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.

  1. hace 5 días

    “Effort is a Little Passé These Days”

    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 current relevance (or not) of B&W and JBL. After that, they talk about sound systems as an aesthetic vibe completely divorced from their function as sound systems. Are audiophiles suddenly hip? (Spoiler: No.) 💿 “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:  “Sonarworks: SoundID Virtual Monitoring PRO” by Adam Kagan: https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/173/soundid-virtual-monitoring-pro “High End 2026 coverage fromVienna, Austria” on SoundStage! Global: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2026-vienna-austria “10 of the most exciting hi-fi products we saw at High End Vienna 2026” by Kashfia Kabir: https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/turntables/10-of-the-most-exciting-hi-fi-products-we-saw-at-high-end-vienna-2026 “Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with sound systems?”: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYqMiX4v_6c/

    59 min

  2. 10 jun

    “We Need Some Plausible Deniability Here”

    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”: 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:  “Keith Pray Acquires Stereophile in a Management Buyout”: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/keith-pray-acquires-stereophile-in-a-management-buyout.42487/ “This HiFi Upgrade Changed How I Hear Everything” by cheapaudioman: https://youtu.be/XqELlz_vl5U?si=0lPX7GaXSVu7K-Sp “What the Spec Sheet Doesn’t Capture” by Theodore W. Denney III: https://www.synergisticresearch.com/fundamentals/tunein-with-ted/what-the-spec-sheet-doesnt-capture/ “Independent Perceptual Evidence for Electromagnetic Field Effects in High-End Audio Systems” probably written by Claude (in our opinion): https://www.synergisticresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SR-WhitePaper-CanJam2026-v4.pdf “Music After the Generative AI Creative Big Bang” by Kylie Bylin: https://www.hypebot.com/music-after-the-generative-ai-creative-big-bang/

    1 h 17 min

  3. 27 may

    “There’s a Friggin’ Capybara!”

    We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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 detail than permanent magnets? What do they do to microdynamics? We report; you decide. And wrapping up the conversation for most listeners, they riff on the announcements of two radically different personal audio products: a $7500 “quad-brid” IEM from Campfire and an adorable little headphone amp and DAC from Fosi.    💿 “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:  “The NYT ‘Greatest Songwriters’ List is an Absolute Disaster” by Rick Beato: https://youtu.be/Dr2nuKFM33s?si=CgxO5cQpIhZhkpby “Watch This NYT "Music Critic" Embarrass Himself...AGAIN” by Rick Beato: https://youtu.be/IQTMkjQvHoc?si=b0kbWV9mIH7_HqWg “Rick Beato Versus the NY Times” by Ted Gioia: https://www.honest-broker.com/p/rick-beato-versus-the-ny-times “Jon Caramanica is a bad cliché” by Brad Mehldau: https://bradmehldau.substack.com/p/jon-caramanica-is-a-bad-cliche Jones and Cerreta: https://jonesandcerreta.com/ “The HiFi Five Episode 29: Field Coil Loudspeakers” by The HiFi Five: https://www.youtube.com/live/NW0FBrwVq1w?si=os6YvtuUurs7WA9O Campfire Audio Chimera - Quad-brid IEM: https://www.campfireaudio.com/products/chimera Fosi MD3 MagDac: https://fosiaudio.com/pages/fosi-audio-md3-magnetic-dac-headphone-amp

    1 h 1 min

  4. 13 may

    “Cone of Shame!”

    We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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 audio publications said about it, since it appears Audio Unleashed’s invite to the unveiling slipped unnoticed into our spam folder. 💿 “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:  “Redefining Neutral? A Buyer's Guide to IEMs from the ‘New Meta’” by Caleb Loo: https://headphones.com/blogs/buying-guides/redefining-neutral-comparing-iems-from-the-new-meta “The New IEM Meta Explained” by Minimum Phase: https://youtu.be/EZoKPtzjdtQ?si=3qTzvdtWlpOO7YMH “This Los Angeles brand is blurring the line between audio and art – for a price, of course” by Harry McKerrell: https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/hi-fi-speakers/this-los-angeles-brand-is-blurring-the-line-between-audio-and-art-for-a-price-of-course “Gramophone Dreams #108: AER & Brian Charney Horns, the Voxativ Hagen2” by Herb Reichert: https://stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-108-aer-brian-charney-horns-voxativ-hagen2 “Wilson Audio Autobiography preview” by Alan Sircom: https://hifiplus.com/articles/wilson-audio-autobiography-preview/ “Wilson Audio's New Flagship Speaker Marries Sound with Clockwork Precision” by Miguel Barrio: https://stereophile.com/content/wilson-audios-new-flagship-speaker-marries-sound-clockwork-precision “Wilson Audio Autobiography: The Most Accurate Speaker Ever Built?” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/jia5y_TXY_4?si=0y2xgHMfM8V4SqZM

    1 h 25 min

  5. 29 abr

    “Do You Have a Cement Pond Now?”

