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PODCAST

Audio Unleashed

Brent Butterworth & Dennis Burger

This is Audio Unleashed: the world’s only totally unfiltered, freewheeling, fearless discussion about the latest events in the world of audio, featuring veteran audio reviewers Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger. With decades of experience, a modest grasp of science and logic, and a marginal degree of financial security, they can tell the good from the bad, and the proven from the preposterous — and they’re not afraid to tell you what’s what.

technology

All Episodes

69:13

“Velvet Noise?”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/09/30

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Dennis and Brent get caught in the trap of being forced to discuss Apple’s big new thing—improved open-ear noise cancellation—and how it might compare to that of the Cleer ARC 3 Open Wireless Earbuds. Then they riff yet again on the subject of AI music, largely centered on UMG’s recent deal with the devil, as well as 404 Media’s intentional hacking of Lathe of Heaven’s Spotify page to inject it with lazy AI slop. Last

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72:47

“I Was Expecting Some Nina Totenberg”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/09/16

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Dennis and Brent spend a lot of time and a lot of words riffing on the same fundamental theme: are we making this hi-fi stuff entirely too complicated? And if so, why? Does REL need to make stuff up about mysterious disappearing bass harmonics to sell its gorgeous subs? Does Benchmark have to make stuff up about audible distortion to sell its excellent amplifiers? And perhaps most importantly: does cheapaudioman have to

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61:33

“I’m Going to Poop on This Amp”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/09/02

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Dennis and Brent kick things off with a bit of a different segment: a deep dive into some of the wackier (and cooler) IEMs Brent has found on Facebook, and a look into the psychology of the people buying and reviewing them. Then they investigate what sort of “intimate machines” Stereophile’s Jim Austin is into, and whether we should care if “normal” people can afford them. They wrap the regular episode’s discussion with

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74:45

“A Loom of Fuses”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/08/19

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Dennis and Brent get the party started by pondering the deep question of whether or not a “loom” of anything is automatically sus. Next up, they split hairs over the distinction between a clone and an homage by way of Erin’s Audio Corner’s new video about a Chinese McIntosh knock-off. Then they wrap up the main show by answering a listener’s question about Darko. 💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System

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61:56

“They Had To Wear Pants At Some Point”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/08/05

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Dennis and Brent dig deep into a Reddit post about soundbars to gain some insight into how A.I. is going to make sense of audiophiles in the future. (That’ll make sense in context, promise.) After that, they riff on some interesting new data about CD and LP sales, which prove K-pop and wall art are driving the whole audio biz. Then they turn their fleeting attention to recent developments in streaming — apparently,

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81:27

“I Want to Be Floyd When I Grow Up”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/07/22

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Dennis and Brent kick things off with a response to a Patron who had some defensive words for OJAS, aka Devon Turnbull. Then they add their voices to the biggest discussion in audio right now: the Axiss Audio lawsuit against The Greek Audio Geek, Suncoast Audio, and Clarisys Audio for defamation and conspiracy. And they tackle the confounding question of whether or not the judgment of some dude sitting around in his

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75:13

“The End of Legitimate Audio Journalism”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/07/08

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Dennis and Brent take a surface-level dive into the biggest controversy to hit the pro-audio world this year: Jim Lill’s exhaustive investigation of the source of a mic preamp’s tone, or lack thereof. They also slog through maybe half a percent of the response videos in the quest for one that has more to say than “trust me, bro.” They wrap up with an attempt to give veteran Stereophile technical editor John Atkinson the

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58:32

“Effort is a Little Passé These Days”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/06/24

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This week, Brent and Dennis dig into a review of Sonarworks’ SoundID Virtual Monitoring PRO system, which aims to go toe-to-toe with the Smyth Realiser for a tenth of the cost. Is this, at long last, a practical and effective way to simulate speakers through headphones? Then they dig into the coverage of High End Vienna to discuss the venue change and the coolest new products shown at the show, and confidently opine about the

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77:15

“We Need Some Plausible Deniability Here”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/06/10

This week, Brent and Dennis are just asking questions. Questions such as: Do VU meters really make everything sound better? (Obviously, yes.) Can you do science if you don’t even understand science? (Probably not on purpose!) If our music is going to be made by taste-making hacks using AI, does hi-fi even matter anymore? (Nerd fight!)💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”:

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61:18

“There’s a Friggin’ Capybara!”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/05/27

