E.A.R.S – 10 Audio

“Air” Is Not Air

Air isn't some ephemeral thing that simply appears between your speakers. "Air" isn't air! That sense of openness and space is precisely the presence of harmonics from notes in the midrange and treble. Air is largely created from harmonics and

Save your hearing!

Sustained listening to sound pressure levels (SPLs) above 85 dB has been shown to cause permanent hearing loss. There is a great iOS app from Studio Six Digital called “Mobile Tools” that includes RTA, FFT, and SPL analyzers. And there

Turntable Isolation Test

Here is a quick and easy test to see how well a turntable and tonearm keep external vibrations from reaching the cartridge stylus and contaminating your music. For each step, listen for sound coming from your speakers. If you hear

The Live vs. Recorded Debate, Revisited

Live music is the best reference to judge how good an audio system really is. I like Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Doobie Brothers, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Joan Armatrading, Gloria Estefan, Steely Dan and others. I have heard all of

Sonic Rating Scale

This is the rating scale I use for the magnitude of sonic characteristics (thanks to Dr. C.Z. of Denver): “Small” – takes several hours or more to hear “Medium” – is not immediately noticed, but becomes apparent in short order,

How to Dial In a Subwoofer

Here is how I dial in a sub. I do this procedure fairly often and it works very well. You can dial in a pair of subs in less than 10 minutes. It helps to have another person making the

Component Reviews and You

Audio equipment reviews express an opinion. You may not agree. I suggest that the best possible reason that people dispute reviews and reviewers is that they have learned enough about what they like and don't like that THEY have an

Bargain Hunters

Everyone likes a bargain. I do, too. Whenever I hear a buyer of expensive toys, such as audio components, say that they have to get a bigger discount because they have a tight budget and can't afford a couple of

WOW. That sounds GOOD!

Sometimes I install a component and something in the sound immediately captures my attention and I say “wow” or “that’s great”. That, contrary to the observation, is a problem. Anything in the sound that sticks out and grabs your attention

A Simple Amplifier Distortion Test

I was testing an amp a few years ago to find out the clipping point. I used a test CD with sine waves and an o-scope connected across the speaker cables. I turned up the volume and watched for the

SRT: What Is Required For A Great Audio System

I can’t tell you what to buy. Even if I found the perfect component…well, what is “perfect”, anyway? Take an amplifier, for example. Let’s say that I thought that the Cary 300SEI amplifier was the absolute best amplifier on the planet. In

How To Level a Turntable

The quality of the level doesn't matter: almost every level has some error. I used to install medical research centrifuges that spin at 80,000 rpm*, and at those speeds, perfectly level is critical. Step 1. Place the level about halfway in

Standard Disclaimer for Audio Equipment Reviews

Please note the wherefores and whereases to put any opinion on these pages in context. To whit: Of the limited sample of (component type) I have tried in a limited sampling with limited or no controls, which may have included

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