This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Ian Colquhoun, founder of Axiom Audio and now also the owner of Bryston and Magnum Dynalab, to discuss the origins of the company, its connection with the National Research Council, his own relationship with Dr. Floyd Toole, and how the company’s speakers evolved after the legendary NRC research wound down.

Sources:

“Canadian Hi-Fi Trilogy: Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab—All Under One Expanding Roof”: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1785-canadian-hi-fi-trilogy-axiom-audio-bryston-and-magnum-dynalab-all-under-one-expanding-roof

Axiom Audio: https://www.axiomaudio.com/

Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:28 Introductions 00:03:31 Axiom’s origin story 00:12:30 Busting the myth of different speakers for different music 00:25:46 Music break: “Empty Pockets” by Bamtone 00:26:52 Axiom as OEM 00:30:27 OEM no more 00:29:34 The twin-tweeter controversy 00:47:07 Measurement artifacts 01:08:34 “Wherever I Am” by Bamtone

This week, host Jorden Guth continues his conversation with Dr. Peter Schuck, technical director at Paradigm Electronics Inc. The two cover the birth of Anthem Room Correction, the pros and cons of IIR and FIR filters, side quests, diversions, why flat in-room response isn’t actually the goal, and how ARC has evolved in response to market pressures.

Sources:

“The History of Anthem Room Correction (ARC®)”: https://www.anthemarc.com/advanced-topics/the-history-of-arc.php

“The Detection Thresholds of Resonances at Low Frequencies” by Olive, Sean E.; Schuck, Peter L.; Ryan, James G.; Sally, Sharon L.; Bonneville, Marc E.: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=7868

Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:28 Introductions 00:03:15 IIR vs FIR 00:09:15 Pesky patents and water picks 00:11:58 Untested waters 00:17:01 Music break: “Hulullúlulu” by Art Against Agony 00:08:01 ARC is finally born 00:23:46 Why flat sounds flat 00:26:59 Removing the cap 00:38:56 “First” by IamDayLight 00:40:51 The music that moves Peter

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Dr. Peter Schuck, technical director at Paradigm Electronics Inc., to discuss his history in hi-fi, how he ended up at the NRC, how his work with Dr. Floyd Toole evolved into the pioneering Athena project, and exactly what sorts of tests he and others constructed and conducted to determine listener preference with regard to the effects of the room on loudspeaker performance.

Sources:

“The History of Anthem Room Correction (ARC®)”: https://www.anthemarc.com/advanced-topics/the-history-of-arc.php

“The Detection Thresholds of Resonances at Low Frequencies” by Olive, Sean E.; Schuck, Peter L.; Ryan, James G.; Sally, Sharon L.; Bonneville, Marc E.: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=7868

Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:28 Introductions 00:07:58 The Energy 22 crossover 00:15:41 Commerce or science? 00:29:35 Music break: “Precursor” by Aquartos 00:30:22 The five-point preference scale 00:34:54 What makes a good test track? 00:36:01 The circle of confusion keeps spinning 00:50:38 “Day 1” by Aquartos