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We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Brent and Dennis kick things off by using their unmatched business acumen to analyze what the new Sony/TCL deal means for the audio industry—and pine for the days when audio products were mostly expensive and mostly not good. Then they bring on Danny Kaey of the Hi-Fi Five to discuss a recent Headphone Sty post about how Audio Science Review and Erin’s Audio Corner are sending speaker and amp makers to the bread line. Then they ponder the significance of Marshall’s dinky new streaming box, which promises to Make Auracast Great for the First Time. 📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930 Dennis’ relaunched YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureswithCPAP Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics   Further Reading:  Sony to spin off TV and home audio division to TCL by Rasmus Larsen: https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1768912998 Industry is Abuzz – What’s Happening With Sony TVs & Audio? What is China’s TCL’s Involvement? by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/industry-is-abuzz-whats-happening-with-sony-tvs-audio-what-is-chinas-tcls-involvement/ Independent Measurements Are Triggering Shutdowns and Sales Losses Across Legacy Audio Brands by Alexandra Plesa: https://www.headphonesty.com/2026/01/measurements-triggering-shutdowns-losses-audio-brands/ Marshall's dinky streaming hub brings wireless multi-room and vinyl support to its rock'n'roll Bluetooth speakers by Kashfia Kabir: https://www.whathifi.com/streaming-entertainment/music-streaming/marshalls-dinky-streaming-hub-brings-wireless-multi-room-and-vinyl-support-to-its-rocknroll-bluetooth-speakers

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed Although Brent and Dennis will probably never again work up the gumption to attend CES, they can muster the courage to read through others’ CES reports and weigh in with their own opinions. That’s this week’s first segment. Then they check out an article from Darko about age-related hearing loss and its relationship with audio copium, and think real hard about whether buying a $10,000 DAC is worth it if you can’t hear above 12 kHz. They then take a TAS hostage video hostage and use it as a jumping-off point for a deep dive into Class G and H amp topologies.    And for Patrons: What the heck is Snyderman’s Maxim? And would you want a million-dollar audio system if you could only use it to listen to “Hotel California”?   📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930   Dennis’ relaunched YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureswithCPAP   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  Can You Identify Famous Guitarists From A Single Note? by Rick Beato: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gESY87hn7_Q CES 2026: With Onkyo, Premium Audio Co Proves It Can Walk & Chew Gum at the Same Time by Ted Gree: https://www.strata-gee.com/ces-2026-with-onkyo-premium-audio-co-proves-it-can-walk-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/ Best of CES 2025: The Audio Gear That Matters by Adam Birney: https://www.soundguys.com/best-of-ces-2025-the-audio-gear-that-matters-130847/ Eclipsa Audio on GitHub: https://github.com/google/eclipsa-audio-plugin Klipsch Demos New Powered Speakers, Shows Off High-End Concepts at CES 2026 by Jacob Green: https://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/klipsch-80th-ces The Best of CES 2026: The Products We Want to Get Our Hands On Most by Wirecutter Staff: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-ces-2026-products/ The LG Sound Suite Soundbar changed the way I think about surround sound by Nick Pino: https://www.tomsguide.com/audio/speakers/the-lg-sound-suite-soundbar-changed-the-way-i-think-about-surround-sound How age-related hearing loss emboldens hi-fi cope by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2025/12/how-age-related-hearing-loss-emboldens-hi-fi-cope/  

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed Brent and Dennis ring in the new year by finding the very fine line between clever and stupid when it comes to A/B tests on YouTube, courtesy of AP Mastering. Next up: John Darko says lazy phrases are the norm in audio coverage but don’t mean anything. Is Darko punching above his weight class without breaking a sweat? And lastly for most listeners, we wonder if the rumors of the audio hobby’s death have been greatly exaggerated, and pine for the days when all audiophiles wore bowler hats.   And for Patrons: When Stereophile does blind testing, Brent and Dennis sit up and take notice… a full 37 years late.   📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930   Dennis’ relaunched YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureswithCPAP   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  Audiophiles are wrong about YouTube's audio quality by AP Mastering: https://youtu.be/Xq1n9oYKiZU?si=2L6KhfoMimpLf12z Ready-made phrases: how hi-fi reviews dress up laziness as expertise by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2025/12/ready-made-phrases-how-hi-fi-reviews-can-dress-up-laziness-as-expertise/ YouTube Indicates What the Future is For Audiophiles - Interesting Demographics: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/youtube-indicates-what-the-future-is-for-audiophiles-interesting-demo/post?postid=2725195 40% of Audiophiles May Be Gone Soon, and No One Is Replacing Them by Alexandra Plesa: https://www.headphonesty.com/2024/09/audiophiles-gone-soon/ Lumines: Arise: https://lumines.game/  

