miniDSP UMIK-2 USB measurement microphone (also ambient noise floor, measurements of my system using Dirac Live with Paradigm + SVS subs)

Well, as mentioned previously, it was a great holiday season and here's another gift from Audio-Santa 🙂 - the miniDSP UMIK-2 measurement microphone. I bought this through Solen.ca here in Canada and they did a great job with the order and quick shipment. Amazon Canada often has limited stock of miniDSP products.

I'm sure the miniDSP company is well known to many audiophiles at this point. I bet many of you, like myself, already have one of their UMIK-1 microphones which I've used in a number of the acoustic measurements on this blog since 2019.

As you can imagine, the UMIK-2, initially released in late 2020, is an evolution of the UMIK-1 with upgrades which we'll talk about. First, let's have a peek at the physical device itself.

More Bass: The SVS SB-2000 Pro subwoofer (sealed, 12", 550W, DSP, Bluetooth)

Over the holidays, Santa brought me a new SVS SB-2000 Pro subwoofer (currently US$900 black ash, US$1000 piano black, Canada: black ash, piano black) for the system in the sound room. As you can see, I got the slightly more expensive shiny piano black version. As usual, I bought this from typical consumer channels.

On this blog, we've talked about full-range sound, including the importance of subwoofer(s) in order to experience "fully" all there is in our recordings. As a pop, rock, electronica, orchestral, movie-lover, the ability to experience down to 20Hz (even a little lower into "infrasound") with adequate power, and low distortion is all part of what it means to achieve "high-fidelity" audio that is transparent to the source recording. As usual, it doesn't mean I can't enjoy my music without these sub-bass frequencies! It's just nice to know that I'm not neglecting content present in those lower registers as provided by artists and audio engineers.

During the pandemic, in the spring of 2020, I bought myself an inexpensive 8" Polk PSW111 to use as an "accessory" subwoofer to help fill-in the bass response in concert with the mighty Paradigm SUB1 (1700Wrms, 6 x 8" drivers), my main subwoofer that achieves frequency response down below 20Hz. For these last 5+ years, the little Polk has done its job reasonably well but it clearly has limits. For example, when pushed up in level, I can hear the "chuffing" from the small ~4" diameter down-facing port. Also, a ported 8" sub like this can really only be expected to reproduce down to the mid-30Hz at best.

And so, moving ahead, let's spend some money to retire that little Polk sub to my main floor living room, making space for this SVS! 😁

Happy New Year! And a thank you to the Lyrion Music Server folks for renewing the life of my Squeezebox Radio. ☺️

Hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas-New Year Holiday season!

On Christmas morn 2025, as I relaxed in the sitting room waiting for the rest of the family to get ready for some holiday festivities, listening to holiday music, I could not help but marvel at the fact that my little Logitech Squeezebox Radio sitting over the fireplace, released back in 2009 continues to go strong all these years later. The Squeezebox products including the Radio were some of the first devices I posted about with measurements in the early days of this blog.

I think it's an obvious reminder that even though time flies, music preferences and artists change, hardware gets upgraded and new technologies show up at our homes, the ability to enjoy music need not be tied into the hardware obsessionality that can consume audiophiles. We can derive much joy out of even a simple mono "radio" device like this.

Although Logitech got out of Squeezebox hardware production way back in 2012, they continued the official MySqueezebox.com servers until March 2024. I actually didn't even notice this change as I've been using my own Logitech Music Server (LMS) home system since something like 2008.

While LMS development has stopped, it's great to see that the good folks have continued to work on this venerable music streaming system as Lyrion Music Server.

On the Danny Richie / GR-Research's UberBUSS hypocritical video against Amir / Audio Science Review.

After writing the article recently about New Record Day's "AI assisted research" on the P.I. Audio / GR-Research UberBUSS, I thought it was disturbing seeing this recent, rather juvenile, video from Danny:

As we can see, there is this ongoing conflict between Danny and Amir/Audio Science Review (ASR) over the years. Obviously, ASR has been highly critical of some GR-Research products like their power cable and speaker designs. I think that's to be expected; since when did objective-leaning audiophiles care for US$400+ power cables? Objective reviews naturally compare metrics and seek out good value so high-priced items that cannot show improvements in the measurements (nor with controlled listening) simply cannot be recommended.

