Crutchfield: The Podcast

For years, JR and Huffy have ended episodes by thanking Bill Crutchfield. This time, they get to do it with him in the studio. To celebrate Sony’s 80th anniversary, Bill joins the guys for a conversation about the products, people, and shared values behind a partnership that began in 1975. From the tiny transistor radio that helped spark Bill’s interest in electronics to Walkmans, Betamax, CD players, and Crutchfield’s early adventures in online shopping, it’s a trip through decades of innovation — with a few stories you won’t find on a spec sheet.JR and Huffy share their own Sony memories, and Bill offers his perspective on Sony’s departure from the car stereo business before answering a question promised back in the podcast’s early days: what gear does he enjoy at home? This episode also marks a pause for Crutchfield The Podcast, with no return date set. It’s a fitting way to close this chapter: good stories, a little friendly ribbing, and a chance to thank Bill in person for letting the guys talk about the coolest stuff on the planet. Share your memories, questions, and thoughts on the show’s future at [email protected]/podcast

What’s the difference between a FLAC file and a WAV file? Is Apple Lossless really lossless? Does high-resolution audio always sound better? JR and Huffy bring in Zak from Crutchfield’s video team to decode the alphabet soup of digital music formats, including PCM, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MP3, DSD, and the mostly-retired MQA. Whether you’re sorting through a hard drive full of old downloads, ripping a CD collection, or starting a music library you actually own, this episode helps make sense of what those letters and numbers mean. The conversation gets beyond file formats, too. The guys explain bit depth and sample rate, why a well-mastered CD-quality song can beat a poorly mastered high-res track, and where great sound can get lost between your source, DAC, amplifier, speakers, Wi Fi, and Bluetooth. They also compare the lossless offerings from Apple Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Spotify — plus why convenient Bluetooth listening can still be exactly the right choice, even for people who care a lot about sound quality. Email us if you have any questions you’d like us to answer on the show, [email protected] . Zak really likes his WiiM streaming devices. Here’s a link to all our current WiiM products: WiiM at Crutchfield | Find the Right Gear for You

You're probably using a DAC right now — you just don'tknow it. JR and Huffy kick off this episode with a game of "Where's the DAC?", a series of scenarios where you try to identify which device in the audio chain is handling the digital-to-analog conversion. From there, JR walks through the surprisingly interesting history of how standalone DACs went from a niche audiophile topic to a full product category at Crutchfield — and what the wave of early returns taught the team about setting customer expectations. The big takeaway: a better DAC will reveal how good your music sounds, not fix how bad it sounds. Garbage in, garbage out still applies.The guys also get into bit rates, sample rates, and whyyou probably shouldn't lose sleep over which DAC chip brand is inside your gear — but you should know what to look for when it matters. JR discusses three noteworthy standalone DACs worth knowing about: the Cambridge Audio DacMagic200M, the iFi ZEN DAC 3, and the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt. If you have questions or want to tell JR which DAC chip brand you think sounds best, send an email to [email protected] from this episode of Crutchfield: The PodcastCambridge Audio DacMagic 200M (Silver) Stereo DAC/headphone amplifier/preamp with built-in Bluetooth® (Silver) at CrutchfieldiFi ZEN DAC 3 Desktop USB DAC and headphone amplifier at Crutchfield AudioQuest DragonFly® Cobalt Plug-in USB DAC/headphone amplifier, compatible with Apple® and Android™ mobile devices at Crutchfield DAC buying guideGuide to high-fidelity computer audioIntro to high-resolution audio

JR goes full deep-dive this month on a topic that's beenteased on this show more than once — how to match car subwoofers to amplifiers so your bass system performs the way it should. Huffy is here too, playing the role of someone who just wants great low end. The episode has two parts: if you just want the quick answers on which impedance subs tobuy for the most common setups, JR serves up the fish in the first few minutes. If you want to actually learn how to fish — understanding what impedance is, why two ohms is the sweet spot for most sub amps, and how series vs. parallel wiring affects what your amplifier sees — that's the rest of theshow. Along the way, JR introduces the "Rule of Twos," a simple memory tool for getting dual voice coil sub wiring right, and explains when you can safely go to one ohm versus when you probably shouldn't. The episode also covers powered subs and pre-loaded enclosed subs for anyone who'drather skip the math entirely — and no judgment there. Visual learners: here are some links to Crutchfield's subwoofer wiring diagrams and YouTube videos, because some of this stuff really does need a picture. Please send your follow-up questions (and pushback from your knowledgeable friends) to [email protected].  ·        Subwoofer wiring diagrams·        What are dual voice coil subwoofers?·        How to match subwoofers and amplifiers·        How to wire multiple subs to your amplifier | Crutchfield·        How to match amps and subs in your car | Crutchfield

JR and Huffy are joined by Dylan Wold, Pioneer's vendor trainer, fresh off a day of training Crutchfield's sales advisors on the brand-new Pioneer SPHERA — the first aftermarket car stereo with built-in Dolby Atmos®. If you've heard "Dolby Atmos" and pictured helicopter sounds flying over your head in a movie theater, Dylan is here to reset those expectations. This is about music: bigger soundstages, better instrument placement, and hearing songs you know by heart in a way that genuinely feels like the first time. Crutchfield has the SPHERA installed in demo cars at both locations, and the reactions from everyone — skeptics included — have been unanimous.Dylan tells us how SPHERA works (spoiler: it's simpler than you'd think), what it takes to get the most out of it, which factory and aftermarket system combinations to watch out for, and why 92% of the Billboard Top 100 is already recorded in Dolby Atmos and waiting for you. Plus, JR gets his own band's music played through the up-mixer live on air, and our co-worker Dave Delamere stops by to demonstrate the calibration system in action. If you're considering a new car stereo, this one's worth your time. Questions? Email [email protected] or talk to a Crutchfield advisor who's been trained on the Pioneer SPHERA firsthand.Pioneer SPHERA radioCrutchfield: The Podcast

