We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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 make stuff up about 4K Blu-ray players to sell ED drugs?

💿 “The Audiophile Society's Speaker Test and System Optimization Album”: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album. Use code AudioUnleashed25 for 25% off.

📖 Get your copy of the 4th edition of Floyd Toole’s legendary book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones with DISCOUNT CODE 25SMA4: https://www.routledge.com/Sound-Reproduction-The-Acoustics-and-Psychoacoustics-of-Loudspeakers-Rooms-and-Headphones/Toole-Olive-Welti/p/book/9781032761930

Dennis’ relaunched YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AdventureswithCPAP

Brent’s audio projects:

💿 The Audiophile Society's Amazing Fabulous Magnificent Speaker Test Album (engineered by Brent with VO by Dennis): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-speaker-test-and-system-optimization-album

💿 The Audiophile Society's Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (engineered by Brent): https://theaudiophilesociety.com/collections/albums/products/the-audiophile-societys-headphone-evaluation-and-spatial-audio-test-album

💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants

Further Reading:

• REL S/850 Review by Chris Frankland: https://hifiplus.com/articles/rel-s-850/
• How Loud is the Distortion from Your Power Amplifier? by John Siau: https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/videos/how-loud-is-the-distortion-from-your-power-amplifier-1
• Don't Buy a CD Player in 2026!? Buy This Instead by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/nnBwdMuGa_0?si=eME1ZvTkTjZQ06eK
• CEDIA Expo 2026 Looks to be Another Scaled-Back Show by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/cedia-expo-2026-looks-to-be-another-scaled-back-show/