Given that Danny made this video voluntarily, released publicly, I assume he wanted to foster discussion, so let's get into this for a bit.

First, consider the title - "Measurements vs Listening — and the History of a Site with an Agenda". Sure, Audio Science Review has an agenda and it's different from Danny's. There's nothing wrong with that and in fact is to be expected for anyone trying to publicly make a point to influence others! I'd be dishonest if I claim to have no agenda either given the kinds of articles I write in these pages. Here are some of the items on my agenda list:

A. To discuss audiophile topics through a "more objective", rational lens.

B. When I review stuff, to aim to show demonstrable effects (measurements, graphs, etc.).

C. To speak clearly when products appear to be Snake Oil.

I trust that none of those 3 points above would be a surprise to anyone who has read an article or two around here.

Douk Audio VU3 Pro Analog VU Meter - more bling! (Make sure to try some harder music at audio shows! 😉)

Hey there guys and gals, since I've been in the mood for bling this end-of-year season (as per recent discussion of the Fosi Audio LC30), let's grab another one of these VU meter boxes - as you can see above, it's the Douk Audio VU30 Pro (typically around US$150, Canada link, AliExpress), a 2024 upgraded version of the Douk Audio VU3 (non-Pro) which came out back in 2021.

Similar to the Fosi LC30, this is also an analog meter with 2-in/2-out switcher which will allow you to select one of two amplifiers and two speakers. As a "Pro" model however, this box has been upgraded with a few funky features over the first version which we'll talk about.

As usual, I bought this from standard retail channels; no contact with the manufacturer.

On using AI/ChatGPT analysis to convince consumers about audio snake oil? GR-Research UberBUSS anyone?!

These days we have AI making hit music, and AI actors coming soon. The AI industry is "hot" and impressive, seemingly the answer to all kinds of queries we may have right at our keyboards! I think it's absolutely true that with the advent of LLM's and multi-modal deep learning models, we have even more ability now to learn, analyze, and summarize all kinds of information unheard of just a few years back. Like all things, there's always a catch which is that we have to use the tools responsibly and we need to make sure not to be overly reliant on these things because the results can also easily be wrong, like the "hallucinations" (more like "confabulations") that happen still all too often during AI chats.

We're seeing the advent of AI-driven intersubjective delusions in some people. Over reliance of these information tools can lead to all kinds of unforeseen negative outcomes across different domains (like in the legal space).

So I guess it's natural then that audiophiles might want to apply the technology to answer some of audiophilia's deepest never-ending debates - the stuff at the heart of numerous snake oil products.

The other day, I ran into an interesting New Record Day / Ron Brenay video where he uses ChatGPT to assess room audio recordings either from components using stock power cables, or through a new fancy GR-Research power conditioner called the "UberBUSS Power Filtration System" starting at US$1,600 that Danny Richie obviously is getting all excited about (my goodness, everything is "another level" with this guy - how many levels are there with mature technology?). This UberBUSS is further paired with his poorly reviewed US$380-$480 B24 power cable for the test.

[I see the UberBUSS isn't a totally new power filter, non-surge suppression product. Apparently it has been out since before 2021, earliest mention 2018, made by P.I. Audio Group which I guess is now defunct? If at first you don't succeed... Keep trying?]

Let's have a look at this video and what's being done...

Fosi Audio LC30 Analog VU Meter (Black Version) - bling!

A couple of weeks back, I evaluated the Rotel RSS-900 speaker switch and in that article, I mentioned this device, the Fosi Audio LC30 VU Meter and Amp/Speaker Switcher (less than US$150 street price). Notice that I have the "Black" version (Amazon Canada link, AliExpress) which doesn't look like it's as easily available as the typical "Yellow" meter version and it also has a slightly higher MSRP at least here in Canada. I bought this one from the usual consumer channels on sale.

Let's be honest, unless we're working in the studio on a project, for playback, dancing meters are mostly about adding "bling" to the sound system and I'm totally about having fun with this! 😀 This darker "Black" color scheme in my sound room is not as bright and won't distract from watching movies. At lower brightness levels, is easy to not draw attention to itself when lights are off.

