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March 2007 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
In Search of the Holy Hi-Fi Grail
How lucky we are as humans to so often unlock the mysteries of history. The Rosetta Stone was the key that unlocked the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphics, while the skull of Lucy, an unknown woman from ancient Ethiopia, has helped us learn important details...
January/February 2007 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
New Year's (Higher) Resolution
Last month we examined a few home entertainment products that didn’t fit into the convenient categories provided by our usual monthly soirees. Since there wasn’t enough room for everything competing for your bucks, we’ll finish up this month with a few other...
December 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
2006 Year-end Grab Bag
Where has the year gone? It’s already time to review the past 12 months and choose a few interesting audio products we’ve somehow managed to overlook that can make the at-home jazz experience just a little more satisfying. It’s certainly a mixed bag of holiday...
November 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
The Making of a Jazz Audiophile
It can be a dangerous thing to have a good system,” says bass legend Ron Carter of his own recent home audio experiences. Hmm. We’ve tried, in these columns, to show that having a great stereo rig is a good thing. So why would Carter make such a statement...
October 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
Switched On: The Future of Amplification
When it comes to amplifying the music that comes out of our various discs, MP3 players, tapes and laptops, we’ve advanced leagues beyond the simple megaphonelike trumpet Edison used to amplify “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as it screeched forth from his early...
October 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
Rack 'em Up
Many owners of perfectly fine, even exceptional, audio gear neglect one important aspect of setting up their systems: where and how the equipment is mounted. Stereo equipment can be very prone to distortion from outside vibration and resonance, the bouncing...
September 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
Size Doesn't Matter
When it comes to loudspeakers, bigger is not always better. What matters most is the way a speaker conveys the essence of the music being played. Does it project the emotion recorded on the disc, and does it provide enough detail to provide a sense of the...
July/August 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
Deep Listening
Not long ago I developed an inner-ear infection that resulted in temporary but frightening hearing loss in my left ear. For someone who auditions and reports on audio equipment, this was a pretty scary time. Just being able to listen to music again took...
June 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
Prehistoric to the Space Age: A Brief History of TV's
Once upon a time, buying a TV meant choosing between a mahogany or maple cabinet. Having to choose between a color and black-and-white picture was not really even an issue until the late 1950s. These days, thanks to emerging technologies, not even experts...
May 2006 Audio Files By Mike Quinn
Play It By the Numbers: Digital Music Playback for Audiophiles
Regular readers of this column know that when it comes to digital reproduction of music, my attitude is a bit icy. With good reason, too: sloppy CD mastering and today’s trend toward ultracompressed MP3s renders sound, well, icy. Brittle, irritating and...