    We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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 “snake oil” actually works. Wrapping it up for most folks this week, they ponder what the heck is going on with Western Electric’s new $150,000 power amp and why you need to understand impedance if you really want to comprehend how amplifiers even work. 💿 “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: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 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 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  “$4000 Audio Cable vs $7!!!” by Audio Science Review: https://youtu.be/QjvgL9_zL80?si=ib_B42agORL5XUnl “Global feedback: The two faces of snake oil” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2026/04/global-feedback-the-two-faces-of-snake-oil/ “Western Electric Room at AXPONA 2026” by Miguel Barrio: https://stereophile.com/content/western-electric-room-axpona-2026 Sengpiel Audio on input and output impedance: https://sengpielaudio.com/calculator-InputOutputImpedance.htm

    1 h 3 min

  6. 15 abr

    Shameless Self-Promotion w/ David Chesky

    We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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 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: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 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 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  “The great DAC distraction 🌶️” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2026/03/the-great-dac-distraction/ “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 “Gramophone Dreams #107: LAiV GaNM monoblock, Record Doctor VI (20th Anniversary Edition)” by Herb Reichert: https://stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-107-laiv-ganm-monoblock-record-doctor-vi-20th-anniversary-edition “Record Doctor X Dual-Sided Record Cleaning Machine” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1304-record-doctor-x-dual-sided-record-cleaning-machine

    1 h 11 min

  7. 1 abr

    “Joaquin Phoenix Stole My Career”

    We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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 will give you the chops to tell a $300 amp from a $3,000 amp. Finally, they wonder if Apple’s new AirPods Max 2 headphones are a significant-enough upgrade to deserve another digit—and puzzle over what marketing people mean when they say something’s “1.5 times better.” 📖 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: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 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 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  “2 Reasons You'll Want These Klipsch ProMedia Lumina Speakers” by Erin’s Audio Corner: https://youtu.be/_M8_yGJqOYU?si=o1JY_5fL02cYsyTx “Do we really need more YouTube reviews of affordable hi-fi gear? 🌶️” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2026/03/do-we-really-need-more-youtube-reviews-of-affordable-hi-fi-gear-%f0%9f%8c%b6%ef%b8%8f/ “Apple Introduces AirPods Max 2 with H2 Processor and Advanced Computational Audio” by Joao Martins: https://audioxpress.com/news/apple-introduces-airpods-max-2-with-h2-processor-and-advanced-computational-audio Sean Olive on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/seanolive_the-discrepancy-between-headphone-measurements-activity-7440814363541893121-McTm

    1 h 3 min

  8. 18 mar

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

    We’re on Patreon! Find us at https://www.patreon.com/AudioUnleashed This 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) distaste for any music of the post-Scott Joplin era. Then they use a questionable review of Klipsch’s new ProMedia Lumina 2.1 speaker system to get into a discussion of how reviewers should deal with (or not deal with) bass reproduction issues. 📖 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: 💿 Plaid Pants, Brent’s latest album! https://cygerbutterworth.bandcamp.com/album/plaid-pants 💿 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 💿 tics by Flip City, mixed by Brent https://davidaaron4.bandcamp.com/album/tics Further Reading:  12 Free Audio Tools That Expose Hidden Flaws in Your Audiophile Setup by Alexandra Plesa: https://www.headphonesty.com/2026/02/free-tools-expose-hidden-flaws-audiophile-setup/ Snyderman’s Choice: Are You an Audiophile or a Music-Lover? by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1373-snydermans-choice-are-you-an-audiophile-or-a-music-lover Have you been listening to the same music for 30 years? by u/taosaur: https://www.reddit.com/r/Xennials/comments/1rdjfp5/have_you_been_listening_to_the_same_music_for_30/?share_id=RrjD81wp_lvvm7n5XgJdo Klipsch ProMedia Lumina Review: Surprisingly Uneven Bass Mars This 2.1 Speaker System by Mark Knapp: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/klipsch-promedia-lumina

    1 h 20 min
Ver todo (82)

Acerca de

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.

Información

  • Creador
    Brent Butterworth & Dennis Burger
  • Años de actividad
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodios
    82
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Butterburger Productions. All rights reserved.
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Audio Unleashed

También te podría interesar