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Brent and Dennis begin with a discussion about the design and manufacture of high-end audio cables courtesy of Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity. How much art is there to appreciate? How much science is there to check? And most importantly, which aspects of the article pissed off our curmudgeonly duo the most?  Speaking of being pissed off, Brent has a bone to pick with Erin Hardison over his most recent video about flat frequency response. You don’t want to miss that. And finally for most listeners this week, Dennis finally gets to do an entire segment about King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, thanks to an AI clone of the band that popped up on streaming services. Did this whole story somehow prove that Google is more evil than Spotify? Perhaps!  📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930 Dennis’ relaunched YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureswithCPAP Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  The Art and Science of Designing High-End Audio Cables by John E. Johnson, Jr.: https://hometheaterhifi.com/technical/technical-reviews/the-art-and-science-of-designing-high-end-audio-cables/ Why "Flat" Response Sounds TERRIBLE! by Erin's Audio Corner: https://youtu.be/LXX6zzA2AY0?si=WgArCIF_uu9TX6Kc Børresen X3 Floorstanding Speaker Review by Erin’s Audio Corner: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/b%C3%B8rresen_x3/ 5,000 Podcasts. 3,000 Episodes a Week. $1 Cost Per Episode — Behind an AI Start Up’s Plan by Caitlin Huston: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/ai-podcast-start-up-plan-shows-1236361367/ ‘We are truly doomed’: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard despair at AI clone appearing on Spotify: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/dec/10/king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-despair-at-ai-clone-appearing-on-spotify “Rattlesnake” by the fake AI band King Lizard Wizard: https://youtu.be/9MKm5HMth5A?si=rb7FuqHo4EnJeEOC “Rattlesnake” by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: https://youtu.be/Q-i1XZc8ZwA?si=OAdN3LLq90DpcM7s I've Lost 180 lbs. (82kg) on CPAP. Now What?! by Adventures with CPAP: https://youtu.be/uDD7Ft2jx4w?si=Ge7_bqFyTGeY3zKd

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Brent and Dennis kick things off by investigating whether translating the words of non-English speakers in a way that suits your agenda might be a promising new business model for bad audio websites. Then they’re joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider for a post-mortem on Dennis’ historic and fateful appearance on The HiFi Five. Wrapping things up for normies, they respond to a request from numerous Patrons to look into New Record Day’s power cable conversion testimony to answer the question: Is it worthwhile to do a deep dive into the testing procedures of people who haven’t themselves done a deep dive into the subject of testing procedures? 📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930 Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  Veteran Speaker Designer Reveals the Top 3 Reasons Why Designers Can’t Build Great Speakers Anymore: https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/11/veteran-designer-explains-why-speakers-declined/ GPM Monitor One: il bookshelf di riferimento by G.P. Matarazzo: https://www.avmagazine.it/articoli/diffusori/2077/gpm-monitor-one-il-bookshelf-di-riferimento_index.html Test: Sonus Faber Lumina II by G.P. Matarazzo: https://www.avmagazine.it/articoli/diffusori/2051/test-sonus-faber-lumina-ii_index.html The HiFi Five Episode 6: Guest Dennis Burger of SoundStage! by The HiFi Five: https://www.youtube.com/live/OORvfQh_zjo The Most Pathetic Excuse in High-End Audio (Ep:94) by SoundStage! Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3e7dD-Yij0 I Tried to Debunk Power Cords & Conditioners… and Failed Spectacularly by New Record Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIWVDNiRCiM

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Brent and Dennis once again stare the impending A.I. apocalypse in the face and ponder about what it all means, especially for audiophiles. As a palate cleanser, they then bring in their buddy Geoffrey Morrison of SoundStage! Solo to discuss some fancy new replacement ear tips and how they may affect the sound of your earphones. Then they ask why audio journalists don’t have methodological standards that measure up to a bass-playing comedian on the internet. 📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  50,000 AI tracks flood Deezer daily – as study shows 97% of listeners can’t tell the difference between human-made vs. fully AI-generated music: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/50000-ai-tracks-flood-deezer-daily-as-study-shows-97-of-listeners-cant-tell-the-difference-between-human-made-vs-fully-ai-generated-music/ Azla SednaEarfit Mithryl and Flare Magic Tips Aftermarket Eartips by Geoffrey Morrison: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/accessories/473-azla-sednaearfit-mithryl-and-flare-magic-tips-aftermarket-eartips I bought the most EXPENSIVE Guitar Picks on the internet by Davie504: https://youtu.be/0JaOCZhjpaQ?si=5F-B3BgGktUWxIF3

