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PODCAST

The Audiophiles Guide

The Audiophile"s Guide podcast is your invitation into the world of high-end audio, and connecting with me, Paul McGowan—a 50-year veteran in the art and science of sound and the co-founder and CEO of PS Audio. We do kind of a mind meld between me and our technologically connected hosts. Each episode is a fresh, no-nonsense exploration of how to bring music to life in your home, drawn from my decades of hands-on experience designing the gear that makes it happen.

technology

All Episodes

23:35

The preamplifier: a critical component

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/11/16

The preamplifier is the component in the system that controls the volume level and selects the input you listen to. Its role is simple and straightforward, yet its importance cannot be understated. 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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45:19

Dialing in the bass

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/11/09

Getting the bass right in your room can be one of the more challenging aspects of high-end audio. But here's a step-by-step guide to help you get through this maze of problems. 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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18:52

How to find the perfect volume level

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/11/02

You might have the best high-end 2-channel audio system on the planet but without hitting the right volume level for every single track, you'll never get to enjoy all that is possible. Paul and friends will teach you how. 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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15:21

From mono to stereo, a brief history

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/10/26

Ever wonder how we went from the original standard of monophonic sound to stereo and what it involved? Today's podcast is a brief history that you'll find absolutely fascinating. 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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20:33

Loudspeakers versus heaphones

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/10/19

The two main ways of enjoying high-end audio is through either a pair of loudspeakers or a set of headphones. What's the main difference between the two? 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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13:05

Square waves and high-end audio

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/10/12

We don't listen to square waves as they have no musical value, yet they are one of the most important tools we designers have in our arsenals. Learn about square waves. 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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15:24

How to build an affordable system

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/10/05

We often talk about spending a great deal of money on our systems, but what about the affordable version? Paul and the team walk you through this great subject and help you understand how to produce audio magic at affordable prices. 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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13:08

Early reflections in the room

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/09/28

Rooms are the proverbial double-edged sword. Without them, we can't build our dream 2-channel system. With them, we're dealing with all sorts of problems. Here's an inside look at how to work with one of the bigger issues rooms present. 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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13:27

Getting comfortable with dynamic range

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/09/21

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 it on Amazon.

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13:46

The power of quiet

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/09/14

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 McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get it on Amazon.

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14:21

Diving deep into the audio soundstage

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/09/07

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 on Amazon.

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7:12

The audio traffic cop

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/31

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 Guide, get it on Amazon.

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17:03

The loudspeaker's role

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/24

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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18:36

Synergy and audio

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/17

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.

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12:55

All about box speakers

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/09

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 done right, a well-designed box speaker disappears, leaving only the performance suspended in space. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want ...

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24:31

The critical role of the digital audio cable

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/08

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 precision. If you’ve ever wondered how a string of bits can change how your music feels, this one goes beneath the surface. The Audiophile’s Guide pu...

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15:43

Understanding DSP in the audio chain

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/07

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—and when does it get in the way? If you’re chasing purity but tempted by control, this episode unpacks both sides. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes ...

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24:16

Building a high-end digital audio system

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/06

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 convenience—it’s about making music feel alive. Whether you’re upgrading from a laptop or diving into DSD, this is where digital gets serious. The Audiophile...

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16:10

PCM audio vs. PDM and DSD

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/05

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 high-res DSD files, it’s a deep dive into the digital languages behind the music—and what your DAC has to say about it. The Audiophile’s Guide publish...

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3:32

Analog vs. digital: the fight is on

The Audiophiles Guide ·

2025/08/04

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 you closer to the music? If you’ve ever taken sides—or switched them—this episode is your rematch. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to...

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