We are so excited to finally be able to talk about Sony's new True RGB TVs, the Bravia 7 Mark II and Bravia 9 Mark II. JR and Huffy have had both TVs set up in the studio, and they've been sitting on their reactions ever since. The big news: Sony's True RGB backlight technology puts individual red, green, and blue diodes inside each LED. The difference in color accuracy, contrast, and light control compared to traditional LCD TVs is genuinely hard to overstate. JR and Huffy put these TVs through a gauntlet: live sports, Top Gun Maverick on 4K Blu-ray, Encanto, Game of Thrones, YouTube torture tests, and Tiny World on Apple TV+ — and came away impressed across the board.JR and Huffy also break down the key differences between the two models (spoiler: more backlights, anti-glare screen, up to 115 inches) and share thoughts on the pedestal design, the surprisingly capable built-in speakers, and why Sony's processor is still the thing that quietly makes everything work. If you've been waiting to upgrade your TV — especially if your room gets a lot of natural light — this episode is worth a listen before you buy. Everything discussed, including links and photos, lives at crutchfield.com/podcast.Sony RGB at Crutchfield | Find the Right Gear for YouSony True RGB TVsVideo: Sony True RGB TVsCrutchfield: The Podcast

Matt Palumbo from Stinger and AudioControl returns to the studio fresh off a vendor training with Crutchfield's sales advisors — and he brought a lot of new stuff to talk about. JR and Huffy get the full update on the Stinger HORIZON12 multifunction displays (MFD), including new direct-fit kits for GM trucks (2014–2018 and 2019+) that bring the same clean, factory-look integration that made Jeep owners love these units. Matt also discusses the new EPICENTER PRO and EPICENTER Micro PRO from AudioControl— same beloved bass-restoration tech, now with user-friendly controls on top and some fun new flexibility for the more adventurous installer. From there, the guys dig into AudioControl's brand-new EPIC Series amps, speakers, and subwoofers built to pair perfectly with the EPICENTER experience. The EPICX subwoofers in particular got a serious workout during development — including a nightly drive-home stress test the manufacturer may or may not have survived — and the results speak for themselves. Plus, the loaded EPICX V-Series enclosures feature a surprisingly clever customizable panel that Matt actually wrapped in his hotel room the night before we recorded. Enjoy the episode.     Stinger at Crutchfield | Find the Right Gear for You AudioControl: Car audio equalizers, crossovers, and sound processors - Crutchfield·    Crutchfield: The Podcast

JR and Huffy are joined by Mulligan — Crutchfield advisor,AV design specialist, and all-around full-service operation — to talk about all the inexpensive (and sometimes free) things you can do to make your home speakers sound as good as they possibly can. The conversation covers where to put your speakers and why pulling them off the wall matters more than you might think, how to treat your room's acoustics without going overboard, why you should decouple your speakers from the floor, and how to use your receiver's room calibration to take the room itself out of the equation. Mulligan also brings a few bonus tips, including one surprisingly simple digital trick that costs absolutely nothing and can immediately improve your sound quality — no new gear required. Whether you've got a modest bookshelf setup or a serious multi-room system, this episode gives you practical, real-world ways to get more out of speakers you already own. Got questions? Reach the team at [email protected]. Acoustic Panels & Treatments | Crutchfield Vibration Isolators | Crutchfield Crutchfield: The Podcast home page

You bought new car speakers — now what? JR and Huffy welcome Peter, a Crutchfield merchandising veteran and former sales trainer, to talk about getting your speakers to live up to their potential. The guys tackle one of car audio's most misunderstood products — speaker baffles — and set the record straight on what they actually do, when you need them, and when you might want to grab a knife to make a small modification. From there, it's on to Fast Rings, sound deadening (Dynamat, Hushmat, SoundSkins — a little goes a long way), and installation tips that apply whether  you're swapping a blown factory speaker or building a seriousupgrade. Think of it as all the stuff nobody tells you the first timeyou tackle a car speaker install — but absolutely should. Gotquestions about baffles, sound deadening, or anything car speaker related? Email the team at [email protected] if you want to get ahead of next month's episode — all about making your home speakers sound their best — sendthose questions in too. Click here for all things Crutchfield: The Podcast related

JR and Huffy go head-to-head in a debate to answer one of the biggest questions in home entertainment: should you buy an ultra-short throw projector or a large TV? Spoiler alert: there's no loser here, only the right choice for your room, your budget, and how big you want to go.They examine the 98-to-120-inch sweet spot where these two technologies collide, covering everything from installation complexity and sound system placement to screen selection, ambient light performance, and real-world 4K considerations. JR brings the customer reviews; Huffy brings the firsthand experience. Together they'll help you figure out which big-screen setup belongs in your living room.Want more info to help you decide between a projector and a TV? Check out our How to choose a home theater projector article:https://www.crutchfield.com/learn/home-theater-projector-buying-guide.htmlTVs 80” and uphttps://www.crutchfield.com/g_146350/All-TVs.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFScreen_Size|[rank7]80%22%20and%20upUltra Short Throw Projectorshttps://www.crutchfield.com/g_160150/Projectors.html?fa=1#&nvpair=AG_Mounting%20Options|YCUltra_Short_ThrowScreens for UST projectorshttps://www.crutchfield.com/g_160250/Projector-Screens.html?fa=1#&nvpair=AG_Features|FFUltra_short_throw