“The Floyd Toole of Tequila?”

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week’s episode is a doozy, y’all. First things first, Dennis and Brent are shocked and delighted to dig into what may well be the most useful and scientifically sound article ever published in TAS. With that out of the way, they dive into a very special double-length segment covering the previously hinted-at overview of Brent’s career in the audio industry, with assistance from old friend and colleague Geoffrey Morrison. This is an edited version of the much longer interview available in the Patreon version of this episode.  ******************************************** Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases): 📚Qneye Portable CD Player with Bluetooth & FM Transmitter, Stereo Speakers: https://link.amazon/B08YjfiyJ   📚Sony PlayStation 5: https://link.amazon/B00oC0JVz ******************************************** Deals for Audio Unleashed listeners: 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants Further Reading: Dynamic Range and Choosing Amplifier Power by Tom Martin: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/dynamic-range-and-choosing-amplifier-power/ The Wirecutter Show: “The Best Soundbars (Plus Lessons From 40 Years of Audio Testing)”: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/wirecutter-show-podcast-20261016-soundbars/ Test Report: Lirpa Labs Liberty Freedom 1776 A-FY Tower Speakers by Geoffrey Morrison: https://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-report-lirpa-labs-liberty-freedom-1776-fy-tower-speakers

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent are once again asking the questions that no other hi-fi podcast has the courage to ask. Questions such as: If TapeOp is the best magazine currently in publication, why are they so wrong about Jim Lill? Why does Jim Austin promise us puppies and then give us bad tequila? And what’s the difference between using AI to master your audio and trying to learn how to master audio from AI? And for Patrons: Is Sony only merely dead or really most sincerely dead?    ******************************************** Buy-now links for products mentioned herein (As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small cut from qualifying purchases):   📚Qneye Portable CD Player with Bluetooth & FM Transmitter, Stereo Speakers: https://link.amazon/B08YjfiyJ   📚Sony PlayStation 5: https://link.amazon/B00oC0JVz   ********************************************   Deals for Audio Unleashed listeners: 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.    📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album   💿 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   💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   Further Reading: Making Music: Conversations With Record Producers is Out Now: https://tapeop.com/blog/2026/09/13/making-music-conversations-with-record-producers-is-out-now Puppies, Tequila, and the Blind Leading the Blind by Jim Austin: https://stereophile.com/content/puppies-tequila-and-blind-leading-blind Online courses are dumb (Ai is better and free) by AP Mastering: https://youtu.be/3AUS0LT0WLw?si=EGjWKOVhFvG6jwlV Sony Announces the Closing of Another Audio Hardware Division; Dealers Race to Adjust by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/sony-announces-the-closing-of-another-audio-hardware-division-dealers-race-to-adjust/

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent kick things off with a discussion of the audio technology our electeds are most familiar with—AM radio—before pivoting into a long diatribe about whether this newfangled spatial-audio stuff is ever going to catch on. The real question on everyone’s lips this week, though, is whether a SanDisk Extreme Pro flash drive is the real road to audio Nirvana. 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants Further Reading: H.R. 979: AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/hr979/text#google_vignette Down the Rabbit Hole with the Nirvana Audio Chronos by Tom Gibbs: https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/down-the-rabbit-hole-with-the-nirvana-audio-chronos-optimizer/

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent get caught  in the trap of being forced to discuss Apple’s big new thing—improved open-ear noise cancellation—and how it might compare to that of the Cleer ARC 3 Open Wireless Earbuds. Then they riff yet again on the subject of AI music, largely centered on UMG’s recent deal with the devil, as well as 404 Media’s intentional hacking of Lathe of Heaven’s Spotify page to inject it with lazy AI slop. Last up for most people, they dig into Brent’s thoughts on several recent one-small-driver speakers, as well as Steve Temme’s first published measurements for Stereophile in the dystopian post-Atkinson world we hi-fi heads find ourselves living in. The real question, though, is: how many mic adapters can Brent manage to string together before the end of the episode? 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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   💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   Further Reading: Apple AirPods 5 Improve Open‑Ear Active Noise Cancellation by Joao Martins: https://audioxpress.com/news/apple-airpods-improve-open-ear-active-noise-cancellation Fresh From the Bench: Cleer ARC 3 Open Wireless Earbuds with Noise Cancelling by Brent Butterworth: https://audioxpress.com/article/fresh-from-the-bench-cleer-arc-3-open-wireless-earbuds-with-noise-cancelling Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs Announce Multi-Year Strategic Agreement, Beginning with a New Licensed AI Music Creation Platform: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-music-group-and-elevenlabs-announce-multi-year-strategic-agreement-beginning-with-a-new-licensed-ai-music-creation-platform-302875284.html I Hijacked a Real Artist's Spotify with AI Music. It Was Disturbingly Easy by Emanuel Maiberg: https://www.404media.co/spotify-ai-music-scam/?ref=weekly-roundup-newsletter Salad Line Compact Speakers: https://apos.audio/products/salad-line-compact-tower-speakers?_pos=1&_sid=ea2192066&_ss=r&variant=46955751669996 Pearl Acoustics Model One loudspeaker review by Robert Schryer: https://stereophile.com/content/pearl-acoustics-model-one-loudspeaker

