the ecoustics podcast

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The Last Days of Gear Fetishism? How Network Amplifiers Are Going to Change Hi-Fi Forever Mar 23, 2024

Show notes

The gear fetishism that has stunted the mainstream growth of high-end audio for almost four decades is about to run out of runway and that might be the most positive development in years. How we consume music has completely shifted and whilst there will always be room on the credenza for a turntable, or even a CD player, the reality is that real estate at home is a hot commodity, and most consumers want fewer boxes for their music listening journey.
Just what is a network amplifier and why should you consider one as your last Hi-Fi system? We explain this week on the podcast with some help from our friends at NAD, WiiM, Bluesound, Naim, Cambridge Audio, and more…
Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, SVS!
For more information on SVS and their line of stellar products, please visit: https://www.svsound.com
Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://www.instagram.com/the_arc_of_all
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#streaming #hifi #highendaudio #music #networkamplifiers #futurefi #naim #technology #cambridgeaudio #wiim #arylic #audiophile #hiresstreaming #digitalmusictrends
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Sankar's Audeze: How a Boutique High-End Headphone Brand Sparked a Revolution in Sound and May Have Changed the Gaming Experience Forever Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Audeze’s Co-Founder & CEO, Sankar Thiagasamudram, joins eCoustics Senior Headphone & Portables Editor William Jennings and Producer (and Audeze Artist) Mitch Anderson to discuss its 16 year journey as an innovator in the global Head-Fi revolution.
Founded in 2008 as a boutique audiophile brand, Audeze's first concept was a loudspeaker which never came to market. However, early innovations with planar magnetic technology led to the release of their first headphone, the LCD-1 for $600 — making it one of the most expensive headphones available in 2008. All 25 models sold, which led to the release of the LCD-2 in 2009 and LCD-3 in 2011. Both models became award-winning benchmarks for headphone design and turned what was a cottage industry aimed exclusively at high-end headphone listeners into a billion dollar segment.
Audeze's success also created opportunities for its competitors to expand into the planar magnetic category, forcing the brand to push the envelope with state-of-the-art professional monitoring headphones, electrostatic headphones for the medical industry, and innovative gaming headphones that attracted the attention of Sony Interactive Entertainment which purchased the company last year -- exposing the brand to a much larger mainstream global audience and giving it a growing customer base for the future.
Nearly all of Audeze’s products are hand-made in Costa Mesa, CA, including all LCD and MM series headphones and the Playstation headset drivers.
Sankar takes us on a journey through Audeze’s history and reveals interesting insights about the company’s history, headphone manufacturing, and their path ahead.
For more information on Audeze please visit https://www.audeze.com
For details and related links, visit: https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/audeze-sankar/
This episode is brought to you in part by Audeze Artists, The Source of Light & Power. Hear the sounds from their recently completed one record a month for all of 2023 sonic adventure here:
sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
On the Panel:

Sankar Thiagasamudram, Audeze Founder & CEO
William Jennings, eCoustics Sr. Headphone & Portables Editor
Mitch Anderson, eCoustics Podcast Producer

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://www.instagram.com/the_arc_of_all
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#audeze #headphones #lcdx #canjam #maxwellheadphones #playstation #gamingheadset #planarheadphones #audiophile #headfi #audezeartists #vinylcommunity #audioforgaming #studioheadphones #masteringheadphones
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Don't Be Nervous. It's Finally Time to Cut the Cord: Q Acoustics' M40 Wireless Micro-Towers Prove that High-End Audio Has Made the Jump Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Can we finally stop pretending that wireless loudspeakers offer an inferior listening experience. The desire to sell high-end audio systems consisting of expensive boxes made of ticky tacky has become an impediment to the growth of the next generation of audiophiles and brands like Q Acoustics are working very hard to offer the best possible passive and wireless loudspeakers for less. And they are succeeding.
Jamie McKay, Sales & Marketing Director, and Nick Renshaw, PR Manager, of Q Acoustics join us on this edition of the eCoustics podcast to discuss their award-winning 5000 series loudspeakers and the new M40 wireless micro-towers that are going to turn a lot of heads. High-end audio is evolving and it's time to cut the cord.
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#qacoustics #audiophile #hifi #vintageaudio #wirelessspeaker #awardwinningsound #towerspeakers #newproductalert #podcast #ecoustics #vinylcommunity
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