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Brent and Dennis weigh in on whether or not cheapaudioman is really telling the truth about tubes that nobody else is talking about, and answer the literally burning question: Is buying a McIntosh 275 really a death sentence for your chihuahua? Then they dive deep into the philosophy of intention-driven audio, whatever the heck that is, and ponder whether a monastery is really the best place to learn how to calculate standing-wave frequencies. Next, they engage with a LinkedIn post from Steve Temme of Listen, Inc., mostly as a backdoor excuse to talk about THD (total harmonic distortion) and how much it matters, or doesn’t. 📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics   Further Reading:  The Truth About Tube Amps Nobody Is Talking About by cheapaudioman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIGVeHUPg0g Synergistic Research: Cables, Power, and the Philosophy of Intention-Driven Audio by Michael Horne: https://tmraudio.com/blog/synergistic-research-cables-power-and-the-philosophy-of-intentiondriven-audio/ Why Headphone Target Curves and THD Don’t Tell the Whole Story by Steve Temme: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-headphone-target-curves-thd-dont-tell-whole-story-steve-temme-strme/

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed Tony Stark once famously said, “We have a Hulk.” Brent and Dennis have a secret weapon much more powerful than that. We have a Floyd Toole! And this week, we sit in conversation with him about the release of the fourth edition of his legendary book, Sound Reproduction, and why it has a different subtitle this time: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones. 📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930 Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent: https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  Dr. Floyd Toole: An Oral History 1 on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/dr-floyd-toole-an-oral-history-1-two-ears-and-a-brain-transistors-rules-and-data/ Dr. Floyd Toole: An Oral History 2 on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/dr-floyd-toole-an-oral-history-2-ab-tests-bass-athena-brains-rooms-hearing-listening/ Read These 2 Books to Know More about Speakers than Most Hi-Fi Reviewers Do by the SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/YfIde7VTA7g?si=XjxdvEhY52wdzDvi The Biggest Lie in Audio by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/246-the-biggest-lie-in-audio

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed First things first this week, Brent and Dennis wonder why Wired is doing pretty good blind panel testing when actual audio publications almost never dare, or bother. Then they have a conversation with their buddy Joe Mariano, aka Joe N Tell, about his new speaker measurement and target-curve-calculating app Magic Beans. How does it fare against Brent’s bazillion years of measurement experience and Dennis’s kazillion years of calibrating audio systems? Finally, Dennis asks Brent WTF a “notoriously musical” CD drive even is.    And for Patrons: Can Bowers & Wilkins and other former Sound United brands maintain their identity under their new Samsung/Harman umbrella? And should they?   💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  We Asked Audio Pros to Blind Test Headphones. The Results Were Surprising by Chris Haslam: https://www.wired.com/story/we-asked-audio-pros-to-blind-test-headphones-the-results-were-surprising/ Joe N Tell: https://joentell.com/ Magic Beans: https://magicbeansaudio.com/ Gramophone Dreams #101: The Shanling ET3 CD transport by Herb Reichert: https://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-101-shanling-et3-cd-transport  

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed First, Dennis and Brent take a minute to praise a Stereophile article that harkens back to the good ol’ days of audio journalism. Before the dark times. Before … well, all sorts of unsavory developments in the publishing biz. Then they peruse a number of new articles about the state of Spotify, as well as one potential new alternative that’s pretty much just Bandcamp in a trenchcoat. Next, they run a serious risk of being tagged as “garbage” on YouTube by examining the claims of a young audio pundit who’s convinced he’s smarter than everybody else in the headphone industry. Finally, they rant against a Headphonesty scare piece about audio networking until they realize that Headphonesty completely misrepresented the views of the network engineer quoted therein. 💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  A Poor Man's Audio Show Review by Roy Midyett: https://stereophile.com/content/poor-mans-audio-show-review A random 1993 Corey Greenberg article: https://www.stereophile.com/content/sumiko-blue-point-blue-point-special-phono-cartridges Spotify Terms of Use: https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/end-user-agreement/ Lossless audio finally comes to Spotify - here's how to enable it by Craig Donaldson: https://www.pocket-lint.com/spotify-lossless-audio-launch/ AI-generated music is here to stay. Will streaming services like Spotify label it? by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/08/nx-s1-5492314/ai-music-streaming-services-spotify The music industry is broken: OpenWav’s new app aims to change that by Sarah Perez: https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/11/the-music-industry-is-broken-openwavs-new-app-aims-to-change-that/ The B&K5128 Is Garbage by Sharur: https://youtu.be/G2S-Agwxiy4?si=TPTGvDStmG2eYePU Tidal and Qobuz Connect Are Ruining Your Hi-Fi Sound Without Dropping a Single Bit, Warns Principal Network Engineer by Alexandra Plesa: https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/09/tidal-qobuz-connect-ruining-hifi-sound-engineer/ Audiophile Streaming in 2025 - Zoom Event by Audiophile Foundation: https://youtu.be/z3VC65XOhxg?si=UNNCNA8tHIvo_8-F