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis kick things off by considering whether lack of cred is as big a problem with audio critics as it is for music critics, and debate whether or not Billy Joel is one of our greatest songwriters, even though both of them would happily pay to never hear “Uptown Girl” again. Then they dig deep into the latest retro revival sweeping through the speaker industry: field coils. Are electromagnets better for inner

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85:16

“Cone of Shame!”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/05/13

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis dig deep into the new “Meta” for in-ear monitors, which some say will replace all IEM target curves even though it’s not a target curve. Got it? Yeah, us neither. Then they ponder whether the radical creations of a new artsy fartsy speaker company have any merits other than loosely resembling Chewbacca. In segment three, they are forced to discuss Wilson’s new flagship speaker based only on what legacy

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62:46

“Do You Have a Cement Pond Now?”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/04/29

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis kick things off by giving major props to Amir of Audio Science Review for one of the best “click-bait” cable videos we’ve seen to date. He’s relentless. He’s right. (And this time, he’s very relatable!) Then they dig into another Darko article, in which John forces readers and viewers to choose between two distinct definitions of “snake oil,” while Dennis regales us with a fascinating explanation of why

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71:04

Shameless Self-Promotion w/ David Chesky

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/04/15

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis kick things off with a discussion about whether or not DACs are a distraction before welcoming guest David Chesky to discuss The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album, as well as a special discount code just for Audio Unleashed listeners. Also, has Dennis found common ground with Herb Reichert?! What’s next: Dogs and cats living together? MASS HYSTERIA?! 💿 “The Audiophile

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63:16

“Joaquin Phoenix Stole My Career”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/04/01

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis spend yet another segment talking about a review of the Klipsch ProMedia Lumina Speakers, but this time it’s a super-in-depth review from Erin’s Audio Corner—one that dives deep into territory Brent was too lazy to explore. Then they share their thoughts about Darko’s latest article bemoaning the glut of cheap audio product reviews on YouTube, and whether or not decades of messing around with audio gear

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79:42

“I Don’t Like the Taste of My Own Medicine”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/03/18

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week’s episode is a long one, y’all! Brent and Dennis lead off the discussion by digging into an actually useful post from Headphone Sty about a collection of audio tools you can download for free, and comment about their own experience with these, which runs from extensive to non-existent. Then they’re joined by buddy Geoffrey Morrison, who has a bit of a tongue-lashing for our dynamic duo over their apparent (to Geoff)

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59:46

“What Are Your Thoughts On Banana Pudding?”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/03/04

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis kick things off by wondering whether or not you should grind up your headphones and use them as face cream, and somehow or other that’s not the silliest topic of conversation for this episode. That leaves the question of whether the silliest topic is a blind test involving audio cables, wet mud, and bananas, or is it the notion of whether your speakers would sound better if they were in the middle of a

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75:38

“Eardrums Aren’t Like Teeth”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/02/18

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis flaunt their unmatched talent at finding an audio angle in anything, with a fascinating examination of what long-range acoustic devices (LRADs) do and whether hearing protection products can guard your ears against them (and your power tools). Next up, they dig into cheap audio’s biggest controversy: Whether or not an $80 boutique op amp can transform the sound of a $100 power amp. And how does The

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63:29

“Where Did All the Sh*tty Products Go?”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/02/04

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedThis week, Brent and Dennis kick things off by using their unmatched business acumen to analyze what the new Sony/TCL deal means for the audio industry—and pine for the days when audio products were mostly expensive and mostly not good. Then they bring on Danny Kaey of the Hi-Fi Five to discuss a recent Headphone Sty post about how Audio Science Review and Erin’s Audio Corner are sending speaker and amp makers to the bread line

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69:48

“You Made Humor and I Didn't Understand It”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/01/21

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedAlthough Brent and Dennis will probably never again work up the gumption to attend CES, they can muster the courage to read through others’ CES reports and weigh in with their own opinions. That’s this week’s first segment. Then they check out an article from Darko about age-related hearing loss and its relationship with audio copium, and think real hard about whether buying a $10,000 DAC is worth it if you can’t hear above 12 kHz

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61:44

“The Meat Grinder of YouTube”

Audio Unleashed ·

2026/01/07

We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashedBrent and Dennis ring in the new year by finding the very fine line between clever and stupid when it comes to A/B tests on YouTube, courtesy of AP Mastering. Next up: John Darko says lazy phrases are the norm in audio coverage but don’t mean anything. Is Darko punching above his weight class without breaking a sweat? And lastly for most listeners, we wonder if the rumors of the audio hobby’s death have been greatly exaggerated,

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