the ecoustics podcast

Black Circle Studios

Passionate about music, movies, HiFi audio, headphones and home theater, eCoustics has been covering the A/V industry since 1999. Join our diverse cast of journalists, audiophiles, industry experts and special guests for always spirited, sometimes controversial discussions about the latest news, happenings and trends in the audio, video and music industries. Whether you're listening through stereo loudspeakers with a vintage tube amp, rocking a multi-channel home theater, on-the-go with wireless speakers or headphones, streaming music or spinning vinyl, the experienced team at ecoustics breaks down what you need to know to really enjoy music and movies at home and on the road. https://www.ecoustics.com

  1. 5D AGO

    Tube Amps in 2026: Rolling Glass, Blowing Fuses, and Why Valves Still Reign Victorious

    Vacuum tubes are supposed to be extinct yet here we are in 2026 still arguing swapping and occasionally getting electrocuted. In this episode Mitch Anderson, Eric Pye, and Jeremy Sikora strip the romance out of valves and talk about why they still matter without leaning on lazy audiophile clichés.  The discussion cuts through tube rolling reality versus placebo and the ongoing new production versus NOS debate. It also looks at why Ray Tubes are suddenly on everyone’s radar and what Jeremy’s amp building class at the American Wireless Communication Museum teaches you that spec sheets never will. Along the way, we connect the dots between Talk Talk’s obsessive studio craft, Miles Davis with Jimmy Cobb’s unshakable timing, and the Tron soundtrack, while getting very real about tube amp safety; from blown parts to painful zaps, because high voltage does not care how experienced you think you are. Thank you to SVS and Shure for their support of our programming! https://www.svsound.com https://www.shure.com Credits: • Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com • Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com • Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Don't forget to check our website for daily updates on the latest electronics, news, recommendations, and deals on high-end audio, loudspeakers, earphones, TVs, and more. https://www.ecoustics.com #raytubes #vacuumtubes #audiovalves #vinylcommunity #audioloveyyc #budgetaudiophiler #blackcircleradio #ecoustics #hifi #audiophile #hometheater #listeningroom #musicindustry #analogaudio

    58 min

  2. JAN 30

    From Kloss to Kelley: The Modern KLH Story - Five Ks, No Strikes

    eCoustics Vintage Editor Eric Pye and Producer Mitch Anderson sit down with Dave Kelley, President of KLH, for a grounded conversation on loudspeaker design, KLH’s history, and how a legacy brand operates in today’s market without leaning on nostalgia as a crutch. The discussion traces the influence of Henry Kloss, the shared DNA linking Klipsch, Kelley, Kyocera, and KLH, and how those ideas continue to inform real-world speaker engineering. Attention turns to KLH’s current lineup—specifically the Model Three, Model Five, and Model Seven—with the Five and Seven competing for Eric’s eCoustics 2025 Editors’ Choice Floorstanding Loudspeakers vote based on listening, not legacy.  If you want a clear-eyed look at where KLH has been and why its modern speakers still deserve serious consideration, this episode delivers without the marketing gloss. Thank you to SVS and Shure for their support of our programming! https://www.svsound.com https://www.shure.com Credits: • Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com • Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com • Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Don't forget to check our website for daily updates on the latest electronics, news, recommendations, and deals on high-end audio, loudspeakers, earphones, TVs, and more. https://www.ecoustics.com #KLHspeakers #vinylcommunity #audioloveyyc #KLHModelSeven #ecoustics #hifi #audiophile #hometheater #listeningroom #musicindustry #loudspeakerdesign #HIFIHistory

    1h 8m

  3. JAN 19

    CES 2026 Best in Show: Soundbars, Wireless Speakers, TVs & Projectors

    Fresh off a week in Las Vegas, the eCoustics team breaks down the CES 2026 Best in Show award winners across speakers, soundbars, wireless audio, TVs, home theater projectors, and headphones, explaining who stood out, why these products impressed us in controlled demo booth conditions, and what those design and performance choices are likely to cost you when they hit the market later in 2026.   View all Best in Show CES 2026 Awards: https://www.ecoustics.com/articles/best-ces-2026/ Panel: Brian Mitchell, Host and eCoustics Founder Chris Boylan, Editor at Large Robert Silva, News Correspondent  Mitch Anderson, Producer Credits: • Original intro music by The Arc of All. sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com • Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com • Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com #ces2026 #cesconvention #audiophile #hifi #hometheater #lifestylesound #interiordesign #audioindustry #ecoustics #projectors #4ktv #luxuryaudio #luxuryav #inwallspeakers #2026tvs #consumertech #futuretech #multimedianews