A Little Extra Padding: How a Little Headphone Accessories Company Has Changed the Way We Listen. Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

With consumers spending tens of billions of dollars on headphones and earbuds, the product has become a commodity and one that is rather disposable. But does that need to be the case? Have you thrown away a perfectly good pair of earbuds or headphones because the ear pads or ear tips are worn down or busted up?
Dekoni Audio have not only cornered the market on replacement pads for some of the most popular consumer and audiophile models on the market, but they have altered the way they sound. If you think you have heard "everything" from your existing pair of headphones or earbuds? Think again. Tal Kocen and Dylan Scarzafava of Dekoni have a great story to tell and a lot to teach you.
Thank you to this episode's sponsors:
SVS: https://www.svsound.com
Q Acoustics: https://www.qacoustics.com
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#dekoni #headphones #hifi #headfi #canjam #diyaudio #headphonecommunity #audioupgrades #audiophile #livesound #audioengineer #recordinggear
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Arcam Radia, JBL Classic and Roon: Interview with Jim Garrett Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

In our second podcast with Jim Garrett, head of product strategy and planning at Harman Luxury Audio we discuss Arcam’s new product refresh. The British Hi-Fi brand has just introduced the sleek new Radia series of audio components, which consists of five new models:
• Arcam A5 Integrated Amp – $699
• Arcam A15 Integrated Amp – $1,099
• Arcam A25 Integrated Amp – $1,499
• Arcam CD5 CD Player – $699
• Arcam ST5 Streamer – $799
All are available at Crutchfield:
https://bit.ly/arcam-radia-at-crutchfield
Jim reveals key details about each product, how they work together, and what’s different between each model. In addition, Jim shares updates about JBL’s “vintage looking” Classic hi-fi components which are now shipping along with MKII (2nd generation) versions of the JBL Classic L100, L82 and L52 Loudspeakers.
Finally, we talk about Harman’s surprise acquisition of Roon and what to expect going forward.
Previous podcast with Jim Garrett:
https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/harman-luxury-audio-2023/
Related links:
https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/arcam-radia-st5-a25/
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/arcam-radia-series/
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/jbl-classic-loudspeakers-black/
https://www.ecoustics.com/news/harman-acquires-roon/
Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com
Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#arcam #radia #hifi #audiophile #harman #harmanluxury #ecoustics #jbl #loudspeakers #roon
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Hi-Fi and Record Shopping in the Land of the Rising Sun Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

In September 2023, vintage columnist Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc) spent three weeks in Japan pursuing audio perfection in all forms. In this episode of the eCoustics podcast, he and podcast producer Mitch Anderson (@black_circle_radio) discuss shopping in Japan for modern and vintage HiFi, and new and used music on vinyl and other mediums.
Conversation meanders to Japanese audiophilia and the obsession with quality, Japanese jazz artists (including Ryo Fukui, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto and Isao Suzuki), and why classical music is still so popular when interest has fallen off in many other countries.
Links:
Iconic Sansui Amplifiers: Exit to Vintage Street
Japanese Jazz Wikipedia Page
Audio Union Website
Disk Union Website
HMV Japan Website
Thank you to our sponsor Marantz for supporting this episode!
www.marantz.com
In the Episode:

Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #jazzkissa #japanesejazz #vinylcommunity #consumerelectronics #podcast
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

House of the Rising Sun: A Journey to the Japanese Jazz Kissa Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

