Some speakers are an easy load; others are more demanding than they appear. In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, we explore the complex relationship between speaker impedance and amplifier behavior. Impedance isn’t just a number—it changes with frequency, and that affects power delivery, tonal balance, and control. Learn how amplifier design interacts with low and reactive loads, why damping factor matters, and what to consider when matching gear. Get this right, and the system breathes as 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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9:47
Electrostatic Loudspeakers
Weightless, fast, and eerily transparent—electrostatic loudspeakers have a sound that captivates audiophiles like few others. In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, we explore how these panels work, using charged diaphragms and high-voltage fields to reproduce music with astonishing detail and delicacy. But that magic comes with trade-offs: limited dynamics, narrow dispersion, and placement sensitivity. Still, when everything lines up, electrostatics can deliver a level of realism that’s hard to forget—and harder to walk away from.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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9:45
Subwoofer Xmax
In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, hosts Robert and Sandra dive into the concept of subwoofer Xmax—short for maximum linear excursion. It’s a critical spec that tells you how far a subwoofer cone can move without distortion, and it directly affects how deep and clean your bass can go. They explore how Xmax impacts dynamics, headroom, and low-end authority, and why more excursion isn’t always better unless it’s backed by smart design and control.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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7:02
Class A/B amplifiers explained
Not all amplifiers play by the same rules—and Class A/B designs strike a careful balance between purity and power. In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, we break down how Class A/B amplification works, blending the sweetness of Class A with the efficiency of Class B. Discover how biasing, crossover distortion, and thermal performance shape the sound, and why this classic topology remains a favorite in high-end audio. When executed well, it delivers music with both grace and grip.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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7:48
Room modes and the bass battle
Bass that booms in one spot and vanishes in another? You’re hearing room modes in action. In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, we dig into the invisible battlefield of standing waves, boundary effects, and the fight for consistent low-frequency performance. These powerful acoustic forces can shape or sabotage your system’s foundation. Learn how to identify problem areas, why subwoofers are part of the solution, and what it takes to win the bass battle in your own room.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.
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.
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