The Occasional Podcast

Everything you ever wanted to know about subwoofers and two channel listening. In this episode we dive deeper than we have ever dove before, straight into a subwoofer. SVS Director of Technology, Ed Mullen helps us unroot all the helpful tidbits for getting the best, and most seamless listening experience with subs. This includes basics, room placement, how to connect, tips, advice and even setup...

Everything you ever wanted to know about music servers for two channel listening. Interview with Nuno Vitorino from Innuos. A deep dive into music servers and their role in a high fidelity playback system. What to look for, where to get started, what are high priority design elements... and all the reasons why everything makes a difference - even music servers. S5E5 Sponsors: FOCALdotCOM– French H...

Integrated Amplifiers and Two Way Loudspeakers, a match made in heaven. In this episode we discuss all the lovely benefits (and some of the potential drawbacks) of two of high fidelity audio's most beloved compact options for home playback. Whether you have limited space or just love the sound of a simple crossover design, this interview with PartTimeAudiophile's Marc Phillips draws from his deep...

Interview with Rich Grado of Grado Labs. The Brooklyn-based Grado has been making turntable cartridges and headphones for the better part of a century. Now with the launch of their retail site 4ourears.com and the move into wireless personal audio, the company is making changes to the way they do things - while still keeping true to their long-standing legacy in hifi.  S5E3 Sponsors: FOCALdotCOM–...

Everything you ever wanted to know about optimizing your budget for audio gear. Interview with Jonathan Derda of MoFi. On this episode, we cover how much to budget for each product category of audio gear. We provide general guidance on where to spend your money on speakers, amplifiers, sources and more.  S5E2 Sponsors: FOCALdotCOM– French Hi-Fi Global Leader SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Designe...

Interview with Co-Founder of Schiit Audio Mike Moffat. The digital brains behind one of entry-level hifi's favorite upstart, Mike Moffat joins the show to talk about his experience creating some of the first DACs on the planet and his second tidal wave of success with Schiit Audio. Special co-host thanks to PartTimeAudiophile publisher Scot Hull. S5E1 Sponsors: NAIMAUDIOdotCOM– British Hi-Fi Speci...

Interview with Josh Meredith and Angela Cardas of Cardas Audio. In this episode The PartTimeAudiophile editorial crew drops their picks for the best audio products of 2020. Josh and Angela also help us answer the age old question: Why Do Radio Stations Always Play The Same Songs Over And Over?  S4E10 Sponsors: QOBUZdotCOM - Authentic Music Experience SONUSFABERdotCOM - Artisans of Sound The LSA Gr...

Interview with Heinz Lichtenegger of Pro-Ject, an high fidelity audio company internationally known for turntables, electronics and speakers. Started in 1991, Pro-Ject dove into the record player business at a time when the world's focus was on the CD. Now a world-wide brand, the turntable maker supplies both its own products and OEM options for a multitude of companies. Owner and President Heinz...

Everything you ever wanted to know about buying a turntable, records, and getting started with high fidelity analog playback. Interview with Jonathan Derda of MoFi. We dig deep in this episode which covers off on a multitude of subjects centered around getting started with vinyl. How much to spend? What is required? How to get the most out of your system? How to improve the sound from your current...

Interview with the president of Marantz & Classe Joel Sietsema and Senior Director of Technical Category Management Emmanuel Millot. Very special bonus interview with documentary filmmakers Kevin Smokler and Christopher Boone. Kevin and Christopher recently co-directed a film called Vinyl Nation which focuses on the 10 year run of vinyl resurgence and record collecting we now find ourselves in. It...

Interview with Mats Andersen of QLN Audio. Episode 6 explores two-way speaker design in depth with Mats Andersen, designer and owner of QLN Audio and maker of the highly transparent Signature 3 standmount/bookshelf style speaker. Mats pulls from his deep well of knowledge to chat about 2-way vs 3-way design, benefits, challenges and learnings on the subject. Also, the best audio products of 2020 s...

Everything you ever wanted to know about digital audio. In episode 5 of season 4, we explore the great digital landscape with Alex Brinkman of Auralic Audio. Together we tackle all the hurdles of getting into digital audio, exploring the options and creating a high fidelity, high resolution playback system that is right for you. There is a lot that we cover, so get out your notepad.  S4E5 Sponsors...

An interview with Jeremy Bryan of MBL North America. MBL offers some of the most exotic speaker designs on the market. More than merely a driver in a box, the German company creates electronics and speakers that are as expensive as they are unique. Jeremy takes us through a quick history of the company along with some of the finer details on what makes the bespoke technologies different from other...