In September 2023, vintage columnist Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc) spent three weeks in Japan pursuing audio perfection in all forms. In this episode of the eCoustics podcast, he and podcast producer Mitch Anderson (@black_circle_radio) discuss the history and current state of Jazz Kissa culture, how visiting a Jazz Kissa is such a special experience, and why that experience can’t really be recreated elsewhere. Going off topic they also discuss Japanese vinyl pressings and why those are so desirable.
Links for further information:
Japanese Jazz Kissa and the Art of the Piano Trio: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz Kissa Culture Goes Global: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz City online store: Purchase Jazz Kissa magazines and books
Tokyo Jazz Joints website
@jazz_kissa on Instagram
Thank you to our sponsor Marantz for supporting this episode!
www.marantz.com
In the Episode:

Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Ace of Space? Andover Audio Has an Affordable and Unique Solution for Your Hi-Fi Budget Blues Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

With consumers moving away from expensive multi-component systems and looking for more economical and space-spacing alternatives, the question has to be asked -- who is actually offering solutions that are affordable?
Bob Hazelwood, Director of Engineering and Product Development, Andover Audio, joins us on the eCoustics podcast to discuss their rather extensive lineup of award-winning wireless speakers, turntables, streamers, and lifestyle systems that tick off every box for the next generation of music listeners. And don't believe the naysayers -- their Isogroove isolation technology makes it possible to have your turntable on top of your speakers.
Ace of Space? You will be very surprised what you can do.
Thank you to our sponsors SVS & Q Acoustics for supporting our sonic messaging!
https://www.svsound.com
https://www.qacoustics.com
In the Episode:

Bob Hazelwood, Director of Engineering and Product Development - Andover Audio
Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #andoveraudio #spinbase #vinylcommunity #consumerelectronics #podcast
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

Capital Audiofest 2023: Are High-End Audio Manufacturers Living on Borrowed Time? Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

A new generation of music listeners are stepping outside their traditional comfort zones and looking for better ways to enjoy their music collections. But will they find that at a traditional Hi-Fi show?
EIC Ian White and Producer Mitch Anderson break down CAF 2023 and why horrible music, unaffordable systems, and an aging customer base do not portend a strong future for high-end audio manufacturers if they don't make some massive changes.
Sponsor: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Marantz. You’ll want to check out their new Stereo 70s Slimline Receiver.
On the panel:

Ian White, eCoustics Editor-In-Chief
Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #capitalaudiofest2023 #caf2023 #caf #headphones #audioshow #luxuryaudio #audioreview #musicindustry
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

What Makes a UST Projector the Best? Inside the 2023 Laser TV Showdown Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Looking for a 4K UST projector or a portable lifestyle projector for your home? At the 2023 Laser TV Showdown, six unbiased expert judges took a look at the top UST projectors and the top portable 4K projectors (aka lifestyle projectors) and picked the winners in each category. Join us for a discussion with the organizers of the event as they reveal which UST projectors and which portable projectors got the highest ratings from the judges.
We chat with Rob Sabin of ProjectorCentral.com and Brian Gluck of ProjectorScreen.com, organizer and host of the shootout event which saw nine of the world's best UST projectors and five of the top portable 4K projectors face-off side-by-side for the top spots.
Sponsor: Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Marantz. You’ll want to check out their new Stereo 70s Slimline Receiver.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/iW8-OhdmzNs
View the scorecards and links to all the winners here:
https://www.ecoustics.com/podcasts/2023-laser-tv-showdown-recap/
On the panel:

Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor-at-Large
Brian Gluck, Owner of ProjectorScreen.com
Rob Sabin, Editor-in-Chief at ProjectorCentral.com

Credits:

Original intro music by The Arc of All.
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com
#lasertv #ustprojector #showdown #projectorcentral #projectorscreen #bigscreen #hometheater #homevideo #2023lasertvshowdown #portableprojector #hometheatre #bestprojector #bestof2023
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more.
https://www.ecoustics.com

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