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent spend a lot of time and a lot of words riffing on the same fundamental theme: are we making this hi-fi stuff entirely too complicated? And if so, why? Does REL need to make stuff up about mysterious disappearing bass harmonics to sell its gorgeous subs? Does Benchmark have to make stuff up about audible distortion to sell its excellent amplifiers? And perhaps most importantly: does cheapaudioman have to make stuff up about 4K Blu-ray players to sell ED drugs? 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album   💿 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   💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   Further Reading: REL S/850 Review by Chris Frankland: https://hifiplus.com/articles/rel-s-850/ How Loud is the Distortion from Your Power Amplifier? by John Siau: https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/videos/how-loud-is-the-distortion-from-your-power-amplifier-1 Don't Buy a CD Player in 2026!? Buy This Instead by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/nnBwdMuGa_0?si=eME1ZvTkTjZQ06eK CEDIA Expo 2026 Looks to be Another Scaled-Back Show by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/cedia-expo-2026-looks-to-be-another-scaled-back-show/

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent kick things off with a bit of a different segment: a deep dive into some of the wackier (and cooler) IEMs Brent has found on Facebook, and a look into the psychology of the people buying and reviewing them. Then they investigate what sort of “intimate machines” Stereophile’s Jim Austin is into, and whether we should care if “normal” people can afford them. They wrap the regular episode’s discussion with a read-through of Darko’s review scorecard, and what kind of score Darko deserves on his own test. 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants Further Reading: Some of the crazy IEMs Brent has discovered: Artpical Raphael Palavox Steel Heart and Akasha AME Gnome Brise Audio Fugaku Faith Audio U1000 Unique Melody Mason Asahi “Intimate Machines” by Jim Austin: https://stereophile.com/content/intimate-machines “Darko’s hi-fi review scorecard” by John Darko: https://stereophile.com/content/intimate-machines

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent get the party started by pondering the deep question of whether or not a “loom” of anything is automatically sus. Next up, they split hairs over the distinction between a clone and an homage by way of Erin’s Audio Corner’s new video about a Chinese McIntosh knock-off. Then they wrap up the main show by answering a listener’s question about Darko. 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants Further Reading:  “Most Audiophiles Upgrade in the Wrong Order Why the System — Not the Component — Is the Unit of Analysis: A Response to the Acurus/Aragon Upgrade Pyramid” by Theodore Walton Denney III: https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/most-audiophiles-upgrade-in-the-wrong-order-why-the-system-not-the-component-is-the-unit-of-analysis-a-response-to-the-acurus-aragon-upgrade-pyramid/ “Most Audiophiles Upgrade in the Wrong Order” by u/Goooooner4Life: https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1v7vqwx/most_audiophiles_upgrade_in_the_wrong_order/ “Fake Mcintosh Audiophile Tube Amplifier vs the Real Deal” by Erin's Audio Corner: https://youtu.be/7wMTjeYVYXQ?si=KwWbl2Q_7lxxjGu2 “Five dongle DACs for your consideration” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2026/07/five-dongle-dacs-for-your-consideration/ “The great DAC distraction 🌶️” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2026/03/the-great-dac-distraction/ “KEF Coda W review: real hi-fi for less than a Sonos Arc Ultra” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2026/02/kef-coda-w-review-real-hi-fi-for-less-than-a-sonos-arc-ultra/

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent dig deep into a Reddit post about soundbars to gain some insight into how A.I. is going to make sense of audiophiles in the future. (That’ll make sense in context, promise.) After that, they riff on some interesting new data about CD and LP sales, which prove K-pop and wall art are driving the whole audio biz. Then they turn their fleeting attention to recent developments in streaming — apparently, Spotify editorial playlists are in decline, but is Spotify still the only streamer that matters? Brent has some data of his own (and a $147 ASCAP payment!) to add to the conversation. 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants Further Reading:  “Are soundbars getting like, really good?” by u/jpinakron: https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1uypwah/are_soundbars_getting_like_really_good/ “Luminate Midyear Report 2026: R&B/Hip-Hop Falls, Dance Rises, CDs Surge 16% & More” by Kristin Robinson: https://www.billboard.com/author/kristin-robinson/ “A Your Morning Coffee Special Episode: A Conversation with Jaime Marconette from Luminate” by Your Morning Coffee: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-your-morning-coffee-special-episode-a/id1529809478?i=1000776959540 “Spotify’s editorial playlists look enormous, but they’re shrinking” by Austin Staubus: https://medium.com/@itsnorequests/spotifys-editorial-playlists-look-enormous-but-they-re-shrinking-4ea5575c81a9 “Find Your Anti-Algorithm” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1392 “(How Much Is) That Doggie In the Window?" by Cyger and Butterworth: https://youtu.be/_C5B7V8WW8s?si=zS2TJsssPNNPtK0f

