€™s the ear, not the gear.”

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  • 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.

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  • Audio Space Optimizationโ€”an Adventure in DSP That Changed my Life

    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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  • Are We On the Cusp of a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) Audio Revolution? Part 1

    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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  • The ABCs of Audio: Exploring the Hi-Fi Lexicon

    Welcome to โ€œThe ABCs of Audio: Hi-Fi Lexicon,โ€ your ultimate guide to understanding the fundamental terms and concepts in high-fidelity audio. Whether youโ€™re a complete beginner or looking to expand your knowledge, this article breaks down complex audio jargon into simple explanations. We use two levels of simplicity: In the following sections, weโ€™ll cover essential…

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  • Analyzing a Stereoโ€™s Frequency Response and Decay Times

    Many of us use our listening rooms as a place to escape the world and its problems, so that we may decompress and recharge our batteries. One thing I, as an audiophile, discovered is that the better the sound quality in my room, the more Iโ€™ve been able to connect emotionally with my music. That…

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  • High Fidelity or High Fantasy? 6 of the Snakiest Oils in Audio

    The HiFi world is notorious as an industry rife with superstitions, outlandish claims, and broken promises. Itโ€™s a realm where the pursuit of pristine sound often collides with the allure of pseudoscience and the mystical. In this article, we dive into some of the most eyebrow-raising products on the marketโ€”from quantum stickers that claim to…

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  • Should You Get a Surround Sound System?

    “Thereโ€™s plenty of quality content available in surround sound for music and movies. Why not take advantage of it?”

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  • MAF 2024: Innuos, Asona Ltd / Apertura, Pathos Acoustics, Audio Analogue, Analysis Plus

    Prices listed in CA$. Gorgeous finish! Thatโ€™s what I screamed inside my head when I first saw the standmount Apertura Fortรฉ speakers ($9999/pr) in the Innuos / Asona Ltd room. The Fortรฉโ€™s have a high 93db sensitivity thanks in part to the neodymium magnet circuit used in its two 18 cm mid/woofer drivers. Atypically, both…

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  • MAF 2024: Studio Economik / Kii, Wattson Audio

    Prices listed in CA$. This was probably the most different room from the others of the entire show. There was no stack of electronics in sight, just a small Wattson Audio Emerson Digital network streamer ($2095) connected to all-in-one speakers outfitted with every signal input you can imagine. One component made up 90% of the…

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  • The Room Acoustics Series: Reflecting on Sidewall First Reflections

    A room acoustics expert tells us all we need to know about the subject, starting with this first installment in the Room Acoustics Series.

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  • Comedy of Errors

    “In some ways, audio is a microcosm of life. Before you get it right, youโ€™re going to make lots of mistakes.”

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  • Katana & Keynotes: A Samurai’s Discourse on Sound

    Nestled amidst a lush garden, the distant chirping of cicadas providing a serene backdrop, Master Tekashi and young Daichi sit opposite each other on tatami mats, a steaming pot of tea between them. The fragrant aroma of the brew serves as a prelude to their conversation, bridging the worlds of sound and samurai. Daichi: Master,…

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  • Simple Acoustics, Complicated Spouses

    This article first appeared inย PS Audioโ€™sย Copper Magazine. When I was a teenager, I told my girlfriend that I loved her so much that I would die for her. She replied that if I died, her life would no longer be worth living. So if I lost my life pushing her out of the way of…

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  • Where did my music go? Signal loss, Pt 1

    Signal loss is causing your system to sound 30-40% less good than it could. Thatโ€™s my estimate, and I think itโ€™s conservative. The loss begins at the source and continues through a bog of electronic parts, EMI, connectors, and cables, a long process of loss that doesnโ€™t end with your speakers, but your room. Everything…

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