An Audio Blog by Walden - Ideas & Insights on Audio & Good Sound

JD 24/04/2026 JD 24/04/2026

On The Secret of Musicality & The Work of Hiraga

Modern loudspeakers promise technical perfection. Manufacturers routinely claim frequency responses from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, vanishingly low distortion, and sophisticated crossover networks designed to optimize every driver within its ideal operating range. Yet experienced listeners often encounter a paradox: systems that measure impressively can still fail to communicate the vitality of live music. This contradiction fascinated Jean Hiraga, one of the most influential voices in high-end audio.

JD 23/04/2026 JD 23/04/2026

Digital-to-Analogue Converting

Streaming has become one of the most important music sources in modern high-end audio systems. Services such as Qobuz and Tidal now provide recordings in resolutions equal to - or even exceeding - compact disc quality. Combined with advanced network players and music servers, streaming offers an almost unlimited music library at the touch of a button. Yet one component ultimately determines how convincing streaming will sound: the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC).

Jan Dhont 14/02/2026 Jan Dhont 14/02/2026

The EL84. Gracious Sound from a Small Tube.

Very often, it can be difficult to predict how an amplifier will sound. We assume that by reading enough reviews and analyzing technical specifications, we understand how a piece of audio equipment will perform. Given how significant the investment can be, the risk of a wrong choice is considerable. Yet somehow, that risk feels smaller when it comes to an EL84 amplifier.

Jan Dhont 08/12/2025 Jan Dhont 08/12/2025

Field Coil Speakers

If you’re looking for loudspeakers that let you connect with music on the deepest emotional level, you simply can’t ignore field-coil designs. Field-coil drivers don’t use permanent magnets but electromagnets - a technology found in early cinema loudspeakers from companies like Western Electric and Klangfilm.