Let's talk about this box, the features, and a little about the performance.

MUSINGS: On various characters in the audiophile hobby, debates, opinions and the Hearing Test.

Hey everyone, once awhile I'll take a look at stuff YouTube offers me in the feed that might be interesting. I see that in the last few months, there has been this channel called "The HiFi Five" and in Episode 6 (November 19, 2025) they invited Dennis Burger of SoundStage! for a discussion. I found this video actually quite interesting as an illustration of objective/subjective mindsets, biases, and the personality styles that come through in communicating such ideas.

Check this out if you have time for a deeper dive with discussion to follow, related to the contents and characters:

Rotel RSS-900 Speaker Switch.

For this post, let's spend some time looking and listening to the above device. It's the Rotel RSS-900 "speaker selector", MSRP around $200. This has been on the market for awhile now, I think released back around 2004. Here's the manual for it. I was graciously lent this box by a friend to check out as this is not a kind of product I've published on in this blog.

As you know, these days, loudspeakers tends to have quite low impedances with 4Ω ratings common and often when we look at impedance curves, it's not unusual to see values down to even below 2Ω for some frequencies (EPDR's typically even further down). Coupled with the fact that if one were to run multiple speakers to the same amplifier output, as per Ohm's law of parallel circuits, we risk extremely low impedance/resistance to the point of basically shorting out the amplifier. We obviously would not want to do this!

So it is then that we should protect the amplifier with devices like this Rotel switch if we need to run multiple speakers or for A/B listening with instantaneous switching between outputs.

We can see from the manual that this device is passive, and provides switching for one "Direct" speaker output and five switched, what I'll call "Indirect" speaker outputs. It is these 5 Indirect outputs that have "impedance compensation" and based on the manual, excess capacitance should also not be an issue.

Sony SS-CS5(M1) and Sony SS-CS5M2 bookshelf speakers - measurements, comparisons, and review.

Hey guys and gals, as shown above, I have pairs of both the Sony SS-CS5 (Mark 1) and the updated Sony SS-CS5M2 (Mark 2) bookshelf speakers here at home purchased through the usual retail outlets. As you might know from discussions online and videos on YouTube, opinions can be quite polarizing regarding these speakers. I think it's a combination of the low price (with associated biases as discussed recently) and the unusual "super-tweeter", 3-driver design. In this post, let's have a look, discuss, and go over a few measurements based on what I see and hear with these transducers.

For convenience, throughout this article, I'll often use "M1" and "M2" shorthand to refer to these Sony SS-CS5 variants.

As if higher prices always correlate to fidelity: Stereophile's Defense of Luxury Audio & the false Binding Statement of High-End Audio.

Hublot Big Bang Unico, ~US$20k+ depending on model.

Hey everyone, I just got back from the wonderful trip to Central Europe and figured I'd extend some thoughts expressed in the previous article: The Luxury of Sound and Time: Audiophile products, the Rolex and Timex Analogy.

That article went online October 12th and I was surprised to see Stereophile posted their article “In Defense of Sticker Shock” on October 17th written by Rogier van Bakel featuring a fancy looking, but inexpensive quartz wristwatch as the title image; what synchronicity! I assume his article must have been published in print/e-magazine earlier than when it showed up online.

I see the article pretty much opens with this statement:

Say “$10,000 DAC” and watch audio-forum commenters descend like pigeons on a dropped hot dog, flapping and furious.

Yeah, that's probably a fair observation! However, I think the first question we must ask ourselves is: “What’s wrong with that?”

The Luxury of Sound and Time: Audiophile products, the Rolex and Timex Analogy.

Left: This certified authentic Used Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Watch, with the Model Number: 126598TRU, has a Yellow Gold/Diamonds 40 mm Round Case with Screw Down Crown and a Gem Set. This Men's Rolex Cosmograph Daytona has an attractive Diamond Pave Dial with Gems Dial Markers. The certified Swiss tested Rolex Automatic Movement will keep perfect time for you. The elegantly designed Rolex Yellow Gold with will look great on your wrist.