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent take a vicarious vacation to a couple of hi-fi hotels to discuss whether or not this is a trend worth taking seriously. (And, of course, judge the merits of their audio systems just by the brands.) Next up, they applaud John Darko’s efforts to make reviewing more legit, then ponder some ideas on how, exactly, we might do that. Then they venture halfway around the world in the company (figuratively speaking) of tech journo Geoffrey Morrison, who shares the ancient wonders of Tokyo’s Akihabara Electric Town while lamenting its apparent but perhaps inevitable soulsucking corporatification.    💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  Hi-Fi Hotels: The Audiophile Vacation Destination by Jacob Green: https://www.audioholics.com/news/hi-fi-hotels The Greatest Lie Never Told by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2025/09/the-greatest-lie-never-told/ The Rise and Fall and Maybe Rise Again of Akihabara Electric Town by Geoffrey Morrrison: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/465-the-rise-and-fall-and-maybe-rise-again-of-akihabara-electric-town Ascendo Unveils HALO 10 Pro Active EXT Cardioid Speaker at CEDIA Expo 2025 by Alfred Moody: https://audioxpress.com/news/ascendo-unveils-halo-10-pro-active-ext-cardio-speaker-at-cedia-expo-2025 World Premier Unboxing of Ascendo’s HALO – The WILDEST Speaker Design You’ve Ever Seen! by AV NIRVANA: https://youtu.be/A3ng4MASy4A?si=abi3pRMQ7F2QUqRh

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent gaze deep into what they assumed would be the abyss of the EISA Hi-Fi Awards and see some pretty sensible selections gazing back. Then, Brent humors Dennis by letting him rant about video game music, and the two of them dig into the mechanics of how a guy made some of the world’s most memorable music with just a few bloops and bleeps. Then, they dig deep into the sometimes glorious, sometimes sordid history of Monster Cable by way of a cheapaudioman video essay, and recount their own decades of struggle in dealing with a company that makes your average rock band look like a well-run business.   And for Patrons: What goes through Brent and Dennis’ minds when they read a glowing review of an idiosyncratic speaker? Find out in real time…   💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   Further Reading:  A roundup of EISA Hi-Fi Awards for 2025-2026: https://stereophile.com/content/eisa-hi-fi-awards-2025-2026; https://hometheaterhifi.com/press-releases/eisa-awards-for-2025-26-announced/; https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/eisa/2025-2026-awards/2025-2026-hi-fi/2006-eisas-best-products-of-2025-2026 “Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo’s 8-Bit Masterpiece”: https://www.20k.org/episodes/super-mario-bros “8-Bit to Orchestras: Video Game Music Scores”: https://www.imaginaryworldspodcast.org/episodes/8-bit-to-orchestras-video-game-music-scores “The Truth About an Audio Empire That Almost Ruled” by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/6mmPkqVzhb4?si=mTWc-MU5VOOSSxWz “Audiophile Music Scandal EXPOSED! The UNTOLD Story…” by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/tPLsS6kCebw?si=TjbQJkIFSDQUj9gc “Monster Cable Correspondence”: https://www.bluejeanscable.com/legal/mcp/index.htm

