Best Loudspeaker Podcasts (2025)

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Best Speakers Under $10k Series: Sonus faber Lumina 5 Amator loudspeaker 11:08

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9h ago11:08

11:08

The Lumina Amator series speakers are beneficiaries of the trickle-down economy at play when a brand has the breadth to produce speakers ranging from $1600 a pair to upwards of 100 times that. Stick around while I share what I heard when auditioning the elegant Sonus faber Lumina 5 Amator floorstanding loudspeaker. This video is sponsored by: javah…

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The loudspeaker's role 17:03

16d ago17:03

17:03

It's important to think about the high-end audio system as a chain and every link in that chain makes for the whole. But one component stands out over every other one. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get it on Amazon.…

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Getting comfortable with dynamic range 13:27

6h ago13:27

13:27

We hear about dynamic range as if it is just another term in the arsenal of audiophile terms, but it's a critical component and one that's going to be important to truly understand. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get i…

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Naim CI-Uniti 102 Power Streaming Amplifier Review 11:13

14h ago11:13

11:13

The world of high-end audio is full of fantastic-looking gear, but not everyone wants their sound system to be the visual center of attention—or, in the case of the CI-Uniti 102 from British hi-fi company Naim Audio, may not even want it be to visible at all. So while the CI-Uniti's appearance might not attract your attention, will its sound? Let's…

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Acora Acoustics MRC-2 Loudspeaker Review 16:13

2d ago16:13

16:13

What happens when you take stone, precision ceramic drivers, and decades of acoustic engineering? Then you ask them to reproduce the subtlest emotional details in your favorite recordings? You get something that fundamentally changes how you think about what a speaker cabinet should be made of. This is the Acora Acoustics MRC-2 Loudspeaker... This …

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The power of quiet 13:46

13h ago13:46

13:46

SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) and all measures of noise recognition, from placing your ear next to the tweeter to immersing yourself in the blackness of the music, sometimes it's what we don't hear that really matters most. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul…

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'No thanks': Raided South Korean workers leave US despite Trump's offer to let them stay 12:38

9d ago12:38

12:38

More than 300 South Koreans detained in the US after a massive immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG factory have returned home, despite the Trump administration's offer to let them stay. As he marked 100 days since he took over a country in crisis, President Lee Jae Myung warned that the incident could make companies hesitate to invest in the US. Jay S…

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Borresen C3 Loudspeaker Review: Best Speakers $20k-$50k Series 16:52

12h ago16:52

16:52

Over time, we are investigating several of the interesting speakers in the $20,000 to $50,000 per pair range. We’ve done the Magico A5 and the Perlisten S7t and the Wilson Watt/Puppy and the Sound Lab G7-7C to name a few. And there are more on the schedule, including today’s subject the Borresen C3, which is priced at $40,000 per pair. This video i…

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Mark Sauter: What to make of the reported US Navy SEAL mission into North Korea

6d ago

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This week, the NK News podcast explores the New York Times’ recent revelations about a 2019 U.S. Navy SEAL mission on North Korea’s coast. The operation reportedly aimed at installing surveillance equipment but went awry, resulting in the death of unarmed North Koreans and raising escalation risks. Mark Sauter, a former U.S. Army soldier with […]…

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Technics 1300G Turntable Review 21:51

18h ago21:51

21:51

Last year, Technics unveiled an expansion to their acclaimed Grand Class series with the SL-1300G, the first direct-drive turntable in the lineup since its debut in 2016. While the absence of iconic DJ-associated controls, like pitch adjustment and strobe, may draw attention for its sleek, revamped aesthetic, my month-long experience with the SL-13…

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North Korea’s engine test, Kim Jong Un’s Beijing diplomacy and trade fair plans

6d ago

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This week, NK News Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko joins the podcast to discuss North Korea’s “static firing test of a high-thrust solid-fuel motor” used in long-range nuclear missiles, a week after Kim Jong Un inspected a new ballistic missile design. The conversation then turns to Kim’s high-profile trip to Beijing, his first in six [……

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Diving deep into the audio soundstage 14:21

2d ago14:21

14:21

We've talked about the audio soundstage at length before, but now it's time to dive in even deeper and understand not just the intricacies, but the real value of it to audiophiles. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get it…

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True Life Audio TSI-300 Integrated Amplifier Review 13:00

4d ago13:00

13:00

Robert Taylor reviews the pricey yet formidably impressive TSI-300 Integrated Amplifier. Engaging, relaxing, and extremely natural, this integrated amplifier has Robert reminiscing on one of his favorite childhood albums. Will you feel the same? Tune in to find out. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/pages/introducing-perlisten…

