Episode 61

This week, a listener question once again prompts the podcast topic, and while the guys don’t exactly agree with the premise, its a great excuse to talk about the subject matter: How to optimize and get the best from a low-cost audio system. Questions about intermodulation and power round out the early segment, and this week’s album pick features one of the best instrumental recordings the guys have heard in a long time.

Episode 62

In this episode of The Hifi Podcast, the guys deliver a more focused and nuanced set of guidelines for evaluating gear, whether it be components, speakers or cables. The topic comes up on the podcast again and again, because it’s the literal backbone of the audiophile hobby. The ability to listen and perceive subtle differences is so important, and it becomes easier over time, after lots of exposure. Following these rules will ensure the listener maximizes the evaluation process, truly getting to “know” a piece of equipment through and through.

Episode 63

We all started somewhere with this hobby, and we were all beginners at one point. But compare being a beginner now, after decades of the growth of the internet, to learning about the audiophile hobby in the 70s, 80s or 90s. There is almost too much information available now, and too many choices and paths to take. It’s no wonder that some beginner audiophiles struggle to figure out where to start. In this podcast episode, the hosts go through their steps for the beginner and highlight where he or she might begin their personal audio hobby.

Episode 64

The HiFi podcast audience is in for a treat this week, as the guys sit down with their friend and mentor, Paul McGowan, for a wide-ranging discussion about HiFi audio and other things. Paul shares what’s going on lately with his recording project, jumps in with the guys to answer a listener question about black backgrounds, and offers a look back at some periods of time in audio’s recent past when things were really happening. The album of the week is the second one we’ve picked from famed drummer and composer Tony Allen, and everyone is going to have to be OK with that because this album is unbelievably lights out good.

Episode 65

In this episode, hosts Darren and Duncan discuss preamplifiers, starting with the “why” and continuing through the “what” and “how”. Some preamplifier makers out there are aiming for a neutral sound… but is that really what we want in a preamplifier? Darren’s opinion on this as one of the possible roles of the box in the middle of a system chain might surprise some. This week’s album recommendation features an amazingly out-of-the-box young cello player and his debut album from a few years back. As always, several listener questions are answered, including an interesting excoriation for a curious misstep in last week’s episode.