    1h 25m

  4. JAN 8

    HEOS Can Do All That? Phil Jones on Multi-Room Audio, Hi-Res Streaming, and Everything You’ve Been Ignoring

    If you want music in every room without juggling multiple apps, this is your episode. HEOS isn’t just in Denon and Marantz gear — it’s built into a growing ecosystem of speakers, AVRs, soundbars, and components across the Harman Lifestyle portfolio. It’s become a serious multi-room, multi-zone streaming platform with Hi-Res audio, major music services, stereo pairing, and full Alexa/Google voice-assistant support. Phil Jones of Harman Lifestyle joins us to lay out what HEOS can really do — including the tricks Sonos, BluOS, and WiiM would probably prefer you didn’t mention. Simple to run, surprisingly deep, and absolutely worth a fresh look. Thank you to our sponsor SVS for a phenomenal year of collaboration and support of our programming! https://www.svsound.com On the panel: Brian Mitchell, Founder & CEO Chris Boylan, Editor at Large Phil Jones, Harman Lifestyle Credits: Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com #ecoustics #avtrends #heos #musicstreaming #multiroomstreaming #networkstreaming #denon #marantz #qobuz #hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #hometheater #dolbyatmos #headphones #vinylcommunity #harmanlifestyle

    41 min

  5. 12/20/2025

    2025 Year in Review: The Gear That Actually Delivered (No Excuses, No Hype)

    In this episode, the eCoustics team cut through a year of hype, delays, and eyebrow-raising price hikes to talk about the products that genuinely moved the needle across hi-fi, head-fi, and home theater. We cover the TVs and projectors that finally earned their bragging rights, the headphones and earbuds that didn’t just chase trends, and the loudspeakers and portable gear that reminded us why good engineering still matters. It’s a wide-ranging, candid discussion about what impressed us.And because the timing couldn’t be better, the ink is barely dry on our massive eCoustics Editors’ Choice awards list. If you want to know which products actually earned a spot—and which ones quietly didn’t—you’ll want to listen first, then check the list.Less hype. More perspective. And no participation trophies. Thank you to our sponsor SVS for a phenomenal year of collaboration and support of our programming! https://www.svsound.com On the panel: Brian Mitchell, Founder & CEO Chris Boylan, Editor at Large W. Jennings, Sr. Portables Editor Eric Pye, Contributor / IG Influencer @audioloveyyc Ealan Osborne, Mr. eCoustically Speaking Mitch Anderson, Podcast Producer Products mentioned: Chris Boylan: > Sony Bravia 8 II > Hisense L9Q UST > Kaleidescape Strato E and Strato V > Denon AVR-X3800H > Samsung Micro RGB > Dirac Acoustic Room Treatment Ealan Osborne: > Sony STR-AZ7000ES > Google Eclipsa > DTS:X Profile 2 William Jennings: > Sony WH-1000XM6 > Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 > Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 > Audeze CRBN2 > Questyle QCC Pro > Astell&Kern SP4000 DAP > Bose Ultra Open-Ear buds Eric Pye: > Vinyl reissues > KLH Model Five > KLH Model Seven Mitch Anderson: > MoFi UltraTracker > Ray Tubes Brian Mitchell: > Canvas HiFi > Canvas HiFi Frame > Bacch 3D Related links: > https://www.ecoustics.com/best-right-now/ Credits: Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com #ecoustics #avtrends #2025bestof #hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #hometheater #dolbyatmos #headphones #vinylcommunity #yearinreview

