Donald Byrd

1 month ago | pmamagazine.org | Steven Stone |Donald Byrd

Prices listed are in US$. Many subjective audiophiles loathe blind listening tests. The standard putdown for blind testing is, “That’s not the way I listen.” Yet, in truth, blind comparisons—free from the influence of price, brand, technology, aesthetics, or other personal non-sonic biases—represent the purest form of subjective evaluation. So why aren’t blind tests more popular with audiophiles? The answer is simple—conducting a well-designed, truly unbiased blind test is a pain in the ass.

1 month ago | pmamagazine.org | Jeff Weiner |Donald Byrd

This article first appeared in PS Audio’s Copper Magazine, with whom PMA has a content trading program. Read Part 1. IntroductionA much-debated topic in popular music is the origin of rock and roll music. Some people credit its beginnings to Bill Haley and the Comets for “Rock Around the Clock.” This is incorrect. “Rock Around the Clock” was the first song described as rock and roll to top the popular music charts. It is by no means the genesis of the genre.

2 months ago | pmamagazine.org | Donald Byrd |Stephan Boissonneault

This article was originally published in Pan M 360, and as part of an article-sharing collaboration with them, we are sharing it here. We open the door and step into La Lumière Collective, a large, open, and bright room surrounded by various film, art, and concert posters. A hollowed-out old tube TV is surrounded by books and records at the back of the room. Sets of red movie theatre seats are off to the side in the middle of the room, and a projector hangs above.

2 months ago | pmamagazine.org | Donald Byrd |Steven Stone

Prices listed in US$. I’m back with another bunch of ultra-budget components that don’t perform like budget components. Usually, gear with ultra-low price tags only sound good when compared to cheap Bluetooth speakers or freebee earbuds. Not here. Every component that makes it into this column is worthy of being compared to the kind of serious and expensive gear any advanced audiophile would be happy to have in their system.