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Challenging Western hegemony: China demonstrates its vision in a big way 12:17

16d ago12:17

12:17

This week, China showed off its military and diplomatic prowess at a giant Victory Day parade, with dozens of world leaders – but few from the West – in attendance. President Xi Jinping stood shoulder to shoulder with Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, declaring that China was "never intimidated by bullies". But does Beijing rea…

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The optics of Kim Jong Un’s appearance at China’s military parade

5d ago

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made his appearance at a large-scale multilateral event on Wednesday, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing. But was this just optics, or did it mark a deeper realignment of global power blocs? NK News Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy […]…

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Meze Audio POET | Open-Back Planar Headphones Review 14:49

14d ago14:49

14:49

Meze has been releasing a lot of new headphones in the last couple of years. And this is kind of a new generation of what I think of as their mid-range line of headphones. Do they strike balance between fidelity and affordability? Tune in to find out. This video is sponsored by: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com The Absolute Sound’s Review …

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Go Myong-hyun: US-ROK talks and North Korea’s diplomatic theater in Beijing

8d ago

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In this episode, Go Myong-hyun of Seoul’s Institute for National Security Strategy returns to the podcast to assess the recent summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. He also looks ahead to Kim Jong Un’s expected appearance in Beijing on Sept. 3 for a Victory Day parade marking the […]…

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The audio traffic cop 7:12

9d ago7:12

7:12

This week, we're going to learn all about audio's traffic cop, the crossover network in your loudspeaker. Learn how it works, what its role is, and its importance to the system and the music. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Gu…

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Is Modi snubbing Trump amid tariff spat? 12:46

23d ago12:46

12:46

In this edition of Access Asia, we explore how New Delhi is grappling with new 50 percent US tariffs taking effect. Will the souring relations between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump force India to rethink its ties with the United States and look further east? Meanwhile, South Korea scores another pop-culture win as its animated musical "KPop Demon …

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Best DACs under $10,000 Series: Denafrips Terminator 15th Review 17:07

11d ago17:07

17:07

Denafrips is a manufacturer of audio electronics, primarily known for its series of advanced ladder DACs. In this test I cover the Terminator 15th DAC which is positioned as Denafrips flagship, but at a price of $6099 is affordable compared to some of the other flagship DACs I’ve been covering. Let’s see how it performs. This video's sponsor: https…

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Joseph Torigian: How Xi Jinping’s father rebuilt China-North Korea ties

13d ago

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On this episode, scholar Joseph Torigian joins the podcast to discuss his new biography of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s father and Xi senior’s delicate diplomacy with North Korea in the 1980s. Torigian explores Xi Zhongxun’s role in rebuilding ties, navigating the DPRK’s succession politics and nudging Pyongyang toward reform. He also talks about ho…

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The first Lee-Trump summit, and North Korea’s commemoration of war dead

17d ago

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In this week’s episode, NK News Deputy Managing Editor Alannah Hill breaks down President Lee Jae-myung’s first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, where Lee appealed for Trump to take on a “peacemaker” role with Pyongyang. She also discusses the flood of newly released state media footage showing North Korean troops in combat in Russia’s […]…

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D’agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier Review 11:04

17d ago11:04

11:04

D'Agostino Pendulum integrated amplifier made from Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, the company belonging to the man who was founder, CEO and chief designer of KRELL until 2009. They mostly manufacture megabucks electronics like preamps, power amps and integrated amps, which sell for up to $385,000. But the Pendulum is their new most affordable…

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New Vandersteen L5 Audio Control Center Preview: 7 Major Audio Problems Series 24:30

20d ago24:30

24:30

As you may recall, we have outlined seven major problems with audio believability. A link is in the description for details. One of these items is the problem of recording standards. Today, we look at a new electronics product from Vandersteen that is designed to address this issue. Let’s see what Richard and team have done.…

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Tycho van der Hoog: North Korea’s forgotten allies in Africa

20d ago

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In this episode, Tycho van der Hoog joins the podcast to explore how North Korea forged and sustained ties with African liberation movements and governments during and after the Cold War — connections that continue to shape the country’s activities on the continent today. He shares how his interest in the topic began with a […]…

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AGD SOLO Monoblock Limited Edition amplifier review 11:31