    1h 28m

  6. 11/25/2025

    2025 UST Projector Showdown: Results Analyzed With ProjectorScreen.com and ProjectorReviews.com

    This episode examines the results from the 2025 Ultra-Short Throw (UST) Projector Showdown with event organizer, Brian Gluck of ProjectorScreen.com and emcee, Phil Jones of ProjectorReviews.com. The UST Projector Showdown allowed 6 judges to rate 9 UST projectors side-by-side with identical 100-inch screens, which underwent testing 15 different categories.  The models in the competition included the: • Epson QS100 3-Chip Laser-Lit LCD Projector – 4,500 Lumens ($4,999) • Formovie Theater Premium Triple Laser DLP Projector – 2,200 Lumens ($2,799) • Hisense L9Q Triple Laser DLP Projector – 5,000 Lumens ($5,999) • Hisense PT1 Triple Laser DLP Projector – 2,500 Lumens ($2,999) • Hisense PX3 Pro Triple Laser DLP Projector – 3,000 Lumens ($3,499) • JMGO O2S Ultra Triple Laser DLP Projector – 3,600 Lumens ($2,999) • Nexigo Aurora Pro MKII Hybrid Triple Laser/LED DLP Projector – 2,400 Lumens ($3,499)* • XGIMI Aura 2 GTV Hybrid Laser/LED DLP Projector – 2,200 Lumens ($2,699) The 2025 UST Projector Showdown was held November 8, 2025 at ProjectorScreen.com's headquarters in New Jersey, which crowed winners across four categories: 1. Best for Mixed use in Bright and Dark Rooms 2. Best for Home Theater 3. Best Value 4. Best Overall Picture Performance Find out who won and how it all went down. Panel: • Brian Mitchell, Founder, eCoustics • Chris Boylan, Editor-at-Large, eCoustics • Brian Gluck, Owner, ProjectorScreen.com • Phil Jones, Owner, ProjectorReviews.com Related links: https://www.ecoustics.com/news/best-ust-projectors-2025-showdown/ https://www.projectorscreen.com/blogs/insights/the-2025-ust-projector-showdown-results https://www.projectorreviews.com/2025-ultra-short-throw-projector-showdown-recap/ Credits: Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com #USTProjector #USTshowdown #miniprojector #ecoustics #projectorscreens #projectorshootout #hometheater #hdr #uhd #4k #8k #tvtech #2025bestoftech #2025tv

    42 min

  7. 10/30/2025

    Denon vs. Marantz: Battle of the AVRs – Which One is Worth Your Cash?

    Confused by the Denon vs. Marantz AVR maze? Join eCoustics Founder Brian Mitchell, Editor at Large Chris Boylan, and Phil Jones, Global Director of Training at Harman International, as they break down 19 AVRs ranging from $400 to $7,200. Though Denon and Marantz have been under the same corporate roof for over a decade (now Harman International, owned by Samsung), not all AVRs are created equal. Discover the subtle—and not-so-subtle—differences, what really matters for your Dolby Atmos setup, and which brand might make your wallet sigh. Perfect for home theater enthusiasts ready to cut through the hype and make a smart buy. Thank you to our sponsor of this episode, HEOS! For more information please visit: https://www.denon.com/en-us/plp/heos Credits: Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.comVoice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.comProduction by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.comKeep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com #hifi #audiophile  #ecoustics #avr #heos #surroundsound #denon #marantz #soundunited #bowerswilkins #polk #hometheater

    37 min

  8. 10/06/2025

    From Dweeb to Rock Star: How Hi-Fi Earplugs Like Etymotic’s Music Pro Elite Took Over Concerts

    Back in the 80s and 90s, earplugs at a concert were a one-way ticket to dweeb status. Protecting your hearing? Please. You might as well have stayed home with a VHS and some Tang. These days it’s the opposite—walk into any venue and half the crowd is rocking hi-fi earplugs that make the music sound better and keep your ears intact. Etymotic’s new Music Pro Elite are at the front of that shift, and Tim Monroe, Sr. Director of Engineering, along with Chris Roth, Principal Engineer at Etymotic Research, join us to break down why and how these things work so damn well. Thank you to HEOS, and SVS for supporting this episode! www.svsound.com https://www.marantz.com/en-us/world-of-marantz/heos Credits: • Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com • Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com • Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com Don't forget to check our website for daily updates on the latest electronics, news, recommendations, and deals on high-end audio, loudspeakers, earphones, TVs, and more. www.ecoustics.com #ecoustics #hifi #audiophile #avtech #musicindustry #liveconcertexperience #hearingprotection #hifiearplugs #hearingsaftey #loudnesswars #hearingaid #etymotic #lifestyleav #earplugs

    41 min
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4.5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Passionate about music, movies, HiFi audio, headphones and home theater, eCoustics has been covering the A/V industry since 1999. Join our diverse cast of journalists, audiophiles, industry experts and special guests for always spirited, sometimes controversial discussions about the latest news, happenings and trends in the audio, video and music industries. Whether you're listening through stereo loudspeakers with a vintage tube amp, rocking a multi-channel home theater, on-the-go with wireless speakers or headphones, streaming music or spinning vinyl, the experienced team at ecoustics breaks down what you need to know to really enjoy music and movies at home and on the road. https://www.ecoustics.com

Information

  • Creator
    Black Circle Studios
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Black Circle Studios
  • Show Website
    the ecoustics podcast

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