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent kick things off with a response to a Patron who had some defensive words for OJAS, aka Devon Turnbull. Then they add their voices to the biggest discussion in audio right now: the Axiss Audio lawsuit against The Greek Audio Geek, Suncoast Audio, and Clarisys Audio for defamation and conspiracy. And they tackle the confounding question of whether or not the judgment of some dude sitting around in his underwear will pass muster in a court of law. With that out of the way, they invite Pro Audio Technology and Theory Audio Design owner and CEO Paul Hales to rant about the cult of high-end audio and explain how he engineered his escape. They conclude by turning their attention to all the ways in which the A.I. bubble is about to make everything more expensive—except, of course, for Class-AB amps. And (maybe!) cable lifters.   💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants Further Reading:  “AXISS Audio Distribution Files Federal Lawsuit - UPDATED” by Jason Victor Serinus: https://www.stereophile.com/content/axiss-audio-distribution-files-federal-lawsuit “Attorney Kerry Harvey Analyzes the Axiss Lawsuit: The HiFi Five Episode 33” by The HiFi Five: https://youtu.be/1EL-FJT6ftI?si=Yb7xEE1rP0vX_lLh “The HiFi Five Episode 33: Axiss Lawsuit” by The HiFi Five and SoundStage! Network: https://www.youtube.com/live/pMB2R3zFhn0?si=nr6fs4cRZdXliSuM “It would be disingenuous to say that we have a plan for attracting younger music fans” by Alastair Stevenson: https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/dacs/it-would-be-disingenuous-to-say-that-we-have-a-plan-for-attracting-younger-music-fans-audioquest-on-the-new-dragonfly-and-getting-gen-z-into-hi-fi “Hi-Fi Nerd Fight Part 1—Dennis Burger vs. Paul Hales” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/hi-fi-nerd-fight-dennis-burger-vs-paul-hales-on-room-correction-part-1/ “Hi-Fi Nerd Fight Part 2—Dennis Burger vs. Paul Hales” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/hi-fi-nerd-fight-dennis-burger-vs-paul-hales-on-room-correction-part-2/ “Your Electronics Are About to Get Way More Expensive” by Nitish Pahwa: https://slate.com/business/2026/07/ai-car-phone-expensive-iran.html “The Letter That Moved a Market” by Mastin Bailey: https://medium.com/@mastinbailey/the-letter-that-moved-a-market-95a249dd7b3b

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent take a surface-level dive into the biggest controversy to hit the pro-audio world this year: Jim Lill’s exhaustive investigation of the source of a mic preamp’s tone, or lack thereof. They also slog through maybe half a percent of the response videos in the quest for one that has more to say than “trust me, bro.” They wrap up with an attempt to give veteran Stereophile technical editor John Atkinson the tribute he deserved upon the announcement of his retirement.  💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.  📖 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: 💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album 💿 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 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants   Further Reading:  “Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In A Microphone Preamp?” by Jim Lill: https://youtu.be/K-vIeA7yy6Q?si=2PIoW0nYlvlunSiq “Jim Lill Is Wrong About Microphone Preamps” by Andrew Chapman Creative: https://youtu.be/cJRaHFg1ojA?si=8PJyaD4_1Ggn8SnE “Someone Said All Preamps Sound the Same. So I Tested 8.” by Spinlight Studio: https://youtu.be/pZiFS6HSdLY?si=CBZL8nFp9cQxZIth “Why that mic pre test is whack.” by JJBlair: https://youtu.be/WIm_1Vglvs4?si=1twB4bMTErdVT1s9 “The End of an Era: John Atkinson Retires” by Jim Austin: https://stereophile.com/content/end-era-john-atkinson-retires “Audio Note Meishu Tonmeister Phono integrated amplifier” review by Ken Micallef: https://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-note-meishu-tonmeister-phono-integrated-amplifier “Tannoy Revolution XT 6 loudspeaker” by Herb Reichert: https://www.stereophile.com/content/tannoy-revolution-xt-6-loudspeaker