24d ago11:31

11:31

With a price per pair coming in at $23.5k (USD), for me they’ll remain a memory for now, but when my hi-fi budget grows, I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on these beauties. However, if you currently find yourself looking for equipment in this price range, you’re gonna wanna stick around while I share what I heard while listening to the AGD SOLO Mo…

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An ex-North Korean soldier’s bid for repatriation, and controversial remittances

21d ago

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NK News Correspondent Jooheon Kim joins the podcast this week to discuss Ahn Hak-sop, a 95-year-old former North Korean soldier and so-called unconverted prisoner of war who is seeking repatriation to the DPRK after decades in the South. He also talks about the controversy surrounding ROK police investigations into defector remittances to relatives…

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Pearl Acoustics Model 1 Speaker Review 11:47

24d ago11:47

11:47

After hearing the Model 1's at this year's AXPONA, in combination with their minimalist design, Adrian Alexander decided to investigate these further. Are they possibly going to be Adrian's new reference speaker? Tune in to find out! This video is sponsored by: https://www.wattson.audio/ The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsol…

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Synergy and audio 18:36

23d ago18:36

18:36

What are the synergistic elements important to high end audio systems? The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get it on Amazon.By Paul McGowan

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New Audio Research S-100 amplifier and LS-3 preamp: Best Amplifiers Under $10k Series 15:16

1M ago15:16

15:16

The venerable firm Audio Research has recently undergone a big transition in ownership, strategy and product offerings. We covered this extensively in a visit to their Minnesota headquarters in advance of the release of 6 new products this summer. Today, I’ll be reviewing two of those products, the LS-3 solid-state preamp/DAC and the S-100 solid-st…

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Kornel Chang: How Korea’s liberation led to division into North and South

1M ago

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On today’s episode, Kornel Chang discusses his new book “A Fractured Liberation: Korea Under U.S. Occupation,” which sheds light on the period from 1945 to 1950 when the country was divided into the North and South. Chang describes how the immediate post-liberation “opening” was more fluid than commonly portrayed, with ordinary Koreans pursuing var…

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PMC Prophecy9 Loudspeaker Review 14:34

28d ago14:34

14:34

What happens when you take one of the most respected professional monitor companies and ask them to build their flagship home speaker? You get something that challenges everything you think you know about how big sound should look... This video is sponsored by: https://www.javahifi.com/home 00:00 PMC Prophecy9 01:39 Overview 4:40 Sound Quality 11:1…

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A North Korean defection, postponed US-ROK drills and dismantling loudspeakers

1M ago

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NK News Executive Director Jeongmin Kim joins the podcast to discuss the story of a North Korean defector in her 70s who is under investigation for allegedly leaking the locations of fellow escapees to Pyongyang’s secret police, as well as the daring maritime defection of a North Korean who swam across the Han River estuary. […]…

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#64 - A $120 hi-fi rack that DOESN'T look awful 1:39:44

30d ago1:39:44

1:39:44

This episode brought to you by AudioQuest👉 https://bit.ly/4fIkmaUw/ 6moons' Srajan Ebaen0:00 Intro0:46 Shanling7:37 Virtual Hi-Fi14:05 Co-linear Acoustics30:45 FitUEyes51:04 Bluesound58:32 Qualio Audio1:03:12 Hiby1:10:03 iFi / SilentPower1:20:00 Exact Express & Furutech👉 As discussed in this episode...Shanling🛒 https://amzn.to/4fsQTTM📖 https://dark…

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Tidal Audio Arkas streamer review 12:14

1M ago12:14

12:14

The streamer is quite possibly the most misunderstood device commonly used in the high-end audio chain. Most people harbor the thought that the differences between streamers are either non-existent or very, very small. I had that thought, reinforced by the idea that “it’s just a computer, and computers can be had for $500.” Then I started testing t…

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All about box speakers 12:55

1M ago12:55

12:55

Not all loudspeakers are created equal—and box speakers prove it. In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, the spotlight turns to the classic enclosure design that dominates the high-end landscape. Explore how cabinet shape, internal damping, driver alignment, and crossover tuning work together—or against each other—to deliver musical truth. When…

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The critical role of the digital audio cable 24:31

1M ago24:31

24:31

A digital cable just passes ones and zeros… right? Not so fast. In this episode, we explore the critical role of the digital audio cable, drawing from The Audiophile’s Guide to unpack why timing, noise, and construction can make a real difference. Whether it’s USB, coax, AES/EBU, or optical, the cable’s job isn’t just delivery—it’s delivery with pr…

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Understanding DSP in the audio chain 15:43

