The Occasional Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Anatomy Of An Amplifier With Jason Stoddard Of Schiit Audio Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Amplifier designer Jason Stoddard takes us through the signal path of an amplifer. Jason talks us across all the elements and parts of amplifier design, starting with the analog signal and ending with speaker or headphone output. He provides tips on what to look for in good parts, as well as what topogies work best in any given situation. It's a great epsiode chock full of interesting information and antecdotes for anyone who ever wondered how amplifiers really work.

S6E10 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment

SVSOUNDdotCOM– Join the Sound R|Evolution.

SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49

WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

Naim Audio (Further Explorations In British HiFi, Part 3) Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

An interview with Steve Sells, Technical Director, Electronics at Naim Audio. As part 3 of our exploration into British HiFi (What is British Hifi?, History Of The LS3/5a) we sit down with Steve from Naim Audio to discuss the legendary British audio brand that has helped shape the high fidelity landscape over the years. A longstanding Brit-Fi icon, Naim is known for its classic amplifiers and cutting edge streaming devices (along with other audio components and even a record label).

S6E9 Sponsors: MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment SVSOUNDdotCOM– Join the Sound R|Evolution. SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49 WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

Product Of The Season Awards! The Best Of Season 6 Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

Our favorite products from Season 6. The Occasional Podcast end of the year awards the best audio/hifi products we have heard. With the help of the PartTimeAudiophile writing staff, we wrap up 2021 in style with gear recommendations, music and great sound. Special thanks to Marc Phillips, Mohammed Samji and Grover Neville for help with the nominations.

S6E8 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment

SVSOUNDdotCOM– Join the Sound R|Evolution.

SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49

WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

The History And Continuing Legacy Of The LS3/5a Loudspeaker (Further Explorations Into British HiFi) Dec 05, 2021

Show notes

Everything you ever wanted to know about the BBC's LS3/5a loudspeaker. As a follow up to our podcast "What Is British HiFi?" Marc and Brian interview Jerry Bloomfield of Falcon Acoustics. Jerry has a vast history with the LS3/5a including its implementation, research, construction and original design goals dating back to its inception back in 1975. Licensed by the BBC to manufacturers, the LS3/5a has stood the test of time and proven to be one of the cornerstones of high fidelity's (and especially brit-fi) history.

S6E7 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment SVSOUNDdotCOM– Join the Sound R|Evolution. SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49 WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

Wireless Audio Revisited Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

A beginner's guide to wireless audio - tips, tricks and high fidelity options. Audio with little-to-no wires is a growing category, even among audiophiles. While some connections like bluetooth are lossy, there are an increasingly large amount of applications where wireless technologies make the pleasure of listening to music just that much more convenient. In this episode, we sit down with Nick Brown and Smith Freeman from SVS and revisit all the latest ins, outs and round abouts of wireless listening. This includes (but not limited to) the newest protocols, product categories, streaming, how to, tips, wifi, bluetooth, setup, troubleshooting and more.

S6E6 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment PURISTAUDIODESIGNdotCOM - Let Us Connect You To The Music! SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49 WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

Axel Grell (Designer of the Sennheiser HD 600/650/800) Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

Interview with Axel Grell - the designer of legendary headphones from Sennheiser, including the HD 600/650, HD 800 and Orpheus headphone system. Axel sits down with us to chat about all things headphones, including the direction they are going, his experience designing the sound for some of personal audio's biggest audiophile headphones, and the founding of his new headphone company Grell.

S6E5 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment

SVSOUNDdotCOM– Join the Sound R|Evolution.

SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49

WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

How Records Are Made (Vinyl Production And Mastering Explained) Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

How vinyl records are mastered and produced. Vinyl pressings are a complicated thing to create. It is a much more intricate process compared the simplicity of the digital copy that has come to dominate the market (although digital resolution and streaming have their own unique set of variables as well). In this episode mastering engineer Dave McNair helps us decode the steps from the source tape (or digital master) to the final pressed vinyl record.

S6E4 Sponsors: MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment PURISTAUDIODESIGNdotCOM - Let Us Connect You To The Music! SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49 WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

A Guide To Tube Amplifiers Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

Tube amplifiers, tube topologies explained! This episode is our guide to tube amplifiers, and features deep dive interviews with Gary Dews of Border Patrol Audio Electronics and Mark Schneider of Linear Tube Audio. SET, Pentode, OTL, Push-Pull? The designs of tube amplifiers in hifi is a rich as their love for three letter acronyms. Join us for a thorough exploration of all the different ways to derive power from a glass tube.

S6E3 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment

PURISTAUDIODESIGNdotCOM - Let Us Connect You To The Music!

SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49

WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

What Are Meta Materials? Do Expensive Cables Matter? Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

How are meta materials being used in audio? Plus, we talk about if/how expensive cables can make a difference in audio systems. Dan Clark of Dan Clark Audio joins us to discuss and explain meta materials use in hifi. Dan recently launched a new headphone called the DCA Stealth that is the first to incorporate the rising technology in a personal audio setting. The PTA staff comes together to chat about the ever evolving discussion around the value and use case of expensive cables, and audio cables in general. Guests include Marc Phillips, Scot Hull, Grover Neville and Dave McNair from PTA editorial.

S6E2 Sponsors: MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment PURISTAUDIODESIGNdotCOM - Let Us Connect You To The Music! SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49 WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

A View From The Booth: Reference Systems Vs. Colorations, Accuracy & Why Audiophiles Love Jazz So Much Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

An audiophile conversation though the lens of production. Mastering engineer Dave McNair and producer Grover Neville cover off on a variety of subjects including clean and musical systems vs colorations, discussions on the idea of detail, what is accuracy and how Jazz music makes it easy to uphold audiophile pursuits in production.

S6E1 Sponsors:

MUSICALSURROUNDINGSdotCOM - World-Class Analog Equipment

PURISTAUDIODESIGNdotCOM - Let Us Connect You To The Music!

SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designed & Built in California & Texas, Starting At $49

WHARFEDALEUSAdotCOM - Legendary British Sound – Elevated

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected