Best SoundQs Podcasts (2025)

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Choosing Between FiiO BR13 & BerryBak BDC-U For BT High-Res Audio 19:28

Play Pause

1d ago19:28

19:28

Send us a text Sticker shock pushed me to rethink Hi Res car audio Bluetooth. Legacy receivers from Mosconi and Audison look polished but outdated Bluetooth and questionable value made me search for modern alternatives that cost less and deliver more. That search led to two compact boxes: the FiiO BR13 and a lesser-known BDC-U unit sometimes sold a…

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How A 20-Year-Old Turned Obsession Into World-Class Car Audio-Guest Brayden Cooper 1:24:06

10d ago1:24:06

1:24:06

Send us a text Forget hype cycles and spec-sheet wars—this conversation is about how music actually feels in a car, and what it takes to get there. We sit down with 20-year-old tuner and fabricator Brayden Cooper, whose journey runs from chaotic basement speaker walls to precision car, bike, and even boat installs. He’s the mind behind a Toyota Cam…

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Inside The Data-Driven Subwoofer Revolution With Nick Apicella of ResoNix 1:14:33

22d ago1:14:33

1:14:33

Send us a text Imagine opening a spec sheet and realizing half the numbers don’t survive a real test. That’s the energy today as we sit down with ResoNix founder Nick Apicella to unpack why he spent over $20,000 on independent Klippel testing for nearly forty subwoofers—and what the results say about truth, hype, and how great bass is actually buil…

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From Beta Speakers To Big Plans: Season One Wrap Up For SoundQ Garage 6:51

29d ago6:51

6:51

Send us a text Miss the rush of a great car audio demo that changes your mind on the spot? This season one recap brings you there, starting with Ryan’s beta test of Xcelsus wide band speakers that made a strong case for a clean, coherent two-way system. We unpack why wide bands can unlock simpler installs, tighter imaging, and less crossover comple…

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How a Charger Became an Audio Powerhouse in One Man's Garage 44:03

3M ago44:03

44:03

Send us a text A remarkable story unfolds as Chris Pearce takes us through his transformation from garage tinkerer to respected competitor in the high-end car audio world. Working entirely alone with basic tools, Chris rebuilt nearly every audio-related aspect of his Dodge Charger, creating a system that placed 17th at the prestigious Steel Valley …

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Inside the Mind of a Master Tuner. How Miguel Rios is Revolutionizing Car Audio One System at a Time 1:14:43

4M ago1:14:43

1:14:43

Send us a text What separates good car audio from truly exceptional sound? In this deep-dive conversation with Miguel Rios of Waveform Tuning, we uncover the secrets behind creating automotive sound systems that rival high-end home setups. Miguel shares his fascinating journey from audio-obsessed kid with a boombox strapped to his bicycle to becomi…

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Engineering the Perfect Sound Without Touching Your Car Ep 5 w/ Matt Kim 53:29

4M ago53:29

53:29

Send us a text Matt Kim's journey from curious high school student to innovative car audio entrepreneur reveals how passion can reshape an entire career trajectory. After installing his first subwoofer and noticing inconsistent bass response, Matt's natural inquisitiveness led him to online forums where he discovered the science behind sound qualit…

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From Car Tunes II to World Champion: Dan Herrington's Audio Journey 1:31:38

5M ago1:31:38

1:31:38

Send us a text What happens when you reconnect with a car audio legend after nearly 30 years? Pure audio magic! Dan Herrington, former co-owner of Car Tunes II and IASCA World Finals champion, takes us on an unforgettable journey through the golden era of car audio competition and beyond. Starting with his early days at San Diego Auto Sound in the …

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Amplify Your Knowledge, Not Just Your Bass! Ep. 3 with Luke Ouellet 1:32:16

5M ago1:32:16

1:32:16

Send us a text Dive into the fundamentals of sound quality car audio with Luke Ouellet, founder of RW Soundworks and builder of award-winning competition vehicles. Luke's refreshingly honest approach cuts through industry myths to reveal what truly matters when creating exceptional car audio systems. From his recent success at SVR to his philosophy…

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Chasing Sonic Perfection: When to DIY and When to Hire Pros Ep.2 with Mike Buononato 1:18:59

5M ago1:18:59

1:18:59

Send us a text What happens when passion for exceptional car audio collides with real-world installation challenges? In this revealing conversation with Mike Buononato, we explore the complex relationship between DIY enthusiasm and professional expertise in the pursuit of sonic perfection. Fresh from the SVR competition with its 52 competing vehicl…

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The SoundQ Garage Podcast Ep 1 Ft Ryan Cotrone 53:50

6M ago53:50

53:50

Send us a text Ryan Cotrone, known as "Truth Hunter" on DIYMobileAudio and the "Dirac Whisperer" to many, shares his journey from car audio enthusiast to competition winner. His 2015 Toyota Camry with a Mini DSP and Dirac Live setup demonstrates that thoughtful component selection and proper integration can outperform systems costing many times mor…

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Why is Green Lake so darn dark at night? 1:31

6y ago1:31

1:31

Listen to the full storyBy Katherine Banwell

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How prohibition forever changed policing in Seattle 29:28

6y ago29:28

29:28

On a recent SoundQs segment we learned about historic bootlegger Roy Olmstead. Today we do a deep dive on another larger-than-life figure from that time, black business owner Doc Hamilton. Both men dealt in illegal alcohol, but had wholly different experiences with the temperance movement and the law.…

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How safe are the bridges in the Puget Sound region? 15:30

6y ago15:30

15:30

There are more than 8000 bridges in Washington state. How safe are they? And how will they fare in the event of a major earthquake?By Deborah Wang

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Why is Seattle so geeky? 24:36

6y ago24:36

24:36

Seattle is a geeky place -- from its many board game cafes to the bi-annual parades of cosplayers outside the Washington State Convention Center. But what about the Emerald City makes geek culture thrive here? We went on a quest to find out. Have questions for us? Send them in at KUOW.org/soundqsBy Clare McGrane

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Seattle's bootleg king 33:34

6y ago33:34

33:34

This episode sounds a little different than usual. We're taking over KUOW's daily show, The Record. Which means we get to answer a bunch of your pressing questions in this single episode.By Deborah Wang

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What’s with Seattle bumper stickers these days? 15:28

6y ago15:28

15:28

On this episode a listener asks us to explore the patterns and messages of bumper stickers in the Pacific Northwest. But there’s a personal reason she wants to better understand Seattle’s bumper sticker culture.By Deborah Wang

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How do those holiday lights get on construction cranes? 13:00

6y ago13:00

13:00

The holidays are coming. Which means even our construction cranes start looking festive. One listener wants to know - who decorates construction cranesBy Deborah Wang

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Part 2: Is Seattle a target for nuclear attack? 14:24

6y ago14:24

14:24

Our region is home to global companies like Amazon and Microsoft - and it's home to large cache of nuclear weapons and military assets.By Deborah Wang

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Part 1: What should you do in the event of a nuclear attack? 19:18

6y ago19:18

19:18

If you don't know, you're not alone.By Deborah Wang

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How is Amazon changing our lives? 26:47

6y ago26:47

26:47

Over the last year or so, the SoundQs team has gotten a lot of questions about one Seattle-based company. Amazon. Happily, KUOW's podcast Primed is finding answers to questions about how Amazon is changing our lives. Here's the first episode of their newest season, about Alexa and kids.By Deborah Wang

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Has any city figured out public toilets? 19:05

6y ago19:05

19:05

On this episode we try and figure out if any city has figured out public toilets, and what Seattle can learnBy Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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Where has Seattle's music scene gone? 18:28

6y ago18:28

18:28

Twenty-five years ago, Seattle was the epicenter of the popular music world. Bands like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Nirvana had legions of fans around the globe. But now, musicians are leaving Seattle because of rising costs. The city has a plan to change that - and it's got a lot to do with the mega-hit Old Town Road.…

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Why are those food safety posters smiling at me? 11:46

6y ago11:46

11:46

Those posters with smiley faces outside area restaurants are surprisingly complicated. Please consider donating to KUOW at https://kuow.org/donate/soundqs.By Deborah Wang

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Finding love is hard. In Seattle it's even harder 20:25

6+ y ago20:25

20:25

What makes Seattle an especially challenging place to date?By Deborah Wang

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What can we do about climate change in the Puget Sound region? 16:14

6+ y ago16:14

16:14

SoundQs and RadioActive teamed up to answer two listener questions: How will climate change impact the Puget Sound Region, and what’s the most effective way to take action against it?By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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Why do Seattleites complain so much? 16:50

6+ y ago16:50

16:50

Over the summer, the SoundQs team has gotten some questions that double as complaints about the Seattle region. It got us thinkiBy Deborah Wang

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More SIM swapping stories, and news from the cybersecurity underground 17:16

6+ y ago17:16

17:16

The hacking of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey last week put SIM swapping in the headlines. But it's not just high-profile people who are being SIM swapped. We continue our conversation with one woman who recently had her social media account hacked, and we check in with the security expert who helped unravel the mystery.…

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How did Seattle become home to a large Sephardic Jewish community? 16:33

6+ y ago16:33

16:33

The answer takes us all the way back to 1492. And it features a couple of excellent mustaches.By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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A boat and a car arrive at a Seattle drawbridge. Who goes first? 17:15

6+ y ago17:15

17:15

So you’re in the car, rushing to an appointment, and suddenly traffic stops.In front of you – a drawbridge opens - and a single boat goes through. Frustrating right?Now imagine if you’re on a barge, heading towards that same bridge.By Deborah Wang

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How safe is urban foraging? 10:54

6+ y ago10:54

10:54

On this week's episode of SoundQs we look at the safety and etiquette of foraging in the city.By Deborah Wang

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You won't believe what's at the bottom of Lake Washington 10:26

6+ y ago10:26

10:26

...planes, trains and highways.By Sarah Waller

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Ruby was a typical Instagram user. Then something strange started happening… 23:07

6+ y ago23:07

23:07

...and she got hacked.By Deborah Wang

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Is another smoky summer inevitable? 15:21

6+ y ago15:21

15:21

On this episode of SoundQs, we try and figure out whether smokey summers are the new normal and what this year might bringBy Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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Wild coyotes live among us — is your cat on their menu? 13:49

6+ y ago13:49

13:49

Wild carnivores live among us. We may not know the exact number of coyotes here in Seattle but we should get used to them being here because they probably won't be leaving anytime soon.By Matt Martin

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What's in that giant government warehouse near Sand Point? 16:34

6+ y ago16:34

16:34

It's a giant, block-long building surrounded by a chain-link fence. To the neighbors in this leafy Seattle neighborhood, the place is an enigma. So what's inside this giant US government warehouse? Is this where documents just go to die?By Deborah Wang

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Why don't longtime Seattleites jaywalk? 18:48

6+ y ago18:48

18:48

Yes, it's illegal. But that doesn't stop residents of other cities from doing it. SoundQs host Deborah Wang teamed up with Record producer Adwoa Gymiah-Brempong and sidewalk artist Peregrine Church to answer this listener question about jaywalking.By Deborah Wang

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Why are dogs allowed in Seattle bars? 15:58

6+ y ago15:58

15:58

Unlike kids, dogs are taken nearly everywhere: restaurant patios, taprooms, even the grocery store.By Deborah Wang

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Crow versus eagle, who wins? And other answers to your animal questions 24:28

6+ y ago24:28

24:28

Here at SoundQs, we get a lot of questions about animals. We’re talking rats, bats, squirrels, crows, opossums, you name it. On this episode, we answer a dozen of your urban wildlife questions.By Deborah Wang

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What are the mental health concerns for international students? 15:36

6+ y ago15:36

15:36

International students face lots of pressures. They have to learn to navigate a new culture and education system, far from family and friends. That led one listener to wonder, what's the mental health status of international students?By Deborah Wang

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Why does Seattle have so many Sephardic Jews? 16:32

6+ y ago16:32

16:32

Seattle has the third largest Sephardic Jewish community in the United States, according to some estimates.By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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What is the most humane, cost effective way to end homelessness? 23:15

6+ y ago23:15

23:15

We know that homelessness is a problem. It's hard to go anywhere around Seattle without seeing people living outside. And SoundQs listeners have been asking what the region can do better.By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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Why do so many people live in tents and RVs in Seattle? 22:39

6+ y ago22:39

22:39

SoundQs listeners have asked us lots of questions about homelessness. In this episode, we try to answer them.By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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Why is Seattle's street grid such a disaster? 15:10

6+ y ago15:10

15:10

You can blame Doc Maynard, Arthur Denny and glaciers.By Caroline Chamberlain Gomez

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Why can you hear gunshots at this high school? 17:37

6+ y ago17:37

17:37

Issaquah High School is like hundreds of other suburban schools around the country. But unlike most of those schools, the campus rings with the sound of gunshots.By Deborah Wang

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What's life like on Lake Union's houseboats? 18:25

6+ y ago18:25

18:25

Seattleites have been living in floating homes for more than 100 years. We visit a floating home community and hear about the excitement of life on the water in this week's episode of SoundQs.By Caroline Chamberlain Gomez

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Seattle is among the worst cities in the U.S. for potholes 12:41

6+ y ago12:41

12:41

A SoundQ's listener asked why Seattle has so many potholes. So reporter David Hyde set out to learn why. And he discovered potholes are more than a nuisance - they're also a political talking point and a source of controversial art.By Deborah Wang

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How a hot dog with cream cheese became part of Seattle's food legacy 11:10

6+ y ago11:10

11:10

Seattle’s foodie reputation wasn’t exactly built on hot dogs. And yet, we still have our own spin – the Seattle dog. It’s a hot dog with grilled onions and cream cheese. The SoundQ's team finds out how this local take on street food was born.By Deborah Wang

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You have lots of questions about recycling. We have answers 10:41

6+ y ago10:41

10:41

We've gotten dozens of SoundQ's questions about one topic - recycling. So we're re-running this archive episode with loads of answers, on everything from how to recycle to the global waste market.By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

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How humans and cougars live together 26:28

6+ y ago26:28

26:28

This week, SoundQ's shares KUOW's newest podcast, The Wild. Host Chris Morgan tracks down a cougar den and tries to work out how we continue to coexist with cougars.By Deborah Wang