1M ago15:43

15:43

It’s invisible, powerful, and everywhere: DSP. In this episode, we explore digital signal processing and its growing role in high-end audio, with guidance from The Audiophile’s Guide. From room correction and crossover tuning to upsampling and EQ, DSP can shape the sound in ways analog never could. But is it always a good thing? When does it help—a…

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Building a high-end digital audio system 24:16

1M ago24:16

24:16

What does it take to build a digital system that doesn’t sound digital? This episode explores the path to high-end digital audio, drawing from The Audiophile’s Guide to break down sources, DACs, streamers, and the critical role of clean power and timing. From choosing lossless formats to optimizing your signal chain, it’s about more than convenienc…

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PCM audio vs. PDM and DSD 16:10

1M ago16:10

16:10

Pulse code or pulse density? In this episode, we dig into PCM, PDM, and DSD—three very different ways of turning digital bits into sound. Based on insights from The Audiophile’s Guide, the discussion unpacks how each format works, how they shape what we hear, and why it matters for both streaming and physical media. From classic Red Book CDs to hig…

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Analog vs. digital: the fight is on 3:32

1M ago3:32

3:32

Needle or network? Groove or gigabyte? In this episode, it’s analog vs. digital—and the fight is on. Pulled from the pages of The Audiophile’s Guide, the conversation breaks down what each format gets right, where they fall short, and how system design changes the outcome. Is vinyl really warmer? Is digital truly more accurate? And which one brings…

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Golden Ear Triton 5 Loudspeakers 10:20

1M ago10:20

10:20

In many loudspeaker reviews, you'll hear the word 'soundstage' and 'sound dispersion' a lot, and today you're going to hear a lot more about it, in this review of The Golden Ear Triton five loudspeakers. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/pages/introducing-perlisten 00:00 Golden Ear Triton 5 1:01 Overview 01:42 Specs & Design 5…

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Vinyl Playback secrets 22:06

1M ago22:06

22:06

Vinyl can be magical—but only if it’s set up right. This episode uncovers the secrets of great vinyl playback, with guidance from The Audiophile’s Guide. From cartridge alignment and tracking force to phono preamps and vibration control, every detail matters when you're dragging a diamond through a groove. Whether you're chasing warmth, texture, or…

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Setup, the unsung hero 18:11

1M ago18:11

18:11

Great gear gets the glory, but setup is what makes it sing. In this episode, The Audiophile’s Guide sheds light on the unsung hero of every high-end system: placement, tuning, and room interaction. It’s not about what you own—it’s what you do with it. From speaker toe-in to seat position to finding that magical center image, proper setup can transf…

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SoulNote E-3 Phono Equalizer Amplifier Review 9:44

2M ago9:44

9:44

The E-3 is strictly for playback of DS audio optical cartridges. Does its refined purpose lead to refined sound? Listen in to Robert's review to find out. This video is sponsored by: https://hifirose.com/ 00:00 Soul Note E-3 Phono Equalizer 00:49 Specs & Design 02:39 Sound Quality 08:45 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newslette…

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The standing wave battle 9:48

1M ago9:48

9:48

Bass that booms, bass that disappears—welcome to the standing wave battle. This episode dives into the physics of low-frequency chaos, drawing on The Audiophile’s Guide to explain why certain notes vanish while others overwhelm the room. Standing waves are pressure zones caused by your room’s dimensions, and they’re the enemy of accurate bass. But …

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Conquering room modes 14:41

2M ago14:41

14:41

Boomy bass, vanished kick drums, that one note that rattles the walls—blame room modes. In this episode, we tackle how to conquer these invisible troublemakers using insights from The Audiophile’s Guide. Room modes are standing waves that exaggerate or cancel bass, and they’re baked into your space whether you like it or not. But with smart placeme…

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Sonic holography, the power of the diffuser 11:00

2M ago11:00

11:00

When a system images well, it’s not just sound—it’s sculpture. This episode explores sonic holography and the powerful role diffusers play in creating it, guided by concepts from The Audiophile’s Guide. Unlike absorbers that deaden the room, diffusers scatter reflections without killing energy—unlocking depth, width, and a soundstage that hangs in …

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Separates vs. Integrateds 17:29

2M ago17:29

17:29

More boxes or one and done? This episode breaks down the pros and cons of separates vs. integrateds, based on insights from The Audiophile’s Guide. Is it better to build your system with dedicated components for each job, or simplify with an all-in-one unit? From performance and flexibility to cost and space, the discussion covers what matters—and …