The Loudness Wars. Special guest mastering engineer Dave McNair and Grover Neville help explain the Loudness Wars. How did we get here? Where are we going? Are things getting better, or worse? Dave and Grover give first hand experience to help us better understand the current state of things in regards to dynamic compression and its effects on popular music.  S4E3 Sponsors: QOBUZdotCOM - Authentic...

An interview with digital designer Rob Watts of Chord Electronics fame. Rob Watts has seen much success in hifi designing under the British brand Chord. With a long history in the semiconductor industry along with heavy chops in digital audio, Rob is a wealth of information with the sales figures to back it up.  S4E2 Sponsors: QOBUZdotCOM - Authentic Music Experience SONUSFABERdotCOM - Artisans of...

A beginner's guide to understanding mastering and a buyer's guide to remastered albums. In this episode we explore the acoustic art of Mastering. What is Mastering? What does it mean when an album is Remastered? Does that make an album worth buying again if I already own it? We dive deep with mastering engineer Dave McNair and Grover Neville to unearth answers to these burning questions and more....

Interview with Nelson Pass of Pass Labs Part 2. In part two of our series with Nelson Pass we talk about design philosophy and the history of his "other project" company, First Watt. Widely considered one of hifi's leading solid state amplifier designers, Nelson talks about the status of the industry, listening habits and his vantage point into the dynamic hobby of audio listening.  S3E12 of The O...

Interview with Nelson Pass of Pass Labs. In our season closer, we walk down the history of one of audio's most prolific amplifier designers Nelson Pass. This episode includes stories from his early days, design philosophy and early successes in the hifi industry. Part 1 of our two part series with Nelson. S3E11 of The Occasional Podcast is sponsored by: VAC-AMPSdotCOM - For When Music Matters WELL...

Recap and highlights from FLAX 2020 in Tampa, Florida. Brian Hunter is joined by PartTimeAudiophile contributors Marc Phillips and Dave McNair with all the highlights, takeaways and great sounding gear from the relatively new show on the US scene. Bonus intro interview with show organizer Bart Andeer.  S3E10 Sponsored by VAC-AMPSdotCOM - For When Music Matters FLAX 2020 Show Coverage Sponsored by...

Interview with Sonus Faber President and CEO Jeff Poggi and Brand Manager William Kline. This episode also features all the latest in hifi news including hot items coming out of the recent consumer electronics CES show in Las Vegas. Co-host Bryan Beasley. SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Made In The US, Starting At $49 AXPONAdotCOM - North America's Audio Expo

Zach and Bevin Mehrbach from ZMF Headphones get interviewed. Also 2019 year-end roundup of the "best of" audio products according to Bryan and Brian. Special bonus: Two Grown Men Arguing In A YouTube Comments Section. Co-host Bryan Beasley. SCHIITdotCOM - Audio Components Made In The US, Starting At $49

Extended interview with Von Schweikert Audio's Leif Swanson and Damon Von Schweikert. S3E7 kicks off with a full rundown of the new LCD-1 headphone by Audeze and the RAD-0 by Rosson Audio Design. Damon and Leif drop some knowledge on us about what it's like to make high-end speakers, manufacturing in the US and accuracy in listening. Special bonus "Two Grown Men Arguing On Facebook". Co-host Bryan...

How to get into reel to reel audio, interview with Greg Beron of United Home Audio. Every wonder what it takes to listen to music on your home stereo with reel to reel playback as a source? In this episode we outline all the ups and down, positive and negatives for one of the most analog-ist type of hifi systems. Co-host Bryan Beasley steps in to share his experience with the platform and UHA R2R...

Recap and highlights from Capital Audiofest 2019 located in DC. ParttimeAudiophile editor Scot Hull is joined by staff writers Marc Phillips and Eric Franklin Shook along with special guests Grover Neville, Dave McNair and Jameson Mourafetis.  S3E5 Sponsored by Schiit Audio - Audio Components Made In The US, Starting At $49. CAF 2019 Show Coverage Sponsored by Verdant Audio and Tenacious Sound 

Interview with David Solomon and Dan Mackta, the US Qobuz team. This episode also features a bonus introduction: an audiophile's guide to wireless audio listening - along with 5 wireless headphones reviewed and compared. David and Dan take us through the newest stateside high resolution music streaming service that is shaking up the hifi industry. Co-Host Bryan Beasley.  SCHIITdotCOM - Audio compo...