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent do some sleuthing work to ascertain whether a crackpot article about Tom Waits is A.I. slop or just straight-up plagiarism, and whether or not Dr. Sean Olive has a substance-abuse problem. Then they sort through two lists of speakers that audiophiles all either love or hate to find which speakers are on both lists, wonder why it seems like every audiophile who’s ever “polled” must be over 70, then (sort of) fondly reminisce about the (mostly) lousy speakers from the days of their youth—many of which are on one or both of these lists.   💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   Further Reading:  “Why Tom Waits’ “Martha” Is the Ultimate Emotional Litmus Test for Hi-Fi Systems”: https://inews.zoombangla.com/tom-waits-martha-hi-fi-test-track/ “Why this iconic Tom Waits song is a regular in our test rooms – and can unveil the true essence of hi-fi” by Harry McKerrell: https://www.whathifi.com/streaming-entertainment/music-streaming/why-this-iconic-tom-waits-song-is-a-regular-in-our-test-rooms-and-can-unveil-the-true-essence-of-hi-fi “Why Do Audiophiles Hate These 9 Legendary Speakers?” by Skylabs Audio: https://youtu.be/gR_s3dfDiHw?si=3MaZLz9D4oEbnpv_ “25 Best Speakers of All Time, as Voted by Thousands of Audiophiles Worldwide” by Andy G.: https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/08/best-speakers-voted-thousands-audiophiles

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent dive deep into the subject of infrasonics by way of a “studio-quality” MP3 album that tunes baroque music to the planet’s Schumann resonance and thus allows you to be calm and focused (i.e., the sonic opposite of Audio Unleashed), and they also ponder the utility of two new subwoofers bigger than our dynamic duo put together. Next up, Dennis gets a rare opportunity to critique mindless capitalism (i.e., Brent) as he heaps surprising praise on an article about politics from Stereophile, of all places. Then they opine on whether  Focal’s new $69K beast truly is the ultimate speaker and the one they’d buy if they were actually able to retire someday. 💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit   Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album   Further Reading:  “You’ve Heard Classical Music. But Not Like This” by Brainwave Research UK: https://brainwave-research.com/funnel/classical-magic-download/classical-magic-download-offer-meta/ “Ascendo Pushes World's Largest Subwoofer Record Further with New 64" and 100" Models” by Joao Martins: https://audioxpress.com/news/ascendo-pushes-world-s-largest-subwoofer-record-further-with-new-64-and-100-models The Boston Audio Society Music and Test CD: https://www.bostonaudiosociety.org/bas_cd.htm “Re-Tales 56: The Impact of Tariffs on the Hi-Fi Industry” by Julie Mullins: https://stereophile.com/content/re-tales-56-impact-tariffs-hi-fi-industry “Paul Hales Unleashed” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/paul-hales-unleashed-the-realities-of-global-audio-manufacturing/ “New Focal Diva Mezza Utopia Reinforces Wireless High-End All-In-One Concept” by Joao Martins: https://audioxpress.com/news/new-focal-diva-mezza-utopia-reinforces-wireless-high-end-all-in-one-concept “ELAC announces Debut ConneX DCB61” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2025/07/elac-announces-debut-connex-dcb61/

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent ponder the questions that everyone ought to be asking: Why hasn’t anyone tested speaker isolation devices before now? (Like, really tested them, not just gauged their emotional reaction to them.) Why does AI music sound so much more convincing than AI images look? (And can AI out-ButterBurger House Band the real ButterBurger House Band?) Why is Erin Hardison so damned good at YouTubing? (And why are manufacturers’ speaker sensitivity measurements so often meaningless?) 💿 Michael Gaughn’s Jour et Nuit on Bandcamp: https://michaelgaughn.bandcamp.com/album/jour-et-nuit Brent’s audio projects: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album Further Reading and Viewing:  “Speaker isolation devices, do they WORK?” by Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac: https://youtu.be/XAOD3aUfIYQ?si=X_BP6H1oZizIAxWk "There's not a shred of evidence on the internet that this band has ever existed" by Matt Mullen: https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/theres-not-a-shred-of-evidence-on-the-internet-that-this-band-has-ever-existed-this-apparently-ai-generated-artist-is-racking-up-hundreds-of-thousands-of-spotify-streams “‘Indie Band’ Says Claims Their Music Is AI-Generated Is a Hoax, Then Admits It's Actually AI-Generated” by Victor Tangermann: https://futurism.com/the-byte/indie-band-hoax-ai-admit “So It Begins...Is This A Real Band Or AI?” by Rick Beato: https://youtu.be/3Nlb-m_vKYM?si=C567rVfyk9xHaW2K “This is ridiculous. Is this a joke?!!” by Wings of Pegasus: https://youtu.be/g2s9cF-r0Z4?si=NCKHNPCCPOfAhsbq “What Your Speaker's Sensitivity REALLY Means for Your Power Needs?” by Erin's Audio Corner: https://youtu.be/XGanNp8XYXw?si=3bT60jCboHrMDxSn