Right: Timex Men's Waterbury Classic Chrono 40mm Stainless Steel Quartz Dress Watch with Leather Strap. Reviewed to be one of the best well-priced mecha-quartz watches.

If we plug in the phrase "Rolex vs. Timex" into Google, we'll see that there have been a number of articles written about this topic aimed at wristwatch hobbyists that compare and contrast things like history, the products, features, and prices (like this). For the purpose of our discussion here, the actual brands are of could not too important; these are mere archetypes - Rolex the Swiss brand that caters to the prestige luxury market, while Timex is an American company (originally started as the Waterbury Clock Company in 1854, these days American-Dutch) known to produce mass-market time pieces for the "common man"; to satisfy the needs of kids, the athlete, and yes, even dipping its toes into the luxury market though nothing like the Rolex brand price-wise. As per their classic slogan suggesting the device is meant for the conditions of daily life, the Timex - "It takes a licking, and keeps on ticking."

Over the years on this blog, I've touched on the ideas behind luxury products - here and here for example. We've also discussed the wine-tasting pursuit compared to audiophilia, but I think there is an even better analogy we can make when we look at something like the wristwatch collector (horophile) hobby. Since both audio products and watches are products of technological evolution, I believe there are similarities when it comes to the trajectory of these products, the industries behind their production, the consumers who buy them, the way they are portrayed in advertising (including in reviews) and social sentiment.

So grab a comfortable seat, maybe get a nice beverage, let's take some time to think and discuss...

Stereo Crosstalk Cancellation (XTC) / Ambiophonics: Introducing CTXMatrixBeta, a Free VST3 Plugin with XTC Calibration. [Guest post, STC.]

Greetings audiophiles!

As you may recall, Archimago and I (STC) wrote the previous article from October 2023 on stereo crosstalk cancellation (XTC). If you're not familiar with the topic, I recommend a look at that to familiarize yourself with the principles behind the technique.

I now want to introduce CTXMatrixBeta, a free 64-bit VST3 plugin that brings Ralph Glasgal's vision with freely accessible Ambiophonics for all to try. (In the near future, I'm planning to work on adding support with surround channels for the "Domestic Concert Hall" [DCH]. The ideas and logic are ready to implement.)

Regarding CTXMatrixBeta, by harnessing intuitive ear-based calibration, this plugin aims to deliver precise XTC, empowering enthusiasts to experience the immersive, lifelike sound of their 2-channel recordings with unmatched clarity.

Auro-3D "Auro-Matic": Preset and Strength settings and effects. (Brief look at Dolby Surround Upmixer and DTS Neural:X.)

A number of months back, I talked about the nVidia Shield TV Pro box and explored Auro-3D which is another technology for reproduction of immersive sound with height layers. As noted in that post, I've seen comments over time about the use of Auro-3D's "Auro-Matic" surround upmixing algorithm for music playback as being the preferred setting compared to Dolby Surround Upmixer [DSU], and DTS Neural:X being the other two common options in modern AV receivers. As a reminder, while Auro-3D could use object-oriented tools in production, it is delivered as channel-based playback rather than the hybrid channel/object systems like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Having now owned my Integra DRX-8.4 for about a year and listening for myself, I concur that for 2.0 and 5.1 upmixing, I tend to prefer using Auro-Matic to expand the 3D image into the height and surround channels. For most music material, Auro's method is noticeably "fuller" in presentation without sounding harsh. It also has more options as we can see in the settings menu for Onkyo and Integra receivers that have this feature:

QUICKIES: Black aluminum alloy footers. Equipment racks. Center channel in music. Underwhelming Spotify Lossless. More Paul McGowan/PS Audio USB cable & jitter foolishness.

Hey guys and gals, not much time this week to test stuff but to start I thought I'd show some pictures of the black version of the inexpensive aluminum footers that were discussed last week.

I got these black-colored ones (AliExpress) for my center channel, the Paradigm Signature C3 v.3 which is a 3-way, 4 speaker design that sits on my wood/glass component rack. (You can see other pictures of that component stand in my room article, or earlier when setting up the room.)

I picked the black ones since the center channel is sitting straight in front of me when watching movies, keeping it black will not add any color contrast to potentially distract from the show.